The next day, Hermione returned to work with plans with Ginny during lunch for the huge revelation. She was just patrolling around her department when Thomas' (rather vapid) secretary came up to her. What was her name? Wendy? Wanda? Wellington boots? Willy Wonk-
"Good morning, healer Granger."
Hermione smiled, "Good morning to you too." Then her lips and eyebrows quirked down, "Does... Thomas want to see me?"
"Oh no, he just wants me to ask if there's any problem with Mr. Malfoy." Her secretary nervously said.
Hermione's frown deepened. "Why? He's recuperating just fine."
"Oh, um... Well it's r-really not my place to tell you this, healer Granger, but Malfoy's a suspect for one of those trouble makers at the Quidditch practice match..." the secretary trailed off.
"Huh. Well, I don't really see what the problem is here, seeing that he can only be sent for interrogation after he completely recovers, which he clearly hasn't." Hermione shrugged.
"See, that's where the problem lies, healer Granger. They've already taken him." She replied softly.
Hermione's reactino was explosive. "WHAT! They can't do that! That's against the law!"
The secretary stammered, "Y-yes, but- See, they said that-"
"I don't care what they said! Malfoy's my patient, and it is with mine, and only my permission can they take him away! He's my responsibility!" Hermione interrupted. She was a professional, and professionals have principals with which they strictly abide to. Her outburst had simply nothing to do with the sympathy that flowed through her body on the sight of an old classmate's injuries the day before. Nothing at all. Nothing. At all. Really.
"But they-" The secretary tried to cut in.
"No! I'm going to discuss this with Thomas! Is he in his office now?"
"I-I," the secretary tried, then straightened her backbone and tried to speak up to Hermione in the sternest voice she could manage. "I'm sorry, but you are not privy to the whereabouts of my superior unless he allows it."
The guts this girl has- Hermione stalked back into her office, called one of the nurses to take over her patrol, and stormed her way to Thomas' office. Stopping outside his door, she took a deep breath to calm herself down. Raging on an innocent (who happens to have the ability to fire her) wouldn't be quite fair, now would it? She knocked the door twice.
"Come in!" Thomas called out. Hermione opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind her. His head was still bent down, looking at some paper work. "Yes?"
Hermione, in a saccharine voice, said, "Good morning healer Maxwell." Thomas' head shot up so fast they could both hear the crick in his neck. Hermione smiled.
With raised eyebrows and a last minute smile, "Healer Granger! What a pleasant surprise!" Was Thomas' pathetic attempt at covering up his shock.
Hermione ignored his faux-pas and continued in her sweet voice, "Indeed it is. Do you have the time to discuss this very important matter at hand?"
Knowing where this conversation leads to, Thomas shook his head politely, "Oh, I'm so sorry, healer Granger, but I'm buried up to my neck in paperwork and I-"
"Paperwork? Could it perhaps be for the discharge of the one patient?" Hermione's smile vanished and in replaced a grim line and a raised eyebrow. She was a Gryffindor at heart and everyone knew that, but Merlin could she act like a lion when she wants to.
After hearing Hermione's words, Thomas knew that he could pretend no longer. He knew that Hermione was a professional healer, which was why he hired her in the first place. One could always learn that everything has its pros and cons— his lesson was now, apparently.
Thomas sighed, "Look Hermione, I know you are a professional and you have a strong responsibility towards your patients, but you have to listen to me. Hear me out on this first, okay?" He gestured for her to take a seat in a chair before his desk and she reluctantly obliged.
"Okay, I will listen. But I'll have you know that rules are rules, and we all know that-" Hermione started rambling.
"Hermione! Please! Just listen to me, okay?" Thomas pinched the bridge of his nose.
Hermione sighed and slumped her shoulders. She was determined, but she wasn't heartless. "Okay, why was Malfoy taken?"
Thomas started explaining, "You see, because of his history with the dark arts and the whole You-Know-Who thing, he has, of course, a very ugly record with the Ministry. So when the accident happened when it did, and that Harry Potter was injured, naturally they suspected that the Voldemort-sympathisers had something to do with it." After every word, Hermione's face literally scrunched up more and more.
"That's preposterous! Just because Harry got injured, every "evil" man has to be taken?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Hermione, it's the ministry we're talking about here, of course they would be reckless like this!"
