Hermione pushed the door to her flat open, juggling the bags in her arms. '' Well, this is it. '' She said as she stepped out of the way, allowing Draco to follow her in before kicking the door closed. '' Give me a minute to put the groceries away and I will show you around. '' She quickly made for the kitchen, the bags in her arms becoming heavier the longer the held them.
A few minutes later she returned from the kitchen to find Draco with his back to her, staring up at the pictures she had on the wall in her living room. She smiled and walked over to stand beside him. She had made a collage with server pictures in their seperate frames. '' This was Harry, Ron, and I at the end of fifth year. '' She pointed to the moving picture of the trio, smiling happily. '' This one is of my parents, its a few years old now but I'm sure they look the same. '' A faint smile crossing her lips.
Draco studied the photos closely. '' Why doesn't the one of your parents move? '' Hermione rubbed her arm lightly. '' Well, because they are muggles. Muggle pictures don't move like wizards pictures do. ''
The blonde turned to stare at her, his grey eyes studying her. '' That seems familiar. ''
Hermione's eyes lit up with hope. '' Really? ''
Draco nodded shortly. '' Muggle borns and pure bloods do not mix. '' He said in a voice that sounded almost exactly like this fathers.
Hermione frowned, her hope faultering. '' Come on, let me show you around. '' This was not a good sign. The Draco she had grown close to didn't speak like that anymore. He considered all magical beings equal, reguardless of the blood status.
Draco followed her in silence, his hands behind his back. '' You've obviously seen the living room, and this is the kitchen. Its small I know but its usually just me here so... '' She trailed off before continuing the tour. She led him down the short hallway. '' There is only one bathroom, right here on your left. '' She continued to the end of the hallway and opened the door on the left. '' This is going to be your room. '' She said stepping a side so he could go in.
There was a full size bed with a dark cherry wood head and foot board, matching chest of drawers and nightstand. The walls were a pale green with cream trim. On the far side of the room was the closet and the interior wall was lined with several bookcases, all completely filled.
Draco moved into the room, his brow raised slowly as he looked at all the books. It was small but the colors gave the room a very tranquil feel. He could deal with it.
Hermione leaned against the door frame. '' I sent Ron to your apartment to pick up some clothes for you, he should be here in a little while. There are extra towels in the closet in the bathroom. Is there anything I'm forgetting? '' She asked.
Draco looked up at her and shrugged. '' How am I supposed to know? '' The comment coming off with a little rudeness to it.
Hermione frowned. '' Alright then. I'll just let you get settled then. '' She said in a clipped tone before making her way back to the kitchen. This was seriously, not looking good.
She began preparing lunch to keep her mind from wandering to the strange way Draco was acting. She knew he couldn't remember anything but the one thing he did remember bothered her to no end. Muggle borns and purebloods do not mix. His words replayed over in her mind.
A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts and she wiped her hands on a towel near the sink and went to the door. When it opened Ron and Harry stood in front of her, Ron holding up a duffle bag that was ready to burst at the seams. '' He had too much to choose from so I just brought everything. '' Ron said sheepishly setting the bag down just inside the door.
Once they were both inside Hermione closed the door behind him and leaned against it. '' You guys, I think we may have a bit of a problem. ''
Harry and Ron both stared at her quizzically. '' What do you mean? '' Harry finally said.
'' Well..When we got home today, Draco was looking at the pictures of us on the wall. '' She nodded toward them. '' He asked why my parents picture wasn't moving and I told him because they were muggle. Long story short he said he remembered something and I swear if he hadn't been right in front of me I would have thought it was Lucius speaking. He said and I quote. '' Muggle borns and purebloods do not mix. '' I don't know what to think. '' She said quietly not wanting Draco to overhear the conversation.
Ron's eyebrows rose and Harry looked deep in thought. '' Maybe its a good sign, Hermione. It may not have been what you wanted to hear, but he is remembering something. Reguardless of who said it and when. Its something he knows. '' Harry offered.
Ron frowned. '' Yeah but doesn't it worry you that that would be the first thing he remembers, Harry? I don't want to be the one to say it but what if the Malfoy we have known the last few months, isn't the same Malfoy that woke up? ''
'' What the hell are you talking about Ron? '' Harry sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on.
'' What he means is, what if he has reverted back to the old Draco.. Without remembering the events that caused him to change he has no reason to change his views. He doesn't even know what his views are. Its clear he doesn't remember any of us so he doesn't remember school at all. But he was with his father before that. He was brought up thinking he was better than everyone. Don't you remember? '' Hermione said quietly.
''Ex-'' Ron started but was interrupted.
