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Chapter Text

Hermione could feel the crick in her neck developing slowly as she stares up at the fading lettering.

Purge and Dowse, ltd

Although several of the letters were so faded they read  ‘Urge and Ows, ltd’ now, not a becoming name for any hospital magical or not. 

Tilting her head a fraction to the left and narrowing her eyes in a rather unflattering squint she could begin to see the glimmer of the building’s real name flutter in gold lettering.

St Mungo’s

She had known this was the right building even without identifying the charm, she had recognised the muggle name as it was known to all non-magic folk from her extensive research. 

Both Harry and Ron had mockingly predicted as she tore open her acceptance letter into the Healers program almost two months ago that she would be a mass of nervous energy, one that had only expanded with time. Anxiety that had only curved slightly when Harry had dumped a tower of books on her desk and she had set to work learning everything she possibly could about the Hospital of magical maladies and injuries. 

“Founded in the 1600’s by Mungo Bonham,” she recited the learned facts under her breath, neck still cocked to the left,

“Ground floor - Reception, Emergency department, Alchemy room. Second floor - Creature-induced injuries, Dai  Llewellyn ward…” She felt the butterflies in her stomach begin to settle and she chanced a glance down at her wristwatch - 06:28, she had 32 minutes to get into her uniform and head to the resident lounge to meet the Witch or Wizard in Charge of her  ‘learning and well being’.

“Third floor - poison and potion department, fourth floor - ”

“Are you ok Hermione?” Hermione startled as Luna’s sing-song voice sounded from behind her,

“Luna you scared me,” Hermione lifted a hand to her chest her heart stammering only slightly as she was pulled from her coping mechanism, the reciting of facts pushed from her mind as she greeted her friend with a tight hug,

“You’ve been stood here for ten minutes talking to yourself,” her friend lifts a freed hand to Hermione’s ear and tip-toes as if to peer inside “Could be a Wrackspurt, are they talking back?”

“You’ve been watching me for-“ Hermione stops herself from asking, “I was just talking to myself Luna, Im a bit nervous”

“First days can be that way,” Luna stated the obvious, “Let me take you to the Intern lounge, its on-“

“Level two,” Hermione finished and gave an anxious smile as Luna linked her arm through hers and steered them towards the wall, neither woman slowing as they passed through the enchanted entrance and Hermione got her first real look at the inside of St Mungo’s Hospital.

As Luna guided her over to the reception desk Hermione oogled the slightly underwhelming scene around her. To their left were rows upon rows of old wooden chairs, only three of which were occupied - one by a sleeping Witch in dusty fluorescent yellow robes who snored loudly every other breath, the other two Wizards sat side by side and both appeared to have turned a deep shade or purple and scratched furiously at their skin, everything else appears quiet, gray.

“Name?” an unfamiliar voice spoke

Hermione continued to stare at the purple wizards, mentally reeling off a long list of potions or spells that could cause such a side effect if mixed or cast incorrectly.

“Name!” A demand this time which drew Hermione’s attention with a jerk,

“Oh-erm-sorry,” she stumbled over her words as she turned to face the glaring receptionist, “Hermione Granger.” She collected her thoughts as Luna squeezed her arm reassuringly, 

“It’s her first day Maureen,” Luna smiled and waved at the Witch who instantly softened at the sight of her,

“Interns,” Maureen muttered under her breath irritably as she gave Hermione the once over before waving her wand and producing light blue scrubs, a pair of white canvas material plimsolls that nauseatingly reminded Hermione of primary school PE lessons, and a golden pendant engraved with Hermione’s initials. 

“Standard Intern uniform, there is a wand pocket in the trousers,” she answered before Hermione could even open her mouth to ask, “The gold pendant is a way for others to contact you if you’re needed, it vibrates when you’re being called - just tap your finger twice against it and the location of the call will appear on the back,” Hermione nods in thanks before the witch continues “Lose the pendant and it costs 2 galleons to replace it”

“I won’t lose it,” Hermione reassures her

“That’s what they all say,” Maureen rolls her eyes before turning to Luna, her expression morphing into a friendly smile again “Healer Lovegood, how nice to see you back for the first year residency,” She whirls her wand again producing royal blue scrubs this time.

“Delighted to be back Maureen,” Luna chimes

“Exams went well then?”

“Oh yes thank you,” Luna reaches down into her satchel that rests against her hip and pulls out a slightly crumpled copy of The Quibbler “Dad sends his good wishes,” she hands the paper over the reception desk and Maureen takes it from her hand, flipping open the first page eagerly.

“Thank you my dear,” she gives Luna a little wave as the two depart the desk, nose already deep into an article about a suspected Goblin curse unearthed in Australia.

“Shes…” Hermione cant find the words to describe Maureen.

“She warms up to everyone eventually,” Luna links Hermione’s arm again, “Fifteen minutes,” she adds looking up at the large clock on the wall, “Meet you on four for there for assignments?” 

“Assignments?” Hermione questions, excited at the prospect of homework in a way that would have Harry and Ron both mocking her for weeks if they knew,

“Just to find out which fourth & fifth year resident healers were assigned to for the year,” she un-loops herself from Hermione and skips towards the stairs, waving in greeting as Wizard and Witches in different coloured scrubs head in different directions.

Hermione glances back across the reception and raises her eyebrows, the seats are beginning to fill and she smiles in excitement and the noise level rises, no longer disappointed or underwhelmed as Healers stick their heads out of rooms, calling patients through for assessment. 

After repeating her seventh year at Hogwarts after the war it had taken her two years to finally decide what she wanted to do as a career, much to both Harry and Ron’s surprise she had opted for the Healer path rather than taking up one of the many ministry positions that had been offered to her. On occasion she had doubted if she had chosen correctly, but as she stood at the bottom of the wide wooden staircase she felt a leap of excitement in her chest - this was definitely what she wanted.

The minute hand on the clock clicked and Hermione looked up, ten minutes to find her way to the intern lounge, change and meet Luna. She took the stairs two at a time until she reached the second floor, an elderly healer in lime green robes scolding her for running as she dashed around corners following the floor map she had memorised, she yelped out an apology as she skidded into an almost empty room. Cubby holes lined the walls almost all full with personal belonging of her fellow interns. 

Finding a space in the far corner she quickly undressed not pausing to fold her clothes as she shoved them in the cubby and yanked on the scrubs while muttering thanks for Maureen who obviously had an eye for sizing, she laced up the shoes and fastened the pendant around her neck - tucking it below the nicely fitted scrub top so the cold metal sat against the skin of her breast bone. 

She caught a glimpse of her reflection in a grubby mirror and grinned- she looked good in light blue, the scrub top sitting comfortably against her skin, hugging slightly in just the right places so she didn’t feel constricted but also didn’t resemble the usual over sized pyjama look she sported most evenings at Grimmauld Place. Finally, she grabbed the claw clip from her bag, twisting her mass of brown bushy curls at the back of her head and secured them in place before she moved, at pace to the fourth floor.

She had two minutes to spare when she spotted the crowd of light and Navy blue clad stood eagerly in front of what was signposted the Residents Lounge, a small pack of teal blue scrubs stood to the side looking slightly bored.

“Hermione!” Neville waved from where he stood next to Luna. She made her way over to them looking around to see how she could find out who she was assigned to.

Neville wore teal scrubs - second year she remembered him telling her when they had visited two weekends before. “Who are you assigned to again Neville?” She asked not recalling if he had given a name as she listened to chatter over dinner, her head in and out of a book about the History of St Mungo’s founder.

“Healer Chang, shes the only fifth year wellbeing resident so I remain on her service” he looked pleased with himself. Cho Chang had always been a kind-natured student at Hogwarts and Hermione was not surprised to find she had become a healer. 

“Any idea who the others are?” She asked digging for Intel. Neville gave Luna a sideways glance before meeting Hermione’s eye “We have a few ideas, but I don’t know- not for sure,” Hermione frowned at him, he knew something he wasn’t telling her and she opened her mouth to press further before being cut off as the door of the resident lounge swung open.

Hermione stood on tiptoes to try and see past her new colleagues as she spotted a person glad in gray scrubs exit the lounge and caught a glimpse of silky black hair and a person she thought resembled a Patil sister which made her heart flutter with excitement, she had been close to both the twins before the war, if either of them were her Resident she would be overjoyed.

A voice echoed around the hall, sending those gathered into quiet muttering and Hermione smiled as she recognised Cho Changs voice magically enhanced to drown out the excited whispereing that hummed around her.

“Welcome Interns and congratulations first years for making it through your summer exams, its good to see so many of you back with us.” She paused for a moment as a few of the first year residents wooped in celebration, 

“If you could all listen carefully while I briefly explain how this works,” her tone is more authoritative now as silence descends, “Your well-being resident will shortly call the names of their assigned interns and junior residents, listen carefully for who you are assigned to. Please note that all assignments were made anonymously after much deliberation and extensive review of your applications and exam results by head healer Pye. You have been placed with the resident whom he believes you are most likely to learn and benefit from. Therefore, assignments are final. Please do not attempt to trade residents amongst yourselves, swapping will not be permitted,” hushed murmurs start around the hall as Cho hands a piece of parchment to the healer Hermione hopes is a Patil, she holds two more rolls of parchment in front of the doorway and Hermione spots a hand reach out and take them both, its owner obscured by the wall.

“Each resident is assigned two interns, one first and one second or third year,” Luna leans in and whispers to Hermione,

“I hope we’re all together,” Hermione mumbles back feeling butterflies begin to flap around gently in her stomach.

Cho begins again “If you hear your name you are assigned to me, Healer Chang” she unrolls her parchments and calls out four names “Diana Roundtree, Jasmine Haghani, Joseph August and Neville Longbottom”

Hermione feels her stomach drop a little, it would have been great for the three of them to be together. She crosses her finger still hoping she will have Luna with her.

The enhanced voice changes and Hermione recognises Padma “Assigned to myself, healer Patil is Neila Jones, Roman Deluna, Leo Mafi and Jackson Hargroves” 

The butterfliers are flapping harder now and Hermione begins to feel a pang of nausea radiate through her abdomen. Luna squeezes her arm in reassurance for the third time that morning. Padma leads her group away and Hermione takes a step forward as the final two wellbeing residents step out of the doorway and into view, and suddenly the air in the room heats, constricting her lungs as she lets out a quiet strangled gasps gaining her concerned looked from those closest to her.

Draco Malfoy leans against the door frame now, rolled parchment pinched between two slender fingers. Hermione’s heart hammers in her chest and the nausea intensifies, hot saliva flooding her mouth as she takes a slow deep breath through her nose and out of her mouth, willing herself to keep her breakfast from splattering all over the tiled floors. 

“Im sorry, we should have warned you it was a possibility but we didn't think it possible he would be given a wellbeing resident post, not really.” Neville’s words swim in her ears as she takes another long breath.

She had paid little attention to what had happened to any of the Malfoy’s after the war, determined to push all memories of them from her mind. Her bones began to ache as the memory of laying on the cold marble floor of Malfoy Manor flood her mind, the cruciatus curse contorting and breaking her bones as Bellatrix LeStrange cackled above her, Malfoy’s pained as he watched her writhe in agony only meters from him.

She hears the parchment unroll and feels like shes plunging into the icey depths of the black lake as she hears his voice call echo in her ears as be begin to call out his assigned names. 

Only surnames in fast succession - quick and bored “Parkinson, Rivers, Vane -“ he pauses for a fraction of a second, barely noticeable but Hermione is so zoned into his voice, so desperate not to hear the words that falls from his lips next as he glances up from the parchment and zeros in on her 

“Granger.”

Chapter Text

Self-preservation willed her to break eye contact with Malfoy as she stood there, interns and junior residents glancing nervously at them both as if the air between them might implode and drag the entire hospital into a black hole of their creating. The final well-being resident who Hermione hadn’t even heard introduce himself had taken over and begun calling names nudging Malfoy in the ribs subtly as he called his final intern.

The motion drew Malfoy out of the staring match with a start, gray eyes that had been locked in malice with Hermione’s shifted, the crease between his furrowed brow smoothing out and that bored expression filtered down over his face like a veil. It had only been moments but Hermione felt like she had sprinted a marathon - the muscles in her legs slackened almost buckling beneath her, if it hadn’t been for Neville’s tight grip on her shoulder she was sure they would have given way completely. 

“’Mione” he muttered “Take a breath”

She hadn’t even realised that from the moment they had locked eyes she had stopped breathing. She sucked in air and tried to blink back the fog that was descending in her mind turning her head slightly to look at Luna who was watching her, doe eyes filled with worry.

“Hes not so bad anymore Hermione, keeps to himself. Just avoid him and you will be fine,” Neville tried to reassure her.

“Hes my resident Neville, how am I supposed to avoid him?” the words felt thick in her mouth like her tongue had expanded to twice its size.

“Oh-erm-well I guess I dont know, hes a good healer though if that makes it any better?” Her old friend is grasping at straws trying to improve the situation,

“It doesn't,” Hermione says flatly before she momentarily shuts her eyes and steadies her nerves as she addresses Luna, “Who did you get?” She asks determined to distract herself from a the problem that is Draco Malfoy.
“Nott,” Luna gives a sheepish smile.

