Drarry One Shots

2. Stubborn Fools

Kingsley Shacklebolt was an intimidating man, that was for sure. And Hermione Granger-Weasley, as the efficient and fearsome Head of the Department of Magical Law and Enforcement, wasn't much less frightening, especially since Draco could still remember the power of her right hook. But Draco also knew how to hold his own in a battle. They wearily climbed the stairs together, battling with the unbreakable heat that sat heavily in every corner of Malfoy Manor, despite open windows and cooling charms.

Draco submitted to the Minister for Magic and the Head of the D.M.L.E. seeing Harry from the bedroom doorway but refused to allow them into the room or to wake him and talk to him.

'I won't have you interfering in Mr Potter's recovery and legally, as his employers, you can't,' he said with utter certainty. He handed them a letter. 'He's officially on two-months' sick leave.'

'He looks dreadful,' Granger-Weasley said quietly and Draco ushered them away from the room so Harry wasn't disturbed. He guided them back towards the front door. He didn't want them at the Manor any longer than necessary.

'He looks a hundred times better than he did at 3am this morning,' Draco said shortly as they stepped outside onto the gravel driveway. However, they stopped and turned to face Draco.

'Are you allowed to operate as a Healer out of your own home, Healer Malfoy?' Minister Shacklebolt rumbled.

'It is a private arrangement between myself and Mr Potter, given the tendency of St Mungo's or someone at the Ministry to release private and confidential paperwork to the press. There is no chance of that happening while he is under the care of myself and Poppy Pomfrey.'

'Madame Pomfrey is here?' said Granger-Weasley, surprised.

Draco knew that dropping Poppy's name offered them a reassurance as they tried to hide their unconscious bias towards him. 'Yes, she is aiding me. Which means that if news gets out about his condition, I will know the exact small circle who are aware of his records and might have leaked the information,' he said sternly.

'We wouldn't do that to Harry,' exclaimed Granger-Weasley.

She faced him, carrying her suit jacket over her arm and clutching her briefcase. She looked every part the Head of the DMLE. He felt like he was facing a health and safety inspection and a legal enquiry.

'I am not to know what you might or might not do regarding your employees,' said Draco coolly.

'What, exactly, happened to him,' asked the Minister, ignoring Draco's blatant conclusions about their visit being at a work level rather than being there with sincere empathy for their friend.

'Mr Potter hasn't shared the particulars of his mission and what happened so I can't tell you. And until I have his express permission in writing, I can't share with you the precise details of what he is being treated for due to patient-Healer confidentiality. I can say it was serious, life-threateningly so. And as such, he needs two weeks to recover from that trauma alone. However, there is a more serious underlying issue that makes it impossible for him to return to the Ministry currently because he cannot practice practical magic for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, I suggest you launch two investigations, the first of which is why your Head Auror was out on a mission and what exactly happened that meant he staggered to my doorstep, in a near-death state, alone—'

'You can't be certain it was an Auror mission,' said the Minister.

'Mr Potter was in his uniform, the coat of which is now shredded due to the severity of his injuries, ergo, he was at work.'

'Then one must presume he was on a mission precisely because he is the Head Auror,' the Minister said as he and Granger-Weasley caught eyes. Draco wondered what they were covering up.