Hospitals
Hermione did not have time for games. She did not have time for friends. She didn’t really have time for anything except studying. Medical school was an opportunity for her, one she did not expect to have years ago. She managed to graduate at school, but there were many times where she nearly dropped out because her parents simply could not afford the school fees. Her family was not wealthy. In fact, they were pretty penniless. But they saved up as much as they could to put their daughter through school because they wanted to have a future which was better than the one that they had.
Her parents owned a small shop where they sold vegetables, fruit, and other sort of grocery items. But again, it was pretty small, and it was not a very successful business. It was not something which Hermione could inherit and prosper from. And Hermione has always had an interest in biology and the human body. The small Tv they had in their home was one of the small privileges they had and every night when a medical show came on at 7pm, Hermione was glued to the Tv, eagerly and excitedly watching as she watched the medical drama.
The interest in medicine was always there but it was only a pipe dream for someone like Hermione Granger. There is no chance she could become a doctor. She didn’t have the money to be able to go to medical school. But she did have the brains. Hermione was the brightest student in the entire school, scoring perfect scores at each exam every time. She had the grades which could get her through medical school but again, money was the issue.
But then like a saving grace, Hogwarts Academy offered her a scholarship, The Golden Trio Scholarship, one which is offered to only three students in the entire country. It was a miracle that Hermione was one of the chosen candidates, full paid scholarship, and everything. Her mother cried when she got the scholarship and acceptance letter. Their daughter had a bright future for once which the parents were certain of. Hermione cried along with her parents, clutching to the pieces of paper like her life depended on it. She was going to become a doctor.
Medical school was not easy, and Hermione made it her mission to be a successful doctor. While some students had the university life with parties and socialising, Hermione was bounded up in her room surrounded by books as she studied and took notes, highlighting and writing in perfect detail and memorising all the work so that she would be prepared for the next lessons the following day. She gained the name of ‘Robot Granger’ because no matter what, she just kept moving and studying. Her intelligence was intimidating to other students and with the amount of work she did was terrifying and to think that one student to handle it all was another story altogether. Hermione showed no sign of tiredness, hence why people began to believe she was some sort of robot because she just kept processing information and delivering excellent work each time. There were no imperfections. Everything was flawless.
Free time was not something Hermione found herself with. Because she strived to be the best. She wanted to be the best doctor there is. Not only will she be achieving her dream, but she will be able to pay back her parents for everything that they did. They supported her no matter what, even though they never had the opportunity to go to university like she does. She wanted to pay them back, every cent and so much more.
It was not a surprise that Hermione graduated from medical school with top marks. She scored the top marks in the whole country, making her a legendary student as she was the only one to ever score 100% on all the medical exams, even the practical exams were perfected with ease. It was terrifying on how talented Hermione was and when she was offered a residentiary at St Georges Hospital, it was the first step of Hermione finally living her dream.
But of course, no medical journal could prepare Hermione for the beautiful, blonde haired senior who was in charge of her when she arrived.
Each intern had a senior doctor mentoring them during their time at the hospital and Hermione, the top student in the country in the medical records, was paired with Fleur Delacour, the French Shining Star of the hospital.
Hermione could not deny that she was beautiful. She had light blonde hair which shimmered in the light and was done up in a high ponytail while her cerulean eyes shined brightly in the light which reminded Hermione of a crystal blue ocean which just mesmerised sailors out to sea. She was undoubtfully beautiful. But also, unconditionally cold.
Hermione felt like her entire soul was being bared before her when she first met the blonde. Her eyes scanned her from head to toe and she raised a perfect, elegant eyebrow as she took in Hermione’s appearance. She may have been on scholarship, but Hermione could not escape her background and so she was slightly ruffled when she came, her hospital cloak being the only new thing she was wearing. Her jeans and jumper were not that impressive for someone like the blonde doctor and Hermione just felt judged entirely when those blue eyes settled on her eyes again.