Hermione sighed. Thomas was right. Throughout their Hogwarts years, the ministry has screwed up badly time and again. Even if the culprits were people like Cornelius Fudge or Umbridge, they influenced quite a number of people within the ministry. Most of them just want to keep up with the image that the ministry has everything under control by capturing famous ex-Death eaters like Malfoy.
"Still, they could've asked for my permission! What if he has inflammation of wounds and dies in there? Wouldn't that make their reputation worse?" Hermione tried weakly.
"Hermione, you and I both know that even if you don't give them permission, they are still going to take him back either way. Also, if Malfoy dies, I think the public would be quite glad that he did, and within ministry compound as well, so kudos to the ministry!"
She sighed. He was right. But Hermione still has to fight for Malfoy, there really was a great chance that his wounds might re-open and get infected.
Finally, she said, "I don't really care, Thomas, Malfoy's my patient and he has to recover completely before he can be dragged away like a rag doll. I don't care if he was a death eater or a murderer or a monster, as long as he is under my care, I will heal him back to health. That is why I learnt to be a healer. I am willing to sue the ministry themselves if I absolutely have to!" She huffed and stood up, ready to leave, satisfied that she had the final say.
"Hermione- you must be kidding, how can you sue the ministry? They would be the ones judging the outcome. Besides, what's Malfoy ever done for you?" Hermione sighed and turned around. Some things really never changed. Apparently, old habits die hard and old prejudices die even harder.
She narrowed her eyes. "I thought you knew what you signed up for when you applied for this job, healer Maxwell. Good day to you." She turned back and stalked out of the door.
By the time she finished her patrol, it was lunch time, also known as Ginny's revelation. I've mentioned that before. Hermione was just in her office, resting her head, when a sudden Whoosh! alerted Hermione of Ginny's arrival.
"Oh! Ginny, it's you! You scared me," Hermione said, after being woken up by the floo sound and Ginny's amused face.
"Long day at work? It's only lunch time, dear healer. What's wrong?" Ginny sat down in front of Hermione.
Hermione sighed. She's been sighing a lot lately. "It's just this case with Malfoy..."
"Oh yeah! Malfoy! How's he doing? Hopefully bed-ridden and unable to talk for the rest of his life?" Mischief flashed through Ginny's eyes, accompanying that evil smirk and for a moment Hermione was afraid that she would do something to Malfoy... before remembering they weren't in Hogwarts anymore.
Hermione chuckled, "Well, no, he's not. Even though the schoolgirl in me would've loved that, but if his injuries get to that point after my treatment, the healer in me would be all depressed and solemn from failing my job."
Ginny grimaced, "So that's an absolute no?" She stared hopefully into Hermione's eyes. Hermione gazed intensely back at Ginny. They stared for awhile longer until they burst out into laughter.
"Okay, really, what's happened that got you so stressed?" Ginny asked.
"Well, apparently the ministry can now take any patient they want whenever they wish, disregarding the rules that they set up in the first place." Hermione exhaled deeply.
Ginny's eyes widened. "They took your patient? And you didn't even try to argue it out? That's a first! It must be Malfoy, isn't it? Only that bastard could break your professionalism!" she teased, even though she meant the last part. Hermione didn't need to know that.
Hermione snorted, "Oh, argue with Thomas? I did. With the ministry? I didn't even get a chance to see them or Malfoy before I was informed of anything regarding my patient. It's Cornelius Fudge all over again." She threw her hands up in irritation.
"Calm down, Hermione. It's not like it's anyone important, it's Malfoy." Ginny pacified.
Hermione retorted, "Scumbag or not, he's still my patient! They could've at least sent me a letter of information-"
"And you would let him go with them quietly? Heck no, Hermione! You would protest until the world turns over and they would still bring him back into Azkaban. It's the ministry." Ginny argued.
Hermione sighed. She needed a distraction before she combust into flames from all the stress. Speaking of distraction... "Are you trying to distract me from your mission?" Hermione questioned.
Like a deer caught in headlights, Ginny froze. Typical Ginny. Distracts the one person who tries to help her. She scowled and her shoulders drooped in defeat. "You see through everything!"
Hermione smirked evilly. "Oh yes I do, Gin. Come on, let's go." She dragged a very reluctant Ginny off her seat.
