Of Stitches and Stalking
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Any characters, places, names, and things you recognize are not mine. The plot and characters unknown are mine.
- Chapter Three -
It had been five days since she had seen him last. Maybe he gave up, she thought happily as she served her last night sentence as one of two night time doctors in the emergency room. But her joy was short lived.
It was half past eleven when the automatic doors slid open and the proud form of Draco Malfoy appeared. He held his left hand, which was wrapped in a piece of black fabric that looked remarkably as though it had been torn from his shirt, in his right hand with blood dripping from the fabric. He looked frazzled and as though he hadn't shaved in three days despite having been clean shaven the day prior.
He was immediately ushered into a room and demanded that Doctor Bennett look after him. Unable to argue the point, one of the nurses sent the other to get her while he began checking the man's vital signs and asking a multitude of questions.
"It's none of your business," He said with a derisive snort.
The nurse shot him a dirty look before he left the taciturn blonde to bleed all over the emergency room. The expression on her face was not at all amused as she walked into the room to find the wizard bleeding all over her table.
"What happened to you?" She asked as she set the clipboard in her hands on one of the chairs and began to wash her hands.
"Auror business," He retorted and she rolled her eyes, "The target exploded a window and I got a shard right into my hand. I pulled it out, but Harry told me to go to St. Mungos…"
"So why are you here and not there?" She scowled as she ripped a paper towel from the dispenser and began drying her hands.
"Would you believe me if I said it was because I wanted to see that beautiful scowl of yours?" He asked cheekily and she scoffed.
"The truth, Mister Malfoy," She replied a she pulled on a pair of gloves and began inspecting his hand, "I'm going to have to clean this and make sure there isn't any more glass in it. It's going to hurt, you know."
He shrugged, "I'll take it like a man."
A few minutes later, a shout echoed through the ER causing every head to swivel in the direction of room 11.
"Mother of Godric! Woman, are you trying to kill me?"
A satisfied smile appeared on the face of the nurse conversing with the tall dark haired form of Doctor Grey. The doctor, on the other hand, curiously excused himself and made his way to the room.
"-just leave me alone. I don't see why you didn't just do as Harry said, you idiot," She was saying.
"Honestly, I really did just want to see your beautiful scowl," Was returned before a sharp intake of breath, "Is this pay back for tormenting you when we were kids?"
She laughed sarcastically, "Malfoy, as if this could pay you back for everything you put me through. If I wanted revenge, I'd have to drop a boulder from the top of the Eiffel Tower on your head."
It was quiet until –
"You really hate me, then?"
"No," She replied before smugly adding, "I dislike you greatly."
Another yelp and a few curses followed and she laughed softly.
"Nearly done, you pansy."
Doctor Grey turned and walked away, shaking his head with an amused smile gracing his lips.
"You're enjoying this," He accused her, eyes narrowed at her head as she sutured the wound.
"Why wouldn't I?" She replied with a grin, "You are entertaining me thoroughly, Malfoy."
When the last suture was secured, she sat back and admired her handiwork for a moment before carefully cleaning the remaining blood off and wrapping it in some gauze.
"Well," She said slowly, "If your forehead is any indication, you'll probably keep these ones too. The inside ones dissolve on their own, but the outside ones come see me in a week. Keep it out of water and be careful. I really don't want to see you again this week."
"Don't forget you have to remove these," He said pointing to his forehead and she glared at him.
"I hope you die one day," She told him before starting the suture removal process, "Sometimes I hate being a doctor."
"Then why do it?" He asked.
"I wanted to be a healer if I didn't make the Harpy's team," She admitted quietly, "And since I ran away… Well, I modified my dreams a bit, didn't I?"
"Oh," He said and grimaced as he felt the slight pinch of the suture being removed.
He was quiet until she finished removing the stitches and sat back to observe the results.
"Well, with a bit of Madame Mildred's scar remover you won't even notice the scar," Ginny told him and he frowned.
"I might just keep it," He told her and she blinked.
"Why?" She asked suspiciously.
"To serve as a reminder of the one case that's bothered me most for ten years," He replied and she scoffed before he added, "Come back with me."
She almost growled as she told him angrily, "Go die."
He never thought he'd ever enjoy being rejected, but in the name of Merlin, it was very amusing to watch her when she was angry. The Auror watched her storm out of the room, eyes locked onto the swaying hips that seemed to taunt him.
- Break -
Draco silently read over the Parkinson's case file. A disposable cup of tea sat next to him as he flipped through the pages for the one millionth time. He had missed something. He knew he had. If he hadn't he wouldn't still be searching for the bastard. He glanced at the clock and noted it was about time to go and attempt to pester Weasley again. Before he did, he made three copies of his file and stood. He needed some help with this one.
"Potter," He greeted the Head Auror, "I loathe admitting it, I need your help. Weasley and his bushy haired know it all's help would be appreciated too. I missed something somewhere in this case and I can't see it. I'm taking off for an hour for lunch. Would you mind looking over the case for me?"
"No problem, Draco," Harry replied as he adjusted his glasses, "I'll call Hermione and Ron in too."
"No need. I've made copies for them too," Draco said as he tossed Harry a copy.
The other two were in Hermione's office eating lunch when he found them. They graciously told him to bugger off, but they'd look over the case later, and Draco left with a smirk on his face as he recalled Granger's flushed cheeks and horror at being caught in that position. No more shagging in the office for them, he thought before disapparating.
