Sorry for the delay in this chapter. But on Saturday I got the seventh Harry Potter book (and spent 9 hours reading it), and then I spent Sunday Monday and Tuesday grieving about how bad it was (it reminded me of a well written fanfic). Wednesday yesterday and today I spent writing this chapter and trying to get it how I wanted it.

But don't take my word on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Go and read it yourself, maybe you will like it. It was a good book, but it sounded like Ms. Rowling read to many fanfics to get ideas.

Still love the series though.

Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling. If I was, I would be celebrating the success of the 7th book wouldn't I? No, I'm just a teen going into 11th grade hoping to one day be even a fraction as good as JK Rowling.

On with the story.

Forgetting Hogwarts

Hermione sighed and took a sip of the wine Malfoy had poured for her before taking a deep breath and started, "When I was little I slipped, fell, and hit my head."

"Talk about the bare bones of a story," Miranda muttered, "at least give out details."

Hermione just laughed a little and shook her head as if giving up on Miranda. When she caught Malfoy's eye though, she was inclined to tell the whole story. His eyes had gotten completely cold and hard again, "Fine. Wow you two have no sense of privacy.

"Well then, since my generalization didn't go well. When I was ten I had an accident. I was in dance class, practicing a duet with Miranda. I had just landed a jump and was about to go into a turn. In that turn, my foot slid out from under me, I fell and hit my head on the dance bar. The force indented some of my skull by my ear, giving me a concussion. It also did something to the equilibrium."

"The what?" Malfoy asked.

"The part of your ear that controls your balance," Hermione supplied. "I haven't been able to dance, or do much of anything since." From Malfoy's look he would be asking more questions later.

"So, Minnie," Miranda started.

Hermione cut her off, "Please Miranda, can you stop calling me Minnie? I don't look like a mouse any more." Malfoy let out a small cough, probably covering his laugh.

"Ya right," Miranda said, "Minnie you are, and Minnie you shall be." Hermione rolled her eyes. Further conversation was cut off by a waiter coming to deliver the food. Hermione looked at her steaming pile of some Italian noodle and what looked like chicken; probably some other meat though, fancy restaurant like this. She looked at the other two, Miranda had ordered a small salad and was nibbling at it, and Malfoy had the same thing as Hermione. She sighed and took a small bite. It was good. The conversation quite for the rest of the meal, but it was an uneasy silence. Especially since Hermione desperately wanted to ask Miranda for some help.

When the waiter finally came to collect plates and suggested desserts, which the two girls turned down, did Hermione catch her last chance to be alone with Miranda, "Would you excuse us for a moment Draco?" she asked gently prodding Miranda to move off the bench, "I'm going to fix my make-up, in case any smudged while I was eating."

Draco nodded and as the two left Malfoy spoke up, "But why is she going with you?"

"A girl never ever goes to the washroom alone," Miranda said over her shoulder, "to do make-up if there is another girl along." They didn't wait to hear what Malfoy would say to that but rushed, as fast as they could without looking like they were, to the washroom. As soon as they were there Hermione quickly checked the stalls for feet, and finding none, quickly locked the door, wishing for her wand to cast a silencing spell on the door.

"OK Miranda, I need your help," Hermione said digging in her purse, thankful that she found someone who could mail this for her, instead of trying to do it herself.

"With what?" Miranda asked.

"This," Hermione said handing her friend the letter. "It's a letter to my friends from school. I haven't talked to them in a while, and I'm sure they're wondering why."

"Why do you need me to send it," Miranda asked confused taking the envelope.

"Because Ma… Draco won't let me send them any mail," Hermione said, "he won't let me send anyone mail."

"You could call them when he's not around," Miranda suggested.

Hermione shook her head, "Draco and his family don't believe in too many unnecessary electronics like the phone, and Ron and Harry don't have one either. So will you send?"

"Of course," Miranda said slipping it inside her purse. "But Hermione, to tell you the truth, I don't think this Draco is the kind of guy you really should marry."

"I know. I have to marry him though. I don't want to," Hermione whispered, "but it's complicated. Not marrying him could mean the end of everything."

"Of what?" Miranda asked skeptically, "The end of you getting pushed around?"

"Much more then that," Hermione said, fixing her make-up slightly so Malfoy wouldn't get suspicious, "it's really hard to understand, and if I told you, you would think that either I was insane, or if you do believe me, the only way to prove myself was taken away from me."

"Minnie," Miranda said, "I won't think you're insane."

"Well," Hermione said, "you sure?" Miranda rolled her eyes and nodded. Hermione sighed and took a big breath, "Fine. Wheniwaselevenifoundoutiwasawitchthatschoolitoldyouiwenttoforthementallygiftedwasactuallytotraintobeawitchanewlawwaspassedinthesocietyofwitchesandwizardsmakingpeoplewithnonmagicparentslikemehavingtomarrypeoplewithmagicallyparentssonowifidontmarrymalfoyillhavemymemoryerasedandiwontbeawitchnomore." She finished all in one breath.

