Author's Note: And chapter nine for your pleasure! This should be interesting to read for you, I suppose...


The Missing Piece Chapter Nine

Day: 20

Malfoy reached out to grab a jar containing memories with slender fingers. He tipped the jar so that the cap was facing him, enabling him to read the date on it. Hermione hadn't known the dates were written on the jars, and had always assumed he just happened to know what happened on certain dates.

"This one is next. January 3rd, 2000." Malfoy murmured so low his voice was almost raspy. He sighed, as if thinking twice about this particular memory, making Hermione anticipate it all the more.

Malfoy dropped the memory in the pensieve regardless.

"Ready?" He said, running a hand through his hair as though preparing himself for what was to come.

"You're coming again?" Hermione wondered, her tone bordering on accusatory.

Malfoy placed a pensive expression on his face. "I think I should." He stated simply.

Hermione looked into the basin, watching the black swirls take shape and form the Ministry of Magic once again, asking herself briefly if she was ever going to view memories from another place. Then she brought her face near the lukewarm liquid, and felt the now familiar sense of her feet leaving the ground.

Hermione stood in an enormous room she had never seen before. It closely resembled the Great Hall at Hogwarts in terms of dimensions of the room. There was even a long table in the center of the room, very much like those in the Great Hall. Many people sat at the single table, including Memory Harry, Shacklebolt, Draco and Hermione. It appeared it was a meeting between several people from the Auror Department and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

"Law Enforcement team, what are your recent findings? We need leads, desperately." Kingsley Shacklebolt said, facing Memory Hermione and Memory Draco.

"We have a lead on a rogue death eater named Rodolphus Lestrange. He used to be the husband of Bellatrix Lestrange, until she was killed during the war. According to a muggle citizen, he was spotted near Bath. Death Eaters will usually band together in groups, which makes me think that he is attempting to lead us down a false trail." Memory Hermione spoke in a very informative tone, the very second Kingsley Shacklebolt finished his sentence. Hermione saw Memory Malfoy had his mouth open to speak, but Memory Hermione beat him to it, making his hands clamp into fists.

"Very good, Miss Granger." Kingsley now turned to Harry. "Potter, take some Aurors and send them to Bath to investigate. I think we better pose as muggles, to avoid any suspicion. Anything else?" Kingsley was now facing Memory Draco and Memory Hermione. Memory Draco opened his mouth once more to speak, but once again, Memory Hermione jumped in.

"There has been a recent article in the muggle newspapers about a family of muggles who died. No cause was found, and they were in perfect health prior to their deaths, which makes me believe that this was perhaps the work of Death Eaters."

"And where did this take place?" Harry asked with interest, placing an elbow on the table to hold his head up.

"Birmingham." Memory Draco and Memory Hermione spoke simultaneously. Hermione saw the look of mutual hatred that Memory Hermione and Memory Malfoy had exchanged, and couldn't help feeling a bit guilty for what she had done in the memory. Malfoy simply shook his head with an amused glance at Hermione. The face Malfoy wore reminded Hermione of the face one would make when watching old muggle home videos. Hermione observed Memory Harry now, who looked a bit on edge, obviously noticing the tension between his friend and his rival.

"Potter, make sure you send a squad to investigate there as well." Kingsley said, completely engrossed in the documents on the table. Memory Harry snapped out of his concerned expression and nodded obediently.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy, I have here some updated profile reports on people the Ministry suspects as potential Death Eaters. Take a look at them this week, and search for leads. I expect there is some useful information written there." Kingsley continued, grabbing a stack of parchments to his right and holding it out to them.

Memory Hermione and Memory Draco got up at once to be the first to retrieve the documents, earning them a strange look from everyone at the table.

"I will get it." Memory Draco stated in a harsh tone. Hermione could hear the threatening undertones in his voice, and so it was no wonder Memory Hermione sat down, her face red.

Once Memory Malfoy had retrieved the documents he sat back down, and turned to Memory Hermione, mumbling something Hermione could not hear. It appeared to be pretty serious, because Memory Hermione instantly flared up with anger, struggling to keep it in control. Hermione looked at Malfoy for explanation, but he only shrugged.

"I don't remember what I said." He said.

