Author's Note: This story is dedicated to my friends Lu Mezenga, who encouraged me to write it and Stefanie, who was the inspiration for my OC. I own anything, all rights go to J.K. Rolling. Read it, enjoy it and review it! :)
Chapter 7: Conversations.
When lunch time came, Hermione took Lucy and Scorpius to Lucy's room so they could eat together. A nurse brought them food and a sandwich to Hermione. However, Hermione hadn't eaten half of her sandwich when someone interrupted them.
"May I know what are you doing here?" Ginny demanded.
"Hi, Ginny, how are you?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, can I talk to you outside?"
"Are you going to be alright alone for a while?" Hermione asked the children and they nodded.
She left and stood on the hall with Ginny.
"So, what's making you honor me with your charming presence?" Hermione asked smiling.
"Why are you at the hospital babysitting two kids? I thought you were going to the burrow."
"Ginny, listen…"
"No, you listen to me, Hermione," Ginny interrupted. "You promised you were coming! How many times do I have to tell you to have a social life? Do you want to be forever alone? You need to start a family or at least find a man."
"Ginny, that's enough!" Hermione said too calmly for someone who wanted to shout. "I'm done with that matter. I don't want to hear what I am supposed to do. I like my job. I love being around those kids. I don't have a boyfriend because I don't want one. So could you please stop complaining about my life?"
"I'm sorry. You know I just want to help. I'm your friend and I want to see you happy."
"It's ok, Ginny. I'm happy," Hermione hugged her friend. "So, how did you know I was here?"
"Where else would you be?" Ginny said letting Hermione go. "I'm kidding. I tried to talk to you but you weren't home, so I assumed you were here. You're not coming to the Burrow, are you?"
"No, say to your mom I'm really sorry, but last night I was called for an emergency and now I'm taking care of a patient for someone who asked for my help."
"It's Malfoy's son, isn't it?" Hermione nodded. "Harry told me Malfoy asked him where you worked. Is the boy ok?"
"Kind of. Malfoy is tracking down Astoria, so she can donate blood to Scorpius. It's just a big mess. I'll tell you later with more details."
"Ok, are you sure you're not coming?"
"Yes, say hi to everyone there for me, ok?" Hermione said.
"I was hoping you could be there so I wouldn't have to listen to Alana talking about this damn wedding. Did you decide if you're going to be their bridesmaid?"
"I don't know. I'm still thinking."
"I would tell you to do it if this was anybody else's wedding. If you don't feel comfortable doing that for my stupid brother, just don't."
"Don't worry, Ginny. I'm a grown up now, I can make my own decisions. I'm glad to know you worry about me, but the time I've spent with Ron is just a memory now. Nothing more."
"If you're ok with that, I'm ok as well and Harry has the same opinion as I do. Just for you to know, we'll be there if you need us. Anyway, I have to go now, but if you need anything, you know where to find us."
"I'm fine, Ginny. Good bye."
Ginny hugged her friend and left. Hermione got back to the room where the kids had already finished their lunch and they were happily discussing something about Hogwarts.
"Isn't that true, Hermione?" Lucy asked.
"What's true?"
"That Gryffindor is the best house of Hogwarts!" she answered
"My dad says it's Slytherin," Scorpius said.
"Well, I'm proud to be a Gryffindor, but all houses of Hogwarts are good."
"No, it's not. No one wants to go to Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff." Lucy said.
"Those houses are great and I've met wonderful people that were from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff." Hermione tried not to show her preferences.
"Fine, but I'm going to Gryffindor," Lucy stated.
"I'm going to Slytherin, like every Malfoy," Scorpius said proudly.
"If you go to Gryffindor, your dad will have a heart attack," Hermione laughed.
"He would freak out, but I'm sure I'm going to Slytherin like him. Isn't Slytherin the house of bad wizards?" he asked innocently.
"Well," Hermione sat on the bed next to him. "There were bad wizards in Slytherin, but it doesn't mean that all Slytherins are bad."
"My father isn't bad, right Hermione?"
