Author's Note: I am SO sorry it has taken me so long to update! This chapter is long overdue and I hope you like it! Thank you again to the reviews and for adding this story to your favorites :) And a big thank you to those of you who reviewed! It really makes me want to keep writing! Keep on coming with those reviews!

"Before you, I could only see as deep as the skin. Before you, I never thought I could let anyone in. Before you, I was waiting for my life to begin."

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!
Credit for this wonderful book goes to JK Rowling :)

{ obliviate }

The Only One
Chapter Three

As soon as they got back to Hermione's flat, Draco sprinted to the guest bedroom and barricaded the door. Hermione dashed after him and cringed as she heard Draco breaking almost everything in the room. She was going to bust the door down but figured it would just be better for him to let out all of his frustration and confusion out. Besides, she could use magic to fix whatever he broke anyway. So really, it was no big deal. She knew she should call Harry, but she felt strangely protective of Draco and didn't want Harry to see him so vulnerable. So, instead she leaned against the wall and slid down to the ground to sit and wait for him to be done. Hermione didn't have to wait long before the crashing died down and she heard Draco sit down heavily on the floor. She wondered what he was thinking about and how hard he was trying to remember what happened with his father.

"Malfoy?" Hermione asked.

"Why did you and Weasley break up?"

Hermione stiffened at his question, "I don't really want to talk about it."

"Please, Hermione," Draco pleaded, "Give me something else to be mad about."

She could hear the desperation in his voice, the undisguised pain. This new Draco Malfoy unsettled her, but at the same time she felt drawn to him, to his vulnerability and need for attention. She wanted to hold him and protect him, to take away his pain. The way his voice broke on her name crushed her already weak resolve to not let him in. So, she told him the things that she hadn't told anyone besides Harry and Ginny.

"Did you know I was pregnant?" Hermione asked.

"You were? When? What happened?" he sounded genuinely concerned and this helped Hermione continue.

"About six months before my wedding," Hermione said quietly, "I found out because I miscarried. I was three months pregnant."

The door to the guest room opened and Draco peered out, his face flushed and his eyes red, "I'm so sorry, Hermione. That's so terrible."

"It was a long time ago," Hermione watched as Draco crawled out of the guest room and sat next to her, "Ronald was furious. At first, he just called me names. He told me that losing the baby was my fault. That since I'm the brightest witch of our age I should have been able to save the baby."

Draco gaped at Hermione, "What the fuck is wrong with that bastard?"

"I don't know," Hermione shrugged and continued, "About a month after I miscarried, he started grabbing me and shaking me. Eventually he hit me."

"Draco's head snapped to the side to look at Hermione and in a deadly calm voice he asked, "He did what?"

"He hit me," Hermione repeated, "This lasted for another two months. Then Ginny found some of the bruises and went off on Ron. Then she told Harry who dragged him outside and beat him."

"Good for Potter!" Draco growled, "I will kill Weasley next time I see him."

Hermione scowled, "You will do no such thing! Ronald is not worth the energy."

"I can't promise you I won't hurt him, "Draco said stiffly.

"Anyway," Hermione said, glaring at Draco, "After that he went to counseling and for the three months before the wedding, he was perfect."

"So why didn't you marry him?" Draco asked.

"I almost did," Hermione sighed, "Thankfully, right before we were pronounced husband and wife, Hannah Abbott stood up and objected to the marriage because she was six months pregnant with Ronald's child. I slapped him and ran."

"That worthless git!" Draco fumed as he put an arm around Hermione's shoulders, "I'm so sorry he did that to you. You didn't deserve any of that, Hermione."

Hermione leaned into Draco's embrace, "Thanks, Malfoy."

"Call me Draco," he said quietly.

That was when Hermione decided to give Draco a chance. They may have not gotten along at school, but that was a long time ago and Draco seemed so different. This new Draco was kind and sweet and strangely protective of her. She wondered why he acted like that. Did it have something to do with losing his memories? Or did he finally just decide he needed to change? They sat in silence for a little bit before Draco stood up, helping Hermione after him.

"Let's get Potter, shall we?" Draco asked.

Hermione nodded and smiled at Draco, leading him back into her living room. Draco was actually amazed at how forgiving Hermione was. He had expected her to scoff at him and turn him away. It would have been no less than he deserved after the way he treated her all those years before, but if his father had found out he was in love with a mudblood since fourth year, he would have gone crazy and it would have been Draco's end. So he had to continue to hate the Gryffindor Princess when he wanted nothing more than to be the reason for her smile. He would do anything to make Hermione Granger his and since Weasley was no longer in the picture, it would be quite easy. At least, he hoped it would be. He watched as Hermione grabbed a fistful of floo powder and threw it into the flames. She crouched down and stuck her head into the flames.

