Chapter Four

~Draco~

It was sneaky, taking Ellie's blood for testing, but I didn't care. Something was wrong with her. She'd worked long shifts before and had never passed out. Plus, she wasn't one not to eat. If Ellie wouldn't tell me what was going on, her pathology results would.

"Do you want me to run them out?" Adam asked, having ducked his head into the cramped treatment bay used for storage which Ellie now occupied.

"Please." I handed over the sealed bag of tubes and pathology slip. Adam perused it before taking out his pen and adding to my list. "What did you add?" He re-pocketed his pen and looked up at me.

"Just a couple you missed, nothing concerning I promise." His reassuring tone set me a little more at ease. I turned back to Ellie's now peaceful form. She'd half come to, but we'd convinced her to rest. Now she slept, and I reconnected the IV fluids to her second access line in the last two hours.

"I'll be back soon." I placed a careful kiss on her forehead before heading out to wash up and do my rounds. I needed the distraction. Whatever was going on with Ellie was tearing me apart. She was surely unwell. I couldn't lose her. She was all I had.

I checked in on Steph who was sleeping, an oxygen mask strapped to her face. My other patients were all in comfortable states, which led me to Granger's bay. With a sigh, I entered. Sharp, brown eyes immediately met mine.

"What do you want with me, Malfoy?" So, this was the hostile treatment I would be receiving.

"For you to get discharged and back out of my life as soon as possible preferably." I replied, not in the mood for any word sparring without a silencing charm. I began checking her sats, which apart from an irate, slightly elevated heart rate, were all normal.

"Why are you here?" Her next question as demanding as her first.

"Because, as you clearly haven't figured out, this is where I work."

"It can't be, it's a muggle hospital."

"Ten points for how observant you are." I didn't want an interrogation, I wanted her out of my hair, my life! She could ruin everything! I paused at the side of her bed. "Listen Granger, I don't know what ridiculous theories you've concocted under that wild hair of yours, but I work here, I'm happy here, I have a life here, and you will not be opening your big mouth and ruining any of that for me." Swallowing, she nodded. Silenced for now but likely not long.

"Has Adam or Izzy contacted your direct family?"

"No." I pulled out my mobile.

"It better not be anyone who will recognize me."

"No, just my parents. They live here, I'm visiting them."

"Very well. What is their number?" I punched in the number she gave and within one ring tone, the line was picked up.

"Hello?" A male voice answered.

"Hello, this is Doctor Draco Malfoy from the Gold Coast Hospital emergency department-"

"Oh my God, is she alright?" The man cut over me, in clear distress.

"Hermione is doing well, but she was in an accident. I'm here with her now."

"Can we speak to her?" Silently I handed the mobile over.

"Dad?" Her eyes brimmed with tears and I ducked out of the bay to give her some privacy.

I waited ten minutes, using the time to check on Ellie, who still slept, before returning for my mobile and to face Granger once more.

"Thank you." She spoke first, handing my mobile back. I shrugged, pocketing it. "And I'm sorry, for jumping to conclusions."

"I didn't expect an apology." I replied, noting the sheepish look which came over her.

"Well you must understand seeing you here, living in the muggle world, as a doctor no less, its... well it's not what anyone would expect of a Malfoy." I frowned. "I mean after all your prejudice against muggles, following Volde-"

"Believe it or not, people can change and make their own decisions how to lead their lives." I cut over her, a shiver crawling its way down my spine at the name she had nearly spoken. "I was given an out. I chose not to go back. I'm happy here." I needed her to know that. Maybe then she would leave me alone. I twisted the titanium band about my finger. If it was found out I was alive, I'd be put for trial and I imagine sent to Azkaban. I'd lose everything.

"I'm also sorry I scared your uh, wife."

"So much for the statuary of secrecy." I let out a dry laugh, trying to calm my nerves in this precarious situation I'd found myself in. She stared at me in bewilderment.

"She's not a witch?"

"Pardon?" I stared back at her in confusion. "No, Ellie is a muggle." Granger blinked, clearly processing.

