6 months ago

September 20

Draco Malfoy woke up with a start as the grandfather clock struck three. He rubbed his eyes and looked around the room where he had fallen asleep in the couch. The last thing he remembered was replaying Granger's words in his mind. He must had hadfallen asleep after that. He slowly got up from the couch and found that the pain he had felt in his abdomen had gone, though the wound was still visible. He decided that it was better for him that he visits St. Mungo's today and get something for his wound rather than to have Granger barking at him about it again.

Draco wandered out of the living room and searched for the kitchen as he felt his stomach growl. He was glad to find a glass of juice and a bowl of fruits sitting on the table in the middle of the nicely arranged kitchen. Not that it would satisfy his hunger, but at least it's something to fill his belly. He pulled one of the chairs surrounding the table and took a sit. However, Draco had been raised as a Malfoy, to be one with manner and pride. So he hesitated as to whether he should have the fruits and the juice or not. As he pondered, he noticed a piece of paper, a note for him, sitting just beside the bowl. It was from Granger, it read:

Malfoy,

I have to get back to the hospital. These are some fruits and juice for you when you wake up. Do not do anything reckless as your wound has not completely recovered despite the pain had gone.

HG

Draco rolled his eyes as he read the note. Granger was being bossy as ever, but he was happy that she had left something for him. Apparently she hadn't want him to filled his stomach with anything cooked after the potion. Draco reached for an apple and start to nibbling on it. As he took bite after bite slowly, he contemplated the day's events. It wasn't until now that he realised that the bushy haired Healer had the ability to change his mood drastically. Today, for instance, she had managed to spoil his victory mood by shouting exasperatingly at his face for practically nothing. And for the love of Merlin, he had no idea as to why he was feeling guilty right now. She couldn't be mad at him just because of the wound, could she? And even if she was, since when did he care? But truth be told, he did.

May be it was because she had saved his life and healed or may be it was that he did not find her as trying as he used to before, but Draco remembered being initially annoyed and tensed in their last three encounters. However, at the sight of her appearance and their small conversation, he couldn't help but feel slightly amused at the guts of the former Gryffindor whenever she faced him. He had got quite used to people being stiff and fearful around him, so she was truly an odd character in the play. While most people would try to avoid his presence, she would casually come, get on with her business, and leave with the identical manner as she did without having a care in the world at how he would react. She acted as he was just another person in the crowd. And surprisingly, he quite liked that.

Since Draco had gained a reputation as the best Head of the Department , people had started to treat him respectfully, or rather, fearfully. They acted as if he was some really high-handed person who always wanted special attention to be given to him. It wasn't bad, really, and Draco accepted it. Whom was he kidding, he quite enjoyed the treatment.

It had beenflattering at first. What he realised, and damn hated,later were that there was no limit to their arse-kissing and they could take royalty to a whole new annoying dimension. They would speak praises and admiration to his face, but completely different things to his back. He knew it quite well that as soon as he turned his back on them they would be back to their old self, whispering foul names and criticism regarding him. And he didn't mind, as far as they guarded their tongues before him.

Granger was right. Such hypocrites.

He looked at the time and found that it was fifteen minutes past three. He got up from the chair, not caring to put the used glass in the sink. Taking another bite from his half-eaten apple, he moved towards the fireplace and flooed to the Ministry. He was very well aware thatBlaise and the other officials might be worrying about his whereabouts. He didn't want them creating a scene because of a few hours of hisdisappearance so he headed straight to the second level of the Ministry of Magic. As soon as the grill doors opened, his eyebrows rose.

The Department was a bloody zoo. People were screaming, laughing, drinking, shouting and what not. But as soon as he stepped in, everyone fell silent. There was a lot of scuttling as everyone hurried back to their cubicles. After a few seconds, the only sound that echoed were his footsteps as he marched towards his office room, scrutinizing everyone as he went. Instead of turning their heads back to work, they were looking at him with large eyes. Draco was reminded of dogs.

