A week after Draco was discharged from hospital, Draco and Hermione were waiting at St. Mungo's for his first follow up appointment with Healer Dawson.
Over the weekend Draco and Hermione had talked quite a bit about their relationship and Hermione had told Draco numerous stories about their lives together. While things weren't as awkward between them, Draco had still not plucked up the courage to ask about the more intimate part of their lives.
After waiting for a few minutes Healer Dawson appeared and ushered Draco and Hermione into his office. After giving Draco a physical check over the three sat at Healer Dawson's desk to talk.
"Well, you're in good shape physically. So I can clear you to go back to work, if you want?" Healer Dawson began.
"Yes, that would be good." Draco said, he was starting to get bored being stuck at home all day.
"Of course it would only be office work for the moment, I couldn't clear you for field work for several more weeks."
Draco looked like he was about to complain but Healer Dawson quickly progressed the conversation.
"How's your memory? Any progress?"
"Not really, though sometimes I know where to find things in the house without being told." Draco said, explaining the incident with the cutlery his first night home.
Since the cutlery incident, the same thing had happened to Draco several times. He had automatically known where to find things in the kitchen and library and a few days ago he had been searching in his wardrobe for a certain shirt even though he had no memory of owning the shirt.
"Interesting." Healer Dawson mused after Draco had finished explaining. "It would seem you've retained some of your memories."
"Does this mean the rest will return?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not sure, it's hard to tell with these things." Healer Dawson said kindly, not wanting to give the young couple false hope. "Has there been anything else happened I should know about?"
"Yes." Draco said, making Hermione turn to stare at him in shock. He had never admitted anything else had happened with his memory.
"I don't know if it means anything, but there's a painting in our bedroom," Draco explained. "Every time I look at it, I get a feeling like I've been to the beach that the painting shows. It's probably stupid though." He shrugged, wondering if he had just made a fool of himself.
"Mrs Malfoy, is there something you want to add." Healer Dawson said, drawing Draco's attention to the brunette beside him.
Draco was surprised to see Hermione looking at him strangely.
"What?" He asked.
"The painting, the reason you recognize the beach is because you have been there." Hermione said, wondering why he hadn't mentioned the feeling before. "It's a beach in Sri Lanka. It's where we went on honeymoon."
"I think this proves your memories are still there, hopefully being in familiar surroundings will continue to jog them." Healer Dawson told Draco, who was still stunned by the fact his feelings had been right.
After arranging another appointment, Healer Dawson let Draco and Hermione leave his office and head home.
"Are you okay?" Draco asked Hermione as he sat down beside her on the settee.
They had been back at home all afternoon and ever since the appointment with the healer, Hermione had been very quiet and withdrawn, the only time she spoke more than a few words was when she asked Draco what he wanted to eat for lunch. She even only muttered a few words when Draco told her he had arranged a meeting with The Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shackelbolt, later that day to talk about him returning to work.
Over the course of the last couple of days, Draco had found himself increasingly drawn to Hermione as they talked more and he got to know more about their relationship and her personally.
"I'm fine." Hermione replied, not entirely convincingly.
"No you're not." Draco sighed. "You're upset I didn't tell you about the painting."
Hermione looked at Draco in shock, while she was used to him being able to read her emotions very well normally, he hadn't exhibited any sign of doing so since his memory loss.
"I'm sorry, I just wasn't sure if I was really feeling a connection to the painting or if I was making it up because I wanted to remember." Draco admitted, feeling relieved to be telling Hermione about the feelings the painting invoked in him. "I didn't want to look like an idiot, if I said anything and it was just some random picture that had no significance."
"You wouldn't have." Hermione finally said, looking at Draco. "I wish you'd told me."
"I promise I'll tell you anything else that happens." Draco said, pleased when Hermione nodded and smiled at him.
Draco had never been so close to Hermione as he was at the minute, sitting next to her on the settee. While Draco had to admit Hermione was now very attractive, he hadn't really looked at her closely, for the first time he really looked at his wife and he realised just how beautiful she was. Carefully he brushed some stray hair out of her face and slowly bent his head to kiss her.
Just as their lips were about to meet, the sound of the doorbell rang through the house, interrupting them. Pulling apart reluctantly, Hermione went to answer the door, leaving Draco sitting on the settee cursing the inconsiderate person who had interrupted him and Hermione.
Draco was distinctly unimpressed when Hermione returned to the room with Harry Potter trailing behind her.
"Potter, what brings you here?" Draco asked, still unhappy with his timing.
"I thought I would drop in to inform you of some news regarding the investigation." Harry said, as he sat down in a chair.
Hermione returned to her seat next to Draco and waited for Harry to continue.