“Miss Granger, if I am correct?” Something in the blonde’s voice told her that she hoped that she had gotten it wrong. That perhaps that the resident that she had to take care of was the ginger girl who was currently with her colleague Harry Potter or perhaps the slightly whimsical looking girl who for some reason had a charm necklace made up of plastic bottle caps with Dominique. But no, she had the slight ruffian girl who looked like she could take better care of the appearance instead. Despite admitting that her mentor was beautiful, her tone was not one which Hermione appreciated and she narrowed her eyes at the blonde as she stood up a bit more defiantly.
“That’s right. And you are?” Hermione knew very well who her mentor was, having received the name on the pairing piece of paper which all the residents had received before they came in. But if she wanted to act all haughty and judgemental with Hermione, then she will not take it lying down. She has gone through life with enough people looking down on her simply because of her financial situation. She was not going to let this woman walk all over her. Said woman narrowed her eyes at the brunette, noting the disrespect she was showing her. Fiery and brash, not something which she would expect from someone who was offered a chance to work at St Georges.
“Dr Fleur Delacour.” She said primly, her French accent slipping in her voice slightly as she pronounced her name. She had studied in France but decided to work at St Georges in London as it was one of the best hospitals in Europe and Fleur had never been one to take nothing less than the best. Despite being French, she managed to master the English accent perfectly and she only has done good for the hospital, being one of the rising doctors in the country. And for some first ear resident to be showing some attitude, she will simply not tolerate it. “But I’m sure that such a top-grade resident wouldn’t purposely forget the name of the doctor who is responsible for them for their entire stay at St Georges? Because that would be so disappointing that a supposed doctor can’t even remember one name, never mind the names of patients that will be in their care.”
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Fleur and Fleur only levelled the stare with a gaze of her own, not once looking away. People could swear that they could see electricity sparking between the two, neither willing to back down from the stare off. Hermione gritted her teeth and clenched her jaw. She was not going to back down. Not even for one moment. But neither was Fleur. Eventually it was Hermione who decided to end the standoff.
“I will be in your care.” She said, stiffly holding out her hand to Fleur for her to shake. Fleur’s gaze glanced down at the brunette’s hand and for a moment, Hermione thought that she simply was going to brush off the simple greeting. But then she slowly reached out and wrapped her dainty hand in Hermione’s, her fingers curling around her hand as she gave it a firm shake.
“So it seems.”
“You need to respect your seniors!”
“I am a doctor, not a damn errand girl!”
“You are a resident and you are to do as you’re told!”
“I am a resident learning to be a doctor. Not someone who must go get a coffee for a senior who is too lazy to get off their own bloody ass!”
“You are so disrespectful. Your attitude is completely unacceptable!”
“It’s a realistic attitude. I’m not some girl just to order around to get coffee. I’m here to learn and am not going to accept such blatant disregard to someone like me!”
Both Fleur and Hermione had fire in their eyes as they glared at each other. Fleur just had to walk into Hermione getting into a heated fight with one of her colleagues. Apparently, Dr Weasley tried to get Hermione to go make him a coffee, but the brunette absolutely refused to do say. Stating that, ‘I am here to be a doctor, not some waitress for you’ and the red headed doctor lost his cool. Dr Weasley has always had a temper and whenever he found someone being disrespectful to him, he went completely off at them. Usually most people will back down when he is off on one of his rants but apparently Hermione is not like most people and she ended up cutting him down with her words, refusing to back down even though he was threatening to report her to the higher ups. Fleur stopped Hermione from digging herself into a deeper grave and grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her out of the room, dragging her off so that she could talk to her privately.
“It is unacceptable for you to speak to Dr Weasley like that. He is your senior and he deserves respect.” Fleur scolded, trying her best to restrain the anger which was boiling in her but was failing as her anger was pretty evident in her tone of voice. Hermione scoffed and crossed her arms, looking at Fleur with blazing eyes.
“Just because you are a senior does not mean that you get my respect. You have to earn my respect. I couldn’t care less if someone has more experience than me. If you treat me like trash, then you are not worth my time.”
“You are such a child! This is the real world, not medical school! You can’t pay your way up to become a successful doctor here. You get experience and you save lives and despite your personal feelings towards Dr Weasley, he is a good doctor and he deserves the proper respect a doctor deserves!”