'' You do realize that your house is very small and I can hear everything you are saying no matter how quiet you are trying to be, don't you? '' Draco stood with his arms folded across his chest with an angry glare in his eyes.
Hermione frowned. '' I'm sorry, Draco. We weren't trying to talk about you behind your back, we just.. Well, I don't really know how to explain it. Harry, help me out here? '' She begged looking to her raven haired friend.
'' Well what she means is..'' He paused rubbing the back of his neck searching for the right words.
'' What they mean is you were a spoiled git and made our lives hell in school, before you changed and what you told Hermione you remembered made her think that you had reverted back to that Draco instead of the one that we actually liked recently. '' Ron blurted as he sat down on the couch, throwing his arms over the back of the couch.
''Ronald! '' Hermione scalded.
Draco turned his attention to Hermione. '' Is that true? ''
Hermione looked down. '' Well, yes. Kind of. Its complicated! '' She pleaded.
'' Complicated.. Got it. And because I have no memory I can't keep up right? I think I pretty much know what this is about. For whatever reason you all made me change. Changed me from the person I truly was. It was the only way we got along. So basically this whole friendship or whatever you call it, was all an act. As long as I acted the way you thought was appropriate we were friends. Nice... '' He nodded his head. He turned on his heels, storming back into his room, slamming the door.
'' Way to go, Ron! '' Hermione and Harry yelled at the same time.
Hermione sank to the floor infront of the door and looked to her two best friends. '' What do we do now? Just let him sit in there thinking that story he just spun for himself is true? ''
Harry raised a brow at her. '' If you think of it from his perspective it is true. I can see why he thinks that. No spinning needed. ''
'' You are not helping, Harry. '' She frowned.
After several minutes of silence Ron finally stood up and stretched. '' Well, I'd love to stay but I have somewhere to be in half an hour. I'll see you guys later. ''
Hermione stood up and moved out of the way, crossing her arms as Ron left abruptly and she looked back to Harry. '' What was that all about? ''
'' He has a date with some mystery girl tonight. He wouldn't tell me who. '' He shrugged.
A ping of jealously struck her but she hid it before Harry could see. '' Oh. Well.. Good for him. '' She plastered on a fake smile that she hoped Harry wouldn't see through.
She didn't know why she felt jealous, after the war they had decided that it would not work between them and that neither of them wanted to risk their friendship if things didn't work out. He had every right to see whoever he wanted, just as she had the same right. Yes, this was perfectly natural.
'' I should probably be going to. Send me an owl if you need anything. And don't worry, Ginny is working the night shift tonight so you won't be interrupting anything. '' He winked at her, heading for the door.
Hermione rolled her eyes and closed the door behind him. Resting her head against the door and closing her eyes as she tried to figure out the best way to approach this Draco situation. It was not going to be easy. No, it would take hours, and she would have to tell him of all her memories from school. Ones she had pushed away once the new Draco had taken over. This was going to be a very long day..
She took a deep breath and made her way to Draco's room, knocking on the door before she opened it, coming inside. '' We need to have a talk..'' She said closing the door behind her.
Several hours later, Draco was pacing the room, running his hands through his hair. '' So let me get this straight. You hated me in school when we were YOUNG because I called you names? '' This conversation was going no where. He was completely missing the point.
Hermione dropped her head and sighed in aggrivation. '' No, not because you called me NAMES. Because you called me ONE name. Mudblood. It means dirty blood. But you are missing the point, Draco. School problems didn't matter anymore. Not before your accident. Like I said you had changed, you didn't think the way you did in school. You were...different. You weren't brainwashed by all the pureblood superiority crap your father had crammed into your mind from the time you were born. ''
Draco stopped in his tracks and looked down at her, his grey eyes on fire. '' And what makes you think it was brainwashing? How do I know you aren't trying to brainwash me right now? You are after all.. well I won't say it, but you are different. I need to see my family. I need to know what they say. I can't trust that you are telling me the truth. ''
At that she stood up her hands balled into fists. She was furious. '' What do you mean you can't trust me? In case you forgot I was the one who healed you, who sat by your bedside EVERY day. Would I really do that if you were the same ignorant little boy from school? Would I have invited you to stay here so I could help you until your memory came back if we weren't ... well I don't know what we were exactly but if we weren't something? '' She shouted at him.
Draco smirked, crossing his arms casually over his chest as he listened to her outburst and shrugged.
Completely frustrated with the situation she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
'' Well, that was productive. '' He mumbled to himself, laying down on his bed. Things just didn't add up. Why didn't she want him to see his parents and why the hell would he change who he was so suddenly? No she was definitely lying. He would go see his parents tomorrow and that was his choice to make. He would get the truth one way or another.