Chapter Seven (Knockturn Alley: Part II)

The trio gave Draco a bewildered look. They weren't mad at the fact that Draco was there to meet Hermione, but the fact that she didn't tell them about it. Well, at least Harry and Ginny were. Ron was a different matter. Draco continued to give them a confused, nervous look. He didn't know what to expect from them. The last time he saw them, he was given a nice punch in the eye from the Weasel. He swallowed imaginary spit, trying to coat the back of his parched throat. He stood up tall and puffed out his chest. He put the yellow rose he brought for Hermione in front of him, symbolizing his neutrality. There was still a tension between them, considering their rocky past. The first one to break the ice was a fuming Ron. He still couldn't get over his jealousy.

"What are you gabbing about, Malfoy?" he spat.

"Where's Hermione?"

"Why does it matter? She doesn't want to hang with the likes of you." He continued with red creeping up his neck, blending in with his hair.

"I would watch what you say Weasel," Draco warned.

"What are you going to do? Overwhelm me with your horrid ferret odors?"

At that Draco, pulled out is wand and pointed it Ron's chest. "Come on Weasel-Bee, let's see what you got," he provoked. He had his a smirk plastered over his face; his eyes were blank and cold.

Ron clumsily pulled out his wand and motioned his wrist towards Draco. Before they could get a curse out, Ginny pulled out her wand and quickly, unknowingly, removed their wands from their hands. "Stop acting like a bunch of idiot two-year olds!" she commanded. Harry gave her an approving look as if to say 'that's my girl'.

"Ginny's right. You will not solve anything this way." He glanced at Ginny and she nodded for him to continue (one word 'whipped'). "Anyway, Draco what's your story? You said you were supposed to meet Hermione here. Well, she didn't tell us anything about it. I was just on way to look for her be--"

"Before this idiot over here left her at Florean's without a clue how to get to 'Blott's," she cut Harry off rather rudely.

Ron gave her an evil glare. He already felt bad enough, but for Ginny to further humiliate him, especially in front of Ferret Boy put him off even more. How could he compete with perfection?

"That's not fair!" Ron complained like an insolent brat. Draco snickered at his response, yet coughed nervously at the glare Ginny sent him.

"Well, what are we doing here looking handsome? Let's go look for her. Diagon Alley is the worst place to be lost, especially for a girl who barely remembers Hogwarts and hasn't a clue how to use magic," Draco explained truthfully. They all nodded in agreement, yet Ron still kept a chilly feeling with Draco. Draco returned the favor.

--

Hermione's body couldn't stop shaking from nerves. She was still in shock because of Draco's behavior. She was also angry…when Dra-Malfoy attacked her because particular memories came back. Ones that she never knew happened or couldn't remember until now. Her face was scarlet and if smoke could come out of her ears it would. She was no longer scared of her assailant even if it was Malfoy. He had his wand pointed at her heart and his other was grasped around her throat. She could no longer feel the pain that he had inflicted upon her. All she felt was the adrenaline and something…electric flowing through her body. She didn't know what it was; all she knew was that she had never experienced it in her life or at least that is what she thought. Malfoy's eyes were still cold, anger seething out of their gray pits.

"I won't leave, until you give me back what is rightfully mine," he cursed. He brought his fist to her cheek and it collided with her milky white skin, leaving a hideous red mark.

Hermione had finally had enough. She was so pent up in fury she didn't know where she began and ended. Her hair felt like it was on end. Before, she knew it her body glowed with power she didn't know she had. She broke free from Malfoy's grip. With that she raised her right fist and knocked him in the nose. It felt so good, she felt like she could run or jump in glee. Her body continued to radiate with a cerulean light. She could see the fear and concern in Malfoy's eyes. She started to laugh at how pathetic he looked. She assumed that the power she felt was… magic. If it was, she really liked it. All the power emanated off her, making her look extremely dangerous. She felt in her hand and lifted it. She moved it in a sweeping movement towards Malfoy, lifting him off of his feet. He collided into a brick wall and slowly slid down it, landing in a heap on the feces ridden cobblestones of Knockturn Alley. Malfoy looked at Hermione in horror and tried to crawl away from her. She was about to walk over to him, when he heard someone call her name.

