In pizza we trust

All she can remember was that she was chatting happily with Harry, Ron and Ginny when her phone rung. It was an unknown number. She excused herself to take the call, there was something about it that told her that she needed to answer it. However, the words she heard next made her bolt out of Harry’s house leaving behind her friends calling for her and apparated as soon as she could.

Now, she’s running through the crowd in muggle London after apparating in a secluded alley near the hospital, ignoring the faint fuzziness in her head. Her heart was pounding in her chest so hard, it hurt. She could feel the sweat dripping down her back and her breathing became shallow.

She just got them back. Right after the war she looked for them and retrieved their memories but their relationship was not mended immediately. She spent more time with them, brunches every weekend and holidays. She did everything to gain their trust back and it slowly built up again. It’s been ten years but it felt new for her. But now, why did have to happen?

She rushed to the hospital and halted right in front of the receptionist. Panting and with her throat dry she gulped.

“E-excuse me,” she said and the receptionist looked up at her with a bored expression. And it took all her remaining strength not to smack that expression off the woman’s face. Her fingers were gathered in a tight fist, biting her skin on the process.

“Yes?” she drawled and Hermione took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly.

“I am here for Mr. and Mrs. Granger,” she said hurriedly.

“Please proceed to the waiting area near operating room number three, down the hall then right,” she said and Hermione barely mumbled her thanks as she ran through the hall and turned right. Her footing slowed as her vision swam and she swayed a little. Behind the double door was her parents. She stayed rooted in the middle of the corridor waiting. And she did not stop her tears from flowing.

“Miss?” someone asked, putting their hands on her shoulders and she jolted, whipping around to see a woman in white. She had kind dark brown eyes, black hair and there was a friendly smile on her face. She let go of her shoulder and clasped her hands in front of her.

“Y-yes?” she said wiping her tears away, sniffing.

“Would you like a drink? Or something to eat?”

She shook her head in response.

“Well, why don’t we sit down?” she suggested and Hermione agreed, finally feeling tired of standing. They sat on the nearest set of chairs.

The time was ticking and she pulled on the skin around her nails, looking over the doors once in a while. Her palms were getting clammier and her heart was still beating wildly inside her chest. The nurse placed her hand over Hermione’s hands that made her looked up at her.

“They’ll be fine. Two of our best surgeons were in and they were the ones taking care of them right now,” the nurse said, she squeezed her hands reassuringly and all she could do was nod at her then looking back at the doors.

The nurse stayed with her, holding her hands supportively while she stayed watching the doors. The time stretched further before they heard sets of footsteps rushing towards their place.

“Hermione!” she heard them call but she did not turn her attention to them.

“Hermione…” Harry called her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

The nurse patted her hands and stood up, “I’ll go ahead now.”

That’s when Hermione removed her attention from the doors, giving the nurse a small smile, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she muttered quietly and left the group.

Harry replaced the nurse beside her while Ron sat on her left while Ginny sat beside Harry. Harry placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in while Ron rubbed her back but she turned to watch the door again.

They stayed like that for few more moments when the door suddenly opened letting a man wearing a blue surgical gown exit. Hermione abruptly stood up and walked fast to the man.

He pulled the mask off and asked, “Are you a relative of the Grangers?”

“Yes, I am their daughter. How are they?”

He nodded, “We were able to successfully close up an open wound on her right upper arm and remove most debris that was stuck on her. Mrs. Granger is already in a stable condition. we will be moving her to the recovery room….”

“How about my father?”

“Dr. Malraux is still working with him; he was impacted severely.”

Hermione shuddered and her knees weakened but Harry caught her shoulders to keep her from falling. She leaned onto him, sobbing.

“Doctor…?” Harry trailed off and the doctor cleared his throat.

“I am sorry for the lack of my manners; I am Dr. Noah Boris.”

“Where will be the recovery room?”

“I wouldn’t know yet but an attending nurse will inform you.”

Harry nodded and Dr. Boris left them. Harry had to half-drag Hermione to sit on the chairs. Ron and Ginny remained standing while Harry stayed with Hermione, rubbing her arm comfortingly.

Her eyes already dried and her breathing was already steady when a different nurse came to tell them the room number of her mother but she did not want to leave just yet. She wanted to wait for her father.

Ron tried to talk to her but she did not want to talk and even when Ginny offered her a cup of tea, she did not drink it nonetheless, she held on to it, warming her cold hands.

It had been an hour after Dr. Boris left but no one had yet to come out from the operating room. She’s getting more anxious by the minute and the tea got colder, the warmth absorbed entirely by her hands.

Hermione already lost track of time as Harry was replaced by Ginny then Ron and then Harry’s back to her side. She decided to look at her wrist watch and it was already ten minutes past midnight. It had been five hours since she got the phone call and rushed to the hospital.

She stood up and started pacing while Ron started falling asleep while Harry and Ginny watched her carefully.

And by the fifth time she paced back to her left, the door opened and revealed a different man, he still had a blue surgical gown and Hermione rushed to him. Harry followed while Ginny woke up Ron before they followed suit.

“How’s my father?”

He removed his mask and they collectively gasped. It was clear with his sharp facial features, the platinum blond hair peaking from his cap and his grey eyes—there was no denying who was the man standing in front of them.

“Malfoy?!” Ron asked a little too loud for the silent corridor but instead of a sneer the man just furrowed his brows in question.

“I am sorry but I am Dr. Dominique Malraux,” he calmly said.

“Who are you trying to fool, Malfoy?! Huh! What are you doing here?!” Ron asked, charging forward, face redder than his hair and Ginny had to grip his right arm to stop him while Harry observed the man called Dr. Malraux stepped back tentatively, almost ready to flee if Ron got to him.

“Will you shut it!?” Ginny hissed but Ron was fuming, nostrils flaring as he looked straight to the man called Dr. Malraux.

“Again, I am Dr. Malraux not Malfoy.”

“Bull—”

“Ron! That’s not important now,” Hermione cried out, facing Ron. Her face as red as a beet and her fists trembling.

“Getting back to the matter at hand…” Dr. Malraux trailed off getting Hermione’s attention back.

When Hermione turned back to him, he continued, “He had experienced severe head trauma and is still unconscious but we were able to remove the debris of glasses that stuck on his body and fix the open fracture he had on his left leg and left arm. As of 12:20 midnight, his vitals are still not stable so we had to monitor him closely therefore, we decided to put him in ICU.”

“Can I see him now?” Hermione asked, her voice cracking.

“You can see him after we transfer him. His attending nurse will be the one to inform you of more information. I will also give her the list of medicines he needed.”

Harry noticed that this man lacked the cold stare that Malfoy always wore and his emotions were more open compared to Malfoy’s. He was starting to question if the man was really not Malfoy.

“…Dr. Boris will be their attending physician moving forward.”

Hermione nodded again, not trusting her voice at all. Dr. Malraux left them after providing the necessary information and when he’s out of earshot, there was silence among them before Ginny broke it.

“Do you think it was really Malfoy? Because he looked the same but how he talked was…different.”

“I don’t know…” Hermione whispered, slumping on the chair. She did not want to dwell too much about this Malfoy look alike. That’s irrelevant for now. She wanted to see both her parents at the same time but she needed to wait again. She sighed rubbing her face with both hands.

“I haven’t seen him for almost ten years since he was tasked to make amends to us,” Harry said still looking back to where the man went.

“It was him there was no mistaking those sharp features, blond hair and grey eyes,” Ron grumbled.

“But we did not even see him flinch when you called him Malfoy,” Harry said, trying to recall the previous conversation.

“Now that I am trying to remember him. I believe The Daily Prophet mentioned that he was busy managing the Malfoy Estate and that was a month ago…” Ginny said and Harry nodded.

“We need to find out what was his motive pretending to be Dr. Malraux,” Ron mumbled, clenching and unclenching his fists. Harry and Ginny agreed but Hermione remained aloof with the topic besides as he had said he was not attending her parents; it’d be Dr. Boris.

__________

Hermione was approved for a leave from her work in the Ministry and during those days, she stayed with her parents. Her mum woke up after twenty hours after her operation but her father remained unconscious. She would walk into his room and her heart would sink further. And, every time she’d walk out of the room her steps were heavy and her eyes stung.

This day was not different—or so, she thought. Hermione visited him after she had breakfast with her mum. She reached for the doorknob and paused to take a deep breath then exhaled shakily. She turned the knob and pushed the door open. The sound of monitors surrounded her and she stopped midway, feeling suffocated. She gripped the door knob tightly making it rattle a bit. He was lying still, his chest rising and falling steadily, he looked comfortable if not for the beeping monitor that went with his beating heart. The back of her eyes pricked and she tried to blink back her tears. Hermione tried to step further in but her feet were stuck in place. Sometimes, she thought she was not doing her best in being there with her father. She should be with him until he wakes up because her mum cannot be there. She should—

Hermione take a sharp breath in, she turned around and the door slammed shut behind her. Her chest constricted and her tears just flowed down from her eyes. She walked through the hall with quick steps, ignoring the looks she was getting and apologizing whenever she bumped someone on the shoulder. But then when she turned sharp to the left, she clashed roughly on a hard chest and stumbled backwards, tripping over her own feet.

