Disclaimer: I don't own the HP series, Hermione, and Draco. All I own is James Moore :D
A/N: Oh, and Part II is here! I hope you like this as much as you liked Part I (I mean, come on, I received 30 reviews!) Okay, enough of that, please review after reading. Enjoy!
Chapter Ten: James Moore, Part II
'Happiness, care, love,' Healer Granger repeated her mantra again and again as she casually walked towards Room 143. James' potions were tightly clutched in her hands as she slowly opened the door.
James Moore was there, idly surfing the wizivision. Upon hearing the click of the door, he looked up and almost immediately scowled.
"Good morning," Hermione greeted, slightly miffed with the fact that he didn't want to see her, though, she didn't show it. Instead, a bright, sunny smile was plastered on her beautiful face. If Draco had seen her, he would raise an eyebrow in amusement. "How are you feeling now, James?"
The seventeen-year-old ignored her and continued to attack the remote.
The brunette pursed her lips and took a deep breath. "I brought your potions with me. Please drink them; it will make you feel better," she said, still with that bright smile on her face.
"Get out," he grumbled under his breath, still furiously changing the channels. He placed the remote control on his bedside table before lying down on his bed. He covered his whole body with the thin, white blanket and turned his face away from his Healer. It was clear that James didn't want to talk to Hermione.
The brunette's lips twitched. Her lips were starting to hurt. "Older Healer Malfoy told me to double your potions today," Healer Granger said, ignoring James' comment.
James scowled then sat up again. He looked at Hermione, his scowl deepening. "You don't give up, do you?" he asked, annoyance evident in his tone. "What if I tell you that after you leave those potions with me, I empty their contents into the bathroom sink?"
Hermione's eyes widened. She honestly thought that James drank his potions, even though he appeared hesitant. Anger bubbled in her system. 'Potion Masters stay up late just to finish his potions! Does he honestly think that making his potions is easy?' she fumed. But then, the brunette calmed herself down. 'Remember, Hermione. Happiness, care, love. Happiness, care, love.'
The brunette forced another smile on her face. "Then, I will request them to triple the dose of your potions," Healer Granger answered her patient. "Since you are not drinking your potions, I am sure that Older Healer Malfoy will agree with me."
The dark-haired teenager shot her a death glare before shifting his face back to the wizivision. Hermione approached him slowly and placed the potions just beside his bed. Her eyes turned back on the wizivision and smiled. "Tom and Jerry?" she asked. "You watch that, too? When I was young, I used to watch it with my parents. I usually ended sitting in between my Mommy and Daddy as we laughed at Tom."
She didn't know if James was trying to annoy her when he grabbed the remote control again, changed the channel and landed on HBO. Her eyes widened once she saw Keira Knightely's familiar face dancing with Matthew Macfadyen. "Pride and Prejudice! I am so in love with that movie, too. Who wouldn't wish for someone so dreamy like Mr. Darcy?"
Hermione pursed her lips when James irately changed the channel. He ended up watching the news. "Hmm… Brangelina. Angelina's going to have another child? Wow, surprising and…"
"Can you please just shut up?!" James roared, turning off the wizivision completely. He shifted his eyes towards the brunette and frowned. "Get out of my room and leave me alone, you annoying cow."
The brunette blinked. After a few minutes of silence, she conjured a plastic chair and sat down on it just beside James' bed. The teenager turned his face away from her. Treating him with her theory might be harder that she had thought. "James, why are you like that?" she asked.
"What are you talking about?" he grumbled under his breath.
Healer Granger placed her elbow on top of the bed and then placed her chin on top of her hand. "I mean," she started softly. "Don't get offended but you're somewhat… bitter and moody… and… are you PMSing?"
Hermione was surprised when the teenager snarled. Quickly, his face was turned towards her. "Not funny," he shot back, cheeks surprisingly red.
Hermione didn't hide her smile. She softly chuckled and stared at her free hand playing with a loose strand of James' blanket. "You know, if there was an Oscar award for being an arrogant and intolerable git, you'd win." She smiled at his glare. "Though, Draco would definitely be nominated."
He made a disgusted look. "Don't you dare mention that bastard in front of me," he snarled.
The brunette raised an eyebrow. "Draco?" she asked. When James growled at the mention of his name, Hermione chuckled. "Guess you hate him."
"That's an understatement," he said, frowning. "Malfoy? I loathe him."
Hermione laughed. "What if I told you he was as intolerable and stubborn as you are? What if I told you, you both have the same short-temper? What if I told you both of you are so much like each other?"
"Don't compare me to that… that albino!" he exclaimed.
She merely smiled. "But do you want to know what's the big difference between the two of you?" she asked. Hermione didn't even wait for his reply. "Draco's… Draco's full of life," she said, her smile unconsciously growing. "And hope." Hermione pointedly looked at James but he was looking everywhere but her.
"Do you really think that your curse… Odium Deprecor… doesn't have any cure," Hermione asked, now thoughtfully looking at James.