“Theodore Nott?” Hermione raises an eyebrow, apparently St Mungo’s was in the habit of employing ex Death Eaters. 

Luna nods meekly in response “Hes not a Healer per say, works in the Potions and Alchemy department developing new antidotes. Hes been commissioned by the creature-induced injury department to help in the development of a post-exposure prophylaxis for werewolf bites” She bounces excitedly from foot to foot as she speaks “The essay portion of my intern exams was on werewolf injuries I think that’s why I was assigned to him,”

Hermione looks over at Nott who was talking in hushed tones to Malfoy in the doorway of the resident lounge his gaze darting to her as she watched them, a wry smile pulling at his lips as he catches her eye. Hermione turns away from them her legs no longer felt like jelly and she narrowed her eyes looking up at Neville, readying to weed out any untruths he might give her when she asks her next question,
“Any other surprises I should be aware of?” 
Neville’s cheeks pink as he shakes his head “Really Hermione, I would have said something if I had known for sure,”

She gives a small nod, she knows Neville has nothing but the best intentions but Hermione’s aversion to surprises had only deepened after the war, knowing had always made her feel safe and in control.
 For two years after leaving Hogwarts she had felt like a ghost ship- drifting along aimlessly in the currents with no purpose and no direction as her friends pursued their dream jobs. 
Even her application to Healers College in France had been on a whim, something to do and a way to get away from the memories and the nagging friends who wanted the old Hermione back - the one who always had the plan, the solution to a problem.

“Even if I had known, It would never have occurred to me that you would be placed with Malfoy,” Neville babbled now appearing more perplexed than apologetic “You must have something in common with him for them to-“

Hermione bristled, her tone indignant as she began to reject Neville’s claim “I have absolutely nothing in common with Drac…”

“Pain management.” A voice interrupts from behind her and Hermione frowns as she turns on her heel. Theodore Nott is stood a few feet away, wry smile still curling his lips as he listens in on their conversation.

“Excuse me?” Hermione’s voice still held a note of irritation as she spoke

Nott raised an eyebrow in amusement “Draco specialise’s in dark curses,”

“Why am I not surprised,” Hermione mutters under her breath

“The treatment of them Healer Granger,” An inflection of warning tones his words and Hermione reminds herself that he is a senior resident and technically her superior, the idea of it souring in her her stomach.

“You studied magical pain management methods for a year in Northern Europe didn’t you? After Healers college?”

Hermione nods once, wanting this conversation to end quickly.

“Dark curses are excruciatingly painful and their treatment methods aren’t much better,”

“Im all too aware.” She says through gritted teeth as the memories begin to surface again.

Nott gives a wan smile at her words before continuing “I’m sure your knowledge in the area will make you extremely useful to him and those he treats.”

Silence ensues for a few seconds before Nott turns to Luna “Healer Lovegood, I hear you have some…interesting theories on the management of werewolf bites?” 

Hermione stops listening as Luna begins to explain her ideas, most of which sound too implausible to be realistic treatment methods. She glances over at Malfoy - his shoulder leaning against the door frame now, arms crossed against his chest. Pansy Parkinson beside him - her body turned toward his, her back against the opposite frame and her hips pushed forward slightly as if to unsubtly and silently offer herself to him, her lips are moving endlessly and shes either oblivious or opting to ignore the fact that Malfoy isn’t listening to word she is saying his eyes trained solely on Hermione.

Her skin prickles at the intensity of his stare and she looks away, glancing around for something, anything else to draw her attention. Spotting Romilda Vane down the hallway Hermione gives a wave of parting to Neville and Luna who is still deep in conversation with Nott and heads in her direction.

She hasn’t seen Romilda since the battle of Hogwarts and to be honest she hadn’t been a big fan ever since the girl had snuck a love potion intended for Harry but ingested by Ron into a box of chocolates. That had been a decade ago though and Romilda was a fellow Gryffindor, surely she would offer some support as they faced Malfoy together.

“Hi Romilda,” Hermione shuffled nervously from foot to foot “How have you been?”

Romilda Vane turned to Hermione as she spoke and gave a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes “Hermione, how nice to see you.” Hermione didn't quite believe her words as the woman turned to the tall man who she had been in conversation with “Oliver Rivers this is Hermione Granger, she was star pupil when we were at Hogwarts.” did she detect a hint of jealousy?

“Your reputation proceeds you Miss Granger,” he holds out a hand and she shakes it, trying to place the accent that shapes his words. 

The greeting isn’t uncommon and although she has always found it slightly disconcerting that people she has never met know who she is she has gotten used to it over the years.

“Nice to meet you Healer Rivers,” Hermione responds

“Oh please call me Ollie,” He beams, a dimple revealing itself.

“Nice to meet you Ollie,” Hermione smiles back, feeling instantly at ease around the first-year resident.

“Ollie has joined us all the way from the States,” Romilda places a hand on Oliver’s shoulder casually but Hermione senses the possessiveness and decides to shift her attention away from the man and back to Romilda, 
“How have you been Romilda? Its been a long time,”

“Please Hermione call me Romi,” she answered without even looking at Hermione, eyes glued on the tall American who glances between the pair completely oblivious to the rising tension. 

Hermione gices a tight-lipped smile and racks her brain for a conversation that might last longer than a few words. To both her relief and horror a familiar voice interrupted the awkwardness.

“Rounds!” Malfoy barks out, the one word command has Oliver standing to attention.

“Lets go, he doesnt strike me as a man whose bad side I want to get on.” And he marches off in Malfoy’s direction.

“Too late for some,” Romilda casts an eye over Hermione as she says it before following Oliver,
Looks like Romilda will be far from the ally Hermione had been hoping for. Oliver seemed friendly though, one out of five was better than none. 

Hermione joined the others, loitering a little further back and out of Malfoy’s direct line of sight.

“Morning rounds begin promptly at seven in the future. Don’t be late. Most of my patients fall within the Dark Curses ward, my chosen specialty” he taps a long slender finger against the three black stripes sewn into a triangle shape on the sleeve of his gray scrub top. “Learn the colours and what they mean if you want to make your life easier.”

“Aren’t you supposed to teach us these things, today is orientation right?” Romilda asks expectantly.

Malfoy’s eye narrow slightly as he looks at her, “Vane, am I correct? His voice is a cold drawl and Hermione winces, she wont be the only one of Malfoy’s bad side by the looks of it.

“I prefer Romi.” 

Malfoy’s lips twitch into a smirk and he glances around at his junior residents slowly, “Understand this all of you.” He pauses to ensure everyone is giving him their full attention, “I am not here to hold your hand, I am not a shoulder to cry on, I do not care about your personal problems and Im certainly not your tour guide” he glares at Romilda who flinches under his gaze “I’m here to make sure you don’t fuck up. Watch and learn and you will excel as healers, ask inane and stupid questions or irritate me and you will find yourself out of the program. I have no tolerance for idiots.”

Romilda lets out a snort in disbelief before her hand shoots to cover her mouth, Malfoy’s steely stare heats and he looks almost predatory “Miss Parkinson, please escort Miss Vane to the boils and fungating wounds ward I believe Healer Query required assistance in the incision and drainage clinic today.”

Hermione stifles a laugh behind an unconvincing cough as Romilda’s face contorts in disbelief and her complexion pales.

Malfoy’s attention turned to her for a moment but he says nothing, his expression cold and blank again.

 Pansy walks towards the staircase turning at the top when Romilda doesnt follow and crosses her arms across her chest, annoyance curling her lip “Move Vane,” she commands and Romilda flinches following behind at a scuttle.

“Follow.” Malfoy’s voice sounds from further down the corridor and Oliver and Hermione start after him Olivers long legs catching up quickly while Hermione maintains a slow jog to keep up.

“The dark curses ward has six patients at present, for today only I will give the patients past medical history and diagnosis, I will then question you on potential treatment plans and correct you when you are wrong.” He pushes through a pair of heavy double doors letting them swing back violently behind him almost smacking Hermione square in the face if Oliver hadn’t caught them and held it open for her.

Hermione mumbled a thank you and steps through onto the ward, an eerie silence fills the room and she shudders as she casts her eye over the spotless space before her. Six beds occupy one side, four of which are occupied, each patient tidily laid out, sheets pulled up to their chests. They all appeared to be sleeping soundly, magically induced sleep Hermione guessed.
 
Opposite the beds were two large wooden desks, sheets of parchment and books piled in neat rows with quills and inkwells sat beside them, a large cabinet full with glass viles, potion ingredients and leather bound books lay beyond the desks and at the far end of the ward were three closed doors, one signposted ‘Treatment room’ the other two ‘patient room’. 

A popping sound fills the room and Pansy appears next to Malfoy nodding at him with a grin she heads over to the cabinet, pulling out her wand and tapping twice at the lock before grabbing a sheet of parchment and quill off the desk she opens the cabinet door and gets to work scanning the shelves, every now and then scribbling something on the parchment. Clearly she doesn’t need to attend rounds, Hermione notes the two pink stripes sewn onto her teal scrubs.

Residents were not allowed to specialise until second year of residency, two stripes made Pansy a third year resident specalising in magical maladies.

Oliver nudged Hermione in the arm as he walked passed her, following Malfoy to the first patient.

“Jason Stone, fourty-five, no past medical history of note,” Malfoy pulled out his wand and waved it over the sleeping patient drawing the covers back to reveal a man covered head to toe in thick bandages, Hermione bit her tongue to stop from gasping, “Struck with Fiendfyre after a robbery gone wrong, burned over two thirds of his body initially. 60% of the burns have been treated successfully with a particularly potent batch of Frigus balm.” He stops and looks up from the patient, “Can either of you name a complication that arises in almost half of fiendfyre burns?”

Hermione couldn’t peel her eyes from the man, angry red patches of skin extending from beyond the bandages.

“Re-ignition?” Oliver answered

“Correct, and the treatment Miss Granger?”

Hermione pulled her eyes away from the patient hesitating for a millisecond as she met Malfoy’s questioning stare, he raised an eyebrow at her hesitation but just as he parted his lips to no doubt scold her, the answer sprung from her mouth

“There is no known cure for re-ignition burns except time, continuation of cooling ointments and adequate pain relief”

“Adaquate?” Malfoy pressed,

“Application of ingestion of Tulsi solution combined with Polygonatum elixir has shown to be effective in treating the pain associated with magical burns”

Malfoy nods in agreement before turning on his heel to move on to the next patient

“…A study in Greece has shown aloe baths infused with roseroot and Urtica dioica twice daily have aided in burn healing, the roseroot needs to be acquired during a waning crescent moon though.”

Malfoy pauses for a moment as she finishes her sentence, she can feel Pansy glaring at her from across the room and just when Hermione begins to shift uneasily from the pregnant pause Malfoy begins reeling off the next patient’s information.

When finally they have reviewed the four patients in the room Hermione’s head is swimming with a mixture of elation and fatigue. She had answered most questions asked correctly but every time she had missed a treatment option or hesitated too long with an answer she had expected a drawling dressing down but Malfoy’s expression had remained stoney and often bored.

“Were done for the morning,” Malfoy said as he sat down behind one of the desk, picking up a quill and a piece of parchment to start making notes,

“What about the other two patients?” Oliver asked

“What?” Malfoy stopped writing

“You said there were six patients?”

“One of them died before we arrived and the other-“ Malfoy glanced at Hermione for a brief moment “Is for another time.” He added before looking back down at his notes “Check patient vitals and note them on their charts, then check the treatment room stock, Healer Parkinson has the list,” he ordered without looking up.

Oliver got to work on the patient closest, casting a vitals charms over the patient before jotting down his observations on the chart. 

Hermione hovered for a second, glancing over and the fiendfyre patient and biting her lip anxiously before turning back to Malfoy. He was watching her, indignation marring his features,

“Is there something I can help you with?” His voice was icy and she shuddered slightly before taking a deep breath to steal her nerves,

“Would you like me to ready an Aloe bath for Mr Stone?” she suggested hopefully, a desperate desire to help the burned man simmering in her chest.

Malfoy sneered and rose from behind the desk,

“Healer Parkinson can you tell me what you do everyday at 6am and 6pm?” he called out as stood slowly, placing his hands on the desk and leaning forward now eye level with Hermione as he met her gaze.

“Run and administer an aloe bath to Mr Stone,” Pansy answers, her face gleeful as she watches the interaction between Malfoy and Hermione with joyful anticipation.

“And how long have you been doing this Healer Parkinson?” He asks next and Hermione can feel heat creeping up her neck in embarrassment,

“A month,”

Draco flashes a wicked smile at Hermione before he speaks, “If I were you I would rid myself of the illusion that you anywhere close to the one with all the answers here Miss Granger, you are an intern - bottom of the pile. A hard concept for your know-it-all attitude to grasp but I can assure you no one here will kiss your golden girl arse and thank you for your basic input. Now go and check the patient vitals.” His voice was venomous and Hermione felt her cheeks redden as Pansy stood giggling scornfully in her peripheral vision.

 Anger swirled in her stomach and before she could contemplate the impact her words could have on her career she opened her mouth,

“It’s Healer Granger not Miss Granger. Address me properly or not at all” she scolded him fiercely and watched for a moment as he cocked an eyebrow in a mild display of what appeared to be astonishment.
Hermione span around curtly and stormed over to a patient, reaching for her wand and casting the vitals charm, muttering swear words under her breath. 