On reaching the office door, he turned back once more to check on his workers only to find that they were still watching him shamelessly. He turned and opened the door hoping to escape them and their weird stares.

"DRACO MALFOY! YOU ARE THE MAN!"

Blaise was looking ecstatic as he hugged Draco tightly and took all the air out of him.

"Err, thank you," replied the out-of-breath blond guy as he rubbed his ear to avoid after-screaming-effects, "but I happen to know that fact since always."

Blaise released him and was about to slap on his back when a glare from his friend stopped him. He brought his hands down and arranged his robes properly instead.

"Congratulations Malfoy," said the smiling She-weasel as she emerged from behind the dark Auror, "you captured them quite well."

Draco nodded brusquely at her remark. Ginny stared at his reaction for a moment longer then shook her head unbelievably at his aloofness.

"Mr. Malfoy," said Kingsley Shacklebolt who apparently also has been in the room, making Draco more confused as to how many else were playing hide-and-seek with him, "Congratulations! What a splendid job!" The Minister shook his hands almostviolentlyas a broad smile was plastered on his face. "I am proud that I had given you the reigns of this Department. You have proven yourself to be an exceptional Auror that our Ministry ever had for years."

At this point, a small smile appeared on Draco's face. The Minister was right, he definitely had proven himself.

"Thank you, Minister," he replied.

The Minister nodded and left the office followed by Ginny who informed both Slytherins that she would be meeting them later to discuss the case.

"So," said Blaise as he clapped his hands together turning towards Draco, "Tell me the whole thing from the beginning."

"Asifyoudon'tknowalready, Blaise." Draco replied in a bored voice as he went towards his chair behind the table and took his seat.

"Yeah, but not from the hero's mouth."

Draco glared at him. Blaise grinned and walked towards the shelf nearby taking two glasses and a bottle of Firewhiskey.

"So, tell me one thing." He said as he poured the Firewhiskey equally in both the glasses. "How did you recognise them?"

Draco took the glass handed out to him and sipped a bit of hisdrink. "They disguised as old and frail men, yet they had no idea where to put their wand."

"What do you mean?" Blaise asked, puzzled, as he sat down on the opposite chair.

"Wizards and witches carry wand in their robes. But when they are sporting Muggle clothes, they tuck it in their pants' pockets or put them in their jacket or coat. But it is mainly the pockets that carry the sticks. Yet for old men, who don't need their wands all the time like the younger generations, carry them in their coat or jacket. But these men carried theirwands in their trouser pockets. Also, these men had stretching marks on the pockets of their trousers which could mean only one thing. They had their wands there for too long. But why would they? That was when I got suspicious. And my suspicions were confirmed when their hearty gale of laughter died down as soon as I reached the door to go out. They were obviously suspecting me. After all, which man would sit in a not-so-famous restaurant from morning nine to noon one?"

"That means they had been watching you." remarked Blaise.

"Or may be watching the restaurant to make sure that the coast was clear." corrected Draco.

"Wow, Mr. Sherlock," said Blaise looking impressed, "you cracked the code once again."

Draco smirked and took another sip from his glass.

"The Aurors also said that initially you were facing four expert wizards alone inside the restaurant," Blaise's face turning serious as he looked at Draco, "which means you either should've been killed or (you) faced painful bruises because of which you should've been probably lying in the hospital right now."

Draco sippedonhisglassagain and remained silent for sometime before replying, "I have been attended by a Healer."

"Let me guess," said Blaise, a playful smirk appearing on his face. "Healer Granger, right?

Instead of replying, Draco quietly drank his firewhiskey, while glaring at his meddlesome friend.

Blaise looked triumphant. "Well good then. At least you got a reason to see her-" Draco's stare turned dangerous and apparently Blaise noticed it because he hurriedly continued and said, "I mean, she got a reason to see you and finished off with whatever she had to tell you."

Draco spewed his drink nearly everywhere.

"What?"

"Merlin, Draco," a disgusted expression crept on the dark haired wizard's face as he wiped his robe where Draco had spewed his drink with a handkerchief, "I meant that she had wanted to tell you something."