"I read," he said. "And it obviously doesn't have any cure based on research." His eyes glinted slightly, surprising Hermione. For a brief second, his guard broke down and his emotion showed. Hopelessness. "And Healers talk… I hear them."
Hermione, heart breaking into two for the dark-haired child, placed a hand on his arm. James flinched, probably feeling something foreign. "Ever heard of cancer?" she softly asked, almost inaudibly.
James scrunched up his face into a thoughtful look. "It rings a bell," he said. "Why do you ask?"
The brunette removed her chin from her hand and clasped both of them on the bed. She stared at them quietly as James continued to stare at her. "Nothing," she croaked, lifting her head to look back at him. James was surprised to notice that her eyes were oddly glazed.
And that was when Draco Malfoy chose to stride inside the room. His eyes immediately landed to his best friend sitting quietly beside James Moore's bed.
"What are you doing here?" the said teenager spat, immediately glaring at the blond.
The blond just chose to ignore him. "I'm taking you home, Hermione," he said. "Let's go."
Hermione slowly stood up from her seat, head still bowed. "No, I… uhm… still need to attend to one more patient before I go home. Just wait for me, okay?" And with that, she briskly walked out of the door.
Draco glared at James. "What did you do to her?" he asked accusingly.
"I did nothing to your bloody girlfriend, Malfoy," James spat back indignantly.
The blond turned a deep shade of red. Whether it was from anger or embarrassment, James didn't know. "She is not my girlfriend," he fumed. "And it is obvious you did something to her. Speak up, Moore, or I'll be forced to… to curse you."
James released a mirthless laugh. "What? Another curse? Do you want to double up my Odium Deprecor?" he asked.
The Malfoy heir pursed his lips. He didn't mean that… it was just a threat. He sighed tiredly and looked at him warily. "Just tell me what happened to her, Moore."
The teenager looked away from him towards his open window. "She was telling me something about cancer," he said, shifting his eyes away from the window back to the blond.
A knowing look was now plastered on the blond's face. "I see," he murmured softly.
"What?" James asked, curious.
"Nothing," he said, face blanked as he swiveled around. "Take your potions, Jimmy. Give Hermione a favor and take your potions." And with that, he disappeared from his sight.
James frowned. He was downright confused.
"So, how is Hermione doing at work?" Narcissa asked, eyes shifting from Draco back to Lucius. The Malfoy family was on the patio, just talking about this and that. Tea and biscuits had been placed on one of the tables. It was night time already, though, all of them were still awake because of the blond's visit. He would be going back to his own house in a few hours.
"She's doing fine, Mother," Draco answered, looking at his father out of the corner of his eye. "Well, kind of. Her current patient is… is…"
"Intolerable?" Lucius offered, slightly smirking.
"Yes. And stubborn, too, I tell you," he spat, now glaring at his father. "I cannot believe that someone agreed for Hermione to handle that bloody kid."
"Draco, language," Mrs. Malfoy scolded, looking at her son disapprovingly. "And what's with the glare, honey? Why are you glaring at your father?"
"Ah, Narcissa," Lucius started, unnerved by the death glares his son was shooting at him. "Remember James Moore? The seventeen-year-old teenager your son kept on ranting and complaining about a few months ago?"
"Hmm… James Moore? The one with the Odium Deprecor?" Narcissa asked thoughtfully. "Poor child, I tell you."
"Yes, yes, he's the one," Lucius said. "Miss Granger is now currently handling him."
"And you agreed!" Draco accused, pointing a finger towards his father.
"Do not point your finger at me, Draco. It's impolite and rude," Mr. Malfoy lectured, casually sipping tea from his cup. "And I only agreed because Miss Granger persuaded me. I believe she likes challenges and the Moore child is definitely one."
"Father, what if something happens to her!" the blond exclaimed. "It might be bad for her health."
"Stop being so melodramatic, son," Lucius said, waving a hand dismissively. "I have a feeling that Miss Granger can handle him." He gave him another smirk. "She has handled you quite nicely, and that is saying something."
"Do I sense some teasing?" Narcissa asked, amusement evident on her face as she looked from her husband to her son.
"But Father!" Draco whined. "Give James Moore to another Healer and give Hermione some patient that is easier to handle."
"I cannot, Draco," Lucius said. "Miss Granger is the only Healer willing to even look at James Moore. And besides, I have a feeling that Miss Granger will be the one to discover or at least give a theory about the cure of Odium Deprecor." Upon seeing the look on Draco's face, Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Does that look mean Miss Granger already has a theory?"
The blond sighed and looked away from his father. Before he could even retort something back, a loud pop near the patio was heard. The three Malfoys looked at the source of the noise and was surprised to see a distraught Hermione Granger, tears visibly streaming down her eyes.
"Dr-Draco?" she sobbed.
Draco's eyes widened and he immediately stood up, toppling his chair in the process. "What's wrong?" he asked, alarmed, as he slowly walked towards the crying brunette.
Hermione released a loud wail before running towards the blond and wrapping her hands around his neck. She buried her face against his neck as she continued to release tears.
