CHAPTER NINETEEN
Summary: Hermione suffers a terrible attack and who should find her but one of Wizarding Britain's most eligible bachelors. The relationship that builds between them is one no one saw coming, but no one predicted the danger that would surely follow. Post-War. Rated M for a reason.
Disclaimer: I do not own canon events or characters, they belong to J.K Rowling. I am not making a profit from this fanfic, everything is purely for entertainment purposes.
AN
Alright, he's a really big chapter for you all. I did try to split it into two, but I couldn't find the right place to do so, so I just decided to leave it as one.
Q&A
Beneaters – It's hard, sometimes I forget about his accent and write it as I would anyone else's which means I have to go back over it all with a fine-tooth comb and change it all, sometimes I have to do it more than once since I forget what I was doing. I've got a terrible memory.
Leonix2009 – You're right, Hermione's stalker has been very quiet... but not for long.
Page count: 11
Wood Estate - Sunday 20th December 1998
"So, what's the plan?" Oliver asked over breakfast that morning. Hermione had made pancakes after he had all but begged her to.
"Well, we'll first have to head into Muggle London, and I warn you, it's going to be very busy with last minute shoppers trying to get good deals on the remaining products for sale. Thankfully it's not Christmas Eve, shopping during that day is horrific. I think we should start off with toys first, then move onto clothing and get the food last."
"Alright," he agreed. "Do ye not have tae go tae a bank?" he questioned, after she hadn't mentioned needing to visit one.
"No," she replied with a shake of her head. "Muggles have a device called a debit or credit card, which allows for you to make payments without handing over money. The money will be taken out of the bank account and transferred to the business. You're less likely to get mugged seeing as you're not carrying cash. The card can only be used by someone that has the four digit pass code which approves the use of the card upon payments. If the card is stolen, you report it to the bank and they will cancel the access it has to your account and they will send you a new one with a new pass code."
"Tha's brilliant," he said. "Why don' we have tha' here?"
She shrugged. "It's a muggle method and we're both aware of how the Wizarding World perceives muggles and their technologies and traditions. Here we can just as easily give our vault number and the payment is later transferred over. It's the same concept, just done slightly differently."
They finished the last of their breakfast before putting the dishes in the sink to be washed later, and they both headed to their rooms to retrieve their coats and Hermione had a small black leather hand bag, hiding her wand and a muggle purse containing a small amount of muggle money, her muggle driving licence as ID and her debit card.
They met back up in the living room before they floo'd to The Leaky Cauldron and stepped out into Muggle London before anyone had chance to see them together.
They'd left for Muggle London not long after nine o'clock and it was now edging towards five in the evening, before Oliver and Hermione stepped into the living room of the manor and flopped down into the soft cushions of the corner suite, both making sighs of relief that they were finally off their aching feet.
"A'm exhausted," Oliver muttered.
"Me too," she replied tiredly.
They spent hours in the Muggle World looking for gifts and clothing for the children, since Hermione was adamant they each get a gift that was unlike the others, uncaring for the money she spent or the looks she'd get from other patrons after she had taken the last available toy that was on the shelves. Oliver was sure that if it would've been possible, she'd have died from the many glares she received.
They'd had to make several trips back to the manor in order to drop off the shopping bags, since there were too many to carry and too many people to witness them using magic to shrink their purchases down and fit into their pockets.
He turned his head slightly, seeing that the floor, part of the door and the bar here all hidden by the many, many bags that contained the presents for the children. He wasn't even sure he could count how many there were, given that there were seventy-nine children, each child would receive a toy, three new outfits each and a new pair of shoes each. Not to mention, they'd also bought food so the children could have a feast on Christmas day, he felt sorry for the person who had to cook.
"Fish and chips?"
He turned his head to better see her. She had her eyes closed and her head titled back against the cushions.
"Fish an' chips," he agreed. Neither of them had the energy to make dinner. He stood up and moved over to the floo, placing an order with Tom at The Leaky Cauldron.
They didn't have to wait long to receive their food and Oliver paid for dinner, before they sat on the floor and using the coffee table, with Oliver sneaking a chip to Merlin every now and then when Hermione wasn't looking.
"Now for the fun part," Hermione said, banishing the rubbish to the kitchen bin.
"The fun part?" he questioned.
