Broken

Holidays

Draco shifted his bag onto the other shoulder. He was stood outside a narrow, terraced house in a small town. Hesitantly, he knocked on the door.

After a few moments, a woman answered the door. She had streaks of grey in her braided hair.

'Oh, I'm sorry,' he stammered as the woman looked at him curiously. 'I must have the wrong house...'

As he backed away, a little face appeared in the window.

'Dwaco!' Rose shrieked, pushing her grandmother aside. 'Squawk come pway?'

'Sorry Rose, Scorpius can't play today.' Draco crouched down to her level. 'He's on holiday with his grandmother.'

'I going howwiday! Nana and Gramps take-a me, look!' Rose shoved a small rucksack into his hands. It had Floppy Bunny, some picture books and flowery sunglasses inside.

'Hermione is upstairs putting Hugo down for a nap,' her mother explained. 'Come in, she won't be long.'

'No, it's fine, I don't wish to intrude...'

'Nonsense!'

Draco found himself being pulled into the house by Rose.

'I'm Elizabeth Granger, and this is my husband John. You must be a friend of Hermione's...?'

'Er, I'm Draco. Draco Malfoy.'

'You're the young man who found our Hermione that day!' Mrs Granger flung her arms around his neck, crushing him into a hug. 'I can't bear to think what could have happened...thank you!'

Draco patted her shoulder, too startled to respond.

'Oh my dear, you're burning up!' Mrs Granger pressed her hand to his forehead. 'Sit down, I'll get you a drink. Oh and your hands! Whatever did you do?'

*****

Hermione came downstairs to find Draco asleep on her sofa. A half-empty glass of ice water sat on the table next to him, a damp cloth on his forehead. Her father and daughter were playing in the garden, while her mother tidied away bandages and ointments.

Draco whimpered in his sleep, his hand flapping as though pushing something away. The cloth slipped off as he thrashed about.

Hermione crept closer, noting the grey-tinge of his skin, except for the pink of his flushed cheeks.

Draco's eyelids fluttered. Hermione hadn't noticed how long his blonde lashes were before.

Hermione reached out a hand and gently brushed his cheek. Draco woke with a choked gasp. Hermione stumbled backwards but a bandaged hand caught her.

They looked at each other for a long moment, his grey eyes staring into her brown ones.

A shriek from the back garden shattered the silence. Draco jumped and dropped her hand.

'Ah, you're awake,' Mrs Granger smiled from the doorway. She had a tray of food in her hands. 'I made you some soup, Draco.'

'Thank you, Mrs Granger.'

'Call me Liz, dear,' she walked back into the kitchen to summon her husband and granddaughter.

'Are you sure you can manage?' Hermione fretted as Rose wriggled into her coat.

'We coped with you,' her dad laughed. 'At least this time around we know why strange things keep happening!'

'Well, ring me if you need anything....'

'We'll call you each night and tell you about our adventures at the seaside, won't we Rosie?'

'Evvy day, mama!' Rose flung herself at her mother, planting a noisy kiss on her cheek.

'Ok, be a good girl for Nana and Gramps. Love you!'

'I will!' Rose shouted as she climbed into a car, with a caravan hitched to it. 'Wuv you, mama!'

Hermione waved until the caravan was out of site, her dark eyes filling with tears. Brushing them impatiently away, she gave herself a shake.

A thud behind her had Hermione rushing back into the house.

'Oh...shit!'

Draco lay unconscious in a heap on her floor.