"Mmm, what happened?" It was about 6:30 and Granger was just now stirring. While he was still rather worried as to her reaction at seeing him in her room he was impatient for her to wake because he was already bored. Draco had flipped aimlessly through the law books at her table and checked out her rather extensive private library (as he was looking across the shelves he discovered a brilliant extension charm on the shelves). He was just coming back from the loo when he heard her moan.
"Lethifold got loose in the Ministry, do you remember?"
"Malfoy! What on earth are you doing here?" She looks around and realizes she's in her own room. "Why are you in my room?"
"The healer said you would do better at home but you couldn't be left alone. Potter had to get back to the Ministry to try and sort through this mess and Weasel has your daughter so I volunteered to stay with you." He hoped she wouldn't ask why he was around to volunteer, it was bad enough admitting to Potter about the Prophet he really didn't want to tell her about that.
She tries to sit up but he sees the pain flash across her face though she quickly tries to hide it. He reached towards the bedside table where the potions from the healer where laid out. "Here's a pain potion. The Healer said you could take half when you wake up and the other half in 6 hours. If you need more after that I'll let her know."
"No" she said shaking her head at the offered potion bottle. "I mean, no, thank you. Was it Healer Owens? She knows better than to think I would take a potion. What time is it, how long have I been out?" She ramble on, trying to gather her thoughts.
"Its 6:30pm, the accident happened about lunch time. You were moved home about 3:30." She winces yet again as she trys to sit up. "Your obviously in pain, why won't you take the potion?"
"Let it go Malfoy." She growled as she fell back on the pillows. He leaned forward to try and fluff her pillows and she swatted at his hands. "Leave me be."
"You are a rotten patient. Relax already."
"Why are you here?"
"I told you, the others were occupied. Healer Owens said you would do better at home so I volunteered to sit with you. Don't make me regret that decision."
"Of course Owens would pawn me off. Still hasn't forgiven me for the last time. She knew better than to try and force potions on me." She began trying to sit up again.
"Settle down already or I'm going to have to send you back to the hospital. Your going to hurt yourself."
"Wrong thing to say Malfoy! Accio wand !" She said attempting to get out of bed this time.
The wand case Draco had brought from home rattled and began to fly towards her from the bookshelf where he had placed it. Thankfully he had taken Potters warning about guarding her wand seriously. He grabbed it mid air and held on with one hand while trying to get her to sit back down with the other.
"Obviously they warned you to not let me have my wand. Expelliarmus!"
"Did you seriously just try to disarm me without a wand?" He couldn't believe her nerve. He also wasn't going to admit that he felt his wand twitch in its holster and if it hadn't been in the holster she probably would have got it.
"If I weren't so drained I would have been successful." She fell back onto the bed obviously exhausted. "If you promise not to push the potions or mention the hospital I will concede. Happy?" Honestly it looked like she wouldn't be able to fight him either way but he much rather have her co-operation.
"Fine. No potions, and so long as you stay still, no hospital. Now lay back, can I get you anything? "
"I'm fine." She said settling back into the bed but still looking like she would try and run if he said or did anything she didn't like. He decided to try to change the subject. "Do you remember what happened? Potter said you were leaving the office for lunch and a Lethifold appeared. Did you see where it came from?"
"I really don't know. All of a sudden I saw this black cape like thing come flying at us. I shouted for every one to get out and told Harry a patronus is the only defense. It came at me and I vaguely remember being thrown into the wall. Thats it." She shrugged and winced at the same time.
He knew better but he just had to ask, "what gives? Why no potions. Your obviously in pain, why not take something to relieve it?"
She sighed and looked him up and down as if deciding to tell him the truth or not. "I've had enough potions to last a lifetime. Being malnourished and weak from our time on the run I had to take strengthening potions just to be strong enough to carry Bryony. Then I still had nightmares about the war so I practically lived on dreamless sleep potions. At times I would fall into such depressive states that there were weeks I don't remember anything at all, weeks where I took 6-8 potions a day just to keep me healthy enough to have Bryony. But I was so drugged I couldn't even tell you my own name. Once I had Bryony I realized I couldn't do that anymore, I had to be healthy so I could take care of her. So now unless it is a matter of life or death I dont take potions. Pain I can handle, it reminds me I'm alive. What I can't handle is not being in control of my mind and body, the way potions make me feel."