A hand shot out that steadied her on her feet, “Whoa there, be careful.”

He let go of her as soon as she was standing straight, she looked up and she stepped backwards instinctively, gasping, “Malfoy…?”

“It’s Malraux actually,” he corrected her softly, scratching the back of his head.

“I—I…”

“It’s fine,” he said dropping his hand from his head and waved it in front of her as if stopping her from completing her sentence. She closed her mouth and took the time to look at him. Hermione already forgot about him because she hadn’t seen him since the operation. He did look so much like Malfoy, hair, eyes and the sharp features of his face but he was a little filled out compared to the Malfoy she had seen before.

“Uhm, here…” he spoke, taking her out of her thoughts. She blinked up at him and he gave her a lopsided smile and the movement of his hand made her look down. He was holding a handkerchief to her.

“I cannot take that.”

“It’s alright.”

She shook her head, “I—I am f…”

“It’s okay not to be fine, you know,” he said taking her hand and putting the handkerchief. He gave her a small smile, “If you need someone else to talk to you can talk to the attending nurse, Dr. Boris or… yeah, me. Only if you want to. Sometimes, talking to someone helped. A lot.”

She nodded, gripping the handkerchief tight, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Hermione did keep it in mind and now, she’s here sitting in a vacant waiting area with Dr. Malraux who already abandon the crisps he bought from the vending machine. He let her talk about how she felt whenever she walked into her father’s room. He just sat there, listening. And she did not know why or what made her confide to him so easily—why she trusted him. But she did.

“…. I feel bad. I-I should be there but I cannot bring myself to walk further inside without…”

“It’s not your fault. It’s difficult to see someone you love suffering and you felt helpless,” he cut her off gently.

She nodded her head, agreeing to him, “But I have to try…”

“Yes, but take your time. Do what you have to do but you have to take your time. Little steps. If you have to stay by the door way then be it until you can manage to stay inside.”

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a shout.

“Dominique!” Dr. Boris called and both Hermione and Dominique whipped their heads in his direction.

“Good day, Miss Granger,” he greeted with a nod as soon as he reached them, then he turned to Dominique.

“If we’re not going now, we will not be able to make it to the café and get those lemon raspberry tartlets that you are so in love with.”

Dominique abruptly stood up and turned to her, “Uh, Miss Granger we have to go.”

Excitement was evident in his eyes and Hermione found herself smiling at him as she nodded, “Sure go ahead.”

“I’ll see you around,” he said and tugged Boris with him.

“Ah, Dr. Malraux, your crisps!” Hermione called for him, picking up the crisps on the chair next to the one he sat earlier.

“It’s yours!” he exclaimed without looking back but Boris looked back and shook his head with a smile.

Watching him walk away, she recalled their conversation. He was very attentive and understanding. His emotions were open for her to read. Malfoy was never like that though they never talked like that, they cannot even last a minute speaking without insulting each other. Is it possible that this was a different person and not Malfoy—he was really Dominique Malraux?

__________

“Why can’t they grant our request to visit Malfoy?” Ron grumbled as soon as they were out of Robards’ office.

“You heard him, we have no probable cause,” Harry said scratching the back of his head.

“Him playing doctor as Dominique Malraux is enough reason to make it a probable cause,” Ron retorted and Harry nodded. He understood his friend’s sentiment but legally they cannot investigate Malfoy. Legally.

“I’ll see if there’s something we can do about this,” Harry mumbled as they headed back to their office but to their surprise, they saw the person they needed to talk to.

“Oi, Malfoy!” Ron called for him and he stopped in the middle of the hallway.

“Weasley,” he drawled and gave him a terse nod and when he noticed the black-haired man with his usual eyeglasses standing just a few steps behind him, he acknowledged him, “Potter.”

“What are you doing here?” Ron asked, stopping right in front of him and standing tall to meet him eye to eye. Malfoy looked bored as he looked back at Ron.

“If you really must know, Weasley, I am here to get clearance for the artefacts that I am about to import. Is that sufficient enough?”

“Was it from muggle London?” Ron asked, tilting his head on the side. Getting full Auror mode.

Malfoy sighed dramatically as he removed a non-existent lint from his robe and drawled, “No. They are not. They are from Scandinavia.”

“Really, where were you—”

“Weasley, I am not here for you to interrogate me. I am trying to be patient with your questions. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go ahead and do my business here which doesn’t involve you interrogating me,” he said before stepping aside to walk past Ron. Almost bumping his shoulder.

Ron grunted but Harry put his hand on his friend’s shoulder, gripping it tight, to stop him from following Malfoy.

“Ron,” he called his friend and when he turned around, Harry shook his head.

He continued, “Let’s go back to the office. We’ll think about this later.”

Ron reluctantly nodded and they headed back to their office but not without Harry checking the time on his wristwatch.

The work day dragged on and when it was time for their lunch they decided to meet up with Ginny in a café near the Ministry. Ginny was already sitting at one of the tables at the back when they entered the café.

“Hey,” Ron greeted Ginny as he slid on the seat in front of her.

“Hey,” she mumbled in reply.

“Hello, love,” Harry said, leaning in to press a kiss on her temple and she smiled widely. And Ron just watched them with an impassive look, over time he already got used to seeing the two being sweet with each other.

“Hello to you too,” she replied and Harry sat beside her.

“Did you already order anything?” Ron asked, interrupting the couple.

“No, not yet…” Ginny said then paused that made both men looked at her, waiting.

“What?” Ron asked impatiently.

“Have you got the approval to interrogate Malfoy?”

“No, we haven’t,” Ron muttered and his jaw clenched.

“But we saw Malfoy today,” Harry interjected and Ginny looked at him curiously.

“I saw Dr. Malraux today too…” Ginny said and that got Ron’s attention.

“What time?” Harry asked and Ginny’s brows furrowed as she recalled the time.

“Around…10:30.”

“10:30…” Harry mused and Ron looked at him, waiting. “We saw Malfoy around that time too.”

“Shite,” Ginny mumbled to herself, “Maybe they are really two different people?”

“That’s bullshite,” Ron grumbled, immediately dismissing the conclusion.

“Maybe, let’s not conclude first,” Harry said and they both agreed.

“How was Hermione, by the way?” Harry asked Ginny and she sighed.

“She’s not fine at all, her mum was already recovering but… her dad is still unconscious…”

“We have to visit her tomorrow,” Harry said and Ron nodded.

“But can we eat now? I am famished,” Ron said, already looking for a server. Harry and Ginny shared a look then just shrug.

While waiting for their food, Ron and Ginny went on talking about Quidditch but Harry cannot bring himself to join their conversation. He was thinking. If Malfoy was able to show up in the Ministry at the same time Ginny saw Dr. Malraux. Did he have an accomplice? Even he had, Polyjuice potion doesn’t work within the Ministry due to the wards. He cannot accept it as a fact that the two men were different.

__________

In the course of three months, Ron and Harry would pop in the hospital at random times to catch a certain blond guy aside from visiting their friend. And each attempt they find him in different situations. Malraux with a half-opened snicker bar in between his teeth while holding two cups of hot tea. Malraux drinking juice from a small tetra pack, unconsciously biting the straw while reading. Malraux eating lemon raspberry tartlets takeaway with Dr. Boris in the cafeteria. Malraux doing rounds. walking around with a mobile on his ear, talking (even Ron cannot believe his eyes). Malraux story-telling with Hermione in the paediatric ward for cancer patients. Malraux even gave Hermione a gift for her birthday (what was it, they don’t know. Will they ask Hermione and risk that she’d know that they spied at Malraux and saw the exchange? No. Almost but no.) And while these happened, one of them would find Malfoy in Diagon Alley, Leaky Cauldron or the Ministry at the same time.

“This is driving me insane. It cannot be different people!” Ron grumbled but Hermione just sighed.

“People can have doppelgangers, you know,” Hermione mumbled nonchalantly. She was getting tired of listening to her friends complain about Malfoy and Malraux or Malfoy/Malraux. It’s not her priority right now, she needs to rearrange her schedule to visit her father and she knew for sure she had a lot of work to catch up on when she got back to work. Besides, if Malfoy was playing as a muggle doctor, she did not care as long as he didn’t cause any harm. And in the duration that she’d been in the hospital with her parents, he didn’t.

“Doppel—what?”