"And how do you know?" Draco asked, his firewhiskey forgotten.

"She had arrived here at thirty minutes past noon. She hadsaid that she had to inform you something."

Draco looked at him, frowning, as he tried to remember any significant fact that Granger might have told him that afternoon. He remembered none.

"Are you sure?" He asked once again. "Any doubt?"

Draco said nothing and drank the rest of his firewhiskey quietly. He put the glass on the table and got up.

"Going somewhere?" enquired Blaise.

"Hospital."

Draco tapped at the Enquiries's desk.

The girl looked up from her nails to the handsome blond man standing in front of her. She arranged herself well and asked in the sweetest voice.

"Yes?" She gave him a sweet smile.

"Healer Granger." He said, not at all affected by her charm. She was young and was definitely pretty if not for the two inches thick make-up that she was wearing and the outrageous colours of her nails. But if she was trying to flirt with him, Draco Malfoy did not even give her as much as a second thought.

The girl looked a bit upset by her failure to charm him. She searched in one of the parchment lying on her desk probably searching for the whereabouts of Granger.

"I am sorry," she said turning to him and giving him that annoying saccharinesweet smile again, "but apparently she's busy with a patient. Anything else I can help you with?" she winked at him.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "Something wrong with your right eye?"

The girl looked startled. "No. Why?" she asked a bit surprised.

"You must get it checked. It seemed to be winking on its own." And with that he turned his back at her as the girl stared at his retreating form unbelievably.

"Malfoy?"

Draco found Padma Patil walking towards him. She seemed surprised at his presence.

"Blaise said that Granger had wanted to tell me something. Know where I can get her?" he asked.

At once her expression turned solemn and she had that knowing look in her eyes.

"She's busy right now. But I happen to know what she wanted to inform you. Follow me if you will."

She started walking along the busy corridor with a perplexed Draco in tow. They walked through the hospital corridor and then climbed a flight of stairs at the end of the corridor, heading to the forth floor. They kept waling until they reached (there they walked on until reaching) ward no. 402. Padma stopped just before the door and turned towards him.

"Listen Draco," she said a bit nervously, "I know you might be a bit shocked by what you will see inside but let me make some things clear to you beforehand. The patient had been here for two years and she had been affected by numerous curses. Apparently, she had been with the wrong person who had cursed and used dangerous spells on her. She had also been affected mentally and there was no cure for her. She was meant to die eventually and almost no Healer had wanted to take care of this case. But then, a Healer, Hermione, had decided to take care of her and make her last years comfortable so that she can at least die peacefully. Please understand that she was going to die anyway and no matter how much we may have tried she couldn't have been saved. And also the man who had done this to her had been reportedly found dead at his home. He might have been killed, but there's high chance that he had killed himself. One more thing, the patient had wished that you won't know of her condition and she was adamant. So we kept quiet about it."

"Why are you telling me all this?" Draco asked, getting more curious as to why Patil told him this. Although he had a horrible feeling that whatever it was on the other side of the door couldn't be anything good.

She replied nothing, instead she opened the door and motioned him to enter.

Slowly he entered the ward and looked at the patient lying on the bed. Patil had closed the door from outside and he was quite thankful that he was left alone. He looked towards the bed but couldn't get a proper sight of the patient's face. It was not until he had reached close enough to her bed and seen her face that he realised who it was. He felt as if someone had punched a living daylight out of him.

That was a gross understatement. Draco had never felt so dead in his life. His mouth fell open and his eyes turned total blank. He couldn't help but fall on his knees. The woman lying on the bed in front of him seemed to be the only thing in sight. The rest of his surroundings vanished from his eyes.

Narcissa Malfoy looked like an angel as she lay dead.

Draco watched her as she lay peacefully on thehospital bed.

"Draco."

"Mother, please go away."

"But listen to me, darling,"

"Mother, I said leave me alone."

"Look at me Draco!"

Draco turned to face his tearful mother.