Narcissa instantly became worried and stood up, planning to approach the crying brunette and console her. But then, Lucius held her hand and gave it a squeeze. She immediately understood to leave both young adults alone. Sighing, she sat back on her chair and watched as Draco consoled Hermione.
"What happened?" he softly asked, rubbing her back in comfort. Draco pulled her closer to himself as he gave her a swift kiss on top of her head.
"J-James Moore," she sobbed, hands now traveling down to his t-shirt. She crumpled the front material of his shirt and continued to cry.
After she mentioned the teenager's name, Draco literally saw red. He growled, pulling himself away from the brunette, but Hermione held on to him tightly.
"No, no, no," she cried, snaking her arms back to the irate blond's neck. "He didn't do anything to me. Swear."
"Then why are you crying?!" he exclaimed, eyes staring imploringly at the brunette's eyes.
A new round of tears trailed down from Hermione's eyes and her cries became more uncontrollable. The only thing Draco caught was 'Odium Deprecor', 'seizure attack', and, 'deadly'. Suddenly, he paled. Draco presumed that the Odium Deprecor in James Moore's system had now shifted to the deadly stage.
No wonder Hermione was devastated.
Draco looked at his parents above Hermione's heads. "I'm so sorry, I won't be staying long," he said. Narcissa nodded, already verging on tears. Seeing Hermione cry always broke Mrs. Malfoy's heart. Lucius, on the other hand, was looking grim. Apparently, he had heard Hermione's revelation about James Moore's curse.
"It's all right, honey," Narcissa said, standing up. She looked from Draco to Hermione. "Will she be all right?"
"She will," Draco said, now patting the brunette's back. "I'll try to."
Narcissa offered a small smile and nodded. "Where are you going, Lucius?" she exclaimed, surprised that her husband was summoning his Healer robes.
"St. Mungo's," he stated simply. "I'm going to check on James Moore." He gave Narcissa a quick kiss. "I'll come home at midnight or later. Don't wait for me anymore, okay?"
Narcissa nodded. She watched as Lucius approached the crying Hermione in Draco's arms. And to their surprise, Lucius Malfoy placed a gentle kiss on Hermione's head. "I'll make sure that James Moore will be all right, Miss Granger, so quit crying." He looked at his slightly gaping son and made a small smile. "Make sure she stops crying. It's unhealthy." And with that, he apparated to St. Mungo's.
Hermione dug the soles of her shoes deeper into the sand as she continued to manipulate the swing she was currently seated on. Tears still continuously dripped from her eyes down to the dry grains below.
"Please stop crying," Draco softly begged from beside her, still seated on the swing. His eyes were trained intently on the brunette.
She looked at him and smiled, hastily wiping her tears away from her face. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I guess I'm making you uncomfortable right now, eh?"
The Malfoy heir sighed. "You have no idea."
"Please, it's all right. I can take care of myself now," she told him, reaching for his arm to pat it gently. "Narcissa will be so worried. Tell her I'm okay." She broke into a fresh wave of tears and covered her face with both of her hands. "I… I'm sorry I bothered you and your parents."
Draco sighed again and closed his eyes. "They understand, don't worry," he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He slowly opened his eyes. "So, what exactly happened to the kiddo?"
Hermione sniffed and wiped her tears again. "We-well," she started. "A while ago, I was, you know, showing him happiness, care, and love." She ignored him when the blond scoffed. "He, well, kinda became disgusted – ."
"That bastard!"
" – and," she said strongly, trying to calm her best friend down through her eyes. "And, that was when the seizures began." Hermione paused for a few minutes, just letting more tears fall from her eyes. "It was a nightmare, Draco… a total nightmare. Seeing him… having a seizure attack… it was awful. Merlin, it was so awful."
"Remember to breathe," he reminded her, slightly jokingly.
Hermione giggled softly but her tears continued to fall. "He was calling for his mother," she softly continued. Her eyes were now staring at the stars above the sky. "I can hear his longing… He misses his mother."
The brunette sighed and looked back at her best friend. "Draco?" she asked. "How can someone hate?"
"Why suddenly ask that?" he asked, raising an amused eyebrow.
"I don't know..." she said. "It's just, it's making me curious. Why do people hate?"
"Why are you asking me that?"
She sheepishly smiled at him through her tears. "Well, I guess you kind of felt that feeling before," she said. "And so, I presumed that… you know."
"No, I don't."
"I presumed that… you have an answer to my question," she finished.
He scoffed and looked away from her. "Then, why do people love?" he asked.
Hermione frowned. "I… don't know," she slowly said.
Draco sighed and looked back at the brunette. "People hate because… they were being hated." He pursed his lips. "That was stupid, but, do you understand me?"
The brunette nodded. "Go on," she said.
"I mean, let's take our old time favorite, Ol' Voldie," he started. "Voldemort, also known as Tom Riddle, hated because he was hated. His father didn't love him. His mother left him. He grew up as an orphan. And all he felt was hatred."