- Break -
He was left waiting for his prey to appear. She was late, but that wasn't uncommon for an appointment to run over the time she normally showed up at the little café three blocks down from the hospital she ate at for lunch.
He couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face as he watched her expression turn into a rage filled one that promised death as she spotted him sitting at her little table outside the café. She marched up to him and turned those angry brown eyes onto him.
This was definitely an improvement. The last three days she had promptly spun on her heel and walked back to the hospital. Four days had passed since she had stitched his hand and removed the stitches from his forehead.
"What are you doing here?" She spat, narrowing her eyes as she adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder.
"Drinking tea while I wait for my lunch," He remarked casually, "Care to join me?"
"No I do – Malfoy! Why are you following me?" She snapped, "Didn't I make my feelings quite clear on the subject?"
"Why, yes I believe you did, but you might have forgotten, Doctor, what kind of person I am," Draco remarked calmly, "Why don't you sit down, Ginevra. I'll buy you lunch and we can talk."
"I will bloody well not!" She exclaimed, "You infuriating man. Can I have no peace?"
"Don't you want to hear about your family?" He asked and watched her facial features as it turned curious.
"What do you mean? Has something happened?" She asked, biting her lip.
"Let me buy you lunch," He said smoothly and watched the turmoil play across her features before she finally caved and took a seat across from him.
"Waiter!" Ginny called and a tall young man hurried to their table.
"Dr. Bennett, your usual?" he asked and she nodded.
"You can bring my meal with hers," Draco said and the waiter smiled at the blonde.
"Very well, sir. I'll be right back with your latte, Dr. Bennett."
"Thank you," Ginny replied with a short glance at the man before her eyes returned to the blonde across from her, "Start talking."
"Now, now, Ginevra," He chided her and watched her glower for a moment before he continued, "Your parents are fine. Everyone except Charlie has married and has kids. Harry is expecting a third child towards the beginning of the year."
"How many nieces and nephews do I have?" Ginny asked.
"Bill and Fleur have two girls and a boy, Fred has two boys, George has a girl and a boy, Ron and Hermione have a boy and a girl, and Harry has two boys," Draco said and Ginny grimaced.
"I don't want to hear about Potter," Ginny said calmly.
"Tell me why you left," Draco said and Ginny looked towards the passing cars.
"I thought Harry had died. Tonks, Remus, Sirius, Percy… so many of my friends had died. Then Hagrid carrying Harry did me in," She said softly, "I didn't want to be there anymore. I didn't want to be a witch any longer."
"How did you escape?"
"The Room of Requirements," She admitted wearily, "It had been all but destroyed but it opened its doors to me and I fled through the passageway to the Hog's Head. I forged documents and got into Cambridge's medical school. After that, I locked my wand away and poured all of my time into forgetting about the wizarding world. I'm only a fresh on my own doctor and I graduated really early."
"Impressive," He remarked and she shrugged, "So, you ran away because you thought Potter was dead?"
"Not exactly," Ginny replied and looked into his molten grey eyes, "I ran away because I was sick of everything. Time and time again bad things have happened to me… since leaving the worst thing that's happened is I lost my keys or forgot about an exam. I'm not almost dying or losing someone or being tormented. I'm successful and proud of who I am. I'm a muggle now. I don't expect you to understand that. I love my family and I miss them, but I won't go back. Not for anything."
"You'll be seeing more of me, you know," Draco said smoothly, "I've spent the last ten years looking for you. This isn't good enough for me. Just finding you. Your family took me in after I killed my father to protect Hermione. Your family cries for you."
She scoffed, "I find that unlikely. Stop trying to talk me into returning, Malfoy."
They fell silent until their meal was brought to them and continued in silence as they ate. Then, in a fashion that was very much unlike the old Draco Malfoy, he began talking. At first, she was annoyed with this. She only wanted to eat her lunch in silence and go back to the office and begin reviewing her cases. Instead, she got stuck listening to Malfoy ramble on about…
Her family?
"Victoire is Bill and Fleur's oldest daughter. She just turned 8 this year. Teddy Lupin is her best friend," He was saying and she stared at him as though he had grown an extra head. He ignored her as he continued, "Teddy's going to Hogwarts next year, you know. He mostly lives with his grandmother, my aunt, but they come around often enough that he's like a Weasley grandkid."
She stood abruptly, causing him to pause in mid sentence. Her hands clenched at her sides.
"Why are you doing this?" She asked angrily.
"To repay a debt," Draco replied without a moment's hesitation, "You will come back whether you want to or not."
"Are you… threatening me, Malfoy?" Brown eyes flashed with a challenge.
"Not at all, Weasley. It's a promise," He replied and watched as she whirled around and stormed off all the while she muttered unflattering things about him.
He watched her disappear from his line of sight before laughing. She still had the same temper as he remembered the fiery little redheaded school nemesis having. Yet, it was slightly calmer now. Not as explosive as he had remembered it. He was very intrigued.
He paid for the meal and left the café, finding a little alleyway to apparate back to the Ministry.
-END-
Note: So, this chapter contains very little from the original one-shot. It expands on Ginny and Draco's dynamics and explains why and how Ginny ran away. I really enjoyed writing this chapter mostly because of the first scene. A little shorter than the last two chapters, but tomorrow's chapter will make up for it.
Drop me a review and let me know what you think so far.