A/N- Such amazing support from almost all of you. You're seriously awesome. Special shout out of thanks to everyone that reads, reviews, follows, and favorites my stories. The chapters are going to start being a bit shorter than usual now that the story line has progressed this far. Hope my loyal readers won't give me the cut! Much love to you all. On to the next chapter ((:

Disclaimer: None of this story belongs to me. This has all been done before, probably better too, lol.

Chapter 21

June 6, 1998

Healer Smithers walked into her room, smile wide on his features as he surveyed the room. Hermione was still in the bed, Draco refused to let her get out of it except to use the loo and for brief showers, Draco and Severus were seated next to the bed with a chessboard set up between them. Harry had gone home the night before to see Ginny, and Charlie had gone back to Grimmauld Place to make sure that her room was ready for her when she returned.

She had had a steady flow of visitors since she had woken up. All the Weasleys had been through and hugged her near to death, all of them ignoring Draco's warning growls. She had swatted him when he started to say something to the twins about hugging her, and he had obediently stayed quiet afterwards, albeit with a dirty look spread across his features. Once they had left, however, she had snuggled into his side to reassure him of his place in her life.

Remus and Tonks had visited with Teddy and Draco had seemed to be amused when she kicked him off the bed so she could play with the toddler. He had watched with a soft look in his eyes and appeared to truly enjoy her time with Teddy. Kingsley and his daughter Ariana had come to see her, both of them hugging her close as if they hadn't seen her in years when in reality it had only been a couple of days.

Ron had come by again, this time with Lavender, and Draco had refused to leave her side. He had forced Ron to lean over him if he wanted to hug Hermione, and she couldn't help but to chuckle to herself. While she was exasperated at how protective Draco was being, she understood. She had almost died and he didn't want her to have to deal with any turmoil or pain.

Hermiome knew that she had forgiven Ron far too easily, but she didn't care. It wasn't that she didn't want to be friends with him, she did want his friendship back, but she was smart enough to realize that their friendship would never be the same. Too many things had been said, too many things had been insinuated for them to go back to what they had before. Why continue to hold a grudge against someone that she was quite certain would never be the friend that he had been? She knew Draco and Severus didn't understand, but she was alright with that. Ron hadn't been their friend, but hers.

Healer Smithers made his way to the side of her bed, kindly smile on his face. While he hadn't been one of the healers that had saved her life, he was the healer that had been handed her high-profile case and took it without batting an eye. Hermione suspected that he hoped to make a name for himself somehow.

Draco had been less than pleased that a younger single man had been made the primary healer on her case. He was determined that Healer Smithers wanted her, although Hermione wasn't convinced. The man never flirted with her and he never gave her an invasive exam. The most that he had done was order further diagnostics to be ran on her skull and the fractures that had occurred there.

Hermione had tried to have a discussion with Draco in the middle of the night when everyone else was asleep regarding his jealousy.

*Flashback*

The moonlight was pouring through the windows of her hospital room, bathing the bed and floor in silver. She rolled in the circle of Draco's embrace so she could face him. He came awake instantly, worried that she was in pain or needed something.

"Are you alright, mon coeur?" She traced his stubbled jaw with her fingers. She loved that while she could barely see the five o'clock shadow, as her father used to call it, she could always feel it, a delicious reminder that he was no longer a boy, but a man. Rather than answer his question, she asked one of her own.

"Why are you so jealous, protective, and possessive of me, Draco? I would never cheat on you." His hands left her waist so they could cup her cheeks.

"Sweetness, I trust you implicitly, please don't think that I don't." She laid her open hand on one of the hands that was holding her face.

"Then why do you act as you do?" He heaved a deep sigh and began to stroke her cheekbones with his thumbs.

"I've always been what you could call spoiled. I was denied nothing and told that whatever I wanted I could have. I've never had to share and I've never had the inclination til you." He sighed again.

"As ridiculous as you may think it, I've never shared anything that I owned or that I cared about. Not until you. I would give you the world if you asked it of me. A perfect example would be that I shagged many girls, dated a few of them for a brief period. Even though I was never faithful to them, I fully expected them to be faithful to me, went so far as to question them under veritaserum because I was determined to never have to share their bodies with another man. That was part of the Malfoy upbringing. I deserved fidelity and shouldn't be expected to give it in return until I married.

While I love sharing my everything with you, I hate sharing you in general. Not because I think you'll cheat on me or some rubbish like that, but because you're the first truly good thing that has happened in my life. You're good and pure and you want me for the spoiled git I am instead of the money and the name I carry. I never want to share you.

I'm protective of you because you're mine, and I've always protected what was mine. Before you get angry, I don't consider you a possession, but you're mine in the sense that your soul is bound so closely to mine that they could pass as one. You belong to me as surely as I belong to you." Hermione snuggled closer into his embrace and contemplated his words.