"All right, I get you," she softly said. "But… but what about you?"
"What about me?" he asked, confused.
"Why did you hate… Ha – us?" she immediately corrected.
Draco frowned. "I didn't hate you. I merely disliked you," he said, his frown deepening.
Hermione quirked an eyebrow. "Seriously?" she asked. "Because that's not what I felt like. If you only disliked me then I never want to be near you when you start to hate me."
He just merely rolled his eyes. "Let's not talk about that anymore, all right?" he snarled, clearly showing his frustration with their topic. "Change topic, please."
"Hey, you're supposed to be consoling me here!" she cried in indignation.
He scoffed. "What do I look like to you, Granger? A human tissue?" he asked, rolling his eyes.
Hermione softly giggled. "No; more of like a human-size, huggable stuffed toy," she said. She made a large grin when he scowled at her. "And you know what? All I really need is a big hug. Will you give it to me?"
The blond glared. "No," he said, though, he was standing up from the swing.
She just grinned at him and spread her arms wide open. Draco visibly sighed, gripped both of her hands, pulled her up into a standing position, and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms snaked around her waist and pulled her closer to himself.
Hermione visibly smiled and leaned her head against his right shoulder, a lone tear sliding down from her face. "Do you think James will be all right?" the brunette asked.
"Hermione, who do you think I am? God?" he asked jokingly. "Merlin, even I can't predict what will happen to you."
The brunette sheepishly grinned up at him.
"You know what, Beaver?" the blond asked, pulling Hermione away from him but not completely breaking the hug. "The next time you're crying, please warn me. See that wet spot on my right shoulder." He pointed at said wet splodge. Hermione chuckled, realizing it was because of her own tears. "I honestly don't want to be your human tissue or your human-size, huggable stuffed toy."
She giggled and kissed his right cheek. Draco gave her a bright smile when suddenly, an owl swooped down and circled around the two young adults. The owl then gently landed on the swing Hermione had previously occupied.
"I think it's for you," Draco whispered, eyes staring at the owl whose wide eyes were staring intently at the brunette.
Hermione frowned, feeling slightly curious. She broke free from Draco's hug and cautiously approached the owl.
"I recognize this," she said. "I've seen this owl at St. Mungo's."
Draco looked at the owl thoughtfully. "Ah, yes, quite right."
The owl stuck out his right leg forward to reveal the parchment wrapped around it. Hermione immediately untied the letter and gave the owl a gentle pat on the head. It affectionately nipped her finger and hooted in parting before taking flight again.
"Who's it from?" the blond asked, eyeing the letter curiously.
Hermione immediately recognized the neat handwriting. "It's from your father," she said. The brunette looked up at him, fear written all over her face. "And I have a feeling it's about James Moore."
The blond placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "It's all right. Go on; read it," he said.
The brunette took a deep breath and slowly opened the letter. Her eyes darted back and forth. At first, her face paled. Draco instantly became alarmed but then slowly, her color came back and a large grin grew on her face.
"What? What is it?" he asked.
"James is okay," Hermione said. "He's unconscious now but" – she took a deep breath – "your father confirmed that truly, James' curse turned to deadly. But all in all, he's quite fine now."
"Do you want us to go there?" the blond asked.
She just smiled. "Actually, you're father's summoning us," she answered. Hermione folded the letter neatly and placed it inside her pocket.
She then looked at Draco and stretched out her right hand. "Come on, let's go," she said, smiling once Draco clasped her hand in his.
Draco watched as his father instructed Healer Granger about things that should be done to James Moore now that his curse had reached the deadly stage. Seeing her so determined to do everything just to save the seventeen-year-old's life made him quite surprised. But then again, she was Hermione Granger. Lock her inside a room with Voldemort without any wand for a month and he wouldn't be surprised if the Dark Lord was released and turned out to be a house-elf-loving man.
"I'm off, then," Lucius said, this time looking at his son. "Narcissa will probably be fretting."
The blond just nodded and let a small smile tug at his lips when his father patted his shoulder. "Go comfort her," he whispered softly for only Draco to hear before disappearing completely from their sight.
'You don't have to tell me, Father, because I will,' he thought while approaching the brunette. Hermione was sitting beside an unconscious James. Her eyes were trained intently on him, a thoughtful look plastered on her face. "Hermione."
The brunette jerked up upon hearing Draco's voice. She gently smiled. "Yeah?" she asked.
"I'll take you home," Draco answered. "It's quite late already."
Hermione sighed and looked back at James. "He might need me," she softly answered. "I'm his Healer, after all."
Draco also released a sigh. "Beaver, Moore will be all right," he said.
She bit her bottom lip and looked back at her best friend. "Promise me one thing, Draco," she said. "Promise me that when I'm not a Healer anymore, you'll take care of James for me. I don't care if you hate his guts and all. James might be intolerable, Ferret, but he's just lonely. He needs someone to take care of him."
