Don’t let this darkness fool you (all lights turned off can be turned on) D.M
Chapter warnings: Crude Humor, Sad draco and Angsty Hermione, Theo just needs his own warning tbh
“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.
Pansy presses a kiss to Draco’s cheek before turning to Hermione “So you’re his therapist huh?”
Hermione gulps and nods “uhm- physical therapist- but uh- yeah”
“Calm down Granger” Theo smirks “we don’t bite”
Hermione nods, trying to compose herself despite feeling a bit uneasy under their scrutiny. "Good to know," she replies, offering a small smile.
Draco looks over at the Gryffindor, it’s obvious she’s uneasy being around the five most prominent deatheaters and he can’t help but scoff. Of course the prejudices follow him even in the hospital.
“You can go now Granger, nobody is going to summon Voldemort or Avada little kids” Draco drawls out as he puts the breaks on his chair
Hermione presses her lips together and nods before leaving the room and closing the door.
As the door closes behind Hermione, Draco lets out a sigh and turns his attention back to his friends. "So, what brings you lot here today?"
“Oh yknow, fuck some witches and get you drunk then use your chair to get chicks” Blaise says smoothly plopping himself on Draco’s hospital bed “Bloody hell, this is the most uncomfortable bed i’ve ever had the displeasure of setting my arse on”
Lorenzo rolls his eyes and shoves Blaise over to sit on the bed.
Draco looks around the room as everyone finds a place to sit and he can’t but help feel a weight in his chest. He had known these people since he was eleven, they had been through hell and back. fuck they even killed together. Despite the weight in his chest, he finds a sense of comfort in their company, knowing that they've always had each other's backs, no matter what. Even if his legs are limp spaghetti noodles.
“Earth to Draco” Lorenzo yells waving his arms towards the blonde, Draco looks at him “There he is, day dreaming of Granger were you? I mean i’m gay and even i know she’s hot as fuck”
Draco grunts at Lorenzo's remark, shaking his head. "No, not daydreaming about Granger," he replies with a frown. "Just reminiscing about the good old days when we didn't have to deal with hospital beds and wheelchairs."
He leans back in his chair and twists one of the many rings on his fingers. Draco has been at the hospital for almost a month and a half now and he’s still not sure how to feel about the Gryffindor princess, she’s a fucking know it all, annoying and shows up at the most in opportune times (like that one time he was trying to take a piss in the fucking pan). But then again she’s the reason he’s actually out of bed. He shakes his head, no he could’ve done it on his own, she was just..there for moral.
“Well we were thinking…” pansy starts and looks around the room “we want to take me out”
“fucking hell Pans you want to kill the disabled man already?” Theo chokes before dodging her purse that she tossed at him
“You know what i mean you fucking arse” she turns back to looking at Draco “come on, let’s go to diagon alley or some shit, just get you out of this depressing room”
Draco considers Pansy's suggestion, feeling a mix of reluctance and curiosity. On one hand, he's grown accustomed to the routine of the hospital, and the thought of venturing out into the world again feels daunting. On the other hand, the idea of escaping the confines of his room, even for just a little while, is tempting.
“And have the press have a field day?” Draco huffs looking down at his legs, realizing once again that he is no longer who he was before, at least not according to anyone else. “i don’t think so”
Draco's friends exchange glances, understanding the weight of his words. They know that Draco's concerns about the press and public scrutiny are valid, especially given his family's history and his current situation.
Theo stands up and undoes Draco’s breaks and starts pushing him to the closet that has an enlargement spell on it to fit all of his clothes and opens the doors.
“what in the fuck knuckles are you doing Nott-“
Theo picks out a black buttoned up and some black slacks and tosses them to Draco, both of them hitting him directly in the face. Draco catches the clothes with a surprised expression, blinking in confusion as he holds them in his hands. He looks up at Theo, who simply smirks back at him.
"Get dressed, Draco," Theo says, his tone firm but playful. "We're not taking no for an answer. We are going to find you a hot witch or we can even get Granger to come" Theo adds with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
Draco is about to say something when Hermione walks into the room “what about me?”
Theo smirks mischievously at Hermione's arrival. "Perfect timing, Granger," he says, shooting Draco a knowing look. "We were just discussing taking Draco out for some fresh air and maybe finding him a hot witch. Care to join us?"