 Dread seeped into her bones as she imagined the punishment he was cooking up for her and she checked both her patients vitals three times before she could build up the courage to glance in Malfoy’s direction, scrunching her face in anticipation of being hit with a stinging jinx as she did so.

To her pleasant surprise and complete confusion, Malfoy was sitting calmly at the desk head bowed as he continued to write his notes, but as if he could feel her watching him he glanced up, the ghost of an amused smile playing on his lips. 

Panic seeped into her veins - what was he planning?

Chapter Text

Three gruelling days came and went and for all of them, Malfoy took her words literally. It was a strange sensation to feel a mixture of relief, annoyance, and panic. During her time at Hogwarts, it had felt like a blessing when Malfoy had ignored her but as an adult, she found it both deeply rude and childish that he was acting like she didn’t exist. Then there was the panic that if the person in charge of her development as a healer showed no interest in teaching her - by day three she had taken to calling out the answers to his questions without being called upon, she felt like the girl she had been back at school - her classmates giving her irritated looks as if she was purposefully showboating to garner some kind of prize. It hadn’t worked though and Malfoy continued on as if she wasn’t there. 

What made it worse was Romilda and Pansy blossoming friendship, the women snickered every time his eyes glossed over her and by the fourth day even Oliver had stopped sitting with her at lunch, dragged away by Romilda’s manicured hand to gossip and giggle as he mouthed a silent apology taking an uncomplaining seat with the others, relieved not to eat lunch with the social outcast.

Harry and Ron had stopped quizzing her for information when she returned to Grimmauld Place in the evenings - frowns and concerned looks following her up the stairs where she spent her evening sitting at her desk for hours researching the lesser known treatments for fiendfyre re-ignition burns. She hadn’t mentioned Malfoy to them yet, didn’t want to face Harry’s sympathetic looks or the reddening of Ron’s face if she admitted that she was miserable only four days into the start of her job.

As the alarm buzzed loudly on her bedside table of Friday morning she let out an petulant groan, she had forgotten to switch it off. Rolling over she whacked out at it with her arm, knocking it flying off the table to clatter along the floor, alarm still emitting a now slightly disgruntled ring. 

She pinched her eyes shut and willed herself back to sleep, it was her day off - the only one she would get this week and she had planned to sleep in, but as the alarm clock refused to shut up in spite of its cracked clock face she forced herself to sitting, picking her wand off the bedside table;

“Expulso,” she mutters as the alarm clock explodes, shards of metal and glass firing off around the bedroom and embedding themselves in the walls,

“That bad?” A voice sounds from her now open doorway, the silhouette of Ginny Weasley watching her, eyebrows raised in question.

“It’s my day off,” Hermione mutters as she throws herself back onto the pillows to stare up at the ceiling, there was no way she would fall back to sleep now. “Harry send you?” she asks not looking as Ginny walks into the room not waiting for an invitation she shuts the door and seats herself at the foot of the bed.

“Ron actually.” She clarifies and Hermione nods her head, that would have been her second guess.

“He’s just worried about you, they both are.”

“Well there is nothing to be worried about, it’s just been a long week, and I’m tired,” she snaps, instantly feeling guilty for the harshness in her voice. 

“Want to talk about it?” Ginny ignores her tone,

“Not really,”

“Want to go out for breakfast then?”

“Don’t you have work?” Hermione props herself up on her elbows and narrows her eyes at her friend, surely she hadn’t taken the day off just to snoop out what was going on with Hermione.

“I’m on night duty in the department of mysteries tonight, I don’t start till 8 pm” the redhead shrugs and smiles encouragingly at Hermione.

“Fine,” Hermione swings her legs out of bed “But I do not want to talk about my week,” 

“That’s fine, we can talk about mine,” Ginny grabs the cable-knit sweater that’s hung over the desk chair and throws it at Hermione “Meet you downstairs in ten, if we are lucky we might get a table at Madam Sav’s this time of the morning.” 

Hermione watches as her friend skips out of the room before she rummages through her closet - pulling on the cream cable-knit sweater, her favorite beige tartan skirt, and a pair of thick brown tights. She spends all of three minutes in the bathroom before tapping her wand too her unmanageable mane which quickly forms itself into a messy fishtail plait.

“Gin can you see my brown-“ she calls down the stairs

“-boots?” 

“Yeah,”

“There by the door, hurry up I’m getting hungry,” Ginny calls back as Hermione yanks them on and dons her wrap coat. “Let’s apparate, your coat is too nice to get covered in soot by the floo network,” Ginny says as she grabs Hermione’s hand, pulling her out the door and onto the pavement before flicking her wand, giving Hermione barely enough time to readying herself before they appear in the doorway of a pretty little cafe on Diagon Alleys main street.

They take a seat by the window, ordering a pot of refilling tea on their way passed the counter. Ginny had been right, the best time to get a table at Madam Suv’s was 6:30 in the morning, the place was almost deserted.

“You seem scattered Hermione, it’s so unlike you,” Ginny says as she sips at the bone china teacup in her hands, “Are you sure-“

“Really Ginny I’m just tired,” Hermione bites her lip and changes the subject “How are you and Harry doing?”

Ginny smiles “Really good, I finally got Mum to stop hinting at a proposal which I think has taken some of the pressure off and he got that promotion at work which made him happy,” she coos happily as a large slice of lemon and lavender cake appears on the table in front of them. “What about you and Ron?” Ginny asks, not meeting Hermione’s eyes.

She sighs, “It just wasn’t the right time for us Ginny, I’ve told you that. I was gone for four years and making long-distance work for that length of time is too hard.” The pair had blown hot and cold for the three years after the war but when it had come time for Hermione to leave for France she had ended it for good, it had made things awkward for a while but they had fallen back into a comfortable friendship since Hermione had returned to Grimmauld Place in the summer. 

“I know, but you're back now and I can tell Ron is still pinning after you, there hasn't been anyone else for him - not really,” This time she meets Hermione eyes, that ever hopeful expression on her face.

Hermione shakes her head, she was happy with how things were now and she certainly didn't need any more complications in her life. That, and Ginny was completely deluded if she thought Ron had lived a life of celibacy since she had been gone - on multiple occasions Hermione had found a stray pair of lacy underwear that did not belong to her shoved in the bottom of linen baskets and once, wedged between sofa cushions.

“Just think about it,” Ginny pushed as she shoved a large forkful of cake into her mouth, closing her eyes in exaggerated ecstasy as she did, “won’ som’?” she offered the cake to Hermione who shook her head before raising her cup to her lips.

The pair continued like this for an hour, Ginny asking pointed questions and Hermione evading the answers until finally they moved onto simpler subjects - the latest release from Ginny favorite author, the plot sounded mildly pornographic and Hermione snorted into her tea when Ginny recounted several chapters in detail. Their breakfast came to an end when Ginny finished filling Hermione in on the latest idle gossip that had them both in fits of laughter as the bill arrived. They dropped a few sickles in tip on the plate and headed back out into Diagon Alley.

“So when are you back at work?” Ginny asked as they strolled passed shops opening for the days business.

“My first night shift tomorrow and then back for five days next week” Hermione sighed, at least she might be free of Malfoy’s infuriating disregard for her night shift but she worried how she would cope if something went wrong and the consequences if she couldn’t solve any problems that arose.

“Is everyone…helpful?” 

Hermione snorted before she could stop herself and sighed “My senior resident has taken a disliking to most of us, it can make the day challenging.” She didn’t elaborate further hoping this was enough to stop Ginny from pressing further. It was not.

“Thats cruel, anyone you know?” she frowned.

Hermione hesitated, she knew she could confide in Ginny but she really didn't have the energy to deal with the drama that was discussing Draco Malfoy, “Not really, just arrogant and up his own arse” Hermione forced a laugh that Ginny joined in on, thankfully dropping the subject.

“Well, I better head home and sleep or I will fall asleep standing up tonight and destroy some precious prophecy,” Ginny said turning to Hermione and pulling her in for a tight hug “I’m sure it will get easier Hermione, just give it time.” She said and she stepped backward pulling her wand from her pocket readying herself to leave,

“Thanks Gin, see you next week?”

The red head nodded with a smile and then popped away leaving Hermione to spend the next few hours scouring the shelves of Flourish and Blotts.

When she returned to Grimmauld place she unpacked her three new books - the latest edition of Libatius Borage’s Advanced potion making and Phyllida Spores new release on magical roots and shoots were added to the top of her to be read pile which now teetered dangerously on her desk, and the third book - Wilhelmina Spook’s ‘He hath taken me’ was shoved under her pillow - a blush creeping into her cheeks as she remembered Ginny’s chronicling of chapter 55.

She spent her Saturday watching the clock, waiting as the hour hand ticked closer to her night shift, by two o’clock Harry is sick of her nervous pacing a convinced her to swallow a mouthful of dreamless sleep which sent her into a fitful sleep until her newly restored alarm clock blares her awake at 6pm.
She hurriedly pulls on leggings and a baggy flannel shirt and packs her bag as she checks off its contents
- Snacks
- Coffee
- Wakefulness potion (as a last resort)
- Claw clip
- Wand 
- Pendant
- Note book
She hesitates and glances over at her pillow, night shifts could go one way or another - manic or mind numbingly slow. In a snap decision, she pulls out the novel that she hasn’t yet dared to open from its hiding place and shoves it to the bottom of the bag, its not like the patients will notice if she starts reading it and she will no doubt be left to her own devices until the morning.

Shes in her scrubs and walking onto the dark curses ward by 6:45, reading over the updated charts for the days events as Pansy stalks over to her. 

“ Bed three will require essence of dittany every four hours overnight, I applied some at 6. Dont forget bed ones aloe bath at 6am, the instructions are on his chart. The ED is quite tonight but keep your pendant close in case your called, if you get stuck, call Draco…” she pauses and smirks “But I dont recommend it.” And with that she saunters from the ward and Hermione is left alone for the night.

The first two hours are made up of Hermione obsessively checking the vitals of the now four patients left on the ward, the fifth had been transfered out two days previously although she had no idea where or why and when she had tried to ask the question had fallen on deaf ears.

At ten she applied the dittany to deep wounds on bed threes chest, they healed instantly before slowly beginning to unknit themselves - someone had adapted the sectumsempra curse according to the notes, with regular applications of dittany and daily recasting of the counter curse the patient would be fine in a week, the scars would last a lifetime though.

Finally happy that she had checked everyone’s vitals enough times she settled behind one of the desks, quill in hand she jotted down updates in the notes, sipping on the thermos of coffee as she did so. It was just after midnight when the pendant beneath her scrub top vibrated against her skin. Butterflies instantly exploded in her stomach as checked its location and made her way to Janus Thickery ward, sticking her head around the door to tell the intern on duty and a third-year resident that she had been called to the emergency department, they agreed to watch her patients until she returned and she hurriedly made her way downstairs.

She scanned the waiting room expectantly, it was quiet - the same fluorescent yellow-clad witch snoring in her usual seat, but no one else waited. She approached the desk looking for the Healer in charge when a scream erupted from down the corridor, agonizing and heart wrenching Hermione froze in place her blood pounding in her ears as adrenaline flooded her body.

“I think someone needs you dear,” the yellow witch nods in the direction of the scream that woke her from sleep.
Hermione runs to the door, the screams growing louder as she lays her hand on the handle, sucking in a deep breath she pushes it open and steps inside.

What waits for her inside makes her blood run cold, a woman lies on a gurney her body twisting and contorting in shapes Hermione didn’t think possible, her screams filling the room as two healers - both in teal scrubs try to hold the woman down, shouting instruction to each other as they cast vital charms and summon sleeping drafts - trying to force them down the patient’s throat, her teeth are clamped shut and a thick elixir runs across her chin, blonde hair drench with sweat sticking to her cheeks.

“What is it?” Hermione whispers as she stands, frozen on the spot - but she already knows; this is the cruciatus curse except there is no one in the room casting it, its effects should have ended when the caster ended the curse.
An arm strikes out, elbow bent backward at a bone-breaking angle as it strikes the female healer in the side of the head sending her down with a sickening crack as her head hits a metal trolley.

Hermione still can’t move, her mind is blank - she has never seen an unforgivable act this way before,
“Her heart rate is too high, she going to arrest!” shouts the remaining healer, Robert - Hermione thinks that’s his name. “Help me!” he orders Hermione who feels her legs jump to action as she moves to the patient’s side, pulling her wand from her pocket with one hand as she lays a hand on the woman’s shoulder with force, feeling the bones crack beneath her hold.

“Do we immobilize her?” Hermione asks, completely lost on how to help,

“It will stop her moving but the pain and her bones won’t stop breaking, she will still die.” Robert dodges as the woman kicks out, blood and spital erupting from her mouth as her throat tears itself from the animal-like wails.

“We need to find what causing it,” Hermione mutters, eyes running over the patient as she flails and kicks, the cracking sound of bones making bile burn at the back of Hermione’s throat.

“There, her hand” She points quickly at the woman’s fist, tightly clasped around something she can’t discern.

Hermione grabs at the hand, pulling at the woman’s vice like grip, but her fingers don’t move and suddenly her body begins to convulse violently,

“She seizing!” Robert shouts as he rolls the woman on her side holding her head steady as strangled sounds erupt from her lips.