The blond would normally refuse. He hated the bloody kid, for goodness sake! But seeing Hermione like this… so upset over something, he didn't have the heart to say a simple 'no'. "Fine," he answered, slightly blushing from the brilliant smile the brunette directed towards him. "But I warn you; I might not give him this 'happiness, care, love' you keep going on about."
"Draco, that's the only way to save his life," she reasoned out.
"Hermione, don't force me to do that!" he whined. "I promise I'll take good care of him. I'm going to force him to eat his food and drink his revolting potions. But your theory about healing Odium Deprecor is hard. Don't expect me to do it."
To his surprise, Hermione only laughed. "Fine," she said. "Then, bring me here every single day. I'm going to visit him and try to test my theory on him."
He just rolled his eyes. "All right, all right," he said. "Now, can we leave now? My brain feels like soup."
Hermione waved a dismissive hand. "Then, shoo," she said. "I'm going to stay here."
The Malfoy heir narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "What are you going to do?" he asked.
All she did was give him a mysterious smile. "Hey, a girl can hide a secret," she reminded him. "Now" - she stood up and approached her best friend – "go back to your house, okay?" She wrapped her arms around his midsection and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Night Draco."
"Yeah, fine, night," he said, frowning.
"Oh, come on! Quit acting like a child," the brunette said, softly giggling.
The blond sighed and tightly wrapped his arms around the brunette's waist. He bent down and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. His eyes were closed whilst doing this. "Sleep tight, Beaver."
Hermione was furiously blushing for no apparent reason. "Don't let the bed bugs bite," she whispered. Draco broke away from their hug and grinned before apparating back to his own house, leaving a still flustered brunette whose right hand was touching her forehead.
"Lord, it's still tingling," the brunette said and plopped down back on her seat.
Sunlight stubbornly rushed in Room 143, and thus waking up a grouchy seventeen-year-old. James stirred in his bed and cracked an eye open, followed by the other eye. Groaning, he gently sat up only to feel something tickling him in the process. His eyes landed on a small, pink post-it note. Curious, he ripped it from his pillow and read it:
Good morning, James! Did you sleep well last night? I hope you did.
Love,
Healer Granger
James frowned and crumpled the small piece of paper and threw it away from him. He didn't see it shoot directly on the trash bin since he was busy groping for the remote control on his bedside table. Once he felt it, James immediately pressed the 'power' button to open the wizivision. He was then surprised when another post-it note, this time colored green, was pasted on the remote control:
Seriously? Watch television (I mean wizivision) first thing in the morning? Why don't you eat breakfast first, James? Remember, it's the most important meal of the day
Love,
Healer Granger
He now felt amused. Not annoyed, no. Just amused. Upon reading the word 'breakfast', his stomach growled, demanding to be fed. James stood up and walked towards the cabinet where he knew his precious Chocolate Frogs were stored. He opened it only to be greeted by another post-it note (colored red):
Do you call this breakfast? What I meant by breakfast, James, is by eating a complete, nutritious meal. And I had never seen so many Chocolate Frogs stored in one cabinet! Please, you might wake up one day with cavities.
Love,
Healer Granger
'What the hell is wrong with her?' James asked himself, ignoring Hermione's little comment and ripping one Chocolate Frog open to eat. He plopped back down on his bed and grabbed a book on his bedside table. And apparently, he clutched the latest edition of PlayWizard. A smirk formed on his face. He flipped the magazine open and was greeted by another post-it note (white):
Goodness, what's with boys and PlayWizard? This is utterly disgusting! Women should not show-off too much skin. It's disgraceful! They are marring our dignity. Shameful! Go read a novel, James, not a picture book.
Love,
Healer Granger.
He couldn't help it. He chuckled softly to himself as he changed his PlayWizard Magazine to a book which actually only contains words. This time, Hermione left a post-it note (blue) on the cover of the book itself.
Oh, 'Pride and Prejudice'! I have never encountered a man reading this book. Even Draco thinks this book is horrible. This is what I'm talking about. At least, somehow, this is educational. I mean, you can expand your vocabulary, right?
Love,
Healer Granger
James placed the book back in its original place. He looked around his room and was surprised to see that there were more different-colored post-it notes stuck to various parts of his room. There was one plastered beside the light switch of his room (Conserve energy! Save Mother Earth!) and one on the wooden floor (Try cleaning up, you idiot! Don't just depend on the house-elves of St. Mungo's).
And before he knew, he was laughing. Hard.
And that was how Draco Malfoy saw him. At first, he thought that James Moore was in pain since he was seated on his bed, clutching his stomach tightly while his shoulders shook. But when he heard laughter, he was instantly surprised. James Moore never laughed in his whole life, or at least in his entire life in St. Mungo's.
"Moore, what is wrong with you?" he asked, still surprised and amused.
James gasped. "You're… you're girlfriend's mad. Barking mad," he said, gesticulating around his room. And that was when Draco saw them… the colorful post-it notes. Immediately, he knew it was all Hermione's doing.
'So that was why she went home later than me,' he said, a small smile now gracing his lips. It's not surprising after all. Hermione really tended to do unpredictable things.
