A/N: Hello, Blackians! This was by far, the hardest chapter to write up until now. I hope that this chapter holds up to previous chapters. Most of you have asked multiple times if this was going to be a triad. For a while, I didn't know. But our lovely characters have decided that it will not be a triad. So to make up for the disappointment, this chapter holds a flashback that is different from what we've seen so far. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the original plot and characters made up for this story. JK rules all.

XoXo,

Elle.

Chapter 7

When Draco awoke some hours later, the sun was just starting to rise on the horizon and he was almost wrapped around Hermione's seemingly lifeless body. His fingers were intertwined with someone else's and when he lifted his head to look, George was lying on Hermione's opposite side, cradling her in much the same way as Draco, and it was George's fingers that were woven between his.

Draco sighed quietly and slowly extracted his fingers from George's. The redhead snorted loudly before quieting back down and slipping back into a deep sleep. Draco sat up and looked down at Hermione. He could tell right away that her condition hadn't changed. She was still stable and another check of her vitals would be useless.

He needed to go and check on Scorpius anyway. The boy was Draco's own alarm clock-his son didn't know what the phrase "lie in" meant.

Draco rose from the bed and exited the room, moving back to his suite of rooms. Once inside, his first stop was to check on Scorpius, who was beginning to stir on the bed. Draco left him to wake up and went to his room to shower and change clothes. The whole affair took only ten minutes and by that time, Scorpius was awake and bursting into Draco's room. "Morning, Daddy!"

"Good morning, son." Draco chuckled as he picked his son up and kissed him all over his face. Scorpius giggled and tried to push Draco's head away, but Draco persisted until he pulled back of his own accord.

"Zoo! Zoo!" Scorpius shouted in Draco's face, his little hands cupping Draco's cheeks.

Draco laughed softly as he looked into those blue eyes. "Is Grammy taking you to the zoo today?" Scorpius nodded, the excitement sparkling in those navy irises. "Well, I guess we'd better dress you in your best safari clothes then!" He set Scorpius down on the counter and gave him his toothbrush. "But first you have to get those chompers clean for me, okay buddy?"

Scorpius started to brush vigorously, humming an uptempo song as he brushed. Draco chuckled softly as he moved to brush his own teeth. It was a habit he picked up from Granger in their Hogwarts days, when he'd learned that her parents were Muggle dentists. He'd gotten curious and wanted to know what they really did in Muggle dentist offices. Ever since then, he'd been brushing his teeth and he'd instilled the habit in his son.

"Done, Daddy!" Draco rinsed his own mouth as Scorpius did the same, toothpaste running down his chin. Draco wiped his mouth for him and smiled.

"Good job, buddy. Let's go and get you dressed." Draco lifted Scorpius onto his shoulders and carried him back to his room. He set him on the floor and walked over to his closet, opening the doors wide. "Now, where did we put your safari clothes? Ah! Here they are!"

Draco came out of the closet with Scorpius' favorite outfit to wear to the zoo. It was a pair of khaki cargo trousers and a matching top, because he wanted to look just like that Steve Irwin guy that Draco's mum let him watch on the Muggle telly Draco had installed. Scorpius was obsessed with animals, be they Muggle or magical. It made Draco think of putting him in a school later that focused on animals.

Once Scorpius was dressed, Draco took him downstairs to the breakfast room to find his mother already there waiting. "Good morning, mum." He walked over and kissed her on the cheek, Scorpius doing the same. Draco sat Scorpius into his booster and took his own seat beside his mother. The elves showed up to fill everyone's plates and Draco started to eat. He was trying not to rush through his meal, but was having a hard time controlling himself.

"Grammy, Uncle Georgie is here." Draco ground his teeth together, he knew the questions that would inevitably follow from his mother.

"Is he now? That must have been exciting for you to see him, Scorp. If you're finished eating, why don't you go and play with your train set until time to go." Scorpius wiggled down from his booster and left for the playroom. As soon as he was out of hearing range, his mother started in. "You and George aren't starting in again are you? Draco, dear, that nearly destroyed you last time. It was so soon after Astoria."

Draco pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed softly, "No, Mum. He just needed a place to stay for a few days, away from his family home. This anniversary is hard on him. I told him that he could stay here for as long as he needs. He's staying in the suite I provided him. Mum, please don't go and look for him. If he wants to venture out, he will."

Narcissa raised her hands in surrender, "Okay, Draco, okay. I will not seek him out. I just don't want you to get hurt again. I hate seeing the way you draw into yourself. But I will leave it alone, you are a grown man, able to make your own choices."

"Thank you, Mum. I'm going to go say goodbye to Scorpius, have fun at the zoo." Draco rose from the table and kissed his mother on the head. She said no more to him, but continued to sip her tea, her eyes watching him as he left the room. Draco went into the playroom, watching Scorpius playing with his building blocks. "Hey buddy, I've come to say goodbye to you before you leave for the zoo."

Scorpius jumped up and ran over to Draco with a grin. "Bye Daddy!"