She nodded and with a wave of her wand, a box appeared beside her. She opened it up and Oliver peaked over the table to get a look inside, seeing the many rolls of wrapping paper, the ribbons and bows, the gifts tags, a pair of scissors and several rolls of muggle cello-tape. He blinked in surprise, knowing that Hermione must have charmed the box to be bigger on the inside, which meant there were likely more items underneath.
"We have seventy-nine toys to wrap it, as well as seventy-nine pairs of shoes, and two hundred and thirty-seven outfits. All have to be wrapped and correctly labelled with each child's name."
Oliver blinked. "It's gunna take hours," he spoke.
"Actually, I think it'll take a few days, and we need it doing no later than Christmas Eve so we can take them to the orphanage, we have the ball that day too." She corrected and he part groaned part snorted.
"Alright, let's get a move on then," he said.
Hermione nodded in agreement before waving her wand and a stack of papers appeared, of which she duplicated so Oliver could have a copy.
He quickly flipped through them, seeing that it seemed to be a register of sorts. Each page was divided in half, with a magical photo of a child along with Hermione and Harry standing next to them. Next to the photo was the name and age of each child, along with a few bullet points that explained that child's favourite colour, animal, food, Quidditch team, hobby, and anything else they found interesting, but there was also a note made about their shoe and clothing sizes. Upon closer inspection he recognised the handwriting to be Hermione's. The neat script was hard to mistaken.
He looked up to see Hermione watching him carefully.
"Harry and I have been planning for Christmas at the orphanage since early August," she explained. "We decided that since I have the most flexibility with my work, that I would handle the shopping side of it, particularly in the Muggle World. I know Harry's purchased a few items from Diagon Alley, along with a few brooms so the children can learn to fly, he's even hired a flying instructor to work with the children for the next year." Oliver blinked in surprise. "This is why I bought a variety of different toys, using the profiles I've created we can match each toy to a specific child."
Oliver blinked in surprise when she gave him a smile, before she began pulling out supplies from the box, handing him rolls of wrapping paper in different colours and patterns, some cello-tape, gift tags, a muggle marker pen and she duplicated the scissors and gave him a pair. She then summoned a few bags over to them, and she dug into one, pulling out a box that contained a child's doll. She leafed through the papers, before she began wrapping the box meticulously in snowflake patterned paper, securing a pretty blue bow to the gift, along with a gift tag made out to a 'Madeline,' and she placed a mark against her name on the papers, reminding her that Madeline had already been given a toy. She smiled to herself and moved it to the side, then she pulled out a remote controlled car, repeating the process and adding the name 'Zack' to the gift tag.
Oliver shook his head before copying her actions, trying his best to match each toy to a child and wrapping the gift, though it wasn't as neat as Hermione's, it would do. Anyway, the children were only going to rip the wrapping paper off and it would end up in the bin.
They wrapped presents long into the night and barely making a dent in the shopping bags, before they both called it a night and headed to bed.
Wood Estate - Monday 21st December 1998
"Do ye have any plans?" Oliver asked her over breakfast that morning.
She picked up her mug and took a sip of her tea as she shook her head. "No, I'm just going to stay here and try and get the rest of the presents wrapped and sorted, ready for the children."
He snorted. "Yer not gettin' it all finished taday, there's still more than half af the toys tha' need wrapping an' we havnae even made a start on the clothing or shoes yet."
"I may have went a little overboard," she admitted. He raised an eyebrow. "Fine, I went a lot overboard, but these children are forgotten about. Most of Wizarding London doesn't even know of the existence of the orphanage, these children deserve better and if I can make their lives a little bit happier by giving them a toy and some new clothes, then I will."
"People don' know it's there?" he asked in surprise.
She shook her head. "It's on the outskirts of Diagon Alley, kept away from the public so no one is aware that they are there. It's common knowledge that a lot of children were made orphans due to the war, but people don't care. They only care that their own children are safe and happy, they have no interest in the orphanage. That's the whole point of the fund raiser, not only are we hoping to raise enough money for the children and the orphanage, but we're also doing it so we can draw attention to it, make people see why the orphanage exists, why it needs funds and all the good it does for the children. The orphanage has very low adoption rates, I've seen the paperwork, they're lucky if they have five adopted children each year. The majority of the children that are in the orphanage will never leave until they become of age and the orphanage has no choice but to let the children go and try and find their own way through life. They have limited spaces available and once the children graduate school, they can't stay anymore."