"She knows you're a wizard?" The last bit was whispered. I merely nodded.

"Wow... a half-blood Malfoy..."

"Sorry? What are you on about?"

"Your um-" Her hand flew to her mouth. "Nothing, it's nothing."

"My what, Granger?" I stared her down, making her squirm in discomfort. What did she know that I didn't?

"It's not my place..."

"I'm waiting."

"Well um, your uh wife... no it's not my place." Did she know why Ellie was unwell?

"I swear, Granger if you know what's wrong with my wife, you better speak quickly. I can still make your life hell." A good threat had her glaring back at me.

"Fine! She's pregnant!"

"Don't be ridiculous, she is not preg..." Dinner, I'd suggested wine and Ellie had declined. "Merlin, I'm such an idiot! Still the brightest witch then, I have to go!" Without waiting for Granger's response, I took off back to Ellie.

…

Ellie was awake, sitting up in the hospital bed I'd put her in earlier. She gazed wide eyed at me for rushing in unannounced. I sat on the side of the bed and pulled her against me.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't know I was going to pass out."

"No, not that. The reason why you passed out." She stilled. "Are you pregnant?" After a long moment there was a small nod against my collarbone. "Oh, Ellie." I pulled her into a tighter embrace, kissing the top of her head before pulling away. I couldn't have kept the stupid grin off my face if I'd tried! We were going to be parents, Merlin, I was going to be a father!

My elation faltered at Ellie's bewildered expression. It had never occurred to me she might not want this. "You're happy?" Were her baffled words.

"Well yeah of course I am... Aren't you?" She nodded, a smile beginning to take over her face. It was then I noticed she looked lighter as if the entire world had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Oh, you idiot, have you been worrying I wouldn't want this? Is that why you were acting weird?" She nodded.

"We've never discussed it, and well I know you said magic dominates." She lowered her voice, glancing at the curtained off entrance.

"It does, yes."

"Well, I just thought, well because any kid we had would be magical too, you wouldn't want any." I frowned, unsure where she was going with this. "You turned your back on your world."

"That never occurred to me." Leaning back on my arms, I processed the full implications of bringing a child with magic into the world. Schooling. Was there a wizarding school in Australia? What if there wasn't? Could we do what the muggles did and home school? I'd been second highest in my year to Granger, I was intelligent enough to teach magic.

It would be more than schooling though. I'd had an isolated and controlled upbringing. Not to mention the childhood brainwashing by my xenophobic father. I would not be like my father. I would not control my child's beliefs and decisions. It was those poor decisions which had led to my dark past. That past which would undoubtedly tear me from my family when it had barely begun.

"Draco?" I opened my eyes, meeting Ellie's concerned gaze.

"It's fine, we'll work it out." I sat up, pulling her back into my arms. "Let's just be excited right now." She let out a cheery laugh as I peppered her face with kisses.

"We're having a mini us!"

"It's going to be the cutest damn kid on the planet!" I smirked, finally tasting her elated smile. There was a lot to figure out, but we'd hopefully have a few years before I would need to return to the wizarding world. I just had to hope Granger would cooperate.

~Hermione~

Izzy, the nurse assigned to me was tasked with keeping me awake for as long as possible, to monitor my concussion. I still couldn't remember what had happened or getting on the bus. Perhaps that was a good thing? Did I really need more haunting memories? It was strange enough Malfoy had reappeared.

It was disconcerting being on muggle painkillers. My mind was fuzzy at the edges, or perhaps it was the concussion? Although my ribs were tightly bandaged, it hurt when Izzy helped me from the bed to walk me to the bathroom.

The halls were quiet, yet the lights were bright, making up for the silence. Here and there, machines clicked or beeped as we passed bays of other patients. A male voice spoke from one, a voice I recognized as Malfoy's. It was followed by a soft, happy laugh. The bay curtain was half open as we passed. Curious, I slowed to peer in.

Malfoy was sitting on the edge of a hospital bed, the blonde woman he'd called Ellie, and who was his wife, wrapped in his arms. There was a grin on his face which stunned me. I'd never seen Malfoy grin like that. It was genuine, happy.