Draco picked him up and gave him a kiss. "You have fun with Grammy, buddy. Tell me all about it when you come home, okay?" Scorpius nodded, his hair falling into his eyes when he did, his tiny hands pushing it from his eyes.

Draco set his son down and kissed him on the head once again before leaving the room. When he got back to his floor, he looked in on Hermione and George. Both of them were still sleeping, so Draco moved into the room and sat down in a chair across the way. Hermione's chest rose and fell evenly, her eyes moving behind her closed lids. Draco wondered for the millionth time when she was going to wake up. His grey eyes fell on the flames in the fireplace and the world faded away.

Their first counseling session had ended, but Draco and George still sat in his office at St. Mungo's. It had been Draco's first ever counseling session as a therapist and to say he had been nervous would have been an understatement. His palms had been sweaty, his hands shaky, and his heart had been pounding. Of all patients to have been his first, it had to have been George Weasley. His brother's death was the one death that had hit Draco the hardest. Not only that, after only having lost Astoria a year ago, he wasn't sure how he was going to handle trying to help someone else through their grief.

But surprisingly, it went better than he'd expected. Draco had been able to separate his personal life from his professional life. At the end of the session, George had seemed lighter, happier even and that is what Draco had wanted to see when he'd decided to branch off into this branch of medicine.

"Would you like to go get some tea? Or coffee? If you'd prefer?" George asked, sounding unsure of himself. "I'm still feeling raw and exposed. I really don't think I could handle being around my family right now."

Draco knew he shouldn't, that it was probably breaking all sorts of doctor and patient relationship rules, but he knew exactly what George was feeling. Opening up about the death of a loved one, someone who was your other half, was not an easy thing to do. No matter how much time had passed. "That sounds great. There's a great little cafe just around the corner."

Both wizards stood, Draco buttoned his suit jacket and moved around his desk. He lead the way to the office door, opening the tall panel, allowing George to step through first. They strolled through the halls of St. Mungo's making small talk, trying to move out of therapist/patient territory and into former schoolmate territory.

Out in the open air, it was easier for them both to breathe and feel more at peace. "It's a nice day out, isn't it?" George asked.

Draco chuckled softly as he looked at the dreary gray skies. "Well, I guess it could be worse. Here we are." He held the door open for George once again and let the wizard walk in past him. George went straight for the order line and Draco followed. They both ordered and found a table outside, situated away from everyone else. When they were seated with their tea, Draco looked across at George, his grey eyes measuring him. Out of all of his brothers, aside from possibly Charlie-whom Draco had never seen-George was the best looking.

Draco frowned and looked away from George. The thought that had flickered through his mind was foreign. Sure, he looked at other men every now and then and compared himself to them. But this thought had been different. He hadn't looked at him through a skeptic's eyes, but through a potential lover's eyes. That was what had freaked Draco out the most in the moment. He'd never had any proclivities toward members of his own sex, but that seemed to have changed just a moment ago. At least for the brief second it took for the thought to flash in his mind.

"Draco?" George's voice brought him back to the present and he looked back over, realizing that George must have asked him a question.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Draco asked, his attention returning to George with a smile.

"I asked how -you- were doing since Astoria's passing." George took a sip of his tea, his hazel eyes shrewd as he looked for minute gestures in Draco's face and neck. Draco wasn't used to being surveyed by anyone else, other than his own therapist. It was unnerving to say the least. And while the question opened up a chasm in his chest, he decided to answer earnestly.

Draco cleared his throat and sighed softly, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "Honestly? I'm struggling. The only thing that really keeps me grounded is my son and he is a little handful at the moment. I'm so thankful for my mum, she's been so much help with Scorpius. While he helps me, the absence of Astoria-there are days where the pain threatens to overwhelm me."

George nodded, taking another sip of his tea as his eyes wandered the streets for a moment. "I understand that feeling, completely. If you ever need someone to talk to someone, someone that isn't your therapist, mother or son, you can always contact me at the shop or the Burrow."

The tea in his cup was warming Draco's hands as he held it, he took a sip as he played over George's words in his mind. He should have said the professional thing, that any relationship outside of doctor and patient was a bad idea. But he just gave George a nod. "I'll keep that in mind."

A groan from the bed brought Draco's mind back into the present and he lifted his head that had fallen to his chest. George was stretching his body as he sat up on the bed, his eyes immediately turning to look at Hermione, checking on her.

"There's been no change." Draco called quietly, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. George turned his head toward Draco and Draco gave him a smile. "Morning. How about I call Fellie up here to get you something to eat? And maybe we can get some broth for Hermione and tip it down her throat."

George nodded, scrubbing his hand through his hair. "Breakfast sounds great. We should definitely try to get Hermione some nutrition into her system." George turned his head to look down at Hermione again, watching her chest rise and fall. He stood from the bed and Draco watched him carefully, analyzing him, admiring George. His earlier stroll down memory lane was messing with his feelings.