“Doppelgangers, people who looked alike—twins from different parents. Maybe who we are seeing was Malfoy’s doppelganger,” Hermione explained as she folded her mother’s clothes and packing them.

“I don’t know, Mione but I don’t think he’s just a doppelganger,” Harry said, scratching the back of his head.

“If this Malfoy was really Dr. Malraux, the man already apologized to you lot, he was given the appropriate punishment for his actions and it had been ten years. If he chose to live as a different person in our world, don’t you think he deserved at least that kind of choice?” Hermione’s mother cut in as she stepped out of the loo, now wearing a knitted brown jumper, jeans and a pair of black flats. Almost all her wounds were already healed, most of her bruises had faded but her right upper arm was still bandaged. She placed her folded hospital gown on the bed.

“We just find it… odd,” Harry said.

“He was never a fan of the muggle world,” Ron spat, crossing his arms over his chest.

“People are capable of change, dear,” she said gently.

“Maybe but—” Ron’s sentence was cut off with a knock then the door opened and a small boy with thinning black hair and big light green eyes peered in.

“Miss Her-may-ni?” he mumbled, walking in the room dragging his dextrose stand with him.

“Oh. Hi, Cory…” Hermione greeted, meeting the boy halfway and squatting down to his height, “Are you alone?”

He nodded then looked straight into her eyes, “You’re leaving?”

Hermione felt a lump lodge in her throat so she just nodded.

“Oh, no more story time with you?” he asked, pouting and that broke Hermione’s heart. Dr. Malraux once introduced her to the kids and watched him tell them stories and since then she spent her free time story-telling with the kids and they became close to her, especially Cory.

Hermione cleared her throat, “I-I…”

She was not able to continue her sentence because there was another knock on the door and because she did not know what she can say to him. After this, she wouldn’t be able to stay in the hospital longer than the visiting hours.

The door opened and a certain blond man poked his head in, Harry and Ron became alert instinctively but if the blond noticed it, he did not show it.

“Hey, sorry, did you see….,” he stopped when he saw the boy who ignored the knock on the door earlier. “Can I come in?”

“Sure, dear,” Hermione’s mum replied and he walked further in, closing the door behind him carefully.

“Cory?” he called and the kid turned to him, his eyes watery now.

He kneeled in front of him, “Hey, Cory, you’re here to say goodbye?”

“Not really… but maybe now,” he said quietly, his voice quivering. Dominique nodded.

“Alright. Say goodbye now and I’ll bring you back to your room,” Dominique said, rubbing the kid’s left arm. Cory then turned back around to Hermione and he let go of his arm.

“Bye-bye Miss Her-may-ni,” he said and Hermione smiled at him.

“Goodbye too, Cory. I will visit you if I have time, would that be fine?”

“Yes!” he replied with a smile and a sniffle. He closed the distance between the two of them and encircled her small arms around her neck and gently she wrapped her arms around his small body.

“I will miss you,” he whispered.

“I’ll miss you too,” Hermione replied, her eyes stung. Then Cory let go and looked back at Dominique.

“You ready to go?” he asked him and Cory nodded. Hermione let him go then.

“I am tired though,” he said and Dominique stood up then walked to Cory. He bent down and picked him up with one arm then took the dextrose stand with the other hand. Cory instinctively rested his head on the crook of Dominique’s neck. Hermione then stood up, watching them.

He looked straight to Hermione and mouthed a thank you. She nodded in response before he left the room.

“It will be difficult to believe that he is Malfoy,” Hermione said to no one in particular and went back to finish packing her mum’s things.

Before Hermione and her mum left the hospital, they visited her dad. It took two weeks for her to be able to walk further into her dad’s room and even stay beside him. All those times, Dr. Malraux was there if she needed to talk about her attempts each day. Now, she was saying goodbye and promised to visit him as often as possible.

As they exit the hospital, Harry caught Dr. Boris asking Dominique if he’s heading home already and the blond doctor told him that his shift would end by ten in the evening. By then, Harry already formulated a plan.

__________

Hermione was back at work and barely took any breaks to catch up with her workload that she was not able to work during the time she was in muggle London. When the clock struck five in the afternoon, her secretary had to knock on her door so she’d stop working for the day. She started fixing her things and prepared to visit her father before she went home. She made her way to the back of the Leaky Cauldron and as soon as she walked in the Leaky Cauldron, she saw a certain blond sitting with Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott. It was the first time that she saw the trio in Leaky since they rarely went out of public since they finished their eighth year.

“Hermione?” a melodic voice reached her ears and she turned around to be greeted by a smiling Luna Lovegood.

“Luna, hi.”

“Hello, do you want to join us?” she asked and Hermione tried to discreetly look around but she did not recognize any other mutual friends they had.

“I- I cannot, I am visiting my dad.”

“Oh, yes. Of course, next time then. I hope your father will recover very soon.”

“Thanks, Luna.”

“Here,” Luna took her hand and put something on the palm of her hand, “To keep the Nargles away.”

Luna let go of her hand and Hermione saw a butterbeer cork bracelet, “Oh, thanks.”

“You’re welcome! Take care, Hermione.”

“You too,” she replied looking up at the smiling blonde.

Hermione watched Luna walk away from her and her brows furrowed as she realized that Luna was heading to the table Nott, Zabini and Malfoy. She slid on the seat next to Nott who gave her a peck on the top of her head while she waved and greeted Malfoy and Zabini. Zabini smiling at the Ravenclaw was not much of a surprise but Malfoy actually smiling at her and was civil with Luna was the surprise. She filed that information for later and headed out of the Leaky Cauldron.

Once she was out to muggle London, Hermione took a taxi to the hospital. And once she arrived in the hospital, there was quite a commotion and she watched the doctors rushed to the emergency room. She was already near the ICU when she noticed Dr. Malraux running from the other hall zipping past her and in a second, she was able to see his face. His lips were set in a grim line, furrowed brows and focused eyebrows—just like Malfoy.

However, Malfoy was in Leaky Cauldron right this time. If there’s a possibility that they are the same person, how did he make it look like that he was in two different places at the same time? Polyjuice? But it won’t survive the wards in the Ministry. She needed to look into this now.

__________

“This cloak is too small for us already,” Ron complained when Harry accidentally elbowed him.

“No, you just cannot stop moving!” Harry whisper-shout back at him.

They were currently in the hospital watching a certain Dr. Malraux. When Harry shared with Ron what he had in mind, he did not hesitate and agreed to all of it. So, here they were, following the man until he’d finally go home.

“Luna told me earlier that she’s meeting with Nott, Zabini and Malfoy so this is—what—the tenth time that we knew Malfoy was out and about in the Wizarding world while this Malraux is here,” Harry relayed to his friend.

“Well, I still cannot believe that he’s not Malfoy. For all we know, he’s using dark magic to do this.”

“I don’t sense dark magic.”

“There must be something!” Ron grumbled a bit loud and Harry had to swat his shoulder before shushing him.

They’ve witnessed the determined face of Malraux and that cemented Ron’s belief that he was Malfoy—like it was not established yet that they both looked alike—or just one person. When Malraux finished attending the patients brought in the emergency room, he went straight to the nearest vending machine. He inserted a note then pressed the button for his favourite crisps—but then it got stuck and his face fell into a pout. Then out of nowhere (they were just not paying much attention to anything else), Hermione stepped to his side.

“What happened?”

Malraux looked up then returned his gaze to the machine before pointing at his stuck snack, “It’s stuck and I don’t want to kick it like what Noah does.”

“Noah?”

“Dr. Boris…” he replied with a smile.

“Oh yes. Well, we can ask someone from the maintenance to open it…”

“Or maybe I can reach for it,” he cut in and he dropped on his knees. The side of his face and the palm of his right hand were flat on the machine while he leaned sideways, his left hand reaching inside of the machine.

“We could really call the maintenance.”

“N-no, they are working… I don’t want to disturb them just for this…” he said reaching further in, the tips of his finger grazing the edge of the snack.

Harry and Ron quietly watched the interaction, waiting for any sign of magic that he’d cast so the snack would fall.

“Oh, for Merlin’s sake, use magic!” Ron said through gritted teeth while Harry ignored him and just kept watching, he wanted to see if this man would endure not using magic.

Hermione was watching him with an amused look on her face, she covered her mouth as she smiled broadly behind it. When he finally reached the snack and pulled it out of the machine, he got out of balance and fell flat on the floor. He grunted and his free hand automatically found its way on the back of his head. Hermione gasped and kneeled.

“Are you okay?”

“I…am fine…. I am not getting snacks here again.”

“You always say that,” Hermione commented and he chuckled.

“Dominique, what on earth are you doing on the floor?” a different female voice echoed and they all snapped their head in the direction of the voice (Ron and Harry included).

“Good evening, mum,” Dominique said, lifting himself while Hermione stood up.