“So just because you have ‘Doctor’ in front of your name, then you immediately should get respect?”
Hermione took a step closer and leaned into Fleur’s persona space, her eyes not dimming down even for a moment in her anger.
“I have gone through enough in my life and I couldn’t care less if he is a good doctor or not. He treats residents and interns like crap and just because he is a ‘good doctor’ that just excuses his actions towards us? I don’t think so. He could be the King of Bloody England, but I still would not change my feelings towards him. If you treat me and others like crap, you do not deserve my respect. Not even a millimetre of it.”
“You-“
“And just so you know,” Hermione pointed her finger into Fleur chest, her eyes not leaving the darkened blue ones at all. “I didn’t pay my way in medical school. I earned it. I got the Hogwarts Golden Trio Scholarship and earned my way through school. My family didn’t have the money to get me to medical school. I had to work for it. And I am till working for it. So, I don’t care if my ‘attitude’ is not acceptable for you. I have gone through enough crap in my life from those who think that they are better than me simply because they are more privileged or more experienced. So take your expected ‘respect’ and shove it.”
Hermione then pushed past her and stormed off down the corridor, her white cloak billowing behind her as she marched away, leaving behind a shocked and slack jawed Fleur behind. Blue eyes followed her fading figure until she turned around the corner and Fleur rubbed the spot where Hermione prodded her. When she thought that Hermione was simply a disrespectful first year resident, turns out that the fire that she has in her has an origin. A desire to succeed. And somehow, that just changed the light hat Fleur saw the brunette in.
From that day afterward Fleur began to keep a closer eye on the brunette. While she was responsible for Hermione in regards to monitoring her progress and ensuring that she is follow the hospitals rules, she couldn’t help but watch her from afar from a different point of view. She watched as Hermione poured herself into her research books whenever she had the time. She noticed how she was always reading a medical journal during lunch time, even though the other residents invite her to join them for lunch. She notices how she is kind but also firm with patients she deals with when they arrive at the hospital. Hermione Granger is someone who is striving to become a great doctor and her blunt personality is something which the French witch cannot help but find refreshing. By now all the residents would be exhausted and submissive, especially to doctors like Doctor Weasley who had a knack with antagonising the residents, but Hermione was far from it. She didn’t look tired at all. In fact, she seemed more energetic. She never seemed to run out of steam when she was under the supervision of other doctors, she was just so focused, absorbing every bit of knowledge which the doctors gave her, explaining the cases and prompting her to think for herself.
Hermione was very book smart. She was also very good with practical work. She was dependable and resilient. She was almost unstoppable at times. She kind of reminded Fleur of a lion. Strong, proud, and unafraid. She somewhat became an admirable resident which was noticed by the higher ups. She might just have a future at St Georges. She was always in control. But the first time that Fleur ever saw her brunette completely panicked was the day when victims of a bus crash was rushed to the hospital and Hermione’s parents ended up being part of the crash.
Fleur was on the deck immediately, directing and inspecting all the patients and she realised that the brunette was completely taken aback when she saw her mother and father getting wheeled in from the ambulance, blood covering them and their groan of pain filling the hospital room. Hermione was pale and she began to shake, trembling as she saw her parents laying on the hospital beds, in pain and begging for medical assistance. But it was like all that Hermione knew had been wiped away. She couldn’t remember anything. She only saw her mother and father bleeding and she didn’t know how to help.
She was beginning to panic. She was not a doctor at the moment, but a daughter and she felt tears pricking at her eyes as panic began to overwhelm her. What happened? Why did this happen? Why were her parents on the bus? Why were they there? Why-
Hermione suddenly felt herself getting pulled aside and suddenly warm hands were cupping her face and she was staring into the blue eyes of her mentor as she blocked the view of her parents from her and had her entire attention on her.
“Hermione, I need you to breathe.” Fleur’s voice was strong and firm, but also soft and Hermione trembled in her hold, her lip quivering as she looked at her in shock. Fleur stroked her cheeks gently, rubbing the stray tears away as she didn’t look away for even a second. “Breath in for me. Like this. Follow me. 1, 2, 3.”