The door bursts open and Malfoy flies into the room “Move!” he barks at Hermione as she dives out of his path.

“It’s in her hand,” she calls out watching as he pulls his wand from his scrub trousers,

“Breakium emendo,” he mutters as he holds his wand to the woman’s spasming hand and as the bones disappear the item she is holding falls, clattering to the ground, the woman’s body goes still and slumps on the gurney.

“Sleeping draft now,” Malfoy orders and Robert grabs the vial from the shelf, pouring it down the patient’s throat, casting the vitals charm as he does so.

“Her heart rate is dropping to normal ranges,” he relays,

“Take her to the Dark Curses ward,” Draco speaks as he makes his way around the gurney, stopping next to Hermione as she stares at a small pocket watch that lays on the floor, glass face shattered.

Hermione bends to get a closer look,

“Dont-“ Malfoy hisses “-touch it”

She peers up at him “Im not stupid,” she mumbles as he grabs a handful of gauze off a nearby trolley wrapping them around the cursed watch as he lifts it.

“What is it?” She asks, but Draco doesn’t answer, waving his wand to materialize a metal box, dropping the pocket watch inside and sealing the lid.

“Back to the ward.” His words leave no room for argument as he turns on his heel and exits the room.

Hermione doesn’t move for a moment, watching as Robert levitates the patient from the room, boneless hand hanging limp at her side. Their departure reveals the unconscious body of the second healer slumped on the floor, Hermione quickly performs a vitals charm over her, stable but unresponsive, she stands and levitates the unconscious healer, steadily guiding her from the room and onto an empty gurney in the corridor. 

A healer appears from the waiting room, “Knocked unconscious,” Hermione numbles, “Vitals are fine, but I think she had a wound to the back of her head.”

“I’ll take it from here,” the healer says as she grabs dressings from the now vacant room.

“Thanks,” Hermione says as she walks away, climbing the stairs two at a time.

The ward is no longer eerily quiet as she enters now. Malfoy is leant against the desk watching two Aurors argue amongst themselves, the small metal box lays open on the desk next to him,

“Second time this month, It’s LeStrange I’m telling you,” A stocky auror gesticulates angrily at the box,

“We have no evidence of that,” the second auror - a short woman who reminds Hermione disturbingly of Umbridge calmly rebukes her colleage, hands clasped neatly behind her back.

Malfoy looks impatient, obviously bored with the argument,

“The watch has been embued with the cruciatus curse,” he interjects silencing the Aurors “Whoever cast it intended to kill Minister Gillig, a slow and tortuous death but the result would have been the her demise if she hadn’t been bought to us.” 

“But who cast the curse?” The male Auror demands,

“We won’t know without further examination of the artifact”

“We should take it to the Ministry,” The same Auror announces,

“They will only return it here for me to examine,” Malfoy’s condescending drawl makes the man bristle,

“If you can be trusted,”

“Parker,” the woman hisses,

“Well he is a Death…”

“He was cleared” The woman interjects loudly,

Hermione clears her throat from the doorway, not wanting to be seen as eavesdropping. Malfoy’s spine straightens as his attention drawn to her presence and he stands abruptly.

“Healer Granger and I need to tend to the patient,” his voice cold, “Take the item or leave it I dont care.”

The Aurors nod, Parker flipping the lid shut on the box before he shoves it into his coat pocket,

“We will want a full report in the morning.” The woman instructs and Malfoy just nods in agreement as they turn and leave the ward, heavy doors swinging closed behind them as silence descends on the room again.

Hermione says nothing as Malfoy walks stiffly across the room and begins casting charms above the patient, he pauses every few minutes and summons different viles from the potions cabinet.  Not moving from the doorway, she watches him work for a while, strands of white blonde hair fall forward into his eyes as he assesses the patient silently, his angular jaw clenches periodically as he reads vitals and casts spells over her sleeping form, gray eyes never losing their intensity a stark contrast the semi bored look he usually holds.

The clock on the wall chimes quietly and captures Hermione’s attention - 2 am, she moves to the cabinet and removes the essence of Dittany focusing her attention away from Malfoy and she busy’s herself with applying it to bed threes wounds, they don’t seem as deep as they had done earlier and she jots this observation on his chart after she pulls the sheets back over his chest tucking them in at the sides gently.

“We need to cast the hand,” Hermione jumps, almost forgotten that she isn’t the only conscious person in the room.

“Pardon?” she says as she cautiously makes her way to his side.

“Before we administer the skele-gro” he adds “Or the bones wont grow properly.”

Hermione nods and heads to the cabinet, pulling out what they need to form the cast before returning to the bedside.

“Hold her hand in position and I will apply the cast,”

Hermione holds the woman’s wrist gently, splaying the fingers out into the correct position as Malfoy dips the strips of gauze into a bowl of water activating the hardening solution as he wraps them around the womens wrist carefully. 

Hermione watches his hands, pale slender fingers working gracefully as he sets the cast to the palm, pinky and ring finger, she adjust her hold moving her fingers so he can work quickly. As he winds the gauze around another digit his  fingers brush against Hermione’s knuckles and a small gasp escapes her lips- his fingers are cold, the pads calloused.
“The water,” he mutters as goosebumps spread across her arm and her eyes dart from the cold bowl of water to his hands,

“I can warm it if you like,” she glances up at him, meeting his eyes with her own.

“It doesnt matter, im almost done.” He continues to weave the gauze not dropping his gaze from her own.

“Are you-“ he pauses as if momentarily thinking better before continuing “Are you ok?” 

Hermione thinks for a moment, the initial shock of the chaos has warn off now. If anything she feels exhilarated that they had saved a life.

“It was chaotic, I didn’t know what to do.” She admits, biting her lower lip self consciously.

His eyes dip to her lips and something flashes in his eyes before he drops his head and focuses back on the cast,

“It wasn’t a typical admission.” He offers,

“Thats good to know,” 

“I thought it might-“ he stops

“Might what?”

“Bring back memories.” His words blunt as he stands, finally finished with the cast and begins readying the skele-gro.

“Oh-“ she ponders his words, “I guess I recognised the curse quicker because of it, but no, I guess the adrenaline kicked in.”

“Good,” he dips his hands in the water, washing off the remnants of the hardening solution from his skin.

She watches his expression for a moment longer than she should, reading something there she doesn’t understand, before she scoffs lightly, 

“I thought you didn’t care about our personal lives,” she repeats his words back to him, watching as his spine goes rigid.

“I don’t,” he bites back quickly,

“Seems like you do,” she raises in eyebrow daring to wear a mocking expression on her face,

“If it affects your work then I do care, you fuck up and I look bad,” that expressionless veil is back again, and she risks taking a step closer looking up at him with narrowed eyes.

“So this is all about you?”

“Always,” he hisses gray eyes steely and lips pursed.

“Why become a well-being resident if you dont care about those in your charge?”

“I didn’t have a choice,” he says through gritted teeth,

“Well at least that explains the stinking attitude,” she shrugs, turning back to the patient, eyes anywhere but on his infuriating face.

“If your looking for someone to hold your hand through this Granger run home to Weasley I’m sure he will welcome you with clammy open palms,” his words feel like a bucket of ice water on her head.

“I don’t need anyone to hold my hand Malfoy im just trying to figure out how to survive the next two years stuck with you,” she throws her arms in the air, exasperated.

“The feeling is mutual,” 

They stand in what feels like an unending awkward silence.

“Go home, I will finish your shift,” he spins around and heads to the desk,

“Not a chance! I’m not flaking out early.” 

“Well I can’t leave, the patient isn’t stable enough to leave with an intern,” he sneers.

“Guess we’re in for a long night then,” she strides across the room and sits on the remaining desk chair.

“Great, an annoying shadow. That’s all I need” 

“Well get used to it, I’m here to learn and like it or not your going to teach me” she crosses her arms stubbornly. 

He rolls his eyes and picks up the abandoned quill off the desk, dipping it in the ink well before scribbling furiously on a blank piece of parchment.

“What are you writing?”

Malfoy sighs in exaggerated irritation “My diary Granger,” a sarcastic drawl, “Im writing a list of ingredients we will need to treat her,”

Hermione glares in silence, sitting up straight as she crosses one leg over the other as she stares daggers at the side of his head, 

“For Merlin’s sake Granger, unclench. You’re going to hurt yourself”

“You’re just as pig hea-“ she begins her barrage of prepared insults when he cuts her off.

“You want me to teach you?” He gestures to the list “Well pull that stick out of your arse and come learn something.”

Chapter Text

Her skin feels tight and the scent of aloe and rose root clings to her arms as she splashes cold water on her face. She should shower really - wash off the events of the night shift but her eyelids open and close lazily and her mind fogs as she stares at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

The rest of the shift had been relatively uneventful, between another application of Dittany and Malfoy’s infuriating laughter as she struggled to unwind Jason Stones’s full body bandage and attempt to submerge him in his aloe bath without completely soaking herself in the water, he had taught her something. 

Foregoing the shower she padded quietly across the hall to her bedroom, grabbing her bag as she sat herself cross-legged on the bed and pulled out her notebook. Three whole pages of notes on the treatment of the cruciatus curse. Most were adaptations of treatments she was already familiar with but some were completely new:
-Adding ginger or bilberry root to dreamless sleep not only elongated the half-life of the draft but could increase the length of time healing spells had an effect.
- If seizures continued to occur then placing devil’s claw under the tongue helped treat brain swelling.
- An incantation that showed it’s caster the brain in finer segments so as to more precisely locate bleeding.

Her stomach buzzed with the familiar satisfaction of learning something new, knowledge that would make a difference, and save a life. It was invigorating and she scanned the notes twice more before she let herself succumb to sleep, checking the alarm clock in a drowsy haze and ensuring it was switched off as her head hit the pillow and she was out.

She woke with a start, bolt upright in the bed as the flannel shirt she hadn’t been bothered to change out of twisted awkwardly around her chest.

“Second time this month” she repeated the words of the Auror - Parker, was that his name? As her mind raced with questions.

Malfoy had said Minister Gilligs admission wasn’t typical, and had someone mentioned LeStrange? Molly Weasley had killed Bellatrix Lestrange during the battle of Hogwarts. Her husband Rudolphos was rotting in Azkaban with a life sentence as far as she was aware, and his brother Rabastan - Hermione remembered his trial at the ministry, he had been present during the battle of the Department of Mysteries during her fifth year and received a ten-year sentence for it but after that, she didn’t know.

She swore loudly, she had been so preoccupied with what had happened in the emergency department, with scolding Malfoy for his attitude that she had completely ignored why someone would have cursed that pocket watch, targeting Minister Gillig specifically. Gillig was the Head of the Department of Public Information Services - it was hardly a risky role, had she been caught up in something unto-ward? 

The questions kept rolling into her head until she decided there was no use sitting here and wondering when she could ask someone who might know the answers. Glancing at the alarm clock she frowned, it was 10 pm - she had been asleep for fourteen hours. Climbing from the bed she headed downstairs, hoping that Harry would still be up.

Him and Ginny were sat at the kitchen table both staring lazily at a board of wizard chess, a knight viciously decapitating a pawn.

“Hermione hey,” Harry looks up as she walks in, casting his eyes over her face and Hermione regrets not looking in a mirror before she came downstairs, she must look a mess.

“We thought you were going to sleep right through. Mum dropped off a stew earlier - want some?” Ginny waves a hand in the direction of a pot still simmering on the stove as she commands her King to its new position.

“Im fine thank-“ Her stomach growls loudly and Ginny raises her eyebrows in her direction. Hermione snorts as she heads for the pot, ladling it into a bowl and grabbing a slice of warmed bread from the board next to it, sitting herself down next to Ginny at the table.

“We had a patient last night, came into the possession of a cursed item.” Hermione watched Harry for a reaction as he studied the board in front of him.

“We heard,” Ginny answers for them.

“Then you know the patient?”

“Minister Gillig?” Ginny nods,

“Mal-“ she stops herself “My senior resident thinks it was deliberate, that it’s happened before?”

Harry finally looks up from the board, “You know we can’t comment on ongoing Auror investigations Hermione,” green eyes revealing nothing,

“One of the Aurors - Parker? He mentioned Rabastan Lestrange?” 

Ginny sniffs in disgust at the Lestrange name and Harry’s eyes flit to her, concern there. “Lestrange has been causing problems for the Ministry since he got out of Azkaban, banging on about old wizarding laws, the usual pureblood nonsense. No one pays a blind bit of notice to him and he’s under constant surveillance” Harry shrugged “If he was responsible the Aurors would know about it.” And with that, he shut down the conversation, his queen gliding across the board to brutally slice Ginny’s King in half.

Hermione dipped her bread in the stew quietly as she watched the pair set up another game, taking only a few bites before she lost her appetite, “If it wasn’t Lestrange then who was it?” she asked,

“Really Hermione the Ministry is on top of it, we’re always getting reports of cursed objects, even this long after the war.” He shrugs, not meeting her eyes.

“On top of what? Has there been more attacks?”

Harry sighs “They aren’t attacks, just…” he reaches across the table and lays a hand on Hermione’s “Just unfortunate events, I’m sorry you had to see one. It must have been a lot on your first night shift,” He was placating her, worry creasing his brow as his eyes scanned her face - They were all worried about her, Ginny had confirmed as much over breakfast.