"Callista for a girl? What about Elara? Is that still starry enough for you?" The woman teased, and Malfoy's grin widened.

"Ah, I might get my starry way yet!" He chuckled, kissing her cheek. Then we'd passed the bay and my mind was left spinning. Malfoy really wasn't up to anything. My mother had told me over the phone to give him the benefit of the doubt. What I'd just seen was proof. He'd said he was happy, that this was his life. All I'd heard was good words about him from the other doctor, and my nurse.

Still, I had so many questions. How had he escaped Voldemort's rule before Harry had destroyed him? Why had his own mother claimed he was dead and mourned him?

I did not have long to wait. No sooner had I painstakingly settled back into my hospital bed, Malfoy appeared, advising my nurse to take a break. "I believe congratulations are in order?" I spoke first, startled again when a grin lit up his features.

"Thank you, Granger." He watched me, grin falling away.

"You said I'm supposed to be dead. How?"

"The battle of Hogwarts. You were, well your mother told the authorities you'd been incinerated in the crossfire by a Deatheater's spell. There was uh, evidence apparently that it was you." He nodded slowly, mouth set in a thin line.

"I suppose that's why no one ever came after me."

"Maybe. Why have you never come back?" He bowed his head, looking away.

"Because I'd be sent to Azkaban. It's why my mother sent me away, to avoid going there if he," he swallowed. "If Voldemort was defeated, or death from the bastard if he lived. Now I've got too much to lose if I went back. I'm happy here." I noticed how his voice struggled, each word shaky after uttering Voldemort's name. Deatheaters never uttered his name, for it was disrespectful. They were to only address him as the Dark Lord. Draco was a Deatheater, but he had uttered Voldemort's name. It was in fear and barely controlled disgust.

"I don't know… I don't know what the Ministry would do if you returned." Unconsciously he rubbed at one of his sleeved arms. I knew what was hidden beneath. The mark of a Deatheater. The mark and proof the ministry relied on to send all the surviving Deatheaters to Azkaban. All except one, the one who stood before me.

"Your mother was pardoned." I offered, unsure why I was trying to comfort him. Draco Malfoy had done terrible things.

"My mother is free then?"

"Yes, I don't know if you know, but she lied to Voldemort about Harry being dead that night. Her lie helped us win the war." I paused, watching him.

"She's never contacted me. What of my father?" I couldn't help my scowl of disdain for that excuse of a wizard.

"He claimed he'd been under the imperius curse, family threatened, but it was discovered the Dark Mark could not be given or taken without the full will of the receiver. It was how Voldemort ensured he could trust those in his inner circle. He is in Azkaban with the other Deatheaters." I unthinkingly explained. I was met with several moments of silence. He could never go back. The realisation saddened me. Yet, he seemed truly happy here. It was the life he had now it seemed he was afraid to lose. He was going to be a father. He had married a muggle, a muggle! As I stared back up at the wizard before me, I saw no trace of the cruelty from our school years, nor the boy during the war. I was not staring into the eyes of a Deatheater. "Would you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"How you came to be changed?" He didn't look thrilled by the idea. "Please, I'm meant to stay awake, aren't I? Besides, my parents are still an hour away." His gaze became calculated, then to something I was familiar with from him, scheming.

"I'll tell you everything on one condition."

"Which is?"

"You're not to tell a single soul I am alive, and that I am here. I don't want my past destroying my future." His gaze was near pleading, fear swirling in his wide grey eyes. I swallowed, realising I held his entire life in my hands. If I refused, what would he do? It didn't matter, I knew I could not refuse him. He'd been given a second chance, and it seemed he'd chosen to atone for his past.

"Okay, that's more than fair." I conceded. He nodded, seeming relieved by my answer for the way his shoulders minutely relaxed, a slow breath leaving him.

"Where do you wish me to start?" He hedged after another moment.

"Well, you said your mother sent you here. I guess start from there." He closed his eyes, taking in a quick breath before opening them again.

"Alright, then I guess the beginning was at the end of the battle at Hogwarts..."

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