Chapter 2: "Lunch, a bet and a breakdown at Diagon Alley"
Ginny said goodbye to Mrs. Carlings, a patient of hers, and she closed the door. She sighed and pulled back the sleeve of her white lab coat and looked at her watch. It was time for lunch.
'This is going to be a very interesting lunch.' She thought as she walked down the hall to her office to grab her lunch and then headed to Sam's room.
When she got there Draco was already sitting down in a chair with Sam sitting up in his bed.
"Miss Ginny!" Sam said excitedly, his face beaming.
"Hi there Sam!" she said smiling. She sat down on the opposite side of his bed facing Draco.
Draco smirked. "Hello Ginny." He said. She looked at him menacingly.
"Hi." She simply said.
"Oh Miss Ginny! Look what Mr. Draco brought to lunch!" Sam said pointing to Draco's platter. Ginny leaned over a bit to look. "It's snail!"
Ginny controlled herself from letting a disgusted look cross her face.
"Well yes Sam. In France it's called escargot. I do believe that Mr. Malfoy transferred from a hospital there? Am I right?" Ginny said trying to have a decent conversation with Draco.
"Yes I did Ginny. It's an elegancy there." Draco said staring at her intently.
She looked at him and quickly looked away. 'What is he trying to pull here.' she thought.
"Well all I have is a sandwich as do you Sam. I guess we're just boring." Ginny said smiling at Sam.
Sam laughed. "Can you tell me about Hogwarts, Mr. Draco, Miss. Ginny?" Sam asked. "I always wanted to go there but my old healers never knew if I'd be better by then. I hope I can. Next year would be my first year."
Ginny looked at him sadly. During a trip to the bathroom, a burglar had hit Sam with a memory charm when trying to rob his house.
"Hogwarts, is a great place. I'm sure, when you go there next year you'll love it." Ginny said putting a reassuring hand on his leg.
"You think so?" Sam asked hopefully his eyes shining brightly.
"I know so. With me as your healer, I'll do whatever I can to make sure next year you will be walking on that stage to get sorted." Draco said smiling a genuine smile at Sam.
Ginny looked at Draco surprised. Not only did Draco have a heart and actually cared about his patient but, he was actually being optimistic. Many of the staff knew exactly how severe Sam's memory loss was. He wasn't extremely young but his mind still wasn't as developed to handle such a powerful blow.
Draco and Ginny looked at each other. Then there was a knock on the door. They all turned to the doorway to see a man and a woman. Both had worn looking cloaks and tired smiles. Sam's mother and father.
"Hello Miss Weasley. Mr. Malfoy, we've come to pay a visit to Sam." Sam's mother said looking at her son adoringly.
"Who are you?" Sam asked a confused expression on his face.
"We're your parents darling." His mother said sitting down beside him. His father standing behind her.
"You are?" Sam said still looking a bit uneasy. He then turned toward Ginny and Draco whom nodded. "Oh, well, hi mum, dad." He said smiling trying to cheer them up. They both had sad smiles across their face.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Sam." Ginny said waving goodbye.
" I'll check on you before I leave, Sam." Draco said. He nodded his head toward his parents and walked out with Ginny.
"I cannot believe you did that." Ginny said shaking her head as they walked down the hall.
"What." Draco said wondering what she was going on about. Ginny turned to face him.
"How could you get his hopes up like that!" Ginny said her eyes showing the passion she felt inside.
"Nothing is wrong with hoping." Draco said stopping and turning toward her.
"Yes but surely you know about his situation!" Ginny said.
"Of course I do! He is my patient after all. And I am confident in my capabilities to help cure him." Draco said his voice showing the emotion he felt.
" Do you understand that'll take a miracle, Draco!"
"Don't you realize that I know this! But have you not noticed that one has already occurred!"
"What are you talking about!"
"He knows our names, Ginny! He remembers them! He recognizes us! That is a miracle!"
"Don't you think I haven't thought about that! Of course I have! But what are the chanced that he will regain all his memory back by the time he starts Hogwarts! If that ever happens!" Ginny said her voice rising.
"It will! I can do it! Look, I'll make a bet with you." Draco said.
Ginny scoffed. "Figures in a serious situation like this you would resolve to childish antics by placing a bet." She said rolling her eyes and starting to walk away.
"Wait. Hear me out." Draco said grabbing her arm and stopping her. She turned. She sighed and looked at him to continue.
"I bet in 3 weeks I can help him remember his parents. Just in time for the annual hospital Christmas party. And when I succeed, you will be my date for the party." Draco said standing back and looking confident.