She rose from the table, “I’m going back to bed,” she emptied the half-eaten contents of her bowl in the bin before letting the bowl clatter loudly in the sink.

“You’ve only just woken up.” Ginny points out looking at the clock over the stove, midnight.

“I have work again in the morning,” Hermione’s curt words harsher than she intended.

“Oh-okay,” Ginny looks a little disheartened, “Goodnight.”

“Night,” Hermione throws over her shoulder as she leaves, trying not to stomp loudly on the stairs as she makes her way back to her room.

An hour passes and then two as she lay, stewing on the bed - staring at the ceiling she knew she wouldn’t fall asleep again so hadn’t even bothered to try. Harry’s reluctance to answer her questions scratched at her mind, ever since they had left Hogwarts and Hermione had begun drifting he had treated her like glass, like even the smallest of vibrations would break her - she thought things had gone back to normal when she returned from Europe finally on a career path and ‘back to her old self.’ He had said as much at her welcome home party, and exclaimed how excited he was to have the “old Hermione back”.

 She sucked her teeth in aggravation, how could any of them be their old selves again after what they had seen, what they had lost during the war. It was preposterous to think she could go back to being that ever-optimistic girl again, believing the Wizarding World had been rid of evil with Voldemort’s demise.

Fidgeting in the bed she rolled over and glanced at the clock - five hours till her shift started, maybe in the morning she could ask Malfoy, Malfoy! She sat upright in bed. Summoning her work bag over from where it hung on her desk chair she rummaged around in it until her fingers closed around the crumpled piece of parchment she was looking for - it was the ward shift pattern for the month. Running her finger down the first column she found today’s date and followed the timetable over to the night shift allocation. Malfoy was on shift.

Jumping from the bed she threw her bag over her shoulder she opened her door a crack listening for sounds of life, Harry and Ginny had both trudged up to bed hours ago and Ron was working nights at Azkaban this week. Pulling on a pair of battered converse she cast a muffling charm as she headed down the stairs and out the front door.

The fluorescent yellow witch was in her usual spot as Hermione dashed through the reception, the waiting room was fuller than usual with one Wizard standing at the reception desk trying to explain his ailments as he swatted at thin air, muttering about pixies pulling his hair.

Hermione bypassed the intern lounge, no need to change this soon before shift as she made her way to the ward, hoping Malfoy would be there and that he would be willing to answer her questions with more truth than Harry had.

As she strode through the double door she stopped - Malfoy was sitting, feet resting lazily on the desk and arms folded behind his head as he laughed loudly at the words of the man sitting opposite him. Hermione didn’t think she had ever seen him laugh like that - eyes creasing at the corners as his blonde hair flopped forward over his forehead, his hand pushing it back casually as he grinned - actually grinning at the man. 

She took a step forward announcing her presence with her footfalls, his manner changed instantly - feet on the floor he stood swiftly his face morphing into his usual calm boredom.

“Healer Granger?” his eyes darting to the clock as he frowned “Trouble telling time?”

She followed his eyes - 2:30 am, “I-I couldn’t sleep,” she offered, it wasn’t really a lie but she didn’t want to ask her questions with someone else present.

The man opposite Malfoy turned in his chair and Hermione recognised Theodore Nott, he stood gracefully and walked across the room to her, “Healer Granger,” he held out a hand which Hermione just stared at rudely, Nott raised his eyebrows before turning to Malfoy “You’ve inspired such dedication in your Intern’s Draco, I am surprised.”

Malfoy glared at his friend before looking back to Hermione, “What are you doing here?” he words curt.

“I - erm- I had some questions,” Hermione watched as Nott glanced between the two of them an amused smile pulling at his lips, 

“Now really isn’t the time for an impromptu teaching session Granger,” His tone dismissive now, raising Hermione’s hackles.

“Of course,” she gritted out “You look so busy,” she couldn’t keep the sarcasm from her voice as she dramatically glanced around the quiet ward, two more patients had been discharged yesterday leaving only Minister Gillig and Jason stone sleeping soundly in their beds.

Theo snorted “This one is sassy, I hadn’t expected that.”

“Yes, we are working on her…attitude.” Malfoy glowered and Hermione glared back, silence ensuing as seconds ticked by,

Theo whistled, “Well this is tense,” he pulls a mischievous face as he looks between them both, “I will leave you to it Draco,” he turns and heads for the door calling back as he walks through “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” and then barks out a laugh as he exits. 

“What does that mean?” Hermione asks suspiciously

“Did you just get out of bed?” Malfoy ignores her question as he gives her the once over, Hermione bites her lip regretting for a moment that she hadn’t looked in the mirror before leaving the house, she pats at her untamed hair as she walks over to the desk,

“Why would someone curse Minister Gillig?” she asks looking over at the sleeping Minister, the bottle of Skele-gro still sat on her patient table.

“She’s a Ministry offical,” Malfoy shrugs “Not everyone likes Ministry officials,” he sits back down on the chair.

“Like who?”

His gray eyes tell her nothing, “How would I know,”

“The Auror said this was the second attack in a month,” 

Malfoy nods but doesn't elaborate.

“Who was the first victim?”

Malfoy’s eye dart to Jason Stone’s bed as he says nothing and Hermione sucks in a breath,

“You said that was a robbery gone wrong.”

“It was”

“What was he stealing?” She glanced over at Stone

“He wasn’t stealing anything, he was an Auror on guard duty” Malfoy corrected her,

“Where?”

“The Department of Law and History achieves.”

“Why?” 

“This is very boring,” he drawls rolling his eyes, “What exactly is this line of questioning in aide of?”

“I just- I just thinks its strange that Ministry officials are being attacked and we don’t know anything about it?”

“And who are we?” 

She hesitates “The public,” she stutters,

He snorts “What you really mean is that you, Potter and Weasley haven’t been clued in to save the world again.” Hes voice mocking,

“I do not!” She denies forcefully,

“Not getting enough attention as the Wizarding Worlds golden girl anymore?” he sneers

“The public has a right to know if some madman is going around attacking people.” She raises her voice, indignant.

Malfoy stands and walks around the desk and towers over her “You just can’t stand that you aren’t part of that little trio anymore can you? Poor little Granger no longer sacrificing herself to save her friends,” his smirk makes her blood boil and she clenches her fists, nails digging into the palm of her hands, resisting the urge to hit him.

“How dare you” She seethes,

“A healers roll is to clean up the mess you friends create Granger, your side-lined, invisible. Healers don’t make front page news and they certainly aren’t hailed as the peoples saviors,” he chuckles “Time to adjust your ego and get used to being forgotten.”

Before she can stop herself she feels her hands jut out, slamming her palms against his chest -forcing him to take a step backwards, he grabs her wrist - squeezing as she winces at his cold fingers against her skin, he yanks her towards him and lowers his eyes to hers, his breath tickling her face as he huffs out a mocking laugh,

“Don’t test my patience Granger,” His gray eyes bore into her and he squeezes her wrist again, her eyes darting to where there connected and a meek gasps escapes her lips - the black sleeve of the top he wears under his scrubs has hitched up - the head of a snake, jaws wide and fangs bared marks his skin. His dark mark.

His eyes follows hers and he releases her, stepping backward as he shakes the sleeve down.

“Leave,” he orders but she doesn’t move, eyes glued to where the mark on his forearm is now covered, “I said get out!” he shouts now and she recoils, staggering slightly as she runs towards the door, not stopping until she reaches the intern lounge, throwing herself down on the hard wooden benches heaving deep breathes into her lungs until her heart rate slows enough for her hands to stop shaking.

His words had stung, more then she had expected. Was that because they were true? Did she really want to throw herself in the path of danger again? She sat on the bench until her arse was numb, wooden slats biting into her thighs as she mulled over his assessment of her. She knew she didn’t care about the attention given to her for her part in war, but she also wasn’t the kind of person who could stand by and let innocent people die at the hands of another fanatic, if thats what this even was?

The door of the intern lounge banged open as Romilda Vane stalked in, pausing as she spotted Hermione, “You look like shit.” She wrinkled her nose as she walked to the cubby. Hermione sighed as she looked at her wrist watch - 6:15, enough time to shower and choke back the wakefulness potion she had in her bag before another grueling day. 

As she walked towards to bathroom she hoped for the first time in a week that Malfoy would ignore her.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Malfoy did not relinquish his hold on her until they entered the Dark Curses ward and levitated him onto the patient bed in room one. Hermione had considered allocating him one of the open ward beds but she didn’t think he would much appreciate the prying eyes that would no doubt start appearing once word got out that a St Mungo’s healer had been attacked.

She performed a few more vitals charms than necessary before wedging the door open so she could keep a close eye on him, she attempted to get back to her normal duties, apologising to the intern who had covered her as he packed up his stuff at the desk.

“Dont worry, it was nice to have a break from JT,” he said shortening the ward name as he spoke, “We’ve had an influx of a hex which causes the patients to sneeze sardines from their nose, the whole ward absolutely reeks.” He grimaced “I’m a little disappointed to be going if I’m honest,” his eyes dart to the propped open door and Hermione narrows hers ever so slightly.

“Well then, I hope the rest of your shift goes quickly.” She doesn’t engage in his obvious attempt to be invited to stay and he pulls a little face in dissatisfaction as he leaves.

Leaning backward slightly she peeks into Malfoy’s room, watching the rise and fall of his chest for a few moments before she pulls her eyes away and chews her lip, the desire to wake him and demand an explanation Vs the requirement that she remain professional battling it out in her head. She had already toed that line by standing over him for more than an hour holding his hand, an act she couldn’t quite get her head around at this moment. 

Shaking her head clear she walked over to the other patients and ran through her usual night routine. The JT intern had done a thorough job and it took her half the usual time to finish up and head toward the desk, fighting the urge to stick her head around the door again and stare at Malfoy in the hope he woke up under her gaze.

Sitting still was not a challenge she was accustomed to and it took only ten minutes of fidgeting before she heaved a dramatic sigh and stood up, giving in to her need for distraction. He had rolled onto his back, blonde hair now out of his eyes and sheets tangled around his legs. The dark bruise along his jaw looked painful and he had a deep gash along his temple that she hadn’t noticed before.

Grabbing a bowl from the treatment room she filled it with water, casting a warming charm before placing it down beside the bed and soaking a pack of gauze ringing out the excess water and hesitating for only a moment before gently dabbing it at the wound, pausing now and again to check she hadn’t woken him. She carefully applied the essence of dittany and watched the wound heal to a thin pink slither that would fade in a few days, hopefully not scaring as it did so. Continuing her work quickly and quietly she cleaned as much blood from his face and neck as she could, his hair would require more vigorous scrubbing, so skipping that she moved onto a patch of dried blood behind his ear before casting her eye to his bandaged arm - blood had begun to seep through so she grabbed several rolls of fresh bandages from the ward stores and got to work unwinding the bloody ones delicate fingers making quick work of it and she unwrapped the final curl, intrigued to see what damage lay underneath.

She stopped in shock as the final blood-stained bandage dropped to the floor, his arm was completely unharmed - the hollow black eyes of the dark mark staring up at her making the hairs at the back of her neck prickle. Jerkily she flipped his arm over to check the other side - maybe she had seen it wrong or hadn’t noticed Sophie applying dittany to it before she dressed it, but even so, he should at least have a scar, the wound had been deep and wide enough to distort his Death Eater branding.

Malfoy’s hand wrapped around her forearm and she yelped, pulling back at the motion.

“Trying to add a broken arm to my injuries Granger?” His raspy voice mumbled sleepily as he raised his hand to his face and scrubbed at his eyes, wincing as his fingers traced the bruise on his jaw.

She glared “Some thank you that is.” She dropped his healed arm and crossed her own across her chest, staring down at her resident expectantly.

“Aren’t their other patients for you to prod awake?”

“I was not prodding you. I was washing blood, your blood I might add, from your skin.” Her tone indignant.

“How very nursemaid of you,” he muttered as he looked down at himself, palpating the bruising along his chest with his fingers and flinching. “Broken ribs?” he asked her as he looked up and smirked at the expression on her face.

Hermione shut her mouth where it had fallen open in shock, had she really just saved his life and now he was mocking her? Her cheeks reddened as anger boiled her blood as she held back the urge to punch him in those broken ribs.

“Seven of them,” she said through gritted teeth. 

Malfoy raised his eyebrows and pulled a face of approval, “They barely hurt. Your doing I assume?”

She nodded and then gasped as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed to stand.

“What on earth do you think you are doing?” she stepped forward and to lay her hand on his shoulder, “Get back on the bed.”

Malfoy raised both eyebrows and a grin spread across his lips, “Healer Granger, are you trying to get me into bed?”

“Don’t be obtuse Malfoy you know exactly what I mean.” she kept her voice flat as she pushed at his shoulders with as much force as she dared, he winced and she pulled back quickly as he thankfully remained sat on the bed.

“What did you use, for the ribs?” he asked as he lifted the torn sleeve of his shirt and pulled a face before shrugging his shoulders and letting the ruined shirt fall off his back. Her eyes inadvertently scanning the taught muscles in his arms and she blinked, telling herself she was checking for unseen injuries not admiring the cut of his shoulders and chest.

