Disclaimer: Not mine. All JK's. I just fuck with her characters.
Draco walked as quickly as he could to his office. He shut, locked, warded, and silenced the room before he broke down. Great, shuddering, loud breathes escaped, causing his chest to ache. He eyes turned red from the salt irritating them as tears flowed down his cheeks, his nose, his neck, and his chest.
The only thought in his head was, 'He believes I deserve to live!' After years of being told to crawl into a hole and die by his crush, to hear said crush-not only say he deserved to live- but promise to help him remember how! His heart ached and his head spun, trying hard to figure out what this meant in relation to his feelings, and how Harry felt. Was it just gratitude for healing him? Did he feel guilty for how he acted inn school? Draco chocked. Was it pity after hearing his past? Anger swept him at the thought, effectively stopping his tears. He quickly wiped his face and nose, which had snot unattractively running out of it. He breathed deeply, anger snuffed out as suddenly as it appeared, leaving him feeling drained, tired, and old. He sat there, arms wrapped around his knees, feeling everything and nothing all at once.
That's how Andrew found him about an hour later. "Draco?" Draco slowly turned his head to look at him, looking eerily similar to the day Blaise walked out on him, only on the floor instead of in a window. "Draik, what's wrong?" Andrew asked, concerned, kneeling on the floor stiffly to gather him in his arms.
"I don't know what to make of him. I'm tired of guessing and second-guessing. I want to know, I want to know him! Why is that so difficult?" Draco asked, curled in Andrew's lap. "It's the only thing I've wanted since I saw him in the robe shop over a decade ago. The cute green-eyed boy, with endearingly messy black hair, his big green eyes full of wonder and fear and hope. So I acted like a prat, because that's how my Father taught me to act around people we wanted to impress…but it didn't work. He hated me and rejected my friendship, my help. So I lashed out and treated him awful. I thought, 'I'll show him! No one rejects a Malfoy!' But it didn't work. He was awful right back. He didn't need me. He didn't want me. But…I still wanted him. I still do. 15 years later, I still want him. Merlin, I'm pathetic! Still pining away for my first crush…" Draco's voice was full of self-loathing.
"Harry?" Andrew as incredulously.
"Yes, you git, who else would I be talking about? Weasel?" Draco snapped.
"Hey, watch it…So you like him?" Draco just glared at him. "Sorry, I'm trying to process this. You like him?" Suddenly his faced went dark, going from Andrew-the-surrogate-dad to Head-Healer-Young-the-boss. "You still took his case?"
"Yes." Draco said, abashed. "I…I don't have an excuse besides…I thought I could show him I changed, grew up…but I haven't. I can't stop being a prat, because every time I see him, it hurts. It hurts so much! And I want him to feel it too."
Andrew sighed, and gathered the distraught man. "Have you ever told him?"
"Of course not! He hates me…or at least he did."
"Have you told anyone?"
"Blaise in my drunken rambles. Pansy figured it out, like fourth year. And you." Draco said. "No one else knows."
"That's not true." Hermione's voice suddenly, and a look of pure mortification filled his face. He stood up quickly, wiping his face, not looking her in the eye.
"Gran-Weasley." he said, emotionlessly polite.
"Mal-Draco." she replied. "I-I came to see if I could help with the brewing. Is…is there anything I can do?"
"No, thank you." Draco said politely. Then he dropped the formalities. "How much did you hear?" he said nastily.
"Everything…" she sighed.
Draco flushed, angry and embarrassed. ""So, what now? You tell Harry and Weasel while you're at it, I get taken off the case, and Weasel beats the shit out of me?" he snapped.
"No. That's something you have to tell. Whenever you're ready."
"Are you completely mental? I'm not telling him! I'm not telling anyone. I will bind your mouth shut!" Draco exclaimed, looking insane, wand pointing in Hermione's face.
"No need! I won't say anything!" Hermione exclaimed, hands up placating. Draco eyed her distrustingly, but slowly lowered his wand. "So, what's your plan now?"
"Finish my cases. That's it." Draco said emotionlessly.
"What about afterwards? Are you moving back to England? Staying here? Moving elsewhere n this country?" Hermione persisted.
"I…can't leave yet. I have…things to resolve. But Harry…really won't have a reason to stay in the hospital, but won't be able to travel for a while, even when the potion is done. And you and Weasel...ley can't stay here that long." Draco thought out loud.