Hermione looks between the group of Slytherins and before her eyes settle on the one in the chair “Draco im not opposing you go out but you’re still not completely independent in your chair i mean- you’re doing really well but-“
“He’ll have us!” Lorenzo interrupts “except i won’t wipe his arse for him..i’ll do anything else but that”
“I can wipe my own arse you arse” draco mutters
Hermione nods, acknowledging Lorenzo's point before turning her attention back to Draco. "I know you're capable, Draco," she says gently, offering him a reassuring smile. "But it's important to be cautious, especially when you're still adjusting to using the wheelchair.”
Blaise stands up letting a drawn out groan “just come with us Granger if you’re so concerned”
Hermione hesitates for a moment, considering Blaise's suggestion. After a brief internal debate, she nods. "Alright, I'll come," she agrees, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "But only to make sure Draco doesn't get into too much trouble."
Draco can’t help but feel anger bubble up in him. He doesn’t need a babysitter, he can fucking do shit on his own. He undoes his breaks and rolls himself into the bathroom with his clothes in his lap before slamming the door. Hermione's smile fades, replaced by a look of concern. She exchanges a glance with Draco's friends who just shrug.
Pansy sighs, running a hand along the back of her neck. "We'll talk to him," she says quietly, "He's just... frustrated, you know?"
Hermione nods understandingly, feeling a pang of guilt. She knew Draco was capable of being independent but she also knew Draco had such a long way to go before he fully was.
In the bathroom Draco had gotten his shirt on and managed to pull his sweats off but couldn’t get his slacks on leaving him in a disheveled state of a black button up, black boxers and half pulled up slacks. Draco stares at himself in the mirror, frustration evident in his expression as he struggles to pull up his slacks. He lets out a frustrated sigh, feeling defeated by the simplest of tasks.
After a moment, he hears a soft knock on the bathroom door, followed by Hermione's voice. "Draco? Are you alright in there?"
“Fuck off Granger” he grunts as he struggles to keep his body off the chair long enough to get the fucking leg jail pants up.
Hermione winces at Draco's response, and looks over to his friends before they all look at each-other communicating without using words as they all collectively decide to go to the waiting area in the hospital, leaving Hermione by herself in the room.
"Draco, please," she says gently, her voice soft yet firm. "I just want to help. You don't have to do this alone."
There's a brief pause before she adds, "I promise I won't laugh."
“I don’t need your fucking help! You’re not fucking helpful!” Draco grunts out
Hermione hears something shatter in the bathroom which makes her flinch slightly back.
Draco had the tendency of breaking things when he was mad, his target was a ceramic toothbrush holder, it was tacky anyways. Despite Draco’s harsh words, Hermione knows he's struggling, and she can't help but feel a twinge of empathy for him.
After what seems like forever Draco opens the door and looks at Hermione, his slacks fully pulled up, shirt buttoned up, and shoes on. He looks at her holding his belt.
Hermione's heart softens at the sight of Draco, his frustration evident despite his attempt to compose himself. She steps forward, reaching out to take the belt from
"Let me help," she offers softly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She moves closer to him, her fingers deftly working to fasten the belt around his waist. "There," she says once it's securely in place, giving him a reassuring nod. "All set."
He grunts and grabs his wand and jacket as he wheels past Hermione, heading to the elevators as she follows closely behind. She keeps a respectful distance, not wanting to intrude on his space but also staying nearby in case he needs assistance.
As they wait for the elevator to arrive, Hermione glances at Draco, searching for any signs of discomfort or distress. "Are you sure you're alright, Draco?" she asks quietly, her voice filled with genuine concern. "We don't have to do this if you're not ready."
“Stop acting like my fucking babysitter Granger, we aren’t friends, fuck we aren’t even acquaintances, if it was up to me you wouldn’t even be coming”
"Alright, Draco," she replies evenly, her tone steady. "I'll respect your wishes." With that, she steps back, giving him space as they wait for the elevator to arrive.
Draco’s group sits downstairs in the waiting room, Pansy bounces her legs, Theo fidgeting with Lorenzos fingers, and Blaise pulling at a loose thread coming out of his sweater.
Finally Lorenzo speaks up and looks at the group “i can’t be the only one worried about Draco right..I mean when he broke his leg and needed help getting to the infirmary fifth year he ended up breaking all the mirrors in the bathrooms”
Pansy's bouncing legs come to a sudden stop, and she looks at Lorenzo with a furrowed brow. "You're right," she says slowly, her concern evident in her voice. "Draco can be... impulsive when he's angry or frustrated.”
