Disclaimer: I'm not JK Rowling and I don't own any of the characters…you would know if I did because Sirius, Lupin, Fred and Dobby would ALL still be alive.
He turned from the receptionist and started towards the exit while shaking his head and muttering under his breath…as he stormed through the exit he collided with another wizard. "Excuse me…sorry…I didn't see you the…Malfoy? What in Merlin's name are you doing here?" Draco looked up from the floor and into Harry Potter's shocked eyes.
Great...just great, thought Draco. Of all the people in the wizarding world to run into, of course it would be Harry Bloody Saviour of the World Potter. "Well, Malfoy, what are you doing here? I don't mean to be, erm, rude, but you don't really strike me as the type to volunteer their time to help out with the convalescences." Malfoy pulled his face into his best sneer and hurriedly tried to think of an excuse as to why he would be at the hospital. "As a matter of fact Potter, I'm only here be..."
"Mr. Potter! Good morning sir! It is always a treat to see you...Miss. Granger is so lucky to have a friend like you visit her every day...especially since you're so busy with...aaahhh, hello again Mr. Malfoy...I see you found Mr. Potter? Good, good...just have him add your name to Miss. Granger's list of visitors and you can come visit. Well, time for my break so I'll be off...good day to you Mr. Potter!" Malfoy glared daggers at the witch's back as she hurried through a large set of revolving doors out of the reception area. NOW she was friendly and helpful and willing to give out information. Stupid bloody women and their fascination with Scarhead. He pulled himself to his full height and found himself looking into narrowed green eyes. "You came to visit Hermione? Why would you do that? You never liked her or missed an opportunity to call her Mudblood. Why the change of heart?" Harry glared at Malfoy and began to take a deeper assessment of his former rival's appearance. He immediately noticed the dark shadows under Malfoy's eyes and the yellow tinge to his skin, Malfoy also looked like he had lost an unhealthy amount of weight in the short time since Harry had last seen him. Malfoy glared back, "Nevermind Potter, it's nothing," he turned on his heel to leave. "Malfoy, wait..." Harry reached forward to grab Malfoy's arm, "Do you have time for...I don't know...a cup of tea? It would be better to talk about Hermione where there aren't so many...you know...so many ears." Malfoy stared at him for a long moment, sighed and replied, "Sure, what else do I have to do?"
Draco followed Harry through a revolving door, down a hallway and through a closed door. He glanced around the empty room. It seemed to be a waiting room, but in miniature. Only three chairs and a small table were in the room. He watched as Harry conjured cups and a pot of tea and poured two steaming cups for the both of them. "Please, have a seat. I have to admit...I am curious." "And why would you possibly be curious about my whereabouts Potter? It's not like we're back in our sixth year and I'm trying to avoid your stalking again." Harry coolly eyed Malfoy and continued, "I'm curious because no one has seen hide nor hair of you since the trial, and then I come to the hospital, run into you of all people. You immediately begin to stutter, act like an ass and try to pull an excuse out your arse...then I find out you came to visit Hermione...she's my best friend...my sister really...I know you've never cared for her...I want to know why now, of all times, you want to see her."
Draco closed his eyes for several moments and took a deep breath. "I...I...I just want to see her. My aunt was over at our place this morning and she told us that Granger hasn't...hasn't...well, hasn't said a word since that night." Neither of the young men in the room needed further explanation about which night he meant. Draco looked at Harry's impassive face and the words began to tumble out, "I can't sleep...every night I DREAM about that night...over and over...I keep seeing her face and pain while Bellatrix tortures her...I keep hearing her screams. I don't know why I'm dreaming about it, but I am. I've been scouring the damn Daily Prophet since the Battle for some news, but there hasn't been anything...I've never wanted to apologize for anything in my life before...ever...but I want to tell her I'm sorry...I'm sorry for not denying up and down that she was Hermione Granger...tell her that I'm sorry for not stopping Bellatrix. It's been driving me mad...the first and only time I've ever wanted to apologize to someone and then they disappear from the face of the planet. I don't expect you to let me see her or understand why I would want to...I know what I've done and I know what I've said, and if I were in your place I probably wouldn't let me in either, but..." "Stop," Harry muttered as he lowered his head and massaged his temples with his hands. "Look...I'll...I'll do it...I'll add you to the list...but I just ask that if you see Ron or any other Weasley visiting with her, stay away until they're gone...I don't know how I'm going to explain to Ron that I'm letting 'the world's biggest prat' visit her, but...I don't think I should be able to tell anyone they can't apologize for something they're sorry for...I'm just happy, well more surprised, but still happy that you're actually feeling regret...but I am telling you now Malfoy...if you upset her or if she tells you to never come back...that's it...you're done. Do you understand?" "Yes - thank you...I...I...I appreciate it...truly...and, yeah...um...thank you for returning my wand...i didn't des..." "Yeah, well, a lot of people got things they didn't deserve because of the stupid war...but at least I could do something for someone. She's in room 621...and remember...don't eff her up."