Just Your Average Healer

I rush into St. Mungo's a bit flustered. I have to admit being late for any type of work is something I have never even dreamed of happening. But, unfortunately, that is the case today. Even though I am a Healer, and Hermione Granger for that matter, doesn't mean that I have to make it on time every day. I'm best friend of the boy-who-survived-and-killed-you-know-who, daughter of two very expectant dentists, and have a relationship to keep up to top it all off! Which, by the way, is with a very self-centered jerk! NO! I mean the sweetest redheaded man in the world.

I plop down in my black, squishy chair that's in my office and sigh. Things have gotten so complicated lately. Ron's been at me for months! And after going through every medical book I can get my hands on, I'm still not reassured that males don't go through some type of PMS. This morning Ronald came into my flat with a huge bouquet of carnations, which aren't my favorite, but it's the thought that counts right? They were beautiful and ended up in shreds from being stomped on, fiddled with, and thrown all around the room. I had to do a bit of sweeping, the cause of my being late, in result of our "bickering," as Harry would call it. Oh, Harry. I haven't seen him in ages! He's probably with Ginny this very moment. They are engaged you know. He deserves so much better, not that Ginny isn't my best girlfriend or anything, it's just that...well...Harry can always do a bit better.

Deciding that I've been lost in thought way too long, I go see who my first patient will be. I walk through the fading blue hallways while I'm scanning through some charts, my semi-high heels clicking the whole way. Ah, room 284, here we are. I pause a moment in front of the lightly colored, wooden door and take a deep breath. I do this at the start of every day. It helps me prep for what's to come. I turn to knob and turn to face him or her after closing the door back. That breath sure did come in handy I can't believe it. There's no bloody way! What is he doing sitting there on the examining table???

" M-Malfoy?" I'm saying, in a disapproving tone. "What in Merlin's name are you doing here?" He smirks. If it weren't for the huge bruises all over his face, I would have slapped him. Again, I think pleasantly.

" Well you see, Granger...my apologies, Healer Granger... when a person is sick they come to St. Mungo's, and as you can see, I'm not in good condition." He is still as arrogant as ever!

" No! I mean why did you make an appointment with me? I'm a Mudblood! Remember?"

" Oh, yes, of course," he confirms, which makes go rigid with anger, " but I think it should be you to hear the story behind the state that I'm in." With that, he gracefully gets of the table and raises his shirt to reveal even more bruises along with a few cuts and scrapes. He's got great abs. I've got to give him that at least.

" Fine. Let's hear it, " I say quietly. Draco's confusing me, and I'm not fond of being confused. He sits back down as if getting ready to tell a very long story.

" Seen Potter lately?" he asks. He's investigating his fingernails and bouncing his boot clad foot on the tiles nonchalantly. Sneaky Slytherin.

" That's not of your concern," is my cool reply. I don't know what he's getting at. He hates Harry. Harry hates him.

" Well I have. Thanks to him you are seeing me at St. Mungo's! He needs to control his temper." My jaw goes slack. Harry? My dear, sweet Harry did this to Malfoy?

" You're lying. Harry would never do something like that." Draco chuckles bitterly. " Tell me! Tell me why!" I scream angrily.

" His beloved little Weasley is having an affair," he laughs. " Funny thing is, it's with me!" By now he's howling with laughter, gripping the table's edges so he won't fall off. Me, I'm perplexed. Astounded. Ginny was cheating on Harry? I'll kill her! I told you he could do better!

" Stop cackling like a sissy, Malfoy! What happened?" I was begging for an explanation, and from Ferret-Face of all people. I felt so low!

" Easy! Well, he sort of walked in on us at Gin's place, and we were...um...k-kissing. Next thing I know, Potter's beating the ruddy crap outta me!" Serves him right. If I had been there, I would have beaten Ginny up too.

" But-but...but I thought they were engaged!" I get another infamous Malfoy smirk. All he does is mouth the words 'were' to me. Poor Harry! He must be distraught!

" As much as I've enjoyed our precious chat, Granger, I've got to get back to the Burrow. So, if you could please heal me...." Wait a minute!

" The Burrow? The Weasleys know?" He nods like it's the most obvious thing on the planet. " For how long?"

" Bout a week or two, " he grins. I feel sick. The whole Weasley family has kept this horrid relationship under wraps for weeks, from Harry and I! We're practically family! RON!!! How could he?

I have to get out.

Not glancing back I turn and walk out of the room, but not without throwing a healing charm at Draco over my left shoulder first. I don't get paid for doing nothing, you know. This information just has my head boggling. The tears threaten to run out of the corners of my eyes. I accidentally run in to a few nurses, a few carts, a few patients even, but all of that goes unnoticed to me.

I have to think.

I tell my secretary to get someone to fill in for me and wave it off when she asks what the matter is; Halie has always been a nice girl like that. I start to jog a bit once I'm out of the hospital headquarters and into the Floo Wing. No one is ever here at noon. I grab handful of the grainy dust and step into the overly large fireplace.

" Padfoot's Flat!" I hear myself say before I think it, and then I'm being jerked and bumped through the network, soot dirtying my light pink robes along the way. I'm a mess. Inside and out!

I have to see Harry.