Blaise sighs and rubs his hands over his face “The best thing we can do right now is not to treat him like he’s any different, and i for one don’t want to get punched in the balls, he’s at the perfect level for that”
Pansy nods in agreement, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Agreed," she says, a small smile playing on her lips. "We'll just... act like everything's normal, even if it's not."
And with that the elevator dings and Draco rolls out stoned face with a frowning Hermione following behind him. His friends exchange glances, noting the tension in the air. Pansy's lips twitch into a sympathetic frown, while Theo and Blaise share a silent nod of understanding. Hermione casts a quick glance at Draco’s friends, silently acknowledging their presence before focusing her attention on Draco.
Theo stands up clapping his hands together and smiling “who’s ready to get drunk?!”
“I know i am” a voice coming into the hospital adds and of course it was nobody other than Harry fucking Potter, the whole reason he was here in the first place.
Okay maybe he wasn’t the reason, maybe if Draco HAD listened to Astoria and he not gone on the mission, maybe if he DIDN’T decide to be the hero, none of this would’ve happened.
Nope he definitely thought this was harry’s fault.
Hermione smiles big and tackles Harry into a hug “you came!”
Harry laughs before pulling away “of course i had to come to my saviors first outing since he’s been in the hospital, nice wheels Malfoy, i bet you’ll pick up some real witches with that”
Draco glares at the Gryffindor “if you want to have anymore kids i suggest you shut your mouth potter”
and with that harry steps slightly back covering his crotch
The tension in the air is momentarily broken by Draco's retort, and a small chuckle escapes Pansy's lips. She shoots Draco a playful smirk, appreciating his quick wit even in the face of Harry Potter's teasing.
Theo claps Harry on the back with a grin.
"Alright, Potter, let's get this party started," he says, steering the conversation away from Draco's sharp remark.
Hermione rolls her eyes at the banter between the two, but she can't help but feel a sense of relief that Draco's friends are here to support him through this outing. As they head out of the hospital, she sends a silent prayer that the night ahead will be a much-needed break from the challenges they've all faced recently.
Hermione was naive to thing this outing would be normal.
First of all apparating with a chair proves to be alot more difficult than people realize.
As they attempt to apparate with Draco's wheelchair, they quickly discover the challenges that come with the task. Hermione furrows her brow in concentration, her wand held firmly in her hand as she tries to focus on the precise destination.
Draco grips the handles of his wheelchair tightly, feeling a surge of unease as they prepare to apparate. He knows that apparating with a wheelchair is no easy feat, and the thought of potentially splinching himself in the process sends a shiver down his spine. He was already paralyzed, he didn’t need to add missing limbs to the equation.
With a deep breath, Hermione murmurs the incantation, her wand emitting a soft glow as they disappear from the hospital grounds in a swirl of magic. As they appear at Diagon alley, a sense of relief washes over them, grateful that they arrived in one piece, albeit a bit disheveled.
Finally Hermione thought now we can enjoy our outing
A group of paparazzi immediately surrounded Draco and his friends
Hermione feels a surge of frustration and protectiveness towards Draco and his friends, knowing that they just wanted a brief respite from the challenges they've faced.
Draco clenches his jaw, his hands tightening on the wheels of his wheelchair as the paparazzi swarm around them, their cameras flashing incessantly. He can feel the weight of their scrutiny bearing down on him, and he hates every moment of it.
Pansy steps forward, her voice laced with annoyance. "Back off!" she snaps at the paparazzi, her tone sharp and commanding. "Give us some space, for Merlin's sake!"
Theo and Blaise flank Draco protectively, their expressions hardened as they stand guard against the intrusive photographers. They exchange a silent nod of solidarity, united in their determination to shield Draco from the relentless media attention.
Hermione's mind races as she tries to come up with a plan to diffuse the situation. She knows they can't stay here surrounded by paparazzi, but she also doesn't want to cause a scene. With a deep breath, she steps forward, her voice steady as she addresses the crowd. "Please, we just want to enjoy our outing in peace," she implores, hoping that reason will prevail amidst the chaos.
if anything it makes it worse because now questions like “what is the golden girl doing with a bunch of deatheaters” and “have you gone to the dark side?”
Draco's hands clench into fists as he feels the weight of the accusations bearing down on him. He wants to lash out, to scream and defend himself against the false accusations, but instead he sits there helpless.
With a steely resolve, Harry steps forward, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Enough," he says firmly, his tone commanding attention (which isn’t gets because he’s Harry fucking Potter). "We are not here to entertain your baseless accusations. We are simply trying to enjoy a night out, just like anyone else. Now, kindly step aside and let us pass."