"Figures you would use this situation as a chance to shag someone." Ginny said.
" I would do nothing of the sort. Though if it led to that I certainly would not be complaining." Draco said slyly.
Ginny groaned and turned to leave again.
"What are you to chicken to accept this challenge?" Draco asked. Then Ginny felt it. That competitiveness she had within her. She could never turn down a challenge.
"Alright, if you succeed I'll go with you to the party. But if you fail, what's in it for me?" she asked crossing her arms over her chest and eyeing him as if challenging him.
"If somehow, someway, I do not accomplish my goal…I'll give up my place as Sam's healer and someone can replace me." Draco said.
Ginny stood there shocked. "What? You'd give away your position over something you hope you can accomplish." Ginny said.
"Exactly. I know I can do this Ginny! Would I just throw away this job for nothing?" Draco said.
"Well I don't think you would mind considering that you were asking for a higher pay before you took this job." Ginny said.
"You shouldn't believe everything you hear. Our bet is on." Draco said and walked briskly passed her.
Ginny stood there staring after him, his white lab coat flapping behind him as he turned a corner.
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That night Ginny was at home sitting on the couch eating out of a carton of ice cream with Luna sitting next to her. She was telling her about the events that had occurred earlier that day.
"Am I such a horrible person? I mean I made a bet on a child's well being!" Ginny said shoving a spoon full of Chocolate swirl ice cream in her mouth.
"No, not at all. I mean Sam's sick, and all you two did was make a bit on whether or not Draco could make him better. If he doesn't it does not mean he'll get any worse or anything of that nature." Luna said painting her toe nails a pale pink with a purple squiggly line.
" That is true. But I cannot believe I made that bet with him. Now I might actually have to go on a date with him." Ginny said.
"I'm sure it will not be to bad. I mean obviously he has taken some sort of interest in you if he gave u that option." Luna said. Her face then transferred into one of concentration as she made the little squiggly line.
Ginny sighed and shook her head. She then put the lid on the carton. "You do not know how much that disturbs me." She said. "And what the hell are you actually trying to design?"
"Oh I'm trying to draw the one eyed one horned flying purple people eater." Luna said simply.
Ginny looked at her and then closed the lid of the ice cream carton. She went into the kitchen to put it in the freezer. She then walked passed the living room and on the way to her room. "Hey maybe later you can draw some Bingle eared monasens on my toes later." Ginny joked.
"Hmm those are difficult to draw but I will try my best." Luna said and flashed Ginny a smile. Ginny shook her head and walked to her room.
Luna finished doing her nails and walked into her bedroom. She gathered a few items of clothing. She was going to be spending the night at Ron's flat.
She checked out her appearance in her mirror. She smiled to herself. Then with a pop she appeared next to Ron who was cooking dinner. Ron jumped back screaming.
"Merlin Luna! How many times have I told you to send me an owl telling me you are going to be coming instead of doing what you did just now!" Ron said clutching his chest.
"Doing what exactly Ronald?" Luna asked her eyes wide with curiosity,
"Scaring me like you just did!" Ron exclaimed.
"Oh. Did I scare you?" she asked surprised. Ron looked at her.
"Yes!" he said outraged." Do I just scream for joy all the time."
"Sometimes you do." Luna said giggling. Ron looked at her. Then smiled. He could never stay mad at her for long.
He then wrapped his arms around her slender waist and brought her close.
"I do believe you, Miss Lovegood, do the same." He said kissing her lips.
She smiled. "I do. And sometimes the neighbors knock on your door to make sure everything is ok." She said nodding.
"Indeed they do. And you do not know how embarrassing it is when I have to make up something to tell them." He said chuckling.
"Well I told you we should just tell them that we were doing simply what every species on this earth does." She said. "Mating." She brushed a lock of her long blonde hair back.
Ron laughed. "Yes Luna because that is what many people call human sex." He said lifting her up and sitting her down on the counter.
"I do." She said putting her arms around his neck.
"Ah yes we know that dear but I think you are the only one." He said kissing her lips.
"Well I do think it has a sort of animalistic sound to it. I mean it just makes me want to grab you and make hard beast like sex with you!" Luna said almost in a growl and kissed him hard. Ron stumbled forward but quickly began to join Luna in trying to shed off her top as they kissed. Then the pot next to her whistled. He stopped kissing her.
"I do believe we better stop this or we wont have any dinner tonight." He said turning the stove off.