Hermione stared blankly at him, finding his choice of words amusing. He seemed to notice this as well and broke out into a grin. Hermione shook her head, a smile of amusement creeping onto her face as she returned her attention to the scene before them. Memory Hermione was now sitting on the edge of her chair, looking her analog clock every ten seconds, stiff as a board. Hermione noticed Memory Malfoy seemed amused by this, and felt a pinch of anger.

"I expect everything to be going smoothly?" Kingsley asked everyone present. There were nods and murmurs of "yes", "mhm", and "yeah." Hermione noticed that Memory Hermione and Memory Malfoy did not nod.

"Okay, well. Onto the next topic of business. Potter, I understand several of your squads are still in their assigned places?" Harry nodded. "Have they been able to report any sightings of any kind?"

"No sir." Harry answered shortly.

"Okay. I need a full scale report by 9 O'clock Monday and also…" Kingsley went on, but Hermione was not listening to him. Her attention was on Memory Malfoy, who was currently sliding a piece of parchment toward Memory Hermione. Memory Hermione ignored this, and continued to pay attention to Shacklebolt, but Memory Malfoy reverted to whispering instead.

"This is the fourth meeting you have done this. I am not going to tolerate someone like you, interrupting my answers. If I were you, I would know my place, Granger. I know you're trying to prove yourself because you've rarely been in the presence of anyone of importance—"

Memory Hermione stood up, seething. She stood up so sharply her chair fell backwards, and the documents in her hand flew off the table. "I AM ABSOLUTELY SICK AND TIRED OF YOUR DUNG, MALFOY. I KNOW MY PLACE! I KNOW MY PLACE VERY WELL AND IT IS NOT BEING SUBSERVIENT OR INFERIOR TO YOU. TAKE ALL YOUR BLOODY PREDJUDICES AND VIEWS KEEP THEM TO YOURSELF, BECAUSE I AM TIRED OF YOUR BLOODY INSULTS AND DEMEANING SUBLIMINAL ACCUSATIONS. YOU SAY YOU AREN'T A DEATH EATER, AND NEVER THOUGHT LIKE THEM, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU KEEP THINKING AND ACTING IN THIS MANNER AND YOU MIGHT AS WELL PUT YOURSELF DOWN ON THE LIST. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? WALKING AROUND THE MINISTRY LIKE YOU OWN THE PLACE? DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR VIEWS AND REPUTATION GOT YOUR FAMILY INTO? I AM NOT GOING TO STAND BY THIS ANY LONGER! YOU AND YOUR BLOODY-"

"Miss Granger that is ENOUGH."

Memory Hermione's face was purple from yelling, and her chest heaved up and down from anger, her fingers shook. Hermione felt her heart thumping uncontrollably, completely surprised and proud at the same time. Memory Hermione's face gradually turned from purple, to red, to pink, as she watched Kingsley Shacklebolt's outraged face. Memory Malfoy simply sat, face red as well, looking at his hands and keeping perfectly still. Hermione glanced at Malfoy and saw his face was pink as well, and he was not looking anywhere but down at the ground. There was a strange hint of sadness and self-realization that was present in Malfoy's face, making Hermione's eyebrows scrunch up in wonder. She returned her attention to the scene however, catching Memory Harry's absolutely shocked face, while Hermione raised her chin defiantly, and picked up the fallen documents.

"I want another partner." She stated simply, before leaving the room. Hermione saw Memory Malfoy watch her go, until the door shut completely behind her.

Black swirls appeared again, and quickly faded after several seconds, revealing a very elaborate office. Hermione noticed the name on the desk said "KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT: Minister of Magic" and gulped involuntarily. This could not be good. Memory Hermione and Memory Malfoy occupied two chairs in front of Shacklebolt's desk, keeping completely still. Hermione could see the fear and pure embarrassment in Memory Hermione's eyes, growing nervous at what was to come. Memory Malfoy kept completely stoic, not a single emotion readable through his statue-like gaze. Kingsley, who sat in front of his desk, wrote something quickly with his quill and looked at his employees.

"I don't know what is going on with you two, and quite frankly, I don't care." Shacklebolt began, in a very serious tone. "But you both need to mature."

Memory Hermione opened her mouth to argue, presumably to say she was a mature member of society, but stopped once Shacklebolt raised his hand, letting her know now was not the time to argue with him.