“Good evening,” she said and tilted her head to the side so she’ll be able to look at Hermione.

“Oh, this is Miss Hermione Granger,” he stepped aside, gesturing at her as he introduced her.

“Hello, Miss Granger, I am Mrs. Adélie Malraux,” she said extending her hand and Hermione took it. Mrs. Malraux shook her hand delicately. She has long brown hair, light brown skin, a slender body and delicate fingers.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Malraux.”

“Please, call me Adie and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh sure, please call me Hermione then,” she replied and they let go of each other’s hands then Adie turned to Dominique with an arched brow.

“I was on the floor because I fell on my back after getting this,” he explained, waving the pack of crisps.

She sighed with a single shake of her head, “Fine. Anyway, I am here to tell you that we had to move our dinner since your father was stuck in Japan. He won’t be here until tomorrow.”

“What happened?”

“Business happened, they wanted to talk more.”

“Oh. Alright, but you could have just messaged me or call me.”

“Well, I was already out shopping with the twins when he called,” she explained and Dominique nodded in understanding. Hermione cannot help herself from observing the two much like what her two friends were doing.

“The twins? Where are they now?”

“Knocked out. Trisha is with them in the car.”

“Oh, I’ll visit this weekend if I can. I miss my brother and sister,” he said and Adie nodded.

Brother and sister? As far as they knew Malfoy was an only child, they filed that information away for later.

“Anyhow, I’ll go now. Take care, dear,” she said with a smile and Dominique kissed her cheek.

“And Hermione, it would be nice to have dinner with you anytime soon,” she said with a glint in her eyes. Hermione cannot pinpoint what it was really when Malraux put his hands on Adie’s shoulders and turned her gently.

“Alright, Mum. Too much, go home. Bye, take care.”

She just chuckled and waved goodbye to her son and Hermione before walking away.

“I am sorry about that,” he said, turning to Hermione and she noticed the pink blush on his cheeks.

“Oh, it’s fine…. I guess,” she said with a small smile while he partly bit his lip and nodded.

“I-I…”

He was cut off with the tannoy calling his attention, he sighed and took her hand and placed the snack on her hand, “Here.”

She looked at him, confused. The tannoy repeated their call for him and he shrugged at her, “I cannot eat it now. Enjoy though.”

He smiled before he turned and sprinted through the hall almost bumping Ron and Harry. Hermione’s mouth opened and closed, she cannot think of anything to say. Then, she scoffed to herself and her lips tugged up in a smile.

Ron was momentarily planted in his place as he watched Hermione smile before Harry yanked him into motion and they followed the man again.

They were hungry and tired, following Dr. Malraux around until his end of shift, which they did not expect to be midnight. He was more exhausted than both of them combined. They watched him move from one operating room to another then to the emergency room again like the man never stopped moving and if he did, he just drank water. They hadn’t seen him eat anything yet.

Harry and Ron managed to get inside his car when Dr. Boris came and chatted with Dr. Malraux. While driving they observed everything inside if there were any signs of magical items or if his appearance would change but they had arrived at his residence without any of those. They noticed that he lived in a townhouse within a subdivision but there was not feeling of any wards within the area of the house. Right after he parked the car, they subtly moved out of the car while Dr. Malraux walked towards the door. They hastily followed him in his house.

Instead of the dark, foreboding and cold place that they had expected, they were welcomed with a warm, well-lit and homy feeling when Dr. Malraux flipped the switch to the lights. He prepared his late dinner just like a muggle should, he ate dinner in his living room with a television on—and seemed to know how to use muggle contraptions. Right after he ate, he washed his dishes just like Hermione and Harry did—the muggle way. They were about to follow him again and when he started to strip his scrubs, Harry told Ron that Malfoy had scars from the Sectumsempra that he cast to him back in the sixth year but when he entered the shower before he pulled off his undershirt. They looked at each other and shook their heads then apparated out of the house easily.

__________

Hermione found herself talking with Dominique every time she visited her father in the ICU. He was recovering, there were few minimal movements of his fingers that Dominique and Dr. Boris assured her were good signs that he’ll wake up soon.

Then, one day, Dr. Boris decided to not join Dominique in the café they frequented, instead, he insisted that Hermione can take his place before practically sprinting away from the two of them. He left them standing awkwardly side by side.

“Twat,” Dominique whispered, glaring at the back of his friend. However, Hermione heard him and she watched how he glared at the man. It reminded her of Malfoy. What if he was really Malfoy? What if not? What is it for her?

He sighed, scratching his temple and put his hand down before turning to her and she composed herself quickly, not wanting to be caught watching, “If you’re not comfortable, you don’t have to go with me.”

“It’s fine, I am quite intrigued with this café since I saw you so excited about their lemon raspberry tartlets.”

“I just hope they still have some, they sold out pretty fast.”

“I hope so.”

“Let’s go then,” he said and she nodded, they walked side by side as they exit the hospital. He shrugged off his white coat and slung it over his left arm. Hermione enjoyed the air and the noise of the bustling street that contrasted from the hospitals surrounding.

Their walk towards the café was quiet but not awkward—it felt strangely comfortable for Hermione. Dominque stopped in a quaint café that was decorated with different potted flowers and when she looked up, she saw the name of the café, Busy Bean Café. There were only a few people inside and then Dominique smiled.

“They still have the tartlets,” he said then he opened the door for her and she smiled as she walked in before him.

“Good evening, Dr. Malraux!” a young man greeted with a wide smile as soon as Dominque walked in.

“Good evening, Jay. You know why I am here but please double it, I have company,” he said and that was the time Jay noticed Hermione and if it is physically possible his smile widened further.

“Sure, Dr. Malraux, black coffee for you and for the lady?”

“A flat white, please.”

“Sure! We’ll serve it to your table but here are your tartlets,” he said bending down to get tartlets on two small plates.

Hermione was already pulling out her wallet to pay for her order when Dominique beat her to it.

“Oh, I can pay for my order…”

“My treat, Miss Granger. Let’s say a thank you for accompanying me.”

“Here are your tartlets, Dr. Malraux,” Jay said handing Dominique plates of tartlets.

“Thanks, Jay,” he replied, taking the two plates.

He led them to the table at the back near the windows. Dominique set the plates on the table and pulled the chair for her. She thanked him before sitting and he sat across her. She looked down at the lemon raspberry tartlets in front of her and she cannot help but admire how it looks, the top of the tartlets was covered with delectable raspberries. She took one in her hand and split it into two, the crust crumbled a little then she set down the other half and took a bite of the other half. She moaned quietly as the clash of sweetness and sour taste hit her mouth.

“It’s good, isn’t it?” Dominique asked and she looked up at him.

He was smiling genuinely and she nodded, unable to speak yet. He started to eat his share of the tartlets and she watched as he smiled fondly as he chewed. If he was Malfoy, this would be an extraordinary scene before her. He was smiling genuinely and she had never seen him smile that way since the end of the war.

“Your drinks,” Jay came to their table and served their drink, halting their current discussion about how his brother and sister made a ruckus during one of their family trips.

“Thanks, Jay,” he said and Jay smiled at him then nodded before leaving.

“So where were we?”

“You were telling me about the prank Cyrille and Corinne did,” she reminded him and he smiled again.

“Ah yes, they hid in the attic and no one knew how they were able to get up there. We looked for them for nearly twenty-four hours! My dad was getting annoyed while my mum was getting exhausted and worried sick!”

“And, how did you find them?” she asked and she saw him double-take, his eyes widened then he averted his eyes from her then shook his head before looking back at her then smiled at her again as nothing happened.

“I brought out their favourite dessert and it turned out that they ran out of food so when I went around shouting about their favourite, they decided to go out,” he said and took a long sip of his coffee.

Hermione smiled at him pretending that she did not notice how he acted earlier. There must be something, an almost slip up?

“What was their favourite dessert?”

“Oh, chocolate mousse brownies,” he said and Hermione’s inner dentist cringed.

He laughed, it seemed that she physically cringed, “Don’t worry, mum made sure their intake of that dessert won’t rot their teeth.”

“Thank goodness for that,” she said. Dominique chuckled and she cannot help but chuckle too.

They stayed for a while in the café until they finished their drinks. Dominique stayed with her as she waited for a taxi and at that time, she learned that he might go home not later than midnight again since he had to take care of two more operations. When they were able to flag down a taxi, Dominique opened the car door for her in instinct and Hermione thanked him as she slid in the taxi.

“Take care, Miss Granger.”

“You too,” she said and he smiled before closing the door. The taxi drove off and Hermione was unaware of how the man stood on the spot and watched the taxi leave until it was engulfed in the traffic before he walked back to the hospital.

