Chapter Fifteen
This is the final full chapter. Next up: the epilogue! Can't believe how quick this has gone please review and as always enjoy.
Love C.J.
Draco Malfoy looked as his feet as he walked slowly along Diagon Alley. He had talked to Kingsley Shacklebolt in the auror office. Shacklebolt had wanted to talk over every tiny issue aspect of Draco's life since the war. He seemed particularly interested in the kidnap of Hermione and where she was. He got angry when Draco could give him no response except "she went home." Kingsley had also seemed reluctant to let Draco go but he promised to return the next day finally exploding with anger.
"Shacklebolt I walked into the ministry remember. I am taking up a room in the Leaky Calderon and I will be sleeping with my wand under my pillow as you offered no protection to me. You get in touch with Granger I have no idea where she lives."
"Fine Mr. Malfoy I understand with one addition. May I have your permission to put a tracker spell on you?"
"Yes," Draco nodded "although your lack of faith in me is disheartening Mr. Shacklebolt." He said in mock surprise.
"Mr. Malfoy you will understand that in my line of work you have little cause to trust anyone."
Shacklebolt's thoughts were still whirling around Draco's mind as he loitered along Diagon Alley. He had no really reason for wanting to escape the Ministry except the wish to forget everything in his brain. Which for Draco usually involved getting drunk.
Draco was heading to the small magical bar in Knockturn Alley. It was grubby, unclean and had a bad cliental but it was also much less well known than the Leaky Calderon and didn't ask questions about people who wanted to slowly get drunk on muggle whiskey. Draco was drawn out of his daydream by a cry. He looked around the next corner of the alley and saw Hermione. His heart sunk she was surrounded by several of Knockturn Alley's worst inhabitants. Draco didn't know them by name but he had been hanging around in the alley long enough to know the quiet drinkers from those who tried and knew how to make trouble. Unfortunately for Hermione she had managed to stumble into a group of the latter.
"Let her go," He shouted running to the group. The man turned and smirked. Draco realised he hadn't appreciated how annoying a smirk could be until that moment. He dispatched a quick stinging hex, several stunners and a spell of some kind. In a few seconds the entire group was incapacitated. Draco looked to Hermione and saw that she had fainted on the wall she had been leaning on. He scooped her up in his arms and ignored the looks of various shoppers as he carried her back to The Leaky Calderon. Draco was surprised that no one confronted him. He was walking down one of the busiest streets in the wizarding world carrying a hero that was known to be kidnapped and not one person was challenging him. He turned into the Leaky Calderon.
"Mr. Malfoy?" Tom asked.
"Tom contact the Ministry let them know where Hermione Granger is."
"Yes Mr. Malfoy," the barman replied not missing a beat. He had heard more than his share of unusual requests over the years.
Draco placed Hermione on the bed of the room he was renting. He knew it wouldn't be long before someone from the ministry or one of Granger's friends turned up, news always travelled fast in the wizarding world and he had hardly been discreet about carrying her.
"Where am I?" Hermione asked suddenly. She looked over to Draco "Merlin Draco are you always here when I wake up." He smiled.
"And you Granger do you always need a man to rescue you from something? What were you even doing in Knockturn Alley?" Hermione flopped backwards lying on the bed.
"I apparated from my flat I was trying to get to Diagon Alley."
"Your flat? Where do you even live?"
"West London."
"You apparated from West London?" Draco asked incredulously "after that healing this morning?"
"I tried to."
"Why? I thought you wanted to be in your flat."
"I did until I found my boyfriend having sex with another girl in my bed."
"What?" Draco asked incredulously "the Weasel? I never liked him but I didn't think-"
"Draco do you really think I want to talk about him right now?" She said angrily.
"Ok I'm sorry." He apologised. "Hermione we need to talk about us about what happened in the house and on the moors." Hermione didn't get a chance to reply because at that moment two healers burst in the door.
"Malfoy stop," the taller of the two said "get away from her."
"Relax Scott," Hermione said "he didn't kidnap me.
"You obviously didn't talk to the auror office." Draco replied sarcastically.
"Hermione," Amanda said calmly "we are just here to check if you are ok."
"I'm fine."
"She's lying." Draco said darkly "she did a huge healing this morning with barely anything and then she apparated across half of London."
"What?" Amanda asked "Hermione how are you still standing? I'm taking her to St. Mungo's." Draco smiled at Hermione as if to say "I told you so"
"Mr. Malfoy?" Amanda asked seriously "where you the person Hermione healed?"
"Yes," he nodded slightly confused.
"Then you're coming too." Entering St. Mungo's as a patient was an odd experience for Hermione. The members of her department fussed endlessly over her and ascribed potions and spells that she was sure she didn't need finally after her fourth consultation she lost it.
"Guys stop fussing over me I can diagnose myself I have exhaustion. I now I have enough magic in me I just need rest so I am signing myself off work for a week. And I want to see Malfoy ok?" She told the three healers and two mediwitches in the room. No-one replied. Hermione was still wearing St. Mungo's patient robes as she stormed down the corridor.
"Hermione?" Asked Scott puzzled as she walked into the ward Draco was residing in.
"How is he?"
"Good all things considered," Scott smiled "he also told me everything Hermione. You were brave."
"No I wasn't," she smiled "he was though." Hermione sat on the empty chair beside Draco's bed and took his hand in hers.
"Why is he unconscious Scott?"
"The leg had to be slightly re-set it was a millimetre or so out. I thought it was worth knocking him out this time." He smiled at her "he should be awake soon. I will be back in a minute." Scott smiled at Hermione in a way that made her wonder what he was up watched as Scott exited the room.
"Hey Draco." she smiled "hope you're feeling better I'm sorry about being weird earlier it was just," she paused and smiled at his face which seemed so serene asleep. "I felt guilty not just about the kiss but the way I felt about the kiss too."
"It was kisses." Draco said suddenly "as in more than one."
"You're awake." She smiled "how do you feel?"
"Good that pain in my leg has stopped."
"Pain in your leg what?" Hermione caught sight of his face where a smirk was situated.
"You idiot," she smiled.
"Hermione," Draco said his tone suddenly more serious. "You have no need to feel guilty over anything emotions just-"
"Just what? Everything's ok because Ron betrayed me. I was just evening the score."
"Something like that."
"Well its not." Hermione snapped. Draco pulled himself up into a sitting position.
"Hermione don't beat yourself up over stuff you cannot control your feelings."
"I should have though I should have controlled m-" At that moment Hermione let Draco's lips crash onto hers and any control she had immediately vanished.
"What were you saying about control?" Draco asked sarcastically. Hermione pushed him back onto his bed and pressed her lips to his again.