"Tha' ridiculous," Oliver said, looking appalled.
She smiled sadly. "I know, but there's nothing that can be done. When a child is of age, they must leave to make room for another orphan. If they had more funds and more space, it wouldn't have to be this way. We're hoping to raise funds, promote the orphanage and make people aware of its existence. This may improve the chances of adoption, allowing the children to find families and homes of their own."
He had a thoughtful look on his face, before they were both distracted by the sound of a hooting owl. It swooped in through the window, dropped a letter to the table and then left without a second glance.
"Ye dinnae recognise the owl, did ye?" Oliver said softly, seeing the way her body had stiffened and she was staring at the letter as if it were going to explode.
She shook her head, before using her wand to cast diagnostic spells over the letter. When it came up clean, Oliver took the letter, skipped the contents and went straight to the bottom of the page where the name was signed.
"It's from Malloy," he said, handing the letter over to her.
She frowned before taking the letter from him, her eyes scanning the words before she picked up her mug and drank the last of her tea.
"Well, it seems I'm needed and the presents are going to have to wait a little longer," she spoke. "I better go, your lunch is on the side and I'll see you later."
She stood from the table, scratched Merlin on the head and then took her own dishes to the sink, before leaving the kitchen with the letter still in her hand. She returned to her room and settled for her white pea coat and slipped it on over her blouse and jeans, which were tucked into her winter boots. Out of habit she grabbed her medical bag and shrunk it down, slipping it into her pocket before leaving for the apparition point.
Malloy's Apartment
Hermione walked into the apartment when the door opened and she turned to see Malloy, dressed for training and with his broom propped up against the wall. He was watching her nervously.
"What's up?" she asked.
He looked down at the ground before speaking. "I...er...I just..."
"Ben, take a breath and try again," she encouraged.
He nodded to himself before taking a deep breath in through the nose and exhaling from the mouth. "I was just wondering if you'd come to work with me today. You know, if you're not busy," he said quietly.
She frowned. "Why?"
"Well, I get stressed, and when I get stressed I want a drink. And there's too much temptation at the stadium. I've got alcohol stashed in the locker room," he admitted. Hermione's face softened. "I can get rid of it, but there's a bar in the building on the floor below, we all have access to it, and we get free alcohol for as long as we're with the team. We're not supposed to drink during training hours, but the bar tender's easily bribed."
She knew what he was hinting at. Even if he got rid of the alcohol he'd stashed away, he still had access to the bar and it was easy enough for him to have a drink, despite it's open hours not being until after training sessions.
"Okay, I'll come to the stadium with you," she agreed.
His whole body sagged in relief and he finally looked up from the ground, sending her a look of thanks.
Puddlemere United Stadium
Hermione stepped out of the floo and followed a quiet Malloy down the hall of Puddlemere Stadium, until he came to a stop in front of the locker rooms. He stepped in first, checking to see if it was empty, before motioning for her to follow him in.
She kept her eyes on him as he went straight to his locker, dug around inside and he withdrew with two bottles of fire whiskey, both had been opened and drank from. He shut his locker, placed the bottles on one of the benches in the room, before he disappeared into the showers, returning with a bottle. He then went over to the bin in the corner of the room, moved it aside and picked up another bottle of fire whiskey. He gathered them all in his arms and Hermione held his broom for him, as he led her towards the Quidditch pitch.
"Malloy, you're late!" Coach Burton yelled, lifting his head from his clip board as he made his way down the stands.
He frowned when he noticed the bottles he carried in his arms, then his eyes fell to Hermione who was walking behind him. The team was already there and gathered, waiting for instructions, and all of them had looks of confusion held on their faces, all except for Oliver who just looked surprised.
Malloy looked to Coach Burton, before walking straight past him and over to the railing that looked out over the pitch. He placed the bottles on the ground, then went back over to the stands, walking up a few of the steps before digging his hand underneath one of the steps and removing a bottle of fire whiskey, he walked up a few more steps and pulled anther bottle from underneath, and then he made his way back to the railing.
Everyone was watching him quietly, their eyes trained on him and waiting to see his next actions. They had all known that Malloy had a drinking problem, but they never knew he kept alcohol hidden around the stadium.