__________

Hermione was busily re-arranging her files and signing necessary papers when a knock disturbed her. She looked up and a smiling Luna walked in, looking around. She was wearing a cotton blue shirt under a knitted bubble gum coloured cardigan paired with a floral knee-length accordion style skirt, thick rainbow-coloured tights and green peep-toe heeled shoes. But of course, she did not miss her radish earrings and her dark green and blue beaded bracelet.

“Hello, Luna,” she said and Luna’s blue eyes found her then.

“Hi, Hermione. Are you free for lunch?” she asked with a smile and she looked down at her paperwork. Maybe she did need a break.

She looked back up at Luna, “I guess, I need an early lunch.”

Luna clapped and turned halfway, “She agreed!”

Hermione’s brows furrowed in confusion as she waited for whoever was outside her office to pop in.

A man with dark brown tousled hair and light green eyes walked in smiling and wearing a knitted bubble gum coloured jumper that paired Luna’s cardigan with black jeans and dragonhide boots but what caught her attention aside from their matching tops was the bracelet he was wearing—a dark green and blue beaded bracelet.

“Hi, Granger. Thanks for accepting our invitation for lunch.”

“Our invitation?”

“Well, Luna and I is a pair so if she asked you that means it’s Luna and I asked you,” he said with a grin as he put his arm around Luna’s middle from behind.

“I-I…”

“Nope, you’re not backing down now, Granger. You already agreed besides Blaise and a certain impatient friend of ours are also waiting…”

Hermione’s eyes widened when she realized that the certain impatient friend of theirs could mean Malfoy. She cannot think of a way to get out of this now.

“C’mon Granger, don’t think about it too much. We’ll make sure he will not harm you, let’s go now,” Nott urged.

“If something happens to me Nott, I swear to Merlin, I’ll kill you,” she grumbled as she arranged her papers with a quick flick of her wand but the pair just looked at each other before smiling at her.

The pair led her to a newly opened restaurant in Diagon Alley named The Italian Pantry. When they walked in, Hermione felt that she was underdressed with her Ministry robes but looking at Luna, she looked unbothered by how elegant the restaurant looks and then she remembered Theo was matching her as well. The restaurant had warm tones of brown and cream, decorated with expressive paintings and accentuated with indoor plants. The maître d’ was an elderly man who smiled warmly at them.

“We’re here for a reservation. Theodore Nott,” he said and the man nodded.

“Two of your company are already inside sir, let me call your server to lead you to your room,” he said and tapped the small call bell.

Instantly, a woman with pony-tailed hair appeared in front of them smiling and wearing a white button-down shirt and black trousers paired with black flats. She led them through a hall of many doors, Hermione cannot help but watch her surroundings once more, anxious if people were looking but it seemed that everyone was minding their own business, no one even arched a brow at how the pair in front of her was dressed.

The woman stopped on the second to the last door on the right and knocked before opening the door. Luna and Theo walked in first.

“You two are late!” A woman exclaimed and despite not seeing this woman for so long, she recognised her so well. Pansy Parkinson.

“Sorry, we fetched someone from the Ministry,” Nott said as he guided Luna to their table and when they saw Hermione, Parkinson gasped.

“Granger, so kind of you to grace us of your presence,” Zabini said, standing up.

“Let’s say I was tricked into saying yes,” Hermione said and after Theo pulled a chair for Luna and let her sit, he pulled a chair for her too. She mumbled a thank you before sitting then Zabini sat back down (a pureblood etiquette for sure). Parkinson and Zabini sat together while Hermione sat on Luna’s left while Nott sat on Luna’s right. Then, there was a vacant seat right in front of her and she just knew who would be sitting there. Strangely, she felt anxious knowing so.

“It’s hardly like that, Hermione,” Luna said smilingly.

“Well, you invited me for lunch and I thought it was just you and me.”

“You did not ask, though,” Luna replied with a shrug and the rest of the group chuckled. Hermione’s face reddened then and she picked up the menu to cover her face.

“Ah, you are a fine Ravenclaw with a streak of Slytherin,” Parkinson said, flipping her, now longer, hair over her shoulder.

“That’s partly my doing,” Nott said smugly.

“Yes, love, it is,” Luna commented and Nott grinned as he looked down at Luna who was already reading the menu.

“Where’s Draco? He’s late,” Parkinson said as she looked down at her wristwatch.

“He’s been busy since you know, he might show up later than usual or just send you a message,” Luna said as she perused the menu. You know? What was Luna talking about? Does she know something that they did not know?

“Right, like he usually does,” Zabini said with a knowing look then turned to Hermione, “Granger, pray tell, why are Potter and Weasley keep close eyes on Draco?”

“I am not sure why Zabini. Is there something to worry about?” she asked and Zabini smiled.

“Nothing really but it irritates me because I see either Potter or Weasley every time Draco and I were out drinking. Draco may have grown patience and tolerance but not me.”

“Zabini…” Luna called his attention with a warning tone and to Hermione’s surprise, Zabini looked at Luna then sat back with a smirk.

“If Potter and Weasley have issues with Draco, they don’t need to spy around him, they just need to ask,” Nott said and Hermione caught his meaningful gaze then he smiled.

Hermione was about to speak when a knock interrupted her, the woman earlier opened the door and there, in his all-back attire, was Draco Malfoy. His eyes landed on Hermione and he stood frozen for a heartbeat before he managed to school his composure. His eyes were cold and face expressionless. He cannot be Malraux, can he? Hermione then realized that he did not expect her to be here—it was all his friends’ plan, Luna included.

“Hello, Draco. Come, we’re about to order,” Luna said with a friendly smile.

“Hi, Lulu. You could’ve just ordered while waiting,” he said with a smile at Luna, as he made his way to the vacant seat beside Parkinson. Lulu, when did he start calling Luna that? How long has Luna been hanging out with these Slytherins again?

“Nah, Luna and I were late and I don’t know why these two,” Nott said pointing at Parkinson and Zabini, “haven’t ordered anything yet.”

“Granger,” he drawled with a curt nod before he sat on the chair next to Parkinson. He looked at her with his stoic expression.

“Malfoy,” she replied then he picked up the menu and avoided her eyes.

“We would like to order when you lot are already here. I believe that is what we call social etiquette,” Zabini retorted and Nott just snorted. Parkinson then turned to Malfoy.

“How’s work?”

“Busy, Pansy. Why’d you ask?”

“Because you’re late…”

“I believed that I have established before that most of the time I will be late,” Draco said lifting his narrowed eyes at Parkinson.

“Alright, let’s call our server,” Nott interrupted and he snapped his fingers.

The woman appeared again and they gave their orders to her. When she left, Zabini and Nott started talking about their Apothecary business expansion that occasionally Malfoy comments with while Luna and Parkinson spoke about Luna’s discovery of new creatures while Parkinson tried to insert fashion ideas for her new line. They even tried to include Hermione who got stuck with one-word replies while she subtly watched Malfoy. He looked uneasy and strangely looking down his lap under the table once in a while.

Then, he finally caught her gaze and he gave her a bored look, “Stop looking, Granger. I know I look good but stop.”

Hermione’s eyes widened but quickly her brows furrowed, “I-I wasn’t looking!” she spluttered, feeling the heat crept from her neck up to her jaw.

“You are and you know it so stop,” he drawled.

“Don’t be full of yourself, it’s not always about you.”

“Sure, whatever you believe but really, you don’t have to deny anything.”

“I was not looking!”

He nodded, “Fine.”

Hermione caught Zabini listening and she avoided looking at him, instead tried to join more in Luna’s conversation with Parkinson.

The conversation mellowed down when the food was served however, as much as she wanted to stop, her curiosity got the better of her and as subtle as she can manage, she watched Malfoy looked down now and then through her peripheral. Hermione’s curiosity was beginning to get worse. She waited until their lunch was over, she can just come up with an excuse if anyone would ask why she was late coming back from her lunch. She needed to know what was he anxious about because something’s telling her that it answers the niggling question in her mind that she had pushed back long ago.

“See you this Friday?” Zabini asked Malfoy but Malfoy shook his head.

“We need to move it on Saturday.”

“That’s better, I can join you!” Nott chimed in.

“Luna, we should extend our girls’ night out to Saturday then,” Parkinson said then looked at Hermione, “You should join us, Granger.”

“Oh, I’ll think about it.”

“It will be fun Hermione; you can bring Ginny.”

“I am not sure about that Lulu,” Parkinson butted in but Luna smiled at her.

“You’ll be fine, Pansy,” Luna reassured, “I am sure Ginny and you will get along. Not immediately but eventually.”

“Alright, Friday to Saturday then, in my flat.”

“Wait, what are you saying extending girls’ night out?! You cannot get Luna away from me for an extended time!” Nott cut in and Parkinson looked turned to him with a raised perfectly shaped brow and her arms crossed over her chest.