"Draco, your father just lost a War. He is a bit upset about everything. He said (can say) things he didn't mean. But that doesn't mean you should take them seriously-"

"Mother I am going to be an Auror. Don't say that he did not mean to be angry with my decision because I had expected him to be."

"Yes, I know. But don't you think dear that you are doing things a bit too hurriedly?"

"So you are taking his side too."

"No, son, I definitely did not mean that-"

"Mum, LISTEN to me. You and Father never cared about what I truly wanted. You never gave a damn to my wishes. And so now, don't blame me when I don't care about what you think of my decision."

"Draco, please try and understand, I was never against you. You were always my top priority. I had to let you through this because-"

"Mother, Father is leaving. I don't think you should let him go alone"

"But Draco, how can I leave you alone here?"

"Mother, for sixteen years you had had me under your thumb. Please let me taste the freedom that I never experienced all these years."

"But-"

"I want to live. Let me. Don't try and kill me again."

Narcissa Malfoy looked at her son with shock as he looked pleadingly at her eyes. She searched his face for any lies for few moments more as tears rolled non-stop from her eyes. Then quietly she placed a hand in his cheek with a sad smile as if bidding him farewell and left the room quietly without a single word.

Behind every successful man there is a woman.

And Draco Malfoy realised that behind him, there was none.

He had thrown away from his life the only woman who had ever truly loved him.

That was the last that Draco Malfoy ever saw his mother.

And here she was lying peacefully before him today.

Hours seemed to have passed yet there was no movement from both the figures in the cabin. Draco was still trying to absorb the truth. And he realised that he didn't have the strength to.

"Mother. Come back. Please?"

Silence.

"I won't hurt you again, I promise."

But his mother made no movement.

"Your Draco has come back, please Mother!"

Narcissa Malfoy was deaf to her son's cries as he was on his knees trying, wishing to bring back his mother from her eternal sleep.

Draco Malfoy got up from his knees and slowly walked towards his dead mother. He reached her bed and stared down at her for a few moments.

His mother seemed so serene and angelic. He remembered how she would always look at the mirror hundreds time a day, making him frustrated. He remembered how his mother would approach the annoyed little boy and apologised. He remembered how he would not listen to her and refuse to turn towards her. He remembered how his mother would tell him the importance of being lovely. He remembered how he would tell her that she was already very lovely and she need not spend so many hours staring at the mirror rather than playing with him. He remembered how she would laugh with joy and kiss him on his cheeks. He remembered how his mood would lighten down and he would forgive her easily.

Draco Malfoy inwardly scolded his mother for not kissing him the last time when he was angry at her. He might have easily forgiven her like before and she would have never left him. They would have been happy.

Draco stroked his mother's forehead.

"Don't hate me, mother. You know I always loved you. And I always will." He mumbled. He wished her to say something. That is when the words of her in the past hit back at him in his mind.

"You know I will always love you, Draco."

And for the second time in his life, Draco Malfoy cried.

Hermione Granger heard the doorbell ring. She looked up from the book that she was reading. A frown appeared on her delicate features as she stole a glance at her old clock. It was nearly ten thirty. Who could be visiting her at this time of night?

Slowly, she got up from the living room couch and walked towards the door with a wand in her hand.

Cautiously, she opened the door and peeked out outside. Her eyes nearly bulged out of her sockets at the sight.

A disoriented Draco Malfoy was staring at her. His sleek platinum blonde hair was all messed up while his robe seemed to be hanging loosely on him, when only this morning they seemed to look perfect on him. His tie was loosely hanging from his collar and the buttons of his shirt was opened till an extent that one could get the view of his flattened chest. And on top of that his features did nothing to improve the sight as his eyes were red and his face was smudged with some dirt.

They just stood still, staring at each other for few moments before he said, "I just buried her."

She looked at him, her expression totally unreadable. Realisation gripped her hard yet she kept her expression balanced. She opened the door wider to let him get inside. He entered in without giving a second glance at her. She closed the door behind him.