"Oh but you see we will. You are my dinner tonight." She said giggling and brought him closer to her once again.
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Hermione walked down Diagon Alley to meet Harry at Madam Stella's Jewelry Boutique. She walked past the Quidditch store and saw a poster of Harry promoting the latest broom. The poster Harry winked at her and Hermione found herself blushing.
'Get a grip on yourself Hermione! Your blushing over a mere poster of him!' Hermione said.
She saw the real Harry standing outside Boutique signing an autograph. The little kid ran off and Harry looked up to see Hermione walking toward him.
He smiled. "Hey, thanks for coming." He said taking her into his arms and hugging her.
Hermione seemed to melt. She hugged him back smelling his cologne. "It was no problem." She said as they pulled away.
"Oh come on Hermione I know you had work to do." He said.
"Yes well, I always have work to do, you know that Harry." She said. 'Great! Atta girl, show him how pitiful you are by making yourself seem as if you have no social life whatsoever. ' she thought mentally kicking herself.
"That is my Hermione. Always thinking about work just like when we were at Hogwarts." He said chuckling.
'His Hermione…God I could only wish.' She thought.
"All right, so what did you have in mind to get Jacklyn?" Hermione asked.
"Well, I was putting a lot of thought into and I'm going to do it." He said grinning.
She looked at him waiting for him to continue. "Do what exactly?" she asked.
"You know….IT!" he said making it seem as if putting emphasis on the word it was going to make it clear.
"What? Have sex with her! What!" Hermione said a little annoyed at this guessing game.
Harry let out a hearty laugh. "I'm afraid it's a little too late for that Hermione." He said.
That made Hermione's stomach drop. Of course she knew that Harry must not be a virgin but the thought of him being with another woman truly got to Hermione. Especially when she had dreams of him making love to her and only her. But alas, those were just dreams.
"Anyway I mean that I'm finally going to propose." He said smiling.
That did it. That made Hermione's heart stop. "Wh….What!" she exclaimed.
"I'm going to propose to her." He said smiling.
"Why?" Hermione asked before she could stop herself.
Harry laughed. "I thought it would be the perfect time. I mean I really care for her." He said.
"Care! CARE! IS THAT ALL YOU FEEL FOR HER! ARE YOU CRAZY! YOU GOING TO ABOUT TO ASK SOMEONE TO MARRY YOU WHEN ALL YOU REALLY FEEL IS A SHEER OUNCE OF AFFECTION FOR THE GIRL." Hermione yelled losing her temper.
Hermione should have been more joyous about what Harry just said about only caring for Jacklyn. But that didn't stop him from deciding that he was going to marry her.
"Hermione! Calm down!" Harry said looking around as other people stared at them.
"No I'm not going to calm down! Marriage is a sacred bound between two people who love each other! Not simply care!" she said fuming.
"Hermione…" he started to say, his green eyes wide with astonishment.
Hermione held up her hand. "What has happened to you, Harry. What have you become some sort of playboy or something?" Hermione said. "Goodbye." She said and simply apparated.
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"WHAT HAVE I DONE!" Hermione cried hysterically. It was an hour later and Hermione was on her knees next to her bathtub with Ginny rubbing her back reassuringly.
"You were just a bit shocked at the news, that was all." Ginny said.
"Shocked! Shocked is not the word Ginny. It was more like Barking Mad! I actually screamed at him Ginny! Screamed!" Hermione said smacking her forehead.
"Well ok, maybe you should not have done that. But I'm sure once you send him an owl explaining what you were thinking and how sorry you are, I'm sure he'll forget all about it." Ginny said nodding her head.
"I called him a playboy….someone just doesn't ignore that." Hermione said throwing her hands up in defeat.
Ginny laughed then put her hand over her mouth when Hermione gave her a look.
"Sorry but I just cant picture you calling him that." Ginny said.
"What's going on? Luna asked appearing in the bathroom doorway.
"Hermione had a bit of a nervous breakdown at Diagon Alley when she met Harry." Ginny explained which made Hermione let out a whimper and start to cry all over again.
"Oh did Harry tell you he was going to propose?" Luna ask quizzically.
Hermione looked at her. Her eyes filled with tears. "You knew!" she said.
"Harry told the boys in the locker room which I wanted to go in but Ron thought it was going to be a bad idea." Luna said.
"What! He told his team mates first rather than me! His best friend!" Hermione cried out and then flung her body of the bathtub rim again and continued to sob.
Luna looked at Ginny and Ginny just shooed her away and continued to console Hermione.
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