"Potter cottage!" Hermione called and after a few moments, spoke again, "Ginny! Is Harry there? Oh, hello Harry! Can you come over? I need to speak with you."

Hermione stood up and stepped back from the fireplace. Draco was actually rather nervous. He hadn't seen Potter since the final battle of Hogwarts. It was only a few moments before Harry Potter stepped through the fireplace, brushing ash off of his robes. He looked up with a smile on his face, his emerald green eyes sparkling before they landed on Draco. In a split second his eyes narrowed and darkened and he had his wand trained on Draco. Hermione squeaked and jumped between Harry and Draco, her hand on Harry's wand. Draco stood calmly, watching Harry carefully. He wouldn't be able to do anything, Hermione still had his wand.

"Hermione, what is he doing here?" Harry ground out.

"Oh come off it, Harry!" Hermione snapped, "School was ages ago."

"He was still a Death Eater," Harry spat the word.

Draco cleared his throat, "A forced Death Eater, if it means anything."

"Forced?" Hermione looked at Draco.

"My father told me that if I didn't join the Dark Lord, then my mother was going to be killed," Draco said, his eyes pleading with Hermione to understand, "I had to protect her."

Hermione's eyes softened and she turned back to Harry, "For Merlin's sake, Harry! Put down your wand! Malfoy doesn't even have his!"

Harry pocketed his wand, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "He doesn't?"

"Nope," Draco smirked, "Granger here took it from me before I even set foot inside her flat."

"Oh," Harry looked a little lost, "How long have you been here then?"

"He showed up last night after the celebration," Hermione spoke up, "That's why I wanted to talk to you Harry. Malfoy's last clear memory was that day before my wedding when Ginny and I were shopping for dresses."

"So what's important about that?" Harry asked.

"Because Potter," Draco drawled, "It has something to do with my father."

Harry's mouth fell open in shock, "That's not possible. Your father is in Azkaban."

"Apparently not," Draco hugged and sat down on the couch, "Hermione took me to St. Mungo's earlier to help me try to remember and the only thing I got was my dear father coming home."

"How long ago was this?" Harry asked.

"Oh, you know, Potter, it was just last week," Draco said sarcastically.

Harry scowled, "So you don't know?"

"No, we don't know," Hermione said, glaring at Draco, "When did the Death Eaters start acting up?"

"About six months ago," Harry murmured, sitting down.

"I think that Draco's father is behind it," Hermione said, "It makes sense. Why would he escape Azkaban with no one realizing it, if he wasn't up to something?"

"I agree with Hermione," Draco said.

Harry narrowed his eyes, "How do we know that you really lost your memories? How do we know you aren't working for your father?"

"There is a reason why I didn't kill Dumbledore and why I didn't tell my father who you were," Draco snapped, "That's not the life I wanted. When my father went to Azkaban I thought I could finally be my own person, make my own decisions, love who I wanted… put me under veritaserum if you'd like. I'm not lying; I've been trying to be a better person."

"Harry, give him a chance," Hermione murmured, "He could help you."

"Give me a reason to trust you, Malfoy, and I'll consider it," with that said, Harry spun on the balls of his feet and disapparated.

Hermione let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and sat down next to Draco, "Well that went over well."

"I'm sorry Hermione," Draco said softly, staring at his hands.

"For what?" Hermione asked, glancing sideways at him.

"All of the horrible things I've said and done to you," Draco whispered, looking up into Hermione's eyes.

The sincerity in his grey orbs took her breath away and she let out an inaudible gasp, "It's okay, Draco…"

"No, Hermione! It's not okay!" Draco's tortured gaze traveled down to her arm and he traced the white scar that decorated her skin, "I wanted to stop it. I wanted to stop my Aunt from hurting you. I wanted to stop myself from hurting you, but I couldn't. I was weak."

"It's not weakness when you're protecting someone that you love," Hermione said, "It takes a lot of strength to be a part of something you don't like just to keep someone safe. Don't doubt yourself, Draco. That isn't who you are."

Draco stared at Hermione, his eyes wide as she stood up. She gave him a small smile and walked back to her room, shutting the door behind her.

{ }

Harry apparated into his and Ginny's flat with an audible 'pop'. He ran a hand through his unruly black hair and heaved a sigh, sitting down on his sofa. Ginny came into the room a few minutes later and saw her fiancée's troubled look. She sat down next to Harry and took his hands into hers. She didn't ask him what was wrong. He would tell her when he was ready. It wasn't long before Harry got up and began to pace in front of Ginny. She watched him calmly, waiting.