"Right, during the war, he was very confused, but he's not bad. Today he's a very nice person."
"So, do you like him?" Lucy grinned.
"I… hum… I," she stuttered.
"So, Granger," Draco appeared at the door suddenly. "Answer her. Do you like me?"
Hermione looked at him and he was smirking as usual.
"Well… We're not close enough to be considered friends, but I like the adult version of you. It's much better than the teen version."
"And I like the I'm-not-with-Weasley-anymore version of you, Granger."
"You didn't have contact with me while I was with Ron, Malfoy. You don't know how I was when I was with him."
"That's true, but I'm sure you're much better without him," he smirked. "Can I talk to you?"
"You're already talking to her, dad" Scorpius said.
Hermione laughed and Draco stopped smirking.
"I mean in private."
"Why? Can't we hear it?" Scorpius asked.
"No, you can't. It's an adult business," Draco answered.
"They always give that excuse," Lucy said to Scorpius and he agreed.
"Because sometime it's true. We'll be right back, ok?" Hermione said to the children.
She left with Draco and they stood outside the room with the door closed.
"So, did you get anything?" she asked.
"I found Astoria, but I couldn't talk to her and an owl is too slow. One of my employees is on his way to talk to her. She should be here in an hour or so."
"Are you sure she's coming?"
"My employee has direct orders to drag her here, even if it means to knock her out and bring her without her consent. If that's the case, I'll deal with her."
"I don't want confusion in the hospital and it wouldn't be nice for Scorpius to see you two arguing."
"Don't worry, she's not getting near him and I'll try to behave," he smirked.
"Are you going to tell him at least? He has the right to know his mother is here."
"She left when he was a month old. She gave up the right to see him when she ran away. Besides, Scorpius has no memory of her. He won't recognize Astoria."
"Ok, that's up to you, but are you sure you don't want your son to meet his mother? I mean, hasn't he asked about her?"
"I'm sure I don't want him near her. Scorpius asked once why his friends lived with both parents and I told him that his mother couldn't live with us because she had died in an accident when he was a baby. He never asked anything about it after that."
Hermione nodded and a nurse appeared calling her. One of her patients wasn't feeling well. The woman had a terminal disease and was feeling that her life was about to end. Draco took Scorpius back to his room and a nurse stayed with Lucy. Hermione went to her patient's room. She sat on a chair besides the bed and held the woman's hand. She was a 78 years old lady called Julie Bell. She came to the hospital five years before and she had been treated by Hermione. Julie was very friendly and with time, she became friends with Hermione. The medwitch knew that someday her friend would have to go and even though Hermione didn't want her to leave, it was only a matter of time for this day to come. Julie was looking paler than the usual and she was so weak she could barely speak. Hermione just stayed there with her for a while, feeling sad because there was nothing she could do.
"Could you, please, open the curtains? I want to see the sunlight before I die," Julie finally spoke.
"Julie, don't say that. You still have time to see the sunlight," Hermione said opening the curtains.
"Don't fool yourself, dear. You and I both know that the end is near. Sweet words won't make me better, but I'm happy to know that there is at least one person in this world who still cares about me."
"I'm not the only one. What about your grandchildren? They come to see you usually."
"They are just waiting for me to die to get my money. Poor them. They'll be a little surprised to know that I left nothing for them. All my money will be donated to those who need," she said slowly between coughs.
"That's a beautiful act, Julie. You know that I'll miss you, right?"
"Don't waste time missing an old lady like me, dear. A young woman like you should enjoy life, be with your friends, love, be loved, laugh. Promise me you won't let your life pass like I did." She closed her eyes and took her last deep breath.
"I promise," Hermione whispered and the tears started to roll down her face.
She called the nurses and left. She started walking to her practice with the tears rolling down her face and she didn't see Draco coming out of the bathroom in the same hall she was.
"Granger," he called when he saw her crying.
He stopped in front of her. She wasn't desperate but he could tell something bad happened. She looked at him.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Can I get one of those hugs?"
He was going to mock her, but he knew it wasn't time to say anything stupid. So he simply hugged her.