Snippets


Chapter Seventeen


"Do you still play quidditch?" Hermione asks abruptly, leaning her forearms on the book in front of her which she has just paused reading.

Draco looks up at Hermione over the rim of his reading glasses as he closes the book which his nose had been buried in up until Hermione's interruption. He removes his reading glasses and sets them down gently atop the book on the coffee table in front of him.

Both Hermione and Draco had ended up sitting at the coffee table once again, Hermione finding it far more comfortable to sit on the floor for some of her research time. The sofa which she usually occupies in Draco's library is quite comfortable, but almost too comfortable. She finds herself sinking into it and occasionally not getting as much reading done as she might like, so today, the coffee table was her preference.

"Not as often as I would like," Draco responds, not even pausing to question Hermione's reasoning for her inquiry. Hermione appreciates that fact about Draco. She thinks that he likely knows exactly why Hermione asks some of the questions she does, but he doesn't push her to reveal more information than she wants to. "Blaise has a pitch, but I admittedly don't see my friends as often as I probably should."

Hermione nods, unsure of how to respond.

"May I inquire as to why you ask?" Draco wonders, and there's a lilt in his voice which makes Hermione smile a small smile.

"I had another vision," Hermione replies, stating this as very matter-of-fact. Unfortunately for her, talking about her visions has become much more commonplace– at least with Draco and Healer Greengrass. "And I had dinner with Victor a couple of days ago. So, I suppose that quidditch is just on my mind."

Draco's eyebrows raise minutely– it's quick, but Hermione catches it.

"Victor? Krum? I didn't realize that you were still in contact," Draco hums, though Hermione thinks that she might detect a hint of jealousy in his voice. Although Hermione knows that Victor is still a revered quidditch player and now-captain, she often forgets that fact about him– to her, he is just a good friend.

"We exchange letters. He surprised me at my office," Hermione begins, her voice suddenly becoming weak when she remembers why Victor had done such a thing. "He said that I sounded different in my recent letters. He was worried about me."

Draco nods that clinical, Healer nod, as he leans slightly forward toward Hermione.

"I think I have to go through with Healer Greengrass' treatment," Hermione states firmly. "I have to at least try it, I think."

The idea of Healer Greengrass magically shocking Hermione's brain still gives her pause, but she thinks that she might regret it if she doesn't try it. She trusts Healer Greengrass to not do anything which would put her in danger or do more harm than good, and right now, Hermione thinks that that will have to be enough for her.

Draco opens his mouth as if he is about to speak before his head whips to the side and his eyes widen comically at the sound of another voice floating down the hallway of his townhome.

"Drake! Where are you?" a shrill, feminine voice shrieks. Hermione can't place the voice, though she does think that she has heard it before– back in school, perhaps?

Draco groans aloud and exhales heavily, as if trying to center himself before he looks at Hermione pleadingly.

The last thing Hermione hears before the door to the library swings open is Draco's voice saying, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"What in the–" that same shrill, feminine voice– which Hermione now realizes is that of Pansy Parkinson– gasps, her eyebrows furrowing as if she has never seen a more confusing sight than when she enters Draco's library.

Behind Pansy is a tall and slim man with dark skin and hair– the aforementioned Blaise Zabini, Hermione thinks– and another, smaller man who Hermione doesn't recognize, though he reminds her somewhat of Harry with his curly, dark hair and green eyes.

"Well. That explains why you weren't answering your floo," the smaller, Harry-esque, man snorts, crossing his arms over his chest and wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. "Hermione Granger, as I live and breathe. What brings you to the snake pit this evening?"

"Shut it, Theo," Draco snarls, and Hermione certainly doesn't miss the way that he angles his own body halfway in front of Hermione's, as if to shield her. "Why are you here?"

At the mention of his name, Hermione does– sort of– remember Theodore Nott from Hogwarts. She vaguely remembers him being in Slytherin and generally keeping to himself, in stark contrast to her memories of Draco.

Theo saunters forward and drapes himself over the sofa behind Draco, smiling wide– almost disconcertingly wide– at Hermione.

"Well, you see, Drakey," Theo begins, propping his chin up on his hands in faux-innocence. "We were going to intervene if we found you sitting alone in this miniscule little home of yours considering we haven't seen hide nor hair of your pointy arse in weeks. However, it seems that you are in entirely capable hands– Brightest Witch of Her Age, and all."

Hermione winces at that title. Thankfully, in the eleven years since the end of the Second War, the use of that moniker has fallen out of favor, but evidently, Theodore Nott remembers it.

Hermione also refrains from correcting Theo in regard to who is in the capable hands of whom in this scenario. Draco is the one with the education and resources which are helping Hermione in this moment, not the other way around.

"Right. So, are you going to explain why you're sitting here all cozy with the Gryffindor Princess or not?" Pansy questions, raising one perfectly arched eyebrow so it disappears beneath her fringe. Her arms are crossed over her petite frame, the sharp claws on her left hand resting against the sleek– probably silk– material of the sleeve of her dress.

Hermione rolls her eyes.

"Alright, can we stop with the nicknames, please?" Hermione grumbles, narrowing her eyes at the dark-haired witch across the room from her.

When Hermione looks at Pansy Parkinson, she can't help but notice that this witch in the room with her looks near-identical to the vision-version of herself which Hermione had seen, which leads her to believe that if her visions are coming to pass, then that one might be sooner rather than later.