“I can, Theo. Besides, you’re going with Draco and Blaise on Saturday so it means she’s free on Saturday too.”

“B-But… No, just no!”

“Hermione?” Luna called her and she turned away from the arguing Parkinson and Nott.

“Yes?”

“You’re attracting too many Nargles,” she said waving her hand around Hermione’s head.

“Oh, uhm. I…”

“If you have the answer to your question, what will you do then, Hermione?” she cut in and Hermione’s mouth hung open for a moment.

Luna closed her mouth gently and smiled, “I see, you haven’t figured it out yet. That’s fine. You will, soon.”

“Luna, what….”

Luna turned, sensing that Parkinson pulled out her wand and Nott too, leaving Hermione with her question unasked.

“Love, one day won’t hurt, don’t you think? If you’ll keep that temper, you’ll attract Wrackspurt…” she said, placing a hand on Nott’s forearm and his irritation slowly deflated.

“Fine. If you say so, Love…” Nott conceded, smiling at Luna then glared at Parkinson who was grinning.

“We should take Hermione back to the Ministry,” Luna said.

“Right. Let’s go, Granger,” Nott agreed and Hermione nodded but as she snuck a look where Malfoy was, she saw Malfoy walking away and pocketed something that quite looked familiar to her.

“Where’s Draco going, Blaise?” Parkinson asked, seeing that the blond was now walking away without saying goodbyes.

“Emergency. You’re all busy that he did not want to interrupt,” Zabini said with a shrug.

“Of course, he did that,” Parkinson said with a fleeting look at Hermione that quite confused her.

“Let’s go now, Hermione. You’ll be late,” Luna said.

“Uh, no…uhm, I need to drop by Flourish and Blotts… I reserved a book for pick up,” she lied, wishing that Malfoy haven’t apparated yet.

“She’ll be fine being late from lunch, she may have finished her work already,” Zabini commented. Nott and Luna looked at her expectantly.

“Y-yes, I am almost done for the day when you came in…” she said with a smile.

“Alright, if you say so. We’ll go ahead, Granger,” Nott said and Hermione nodded.

“Bye, Granger,” Parkinson said looping her arms with Zabini’s.

“See you around… soon,” he said with a wink and they walked away opposite to where Malfoy went.

As soon as they turned to the alley, she turned around and followed the path where Malfoy went. She almost sprinted. When she reached the point where Malfoy should have turned to apparate, no one was there. She put her hand on the wall and bent down, catching for her breath.

Shit. He’s already gone.

“So, you are also keeping an eye on me. What does the Golden Trio need from me?” a drawl came from in front of her. She lifted her gaze and saw Malfoy standing there, with arms crossed over his chest. He was not there earlier—of course, disillusionment charm.

She straightened up, jutted her chin and said, “I wasn’t watching you. I won’t deny about Harry and Ron, though.”

“If you’re not watching me then, why are you here?”

“What are you hiding, Malfoy?” she countered, completely ignoring his question.

“I am not hiding anything and if I am hiding anything, don’t you think the Ministry will allow me to walk around?”

Her eyes squinted at him and she internally growled, “Don’t play games with me Malfoy.”

“I am not. Now, if you don’t have anything else for me. I’ll go ahead,” he said dismissively.

Without thinking, Hermione ran to him and latched on his robes before he can disapparate. They re-appeared in a small room and it seemed to be all white but Hermione cannot discern anything. Her head was spinning and she collapsed forward, a pair of hands held her up and she heard a string of profanities but her nose was filled with a familiar expensive cologne. She felt two strong arms across her upper back and at the back of her knees then after floating for a few moments, she felt a cushion beneath her. She now felt her lunch rising and she leaned sideways to throw up.

“Damn it, Granger. You’re supposed to be smart but you do stupid things,” Malfoy mumbled but Hermione just grunted. Her head felt like splitting into two. She heard drawers closing and opening then bottles clinking with each other. Then, she heard footsteps rapidly approaching then a hand supported her head as he lifted her head.

“Drink this,” he said as he tipped a bottle or a vial into her mouth. It was quite bitter but it easily warmed up her body and her headache gradually ease up, her nausea vanishing and her energy returning. It was a potion. Then, she felt something soft, wiping across her mouth and chin before he let her head rest back down.

She carefully sat up and found a glaring Malfoy standing in front of her.

“What were you thinking?!” he asked then he put a hand up and shook his head, “No, you were not thinking at all! You could’ve splinched yourself, Granger!”

“I-I…”

“Don’t explain yourself. Apparate to the Ministry once you can. I have to work,” he said, turning around and closing the curtains around her.

Hermione was about to just leave him when she recognized her surroundings. Sterile white room, overwhelming disinfectant scent and the medically compatible bed. She’s in the hospital. She swung the curtain open and instead of seeing an all-black clothed Malfoy, she saw his naked back flexing as he wore his grey long sleeve undershirt. And she cannot help but notice how his scrub trousers hung dangerously low. His dragonhide boots were now slip-on trainers. Her mouth went dry for a second.

“Can you stop watching? It’s getting creepier. If you’re feeling fine, why don’t you go back to your Ministry work?” he said as he tucked in his undershirt, without turning around.

She snapped and walked around him, standing in front of him with her hands on her hips and subtly, she noticed him pull and tie the strings in his scrub trousers, “First things first, answer me, you said that you are not hiding anything then why are you hiding here in muggle London as Dr. Dominique Malraux? Second, how did you make it possible to look like you are in Muggle London while in Wizarding London at the same time?”

“Can you tone it down, Granger? Stop using the word muggle and wizarding,” he said, his voice low as his eyes fleet to the door and her.

“Why?”

“Why? And you’re supposed to be smart?” he spat and groaning in frustration then continued in a low tone through gritted teeth, “Because except for apparating, I don’t use magic here thus this room is not silenced. You’re just lucky most of the time people here are busy to notice.”

He put on his scrub shirt, messing with his hair that he had no right to look good with but Hermione, mentally shook her head. She cannot be distracted.

“Don’t you dare insult my intelligence. Now, answer me.”

“I have no time for this, Granger. Besides, I don’t owe you any explanation. I do my work in here, I do my work in there, abiding by the law. End of conversation,” he said with a clipped tone.

“But why did you deny being a Malfoy, when Ron called you out?”

He sighed, his breath that was supposed to smell like his lunch, actually smelled like mint, fanned her face, “Tell me, Granger, if you’re here in London and people only knew you as Jane and someone called you Hermione, will you deny it or not?”

“I-I will deny it but I will explain it to them after….”

“Well, news flash, Granger, I don’t need to explain anything to the Golden Trio,” he cut in.

“Okay, fine, you don’t have to explain to us. Whatever. Now, the second question,” she said, tapping her foot on the floor. He finger-combed his hair and walked around her to get his white coat.

“I am not here to do a question and answer with you, Granger. If you want to interrogate me, send me a formal request through the Ministry. I request for you to leave this room now,” he said, as he put on his coat.

Before Hermione can answer back, he was out of the room. She grunted in annoyance. As much as she wanted to go after him, this was not the right place to interrogate him. He was right, a formal interrogation request can be set up. Contented with her concluded action, she concentrated to apparate back but was distracted by the picture frames on the table near her. She then looked around this time, this was supposed to be his office. Like any other office in the hospital, most of it was white except for the mahogany table, black chairs and two potted plants but what was taking her attention were the picture frames.

Surrendering to her curiosity, she walked around the table and went still. Beside his computer, there was a picture of Lucius Malfoy, with shorter hair, on his wedding day with the woman she met that Malfoy called mum, Adélie. Another picture showed a family picture of Lucius, Adie, Draco and the twins, beside it was a picture of Draco and the twins only and then lastly, an old picture of him, Lucius and Narcissa. Stepping back from the table, she concentrated on apparating back to the Ministry.

__________

There were a number of things that Hermione learned when she got back to the Ministry. One, Harry and Ron went as far as following Malfoy to his house in muggle London and they heard an earful from her about privacy.

Two, Draco Lucius Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy were officially acknowledged by the Ministry to live as muggles in London under the names of Dominque Lucien Malraux and Lucien Malraux while they were there as part of their muggle living integration. They were permitted to continue to carry these identities under the supervision of the Ministry.

Three, an interrogation request cannot be permitted if the only reason was suspicion without evidence just like how Harry and Ron’s requests were denied before.

Four, since their last conversation, Malfoy or Malraux was doing a perfect job to avoid her. He stopped getting his favourite snack from the vending machine near the ICU, he would detour if she’s coming his way, and he even cut his conversation with Dr. Boris short when she’s around.

