Disclaimer: 3 updates in one day! I'm on a role!
"Hey, Hermione!" Harry called as she entered the Burrows backyard. She smiled and headed over to where he was standing. She slid up beside him and said hello to the other men standing there.
"Hello Hermione," Fred said. He looked her over apraisingly, taking her hand and kissing it longer than normal. "My, you look ravishing."
"Oy!" Ron barked, snatching her hand away from his brother's grasp. "I think you've tasted enough." Hermione laughed leaning against Ron as the men began to talk. To any outsider, Ron and Hermione would have looked like any old couple, but the truth was, they still had a long way to go before either one of them was ready to reveal even the slightest hint of feelings for the other.
"It's official. Malfoy's sick. We comfirmed it two days ago. He's been going in to Mungos for the past four days. Still ugly as ever," Harry stated, grabbing Hermione's attention from the strong arm around her shoulder. Percy piped up.
"You really think he knows something?" Ron snorted.
"We know he knows something. Five months ago Bellatrix Lestrange was arrested. Claimed that Draco Malfoy knew things. Dangerous things and that he should die." Ron chuckled. "I think the slut was right."
"Bellatrix is crazy," Bill commented. Harry smiled.
"But she did tell us that Malfoy should be arrested because of high treason. However she didn't tell us why." Hermione was now frowning.
"Why are you all interested with Malfoy?" They all stared at her as if she had just sprouted wings.
"Because, Hermione. Malfoy is the Golden Deatheater. You get him to confess, and you've got yourself every single deatheater from here to Australia," George answered matter of factly. Then a light seemed to turn on in both twins heads. They gave her a evil look.
"In fact Hermione, don't you work at St. Mungos." This was a topic that made her squirm.
"Why?" Suddenly every man caught on to what Fred and George were implying. She saw them all stare at her and she automatically knew what they were thinking.
"No! I will not!" Ron groaned.
"Oh, come on 'Mione. You must have seen him around. It's kind of hard not to miss the git." Hermione shook her head, releasing herself from Ron's grasp.
"I know nothing about Malfoy. Nor have I seen him," she stated. "Even if I have, I wouldn't tell you." That was her first mistake. She had inadvertently admitted that she had seen Malfoy. Harry frowned.
"You've seen him haven't you." Hermione puffed up, extremely uncomfortable with the turn of events.
"I can't tell you anything. I'm bound by Healer-patient contract."
"YOU'RE HIS BLOODY HEALER!" Ron shouted. They all looked at her, sudden interst gleaming in their eyes.
"Look... I... I can't tell you anything ok! I've already told you too much. I'll probably get fired." She started back towards the house then whirled around, anger in her features.
"If I so much as see an Auror at St. Mungos with not so much as a broken leg, including you, Ron and Harry, and they so much as mention Draco Malfoy, I will see to it that all of you have a permenant spot on a bed next to Gildory freaking Lockhart!" She stormed back into the house slamming the door behind her.
"You ok?" Hermione looked down to see that Draco was looking up at her. She was once again waving her wand above his fine abs. She sighed.
"I'm fine... Harry and Ron know." Once again, he sat up.
"What!"
"They know that I'm your Healer." Draco stood up, taking a menacing step toward her.
"Granger," he growled. She stepped back.
"It was an accident... besides, they won't be telling anyone. I practically threatened them with dismemberment." Draco grimaced but kept an eye on her. She touched his arm.
"I'm sorry." He pulled away from her.
"Those stupid bodyguards of yours had better not say anything..." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"They are not my bodyguards. I am perfectly capable of handling myself." She was up against the wall before she knew what had happened. Her hands were pinned above her head, her body trapped between Draco's and the wall. He pressed himself against her, his other hand wrestling the wand out of her tight grasp. His cheek was against hers, his lips grazing her ear.
"Oh really?" Hermione gasped as he forced her harder against the wall. He smiled. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were enjoying this," he whispered sensually into her ear. She tried to wriggle free, only to recieve another jolt from his body, telling her to be still.
"Keep dreaming." He smiled to himself.
"No, I suppose not. Probably wishing it was a certian redhead." Hermione blushed. Draco however was surprised that she didn't protest to the accusation, instead remaining silent. "Can you throw me off?" He asked. She shook her head, silently admitting defeat. Their extremely close proximity to each other was doing things to her mind that she didn't want to happen. She was very uncomfortable with his body pressing against hers. He smirked, superiority radiating through his stormy eyes. "Didn't think so." He stepped away, releasing his grasp on her. She stood there for a while, taking in the breath she had been holding ever since Draco had pinned her. She finally looked up at him, confusion misting in her eyes.
"Why did you do that?" Draco grabbed his shirt.
"The deatheaters are more organised that usual. Mudbloods, like yourself are their main target. You need to know how to protect yourself." She frowned.
"And you care why?" He shrugged.
"You're my only hope of surviving." Stifling silence reigned over the room. A quiet understanding past through. Hermione finally realizing what he wanted. He looked away, fiddling with the chain around his neck.