Fleur took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds before letting it out, doing it until Hermione was copying her and slowly calming down, her thoughts settling as Fleur kept her grounded.
“Now Hermione, I know that you are worried. I know that this is a personal issue for you. But you need to stay calm and breathe. You know what to do. You did not work hard to just blank out now. You know what needs to be done. You are not alone. I’ll help you. Will you let me?” Fleur was asking permission and Hermione stared at her for a few moments, thinking that Fleur was going to take back her words, but the blonde didn’t. She held onto Hermione’s gaze, waiting for her decision despite all the rushed noise behind them and the desperate calls for Fleur to help with the patients. Hermione trembled but took a deep breath. She then nodded.
Then like it was robotic, the two of them whirled around and walked towards Hermione’s parents, who recognised Hermione immediately even though they were in pain. Fleur immediately began to assess their injuries while Hermione helped cut their clothes away and then gave Fleur the necessary information as she inspected her parents’ bodies and told her the signs of injury they had. They worked perfectly together and soon Fleur ordered for them to take them in for surgery and Hermione’s eyes widened because she knew that her parents would never be able to afford it but then she felt her hand getting touched by Fleur and she looked up to see those blue eyes staring back at her.
“Trust me Hermione. It will be okay.” She whispered before taking her hand away and then pushing the hospital bed towards the surgery room, sparing one last glance at Hermione before turning the corner. Hermione had no more time to think about before she was called by Doctor Potter to help bandage another car crash victim who was less injured. All she had to do was wait for Fleur and pray that her parents will be alright.
.
..
…
Hermione was waiting outside the operating room when Fleur finally came out of surgery, taking off her surgery mask and hat off. All the other car crash victims were stable and safe, and Hermione was given the go ahead by Doctor Potter to go wait outside the surgery room where her parents were at. Fleur noticed her immediately and Hermione hurried towards her, her face fixed in worry as she looked at Fleur for answers.
“A-Are they okay?” Hermione was worried sick, and she sounded so weak as she spoke to Fleur. It was the first time Fleur had ever seen the strong first year in such a state. She actually looked physically exhausted. Not pepped up like she is used to seeing. But she supposes that being in such an event where she had to tend to her own parents had an impact on her. It would on anyone. So, Fleur was more than happy to place her hand on her shoulder and squeeze it, graving Hermione with a soft smile.
“They’ll be just fine.”
Hermione let out a sigh of relief, one she had been holding in for so long and Fleur smiled as she saw the tension melt off the brunette. It was always satisfying to see that sort of reaction from a patients loved one. The relief that they had knowing that their loved one is safe. But then she was taken by surprise when she suddenly felt the brunette’s arms wrapping around her and felt herself getting pulled into a tight hug. Hermione’s face was in her neck and Fleur was taken aback entirely when she felt the brunette latching to her, trembling slightly as she felt her nose brush against her neck.
“Thank you.” The brunette whispered, her breath tickling Fleur’s skin. Fleur could hear the relief and thankfulness in Hermione’s voice, but she couldn’t help but notice just how warm that brunette was against her. How her body just seemed to fit against hers like a puzzle piece. She was shorter than the blonde but still fitted into her figure somehow. It felt…nice. And Fleur couldn’t stop herself as she wrapped her arms around the brunette and hugged her back, her nose going into the brown locks which smelt of strawberries as she smelt it.
“You’re welcome.”
The first year of residency is always the hardest but just as Hermione did in medical school. She exceled in it. She is starting her second-year residency this year and she is looking forward to what is to come. Although even though she never did make much time with making friends at medical school, she found herself becoming close with the hospital staff at St Georges, especially with her fellow residents Ginny and Luna. They both were odd in their own ways, but it suited them just fine. Hermione wasn’t exactly normal herself. She also became quite friendly with Doctor Potter, and surprisingly, Doctor Weasley. Yes, he was a grumpy git most of the time but once Hermione got past his rough edges, he actually was a good doctor and he did care about patients so Hermione began to learn from him, which helped her a lot in future cases. Although there was one particular doctor she did get quite close to…
She felt soft lips press against her neck and arms wrapping around her waist while Hermione waited for the kettle to boil to make some coffee. The smile that crawled along Hermione’s face was automatic and she covered those smooth, white arms which pulled her into the body behind her with her own, the lips trailing up her neck before pressing another kiss behind her ear.