Malloy picked up a bottle, unscrewed the lid before holding it out and over the railing. He lifted his head and his eyes caught Hermione's, who had placed his broom on one of the steps and was sat beside it. She gave him a smile of encouragement, before he took a deep breath, turned his eyes back towards the pitch and then he tipped the contents of the bottle to the ground below them.
Noises of surprise and mutters were heard from the team, but Hermione and Malloy ignored them. Hermione could've easily conjured a box to put the bottles in and then binned them later on, but she knew he needed to do it this way. By emptying the bottles, he was removing temptation and proving to himself that he could get past it. That he could stay sober and that he didn't need alcohol to fix his problems.
She felt a proud smile put at her face and her gaze caught Oliver's and he looked at her in complete disbelief. He had known that Malloy was getting better, not only had he seen it, but he knew from Hermione that Malloy had accepted that he needed help, but he never thought that Malloy would be at the stage of getting rid of his alcohol stores. He was doing far better than he thought. Hermione nodded and gave him a small smile, before turning her gaze back to Malloy and he did the same, seeing that he was now on the last bottle.
He emptied it of its contents and placed the bottle on the ground, before he ripped the railing in his hands tightly and his head bowed with his eyes screwed shut tightly, ignoring everyone present.
Hermione stood and made her way over to him, stopping beside him and lifting her hand to rest against his shoulder. They all saw the way he seemed to lean closer to her and when they saw his shoulders beginning to shake, they all spun around to give him some privacy.
Coach Burton cleared his throat, before beginning the morning meeting. Once he'd given them their instructions, they all mounted their brooms and took off, flying onto the pitch and starting their training session.
When Malloy had calmed down, Hermione encouraged him to go to Coach Burton and discuss what he was to do for the day. He wiped at his face with his sleeves before nodding. After Hermione had promised him she'd stay, he stepped away from her and moved over to Coach Burton. They had a quiet conversation, Coach Burton slapped him on the back and Malloy retrieved his broom and took off, flying onto the pitch. Hermione banished the empty bottles before leaning against the railing and looking out, watching as the players went about their training. She felt a presence beside her and turned her head slightly, seeing it to be Coach Burton. He didn't look at her, but kept his eyes on his clip board, so she turned her attention back to the players in the air.
"Thank you," he spoke.
She tilted her head to the side in acknowledgment. "You're very welcome, but I don't need thanks. I did this for him because he deserves to be helped, to be free of his demons. He's a good man and I would never be able to live with myself if I gave up on him. He's as stubborn as a hippogriff, but I've finally gotten through to him. It's going to be hard for him, but he's already made far more progress than I expected him to, and I'm going to be with him every step of the way."
He looked at her curiously and she turned her eyes away from the players and to him.
"I care about my patients, Coach Burton. They're not just a number to me, I make it a point to get to know them, whilst I am professional with them, I am also what they need me to be. For Ben, I am a friend, a confidant, someone he can confess his secrets to and know that I would never betray him. For my patients that are children, I am their friend, maybe even like a big sister or an aunt. For those that are elderly, some of them look at me as their daughter or their carer. I never give up on my patients, even the most difficult ones. Can I trust you to help me with him?"
"Help, how?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm not always going to be here for him, as much as I care for Ben, I'm not always going to be able to come to the stadium with him, I do have other patients that require my attention also. There's temptation here, he mentioned there being a bar and if he should want a drink, all he has to do is bribe the bar tender. I need for you to keep him away from it, stop him being tempted by it. It's not hard; all you have to do is distract him or give him some pumpkin juice, he seems to be fond of it."
"I'll make sure he doesn't relapse when he's here," he confirmed.
"He's been sober for four days," Hermione said with a proud smile pulling at her mouth.
"We've all noticed a difference in him since you started tending to him. It was subtle at first, but the big change came this morning when we witnessed him getting rid of the alcohol he'd stashed. Normally he'd be given disciplinary action for doing such a thing, but we can let this one slip given the circumstances."
"I'd appreciate that, thank you."
It was an hour before lunch and Hermione was bored. She wouldn't mind if it were a Quidditch match, but all she could see was the players running their individual drills with Coach Burton shouting at them from the stands, and Oliver's shouts being heard every once in a while.