"I'll come back in two days." Hermione suddenly jerked back into reality. She grabbed his hand.
"Come back tommorow." He looked confused.
"But I feel fine." She shook her head.
"Tonight is a full moon. The curse will be deadly all tommorow. If you're not here, there's nothing I can do..." She trailed off. Draco looked her over, sizing her up then asked a question that had been surfacing ever since he had arrived here.
"What happened to all the others you helped?" Hermione was taken back. Tears came to her eyes and she looked away, trying to get a grip.
"I...I failed..." She looked up at him. "The first patient I ever had died in front of my very eyes. She had been hit with the Caronas Curse. She was eight years old with beautiful blue eyes and shock red hair. Her name was Constance..." Hermione bit her lip. "As she was dying, I promised her that I'd save the next person like her, in her honor. That patient died." Draco was stunned. Hermione was pouring her heart out to him.
"I heard that one of the lived." Hermione shook her head.
"I almost got fired for that. Seems that using Dark Magic to cure someone is illeagal."
"Dark Magic?" Hermione nodded.
"He was my tenth case. By then I had figured out what was wrong. I had also figured out how to fix it. The Ministry didn't approve when they figured out what I had done and threatened me to keep it quiet."
"So... this is all about proving yourself." Hermione looked up at him.
"That little girl gave me hope... and I failed... I failed..." She broke down, sobbing. Draco grabbed her before she collapsed, awkwardly holding her as she cried. He patted her on the back, hoping that she'd end. Finally she did. She pulled away from him, wiping her eyes. She didn't look at him.
"I'm sorry." Draco shrugged.
"I've got to go..." he turned to leave.
"You're alot like him, you know." Draco turned around.
"Like who?"
"Ron." She saw disgust rise in his eyes, but he restrained himself from making a snide remark.
"How so?"
"He gets on my nerves so many times, but when I need a shoulder to cry on, he's there." Draco rolled his eyes, opening the door so they both could leave.
"Yeah, well don't get used to it." She smiled.
"I won't."
"Ms. Granger?"
"Yes Jane."
"Mr. Weasley's here to see you." Hermione let out a fustrated sigh. I told the git to stay away.
"Send him in." It didn't take long for Ron to appear. Hermione stood, arms folded and weight shifted to one foot.
"I thought I told you to stay away?" He seemed slightly embarrassed.
"I didn't want to talk to you about that." She frowned.
"Then what do you want?" He looked around, trying to find the right words to say.
"It's about that Victory Gala." Hermione froze. She had forgotten all about it. Her eyes wandered to the invitation on her desk. She squirmed.
"What about it?" He looked down at his feet, ears turning their famous Weasley red.
"I was wondering if you'd like to-"
"Sir! You can't go in there!" Draco came barging in, complete oblivious to the now fuming Weasley standing by.
"Hey, Granger. I forgot my cloak. Woah!" He stumbled back, eyes on Ron. He stood up straighter and matched Ron's glare.
"Weasel."
"Ferret." Hermione broke in, standing in front of Malfoy, facing Ron.
"Now that you've made your introductions, will you two stop." Ron continued to glare at Draco, while the blonde smirked.
"What, Weasel? You think I'm shacking up with your girl?" Ron lunged, only to be stopped by Hermione who had to gather all her strength to keep the outraged redhead off of Draco. She held her arms out, keeping the two men from getting to each other. She stood up straighter.
"Now!" Rounding on Draco she glared at him. "You! Stop egging him on. Get your cloak and get out!" Turning to Ron she glared at him. "You! Stop fighting! I'll go with you to the Gala now get out! Both of you!" She shoved them out of the office, slamming the door in their faces. Draco smirked turning to Ron.
"Now I see why you like her. Feisty little bint, isn't she?"
A/N: I loved that! I loved writing that whole thing!
ronandmion4ever: Don't worry, my mum's pissed off too.
Coconut Girl: You'll here more about Malfoy and his wife in the next chapter.
Reader of Canon FF: Ah yes, well, you know that where ever there's romance, there's always a little old grouchy lady to screw it up. (heheheheheehe)
Wesker888: That was my original plot, to be triangle. But I don't know right now. We'll see how it goes. Like with all my stories. I don't have an ending until like the second to last chapter. So I personally don't know where this is going to end. I have a good idea, but I'm on the rollercoaster with all the rest of you!
Avanell: I don't know about a kiss anytime soon, and if there is one, it won't be Ron and Hermione. Opps! I just let something slip! ;-)
Emma: Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter Tease:
"What are you so mad about?" Ron looked at her with disbelief.
"What am I so mad about? What am I so mad about?" He let out a cry of rage and continued to pace, muttering under his breath about sluts and traitors. Hermione turned to Harry. He looked angry also.
"What did I do?" Harry pulled out the paper and threw it on the counter in front of her. She picked it up and scaned the page. She froze, staring at the picture.
"Oh no..."
Doesn't take much imagination to figure out what the picture was. Ten points to the first one who can guess correctly.
PS: (the points don't mean anything...) heheheheheehe... But no, guess!