"Technically, I shouldn't be telling you this, but as my friends I think you should be kept updated." Harry said, noticing how close Draco and Hermione were sitting. "We've found evidence of three unofficial port keys used in the area of Draco's attack on the night in question. We're still investigating where they came to and from but we should find out in the next few days."
"It's taken you this long to get this information?" Draco asked, shocked by how slow the Auror department worked.
"Yes, unfortunately monitoring unofficial port keys is tricky and the most capable person in the office isn't available." Harry said.
"Why not? This is important Potter, make them available." Draco seethed, he wanted answers as to who had attacked him and why.
Harry laughed. "I was talking about you, Malfoy. That's one of your area of expertise."
Draco was unsure of how to respond. "Well I've been cleared for work so maybe I can help." He said, wondering if he would be any use since he couldn't remember any of his training or any past work experience.
"I wish you could, but you'll not be allowed because you're involved. Sorry." Harry said, knowing Draco would have been a valuable asset in the investigation.
"I'm sure we could find a way around that." Draco smirked, his Slytherin side making an appearance.
"Maybe." Harry said, knowing before the end of the week Draco would be involved in his investigation somehow.
Hermione shook her head knowing together her husband and best friend would find a way around the rules and have Draco working on the case.
"I've got to go, I'm meeting Ron." Harry said as he stood up. "When will you be returning to work?" He asked Draco.
"I'm going to see The Minister later today, so hopefully tomorrow." Draco told Harry.
Harry said goodbye to Hermione and left the couple alone again.
"Thank you." Hermione said, as she returned from seeing Harry out of the house.
"What for?" Draco questioned.
"For making an effort with Harry."
"My parents said we're friendly now that we work together, so I thought I'd try to be nice. Besides, he's your friend." Draco said. "Not that I can promise I'll be as nice to Weasley."
"Don't worry, I'm used to you and Ron barely tolerating each other." Hermione laughed. "Luckily you don't see each other too often."
"So he's not an Auror like me and Potter." Draco asked, surprised the redhead hadn't followed in Potter's footsteps, from what he remembered of the pair, Weasley just seemed to follow Potter like a sheep.
"No, he lives and works in Hogsmeade." Hermione said. "He manages Fred and George's joke shop in the village."
"So I don't have to put up with him too often?" Draco asked, relieved.
"No, you don't." Hermione smiled, checking the time. "It's nearly time for you to go and see Kingsley."
Draco left to get ready for his meeting, leaving Hermione alone to contemplate what would have happened if Harry hadn't interrupted them earlier.
Later that evening after Draco had been to see the Minister and arranged to return to work and they had had dinner, Draco and Hermione settled down in the front room to watch a film.
Hermione had explained the point of the muggle box in the corner to Draco earlier in the week and had promised him they would use it when he felt he could cope with something else that was new to him.
Draco was fascinated by the film and the experience and he watched without speaking throughout the entire thing. Hermione was incredibly relieved the experience hadn't been a repeat of the first time she had watched a film with him, back then he had talked and asked questions the entire time.
"That was good, very convenient. You don't even have to leave your house." Draco commented as Hermione removed the DVD from the machine.
"That's the idea." Hermione smiled, pleased to have spent an evening with Draco without it turning uncomfortable. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"I did, we'll have to watch another some time." Draco said, an idea suddenly popping into his head. "Maybe now."
Hermione smiled at Draco's enthusiasm. "Maybe another time, you're going back to work tomorrow and I'm really tired."
"Okay." Draco replied. "Why are you so tired?"
"I'm not sleeping too well." Hermione shrugged.
Draco wondered if the reason she wasn't sleeping was because she was in the spare room instead of her own bed. He also wondered if that was why he wasn't sleeping too well either. Draco wanted to suggest she returned to their bed, it was definitely big enough so that they wouldn't disturb each other but he couldn't quite summon the courage to ask her.
"Sorry." He finally said, not sure what else to say.
"It's not your fault, darling." Hermione said as she tidied up the glasses from the living room.
Draco watched her in surprise, it was the first time she had used any sort of endearment towards him but he had a feeling she hadn't realised she'd even said it as she continued to fuss around the room.
"If you're tired, you should go to bed, I'll tidy up." Draco said, removing the glasses from her hand.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked, stifling a yawn.
"Yes, night Granger."
"Night." Hermione said smiling softly at Draco.
Hermione looked at Draco as if she was trying to decide something, after a few seconds she gave him a peck on the cheek and left the room.
Draco watched his wife leave the room, the feeling of her kiss still lingering against his cheek. For the first time since he had woken up, Draco admitted to himself he was definitely attracted to Hermione and wasn't upset that she was his wife. Even if his memories never returned he had hope they could work things out and have a future together.