Harry eyed Draco as he entered the room.
"So, Malfoy, how is Hermione coming along?" He asked.
"She'd be much farther along if she would just do as she is told," Draco replied. "I applaud her independence, but it's really hindering her recovery."
"Well," Harry drawled, "I'm sure that putting your faith in somebody who would have used an opportunity like this to do her serious harm in the past must be awfully difficult. I myself find it hard to believe that you really have her best interests at heart and I'm not the patient."
"I would never have seriously harmed her then or now Potter," spat Draco as he flushed with anger. "As a matter of fact, I've done my best to steer her away from harm for many years now."
"Really?" snarled Harry, his eyes narrowing. "Do you mean like the time you tried to turn us in to Professor Umbridge?"
"It seems you have forgotten the Quidditch world cup," seethed Draco, his hands clenching at his sides.
"When you were taunting us?" scoffed Harry.
"More like warning you to hide her farther in the forest so that the Death Eaters wouldn't find her."
Harry looked away. Draco was right. He hadn't acted particularly concerned about her at the time, and Harry himself had always believed that Draco had been laughing at them and taking the opportunity to fling more insults their way.
"Whatever," Harry looked back at Draco. "But let me warn you now, should harm fall upon one strand of her hair, I will track you to the ends of the earth to make sure that you pay for it. The only reason that I'm tolerating you caring for Hermione is that Dumbledore has confidence in you, misplaced though it may be."
"I assure you, my only interest here is completing my mission and returning to the front lines. Anytime that you would like to trade positions, let me know and I will pack my bags and hand you the key to the medicine chest," Draco bluffed, hoping that the wizard in front of him wouldn't see how much he wanted to be here with Hermione. Surrounded by her friends, he would never have the chance to prove himself to her, to gain her trust, and her love.
"If I thought Dumbledore would let me get away with it, I would take you up on that Malfoy. So, what is the course of treatment here?" Harry inquired, calming down.
"Well, her injury and prolonged bed rest have atrophied her legs," Draco began.
"I'm well aware of that," Harry interrupted.
"As I was saying," Draco continued, "her legs have atrophied, causing loss of both bone density and muscle. She has to receive small doses of Skele-gro to help regain some of the bone density, but only intense physical therapy and exercise will regain the muscle tone she needs to be able to walk properly."
"Doesn't sound all that difficult to me," Harry said.
"Of course it doesn't sound difficult in theory," said Draco scornfully, "The biggest problem is that Granger insists on doing everything herself, causing her to backtrack. Every relapse she has does more damage to her body. If she would slow down for a moment and not be so bloody stubborn, she would be much farther along than she is now."
"And how exactly do you plan on ridding her of her stubborn streak," laughed Harry. "Neither Ron nor I have managed to do a thing in seven years of friendship, let alone seven years of disgust and loathing."
"She has no choice," retorted Malfoy, not liking to be laughed at. "She can be as stubborn as she likes, in a wheelchair, or she can be cooperative and walking. She's aware of her options, all I can do is wait for her to decide which one she's going to take."