"Well, that's Hermione," he said, still smiling. But then, he turned red and glared at the still laughing teenager. "And Hermione's not my girlfriend."
"Yeah, yeah, keep telling that to yourself," he said, now calming down. "It's obvious that that ring around your neck is for her."
Draco looked horrified. His right hand immediately shot up to the ring. "Why do people keep on seeing this when she herself cannot?" he asked.
The teenager just grinned at him, making him surprised again. James Moore never smiled at him. "Tell her to quit doing these things already, okay?" he said. "All these things make me think that she's the one who should be confined here in St. Mungo's, not me."
The blond just smiled. "It's her idea of showing happiness, care, and love, Moore. Don't worry," he said. He raised an eyebrow when the seventeen-year-old's smile suddenly disappeared.
"Tell her I don't need them," he said, this time sounding snappy. "How many times do I have to tell her to stop showing me those stupid happiness, care, and love? I don't need them."
"Yeah, right, keep telling that to yourself, Jimmy," Draco said, now glaring at the dark-haired teen. "What if I told you that that might be your only cure, hmm?"
Hope and interest sparked in James' face. "She found a… cure?" he asked.
Draco looked away from him. "A theory, actually," he explained.
The hope and interest disappeared from his face. "A theory," he spat. "Oh joy!"
The next thing James new, Draco was in front of him and clutching the material of his shirt tightly. "Thank Merlin she's trying her best to discover a cure for your bloody Odium Deprecor," he snarled dangerously. He was satisfied to see that James slightly flinched under his gaze. "Thank Merlin there's a possible cure for your bloody curse." He roughly pushed him back and clenched his hands into fists at his sides. "Thank Merlin she's spending nights worrying about you when she could just have worry about her health."
"What do you mean?" he asked, regaining his composure.
"Merlin, Moore, Hermione wants to save a life," Draco said, absolutely enraged. "And she chose you. She could have just chosen to save her life and allow doctors to treat her bloody cancer. She could have just chosen to save her life by spending nights researching for a cure for her bloody cancer. But no! She chose you! The least you can do is to appreciate her effort."
It was obvious that Draco didn't want to be in the room anymore. James was surprised with the sudden revelation he discovered. His Healer Granger had cancer. Before he could even process that discovery, Draco ripped something from his back and stuck it on his forehead.
"Bastard," he snarled before turning on his heel and leaving him alone.
James blinked rapidly before clutching the post-it note (orange) from his forehead:
If you think that people do not care for you, then you are absolutely wrong, James Moore. Because to tell you the truth, I do care for you.
Love,
Healer Granger
The teenager read the little note again and again.
Soon, James Moore burst into soft, small sobs.
"James Moore's curse shifted to the mild stage yesterday," Draco announced.
Hermione's eyes widened and looked up from the bowl she was mixing. He could tell that she was surprised.
The brunette's job as a Healer ended three days ago. Draco, fulfilling his promise, became James' new Healer. The brunette would sometimes visit the seventeen-year-old. Sometimes, Draco was there to witness her visits. Hermione continued to show happiness, care, and love and soon, her theory was proven right. James Moore continued to be showered by these three feelings by the brunette. Surprisingly, James started to warm up around the said brunette. One day, he was just surprised to walk in James' room to see him laughing about something Hermione had said.
"Father already allowed him to leave St. Mungo's," he continued, watching as Hermione rapidly blinked her eyes. "He said that his Odium Deprecor might disappear after a few more days." He shot her a brilliant smile. "Merlin, Hermione, you should have seen Father when he said that. He was relieved and it's all thanks to you. He didn't say it but I know that he's thankful for your little theory."
The brunette placed the bowl on the table with a dull 'thud' before launching herself towards the blond. She wrapped her arms around him in joy and laughed. "That's good news!" she exclaimed joyfully, placing a single kiss on the blond's cheek. "Thank you for taking care of him, Draco. I know that he tends to get so stubborn and intolerable but you still took care of him."
"Oh, don't be silly, Granger," he said, rolling his eyes. He pulled her away from him, though, not completely breaking the hug. "We both know that it was you who completely cured him with the happiness, care, and love thing that you showed him. So don't thank me. I'm not the one who cured him. That honor is all yours."
Hermione just laughed again and completely pulled herself away from the blond. "So, where's James now?" she asked.
Draco shrugged. "Well, when Father told him that he could leave St. Mungo's, he just disappeared without telling me where he's going to live now so, I don't - ." He was immediately cut off from completing his sentence when Hermione's doorbell rang. "I'll go get it."
The brunette nodded her head and watched as the blond left her kitchen towards her main door.
The blond, on the other hand, was looking at the front door curiously. It was rare for the brunette to receive a guest except him. When he opened the door, his eyebrows shot up. James Moore stood there, wearing the usual muggle attire. The blond had to compliment him. He looked quite handsome.
"Malfoy," he said, surprised to see the said blond. "I thought this is where…"
"Draco, who is it?" Hermione asked, emerging from her kitchen.