On the other hand, here she was distracted even at work. Hermione had been reading the same line twice from a report that was sent to her earlier that day because when she was supposed to be working her eyes would find a special pen lying on its box then a certain blond would pop into her mind. Her mind will be filled with the recollection of times when they used to talk when he comforted her… when he smiled seeing lemon raspberry tartlets, the way he laughed at Dr. Boris’ jokes or when he acted on some parts of the stories that he was telling to the kids…

Hermione grunted in frustration and lobbed the report down as she cradled her head with her hands.

“Is it bad timing?” Ginny’s voice floated in her office. She lifted her head and her face was now behind her eyes. She peeked through the gaps of her fingers. She let her hands slipped down from her face and placed them on the table.

Hermione smiled, “It’s not, Gin. Come in and have a seat, I could use a break.”

Ginny smiled and closed the door behind her. She then made her way to the chair in front of her desk.

“How are you?”

“I am fine. Mum’s already at home and she was advised to get rest still while Dad… Dad’s still unconscious but his vitals are getting better.”

“But why do I sense that you have an entirely different conundrum when I came here?”

Hermione looked at Ginny straight in the eyes far too long that Ginny’s eyebrow inched up questioningly. She was still having a staring contest with Ginny when she started nibbling her lower lip. Can she really say it to Ginny? Well, it wasn’t a secret—not really, it was in the Ministry records and was accessible. Accessible but was not public knowledge. How much can she tell? What is she supposed to say? Oh, Ginny, Dr. Malraux is Malfoy… and guess what, I miss him since he’d been avoiding when I learned about the truth… I was thinking about him when you walked in. I cannot even work!

“What is it, Hermione?!” Ginny snapped and Hermione snapped from her thoughts. She let her lower lip go and stood up. With a flick of her wand the room was silenced and was secured with privacy wards.

Ginny was flummoxed as she watched Hermione cast those spells and walked around her desk to sit on the other chair in front of her desk so she’d be closer with Ginny. Hermione grabbed both Ginny’s hands and the other witch was still looking confused at her.

“You need to promise me that you won’t tell anyone about this…” Ginny’s mouth opened but Hermione added quickly, “even Harry or Ron.”

“What’s going on? Can you please tell me already?”

“Promise me first!” she said, squeezing her hands too hard but Ginny hardly flinched; she just rolled her eyes.

“Fine. I promise…” Ginny finally said but Hermione remained quiet. She groaned, “What? Do we need to do an Unbreakable Vow? Seriously? I am your best friend. Don’t you trust me en—”

“Dr. Malraux is Malfoy,” Hermione cut in and Ginny’s mouth remained open but her eyes blinked too many times.

She shut her mouth and cleared her throat before laughing, “Are you joking? I know Ron was overreacting and Harry was getting dragged with this but…”

Ginny trailed off when she noticed that Hermione was not smiling, her mouth hung agape for a moment then her brows furrowed, “Are you sure, Hermione?”

“Yes, I am sure.”

“H-how? Every time we see him in muggle London, he was here too.”

“I know. I-I haven’t figured out that one yet but Malfoy is Malraux. Harry and Ron…or even I cannot request him for a formal interrogation about this because…”

“Because?”

“Because the Ministry knew about this… this was part of their muggle living integration during the first years after the war. The Ministry agreed that they continue carrying these identities.”

“Why would they agree?”

“I am not sure but based on what I read they had good standings during their time in the program. Well, as we can see Malfoy took up medicine and became a doctor there. Probably those are the reasons.”

“Okay. Uhm…” Ginny paused then tilted her head a little, “Wait, how does this have something to do with…” She paused again, then this time she took hold of Hermione’s hands, “Tell me what happened.”

Hermione inhaled deeply and exhaled quickly, “We kind of had a confrontation when I… I intentionally grab him so I can apparate with him and that’s how I initially knew about the truth…”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No… On the contrary, he gave me a potion that helped me get over my sickness after apparating. Good thing, I was able to bring my entire body when we apparated.”

“Oh, my Merlin, Hermione… what were you thinking?”

Hermione laughed but slowly it died down then she became sombre, “He asked that too…”

“Hermione?” Ginny asked then Hermione grabbed her hands from hers and covered her face with them.

“Oh Gin, h-he was successfully avoiding me ever since that confrontation a-and here I am… supposed to be working but I-I cannot stop thinking about him…. What’s happening to me?!” she mumbled behind her hands.

“Well, based on what you told me, he had been around whenever you needed someone to talk to in the hospital. You clearly miss him.”

“I think so…. No, I do.”

She paused, dropping her hands on her lap and looked at Ginny straight in the eyes.

“I miss him, Gin. I know he was the prat who called me names and bullied me for years but….”

She groaned in frustration, “He was there at the right time… I’ve seen how different he is now. I witnessed it first-hand.”

Ginny took her hands again in hers and squeezed them lightly, “Hermione Jean Granger, get yourself together!”

Hermione sat frozen and Ginny sighed, “Talk to him. You miss him? Tell him.”

“But he’s avoiding me…”

“The Hermione Granger I knew will not take that as an excuse,” Ginny cut her off with a stern voice that sounded like her mother, Molly.

“I think you’re right.”

“Of course, I am right!” Ginny exclaimed and Hermione grinned at her best friend.

“Yes. Thanks, Gin,” Hermione said, pulling Ginny into a hug.

__________

One late afternoon, Hermione and her mother were in the ICU to visit her father. She did not see Malfoy at all when they walked into the hospital which was quite good since she’s still working up the nerves on how to approach him. Hermione was reading her book when she saw her father’s fingers moved. Once. Twice then thrice. And then a grunt with a subtle movement of his hand. She lobbed her book on the bedside table and looked down at him closely.

“Hermione, what’s the matter?”

“H-he just moved his fingers then his hand,” Hermione said and just when she finished her sentence, her father’s head lolled to the side with a grunt. She promptly pressed the nurse call button. In a minute a nurse came in and Hermione’s father was already grunting continuously and slowly turning his head side by side.

“H-he’s waking up!” Hermione cried out.

“I’ll page Dr. Malraux since Dr. Boris is out,” the nurse blurted out and Hermione momentarily froze at his name but quickly snapped out of it when her father grunted again.

“Excuse me, Miss Granger kindly step aside, I need to check his vitals while waiting for Dr. Malraux,” she said and reluctantly, Hermione went to her mother and guided her to the far side of the room, watching.

Dr. Malraux walked in with long strides after two minutes, he immediately approached her father and while the nurse reported her findings Dr. Malraux checked on her father’s sight and other vitals. He started talking to him and held his hands, looking closely for other movements. Her father responded to Dr. Malraux with a grunt every time he asked a question.

When her father got tired and was sleeping again, Dr. Malraux asked Hermione and her mother to talk to them outside of the room.

“I can confidently say that he’s back to us however, it will take time for him to recover his motor skills. If his vitals remain stable within this week then we can move him out of ICU already. And I’ll assign therapists to help him. Now, I don’t want you to get your hopes up but please don’t expect that he will come out as nothing happened to him. Almost four months in a coma may have resulted in permanent damage that we’ll soon find out,” he said, all the while looking at Hermione and her mother with a professional gaze.

They both nodded in agreement, Hermione’s mother then spoke, “We understand that. We are just thankful that he’s awake now.”

“Thank you for understanding. I’ll leave you two, now,” he said and he turned his heels then walked away.

Hermione decided that she’d stay for the night for her father but brought her mother back to her flat beforehand so she could rest better. She was walking towards the hospital from a hidden alley where she apparated when she noticed a head of blond hair that will stand out anywhere in a crowded place like the café where he sat right now at the back near the windows—the same place where they sat. Her heart started hammering in her chest. She clenched her fists and walked straight to the café, luckily, his back was facing the entrance of the café. When Hermione reached the counter, Jay grinned at her.

“Miss Granger! What can I get for you today?”

“Do you still have the lemon raspberry tartlets?”

“Oh…. We just sold the last ones. Dr. Malraux was looking for them too but he got in a second too late.”

Hermione bit her lip and Jay looked at her with concern then a woman walked out from the back and witnessed the exchange.

“What’s happening here?” she asked authoritatively that made them both jolt.

“Uh… it’s just I told her that there are no lemon raspberry tartlets anymore,” Jay said and the woman looked at Hermione up and down then landed on her face like she was scrutinizing her. She let go of her lip and tentatively gave a small smile that was not returned at all.

“Stay there, order something to drink while waiting,” she said and Hermione nodded but she was confused.

Once the woman was out of earshot, she turned to Jay, “Who was that?”

“Aunt Florrie, she’s the one baking those lemon raspberry tartlets. Anyway, anything else I can get for you?”

“A latte in a takeaway cup, please,” she said and gazed sideways to see if Malfoy was still there. He is but she doesn’t have much time, he might go back anytime soon.

“Here,” the woman came back that made Hermione turn her attention back to the counter. There was a plate with two lemon raspberry tartlets.

