A Creative Solution

Yes, it was very thoughtful of Malfoy to make sure he was free of communicable diseases before engaging in anything with her, but what did he need the certificate for in the first place? Did one of his many conquests inform him that she was suffering from some sort of venereal disease? Did he have an unprotected encounter? That was probably it, thought Hermione as she mentally closed the question and moved on, trying to analyze her emotions: Why was she so upset? Why did she not feel grateful that Malfoy had come up with a way out of their quandary that let her keep her virginity?

Because - her wounded pride answered - you wanted him to see you as an attractive woman already, years ago.  All that time in Grimmauld Place, after she and Ron had broken up, she yearned for some sort of expression of interest from Malfoy. He certainly hung around and talked with her, while awaiting trial. However, when it came to intimacy, he sought other company. One morning she had seen him sneaking out of Lavender's room, and had quickly locked herself in her room, to nurse a wounded heart. That very same night, it was Pansy's door that she saw him close quietly, when she was returning from the restroom. He did not know she'd seen either time, she was sure. From then on, she honed her Malfoy radar in an effort to harden her heart, and was able to pick up the subtle cues that signaled his different assignations.

There was some jealousy and competition among his ladies, yet Malfoy somehow made it clear that he was a free agent. He often encouraged them to settle their attentions on partners who were a better fit for a lasting arrangement. Hermione knew that he had directed Lavender to soothe Ron after their breakup, which led to their current state of wedded bliss. She was quite sure that even the now very monogamous Mrs. Potter had, at one time, become a notch in Malfoy's bedpost, if her blushes whenever they met socially were anything to go by. Hermione wondered for a second whether Harry knew, that during the time he'd sent Ginny away 'for her own safety,' she'd found some solace in Malfoy's arms. But then she quickly decided that Harry probably felt an enormous amount of guilt, at pushing his girl into someone else's arms, and likely did not hold it against either of them.

Malfoy was an attractive bloke, and intelligent to boot. Intelligence was a big turn-on for Hermione, and it did not hurt that it was wrapped in a classically beautiful package. The boys had always complained that Malfoy was 'too pretty,' particularly when puberty had deployed a battlefield of pimples onto their faces, while keeping Malfoy's complexion clear. There had always been rumors about the Malfoy's ancestry including some Veela blood, for how else to explain their looks, and the ease with which they achieved all they sought? Yet Hermione knew he worked for his physique, that he played Quidditch regularly, and spent at least an hour each day exercising, as she should, but didn't.

She sighed. Hermione had wanted to lose some weight for the past year, but somehow always found more interesting things to do than exercising. After their year on the run, she had regained her normal weight, and with time, she had also gained somewhat of an hourglass figure. While she considered herself to have a reasonable weight nowadays, she knew she was ten sizes too big, when compared to some of the size zero gals that tangoed with Malfoy. Hermione liked to complain that women held as paragons of beauty fifty years ago were curvier than today's models. Yet she knew she was a bit too curvy for even those past decades, hence her desire to lose some weight. But when she thought about exercising, there was always something more interesting to be read!

Hermione knew she was a better fit intellectually, for Malfoy, than the skinny socialites, otherwise he wouldn't keep making time to eat lunch with her. But for all their common interests and heated academic discussions, Malfoy had never made any romantic overtures towards her, not even when she spent hours debating her outfits before each lunch. That said, there would be no stilettos in her wardrobe, until she also acquired a chauffeur to drop her off at each of her appointments. Honestly, who could walk in those all day? Hermione's fashion sense was constantly overruled by her sensible side, unlike most of Malfoy's companions.

And Hermione's pride refused to make her romantic interest overt, after seeing all those other women vie for his attentions. Not that he shot them down rudely. Oh, no. Even then, Malfoy behaved like a gentleman. Hermione had seen him reject offers with a wink and a smile, leaving the ladies interested enough to make another offer on a different day. Malfoy did not even have to try; girls just draped themselves all over him wherever he went, drinks were sent over whenever he was at a bar, waitresses wrote their phone numbers on the check, and even society ladies sent him invitations to the most exclusive events. Since turning up the charm, and losing the condescending air that carried him through school, Malfoy had become irresistible to the female population. The boys refused to go with him to parties or clubs, because they'd quickly be ignored by the girls climbing over their laps, to get closer to Malfoy. Even after losing his fortune, Malfoy was heralded as a noble hero, since his personal story was widely known... thanks to his adroit charming of Rita Skeeter. Forced into the Dark Lord's service in order to protect his family, he refused to kill. Then he helped the prisoners in Malfoy Manor escape, and aided in the battle against Voldemort, all at great personal risk.

Yes, Malfoy was an attractive womanizer, and the bastard knew it. He was quite certain that she'd agree to his offer, never questioning whether she found him attractive, or not. Did it not bother him as much as it bothered her? Or did he know she found him appealing? Her feminine side bristled at being taken for granted, although righteous anger gave way to a pity party rather quickly. It had taken a significant crisis for Malfoy to see her as a woman, never mind a desirable one. While he had a different flavor of companion each week, it took their bankruptcy to force him to make out with her. He probably did not even want to do it. It was not because he found her attractive and charming that he wanted to engage in sensual games with her, it was for money. It was a favor, much like the ones "anyone with a dick at Grimmauld Place," as Malfoy had phrased it, would have done for her. How could she go through this while protecting her feelings?

"Patient G," said a disembodied voice, "we're ready for you in room 2."

Yikes! Time to think fast. Would she want to do this with someone else? Was it prostituting oneself to make out for money? No. Yes. Maybe. She tried to convince herself that it wasn't. It would be with a trusted friend, and it would not involve intercourse itself. So perhaps it was even more intimate, as she'd heard that prostitutes did not allow their clients to kiss them on the lips. Would Malfoy allow it? Would he want to kiss her on the lips? Did he kiss all his other tarts on the lips? The thought of his many conquests turned Hermione off, and she started to reconsider whether she could want to do this with someone else. Someone with whom her heart could remain aloof? Would she pass up this opportunity to bed Malfoy at his insistence? No, that much was clear from her feelings. Finally, he was pursuing her, as she had hoped for so long, albeit pursuing her for the wrong reasons. If this was the only chance she'd have to get to know Draco, in the biblical sense, she'd take it. Their agreement wouldn't be a one night stand, or even a weekend hookup, like the ones from his past. She'd take the chance, with both hands. And she only hoped her heart would recover once it was over.

Decision made, Hermione walked through the door at the back.

Why do you think Draco was going to the clinic? There are many things that could fall under "a clean bill of health," after all. Leave your guesses in the reviews, and when  that part of the plot unravels, we'll  have a little award for the winners. Perhaps a compilation of the 'deleted scenes'?

Reviews feed the muse! Let me know what you think - 

Many thanks to catcachoo for Beta-ing this chapter too, and to the H&V validators for their educational feedback!