Disclaimer: Yeah. J.K. Rowling. Blah blah blah blah...
A/n: Okay. I sinned again. This is way late. I actually forgot what's the next thing to happen here so I panicked and forced my self to recall. But since I did, here's Chap 16. Hope this is not stupid. Well, you'll be the judge of that.ü
By: Aningme
Chapter 16
Dilemma
"Oh, good morning Dr. Granger." Mrs. Dubley greeted as Hermione walked across her counter.
Hermione smiled at her and rested her arms on the counter. "Good morning. How's everything?"
"Good. In fact, the number of our patients checking in is decreasing. And we haven't got any major problems coming in."
"That's good. Any messages for me?"
Mrs. Dubley checked her records. "We have one from Mr. Gordon about the condition of his son. He signed in an appointment for you this Thursday."
"That would be great." She smiled.
"There's another one from Dr. Merrill."
"Dr. Merrill?" Hermione thought. What is he up to?
"He requests to meet you at the cafeteria later for some discussions."
"Discussions?" Hermione thought. Dan Merrill is always peculiar. "Any specifications about that?"
"I don't think so." Mrs. Dubley muttered. "I think he wants to go out with you."
"Me?" Hermione asked back. She doesn't want to go over dates again.
"I think so. I have my eyes on everything around here. And he has his on you."
Hermione sighed, tiredly. "Any more messages?"
"Yes, last one. From Mr. Malfoy. He just wanted to say hi. That's what the records say."
Hermione chuckled. He just doesn't have anything better to do. "Well, thanks, Mrs. Dubley."
"You're welcome. But before you go," Mrs. Dubley added before Hermione could walk off. "I suggest you give Mr. Malfoy a call. He's such a good man."
"You think so?" Hermione questioned.
"Uh-huh. Well, Merrill is a good man too. But there's a spark with your Malfoy."
"A spark?"
"You know the knight in shining armor thing?"
Hermione smiled. "Well, we won't know for sure yet." She deduced and walked off to her office. She slumped down on her comfy chair and rested her head in her arms.
She still doesn't know what to do.
It's been two months, Hermione. Think!
Pulling her hair from her head, her office phone suddenly rang.
She glared at it and ignored it.
"This is Dr. Granger. I'm not around for now so please leave a message after the beep. BEEEEEEEPPPP…"
"Granger."
She knows his voice so well now.
"Pick up the phone."
"No." Hermione muttered. "I'm thinking."
"Talk to me, Granger. You know you want to." Draco insisted, waiting for her to answer it. "I know you got my message. Mrs. Dubley told me you check it every morning."
She smiled. "You think you know me that well, huh?"
"Pick up. Pick up. Pick up. Pick up. Pick up…"
She had it. She grabbed the phone. "You have nothing better to do, Malfoy?"
He was smirking. She could feel it. "Maybe. Just checking on you."
"I'm fine, Malfoy."
"You busy?"
"Probably."
"What are you doing?"
She sighed. "Thinking."
"About what?"
"Something." She blurted and smiled. "Why are you asking too much questions? Do you miss me?"
Draco laughed. "Why would I miss you?"
"I don't know." She smiled. "Anyways, gotta go now. I have some patients to see."
"Alright. I'll see you tonight." He muttered. "I have a surprise for you."
"Yeah? Well, see you then."
"Alright. Bye." And they hung up.
She couldn't resist him. She couldn't just ignore him.
That night…
She felt so tired. After the miscarriage case and the hit and run accident, it had been hectic. The life of a certain person is always left in her hands. And sometimes, she couldn't save them, what ever she does. Even with magic.
Walking towards the subway waiting shed, she found Draco slumping over the bench. Finding her too, he stood up and greeted her.
"Ready?" He excitedly said.
She just nodded bluntly.
Draco shrugged and bought them their tickets.
"Granger." Draco whispered below the motor sound of the subway. She was sitting beside him, doing nothing but stare into nothingness and brood. She was probably in deep thought. "Granger." He called again. But she still didn't hear him.
He held her hand. That took her attention.
She glanced at their joined hands and then to his face.
"Are you alright?" Draco muttered to her. Her eyes looked tired.
"Yeah." She nodded.
She's lying. "You know you suck at lying. So just blurt it. Or we'll spend the entire night reading each other's minds."
She was startled at first. But then she just sighed. "I lost two patients today…"
He paused. So that's what's bothering her all night. "I'm sorry about that."
"Nah. It's natural. This is nature. I can't do anything about it." She smiled. She always tries to look cheery.
And he's sick at it. "For once, tell me how you really feel." He abruptly said.
She looked up at him startled again. "What do you want me to say? That I feel sad and lonely seeing those people die? What's the use?"
He just kept quiet.
"I'm sick and tired of watching people die, having nothing to do…" She muttered and looked away.
Perhaps she wasn't in a really good mood.
They stayed quiet for the whole time they walked through the sidewalks.
Hermione suddenly regretted saying those things to him. She felt stupid.
"You want some ice cream?" He suddenly said.
"What?"
"You want some ice cream?" He repeated.
She just shrugged her shoulders and managed to smile. "Okay."
He grinned at her and brought her to a parlor.
"What's your flavor?" He asked. Hermione licked her pinkish ice cream and beamed.
"Strawberry. Yours?"
"Chocolate." They smiled at each other. "You want some?"
Hermione nodded and took a bite. She suddenly winced and jumped.
"It's too cold!" She said with her mouth full of ice cream.
He laughed at her and watched her bounce up and down. "You eat too much!"
She glared at him. "Why? Is it bad to eat? This is a free country!" She pointed out.
He successfully cheered her up.
"Try it. It's fun feeling the sudden coldness in your mouth." Hermione offered her strawberry ice cream. He smiled and took a very big bite.
Feeling the sudden sting of coldness, he tried not to wince or even react. Hermione just laughed at him.
"You look funny!" She said. He just smirked at her and was glad to cheer her up.
"Feeling better now?"
She nodded.
"Ready for my surprise?"
Her eyes brightened up. "Yup!"
He grinned and dug in into his jacket pocket. He took out a piece of folded paper and showed her a map.
She just stared at it. "What is it?"
"A map."
"A map? For what?"
"For our road trip next week."
A/n: Exciting! Exciting!ü Ahehe. Anyways, on with the replies.
chaste-aeon - WOW. Thanks for that wonderful long review. Loved it.ü And you are definitely most welcome.ü You just go on with that new fic you're working on. And don't forget to post it. Or ELSE! Joke. lol.ü Just keep up the good work.ü
Aurum Potestas Est- Well, I can't really say if all that you said is right.ü That would ruin the surprise.ü But anyhows, you "somehow" got it.ü But I won't say which part.ü lol. Please forgive me!
hplucky- I will.ü
JinxTwix - You're most welcome.ü I love having new Reviewing Readers.ü And as for your question, Ron is just being... protective.ü It's Malfoy they're talking about. Malfoy is just a complex human being. Well, that's how I know him.ü
And as for other peeps out there - please review...ü
Catgurlfurreel - Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
A MILIION GAZILLION GRATITUDE!
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