She stood from her seat sat in the stands before disappearing into the building and heading to the floo. She quickly floo'd to Wood Manor, made her way to the kitchen and she made a quick lunch for herself and Malloy, before she grabbed a few shopping bags and other supplies and made her way back to the stadium.
Once she returned to the Coach's box, she sat herself down on the ground, pulled out a toy, leafed through the papers until she found a child that she thought would like it and then she wrapped it up. She caught sight of Coach Burton watching her curiously, but he didn't comment or approach her, leaving her to get on with her task quietly. She'd managed to get seven more presents wrapped and ready for the children when the team returned to the ground for dinner.
Each of them eyed her strangely as they made their way past her, up the stands and to the cafeteria for dinner. When Oliver past her, he gave her an amused smile and she shrugged her shoulders and smiled in response. He chuckled and shook his head before he followed the others to the cafeteria.
She looked up when Malloy sat himself down on the ground opposite her, his hair windswept and his cheeks flushed from the cold. She didn't feel it as he would, given that the Coach's box had Warming Charms placed around it to ward off the cold. His broom was beside him and his hands were clasped together and held in his lap.
"How you feeling?" she asked him, securing the cell-tape to the wrapping paper, before attaching a gift tag and making it out to 'Peter. F.'
He breathed out. "Like I want a drink," he answered honestly.
She reached behind her and picked up the pumpkin juice, before holding it out to him. He blinked in surprise but took it from her, looking grateful.
"What are you doing?"
"Wrapping the presents for the children," she answered.
"From the orphanage?"
"Yes, Harry and I have been transferring funds into a joint muggle bank account for months, so we could buy the children each a gift and new clothing and shoes for Christmas."
"That's a lot of wrapping," he commented.
"It is, there's another hundred or so bags at home that haven't even been touched yet. We started with toys, and so far we've only managed to wrap fifty-three out of seventy-nine. Each child has three new outfits and a pair of shoes that need wrapping too, and all before Christmas Eve."
He blinked in surprise, before reaching for a bag and removing a toy, picking up a roll of wrapping paper and the scissors and cello-tape. Hermione smiled at him before explaining the system of matching a toy to a child through the profile, and they worked together in silence.
They'd managed to wrap twelve presents between them when there was only twenty minutes left of his lunch break, so they left everything were it was and headed to the cafeteria, with Hermione handing him the lunch she'd made him. He took it in surprise and when they entered the cafeteria, they were more than aware of every pair of eyes on them as they found an empty table and sat together, eating their lunch in silence.
"Do you think there's something going on there?" Kings asked the others, who were all gathered around two tables.
"No," Pallie spoke first.
"Definitely not," Bishop agreed.
"She's his healer, nothing more," Thompson said. "Take it from us, we know how she is with her patients and she would never date a patient."
"That doesn't mean there's nothing going on," Kings shrugged.
"There's not," Oliver muttered, and all eyes snapped to him.
"Why's that, Captain?" Wilks asked with a raised eyebrow, sharing a look with the other four team members.
"A know her, she's not like tha'."
"Oh, you know her, do you?" Pallie said with a suspicious look on his face.
"Aye, we went tae school tagether, she'd never do tha'."
"She's our healer, we personally interact with her. I think we know her better than you," Thompson spoke. "Unless there's some other reason you know her that you want to tell us about."
"There isnae," Oliver lied, looking down at the chicken salad wrap Hermione had made him for lunch with a fond smile pulling at his mouth.
The others shared a look and nodded, they knew he was lying, and sooner or later it would all come out. They were half convinced he had a secret girlfriend he didn't want them to know about and right now, after what they'd witnessed, all reason was pointing them towards Hermione Granger.
The team had long since returned to their training and Hermione retuned to wrapping presents for the children. It was around two o'clock in the afternoon when she had returned to Wood Manor to retrieve the last of the bags containing the toys. She had a few more to do before she could finally move onto clothing and shoes.
Coach Burton appeared beside her, she looked up at him with a questioning gaze before he moved to her side and sat on one of the steps of the stands beside her.
"And just who are all of these for?" he asked curiously.
As she continued with wrapping the presents she explained to him the situation she and Harry were dealing with and why she was currently wrapping presents in the middle of the stadium.
He frowned in thought when she'd finished her explanation.
"Do you have a venue for this fund raiser? A date set? How many are expected to attend?"