He entered the room and directly went to the couch and took a sit there silently as he stared at nothing but his knees. She looked at him for few more minutes, contemplating of what to say.

"Why didn't you inform me of her sickness?" he asked hoarsely, after a long time, without moving his eyes from his knees.

She continued to stare at him for a moment longer before replying, "She didn't want me to. She felt she could be a hindrance to your career."

Draco closed his eyes at her statement. The silence that reigned in the room made Hermione sigh as she waited for Draco to ask her more.

"What was her-" He was not able to complete his sentence as he felt a lump formed in his throat.

Hermione understood. "Apparently she had been under a deep mental trauma after she left Britain and had faced several curses from her husband in France. Added to that, her health was deteriorating as she was not quite taking care of her diet. According to what she related to me, she had even attempted suicide by taking some random potions from her husband's room. But instead of killing her instantly, those potions affected her brain and she started hallucinating. It was evident that she had only few more years to live. But every passing day turned out to be a nightmare for her. She was barely living yet she was alive. Anyone could pity her at sight."

"How did she end up in St. Mungo's? Here in Britain?" His eyes were still closed and his brows had furrowed giving him wrinkles in his forehead. He brought his hands to his forehead and massaged it hard.

"Harry found her in France."

At that, Draco snapped his head towards her.

"What?" his voice croaked.

Hermione took a seat in the bead bag next to the couch where he was sitting and took a deep breath.

"Remember you sent him there because there was a false alarm that a number of Black Hoods were hiding at that place? He met her in the footpath staring at a bridal dress that was put on display in a branded designer's store. When he approached her, she did not recognise him and started chattering him on about how she badly wanted a similar dress for her daughter. He reminded her with puzzlement that she had a son, not a daughter. It was then that she started screaming and crying and Harry realised that she was not in her right mind. He brought her back here without anyone getting a word about it and admitted her to St. Mungo's."

Draco was still looking at her flabbergasted.

Hermione sighed.

"Look Malfoy," she said slowly, "the sickness made her totally vacuous and she could only express her feelings by showing them with actions. But by the end of her first year in the hospital, she progressed further than we expected and she was able to write if she had to say something then. Although her handwriting was illegitimate, a year of experience with her made it a bit easier for me to make out what she had written. But no matter how many miracles we could have made, she would have never recovered."

"She let you attend to her?" he asked uncertainly.

"Not at first," she said as a small sad smile appeared on her lips.

"She would turn her head away at themerepresenceofmine. But when she was under the periods of hallucinations she would tell me weird stories and talk to me as if I was her old schoolmate. And after a few months of tolerating her cold behaviour towards me, I decided it was a time for change with my approach. I started talking with her and tried to make an emotional bond with her. I said her lots of true sad stories to make her realise that she wasn't the only suffering from unfairness and injustice. And slowly, she opened up. But I know that she started to do so from the time I started mentioning you."

At this point Draco was watching her earnestly as she narrated every little thing that she had told about him.

"She used to have strong reactions at your name. But later when she was almost normal, she started admitting how much she missed you and how much pain she had given to you. She said she understood when you had allowed her to leave the Manor with Lucius. She said she regretted that she had never able to keep you away from Lucius' dark world and she accepted that she was probably not the best mother." Hermione then turned towards Draco and said quietly, "But she wanted you to know that she loved you more than any mother would love their child and she was proud that you got another chance to live and that you made the right decision to survive with the light when you had been under the influence of the Dark for so many years. She was happy that she had a son like you."

By this time, Draco was feeling more dreaded than ever. He brought both his hands and covered his face with them. Hermione was feeling sorrier and sorrier for him. She knew that today should have been the best day in his career and he had once more proved himself against his past and Lucius. But nothing could ruin his day more than the fact that the woman whom he had misunderstood for so long, who had actually truly loved him and wanted the best for him, had left the world without once giving him a chance to express his guilt. And she knew somewhere in his heart he loved her too much to forgive himself for this great error.

"Lucius?" his voice came out more pronounced.