“Oh, thank you.”

“I hope that will help you. It’s on me so don’t pay it.”

“B-but…”

The woman walked away, not bothering to hear Hermione.

“Here’s your latte,” Jay said and when Hermione was about to pay, he also insisted that it’s on him too.

“That’s bad for business…” Hermione argued.

“Nope. Just go there, he might leave anytime soon.”

She felt her neck and face flushed but Jay just gave him his most charming smile then muttered, “Go.”

“Thanks,” Hermione mumbled, then picked up her orders.

Each stride she took was purposeful and as the distance between them shortened her heart was beating faster and faster. Few strides behind him, she inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. She took measured steps towards him now and made sure she stopped in front of him, he whipped his head in her direction from the window on his right. She put down the plate of two lemon raspberry tartlets and he stared down at them.

“A peace offering,” she said, relieved that her voice wasn’t shaky with the way her heart was beating.

“More like bribery, I guess,” he said, eyes still on the plate but she can notice how the corners of his lips twitched upwards.

“I don’t bribe…not always,” she paused then cleared her throat, “May I take a seat?”

“Yes, only because you gave me these,” he said, picking one of the tartlets.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and sat on the chair in front of him. Malfoy ate quietly, savouring the pastry while her hands gathered warmth from her cup. They were silent for almost a minute when Hermione cast a muffliato non-verbally. She caught Malfoy looking at her, midchew with a raised eyebrow.

“Listen, Malfoy…” she started, paused, and inhaled then exhaled quickly, “I’m sorry. You’ve been nothing but kind to me whenever I was in the hospital. I-It’s just the curiosity got the better of me… I wanted to know…” she trailed off and her eyes fell to the top of the cup in her hands.

Malfoy did not answer her. He just finished the tartlet he was eating while Hermione kept her eyes down. Then, the plate with on lemon raspberry tartlet was pushed to her. She looked up and found Malfoy drinking his coffee. She stared at him with furrowed brows.

He put his cup down and said, “Bribery.”

“Bribery?”

“Mum is throwing a party for the twins’ birthday party next month and she wanted you to be there. So, there’s my bribery for you to come,” he said with a smirk and Hermione laughed.

“Do I need to buy new robes then?”

He chuckled then he shook his head, “No. That’s totally unnecessary. Mum is different from my mother. She liked things simple. It’s just a small party—us, our friends which are just my friends, the twins’ nanny Trisha and you or you can bring your friends, she won’t mind at all. Just let me know beforehand.”

“Hmm, if I’ll attend the party, am I considered forgiven?” Hermione asked, tapping a finger on her cup.

“It shouldn’t have been a big deal so you don’t need to apologize. I overreacted. I could’ve just told you that you can inquire from the Ministry about my situation—or simply explain it myself but I had a scheduled operation that day. Basically, my excuse was I had no good sleep that day and I am busy.”

Hermione smiled, “You’ll always be dramatic.”

“Hey. I am not that dramatic,” he said and they both laughed.

Once they stopped laughing, he spoke, “Huh, I missed your laugh really.”

“That’s what you get from avoiding me,” she retorted with a roll of her eyes, taking a sip of her almost cold latte.

He put his hands up in mock surrender, “I already admitted that I overreacted.”

“Fine,” she replied with a smile. She watched as he put his hands down and looked at his wristwatch.

“I have to go.”

“I’ll go with you. Let me just get this…,” Hermione said taking a paper napkin from her shoulder bag and picked up the tartlet. Malfoy tapped the table and the spell was removed. Hermione’s brow arched but Malfoy rolled his eyes and she just chuckled.

As they exited the café, a grinning Jay said his goodbyes that they both returned and in Hermione’s peripheral, she saw Aunt Florrie smiling from the doorway to the back of the store.

They fell into a conversation about her father as they walked towards the hospital. He did not tell her that everything’s going to be normal again instead, he was telling him the truth of the situation which Hermione completely appreciated. She’d rather have honesty than expecting something impossible.

When they reached the hospital, he walked with her to her father’s room before leaving to prepare for a scheduled operation he was assigned with due to Dr. Boris’ absence—who was actually on leave for a very important date.

__________

Hermione and Draco went back from their routine like it was the most natural thing to do and started calling each other by their first names—Draco in the wizarding world and Dominique in the muggle world. Hermione’s father was moved to a private room and they’d arranged short and simple therapies for him to kick start his recovery on his motor skills.

Eventually, Hermione learned about an advanced Polyjuice potion that Draco learned to concoct that would last the typical one-hour duration and instead of hair, he used blood that’s enough to trick the wards in the Ministry because as he said to her, everything has a loophole. And when she asked him why he did that, he laughed before saying, just to mess with Potter and Weasley, besides I won five galleons from George. We have a bet you see; how long will they be fooled. He said a month and I said two. Guess what the 4th month is almost over. I don’t mind if you tell them though.

Harry and Ron only found out the truth when Hermione invited them to join her and Ginny in attending the twins’ birthday party. It took almost a whole day to explain it all (except about the Polyjuice potion and the bet—because they should hear it from George or Draco). Ron was hesitant to attend but Harry was obligated to attend since Ginny was bringing James with her who was a year younger than the twins.

Then one day during a recovery session, Hermione found herself watching Draco—or Dominique—talking to her father. He just had another breakdown and started arguing with everyone. Hermione wanted to intervene but she could see the tiredness in his eyes, the feeling of loss was not foreign to her. However, seeing it from her father, she cannot take it well. As much as she hated to admit it, she did not know what else she could do yet there was Draco, sitting with his father on the floor of the therapy room. Does he know that he was talking to Draco, the one who bullied her before? Yes. It was on the first breakdown, Draco happened to be there when it happened. He asked the staff to cancel the session for that day and asked to be left alone with him. And they sat on the floor just like right now. It was probably difficult for Draco but something happened within the hours of their conversation that made her father agree that he’d do the session again the next schedule.

After what seemed like an hour, Draco met her gaze and smiled before standing up and helped her father stand up. Then, he called for the staff to go back and continue the session.

“How did you convince him this time?” Hermione asked, her brow slightly inching up.

“I just promised him something. I cannot share though. Not yet,” he said as he left the therapy room and before she can even follow him, the tannoy called for him and he sprinted away.

She looked back at her father and how he strived to finish his session told her that whatever Draco promised him was good enough—for now.

Once her father’s session ended, they exited the hospital with him in a wheelchair. They were waiting for a taxi when Hermione’s father spoke.

“D-do you believe h-he had changed?”

Her brows furrowed and her father clarified with a whisper, “Draco.”

Looking back now, she counted the times that he should have been sneering at her, insulting her or laughing at her situation but didn’t instead, he sat down with her and talked to her. She recalled the day she found out that he was Dr. Malraux, she was not disappointed at all, intrigued mostly. She even found herself missing his presence around her. She cannot believe it but he had changed from the prat who bullied her then into the man he was now. Sure, he was still annoying at times but most of the time, she found herself admiring how he navigated within the world he used to hate with ease.

With a smile, Hermione answered, “Yes, he did.”

Her father gave him a lopsided smile, “Good.”

Hi friends,

So. I wrote this little two shot during NaNoWriMo and have finally got it all up and ready to go for you! A huge thank you to @darkangelofsorrow for making the manip and also to @caitlincheri28 for being my bestie and my go to girl. This fic is a gift for her.

Inspired by James Bay & Julia Michaels' 'Peer Pressure'

Peer Pressure, a Dramione 8th year.

Rated Explicit, sitting at 18,491 words.

Inter-House unity is at an all-time high as students return to Hogwarts after the war. An Eighth Year common room and attached dormitories create the perfect place for parties. A simple game is created wherein Veritaserum helps the party-goers participate honestly.

Hermione never participates. Neither does Draco. Slowly, they gravitate towards each other and discover each other's secrets. Slowly, they realise what they mean to each other.

Obi-Wan: These are your final steps, rise and take them.

Anakin: Rey.

Ahsoka: Rey.

Kanan: Rey.

Anakin: Bring back the balance Rey, as I did.

Luminara: Find the light, Rey.

Kanan: You are not alone, Rey.

Yoda: Alone, never have you been.

Qui-Gon: Every Jedi who has ever lived lives in you now.

Anakin: The Force surrounds you.

Aayla: Let it guide you.

Ahsoka: As it guided us.

Mace: Feel the Force flowing through you, Rey.

Kanan: Let it lift you.

Adi: Rise, Rey.

Qui-Gon: We stand behind you.

Old!Obi-Wan: Rey.

Yoda: Rise in the Force.

Kanan: In the heart of a Jedi lies her strength.

Obi-Wan: Rise.

Qui-Gon: Rise.

                             🤝

Ravenclaw: Unfortunately.

Hufflepuff: I thought you were a fan of the franchise.