Hermione blinked in confusion, wondering why he was asking her those questions but she answered them anyway.
"We don't have a specific date set yet, we're still in our planning stage but we're thinking some time in March, the weather should be starting to warm up with spring. We thought about having it at The Ministry in one of the functions rooms, as for how many are expected to attend, I don't know, we're hoping for a hundred, but I doubt we'll get that. Even after we start advertising, people just don't care."
He had a thoughtful look on his face. "Leave it with me. I'll be back soon, will you keep an eye on them for me?" He gestured to the players flying over the pitch, and even though she was apprehensive about it, she nodded.
He placed his clip board beside him before he stood up and made his way up the stands and into the building. Hermione returned her attention to wrapping the presents, her eyes looking up at the players every few minutes to make sure they were fine.
It was almost an hour later when Coach Burton reappeared and much to her surprise, he had a small smile on his face as he took a seat.
"Right, I've spoken to the bosses," he said and her brow furrowed. "They've agreed to host the fundraiser here at the stadium. We can use the pitch, there's more than enough space to do so. The bosses will pay for all advertisements and we'll be sure to draw a large crowd, especially since we're going to have the players take a day off from training to help with running the stalls, as well as doing signings, taking photographs and giving flying lessons for the day. All events will require payment and all proceeds with go to the orphanage."
Hermione was at a loss for words.
"The bosses have also agreed to sponsor the orphanage and donate a substantial amount with the condition that the money be used to purchase a larger and more suitable property for the children and staff to be moved to."
She could feel the tears welling in her eyes and was helpless to hold them back.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked quietly.
"The children have suffered more than any child should, they deserve better and we have the resources to help give them that. Of course, I may have also dropped your name as well as Harry Potter's and mentioned all that you were doing for the orphanage, afterwards they were more than glad to agree to my suggestions. That and both Malloy and Wood have spoken to me on separate occasions about this orphanage, it seems they've heard of their troubles and care about it as much as you do."
Hermione blinked in surprise at that news. Ben and Oliver had tried to convince Coach Burton to help with the orphanage?
"With the sponsorship of Puddlemere and having all the team present, it will draw more people than the orphanage ever could do by itself. Rather than a hundred, they'll be thousands attending and all the funds raised will go straight to the orphanage."
She gave a laugh of disbelief.
"I don't even know how to thank you. Honestly, you have no idea how happy this will make the children."
He shrugged and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "And I've been asked to give this to you, the bosses wanted you to have it."
He removed a large and heavy looking envelope from his pocket and handed it to her. She took it before removing the contents from the envelope and her eyes scanned the words on the first page, immediately becoming aware of what it was.
"I don't understand," she frowned.
"What don't you understand? You're a highly respected and coveted healer in your field, especially given your age and title of War Heroine and Britain's most eligible bachelorette. They've heard of your talents and are aware of you being the private healer to four out of seven members of the team. They know that you are the one that exposed Healer Dodd for his mistakes and neglect, putting our players in harm's way, and they have heard what you are capable of."
"But still, to be the team's healer?"
He shrugged. "As I said, four of the team are your patients and not only have you helped Malloy with his drinking problem, which the bosses are very impressed with, you discovered the problem with Wilks' eyesight and ensured he'd get it seen to. The team's finally pulling themselves together and just in time, practice matches start up after Christmas."
"I have other patients," she spoke.
He nodded. "The bosses recognise and understand that, therefore you are not confined to the stadium. Should you be required elsewhere then you are free to leave. You're only required to be here three full days a week anyway," he shrugged. "Which days you come to the stadium are entirely up to you. You'll be given your own office, examination room and treatment bay. All potions shall be provided for you and if you prefer to brew your own, as we know some private healers do, you will be reimbursed for the price of ingredients and paid for the time spent brewing, along with a good monthly salary."
"That's all very tempting, but I still don't think I can take up their offer, no matter the perks and I do not care for money."
"I thought you'd say that," he said amused, before removing a second envelope from his pocket and handing it to her.
She took it from him and opened it, removing a piece of parchment with one thousand galleons written on it.
"That is what the bosses are offering you monthly and they are also offering to give the same amount each month, to any charity of your choice and in your name. And, they have agreed to pay for the tuition to Hogwarts for every child at the orphanage, and any who wish to move onto further education once they have graduated."
"I..."
