Meant to Live
Sunday, 13 June 2004
Draco sat down at the bar, ordering a pint of muggle beer. He glanced around. In the last five years, the place has not changed much. It was an older building, decorated in deep wood colors and reds. The paint was peeling and the overhead light was sparse and yellow. Sports memorabilia decorated the place, teams he didn’t recognize. He knew he had to have stuck out like a sore thumb, considering he was dressed as if he was heading to a day at the office, not a sports bar.
~
Hermione picked at her plate, giving Teddy a small smile as he talked about how he wanted to learn how to fly. Ginny was busy feeding James and groaned as Teddy swung his arms around, imitating a snitch, ending in him knocking a glass of juice off the table. The sound of the glass breaking caused James to start crying. Hermione hopped up, waving her wand to clean it up. Ginny said her thanks, before leaving the room with a fussy James.
Turning her attention to the six-year-old, she saw that he was crying. Reaching for his hands, she pulled him in front of her. “It was an accident. You don’t have to cry.” She wiped his cheeks.
“I’m sorry.” Teddy sniffled, “Will mummy still teach me how to fly?” His lip trembled and Hermione sighed, wrapping her arms around him, rubbing circles on his back. When she pulled back, he wasn’t crying anymore. “Do you want your mummy to teach you how to ride a broom?” She asked him, standing up and taking his hand. She motioned towards the door, and he nodded.
“She’s busy with the baby.”
Oh. Hermione nods, “Yeah. I bet you miss her, don’t you?” Her question was answered with a nod. “Why don’t you go finish getting dressed to go over to Grandma Molly’s, and I’ll go find your mum, okay?” Teddy runs off, and Hermione goes to find her friend.
After having a quick conversation with Ginny about what Teddy had said, the group headed to the burrow, where Ginny and Teddy disappeared outside, the latter bouncing around excitedly. Hermione entered the kitchen with James, where Molly grabbed her grandson immediately. She settled into a nice conversation with Arther, while various Weasleys wandered through. Compared to other Sundays, today was shaping up to be calm.
~
Draco left the pub, having decided that he wanted something sweet. Chocolate cake was calling to him, and he knew just the place he wanted to get some. Using his fireplace, Draco flooed to a public location in Hogsmeade. He hadn’t been there in years, having only been seen outside his home for mandatory Ministry visits every three months. Today, he felt a compulsion to come here, and if he hadn’t just had a few drinks, he probably would have questioned it.
Draco had always had an unsatisfying sweet tooth. He constantly snuck cakes and cookies from the Manor kitchens. When at Hogwarts, his mother sent him weekly packages filled with all his favorites. His favorite place though, was Honeydukes. He loved coming here with his mother before Hogwarts and during the summers. During the school year, he came here with his friends. They always mocked him for how much he spent, but they never complained back at the castle where he shared with them.
Keeping his head down, occasionally looking up to check his surroundings, he walked until he stood outside the shop. The green and pink building looked as if it had just received a fresh coat of paint, and through the windows, Draco could see people walking around. Entering the building, Draco grabbed a large number of sweets and was standing in the long line when the large window next to him imploded. He felt his head hit the wall, and his ears were ringing. He couldn’t see anything before he blacked out.
~
Hermione sat on the tiny loveseat sandwiched between Teddy and Victoire Weasley, who kept glaring at each other. She had to repeatedly hold in a laugh when she would catch them bickering, the two of them reminding her of Pansy and Theo. All two sets of them could find any reason to argue with the other, and Hermione was sure that if she went back in time far enough, she would find a very similar scene in the 80’s.
While the two children vied for her attention, a blue snow hare Patronus came through, stopping in front of Hermione. It belonged to one of her bosses, Head Healer Jenkins.“Healer Granger, I apologize for interrupting your afternoon off, but I fear it is an emergency. All personnel are being called to help with an attack. I do not know all the details. Your presence is requested immediately.”
The emergency department at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries was packed. Healers in lime green robes ran around, and Hermione didn’t know where to start. Luckily, Theo stepped up beside her. “Merlin this is a mess.” The two of them decided to pair up, approaching a medi-witch trying to care for someone.
“What happened?” Theo asked the medi-witch, taking the clipboard from her. The patient was covered in burn marks that were quickly blistering. Hermione set to performing diagnostic spells, listening to the response.
“I’m not sure. Something about an explosion in Hogsmeade.”
Hermione paused what she was doing, taking a deep breath. She glanced at Theo, whose face had drained of all color, and he began to look like he might be ill at the thought. The two of them set about doing their jobs, silently grateful that the other was with them.
Eventually, they were interrupted. “Healer Nott, I need a moment to speak with you.” The voice of Jenkins cut through the sound that rushed around them. Theo and Hermione were still working together, having moved on to another patient. The young girl required extensive care and had just been brought in. Hermione glanced up at her supervisor, standing in the doorway.
“I’m busy at the moment, but I can find you when I am done.” Theo offers her, casting a diagnostic spell on the girl again. “It is urgent and personal.” Was the healers' response.
“You can pretend I am not here if that helps.” Hermione offers, and Theo agrees that anything she needs she can say in front of Hermione. Jenkins takes a deep breath before relenting.
“Were you aware that you are listed as the emergency contact of Draco Lucius Malfoy?” She asks, causing Theo to stop. If she had thought he looked like he would be sick earlier, Hermione knew he was about to be. “Yes, he is mine as well.”
“He has just been brought in amongst the Hogsmeade victims still being found.” Theo’s knees buckled, and he would have fallen if Hermione hadn’t been beside him to support him. He stepped away from her, moving into the hallway. She could hear him lose the contents of his stomach. Hermione turned back to work as a medi-witch took Theo’s spot. She had a long night ahead of her.