James face lit up upon seeing his previous Healer. "Hermione!" he announced and shoved Draco. The seventeen-year-old walked briskly towards the stunned brunette and enveloped her into a big hug. "It's so good to see you!"
She composed herself and started to laugh. She pulled herself away from the eager teenager and smiled. "Oh my, James! I never knew that you were taller than me! And you're just seventeen-years-old!"
The said teenager just chuckled and gave Hermione a kiss on her cheek. "Older Healer Malfoy allowed me to leave St. Mungo's," he said. "Would you believe it? My curse has regressed to the mild stage! He said that my curse might completely leave me after a few more days."
Hermione patted his back while grinning widely. "Yes, yes, I know that," she said. "Draco" – she looked at him – "told me."
James frowned. It was obvious that he wanted to surprise the brunette. "Oh," he said, turning his head to glare at the blond (who gladly glared back). He faced the brunette again and smiled. "Anyway, that's not the reason why I'm here."
"Eh?" she asked.
To her surprise, the teenager turned a brilliant shade of red. "Well, uh, Hermione, do you want to, uh, you know, uh, go out with me like, uh, a date?"
Hermione grinned. "Without the uhs, please," she told him jokingly.
James smiled at her sheepishly. "Do you want to go out with me like… on a-a… date?" he asked.
"A date?" Hermione and Draco said in unison.
The blond scoffed. "As if, Jimmy," he said.
"Don't call me that," he shot back.
"She's way older than you are," Draco continued, ignoring his previous request.
"It's all right with me," Hermione said, frowning at the blond. James shot him a smug look.
The Malfoy heir looked shocked. "But Hermione!" he whined. "He's eight years younger than you are! Seriously!"
James looked affronted. "Well, Shakespeare was eight years younger than his wife, Anne Hathaway!" he shot back.
"Shake-who?" the blond asked, still frowning.
"William Shakespeare," Hermione explained, sighing. "Remember Romeo and Juliet? The one we watched last week?" Draco nodded. "He was the one who made that."
"I don't care if this Shake-who married a woman eight years older than him," the blond continued. "And besides, you promised that you'd let me treat you lunch!"
Realization dawned on the brunette. "Oh, yeah, I forgot," she said. When James frowned, an idea formulated inside her mind. "Wait, what if the three of us go out together?" she asked, squealing. "That would be fun!"
"NO!" James and Draco exclaimed in unison.
Hermione pouted. "Fine then, I'm not going to go out," she said.
James sighed. "All right, I agree," he said, glaring at the blond. "I don't know if he agrees, though."
"Of course I do," the blond spat.
The brunette clasped her hands together and smiled at the two boys. "Brilliant," she said, making a move to go upstairs. "I'm just going to change, all right? And please be good, you two." And with that, she disappeared behind her bedroom door.
James scowled while Draco glared.
"This will be a long night," the blond commented, only making James' scowl darker.
Replies to Reviews:
Gryfferin Princess: Aww, thanks sweetie (ha! I used it now :D). You're reply surely almost made me cry. And I'm so happy you'll be reading my stories no matter what? Isn't that cool? I mean, you should know how that would feel if someone say that to you. And, hell, yeah! I'm a Filipino. And we're good, right? Thanks for the awesome review :D
GurlOfTheNight: Thanks for thinking the previous chapter was good :D I appreciate it. Thanks for reviewing!
MudbloodFlo: Hmm… why don't you just wait for the end to find out? Hahaha, and of course, a girl can dream. I dream, too, you know :D. Thanks for the review!
Confused23: Yeah, I think so, too. I mean, I have great readers with great reviews like you. Thanks for the review, though.
jessirose85: Honey, you quite forgot this teeny-weeny detail… Harry and Ron are dead, remember? As for Ginny, just wait for the end of the story to know what I will do to her. Thanks for the review.
silly munchkin: And you made me inexplicably happy with your review. Thanks for reassuring me. It's appreciated, dearie. Thanks for the review!
meandevil: Impatient much? Hahaha, don't worry, I understand what you feel. I get frustrated too every time my favorite story's not being update as fast as the speed of light! But, c'mon, honey, I need to edit it hither-thither, just to make my readers satisfied with the update I made, right? Anyway, thanks for reviewing.
sarahyyy: Aww, that's so sweet of you. Appreciated :D And yeah, I really thought that inserting James Moore in the story would be somehow cool. I AGREE! I mean, I love reading stories wherein Lucius is so cute and adorable. I mean, he's my most hated character in the canon world (surprisingly, not Voldie). Thanks for reviewing! XD
jen3227: Yeah, I know, Hermione's being a little out of character. But, she has cancer after all. If I have one, I would be emotional, too, you know. Glad you understand. Thanks for reviewing!