"I understand this is a lot for you to take in, so take some time to think about it, but not too much; I need an answer by tomorrow."
He patted her on the shoulder and left her alone, staring off into space blankly.
Wood Estate
Hermione arrived at the manor before Oliver did and she sat on the corner suite, cuddling against Merlin once he bounded into the room to greet her. Oliver arrived twenty minutes after her, before he sat himself down next to her, watching her carefully.
"Ye alright, ye look a little dazed?" he asked her with a frown of worry.
In response she removed the contract from her pocket and handed it to him. He took it and his eyes scanned the first page, immediately knowing what it was. It was similar to the one he received every year. He felt a smile pulling at his mouth. Well, that certainly would be interesting. Not only would he be able to spend time with her at the manor, but at the stadium too. It would be less suspicious should he be seen speaking with her, giving that she worked there too.
"Tae be honest, a'm not surprised," he commented and she turned to look at him in surprise. He shrugged. "What? A'm not, since Coach discovered yer the healer tae four af the team, five if ye include mae, six if ye include Wilks after what ye did fer his eyesight, an' ye got rid af Dodd, a was expecting somethin' like this." She blinked at him. "What have they offered ye?"
She shook her head to clear her mind. "Three full days at the stadium with the freedom to leave should another of my patients require my services. My own office, examination room and treatment bay. If I decide to brew my own potions, they'll reimburse me for the cost of ingredients and for time spent brewing, and of course, a monthly salary of thousand galleons."
Oliver made a whistling sound; that wasn't much less than his own wage and he was the Captain and a starting player.
"They must really be desperate tae get ye."
"That's not all." He raised an eyebrow. "They're willing to donate one thousand galleons a month to a charity of my choice and in my name, as well as paying the Hogwarts tuition for the children at the orphanage, and paying tuition for anyone who wishes to go onto further education once they've graduated."
Now that did surprise him. He wondered why they were so desperate to get her on their payroll. He knew her very well by this point, and he knew she would've easily turned down the offer, but then they'd thrown in something she wouldn't be able to walk away from. She cared for the children and wanted them to have the best lives they could have, and that meant education too. They'd basically left her no choice.
"Yer gunna take the offer aren't ye?" he said knowingly.
"I don't have a choice," she sighed. "If I should decline, those children are going to miss out on so much and it'll be because of me. I'll be denying them their right to an education and I can't live with myself if I do that." She flopped her head backwards to lean against the cushions, then she turned her head to look at him. "Is it alright with you?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" he asked.
"I don't want to intrude on your work life, especially given that I've done so in your personal life."
He started at her and he couldn't help herself, he laughed at her and she blinked dumbly, before scowling at him.
"A'm sorry, Damsel," his laughter tapered off. "Af course a don' mind, yer brilliant at yer job an' a'll feel a lot better aboot getting injured knowing ye'll be the one tae heal mae. Ye'll take good care af the team, tha's all any Captain wants from a healer."
She nodded slowly. "Did you speak with Coach Burton about the orphanage?"
"A may have," he admitted, a shy smile pulling at his face. Before he could blink, Hermione had pushed Merlin off her and she'd moved closer to him; she hugged him tightly and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered, before pulling back from him and giving him a wide smile.
"Why?" he cleared his throat, lemons and jasmine still filling his nose even though she'd moved away from him.
"Well, between Malloy, you and myself and Harry, he was able to convince the bosses to host the fund raiser at the stadium. The team's all going to be given the day off from training in order to help with the running of the stalls and what not, as well doing signings, photographs and flying lessons. All money raised is going to the orphanage. They're going to pay for the advertising and they're going to donate to the orphanage too."
"Well, a'm glad a could help ye in some way."
"You've helped me more than you know," she replied. He wondered what she meant by that. "Now, I've finished wrapping the toys, we can move onto the clothing and shoes."
"Dinner first," he chuckled. "What do ye fancy?"
"Chicken pie," she answered.
"Again?" he asked amused.
"It's not my fault you're such a good cook, honestly, you could give Mrs. Weasley a run for her galleons."
He took her compliment and sat up taller, before standing up and making his way to the kitchen, grabbing everything he needed to make another chicken pie for Hermione. They'd eaten it several times over the last couple of weeks, but seeing as she loved it so much, he was more than happy to make it for her, since it seemed to make her happy.