Desire

Patient 201

‘Hermione Granger - Mediwitch in training,’ she mutters softly to herself as the elevator glides smoothly upwards. She leans slightly against the cool wall, she still hasn’t caught her breath, rushing after different patients. In the relative silence of the elevator, her pager beeps urgently. ‘Finally, a proper job’ she breathes, charging off to help, marching purposefully through the bustle of St. Mungos, her silver intern badge glinting softly.

‘Intern Granger, I’m afraid we’ve had a bit of an accident,’ said Healer Lilyhawk as soon as she hears Hermione appears.

‘What are the casualties?’ Hermione can hardly contain her excitement, finally, a proper task, maybe one in which she’d be able to actually perform magic.

The Healer looks up from her clipboard, ‘Oh I’m sorry Granger, patient 201 has spilt his morning medication all over himself again, I’ve sent one of the nurses to help him clean himself up, if you could just pop into his private ward and clean his sheets for him,’ She gives Hermione a small smirk, and continues tapping her clipboard with her wand.

‘Now, if you please, Intern.’

And I chose St. Mungos over Auror training with Ron and Hermione, Hermione thinks bitterly while mopping up the potion that has congealed into a murky muck, smelling strongly of garlic. I could be fighting a Death Eater, not cleaning up after some decrepit old wizard, if only Madame Pomfrey hadn’t been so persuasive.

Taking a deep breath, she calms herself, giving herself a stern lecture in the process. You are Hermione Granger, responsible, caring and intelligent Mediwitch. She straightens the bed sheets with her wand. Besides, this is no time for bitterness. It was a time for new beginnings.

Only 2 months ago Harry had finally tracked down the Horcruxes and cursed Voldemort into oblivion. Most of his followers had disbanded, some had totally disappeared like Narcissa and Draco (Lucius had still been incarcerated in Azkaban when Voldemort had fallen) others like Bellatrix remained at large - it was these fanatics who were being tracked down by the Ministry Aurors. For the rest of the magical community, it was time to go back to normal life, something which the three friends had had little experience of. With bittersweet memories behind them, that had parted ways, although still kept in touch regularly.

‘I don’t need your help,’ an annoyed voice breaks into Hermione’s thoughts.

‘Mr Malfoy, you’ll disturb the other patients,’ says the flustered nurse

‘I can walk by myself woman,’ Lucius Malfoy limps into view. He barely glances up at Hermione. Only until he lands heavily on the freshly changed bed does he look up at her. A small look of surprise flashes across his face when he sees her, quickly replaced by a slight sneer. The nurse seeing her chance scurries out of the ward.

‘Miss Granger, what a…. pleasant surprise, I had no idea you worked at St. Mungos.’

‘I’m sure there are many things you don’t know about me, Mr Malfoy,’ Only thing you know about me is that I’m a Mudblood said the voice in her head.

‘Oh, I’m certain of that,’ that famous Malfoy smirk is still firmly in place.

‘So…what happened to you?’

‘Miss Granger, I don’t believe that is any of your business.’

[Be a professional, be a professional]

Hermione ignores him and reads the chart clipped to his bed, ‘Magical creature induced injury I see, not off gallivanting with your Death Eater friends?’ She asks with a smirk of her own.

‘I could have you fired for slander,’

‘I’m sure you could,’ Hermione replies warmly. It was well known that Lucius had desperately tried to salvage his family’s reputation, mainly through well placed bribes in the Ministry, which was how he had earnt his freedom and full control over his wealth.

[Be a professional, be a professional]

‘Is there anything I can get to make you more comfortable Mr Malfoy, food, drink, a magazine?’

He ignores her.

‘How about a book,’

‘Are you always this neurotic Miss Granger?’ He sneers again.

‘It’s my job Mr. Malfoy,’ She replies with a tinge of coldness, adjusting her robes and prepares to sail out of ward 20.

Hermione’s shift seems to drag on for ages. Her encounter with Lucius Malfoy had shaken her, but in a way, had been exciting. What was he doing in St Mungo’s anyway, surely he would have preferred to be treated in the privacy of his dusty old mansion? Maybe he was lonely thought Hermione. Serves him right said the voice in her head viciously.

By the time she reaches her apartment, the London rain has thoroughly soaked her. She had received a letter from Harry, one of his regular streams of correspondence.


Dear Hermione,

Just thought I’d give you an update on things that have been happening. Haven’t had an arrest in almost two weeks, but Ron and I are still tracking down those slippery Malfoys. Tonks thinks we should just arrest Draco’s dad and be done with it! He probably knows a thing or two about where they are anyway. Well we’re currently following up some leads, but otherwise it’s been totally dead.

Have a good time cleaning things in St. Mungos :P

PS: What should I get Ginny for her birthday?

Love,
Harry


You had to feel sorry for him Hermione thought, realising that she had once again drifted on to the topic of Lucius Malfoy. His wife and son had deserted him, the Malfoy name had fallen into disrepute, and now he was in St. Mungos sleeping by himself in the dark, empty ward. You really did have to feel sorry for him.

As she fell asleep she forced herself to think about other things, Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, the busy day ahead of her.

He had such a nasty sneer really, but sexy too.