“Ergh…coral snake venom.” She hesitated as she pulled her eyes away and focused on the small window at the back of the room. “The neurotoxins in the venom work as an excellent local anesthetic.” She added.

“It’s also incredibly easy to get the dosing wrong and kill the patient.” He countered.

Her eyes snapped back to his “I used it extensively when I studied in Europe. I never get the dosing wrong.”  Offended that he was suggesting she would dare put a patient’s life at risk, even if it was the life of his childhood tormentor. 

A grin pulled at the corner of his lips and she realised he was trying to get a rise out of her, she bit her tongue in irritation, “Please get back into the bed, you need rest-“ she hesitated “There could be lasting effects from the curse, we won-“

“There won’t be any lasting effects.” His tone had changed, clipped and certain and the grin replaced with a sour expression, “It’s not the first time I’ve had to fight it off.” he adds for clarity as takes note of her questioning frown.

“This has happened before?” Hermione asks stunned,

“It’s been almost a decade, I….we, were taught how to resist it.” He doesn’t elaborate further this time but she understands. Voldemort subjected them to the imperious curse, so they would know how to resist it if they were caught and interrogated.

“Oh.” Was all she could muster and her thoughts traveled back to the war before, “Ouch, what are you-“

“Moving you.” Malfoy’s hands grabbed Hermione’s hips as he pushed her backward and rose to standing, her hands instinctively finding purchase on his chest so she could balance herself as she stumbled over the involuntary movement of her feet. He swayed ever so slightly as he stood and for a moment she imagined trying to catch someone this much bigger than her if he fell.

“We gave you Papaveroideae,” she croaked as she pulled her hands from his chest, the warmth of his skin seeping into hers. “The side effects are: drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, lowered inhibitions…”

“I know the side effects Granger.” He stopped her, his hands still resting against her hips as his eyes lingered on her face.

“Of - of course you do,” she stammered as she bit her lower lip.

“Dizziness - check.” His voice sounded hazy as his eyes darted to her lips momentarily before pulling back, relinquishing her from his grip, “Lowered inhibitions - check.” He muttered as he stepped around her and headed for the door.

“Why did Lestrange curse you?” she asked, watching the muscle in his back ripple and tense at her question, he stopped moving.

“Because I won’t agree to his demands.”

“What demands?”

“Nothing you should concern yourself with.”

“If I’m going to treat his victims then I have a right to know why.” She demanded, frustration setting in. Why on earth did everyone in her life refuse to give her a clear answer.

Malfoy turned to face her, appalled at her her words , “I am not his victim!” he snapped.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, “Could have fooled me.” pissing Malfoy off might get her another week of draining pus-filled boils but it seemed the best way to get answers out of him, she continued “Harry said Lestrange is trying to interfere with wizarding law, something to do with purebloods.”

Malfoy snorted and stepped towards her, “Of course, Potter has his nose in this, why am I surprised.” He said under his breath, “Rabastan always had grand ideas and they always amounted to nothing. Leave it be, the ministry can handle it themselves.” It sounded like a command and Hermione bristled, did he honestly think could order her around outside of work hours?

She ignored his scathing remarks about Harry, “Are the ministry handling it?” she didn’t let him answer, “Because there have been three attacks in the last two months, that we know of, and no one seems to be taking it seriously.”

Malfoy rolls his eyes and walks towards her so quickly she takes several unbalanced steps backwards, her thighs pressing against the bed as he towers over her, “Just stay out of it Granger, it has nothing to do with you.” He says through clenched teeth as he looks down at her.

Glowering up at him she raises a finger and presses it against his sternum making his hiss slightly at the pressure against his mending bones, “Without me, you would be dead Draco Malfoy. Now show me some respect and give me answers.” Her voice wavering unintentionally and she meets his cold stare.

Raising a hand he wraps his fingers around her wrist and pulls hers to her side. He’s so close to her now that she can feel heat radiating off him, her thighs pressed so hard against the bed that shes almost sat down completely just to maintain eye contact.

 His gaze assess her, pupils dilating as he wages an internal battle on whether he should give her the answers she craves and as his lips part to speak she hears a gasp. They both turn their heads simultaneously to find Romilda Vane stood in the door way of the room, hand clamped over her mouth and eyes alight with astonishment as she lets out a high-pitched giggle before spinning around and disappearing out of sight.

“Fuck.” Malfoy growls out before following Romilda from the room, Hermione close on his heels as she mutters her own curses under her breath. Romilda will not have seen the situation for what it really was - an almost successful extraction of vital information and instead by lunchtime, the entire hospital will have heard about how she walked in on a half-naked Draco Malfoy bending Hermione Granger over a hospital bed. Hermione’s cheeks heat as the image that Romilda is no doubt concocted plays in her mind.

Romilda is already at Oliver’s side whispering excitedly as Hermione crosses the room, grinding her teeth in frustration, she hesitates - does she deal with the rumor mill now or does she fuel it further by following Malfoy from the room? The decision turned out to be a simple one - being no stranger to gossip about her love life after years of Rita Skeeter’s inane scribblings she makes her decision, being the object of lies was something she could bare, being left in the dark about something important, something that could effect the lives of Wizarding kind was not. Following Malfoy from the room she jogged to try and keep up with his fast strides, his half-clothed appearance garnering strange looks as other healers arrived for their shifts, unaware of the events that had taken place that night.

“Malfoy!” she called after him, the portrait of a nurse on a darkened ward shushing her as she sped passed, Hermione paid no attention as Malfoy ignored her calls and disappeared through the door to the resident’s lounge, leaving it to swing back at Hermione narrowly missing her face. She hesitated for only a moment before following him in, choosing to ignore the ‘No Interns allowed’ sign.

The resident lounge was far nicer than the Intern’s one; leather seats and mahogany cubbies lining the walls and a snack cupboard filled to the brim occupying one corner a third-year resident stood before it - tapping a finger against their chin in contemplation over what to have for breakfast.

Hermione’s eyes swept the room, ignoring the strange looks from a pair she didn’t recognise in the corner, one of them glanced at the doorway partially hidden behind a leather armchair, clearly puzzled. Hermione made a bee-line for the door, swinging it open and barging into a wall of steam and the sound of running water pattering against tiles.

Three shower stalls took up most of the room, one occupied someone who hummed a familiar tune behind a drawn curtain, the other two empty - Malfoy stood before one as he unbuckled his belt.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Hermione announced her presence quickly before he could remove any more clothing.

“You aren’t allowed in here.” His only response as he left the unbuckled belt to hang, his trousers now low and loose on his hips, revealing the tops of a V-shaped dip that led to…. Hermione fixed her eyes on the wall behind him ignoring the direction her mind was wandering. 

“What is Lestr-“

“Not here!” he hissed loudly, stepping towards her as the water turned off and the humming from the occupied stall stopped.

“Draco?” A voice called out as the curtain twitched back and the face of Theodore Nott appeared from behind it, dark brown curls dripping water, “What happened to…” he paused his questioning as his eyes roamed from his disheveled friend and skipped across to Hermione, a smile spreading across his face, “Healer Granger,” the lilt in his voice almost giddy as he glanced between the pair, “What a surprise to find you here, in the showers- with Draco.” He was clearly suppressing a laugh as he came to the same conclusions as Romilda had.

“Get your head out of the gutter Nott.” Draco snapped,

“Why is their blood in your hair?” Theo frowned turning his attention back to Malfoy.

“He was attacked.” Hermione rang in before Malfoy could make up an excuse, he glowered at her but she didn’t let his daggered stare stop her. “He really should go back to the ward and rest.” She glared back, if he went back to his room she might be able to get some answers from him.

“Lestrange again?” Theo piped up as he stepped from the shower, completely naked.

Hermione let out an involuntary squeak as the entirety of Theo came into view, her hands quickly covering her eyes as she felt the burn of her cheeks against her palm, before…wait…did Theo know about Lestrange? “You know?” she blurted out dropping her hands before quickly raising them again as she realised he remained completely nude, smirking at her embarrassment.

“For fuck sake Theo put a towel over it before Granger combusts,” Draco mutters, an air of amusement in his voice now as Hermione waits patiently, eyes firming closed and palms rammed against her eyelids.

“Prude.” Malfoy mumbles under his breath before announcing its safe for her to open her eyes again - Theo now leaning against the wall, towel wrapped low on his hips as he continues to glance between Malfoy and her, delight dancing in his eyes before he speaks.

“Lestrange is looking to recruit old Death eaters for his cause, something to do with bringing back an old Wizarding law that gives purebloods ultimate power,” he uses air quotes for the final words, “It doesn’t exist though, Voldemort looked for years and never found it.” Theo shrugs as if what he was saying had no importance. 

Hermione kept her eyes on Malfoy, watching his reactions as Theo spoke - He knew something that Theo didn’t, she was sure of it.

“If this law doesn’t exist then why are people dying?” Hermione crossed her arms across her chest

“Nobody had died Granger, stop being so dramatic,” Malfoy huffed “You have your answer, now leave.”

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t follow his command, turning her attention to Theo, “Would you mind if I had a moment with Healer Malfoy?” She gritted out, trying to be polite - it wasn’t Theo who was being difficult here, if anything he had been slightly helpful.

“Certainly.” Theo straightened, eyes twinkling as he made his way to the door, clapping Malfoy on the shoulder and giving him an unsubtle thumbs up as he left the room, announcing loudly to the residents lounge that the shower room was occupied as the door swung shut behind him.

“Twit,” Malfoy muttered before returning his attention to Hermione, “What do you want?”

“The truth. I can tell you’re hiding something.” She accuses.

“Because you know me so well?” That bored drawl returning to his voice and he crosses his arms across his bare chest and stares her down.

“I don’t,” She takes a step towards him “but I’m not an idiot and I’m also not going to let this go until you give me answers and I can be incredibly tenacious when I want to be.”

“Incredibly irritating would a better choice of words,” he sneers.

Hermione just stared at him silently, waiting. Finally, Malfoy let out an exasperated sigh. “The law that Rabastan is looking for, it exists, or at least it almost did.” He pauses, “It was a petition, drawn up decades ago by a few of the pureblood families many of whom made up the majority of the Ministry hierarchy at the time. The Minister of magic back then, I dont remember which - Evermonde or McLaird perhaps. He tabled the vote - filibustered until he could integrate more muggle-borns or half-blood witches and wizards into the Ministry. Knowing they wouldn’t get the majority vote after that the families stopped pushing for the vote and the petition was hidden away and forgotten.” He stopped, waiting for the inevitable reem of questions that were clearly bursting from Hermione.

“The Ministry is still made up of many muggle-borns and half-bloods, why would Lestrange think the vote would change now?” 

“Once Rabastan finds the petition he will wait before he requests a vote, until he knows he will have the majority.” Malfoy pauses “Rabastan will make it look like it is all above board, but he won’t hesitate to use whatever force necessary to ensure he gets the majority.” 

“Where is the petition now?”

“Nobody knows really, Rabastan assumes it’s hidden in the Department of Law and History archives.” He shrugs.

“Auror Stone was attacked in the law and history archives,” She says outloud,  to herself more then anyone else, piecing together what she could from the limited information, there were so many other questions brimming in her mind that she could barely pluck the right one to ask.

“What did Rabastan want you to do?” It wasn’t the question she had been expecting to ask as it fell from her mouth and Malfoy shuffled uncomfortably from foot to foot before he answered,

“My family were the original authors of the petition,” he hesitates “He thinks I will be able to locate it or that the Manor library will have some sort of record of where it’s kept but as Theo said, Voldemort search for years and never found a trace of it. Rabastan asked several times for me to aid his search, I assume he got tired of asking.” She detects a sense of regret in his words and she wonders what its for- his family’s part in the petition or his resistance to help Lestrange.

“What exactly does the petition entail?” She almost hesitates in asking, if it was written by the Malfoy’s she could hazard a guess that ‘ultimate pureblood power’ was outlined in far more detail than just that.

“Are the terms hidden and forgotten lost on you Granger? How would I know what it says.”

“You must have some record of it, or knowledge at least?” 

“I don’t.” He says flatly “Are you done, because the coral venom is wearing off and I’d really like to shower before my shift.” She gave him the once over, she hadn’t even noticed how his hand gripped against the bathroom wall, bracing himself against the full force of his injuries.

“You can’t work like that, you can barely stand.” She scolds “You need to go back to the ward. You can take more Papaveroideae and I will repeat the venom administration when its safe to do so.” Her instructions fall on deaf ears.

“I’m not going back to the ward, you think I’m going to let Vane or Rivers hover over me all-day, id rather take my chances with the Imperious curse again.” He mocks,

“I’m your admitting Healer, you can’t leave without my discharge notice.” She smirks, enjoying the small sense of power she held in his predicament.

“Then I will self discharge.” He sneers,

“You’d be back within the hour begging to pain relief.” She counters smugly,

“I don’t beg.” He stiffens and winces at the movement.

Hermione huffs a laugh of disbelief and smirks as Malfoy glares at her.

“Let’s make a deal.” He offers, “Sign the discharge notice, Theo can take me to the manor and I will give you free range of the Malfoy library and its archives for a whole day, then you can satisfy your own curiosities and disbelief that I hold no information about the petition and I can avoid being prodded and poked by incompetent interns.” He gritted out.

