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 8: Too Many Questions.
"I knew you would fall for my charm," Draco smirked after Hermione calmed down.
"Shut up," she replied letting him go.
"So, what happened?"
"One of my patients died."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. At least she's not suffering in this hospital anymore."
"Come on, let's grab a coffee. You'll feel better," Draco said really concerned.
He led Hermione to the cafeteria. After they bought the coffee, they sat on a table near a corner.
"Shouldn't you be with your son?" she asked.
"He's sleeping. I'm pretty sure I'm not useful there right now," he smiled.
"The potion he took will make him sleepy for a while, but don't worry it's normal."
Draco nodded and they stayed in an awkward silence. They drank their coffee and Draco stared at Hermione and he noticed her thoughts were far away from that hospital.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked suddenly.
"Nothing special. Just about my life," she looked at him.
"Oh, I see. Now we're going to talk about how you're stuck in time while you friends are moving on with their families and that you can't believe you're talking in polite terms with me," he rolled his eyes.
"I wasn't thinking about that," she hit his arms playfully.
"Then, what were you thinking about?"
"I was thinking about accepting to be Alana's bridesmaid at Ron's wedding."
"Really? Why?" he asked leaning in the chair and crossing his arms.
"Don't act like you're really interested, please. It's offensive."
"I'm interested, for real. Tell me, Granger," he said coming closer to her and looking deep into her eyes.
"Well, I'm thinking about accepting it because it'll show Ron that I moved on and that I don't care that he's moving on without me," she said and he laughed. "I don't see how this is funny, Malfoy."
"It's funny because this is the most pathetic excuse you could've come up with. I mean, if you really didn't care, you wouldn't be thinking about it and if you really moved on, why is this wedding bothering you so much?"
"I don't care. Ron is my friend and…"
"And he broke you heart," Draco interrupted her. "I know this part of the story, Granger. But can't you see that the git is not worth any of your tears. You're a brilliant doctor. Your patients love you. You're smart, funny, and gorgeous and you shouldn't waste your time thinking about the past. Granger, what happened, happened. You can't change it. If you want to move on, you have to let go of your past."
Hermione didn't answer. She just kept looking at him.
"Granger! Are you listening to me?" he asked annoyed.
"I'm sorry, can you repeat what you said?" she smiled.
"If you want to move on…"
"No, not that part," she interrupted him. "You were saying that I'm a brilliant doctor, that my patients love me and that I'm smart, funny and… What else did you say?"
"Pretty. I said you're pretty," he blushed.
"No, you said I'm gorgeous. Are you feeling ok?" she put a hand of his forehead. "No, you don't have the fever. What's going on, Malfoy? Are you falling for a mudblood's charm?"
"Don't change the subject, Granger. We are talking about you, not me," he blushed even more.
"But I don't want to talk about me anymore. You know enough about my life. Let's talk about you."
"I don't want to talk about me," he looked away.
"Why? Are you afraid that I might find out your deepest and darkest secrets? What are you hiding?"
"I don't have any deep and dark secrets and I'm not hiding anything," he frowned.
"Good. Then you won't have any problem to answer my questions. First question: why did you marry Astoria?" she looked at him.
"Granger, I'm not playing 21 questions with you. We're not fifteen anymore."
"Answer my questions and I'll answer anything you ask," she said seriously.
"Anything at all?"
"Yes, anything you want to know."
"Fine, you can make your first question."
"Why did you marry Astoria?" she asked.
"Because my parents set up the marriage without my knowledge. Why did you go out with your boss?"
"Because he asked me to. So, you didn't like her when you got married?"
"No, I never liked Astoria. Do you have romantic interest in your boss?"
"No, he's my boss! If you didn't like her, how come you had Scorpius?"
"You don't need to like someone to have sex with them, Granger. I'm not as pure as you. What's the matter to have romantic interest in your boss?"
"It's unethical. Have you ever hooked up with at least one girl you actually liked?"
"Yes, at Hogwarts. Why are you interested in my love life?"
"You know enough about my love life. I should know about yours. Did you ever love someone?"
"I love my son, Granger. Don't you think this is getting nowhere?"
"No, I'm learning a lot, actually. And I meant, have you ever fallen in love with a girl?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Why are you avoiding my question?"
"Granger, this nonsense of learning about my life is stupid. I don't want to play anymore."
"Are you afraid that I might find out that the great Draco Malfoy felt love once? Do you have a heart, Malfoy?"
"Yes, I do have a heart."
"I know, otherwise, you wouldn't be here, taking care of your son. However, you keep telling me to forget Ron and to move on. Have you ever been heartbroken? I mean, if you never felt love, how would you know how I feel about Ron?"
"No, Granger, I've never been heartbroken. I was just too cold for that. I've suffered for my sin already and after the war and all, Scorpius came and my life has been him since then."
"Then you've always lived in the dark. Everyone should experience love at least once in their lives."
"Did you love Weasley?"
"Yes."
"Do you still love him?"
"No, but it's hard to forget."
"Why do you want to forget? Weren't there good things? Happy memories?"
"Yes, Malfoy, there were, but the way it ended was too painful."
"Look, I didn't have many happy moments in my life, but I still remember every single one of them and that's what you should remember. Life has ups and downs, but you have to let go of the bad memories and hold on to the happy ones."
"Sure," she laughed.
"I'm serious, Granger."
"I know. It's funny because I never thought I would be advised by you."
"I was the second best student of Hogwarts, behind you, of course. You should give me some credit."
"Fine, but can't we change the subject? I'm done with that matter too."
"Ok, what do you want to talk about?" he asked.
"How did you find Astoria?"
"I have contacts all over Europe."
"Where was she?"
"Spain, with some guy. When she ran, she went to France and she's been moving around since then."
"And what exactly do you do for living? Last time I heard about you, you were taking care of your father's business."
"I still am, but I don't want to be in the spotlight for now."
"Wow!" she laughed. "That's new. How come you don't want to be seen?"
"The company my father left me was full of irregularities and debts. It took a while to through it and now we're growing slowly. So when we get to the top, we'll be back in the spotlight."
"I see, but please, don't tell you're one of those parents who just work and don't spend much time with their kids. Scorpius I such a sweet child, he doesn't deserve this."
"As I already told you, I don't want him to have the same childhood I did. Especially because his mother is not around. I spend a lot of time with him. Anyways, enough about me. What do you do besides work?"
"Well, I…" she started.
"Wait, let me guess. You read every single book you can put your hands on."
"Yes, I do read a lot. Is that a problem?"
"I knew it, once a bookworm, always a bookworm."
They laughed and a man approached them.
"Mr. Malfoy, she's here." he said.
"Thank you, David." Draco got up and looked at Hermione. "Are you coming?"
Hermione nodded and they both followed the man to the hospital's entrance. Near the front door, there were two men holding a woman.
"Draco!" she exclaimed. "This bloody circus had to be your fault."
"It's not my fault you ran away, Astoria," he said getting closer.