"Malfoy is at Hermione's apartment," Harry suddenly said, "Malfoy. Hermione is crazy! What is she thinking?"

Ginny's eyes widened in surprise, "Malfoy as in Draco Malfoy?"

"The very same," Harry seethed.

"What's he doing there?" Ginny asked.

Harry ran a hand through his tangled hair, "He claims to have lost his memory. Now Hermione and Draco claim that Lucius Malfoy somehow broke out of Azkaban and is in charge of the Death Eaters. That he has been behind all the attacks the last six months."

"Well it does make sense, Harry," Ginny said softly.

"Yeah but how could we not know that Lucius escaped from Azkaban?" Harry threw up his hands in frustration.

"If anyone could find out how to do it, Lucius Malfoy is it," Ginny stood and took Harry's hands into hers, "Now what's really bothering you?"

Harry let the feel of Ginny's skin on his soothe him, "How could Hermione be so open with him? So trusting? After everything he put her through during school? How can she just believe him?"

"Hermione is the brightest witch of our age," Ginny smiled softly, "And she does specialize in memory loss. Besides, weren't you the one who defended Malfoy at his trial?"

"That's because he saved my life, Gin," Harry sighed, "He didn't tell his parents or his aunt that it was me that day at the manor. It doesn't mean that I'm suddenly friends with him."

"I know it doesn't," Ginny kissed his knuckles, "But you know Hermione. If she is determined to help him, and if she thinks Malfoy's father is behind everything, then he very well could be. You may not trust Malfoy, but you trust Hermione right? And when is our Hermione ever wrong?"

"Hardly ever," Harry said, accepting the inevitable.

"So then trust Hermione to work with Malfoy," Ginny said, "You know she will give you whatever information she finds out and you can look into it."

Harry groaned, "But how do we know Malfoy isn't just trying to trick us? What if he's working for his Father?"

"Hermione is smarter than that. Now let's go talk to them and let them know that you will accept Malfoy's help with whatever he can remember," Ginny began tugging at his hand, "And then you can look into Lucius escaping from Azkaban."

{ }

Draco was still sitting in the same spot that Hermione had left him in. How long ago did she go back to her room? A few minutes ago? A few hours? He didn't know. His mind was churning with the words she left him with. Did she really think that he was brave? Did she really think he had that much strength? He just couldn't see it. He had been so afraid of what would happen to his mother if he disobeyed his Father; if he found out he cared about Hermione during school. He shuddered at the thought of what would happen to her if his father ever found Hermione. He should probably lay low for a while. He didn't know what his Father was planning and didn't want to get Hermione dragged into it. He was startled out of his thoughts when he heard the fireplace roar to life and out stepped Potter and the She Weasel.

"Where is Hermione?" Harry asked.

"She went into her room after you left," Draco shrugged, "What do you need?"

"Harry needs to talk to you," the She Weasel, Ginny was her name, said, "I need to speak with Hermione."

Ginny placed a chaste kiss on Harry's lips before walking past Draco and towards Hermione's room. They listened to the door shut and heard Hermione and Ginny's squeal of excitement before everything was quiet again. The tension in the room was palpable, but Draco wasn't going to be the first one to break it. If Potter didn't want to trust him, then fine, but he wasn't going to beg to convince him. He didn't need to. He knew the path that he had chosen, and it was different from his Father's. He wanted to be good enough for Hermione. Someone she could trust and rely on. He wanted to be able to make her face light up when he walked into the room. It was all he'd ever wanted.

Harry sat down across from Draco and cleared his throat, "I don't trust you, Malfoy."

"No surprise there," Draco snorted.

"But," Harry glared, continuing, "I trust Hermione with my life. She somehow thinks that there is some good in you. If that's the case, then I will trust her judgment to trust you but if you hurt her in any way, I will hunt you down and I will make you wish you were dead."

Draco sneered, "Making threats are we, Potter?"

"Promises," Harry shrugged, "Hermione is my best friend and I'll do anything for her."

Draco leaned back, watching Harry carefully, "So what do you want to know?"

"Everything, tell me everything you remember."

{ obliviate }

Author's Note: Once again, I am so sorry about the length of time between these updates! I have been so busy with work and preparations to get back into the civilian world that my life has been pretty hectic! I hope that you like this chapter! If it's a little shorter, I'm sorry! I've had a bit of writers block. I know what I want to write but can't seem to get it written down the way I want it. Leave me a review and let me know what you think!

:D