"Hermione!"

Her eyes lit up in confusion; it was Malfoy. She shook her head, thinking she was hearing things and continued to look at the Malfoy in front of her. He stared at her in terror and didn't make a peep. She turned her head towards the entrance to Diagon Alley. This time she wasn't hearing things, she was hearing Ron's voice. They were obviously looking for her. Before she knew it, she saw her three friends and…Draco running towards her. They must have heard the commotion from the streets of Diagon Alley.

"But h-how?" she stuttered, while staring at Draco in bewilderment. She looked between him and the Malfoy in the corner. The one in corner had a cynical look. He smiled at the Draco that just came and stood up proudly.

"I knew you would come for me eventually," the broken-nosed Malfoy said. The real Draco looked at the imposter as if he saw a ghost. Utter confusion crossed his beautiful face. He didn't know what to say. He ignored the other Draco when he heard Hermione shuffle warily.

He looked at Hermione and saw that the side of her face was bruising. He rushed over to her to see if any more damage was done. He put his hand out to cup her cheek in order to inspect the rest of her face. Hermione flinched at his touch and started to shudder.

She pulled away from him. He look confused and stared at her.

"Don't touch me!" she snarled. He stepped forward with his arms stretched out, but she stepped back into the wall with hatred in her eyes. "Don't ever fucking touch me again! You think I don't know what your are ferret?" she spat. "You set me up. I should have never listened to your letter. This is what I get!" she pointed at the imposter in the corner, who smiled triumphantly. "I loathe you Malfoy and I never want to see you again!" Her heart shattered into a million pieces.

At that moment, everyone heard a sickly sound coming from the corner, like bones crackling. Slowly, the Draco in the corner slowly transformed into no other than Pansy Parkinson. Everyone gawked at her. "Hey, Drakie Poo!"

"Pansy what are you doing here?" he muttered. She gave him a flirtatious smile.

Hermione glared at the girl. She seemed vaguely similar. Pansy was the type of girl that everybody wished they could forget, but never succeeded. Draco continued to stare at Pansy, fury enveloping him. He would never dare to hit a girl, but in this case he might make an exception.

"You see Drakie, I saw this little bitch with you at St. Mungo's when I was visiting my delirious father. Do you know he is in Azkaban now?" Draco shook off the obvious…her father was a Death Eater.

"Finish!" he whispered, but Pansy heard him. It held so much anger. She seemed a bit flustered, but continued anyway.

"I heard a racket, while I was walking past I her /I door, so my curiosity got the better of me. You know how that can be, right babe?" Draco gagged in his throat. Hermione gave her a venomous look.

Pansy coughed to keep from laughing. " I over heard Weasel bee. He seemed pretty heated over the fact that you were tonguing miss princess over there. You can say that I wanted to keep you from making a mistake and choosing her over me." Draco couldn't believe Pansy; he would never want her…she was a foul, disgusting creature. " I magically intercepted your letter and changed it." She giggled at her genius plan. Obviously it worked. She rubbed her hands, like a child who won a prize.

Draco's face was beet-red. He slowly walked over to her. She was giggling profusely. Maybe, she would get her prize. Draco put on his infamous smirk. Oh, how he wanted to hurt her. Hermione beat him to it.

"Why, you loathsome BITCH!" she screeched as she ran tackling Pansy to the ground. Hermione straddled her and started to punch, scratch, bite…anything that would cause the most pain. Pansy tried to fight back. She pulled on Hermione's hair, but Hermione slapped her hand away. Hermione found Pansy's wand about five feet away from her. She quickly scampered after it.

Everything happened so fast. The boys finally realized what was going on and went to pull them way from each other, but were to late.

"Stupefy!" Hermione bellowed. Purple light shot out from the tip of the wand, stopping Pansy from moving. The boys turned to Hermione, their eyes wide in disbelief. They didn't care about Pansy; the authorities would probably reprimand her for this.