“Deal!” She surprised herself with her lack of hesitation, letting Malfoy leave the hospital less than twelve hours after his attack was a poor choice for any Healer to make, but her willingness to let her ever-lengthening list of questions wait for another scarce moment alone with Malfoy, something he would no doubt actively avoid, was apparently no existent. She turned on her heel and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” he called out, grimacing as he took a breath,

“To get Theo, and some Papaveroideae, you can take it before we apparate to the Manor.”

“We?” He looks at her slightly shocked and quizzical,

“Theo can keep an eye on you while I use the library, thats the deal right?” she smirks,

“I meant you can use the library another day, preferably one when I’m not there.” He calls out as she pushes open the door to leave.

“No time like the present.” She calls back to him, grinning as his groan of irritation follows her out of the room.

Chapter Text

Stubbornly, Malfoy had insisted on dosing his own Papaveroideae before they left, and clearly he had been generous with it. Hermione gave him a disapproving look as she scribbled her signature on the discharge papers, he was swaying slightly, pupils pinpoint and a glazed. Theo was perched on the edge of the desk watching his friend, amusement pulling at the corners of his lips.

“You like your men in a state of narcosis Healer Granger?” he joked and Malfoy snorted a laugh.

Hermione gave him a cutting look before offering the discharge papers to Malfoy who reached out, missing the parchment by an inch to the left before giggling again. She gave a withering sigh and rolled the parchment, sliding it into her coat pocket.

“Ready?” She turned to Theo who shrugged, standing and taking hold of Malfoy, a firm grip on his friend’s upper arm so he didn’t sway away from his grasp mid-apparition. Hermione walked to Theo’s other side and offered her hand for him to take - she had not been at Malfoy Manor since the war and a fluttering of dread and association crept into her abdomen at the idea of returning to the place she was once tortured. Theo glanced down at the offered hand but didn’t take it.

“You will need to take us both, I don’t know how to get there.” She offered an answer to his unasked question,

“Yes but I think its probably best you take Draco’s other side, he not exactly steady, and id rather not lose an arm when he wanders off journey.” He raised an eyebrow as Hermione hesitated before walking behind him, appearing at Malfoy’s other side and stiffly offering her hand.

“mmIm perfectly ssssteady!” Malfoy slurred before rolling his eyes at his own poorly formed words, which caused him to catch himself as the action only added to his dizziness, he muttered a curse and pinched his eyes shut as he gently placed his hand in Hermione’s - warm palm and calloused pads tickling against her skin. Goosebumps erupting up her arm as Malfoy absent-mindedly let his thump trace a path up and and down her wrist once.

Theo looked pleased with himself as he made sure they were all ready, Hermione nodded and Malfoy grunted in agreement as the world became a blur of whites and blues quickly replaced by grays and greens, a cool breeze began whistling as everything stopped moving and the world took shape again. Wrought iron gates, gravel crunching beneath their feet as dark green conifers rustled in the wind. Hermione felt her spine straighten as memories trickled into her head, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the towering manor beyond the gates.

Fingers twitched against hers and she startled, forgetting she was still holding Malfoy’s hand she pulled her fingers from his, meeting his eyes - they were no longer glazed but instead filled with something that resembled concern, they darted away, his hand flexing slightly now it was empty of hers as he carefully forced unstable feet towards the gates, which began to part at his approach.

Glancing over at Theo she was surprised to see that all merriment had gone from his features as he watched his friend approach the Manor. 

“Everything ok Healer Nott?” Hermione asked.

“For Merlins sake Granger, call me Theo.” He muttered as he walked after his friend. Hermione bristled at his tone and watched as he walked away, frowning slightly as she followed. 

They walked in silence for the two minutes it took to get to the Manor doors and Hermione took the time to take in her surroundings. It appeared very much the same as it had all those years ago: Grey, cold and frightening and she wondered why Malfoy continued to live here. The manor looked like something from a Victorian ghost story and Hermione had no doubt countless ghosts haunted its halls.

As the Manor door creaked open on Malfoy’s approach and they began to file inside Hermione caught a shimmer from the corner of her eye - In the distance, a graveyard stood shrouded in the shadow of a willow tree, whatever had caught her attention was no longer visible but Hermione felt herself shudder, the willows reeds didn’t even move in the wind and Hermione felt her skin tingle as she quickly followed Theo through the door, not wishing to be left outside alone. Who knew what roamed the grounds of Malfoy Manor, even in the cold morning light.

Distracted by her haste to make it inside she had not realised that Theo had stopped just inside the entry way and collided with his back, making a rather undignified noise as she rubbed her nose which throbbed slightly from the impact.

“Easy Granger, what’s the rush?” He asked as they stood in the darkened stone hall.

“Nothing…I just…Malfoy said I only have today.” She peered into the darkness trying to make out where Malfoy had disappeared to, noticing his absence, narrowing her eyes at a patch of darkness that seemed deeper than the rest, like it strangled out any light that managed to penetrate the heavy curtains drawn across the windows.

Pulling her wand Hermione readied the illuminating charm on her tongue as the curtains drew open suddenly - blinking back bright lights that danced across her line of sight she made out the silhouette of Malfoy making his way down the stone steps across from them, wand now held casually at his side as his free hand gripped the banister to steady himself.

 “The library is at the top of the stairs, third door to the right.” He spoke as he carefully made his way across the hall, feet faltering as his eyes darted to a patch of stone before the empty fireplace. Theo took a step forward as if he could steady his friend from this distance, Malfoy held up a hand and gestured to a door next to the fireplace, “Theo and I will be in my fathers-” He caught his words “My study.” A sour look crossed his face before he looked at Hermione, “Come find us if you need anything.” His words forming her dismissal and she parted her lips to rebuttal with some sarcastic quip when she was interrupted.

“I will keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn’t consume too much fire whiskey.” Theo winked at her as he walked to his friend’s side “I will join you in a little while.” He gave her a look, a plead not to argue and Hermione nodded, the atmosphere here was wholly different to St. Mungo’s. Malfoy’s silence no longer steeped is arrogant boredom, but something deeper, something dark.

She watched as the men made their way through the door before she walked towards the stairs, pausing at where Malfoy’s gaze had lingered, a scorch mark scarred the stone floor, hairline cracks traveling out from where a curse had struck, she wondered if this is where Malfoy had been cursed the night before. 

Hurrying past she took the stairs two at a time, turning left and counting the heavy wooden double door before she made it to the third, laying a hand gently on the handle she pushed, expecting a thing of wonder to great her as she stepped into the manor library beyond.

She had spent years at Hogwarts wondering about this library - hearing rumors of its magnitude and the depth and breadth of topics it held. What she was met with was not what she had expected. The room was big yes - large windows letting in white misty light from the grounds beyond them, illuminating the ceiling-high shelves of books and the large round table sat in the center, three comfortable leather armchairs circled it with books left sitting open before them. She had heard the library rivaled Hogwarts, and as impressive a collection of books as this was it did not challenge the schools even a smidge. 

Distinctly underwhelmed by reality Hermione made her way into the room with a sigh, placing her satchel on one of the armchairs she strode over to one of the shelves and scanned the spines- a section of Herbology, walking further along the shelves she found collections on potion brewing, transfiguration, gardening and even a shelf filled with cookbooks that looked like they had never been touched if the layer of dust on the shelf was any indicator. As she reached the back of the room she finally found a section on the Malfoy family history, it seemed a good place to start.

Pulling several heavy leather-bound books from the shelf which were all dated at approximately the years Malfoy had talked about she took them over to the table, pulling her quill, inkwell, and parchment from her bag and got to reading.

When a sound from the hall dragged her from her thoughts she frowned, the cold white light had been replaced with warm golden rays of sunshine as the mid-morning sun shattered the mist that had coated the manor. She had been lost in the books for at least a few hours and yet had only filled half a scroll of parchment with notes, none of the books had provided any clear answers, the petition mentioned but in no real detail.

The raised voices sounded again and Hermione stood abruptly, the inkwell almost toppling over as she pushed away from the table and walked to the door, cracking it open to listen.

“Mr Malfoy, you can’t seriously expect us to believe that you have no information on who cursed you.” The unfamiliar voice sounded irritated.

“As I have already told you, I remember nothing that preceded the events.” Malfoy’s voice was ice and she could picture that infuriating bored look on his face just from his tone.

“Withholding information that could lead to the capture of the Witch of Wizard responsible for the attempted murder of two ministry officials will land you with an Azkaban sentence Mr Malfoy, do not make us take you in for interrogation.”

“As Draco’s Healer, I do not consent for you to remove him from my care.” It was Theo’s voice now, raised and authoritative, not one she has heard from the man yet.

“Your name is not on his discharge papers and until we can locate-“ A pause “Healer Granger. We have no choice but to continue with our investigation”

“Hermione?” A new voice, familiar - Harry. Hermione’s stomach flipped. She hadn’t mentioned that she was working as Malfoy’s intern to her friends yet, hadn’t wanted to deal with their worried looks or the pestering insistence that she attempt to change her allocation.

The voices softened and Hermione strained to listen.

“…No choice….Auror office…” She was only getting snippets now, alongside Theo’s loud protests that Malfoy had sustained life-threatening injuries. Hermione stepped from the library and made her way down the hallway quickly. Malfoy wasn’t telling them what he knew but she also knew that a trip to the Auror’s office and a forced interrogation would do nothing for his healing bones. 

“He seems perfectly healthy to me….” Harry spoke as she appeared at the top of the stairs.

“I agree with Healer Nott, Mr Malfoy is in no condition to be interrogated at the time. If you return in a few days I’m sure he will be in much better condition and able to fully co-operate with your investigation.” She spoke as she descended the staircase, all four men in the room turning to stare at her. She shot a questioning look at Malfoy who shook his head ever so slightly. What was he doing?

“Hermione, what are you doing here?” Harry walked towards her, glancing suspiciously at Theo and Malfoy “Did they bring you here?” he whispered as he stopped before her,

“Don’t be so ridiculous Harry.” She scolded, “I admitted and treated Mr Malfoy last night, I’m simply here to ensure he will receive appropriate home care while he heals.” A lump formed in her throat as she lied to her best friend. “Unfortunately Mr Malfoy sustained quite serious physical and mental injuries when he was cursed.” Malfoy snorted as she spoke of mental injuries and she glowered at him, “As Healer Malfoy is a member of St. Mungo’s staff we thought it was best he was treated at home so as not to distract other Healers from performing their work without distraction.” It was a little far-fetched, many healers had been treated by their colleagues but no other excuse for her early discharge of Malfoy came to mind quickly enough. “Healer Nott is well equipped to care for him here.” She nodded at Theo with an air of finality, as if she had been performing some kind of official assessment. 

Harry furrowed his brow as she spoke and she bit her lip, guilt sweeping through her chest. She hadnt spoken to him like this since they were children and she caught he sneaking around Hogwarts with an invisibility cloak. 

The Auror she didn't recognise interrupted her pangs of guilt, “Are you saying, that in your professional opinion,  questioning Mr Malfoy about his attack would compromise his health?” he sounded disbelieving and unimpressed. Hermione hesitated as she glanced from Malfoy to Theo who both eyed her, trying to communicate something silently to her.

“I am.” She crossed her arms across her chest “He should be healed in a few days, I suggest you return then.” 

“Hermione?” Harry’s voice was layered with warning and worry, he knew her to well, knew she wasn’t telling them everything.

“I will be happy to provide a statement detailing the admission of Mr Malfoy if it will be of any help?” She offered, her voice wavered a little as she avoided meetings Harry’s eyes.

“That would be helpful.” The Auror nodded before turning to Malfoy “Have you got somewhere we can speak to Healer Granger, privately.”

Malfoy nodded and indicated to the room him and Theo had been occupying for the last few hours. Hermione walked forward, leaving Harry standing confused behind her and entered the study.

She sat for thirty minutes in the study going over the events of the night before in detail. To Hermione’s relief it required little lieing on her part, as she had little information on the attack and they did not ask her to elaborate on the events or information she had gained after the emergency room.

Harry remained silent as she recounted everything, just made notes as his colleague, who had introduced himself as Auror Canavan asked questions until he was finally satisfied he had all the information he required from her. He thanked Hermione for her time and exited the room, leaving Harry alone with Hermione for a moment. Hermione stood and pulled at the hem of her navy blue sweater nervously.

“Hermione whats going on?” He asked her, crossing the room to stand before her,

“Harry, this is my job.” She said “I’m doing my job, just like you are.” She gestured to his Auror robes.

“But Malfoy? After everything he did…” His words dripped with the disdain he still held for their old school enemy.

Hermione stepped backward, a little taken aback, “He was my patient Harry, I dont get to pick and choose who I treat. Im a healer.”

“Yeah but you could have given him to someone else to heal.” Harry muttered indignant.

She couldn't control the look of hurt that marred her features “You might not think my healer’s oath is important Harry Potter but I take it very serious. I help all those in need, no matter who they are!” Her voice thick with hurt and raised above its usual pitch as she turned away from her friend and headed for the door, Harry close on her heels.