"Can…Would you be willing to let him stay with you? You are his Healer, so he won't have to be in and out of here all the time. Winky can watch over him while you're at work, and when you're both ready, you can move back to England together." Hermione flushed. "I-I mean…you can travel together…yeah." she finished lamely.
"I trust your restraint." Head Healer Young said. "This way you can monitor his progress without him traveling here all the time, blindly."
Draco was silent for long minutes. "All…alright." he said finally. "If he agrees. He should be fit for travel in about a month and a half. I will keep you both updated on his progress."
"Thank you." Hermione said.
"And yours." Andrew said sternly.
"Yes sir." Draco said.
They stood in awkward silence until Hermione said, "Well…I guess I will go say good bye to Harry. We have things to arrange in England. And Merlin, Ginny! She doesn't know yet."
"I thought I told you to tell anyone relevant!" Draco snapped.
"W-well…we got the letter…and we were so excited…we just dropped the kids off at the Burrow…and Flooed straight to your office." Hermione explained sheepishly. Draco scoffed.
"Idiot Gryffindors…no planning skills what so ever."
Hermione made an indignant noise and flounced out to collect her husband, leaving Andrew and Draco alone.
"So…this is it? You're final choice?" Andrew asked finally.
"Yes. It's time t go home." Draco said the word with such lounging, Andrew's heart broke.
"I…I tried…to make this home for you." Andrew said, voice clogged with tears held back by manly, stubborn pride.
"I know…" Draco said, sounding the same. "I appreciate that…more than I could ever tell you…and it's not like I'll never see you again. I'll Floo and write and all that."
"I will too." Andrew said, hugging him hard.
"And I'm not leaving yet so we are acting ridiculous and I have potions to brew." Draco drawled, untangling himself after a few seconds of hug. Andrew nodded and stepped back.
"I'll let you get to it then." He said turning to leave. "Cecilia will be heart broken. You know she loves you."
Draco smirked. "Guilt trips only work on foolish Gryffindors and sappy Hufflepuffs."
"Yes, well, I can try. See you tomorrow Healer Malfoy."
"Yes Sir." Draco said, seeing him out the door.
I AM SO SORRY! I am terrible. I have no reason, just excuses. I had writers block, then band camp and writers block, then writers block. I practically forced this out of me kicking and screaming. Good news, one more chapter, then the squeal, which should be much easier to start than this was to end. Many, many, many thanks to everyone who reviewed and stuff. It was your guilt causing that made me update finally.
Reviewers!
Bohemiandreams- I'm sorry it made you cry. I'm sorry it took so long. Thanks, I did. I bought the hat the mad hatter had in the newest alice! You should be glad to know that the smutt will be in the squeal only, in a place that makes sense.
- Poor Draco? Poor Harry when he has to deal with all this. Lol. But he'll help.
Farwalker- kinda. Their circumstances are very different, but they will help each other.
Tawnyeyes10- are you frustrated yet? Sorry, sorry. I think the wait was worse than any cliffhanger.
GoldenRoya- thanks…sorry for the wait. He was used to drinking (Slyth parties and all) but he was determined. Umm…sure. Let's go with that. It disappeared…yeah. (Honestly I never thought about it)
knight vanilla- thanks, so very sorry. I did, finally. That's something right?
Rainglyph13- thanks. So sorry about the wait. He will. That's the point of the sequal.
Darloudasha-I think I messaged you, but I accept your name, as a boy. yes, he will be. I'M EXCITED TOO, SQUEE!
Chochowilliams- yes it is. And don't judge Blaise too harshly. He was young, dealing with his own war issues, and courting Pansy while trying to help his friend. Andrew meanwhile, didn't have an emotionally attachment (yet) and had years of Healer training and personal experience. Blaise tried, and he eventually put his foot down.
Catindahat-Thanks, and so sorry for the wait. They will, don't worry. Then-! They shall have lots of mansex. *nods firmly*
RosesAreForever23- no desk. Computer might work. So, so sorry for the wait.
Yeah()- thank you. I continued. Way late, but I continued.
TwilightFan()- thank you. He will, don't you worry. He'll be with Harry in the sequel. That good enough? I updated. Not soon though. So sorry.
Favorite Story
Merrr
CatchingElectricCity
DarkKitsune18
Story Alert
CHOCKS ES COOOOOL
NougatEvolution
Shadow of Darkness 22
C. Isabel
Rafa93
Aelijah85
Chuchunu