"Fine, Granger," Pansy hisses, raising one hand to examine her manicure in an attempt to look unbothered, Hermione thinks. "There. No nickname. Now, why are you here?"

Hermione opens her mouth to speak– or snark, more likely– but Draco beats her to the punch.

"She was invited– unlike you lot," Draco states, and there is no mistaking the warning in his voice– at least not to Hermione.

Hermione tentatively places her hand on Draco's shoulder. The last thing that she wants to do is to cause strife between him and his friends.

"It's alright, Draco. I can leave," Hermione says quietly when he turns toward her. "I'll see you tomorrow anyway."

Hermione hadn't actually gotten around to telling Draco that she has an appointment with Healer Greengrass tomorrow to finalize the details for her first of her experimental treatments, but she hopes that he will be able to read through the lines in this case.

Draco nods, and stands from the floor, reaching down to help Hermione up from her spot too. It dawns on Hermione as his hand wraps around hers that this is probably the most that she and Draco have touched one another since their friendship began, and she wonders how much of that might have to do with their audience.

"Let me walk you out," Draco insists, which Hermione nods in acquiescence to. Next, Draco speaks to the trio of former-Slytherins in their midst. "You three stay here. I'll be right back."

Hermione walks alongside Draco in silence until they reach the front door of his townhouse.

"Tomorrow? Are you seeing Daphne tomorrow?" Draco asks as if finally putting together the pieces of Hermione's hint.

"I am. I'm going to tell Healer Greengrass that I'm going to go through with the treatment, but that I'd like you to be present for it," Hermione explains.

Draco nods, having already agreed to be in the room for Hermione during her treatment.

"I apologize for my friends. They're… an acquired taste," Draco laughs lightly, and it reminds Hermione of when Draco had said that his wife used to say something similar about him. "They'll not interrupt our research again, I'll make sure of it."

Hermione smiles, appreciating Draco's dedication, although she feels that his apology is unnecessary.

"You were just saying earlier this evening that you don't see your friends enough," Hermione points out, raising an eyebrow up at him. "Don't be too hard on them. At least they're here. If I've learned anything from my condition, it's that people matter and to not take for granted the people who show up for you."

Draco hums and smiles a somewhat sad half-smile as he looks off into the distance behind Hermione's head for a moment. Hermione obviously can't be sure, but she would bet a lot of galleons on the fact that something has just tugged on his heartstrings.

"You're right," Draco says finally, after a moment. "Goodnight, Hermione."


It's less than a week later when Hermione is laid supine on an exam table with Healer Greengrass standing over her above her head and Draco standing beside her.

"Alright, Ms. Granger, are you ready?" Healer Greengrass asks, her voice soft. "As we discussed, you are going to be awake during the treatment, but you will not feel anything. This treatment is a series of spells, the first of which will work similarly to a Muggle local anesthetic. If, for any reason, you feel anything, you let me know and we will stop. This is why you will be awake– so that you will be able to communicate with me."

Hermione nods in understanding as she meets Healer Greengrass' eye upside down.

"Per your request, Healer Malfoy– Draco– is here too, although not in an official capacity. He is here as a support person, so he is here simply to make you more comfortable. In a moment, a mediwitch will come in to assist me and to monitor you during your treatment," Healer Greengrass continues, finally reaching for her wand, which until this point, has been tucked behind her ear. "Are you ready to begin?"

Hermione exhales, allowing herself a moment before responding.

"I'm ready."

Healer Greengrass nods in acknowledgement and heads over to the exam room door to call for her mediwitch, who joins her quickly at Hermione's bedside.

"Okay, Ms. Granger, I'm going to begin now," Healer Greengrass states, raising her wand and waving it in a circle above Hermione's head as she mutters her first spell. "As I said, this first spell was to effectively 'numb' your reception of the next spell. Once again, if you feel anything, tell me, and I will stop immediately."

Hermione nods again, appreciating how thorough Healer Greengrass is being in this situation and in every other encounter she has had with her. Her calm demeanor is absolutely helping Hermione herself stay calm in this moment, despite the nerve-wracking nature of this experience.

Hermione watches as Healer Greengrass waves her wand again, and– much to Hermione's relief– she feels nothing. She can see the concentration on Healer Greengrass' face and she can feel the tingle of her magic washing over her, but she feels no pain or discomfort, which eases her worry.

"Are you doing alright, Ms. Granger?" Healer Greengrass asks when she pauses between spells.

"So far, so good," Hermione responds, focusing on a speck of discolored ceiling tile while Healer Greengrass continues her next round of spellwork.

"Good," Healer Greengrass smiles, raising her wand once more. "I'm continuing with the pinpointing spell. This may take some time, so just relax."

Hermione begins to nod in understanding, but the moment (Hermione assumes, as she still can't feel anything) Healer Greengrass begins her spell again, her eyes close involuntarily and a new vision hits her full-force. The last thing she remembers before the vision swirls into view is the warmth of something wrapping tightly around her left hand.


Hi, friends! Happy Wednesday. I apologize for missing the upload yesterday. I had a great but long day and the upload was just the thing that fell to the bottom of the list, I'm sorry.

I hope y'all have enjoyed this chapter- I know it introduced a few new characters, so let me know what you think about that. (:

As always, thank you so much for spending a bit of your time here with me this week and I so look forward to reading your thoughts, theories and favorite parts.

See you again next week. (: