Broken

St Mungo's

Draco drummed his fingers on the bedsheets, staring blankly at the book in front of him. He had been in St Mungo's for three days and was bored.

An old man in the bed opposite was fiddling with a radio. The sound of static and random bursts of songs was driving Draco crazy.

Draco's mind drifted. He remembered the night he had gone to search for his books, how small and delicate Hermione had looked as she slept, lost in a nightmare. He grinned as he remembered a burst of light then waking up on the floor. Hermione Granger was far from delicate.

A familiar song snatched Draco away from his thoughts.

'Wait!' Draco cried, startling the old man. 'Could you go back? I, er, that's my...favourite song.'

The man grunted and turned the dial back. Draco closed his eyes, remembering the warmth of Hermione's body and the softness of her skin as they danced to this song. A smile played on his lips as he pictured her brown eyes, that seemed as though they saw into his soul. He could still taste the sweetness of her kiss, and feel the curve of her mouth.

The last chords of the song died away and the man turned the dial. Static filled the room again.

A young wizard pushed a rattling trolley into the room.

'Tea, coffee or water? Are you Mr Malfoy?' He asked, as he poured Draco's tea. 'Got a parcel for you, arrived just now.'

It was a large package, wrapped in brown paper. Draco tore it open, intrigued.

Inside was a plethora of sweets, biscuits, sandwiches, tubs of food and books.

'Hermione!' Draco laughed, there was no note but he knew it was her.

'Are those chocolate digestives?' The old man wheezed, the first words he'd spoken since Draco arrived.

'I think so?' Draco held up the unfamiliar biscuits. 'Want one?'

'If yer wouldn't mind, they're perfect for dippin in me tea,' he smiled dreamily at Draco. 'Just like me mam used to.'

Draco slid out of bed and gave the man the pack of biscuits.

'What's yer name, son?'

'Draco, what's yours?'

'Tony, nice to meet yer Draco,' he offered Draco a coarse, wrinkled hand. Draco shook it warmly. 'Bring yer tea over here, yer look like yer need a change o' scenery.'

Draco grinned and settled into the chair next to Tony's bed. Tony offered him a chocolate biscuit, and Draco dipped it into the styrofoam cup like he did.

'Mmm,' Tony sighed. 'Wizards 'ave got some great sweets an' all, but nothin' beats choccie biccies an' tea.'

Draco nodded, his mouth full of crumbling biscuit.

'So, what yer studyin' over there?' Tony gestured to the stack of books on Draco's bed.

'At the moment? Potions. Got my NEWTS coming up, but it's not going too well.'

'Potions, eh? I used t' be a dab hand at 'em when I were a lad. Bring it on over here, let us 'ave a look.'

Draco obediently fetched his Potions textbook and pointed out the section he was struggling with.

They sat together, heads bent over the book, while Tony patiently explained each potion. Draco eagerly made notes, Tony helping him make sense of the complicated recipes.

'How do you know all this stuff?'

'Used t' be an alchemist, back in t'day. Me wife made me give it up after I blew up t' house a few too many times, though.' Tony's eyes twinkled. Draco wasn't sure if he was joking. 'So, who's yer lady-friend what sent yer all these goodies?'

'Oh. Well, there was no note with it...'

'Ah, but I bet yer know who it's from, all the same, eh? So, what's her name?'

'Hermione,' Draco smiled.

'And is she as pretty as her name, yer Hermione?'

'She's not my Hermione,' Draco protested, blushing. Tony met his gaze steadily. 'But, yeah, I mean, well she's got nice eyes?'

Tony smiled, knowingly.

'Don't yer think yer should write Hermione a thank you note, seeing as she sent yer such a thoughtful parcel?'

'Yes, yes I suppose I should. Um, ok?' Draco picked up his book and returned to his bed.

'Yer could start with "hello",' Tony suggested, as Draco stared at the blank parchment.

Dear Hermione,

Thank you for the care package, it's a welcome break from the food here. I knew it was you, no-one else knows I'm here!

I've been a sharing with the other guy in my ward. He's a retired alchemist, and he's helping me study Potions. He showed me how muggles dip biscuits in their tea, it's surprisingly good! But I guess you would already know that.

Thank you again for letting me stay and taking such good care of me. Good luck preparing for the debate, owl me with the date and time.

Give Hugo a hug from me, and tell Rose I'll bring Scorpius to play when they're both back from their holidays.

Best wishes,
Draco

It wasn't perfect. It didn't say the things he wanted to say, but it was the right thing to send.

Draco sighed wistfully, then went to find someone to send it for him.