"The defeat in the War got on his brain," Hermione said with a tone of disgust, "According to what his neighbours said, used to drink a lot cursing everyone especially you. And he was certainly bringing his own death. Harry had gone to arrest him when he found his body sprawled on the floor. Muggle Physicians told that he died of stroke."

Draco had slid his hands to the lower part of his face revealing his bloodshot eyes.

"And Potter kept it all as a secret." He said staring straight ahead thoughtfully.

"I told him to." replied Hermione simply.

Draco turned his eyes towards her.

"Well, at first." She said fidgeting a bit. "We did not want it to get on the Prophet or anywhere until we cured her to some extent. But later Narcissa requested that she did not want it to get on the papers as it might affect your career."

Draco took a deep breath. He had not said anything much since he arrived. Hermione could not help adding, "I am sorry, Draco."

Draco said nothing for a moment.

"You don't need to know more than the fact that I always loved her," he said quietly, "and that I was mostly angry with her for not saving me when my life turned out to be a total disaster as a teenager,"

"I understand." said Hermione promptly. "I would have done the same in your place."

"No, you wouldn't have, Granger. You would have definitely analysed the whole thing out before jumping into conclusions."There was a hint of sadness and remorse in his voice.

Hermione had no idea what to say. "I was upset with her death too. As a Healer and a patient we had gotten very close and I would sometimes forget the fact that she was going to die eventually (anyway). In good moments you rarely remind yourself of an impending bad consequence. Because of which, her death came as a huge shock to me this morning."

Draco said nothing but she knew he was absorbing every word of hers.

"Which reminds me," she said taking a deep breath, "I am very sorry for my outburst this morning. It was not how I meant to approach you."

Draco merely nodded and got up. He looked at her.

"I wanted some answers. Since I have them now, there's no point staying any longer."

Hermione nodded and got up herself. She followed him to the door until he stopped just inches away from it and turned back at her.

"Patil told me how difficult this case was and how all Healers had refused to accept it, allbutyou. Thank You for making her comfortable towards the end. I am greatly indebted." He said these words seriously yet she noticeda smallest hint of smile on his lips. A real smile, not a smirk or a sneer, a genuine smile.

Hermione smiled. "Happy that you learnt the magic word called 'Thank you'. And about that indebted thing, please try not to send me anymore elves or any other outrageous gifts."

The corner of his mouth raised slightly higher, making his smile wider.

"I will consider it," he said jokingly, "Although I have another question."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him.

"Why did you accept her case in the first place when you literally never liked her or me?"

Hermione's expression changed. She stared at him for few minutes before giving a sad smile.

"Malfoy, you've tried to save an old school enemy, what's wrong with me trying to save your mother."

"But Potter was-"

"I paid off that debt, Malfoy." she said sadly, "What I owe you the most is that you'vetriedto save a friend of mine two years ago even though you hated him immensely."

Draco stared at her. His expression became understanding as he realised whom she was talking about.

"And I know that if Ronald Weasley hadbeen alive today, he would've owed you too." Hermione said before a tear rolled from her eye.

A/N: I am extremely sorry for my looooong absence but being a schoolgirl, my life is full of distractions few of which are interesting (holidays, partying, girl's Day out!), while others… *Cough*homeworks*cough*projects*cough*assignments* .. well they are just not worth mentioning.. :P

Anyway, hope the chapter was satisfying. Sorry for any mistakes or lame dialogues 'cause I really did not think much of them here.. :/ But yeah, things are tragic for Draco but they'll soon perk up.. For all the Reviews, THANK YOU SO MUCH PEOPLE! I LOVE YOU ALL! Please keep them coming, I would sincerely appreciate each of them.. Plus, I have put this story up in H&V since my account (LonyDHrLover) there looks quite empty. So you all could check it there too.. But I have only put the prologue bit, the others chapters would soon follow up.. Just a back-up seeing that is unpredictable at times.. -_-

Thanks to my lovely beta, whom I might have kept waiting for long seeing that I told her way back that I'd post this.. :/

So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year people!

And of course,

#DRAMIONE FOREVER