“Did you sleep well Mon Coeur?” She felt Fleur whisper, her lips nibbling on her earlobe gently which made the brunette squirm. She felt her face getting hot almost immediately, but she couldn’t hide the smile on her face as she turned around to the blonde beauty smiling serenely at her like she was the most precious thing on this earth. Hermione wrapped her arms around her neck and pulled herself closer so that she was pressed against Fleur’s body, feeling their chest pressed against each other which made the both of them gasp.
“Of course. You tired me out quite a lot last night.” Flashes of last night came to mind and it made Hermione blush to think about it. But the wicked smile which came across the blonde’s face was worth it because she felt her hands slide down from her waist to cup her butt, pulling her closer as Fleur grazed her lips across Hermione’s forehead.
“I could not help myself. You in your ruffled clothes, it just made the wild woman in me come out.” Hermione giggled as she leaned her head against Fleur’s lips, enjoying the soft kisses she was giving her as she traced her lips down Hermione’s nose and across her cheek.
“Remind me to take the late-night shifts more often. That way I will be sure to have myself all presented for you when I come to you.” Fleur giggled against her cheek and pressed a kiss against her jaw before moving towards her lips.
“Non. I would much rather have you in my arms early after work. I miss you.”
“You see me every day at work.”
“Yes, but it is not the same.”
A kiss was pressed against Hermione’s lips and the brunette immediately responded to those pale lips that took control of the kiss immediately. Fleur squeezed Hermione’s butt cheeks and pulled her flush against her, her body molding against Fleurs as the blonde kissed her passionately. Hermione could not but fall under the control which Fleur seemed to have over her. To think that this is the position she would be after the year. Not so long ago, she could not stand the blonde and the feeling was mutual from the French Witch. But after the bus crash involving her parents, things just began to change between the two. Not only did Fleur pay for her parents’ surgery herself, but she opened up to the brunette and found herself caring for her in a much better way than she did before. And the same for Hermione. The brunette began to listen and observe Fleur at work, asking questions and adice and from the two, the two began to fall for one another. It was not easy but somehow the two made it work. They were from two completely different worlds and yet they found each other’s world in one another.
Hermione pulled away to catch her breath and Fleur rested her forehead against Hermione’s while gazing deeply into those hazel eyes she has grown to love so much. Hermione grinned and leaned up to peck Fleur on the nose.
“To think that this is where I would end up in my second year.” Fleur shrugged before leaning forward and pressing a long kiss to Hermione’s lips.
“I wouldn’t complain. You got the French Rising Star.”
Hermione giggled before pressing a kiss to Fleur’s pulse point, a spot which Fleur absolutely was weak for. The blonde titled her head so that Hermione could press a firmer kiss to the spot, a gasp escaping the blonde’s lips.
“And you got the Robot Granger. Aren’t you lucky?”
“I am. Extremely lucky.”
And then Hermione felt herself suddenly getting hoisted up and placed on the countertop with Fleur pressing her lips against hers in a passionate kiss, her hands slipping under Hermione’s nightshirt she borrowed this morning to make the coffee for, used to taking such things from the blonde’s closet after passionate nights that they have had together like last night. Fleur pulled away and began to kiss down Hermione’s neck, nipping at the skin and causing the brunette to gasp at the sensation.
“I earned you after all.” Hermione laughed at the words, but then immediately began to gasp as she felt those doctor hands who began to press and squeeze at her chest, making her body feeling hot and alert as she felt Fleur’s tongue pressed against her skin to sooth over the mark she has definitely just left behind on her skin.
“That you did.”
And Hermione allowed herself to succumb to the love which Fleur had for her, not caring that she had to be at the hospital in about an hour. She won’t get into too much trouble though because Doctor Delacour is always looking out for her, in more than one way.