Draco took a moment to digest all of that. This was the strongest witch he knew behind his mother and she just admitted to being weak. He thought back to that time after the war. Granger had all but disappeared from the public eye and of course Skeeter had lots of outlandish theories as to why. Her favorites were that either Granger had been turned into a Werewolf and was hiding away to hide the scars or she had always been a secret agent for Voldemort and had gone on the run when he died.
"Was that why you didn't attend Fred's funeral?" He asked before he thought it through. He really didnt want anyone to know he was there but it seemed like today was the day they would share secrets.
"I was inconsolable to the point of hysterics. Everyone agreed it would be best if I stayed away. So Luna stayed with me in his room above the shop during the funeral. She let me rage and then held me while I cried." Granger looked like she was starting to fade, like she had used up the little energy she had and was about to fall back asleep. He thought he was off the hook for his admission but of course she caught it, "how do you know I wasn't at the funeral? Weren't you in Azkaban during that time?"
"I petitioned Shaklebolt to be allowed to attend Vincent's funeral. He was an idiot who could have easily killed us all but he was my childhood friend. Since I had turned myself in willingly and he had already heard my testimony he granted me a pass to attend the funeral. The Aruor whose custody I was released to decided I shouldn't get to go to Vincent's funeral and so he took me to the other funeral held that day, Fred's. He told me that I should be punished for my crimes by having to watch a real heros funeral and see their families grief. That all on the wrong side should be shoved into a pit and burned, no funerals allowed. I dont think the idiot realized thats basically what happened to Crabbe.
The Aruor kept trying to push me closer to the funeral party. I seriously think he wanted some one to recognize me and hoped they would Avada me on the spot. I tried to stay as quiet as possible but I think Longbottom saw me."
"What happened to the Aruor? " she mumbled.
"What do you mean, what happened? Nothing. " he asked
"You didn't trun him in?"
"Why? nothing would have been done. My luck whomever I told would have thought it a good idea and forced me to go to all the funerals." He scoffed, if course she would try to get justice.
"But that's not right...they don't get a say... they should have been punished..." now she was fading fast, sleep just moments away.
"Ever the defender, don't worry about it Granger, get some sleep."
Granger fell back to sleep giving Malfoy time to gather his thoughts. He obviously didn't know what he was getting himself into volunteering to sit with her. And he was more than a little irked that the others didn't bother to warn him about her aversion to potions. Though now she explained it he understood completely.
Once it became apparent that she was going to be out for awhile he went back into the hallway to get a better look at the pictures. Taking a while to look a few things caught his attention. First being that there were no pictures of her pregnant, including no wedding pictures. Second that there were no pictures of her parents with her daughter. Plenty of the Weasleys with the girl but none of the muggles. He found that rather odd since the ones of a younger Granger with her parents seemed to be the ones in place of honor. Obviously they were no longer in the picture but it wasn't an estranged relationship. He was rather curious but decided to head back into her room rather than explore the house. She hadn't seemed to upset to see him there but she hadn't invited him into her home and he didn't want to over step his welcome. So he went back into her room and began picking through her library for something to read.
At 8 o clock Dracos stomach rumbled reminding him that he had been about to order lunch when Brooks had fire called him. Rather than attempt to make anything in Granger's kitchen he summoned his house elf Tippy and asked that a tea tray and lite dinner be brought. The crack! of the elf apporating away woke Granger.
"How are you feeling? Do you need anything? Dinner will be here shortly if you are hungry." He said as she attempted to sit up.
"I need my wand please." She replied holding out her hand for the wand.
Draco hesitated, she seemed calm but he wasn't sure if he should give the wand back. "What ever you need I can do."
"You can summon something else for me to wear? And help me get changed? No, I dont think so. Just give my my wand and I promise not to hex you." She said with a rather unnerving smirk.
"Fine, just please be careful and call me if you need me." He replied as he handed her her wand and turned to leave the room.
He was standing outside the door but a few minutes when he heard the unmistakable crack! of Tippy coming back, followed by a scream from Granger. Without even thinking of her possible state of undress he ran back into the room. He found his house elf standing in the far corner with the tray she had prepared hovering behind her apologizing for startling Granger and Granger half sitting on the bed with the blanket pulled in front of herself.
