I think there may have been a bit of confusion in my author's note for the last chapter. I finished writing the story, but I'm not finished posting the story. Since you all don't live in my head (consider yourselves lucky, it's quite crowded up there) though, that wasn't clear. There are 19 chapters plus an Epilogue, so there's plenty more reading to be done here!
Chapter 12
Granger's Books was a crowded, bustling madhouse when Draco entered the next day. A full four and a half days had passed since he had last seen Hermione, and he would not allow another day of being ignored to pass. From the shop's second floor balcony, he could see the frenzy down below. But most of all, he had a clear view of a frazzled Hermione as she helped several customers find their purchases. In spite of himself, Draco smiled at the sight of her.
Down below, Hermione had no idea she was being watched. Despite the crowd, she was happy to be in her shop. There was a rush of excitement and adrenaline on the busy days that would leave her exhausted hours later. For now, though, she was in her element.
"History and self-help are both upstairs. Fiction is the fifth row to your right," she informed two customers before making her way to the second floor with a third customer. Reaching the top of the stairs, she stopped short. Leaning against the railing, eyes following her every move, was Draco. Looking away from him, she continued on until the customer was ready to pay. Hermione directed him to the check-out counter and waited a beat before joining Draco.
"Haven't seen you in a while," he mumbled, unable to meet her eye now that they stood side by side. He expected some kind of reply, an excuse of some sort, but Hermione said nothing. With a sigh, he pressed on. "You know, Blaise is a really awful human being. Sometimes I can't help but wonder why we're friends. Remember when I told you that I felt an instant connection with you? It wasn't there with Blaise. Sometimes, even after two years, I'm still not comfortable around him."
"Why?" she wondered, finding her voice for the first time.
Draco shrugged and shook his hair away from his eyes. "I don't know. It's the way he asks things, like he's taking notes or something. And he always tries to get me to talk about the dreams even when I don't want to. What if he knows something?"
"Something like what?" Hermione asked, her voice sounding small and suddenly shaky. Turning her head, she glanced quickly at Draco. His face answered for him. "You think he knows who you were."
"It's possible, right?" he asked, turning to face her. With a sigh, Hermione, too, turned. When Draco took hold of her hand, she silently led him down the stairs to her office. It wasn't until the door was shut behind them, that he spoke again. "How is it, in all of London, no one's ever bumped into me and said 'hey, I know you!' Why does no one else know who I am? And if Blaise does know who I was before, why won't he tell me?" With his piece completed, he sunk down into the chair facing her desk. Leaning forward, his head fell into his hands. "I just want to know who I am. Is that so wrong?"
Moved by his anguished pleas, Hermione knelt between his legs. Her conscience battled between doing the right thing by telling him the truth or following the Ministry's decree. One lone tear slipped down his cheek, and instinctively, Hermione caught it. "I have to tell you something," she whispered, cupping his cheek. "Your name is Draco Malfoy and you're a wizard. There was a war. You were on the wrong side, and this...this life is your punishment."
As she spoke, Draco eyes squeezed shut and his teeth clenched together as a searing pain filled his head. He jerked away from her, causing Hermione to fall backwards. It wasn't until her words were exhausted that the crippling pain went away. She hadn't expected such a reaction, but it should not have come as a surprise that the Ministry would take such preventative measures.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked when his eyes once again opened. He shook his head as he attempted to control his breathing. Getting to her feet, Hermione helped him stand and led him out of the office. Once more, they silently ascended the stairs, this time to her flat. After leaving Draco in the living room, Hermione went to the kitchen to prepare tea. A small white owl flapped its wings just outside her kitchen window. Instantly, she recognized the bird as the Minister's personal owl.
Hermione,
Two days at noon.
Kingsley
The kettle whistled as she folded and pocketed the note. Minutes later, she returned to Draco with the tea tray in hand. His eyes were closed and his head reclined against the top of the sofa cushions.
"That was the worst headache I think I've ever had," he murmured. Hermione extended a cup to him and Draco sat up just enough to reach it. He took a hearty sip and sighed. "What was it you were trying to say? I couldn't hear a thing."
Shaking her head, Hermione took a seat in an armchair adjacent to the couch. "It wasn't important," she muttered. For the moment, her answer seemed to appease him.
"I'm sorry," he said, setting his cup down on the coffee table.
Hermione's cup rattled against the saucer beneath it. She stared at him wide-eyed as she asked, "What for?"
"For barging in today. I hadn't seen you in a few days and I missed you," he explained, wringing his hands together. "And now this mess. I shouldn't have taken you away from your store."
"There's no need for apologies," Hermione replied, moving to join him on the sofa. "Sometimes, I get really wrapped up in what's happening in my life that I forget about everything - and everyone - else. It's difficult to admit, but I don't think I'm very good at being a girlfriend. I'm sure Ron would back me up on that."
In a show of comfort, Draco wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled Hermione closer to his side. "I'm not going to hold it against you that you've got a life outside of me," he replied, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I just...I want to be a part of it. There's really no one in my life aside from you and Blaise. I don't mean to make you feel guilty or anything. It's just how I feel."
Hermione sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. She had felt guilty, and not just for the half a week's worth of phone calls she missed. There was no way to tell him who he was without sending him into convulsions. Though she had been busy with work and the wedding, much of her time had also been spent pouring over texts to break the memory charm in case the Ministry ruled against reversal. In the end, though, she was no closer to an answer than when she started.
"Lost in your thoughts again?" Draco murmured, twirling a curl around his finger.
"Harry and Ginny are coming for dinner tomorrow night. I want you to come too," she replied quickly before she could regret the words.