The camera flashes seize as that all start to scatter away. Draco looks up at Harry with a bored expression “that’s enough to make a man cream his pants Potter”
“Anything for you babe” Harry jokingly winks at Draco and Hermione is slightly taken about by their joking. She knew they were co-workers but since when were they friends?
As the paparazzi disperse, Hermione feels a sense of relief wash over her. She's grateful for Harry's intervention, even if it did catch her off guard.
"Thanks, Harry," she says with a small smile, her voice filled with gratitude. "I appreciate the help."
Harry returns her smile with a nod, his expression serious yet friendly. "Anytime, Hermione," he replies, his tone sincere.
They make it to an expensive pub (Blaises idea) and rent out a private room (also Blaises idea) rent some private witches (guess whose idea?) but that last part ultimately got shut down (literally everyone else’s idea)
As they arrive at the expensive pub and settle into the private room Blaise had rented, the atmosphere begins to lighten. The tension from the encounter with the paparazzi starts to fade away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and relief.
Blaise raises his glass with a smirk. "To Draco's first outing since the hospital," he declares, his voice filled with mischief. "May it be the first of many."
Theo and Pansy raise their glasses in agreement, echoing Blaise's sentiment. "Cheers," they chorus, clinking their glasses together before taking a sip of their drinks.
“So” Harry starts “I hear you get to leave your home away from home tomorrow, are you going back to your manor?”
Draco had tried not to think about, there’s no way he could get into his manor, with their being at least fifty stairs leading to the door and his mother would rather die than let people see a ramp leading into the house
Draco's expression darkens at Harry's question, the reminder of his impending discharge from the hospital bringing a surge of anxiety. He takes a sip of his drink, trying to compose himself before responding.
"I... I haven't decided yet," he admits, his voice tight with tension. "Going back to the manor isn't exactly an option right now." He avoids mentioning the accessibility issues, not wanting to dwell on the limitations imposed by his injury.
Hermione furrows her brow, her concern evident in her expression. "Do you have somewhere else you can stay? i have an extra room and bathroom" she asks, her voice gentle yet probing. She knows that Draco's living situation is complicated, and having had some injured house elves take refuge at her house, it’s very accessible.
After a moment of contemplation, he clears his throat, meeting Hermione's gaze with reluctance. "Actually," he begins slowly, "I don't have anywhere else to stay at the moment."
He pauses, feeling a surge of vulnerability at the admission. "But... if you're offering, I suppose I could consider staying with you temporarily," he adds, his tone guarded. He knows it's the last thing he would ever want to do, but he also knows that he can't afford to be picky given his current situation. None of his mates houses are exactly accessible either.
Draco is broken out of his trance when he sees Lorenzo making kissy face and Harry (one too many drunk in) chanting “Draco and Hermione sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G”
Draco downs his drink with a clenched jaw before rolling up his sleeves exposing his tattoos and looks at Harry before saying “come here”
“No you’re going to hit me” Harry says as he scotches his chair away from the table and Pansy laughs
Draco rolls his eyes at Harry’s reluctance, but he persists, gesturing for him to come closer with a wave of his hand. "I'm not going to hit you, you git,"
Harry hesitates for a moment, eyeing Draco warily before cautiously scooting his chair closer to the table. Pansy watches with amusement, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Once Harry is within arm's reach, Draco leans forward and smacks him upside the head
Draco's friends erupt into laughter as Harry recoils from the unexpected smack to his head. Pansy claps her hands together, her laughter echoing in the private room as she watches the scene unfold.
Harry rubs the side of his head, shooting Draco a mock glare. "What was that for?" he demands, though his expression is more amused than angry.
Draco grins mischievously, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Consider it a welcome to the club,"
Harry glares at the blonde before fixing his glasses
Pansy's laughter fills the room as she watches the exchange, her eyes alight with mischief. "Oh, come on, Harry," she teases, her tone teasing yet fond. "You know you love being part of the club."
Theo and Blaise join in the laughter, their amusement evident as they exchange amused glances. They know that these moments of playful banter are what make their friendship so special, even amidst the challenges they face.
Hermione smiles at the scene before her, feeling a sense of warmth wash over her as she looks at Draco actually smiling, she realizes she’s never seen Draco actually smile before
As she watches Draco laugh and joke with his friends, Hermione realizes that perhaps there's more to him than meets the eye. Beneath the layers of pride and bravado lies a person capable of genuine warmth and affection, someone who, despite his flaws, is deserving of happiness and friendship.
either that or he’s just a really good actor.