"Fellie." Draco called, the elf appearing with a pop.

"Yes, Master Draco?" she asked, bowing low, her long pointed nose brushing the floor.

"I need you to prepare a breakfast for George, the full works, as well as some broth for Miss Granger. But only heat it to lukewarm, I do not want to burn her throat." Draco said, rising from his chair and walking over to the bed. He brushed his palm across her cheek, his thumb trailing just under her eye, watching as her head turned into his hand. There was something of Hermione in there, but what was she reacting to?

"Yes, Master Draco." Fellie disappeared with a pop and Draco was alone with Hermione and George once again.

"Did you see anything when you used Legilimens on her?" George asked, his fingers playing with her hair. The action was almost intimate and it made Draco wonder again what exactly had happened between George and Hermione.

Draco frowned as he pulled his hand back, taking Hermione's hand in his as his eyes focused on her face. "Just flashes of her life, nothing concrete or long enough for me to make sense of. Just some anonymous guy in her memories. I never saw his face or got his name. Only that he was important to her. But you were right, I was exhausted. Maybe once we get some broth down her, I can try again."

George nodded his head, standing from the bed and left for the loo. Draco watched him go, his eyes lingering until the door shut. Then he turned to look at Hermione once more, his eyes studying her. The longer she was here, the more comfortable he was in her presence, even if she was unconscious.

Fellie popped back into the room, levitating the tray of food to the desk in the corner. "Breakfast for Master George and Mistress Hermione, Master Draco. Do you need Fellie for more?"

"No Fellie, that will be all. Thank you." The elf bowed and left with another pop. George came out of the loo, drying his face on a hand towel. "Breakfast is here."

George looked over at Hermione on the bed. "Let's feed her first."

Draco nodded, his eyes falling back to Hermione. "That's a good idea." He summoned the bowl of broth and transfigured it into a teapot with a spout, to make it easier to pour into Hermione's mouth. "Here, hold this." He handed the teapot over to George and levitated Hermione's torso up off the bed. Draco then maneuvered himself behind her, his legs cradling her body as he let her back fall against his chest.

Draco's eyes caught with George's and there was a far off look in the hazel depths. Draco positioned Hermione's head on his shoulder and held her jaw open. "Okay, George, slowly pour some into her mouth." This close to Hermione, he could smell her natural scent-sandalwood and vanilla. It was so different from Astoria's, but yet so alike in the way it burrowed into his lungs and stayed there.

George moved forward and did as Draco said, slowly pouring the clear liquid down Hermione's throat, and Draco felt her esophagus contract as she moved to swallow the nourishment. Grey eyes met hazel and Draco spoke. "This may be easier than we thought." George nodded, tipping more of the warm broth down Hermione's open mouth. "George?"

"Hmm?" George hummed, looking up at Draco.

Draco felt Hermione's throat working as she swallowed once again and he worked up his courage to ask George what was on his mind. "Have you and Hermione ever-" The look on George's face stalled Draco's question. It told him everything, but he still wanted to know.

Those hazel eyes Draco knew so well dropped to look down at Hermione and tip some more broth into her open mouth. "My sixth year, your fifth. It actually started in the summer, while we were all cooped up in Grimmauld Place. She was my first, I was hers."

Draco felt his jaw tightening, for what reason, he couldn't determine. Was it jealousy? Most likely. But was he jealous of George sleeping with Hermione or vice versa? He turned his nose into Hermione's hair and inhaled, her sandalwood and vanilla scent filling his lungs and calming him. "What ended it?"

"That was the year she, Harry and the others went into the Department of Mysteries. After that, after Sirius died, she was closed off and distant. Things just died off. It ended on good terms, I always thought we might would try again. But then the war happened, Fred died, and she disappeared into the Muggle world." George shrugged, checking Hermione's mouth to make sure it was clear before tipping more in.

A frown creased Draco's brow. After Hermione swallowed, he adjusted her against his body, letting George's words hang in the silence. He wondered if George would still seek to rekindle his relationship with Hermione after she woke up.

Draco refused to think the words if she woke up.

The silence drug on and eventually they finished giving Hermione all of the broth. Draco remained where he was, cradling Hermione, wanting to give her ample time to digest the broth so that she did not aspirate when he laid her back down. The one thing they didn't need was for the liquid they had poured down her to come back up and get into her lungs. George left the bed and went to eat his own breakfast, studiously ignoring Draco and Hermione on the bed.

Draco could feel the awkwardness in the air and was unsure what to do about it. It seemed that George could feel it too and was just as clueless as he was, until George spoke up, his eyes never leaving the view of the back gardens. "But the way I see it, if she had wanted to give our relationship another try, she knew where I was living. She obviously didn't, she melted into the Muggle world and married someone else."

Draco didn't know why, but he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his chest when George spoke. Nor did he want to look too closely at it. What they needed to focus on right now was the woman lying in the cradle of his body right now. Hermione Granger was the most important thing to him right now, second only to Scorpius.