Title: Healing Author: drcjsnider Rating: R Word Count: 561 Notes/Warning: Written for the Welcome to My Nightmare Chal

enge. Prompt 1: No tears please, its a waste of good suffering. -Hellraiser She blamed it on the court case. It had been the most demanding one shed ever faced. She and three other members of the Department for

Magical Law Enforcement had worked for over a year gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and figuring out the suspects motive. They had spent that last two weeks before the Wizengamot presenting their argument and less than four hours ago a unanimous verdict in support of Ministrys indictment had been handed down. An impromptu celebration had broken out at the Leaky Cauldron and in a moment of insanity shed agreed to snog any bloke in the

establishment that her colleagues selected. Since fate despised her, he just happened to be sitting at the bar and had responded enthusiastically when shed kissed him on orders from her friends. It was definitely the exhaustion caused by court case or maybe the bottle of celebratory fire whiskey, but whatever the ultimate reason, she was now laying naked and sweaty next to Draco Malfoy in one of the Cauldrons rooms. She could probably deal with the embarrassment if he

would just shut his fucking mouth long enough for her to make a getaway. Instead, hed been engaged in a monologue about Malfoy Industries, Hogwarts, and Quidditch for the last twenty minutes. If he didnt shut up soon, shed be on trial for suffocating him with a pil ow. Of course, if I owned a controlling share of Puddlemere United, Wood would not get near that same amount of playing time. What are you doing? Draco turned his head to watch as Hermione ripped the sheet off the end of the bed and

wrapped it around her body. Im going to take a shower, get dressed, and go back downstairs. Draco grabbed the end of the sheet and shook his head. I dont think so. Im not done with you yet. Well, thats too bad, Hermione responded with a glare. Im not interested. You sounded interested enough thirty minutes ago when you were screaming harder, harder, faster, faster! he responded with a smirk.

A moment of weaknesses, she hissed, attempting unsuccessfully to yank the sheet out of his hand. His eyes slowly traced the contours of her body. You know, Granger. You look about 1,000 times more attractive since getting that big, hairy, red growth cut off your body. What are you talking about? Hermione replied, genuinely confused. Surely even you are conscious enough of your looks to recognize the loss of a two hundred

pound, freckled, lump that was attached to your hip since first year at Hogwarts? Ron. He was talking about Ron. Ron had broken up with Hermione five months ago, after complaining that the only thing she had time for was work. Hermiones eyes began to fill with tears. No tears, Granger. Its a waste of good sorrow. She swiped her hand across her face, not wanting to cry in front of him. What do you suggest

instead? He grinned widely. Good sex is the best cure for a broken heart. Hermione bit her lip to prevent herself from grinning back at him. And you are offering to help me out until I can find some good sex? Draco laughed and jerked the sheet off of Hermione. Im going to make you take that back, Granger. Hermione finally smiled and fell back into bed feeling more confident and sexier than she had in

months. Give it your best shot, Malfoy.