"What?" Miranda asked blinking.

Hermione sighed, and started again, slower, "When I was eleven I found out I was a witch. That school I told you I went to for the mentally gifted was actually to train to be a witch. A new law was passed in the society of witches and wizards making people with non-magic parents, like me, marry people with magical parents. So now if I don't marry Malfoy, I'll have my memory erased, and I won't be a witch no more."

Miranda blinked a couple times, "Witch? Memory erased?" Hermione nodded. "OK tell me slower," Miranda started, "You're a witch?" Hermione nodded. "Like real spell casting with a wand witch?" Hermione nodded. "Do you have your wand with you?" Hermione sadly shook her head. "Why not?"

"He took it," Hermione said between her teeth, "until I could 'behave myself.'"

Miranda scowled, "What did you mean having your memory erased? You can actually have memories removed?"

"It's being debated," Hermione said, "some theologians believe it just suppresses the memories so you can't access them; without intensive therapy. And some believe the spell actually removes the memory." Miranda gave Hermione a blank look, "It's inconclusive."

"There, you could have just said that," Miranda said. "But Hermione, is this society of yours really worth it? Is it worth being pushed around, and by the look of your face, abused?"

"It is," Hermione said forcing her tears to not fall, "it's not just me. Through all seven years of my schooling something happened each year that is unforgettable. If it meant getting away from Malfoy I would gladly give them away. But it's not. I not only forget all of that. I forget all my friends that I made in the last eight years. I can't lose that. I just can't."

"But Hermione, you'd still have friends out here. And by the sounds of it, Draco is making you lose your friends in that society too."

Hermione sighed, Miranda just wasn't getting it. "Mandy, you remember when we were little, before my accident?" Miranda nodded, "And how we swore dancing was the only thing for us, and nothing was going to stop us from becoming world famous dancers, and then choreographers?" Miranda laughed and nodded again, "While this, my friend and memories, is like that."

Miranda sighed as she went to the door and unlocked it, opening the door, she turned to Hermione and said, "And maybe he's your accident."

"Maybe," Hermione said following her friend out. Malfoy was still in their booth eating what looked like a chocolate moose pie, and Hermione suddenly remembered she hadn't asked Miranda about why she didn't seam to be eating, but no time now. Hermione slide into the booth, and Miranda followed.

"You took your time," Malfoy stated.

"Had to use the washroom itself," Miranda supplied. Malfoy just nodded, indicating the tea cups in front of them. Hermione sighed and took a sip of the tea that Malfoy seamed to have ordered for her. Peppermint, her favorite. They all talked for a while longer about seemingly innocent things, like the wedding, and dance until Hermione for some reason, felt her balance slip. She saw double of everything and then it slid back into one view, and then out again. Malfoy seemed to notice this almost instantaneously.

"Hermione? Are you alright?" he asked in what sounded like real panic. Hermione just waved her hand, which was a little cold. "I'm sorry Miranda. It was really nice meeting you, and I'm sure Hermione is glad to have seen you again. But she's not feeling well; I'm going to take her home."

"Of course," Miranda said sliding from the booth, and helped Hermione get out as well. Malfoy was at Hermione's side in seconds, propping her up against him. Hermione wasn't sure if she felt something like a vial against his pants pocket or not. Maybe she was imagining things. He half led, half dragged her to pay for the meal, gave Miranda some money for a taxi home and started down the street to a dark alley to apparate from. Once there he apparated with Hermione, who would have fallen over when they landed if it wasn't for Malfoy holding her upright. He then dragged her up the walk to the Manor. All the while Hermione's balance kept slipping for no reason, her feet decided they didn't want to work anymore, she couldn't feel her fingers, and her vision kept going and coming.

Malfoy led her straight to her room, and by the time she got there she was a little scared at what was happening to her, but glad that now she could just sleep it off. Maybe it was the wine she had had; she didn't drink alcohol that much. Or maybe the restaurant had put something in the tea that she was allergic to. But that all erased from her mind as Malfoy set her on the bed and started to take off her shoes. By then she was starting to forget stuff, and was drifting to sleep. Everything was only light and shadows now.

The last thing she remembered was her dress slipping over her head, the weight of something on either side of her on the bed, by her legs, the occasional glimpse of arms by her pillow, the silhouette of a head coming to her face, and soft lips pressing down on hers.

I'll let you figure out what happens next. It should be obvious, and as I am no good at detailing extremely horrible things like that I won't be explaining it, use your imagination. (I hope I don't sound rude there). And is that another cliffie though? I'm not sure. But if it is, don't worry I don't plan on ending all the rest of the chapters in cliffies.

Thank you for reading this chapter.

Thank you all for your reviews.

Please review.

Rebellion Author.