"Her-hermione, where did you learn that curse?" Harry asked his jaw still wide open. Hermione was panting; her eyes were starting to lose the anger she previously had. She took a moment to think about what he said. She didn't know...it just came to her. She was so mad and wanted to stop Pansy, so she could take a breather. Before, she knew it she stunned her.

She combed her crumpled hair with her fingers and sighed. "I don't know. Everything seems so fuzzy. It just came to me."

"You know what this means? Hermione you're getting your memory back," an animated Ron said. He ran over to Hermione and gently embraced her. Hermione didn't expect it; his big, long arms trapped her arms, so she couldn't return the favor. She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent…he smelled like wood and something sweet, like maple. She remembered that they had pancakes for breakfast. She smiled at his appetite. She thought about what Ron said, she was getting her memory back, especially the magic part of it.

Draco's eyes were on the two hugging friends. His eyes were glued to Hermione peaceful face. A stream of envy flowed through his veins. His eyes turned cold. Seconds later Hermione eyes fluttered open and met his. Fireworks went off, but they were suppressed by anger. He had to give Hermione time. She was obviously reminded of their past and she thought he was a suspect of today's events.

Hermione tried to get Ron off of her, even though she felt comfort and secure in them. She felt like an idiot. She didn't mean to accuse Draco, but what's a girl to think in a situation like that, especially one that hardly remembers anything about the wizarding world. A pang of guilt hit her like wildfire.

She walked over to Draco's wistful form, trying to meet his eyes. He looked, like a child who didn't get what he wanted. "Draco?" she barely uttered. He turned his gaze to her. Her stomach fluttered at there coldness. Deep inside she could see and feel the warmth of them as well.

She stuck out her hand to lure him over. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize what was going. Will you ever forgive m-." She never finished because Draco fiercely took her hand and pulled her into a passionate kiss. His tongue asked for entrance and received it without hesitation. Heat flowed through her body to her very core. She clung to Draco in longing, feeling at home once again. Draco felt like he could cry in Hermione's arms with the love…yea love he felt for her.

The trio looked at the kissing couple and turned their timid eyes elsewhere, except a certain red-haired boy. He stared at them in jealously, wishing he were the one kissing Hermione.

Draco reluctantly pulled away from Hermione and brought his eyes to meet hers. They suddenly looked forlorn. "Hermione if I could only tell you how I feel," he rested his forehead on hers.

"Draco what are you talking about?" Her eyes were wide in bewilderment.

"I think it may be better if we don't see each other. Hermione…I don't want to see you get hurt like you did today. I have a lot of enemies that are eager to get back at me," he finished in a flood of words.

Tears start to form on the brim of Hermone's eyelids. She couldn't absorb what he just said. He didn't want to see her anymore. She didn't care if she was I danger. She could take of herself. Her body felt numb. 'So that is how he feels…he thinks I am some weak trollop that can't care for myself.' He was wrong, she could. She was too damn stubborn to be made a fool out of.

"Leave," she growled deep in her throat, averting her eyes. She didn't want him to see the hurt he caused and the tears that were threatening to leave her eyelashes.

"What?"

"I want you to take your girlfriend and GO!" she continued. She lost her battle with her tears as they streamed down her cheeks.

"Hermione, why are you getting so mad? I only want you to be safe--"

"Urgh! I hate you!" she started to pound her fists on his chest. "Don't you get that! Leave already…leave or I will hex you!" She raised her wand threateningly.

Before Draco had a moment to think, he grabbed Pansy stunned hand and apparated. Hermione didn't see the look of horror plastered on his face or the tears that escaped his eyes.

She couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She collapsed to the floor, her body shaking from sobs. She just let go of the one person that she truly cared for more than a friend does…she loved him.

Ginny ran over to her to offer her a shoulder to cry on. The boys followed. Ron felt sorry for Hermione and his heart clenched to see her so upset, but he couldn't help the relief that washed over his body.