DISCLAIMER: The author does not own any recognizable characters, features, or anything regarding the Harry Potter series.

Chapter 7

Draco couldn't stand the hospital anymore. It hit too close to home and reminded him of the part of his past he was trying so hard to escape.

The war had taken its toll on everyone, even if they weren't involved. And for someone who was in the inner circle of Death Eaters, it had hit him the hardest.

He didn't know why he was in the condition he was in, and why some particularly nasty wizard decided to target him. All he knew was that he know had a loving relationship with his mother, his father was locked away in Azkaban, and that he ran one of the most successful companies in the Wizarding World. He also knew that he had finally overcome his muggle prejudices, and had changed for the better.

And he wasn't going back. Maybe that was the reason he was attacked. He did make it quite obvious he didn't hate muggleborns anymore, but in fact almost admired them. Without any magic, their civilization had become so advanced, advanced enough to rival the Wizarding World. Of course football would never match the beauties of Quidditch, but it was a fairly entertaining sport. He even had multiple TVs installed in the manor and in his office. Since his business was a technological company, he was trying out a few experiments of streaming Quidditch on Wizarding channels.

But no matter how much he had tried to leave his wretched past behind, meeting Hermione Granger for the second time in a week, and being reminded of her caring personality had wasted all of his efforts. He remembered the "Mudblood" scar that had been left on her arm, and for the past two days had been cursing himself about how he could have stopped the torture she had gone through because of Bellatrix.

And if he was going to start working with Hermione, he needed space to breathe. His mother had told him that the Wizarding World had now accepted him, and he needed to let go of the past. He wasn't evil, and he knew everyone was convinced of that. But was Hermione convinced of that? He had started doubting himself again the minute he saw her in Flourish and Botts. And stuck in the hospital like the helpless person he had been when Hermione was being tortured flooded his memories with that one moment on replay. He couldn't stand it.

"Hermione," he said.

"Yes?" She asked, tidying up her equipment and pulling her messy hair into a ponytail.

"If we're going to start researching about my curse, don't you think it's a better idea if I don't stay on this hospital bed unable to move so I can help you? The hospital brings back memories of. . . you know. . . the war."

He could see her stiffen a little bit, but then she smiled, and relaxed her shoulders. "If you don't mind, do you think you could help me find a place to stay? I don't know that much about muggle London." Draco continued.

"Umm, actually Draco, I have an extra room in my apartment if you want to stay there. I just figure that it would be easier to work together if we were close by. Besides, I don't really want you to stay in the hospital either. It brings back memories too, so I rarely even show up for work." Hermione stammered.

Draco wasn't supposed to act like someone with a schoolboy crush, but internally he was squealing at the fact that he was going to be closer to Hermione than he anticipated. He was imagining the same apartment building at best, but she had just offered for him to stay in the very same room as her. How could he ever say no to that glorious opportunity?!

"Works for me," he shrugged, and tried to act cool. "But why did you decide to become a Healer when you knew that memories would come back to haunt you? Why don't you just find another job? You have plenty of qualifications, and you are the smartest witch of our age."

"Why didn't you ever come back to the Wizarding World Hermione?"

Hermione just stood there, and he thought he saw her eyes well up, and she just shrugged back at him. Draco knew the answer to his own question, but he didn't know the whole story. He knew that the Daily Prophet had said that she had cheated on Ron 3 years ago, but somehow he knew that she had enough integrity not to do that. She was one of the most brilliant people he knew, even if he never liked to admit it. But he couldn't figure out why she would leave when she did nothing wrong.

He changed the subject; he didn't like the awkward silence his questions had led to. "So when am I moving in? The sooner the better."

"First I just need to make sure I fix your bones and anything you might have broken. I did some healing spells in the morning, but they're going to take some time. I made a list of all the symptoms and signs I saw. It could help in our research. Do you have any stuff with you that we need to shift into my apartment?" she eagerly rambled.

"Just me and my briefcase. I had come to London to set up a meeting with some wizards who wanted to open up a branch of Malfoy Industries in the muggle world when I got injured. I just apparated to the closest hospital, which happened to be this one. I think a nurse took my briefcase before she got you." Draco explained.

Using the Accio charm, she called upon Draco's briefcase and it came flying into her hand.

"All ready to go." She smiled. "Let's just wait until tonight when you're bones are healed and we'll be able to start tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me." He cheekily answered.

A/N: Hey guys. I know it took a little bit longer than expected to update, but I was having trouble about how to go from Chapter 6. I know this chapter was one of the shorter ones. But hope you all liked the Draco's point of view. If you guys have any ideas, feel free to tell me!

Also, later in the story I want it to be where Hermione and Draco close enough that they talk about more personal things, such as Draco and Lucius and Hermione and Ron, a little bit of which you guys saw in this chapter. I have a plan to make it that Hermione and Draco will go to Azkaban and Draco and Lucius will improve their relationship. I also have it that Hermione will completely open up to Draco about what happened with Ron and that Dramione will finally happen.

If you guys have any other ideas, I would love to include them, especially since I'm kind of iffy about where this story is going to go.

Thanks everyone, and make sure to read and review!

P.S. - I'd also love to have a Beta Reader, so if you'd like feel free to DM me!