"You are both working on a very important case. And if I had enough people, you both would have been replaced by someone more capable of working with others. But I don't have people to spare. So you both are going to have to put aside your petty differences and work as a team. I cannot have you representing this case, your department, the Ministry, and by extension myself if this continues. Understand?" Kingsley's tone went from serious and business-like to almost scolding. Tears were forming under Memory Hermione's eyes, and she looked down to fidget with the hem of her robe. Hermione felt embarrassed, not daring to look at Malfoy and analyze his reaction.

"If I hear one more outburst like that, or if I see you two are endangering this case… you will be—No." Kingsley said, apparently changing his mind. "We won't need to go there, because I trust you both will get the job done."

Memory Hermione nodded fervently, while Memory Malfoy continued to stare at some point in front of him with a stoic expression.

"That will be all." Kingsley said, gesturing towards the door. Memory Hermione and Memory Malfoy stood simultaneously, and exited the room, Hermione and Malfoy right behind them.

Hermione spotted Memory Harry, nervously waiting some distance from Shacklebolt's office, and looked relieved once Memory Hermione walked up to him. She hugged her friend tightly, letting out some sobs against her shoulder. Hermione walked towards them, feeling terrible for her actions. She yearned to remember again, because she didn't think she could take the suspense of not knowing what was to come in the pensieve. How could she ever face Shacklebolt again, knowing that had happened?

"Hermione, we have to follow me." Malfoy urged her, tilting his head towards a retreating Memory Malfoy. Hermione had forgotten about him until that moment, and forced herself to pry her eyes from Memory Hermione and Memory Harry. She took a step towards Malfoy, who turned around and practically jogged to catch up to his memory self, his blond hair bouncing with each step.

They caught up to Memory Malfoy just in time, because the minute they had arrived, Memory Malfoy was closing his office door. Once inside his private office, Memory Malfoy seemed to have his emotions of the recent events come flooding back. He let out a frustrated cry, punching the nearest wall with his fist, and running his hands repeatedly through his hair. It was a sight that Hermione had not seen before, and it quite startled her. She looked fearfully up at Malfoy, who wore the same stoic expression Memory Malfoy had worn in Shacklebolt's office, making Hermione wonder how he felt, watching himself lose control in that way.

Memory Malfoy let out a couple cries of frustration, cursing in the process and after several minutes those angered feelings turned to tears.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuckfuckfuckfuck. Sodding mudblood bitch." He mumbled in between tears, repeating these words over and over again. Hermione stayed perfectly still, quite unsure of what to feel at that moment in time. Memory Malfoy looked quite unsure what to do with himself as well, his hands opening and closing in a way that told Hermione he wanted to chuck something.

Two seconds later, Memory Malfoy grabbed a picture frame of his family and threw it, shattering with a crash against the wall.

"Why would you show me that?" Hermione badgered Malfoy the instant her feet were on the library floor. "Why would you let me see that?" She repeated, shaking her head at him as she spoke. She understood the reasons to view the meeting, and Kingsley's private scolding, but Malfoy's meltdown she did not understand at all.

Malfoy looked taken aback. "You wanted to remember your life. So here I am showing snippets of it." He said his words clipped and sharp.

"Yes but I didn't need to see that… I wouldn't have known that had I not been obliviated. It was pointless."

"I already told you, Hermione," Malfoy sighed, "Nothing I show you is pointless. Trust me."

"Yes! Yes it is, Malfoy! I'm not dim, I know what is necessary for me to see, and that is not it. I don't need to see your reactions after what happened, unless you're trying to show me how you react in order to change my view on something—" Hermione paused in mid-rant. "What are you trying to do, Malfoy." Hermione asked him low and dangerously. She had never used this tone on anyone as far as she knew, unless it was absolutely necessary.

There was a brief moment in which Hermione saw a torrent of emotions occupy his face, seemingly at the same time. There was frustration and embarrassment in his eyes, yet somehow, they regarded Hermione with longing. In a flash, those emotions were replaced by a twinge of sadness, and hesitance, which nearly made Hermione wish she could take her statement back. Sometimes she had trouble remembering that his life might not be easy either, especially if he had to deal with ending a two year relationship because your partner does not remember or love you any longer.

"Would you like some tea?" He asked quietly, obviously ignoring her question. Hermione thought of insisting that he answer, but somehow that didn't seem fair in her mind. She politely said no, and let the subject drop.

"It won't be a waste. I promise." He said, seconds before she departed to her flat that night.