Hachiko06: Girl, your review is so cool :D You know what? Maybe you're right. Whoever said that is just jealous of me! As for the translation, I'm gonna wait for it, okay? Just take your time. Oh, and I have a confession to make – I don't know how to speak and read French :) Hahaha, I know. But still, I would love to post the link on my profile. Oh, and are you kidding me? I mean, Hermione belongs to DRACO.
gitgit: Thanks for comforting me. :D And I'm flattered to know that my story's different from the other stories you read. And hehehe, yeah, I loved the part where Draco snapped at her, too. I mean, finally, Hermione knows that the blond's frustrated with the fact that she didn't take chemotherapy. Hmmm… I wonder what Hermione would do… oh, wait, I know! XD I'm the author, anyway. But you'll know it soon, okay? Just stay tuned.
fantasia-49: And thanks for the amazing review! Just wait patiently, okay? I update every weekends. Or, if I'm happy, I'll update on Friday. Thanks for your review.
Hermione'sBFF454: Good question. Why is James so freaking stubborn? I hope this chapter answered your question.
Jika: Hahaha, I do that, too, every time my favorite fanfic's been updated! And, for the sequel, do you mean the sequel of 'Time's Up!' If yes, I might start posting the story once summer comes up here in the Philippines. And thank God you don't know what festering sore means (not in a bad way, of course) because, it's horrible, I tell you. Anyway, thanks for the review!
Umbridgeskitty: Yeah, I agree. People are so nasty sometimes. I do get nasty sometimes but I don't really show it. Every time I loathe a person, I curse him/her in my mind. Because, you know, I don't want to hurt them, too, you know. And, just wait for the future chapters to know the answers to your questions.
WinnieThaPoo92: Good, you didn't cry! And, aww, thanks for the comforting words. I mean, you're right. And I agree that Winnie the Pooh's so cuddlesome! But still, I love Tigger more XD
vernalequinox135: Aww, words of comfort! Appreciated! And, cool theories, honey. So interesting… hmm, anyway, thanks for the review!
Ninja Nicole: And I was ridiculous for not ignoring the person's criticism. Thanks for the comfort, dear. I appreciate it. And just wait patiently for my updates.
Roxie Black: Aww, thanks for your review. It made me smile like that - :) Anyway, just wait patiently to know what would happen in the end.
mentarisenja: Hahaha, your review made me laugh (even though I know you're serious) Why don't you just wait for the future chapters. Thanks for the review! :D
Nicole: Yes, honey, I'm gonna keep up the good work I'm doing :D Thanks for the lovely review. I appreciate it.
.Poisoned Scarlet.: The concept of Hermione saving a life is cool, isn't it? And I can see you're obsessed with Tenten from Naruto. I mean, your avatar? XD God, I can't believe I haven't watched Naruto for a long, long time. Anyway, thanks for the review :D
CookieMonsterxx3: Sorry to break your heart, darling, but I can't put 'dance in the rain' on Hermione's list! I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T THINK OF THAT!!! I mean, that'd be cool… too bad her list is complete. That was an awesome suggestion. Too bad I can't do it (even though I want to). Anyway, thanks for the review.
malfoysgirl09: The person might be jealous, I agree. But intoxicated? HILARIOUS. And yeah, I love their friendship, too. Merlin, I even envy them! Anyway, thanks for the great review :D
Enchanted4life: Okay, my story's not a festering sore :D And boogeyman blues? I don't know what it means but the name seems pretty funny. Hahaha. Thanks for reviewing!
redandblack 4eva: Aww, short but sweet review. Thanks for the great review!
rosepop: Awww, that was so sweet of you. That person must really be an 'effing idiot' as what you call him. Thanks for your review! Made me comforted.
Lya Darkfury: No, honey, festering sore is not good. And, SQUEE, I was hoping someone would tell me that her favorite part was when Draco told his father "Anything for her". I was grinning stupidly while typing that part, you know. I mean, come on! That was so sweet, wasn't it? And yeah, Draco had to show his slight frustration to Hermione. Anyway, thanks for the sweet review.
tibberellascot93: I think there's a tear at the corner of my eyes while reading your review :) Honey, your review was so comforting, did you know that? And Hermione can deny all she want, all right? It's more fun, you know :D And yes, I'll follow your advice. I won't let some tasteless loser ruin my joy of writing. After all, writing's my life. Thanks for the review :D
Cee M.: Hahaha, I completely understand you. It's so frustrating if the story you like is so cool but it's not yet completely and the author's so slow to update. I'm guilty of being like that, you know. Sometimes I'm being attacked by writer's block. Seriously, scientist should invent a cure for writer's block. It gets annoying every time I have it. Anyway, thanks for the lovely review!
A/N: And wow 30 reviews all in all. I didn't expect this, you know. Yeah, I hinted on the last chapter that I want the reviews higher than twenty-three but… wow… so unexpected. By the way, thanks to all the people who comforted me by telling me that my story's not a festering sore. Like what I told my dear beta-reader (who also consoled me, btw. I do love her :D), I was just stressed out when I read that particular criticism and so, I just couldn't ignore it and made me more frustrated. Again, thanks for those who comforted me. You are all appreciated :D
Hugs and kisses to each and everyone of you!
With love,
2booklover4