Don't let this darkness fool you (all lights turned off can be turned on)

Chapter 3

"Draco you're going to fall-"

Hermione didn't even get to finished her sentence before Draco's wheel chair topples backwards and lands on the floor with him in it.

After two weeks of determined effort and occasional grumbling, Draco had begrudgingly mastered the wheelchair. We'll mostly, he still can't do wheelies but he's getting there.

As Draco found himself on the floor, he let out an exasperated sigh, his pride taking a bit of a hit. It didn't help that he heard her laugh.

The swot was LAUGHING at him.

and not just a chuckle but a full on bent over, arms grabbing her sides, laughter.

Draco simply could not believe this.

"I'm telling HR on you Granger, laughing at a paralyzed patient who fell out of their chair on probably the dirtiest floor in the wizarding world"

"sorry- you're right" she chokes out between laughs and wipes her tears "and the floor is not dirty, workers come and mop"

"no they don't" Draco says blankly "i never see them do it"

"because they do it when you're asleep"

"that's infringement of my privacy!"

Hermione finally managed to compose herself, wiping away the tears of laughter from her eyes. "I promise, Draco, it's not an invasion of privacy," she reassured him with a smile. "They're just doing their job to keep the hospital clean and safe for everyone."

Draco huffs and uses his wand to push him and the chair to an upright position before taking off his hoodie leaving him in a white T-Shirt. This was the first time Hermione had seen Draco in something other than long sleeves or a hoodie, and she can't help but do a quiet gasp as she sees how toned his arms are..i mean he's always been fit but merlin. but what catches her attention even more..his arms are covered in tattoos

Hermione couldn't help but stare for a moment, her surprise evident on her face. She had never expected Draco Malfoy, of all people, to have tattoos. It was a stark contrast to the image she had of him from their school days.

"Take a picture it'll last longer granger"

"sorry.." she finally managed to say, her voice tinged with curiosity. "I didn't know you had tattoos. They're quite... unexpected."

"Yeah, well, I've had them for a while," he replied nonchalantly. "Got them during my... rebellious phase, I suppose you could call it." That Rebellious phase being that since chopping his dark mark off wasn't an option, covering with tattoos was the second best option. But of course he didn't tell her that.

Hermione nodded, though her curiosity was piqued. She made a mental note to herself to ask him about it later when the timing felt right.

Hermione jots down a few notes in on her clipboard before looking at her watch "you have visitors coming any second now"

"I swear to god if it's my mother again-"

"Are you comparing me to your mother Malfoy? i'm offended" A voice bellows and Draco's eyes shoot up to see the one and only Theodore Nott followed by Pansy, Blaise and Lorenzo.

"Well, well, well, look who decided to grace me with their presence," Draco said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Despite his grumbling, there was a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Theo pats him on the shoulder, Blaise punches his arm (He thinks that arm is going to be the next thing paralyzed from Grangers clipboard slaps and Blaise's punches), Lorenzo ruffles his hair and Pansy pulls him into a hug. All while Granger stands awkwardly in the corner.