Their door was closed. Huh. That hardly ever happens. Ginny tried to peer through the small rectangle glass piece as silently as possible, and Hermione just stared at her amusedly. Right there, is a witch who knew that she was a one way earlier before Hermione did, and she didn't know that there were silencing spells on the doors?
Granted, Hermione did work there, but surely Ginny knew that. "Uh... Gin? What the hell are you trying to do?" She asked slowly.
"Ho ho, Hermione, you shouldn't doubt my common sense OR my sanity, because things always happen when unexpected. Or should I say, unexpected people go into hospital wards of the hero of the wizarding world?" Ginny raised an eyebrow and turned back to Hermione in slow motion.
Intrigued, Hermione asked, "Who's in there?" No answer. "Ginny?" Still no answer. Ginny was just staring intently at this mysterious person in the room. "Ginny?"
She snapped out of her trance. "What? Who?"
"Oh, for Merlin's sake, Gin, let me see already!" Hermione lightly shoved Ginny out of the way and Ginny tried to push back and they started wrestling, until the door opened and out stepped...
The one and only Draco Malfoy, looking as if he was never forcefully dragged out of the hospital.
Hermione and Ginny were immediately paralysed. Hermione's eyes widened, and in a flash she was standing straight, the poise of a professional. "Ahem. May I know what exactly transpired in the period that I was gone, which was hmm, let me see," Hermione rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "About barely 24 hours ago?" She perked an eyebrow and stared at Malfoy. All Malfoy did in response was snort in amusement, shake his head imperceptibly and walked away from the two of them. The nerve of that jerk face! Hermione stared after him while Ginny tried to remind Hermione of her "mission".
Ginny pinched her.
Hermione yelped and jumped into the air from the surprise. She turned and stared incredulously at Ginny, where she was nudging her head towards the room.
"Oh, oh yeah. Right. Let's get this over with." Ginny, slightly offended, slapped Hermione lightly on her arm. What a violent chit. "Come on!"
Ignoring Hermione, Ginny slowly made her way towards Harry, where he beamed at the sight of the love of his life. Ginny smiled back at him, all nervousness forgotten temporarily. Ron just looked at the two of them, lost in their world, utterly amused. Hermione went to join Ron by his bed.
When the silence was taking too long, Hermione prompted Ginny. "Uh... Sorry to interrupt, lovebirds, but Ginny actually has something to announce today." At that, Ginny snapped back into edginess. Hermione sighed impatiently and pushed Ginny towards Harry. Harry just looked curiously from Hermione to Ginny.
"What's this about?" Ron whispered to Hermione.
Hermione smiled. "You'll know as soon as Ginny opens her mouth."
"Oh come on, that's going to take ages! Just look at her!" He pleaded. Then his eyes widened. "It's not something bad, is it?" He asked worriedly.
Hermione smiled and shook her head. "Ginny..."
Ginny huffed touchily and said, "Alright, alright I'll say it: Harry, I'm... I... Uh... I-I'm preg-pregnant." She gulped and held her breath, waiting for Harry's response.
At first his eyes were as wide as saucers looking at Hermione for confirmation, as if he couldn't believe it. When Hermione nodded, a huge smile broke out on his face and he exhaled audibly and started crying and laughing at the same time mumbling "Oh my god" repeatedly, like he was the luckiest man in the world. Heck, he felt like the luckiest man in the whole universe.
Ginny also grinned widely and went to hug her boyfriend. They were the picture of bliss and Hermione felt envy and happiness for them. They have come a long way, especially during the war, or even before that, the hunt for horcruxes. Harry was practically pining for Ginny; it was evident in his face every time he thought he was alone.
Things were all sweet and dandy until they started snogging passionately.
"Oh... Guys, come on! This is a public place! Get your own room!" Ron complained, face distorted from disgust.
"But we already did." Harry said, breaking off the kiss and pointed at Ginny's stomach, waggling his eyebrows. Hermione burst into laughter while trying to drag Ron out of the room, letting the two- wait, no, it's the family- have some privacy.
Recovering from her laughter, she said, "That was gross. Want to grab some lunch instead? I heard that the cafeteria's pretty close by." Ron started laughing again and Hermione led the way to St. Mungo's cafe.
A/N: Is the plot turning a little weird? I just feel like I should finish this whole thing before the New Year so I can start school without anything holding me back. Next year is pretty serious for me.