Upon seeing him she rechecked she was fully covered then started yelling, "you could have warned me a house elf was on the way!" She turned to Tippy who was still apologizing and wringing her hands, "Tippy? Is that your name? I'm sorry Tippy I didn't mean to startle you or to start yelling. You scared me because your master forgot to mention you were on your way."
"I did so!" Draco snapped indignantly, "I told you food was on the way."
"I though you meant take away, not a bloody house elf." She shook her head then her expression softened just a bit and she muttered, "purebloods."
"Muggleborns."
"Now that I've had a minor heart attack can I be left alone? Obviously I still need to finish getting dressed before we eat."
"Miss, Tippy will help. Mr Draco said you hurt. I help you." The house elf came running forward to help as Draco turned back out of the room. He could hear both of them arguing as he shut the door. Normally he would step in but they were both stubborn and anything he said would just infuriate one or the other. After a few minutes Tippy opened the door to let him back in. Both looked disgruntled but no one looked murderous so he decided it was safe to come in.
When Potter had got her home he had changed Granger into what had to have been an old fashioned dressing gown. It looked like something his grandmother would have worn 50 years ago. Now she had changed into a lite pink tank top and pink plaid sleep pants. He was startled to see the scars covering what he could see of her body. She had a small scar across her neck, another on her left elbow, a purplish scar that started at her shoulder and looked as if it ran down her chest, and he couldn't help but look down at her right forearm where he knew the scar he most dreaded seeing was, the red, raised mudblood carved into her flesh, still as bright as ever. Cursed scars never really heal and he knew Bellatrix's knife had been endowed with powerful dark magic. He knew it was there, just as sure as she knew he still carried the Dark Mark.
"Who brought me home from the hospital?" She asked as she ran her fingers through her hair attempting to tame the mess.
"Potter, why?" he asked as he conjured up a chair and tray to sit near her bed.
"I kind of figured. Ron would have left me in the hospital gown. Harry must have stopped by the Burrow and asked Molly for something so he wouldn't have to go through my drawers. The thought was sweet but that was awfully uncomfortable." She said as she pointed to the dressing gown hung off the hook on her bathroom door. Tippy brought the tray over and began to pour tea as she spoke, "Tippy, we are fine thank you. I can pour tea, I promise I'm not that weak." Granger said while gently wrestling the tea pot away from the elf.
The elf quietly growled at the witch then turned back to Draco, "Mr Draco, miss has just as many scars as you! She even has a scar from the same blade that killed Dobby!"
Before Draco could admonish the elf Grangerpot the tea pot down and gently pulled Tippy back to face her, "you knew Dobby? And how can you tell it was the same blade?"
"Elves can track magic so they can find their masters, I'm a Black elf so I know all Black family members magic. Bellatrix Black Lestrange owned the blade. Dobby was a Black family elf to, his mom was my moms sister. Dobby was a fre elf when he died. "
"He was indeed, he was very brave as well. He saved my friends and then was killed when he came back for my brother, best friend and myself. I wrote Dobby's Law in his honor." She said sadly.
"You's Miss Granger!" The elf exclaimed in excitement. "Mr Draco told us about Dobby's Law when it went to the Wizengamot. He explained it and told us we were free whether it passed or not. He then let us choose if we wanted to stay on and those who didnt he helped find employment."
The look Granger gave Draco look mildly surprised but mostly impressed. "Sounds like he's pretty nice boss then."
"Oh he is Miss Granger, he is! I's proud to work for the Black family now." The elf nodded her head vigorously and now Hermione could see the family resemblance and couldn't believe she didn't see it before as the elfs ears flapped about wildly.
"Tippy, I think we are good here. I will call you if we need you ok?" Draco said as polite dismissal. The elf had already shared more than enough.
"Yes sir, Mr. Draco sir! Miss, if you ever need anything just call me. Now I know your magical signature now so just call me and I'll come." Tippy said, ears flapping while shaking Granger's hand as Draco gently tried to pull the elf away from a rather startled Granger.
a/n so this wasn't quite how I planned this chapter to go but I like how it turned out. Please comment and tell me what you think! I promise things are about to start moving at a faster pace, they just need to discuss a few things first (mudblood scars, Dark Marks, ya know, the little things that might cause a problem...:) )