“I didn’t mean it like that Hermione, I just meant…”

“You just meant that because I’m not standing on the front lines anymore, not keeping dark Witches and Wizards at bay like you and Ron that what I do is less valued, that I can change the rules because you deem it fit that I do so.” They were in the main hall now and her words echoed around them, the same way Malfoy’s words had echoed in her head nights before, she was side-lined - invisible. 

“’Mione, I…” She cut him off,

“I think its best you leave.” She pointed to the door, “I will see you at home later.” Her words left no room for argument and Harry pressed his lips together in a tight grimace as he glanced at Theo and Malfoy who stood before the now lit fireplace watching the spat.

Harry met Hermione’s eyes again before he nodded quickly and turned to follow his colleague, leaving the hall in an awkward silence.

Hermione stood for a moment, tears prickling at the back of her eyes as she took long deep breaths, calming herself, she needed to get back to her research.

“Granger…” It was Malfoy she heard he take a step toward her and she turned on her heel and glowered at him, cutting off whatever he was about to say as she strode passed them towards the staircase.

“Well mate,” that teasing tone restored as Theo spoke, “At least you know she will make a formidable Lady of the Manor.”

“Shut up Theo!” Both Hermione and Malfoy shouted in unison as she stalked up the stairs and he back into study.

Chapter Text

The frame rattled as she slammed the Library door behind her, a disgruntled portrait grumbling at her as he stomped away through an oiled landscape kicking at a sheep as he went. Throwing herself down on the armchair she picked up her quill again and stared at the book she had been reading, forcing her eyes to move over the words until she absorbed some of its content.

On her fourth attempt to read the same paragraph, she huffed out a sigh and slammed the book shut. Her frustration had driven her to distraction, and being distracted from the task at hand only added to her frustration. Damn Draco Malfoy for opening the can of worms that were swarming in her head in the form of unanswered questions. Why was he lying? If he was so innocent in all this, why did he need to hide anything from the Aurors? And why had she let herself get dragged into it all?

Hermione scrunched up her nose as a little know-it-all voice in the back of her mind pointed out that ‘dragged’ was a bit of an overstatement, Malfoy had not asked her to lie, not really. In fact, she had barely hesitated as she looked her best friend in the eyes and withheld the truth. What must Harry have thought of her as she stood in the hall, excusing him from a home that was not her own, a home that belonged to Draco Malfoy of all people - their school hood tormentor.

Her words to Harry played in her mind, echoed by the almost identical speech Malfoy had given her that day on the ward. She knew things had changed between Harry, Ron and herself over the years since the war but they had all just pushed it to one side, focused on being the trio they had always been. And now she had drawn a line,  a line that pointed out the division that had slowly been manifesting since leaving Hogwarts. 

She wrung her hands together trying not to imagine the lecture she would get when she returned to Grimmauld Place this evening. Well, Harry would lecture and Ron would rant and rave, she had no doubt he would have been given a full report by Harry the moment he returned from work.

“Sickle for your thoughts?” A voice sounded from the doorway and Hermione turned her head to see Theo propped against the door frame, his hands tucked into his pockets as he watched her, smile not meeting his eyes.

“Just pondering the consequences of my actions.” Hermione rested her hand on the closed book before her and debated attempting to read again.

“Consequences?” Theo’s shoes clicked against the hardwood floor as he walked to the armchair next to hers and made himself comfortable.

“Hmm,” Hermione tapped her nails against the book cover and sighed, “I hadn’t mentioned that I was working under Mal-“ She paused and thought better of offering such low hanging fruit to Theo, “Working with Malfoy.” She rephrased.

Theo’s lips twitched in amusement but he avoided a crude comment, reading the room this time. “Why?” he asked.

Hermione gave him a pointed look, surely he knew the answer to his own question.

“Hogwarts was a long time ago Hermione, surely they arn’t still holding a grudge?” Theo wriggled a little uncomfortably in his chair, not truly believing his words.

“Harry would probably have let it go eventually, but Ron…” she stopped herself, Ron was not known for letting things go, she closed her eyes and sighed.

“You and Weasley, your still..?”

“No, no. Just friends.” She shook her head.

“Good.” Theo, slapped a hand on the table before pulling out a wand and waving it, muttering a spell under his breath - a steaming pot and two mugs of coffee appeared on the table before them. “You must be tired, did you sleep at all?” He asked her as he poured a cup.

Hermione frowned at the mug he offered her before taking it and holding it close, inhaling the richness of the coffee.

“One sugar isnt it?” He offers a bowl of brown sugar cubes.

“Erm…” Hermione blinks,

“I’m very observant.” Theo smirks as he adds a dash of milk to his coffee and leans back in his chair.

Ignoring the creepiness of that statement Hermione plops one sugar cube in her coffee and pulls out her wand and taps the mug, the coffee swirling for a moment before she brings the rim to her lips and takes a sip. 

“Why did he lie?” Hermione finally asks.

“Who?” Theo acts oblivious until he sees Hermione's hard stare and exhales heavily, “I suppose its complicated. The Auror’s dont exactly treat ex-death eaters as trustworthy sources.” He shrugs and places his mug on one of the coasters that has appeared on the table, “Not that I blame them really.” He glances out of the corner of his eye at Hermione who only blinks, waiting for further explanation. “If Draco tells the Auror’s that his Uncle is approaching him to join forces then do you really think he will believe he declined them?”

“Hes a healer now, he helps people.” Hermione points out.

Theo shakes his head, “The students who joined Voldemort may have been publicly cleared for the part they played in the war, but we were given,” he pauses as he considers how to phrase it, “Restrictions.”

“What kind of restrictions?”

“Well most of us completed our final year of school from home, like an unofficial house arrest I guess. Once we graduated our career options were purposefully limited - low-level ministry jobs, some went on to teach at Durmstrang or Beauxbatons, anything that prevented us having too much power of course.” 

Hermione nodded, it made sense she supposed. “You aren’t a healer though? I mean, not offically?”

“No.” He nodded, “I took up a position in the potions misuse department at the ministry for a while. It didn’t work out.” He gives a mischievous grin and Hermione makes a mental note to find out why Theo left that department, “Then I taught at Durmstrang, then Hogwarts for a while as interim potions master until St Mungo’s snapped me up for their experimental potions position”

“Do you like it?” Hermione asks.

He tilts his head slightly, considering her question, “You know, I think you’re the only person who has ever asked me that,” he mulls the question over for a moment, “I guess I enjoy developing new potions, I always excelled at it during school. And I have friends here.”

“That makes sense.” She agrees, thinking about how her friends were the reason she returned after studying abroad. “And why does he do it?” Hermione asks the question before she can stop herself.

“Draco?”

“Hmm,” she drains the last of her coffee, “He’s hardly the healing kind.” She adds placing her empty mug on the table. 

Theo pauses for a beat, “He’s good at what he does, if he’s hard on you it’s just because he thinks you have potential.”

“Being good at something doesn’t make us well suited for a career in it.” She thinks of Malfoy’s bored expression and cutting words, his grey eyes and cold hands as his fingertips brushed her own on that first night shift, her skin prickles and she shudders slightly.

“Thats true, but most people have options.” He reminds her and she nods.

“I still think he should tell the Auror’s about LeStrange, Im sure they would believe him,” She winces and adds “Eventually.”

“The eventually is another problem.” Theo points out, “Rabastan is dangerous, if he knew Draco handed him over to the ministry then the imperious curse would be like a walk in the park.”

“The ministry would protect him though, I’m sure of it.”

A bark of laughter comes from behind them and both Hermione and Theo spin around to see Draco standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his  chest “Your beloved friends at the Ministry wouldn’t waste their resources.” He cold voice laced with amusement that doesn't translate to the look of disgust on his face, “My death at Rastaban hands would be the definition of two birds, one stone.”

“How?” Hermione rises from the chair and turns to face Malfoy head on, mirroring his stance.

“If I’m killed by my uncle’s hand then the scourge that is the Malfoy name ends with me. Rabastan gets a life sentence at Azkaban, at the very least. The end of two of the wizarding words most nefarious families in one fell swoop.” He takes a step toward Hermione, a sneer spreading across his face, “Tell me, Granger, do you really think the Ministry wouldn’t rejoice?”

Hermione purses her lips as Malfoy stops before her. She raises her eyes slowly, noting the heavy rise and fall of his chest, the taught muscles in his neck as her eyes meet his and she feels that shiver of cold run down her spine as she shakes her head. “If you do nothing then this ends the same, except you both end up in Azkaban.” She points out through gritted teeth.

Theo clears his throat, having leaned back in his chair to watch the stand off, he cuts in. “Fabulous choices Draco. Death or Azkaban? Just like old times.”

Malfoy doesn’t break eye contact with Hermione as he lets out a low chuckle at Theo’s words, “Tell me Granger, what would you choose?” A wolfish grin spreads across his lips and Hermione can’t help but flinch a little, which only draws another chuckle from Malfoy who steps around her now and seats himself in the chair she just vacated.

Hermione takes a shuddering breath as she considers the options, looking for a solution that has yet to be considered she mutters the facts under her breath. “Wizarding laws….Le Strange….Joining them….”

“I think you broke her Draco.” Theo grimaces as he leans forward, his hand outstretched to take Hermione's arm.

“Who said she wasn’t already broken.” Draco mumbles under his breath and Hermione’s spine straightens at his words. She spins quickly, her arm now out of Theo’s reach as she strikes her hand across Malfoy’s cheek. 

His head snaps to the side and she hears an audible inhale from Theo as she pulls her hand to her chest, rubbing her thumb against the sting spreading across her palm. A muscle ticks in Malfoy’s jaw but he doesn't move, doesn't speak, the silence feels deafening as she waits for retaliation.

It doesn’t come. Instead, after seconds of tormenting silence Malfoy stands, his eyes fixed on the wall.

“I will escort you home now Healer Granger, you can return to the library another day to fulfill the deal we made.” His words are like stone, almost inhuman.

Hermione opens her mouth to argue but the words die on her tongue. Draco turns his gaze on her and she wondered if this is what it would feel like to be encased in ice and scorched by fire simultaneously. Clenching her hands together she turns her back to him and makes for the door, the heat from his stare burning a hole in her back as she sends a prayer to Merlin that he can’t tell her legs are trembling. 

Malfoy remains ten paces behind her as they exit the manor onto the gravel drive and Hermione is almost thankful for the noise her shoes make as she steps off the stone steps onto the shingle, the crunch breaking the heavy silence that had encased them as they made their way through the manor and out the front door. There hadn’t even been a witty quip from Theo as they left and Hermione actually missed his misplaced attempts to cut the tension.

The afternoon sun had lifted some of the grey from the grounds now and Hermione let her eyes take in the extent of the manor grounds. Perfectly manicured green lawns, and the odd copse of trees, in the distance she was sure she spotted the glint of dark waters, and she had been right - a small cemetery stood not far from the manor itself, the leaves of the willow swinging gently in a cool breeze and that flash of something silver again.

She didn't realise she had stopped walking to watch until Malfoy strode past her, “You can’t apparate within the manor grounds.” He called over his shoulder. Dragging her eyes from the glimmer within the willow tree she kept walking, picking up her pace to keep up with Malfoy’s long strides.

“I can find my way to the gate you know, you dont have to walk me.” She offered, hoping he would leave her and break the unbearable awkwardness that was making her stomach coil.

“The gate won’t open for you.”

“You mean that unless you let me leave, I am trapped here?” Hermione paused again, an spark of fear igniting in her chest.

Malfoy snorts a laugh, “Having you trapped in my home sounds just as abhorrent to me as it does to you.” He glances over his shoulder at her, white blonde hair fluttering against his forehead in the breeze. She wrinkles her nose at the insult but doesn’t disagree with him and the pair descend back into uncomfortable silence until the Iron gates appear before them and creak open.

Malfoy pauses as he holds the gate open for her and Hermione steps through, turning to watch as he closes it behind her.

“Malfoy, I-“ she stops herself as he clicks the gate closed, grey eyes hard as he waits for her to finish.

“There is another option.” Hermione rushes out, trying to grasp at the threads of the idea she had been concocting in the library, before she had slapped him. She could been imagining it but she thinks his eyebrows raises a fraction, questioning. “I don’t have all the answers but maybe the three of us…”

Malfoy lets out a sigh and pinches the bridge of his nose with his fingertips, “This isn’t Hogwarts Granger and ‘the three of us?’” he sneers at the suggestion “Do you honestly think Nott and me want to be your Golden Trio understudies?” The use of the nickname the wizarding world had given Harry, Ron and her made her squirm. He was right, this wasn’t Hogwarts anymore, but she was still Hermione Granger and she couldn’t, wouldn’t ignore something that could save lives.

“You’re right, this isn’t Hogwarts anymore. We aren’t children anymore and you.” She takes a step forward and pokes her fingers through the gate, jabbing him in the chest “You won’t get off so easy if this goes wrong.” He glances down at where her finger had prodded him and then up at her, eyebrow definitely cocked this time but still silent.

“I will meet you on the ward at six tomorrow morning.” She takes a step backward and pulls out her wand, readying to apparate to whatever welcome she would receive at Grimmauld Place.

“Rounds don’t start till seven Granger.” He finally speaks.

“Good, then we will have at least an hour to discuss our plans.” She doesn’t let him respond as she raises her wand and the world starts to disappear around her, the last thing she sees is the hint of a smile pulling at Malfoy’s lips.