Did she hate that he was so protective and possessive? She did a tiny bit, but overall, she didn't. Hermione had spent most of her childhood being openly reviled by the people that were supposed to love her the most. She had never known the level of care and devotion that Draco bestowed upon her. Sure, Harry and Ron had both loved her as friends, but they had never in all their years as friends cared for her. She had always been the one caring for them. She realized that as annoying as it could be, she enjoyed the fact that Draco, Severus, and even Charlie cared for her. They cared for her like she was precious to them and it warmed the most inner part of her heart. Deciding that she wasn't going to make a big deal about the jealousy issue, she asked the question that had been preying on her mind in the day and a half it had been since she had first woke up.

"Are you jealous of Severus as well? Do you wish I wasn't close to him?" She wasn't sure if she could handle abandoning Severus. He had become so important to her, and she had truly felt complete for the first time when she had called him Daddy. She didn't want to fight with Draco, but she suspected that if he had a problem with Severus, they would argue. Instead, Draco threw back his head and laughed as softly as he could without waking the others.

"Of course I'm not jealous of Severus. He loves you to pieces, that much is obvious, though I'll never admit it to him. He loves you in a different way than I do, however. He has apparently loved Lily Potter since they were children, and I doubt that he'll ever replace her. He loves you as his family though. You've broken down his defenses as surely as you have mine and I won't deny him you in his life. I believe he sees you as a daughter, or a niece if you will, that he never had." Hermione buried her head in Draco's bare chest before she could reveal one of her secrets.

"I call him Daddy when nobody is there to hear. I love him like a father, and he treats me like I always imagined a father would treat his daughter. He cares for me as you do and he makes me feel as though there's an adult out there that cares for me for more than my ability to care for them. I've always cared for Harry and Ron, but I've also cared for Remus through many of his transformations, I've cared for Kingsley during the loss of his love and the birth of his child. I've even cared for Tonks when she felt that Remus would never reciprocate her feelings. He is the one person who gave and never took from me." Draco's arms tightened around her.

"I gathered that your parents didn't treat you well and I have no problems with how close you are to Severus. Your love is one of parent and child and it makes me happy that you were able to make him realize that he could live again, even if it was in a different way. Where are your parents now?" Her hand trailed the sparse hair smattering his chest.

"After our sixth year, I knew they would become targets. Even though they didn't treat me well, I didn't want them to die because of me and my shit blood status. Therefore, I turned my wand on them and cast an obliviation curse on them, one of my own making. They don't even know they have a daughter at this point. I cast a weaker version of a spell that acts like the Imperious Curse and made them believe that they should move to Australia. If I survived, the curse could easily be lifted by myself. If not, they would continue to live on in sweet oblivion." Hermione knew she should feel more guilt for what she had done, but in truth, she felt more relief than anything. Her parents weren't there to harangue her, and she knew that they were safe. However, her conscience was demanding that she lift the curse now that the danger had passed. Before she could elaborate anymore, Draco kissed the top of her head and her hairline over and over again.

"It's a very good thing you did, mon coeur. The Dark Lord did all he could to find your parents because he wanted to torture and kill them in order to weaken you." She gave him a small smile and yawned, but really, she just didn't want to speak of it anymore.

"Can we go back to sleep? I'm so very tired." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and sighed into her hair. Without another word, the pair let sleep take them both back under.

*End of Flashback*

Healer Smithers approached her bed, smile screwed firmly on his face.

"Let us run a final diagnostic and see exactly where it is that we that are." The healer raised his wand and concentrated on the spell. The certain pattern in which he was waving was all too familiar and she simply waited for the results. After a few minutes, the slightly older man flashed her a smile and offered his congratulations.

"It seems to me, Miss Granger, that you are definetely in good enough health to go home. You will still experience some soreness in your broken ribs and your pelvis, but the other breaks were cleaner, easier to heal without having any side effects. If you have any headaches that aren't fixed by a simple headache potion, come back here immediately." She nodded at his words, a big smile spread across her face. She was so excited to be going home!

Hermione watched as Draco and Severus began to gather her personal belongings, books they had brought her to read, clothing that she had been permitted to change into, her toiletries that Charlie had brought her so she wouldn't have to use the hideous generic products that St. Mungo's provided.

A healer she had never met before came in and smiled at her. Her name tag said that her name was Healer Cubster. She had a sheaf of parchment in her grip.

"These are your discharge papers. You need to read through them and sign them please." Hermione gave her a nod and began to read the stack of papers that she had been offered. It took her nearly five minutes to make it through the parchment, but when she did, Healer Cubster was waiting patiently for her with a quill in her hand. Hermione took it and signed her name in her familiar tiny script. As Healer Cubster stood to go, her expression turned shy.

"I want to thank all three of you for what you did during the war. Everyone knows the war wouldn't have been won without you three and Harry Potter." The young healer didn't give anyone a chance to respond before hurrying out of the room.

Draco had shrunk all her belongings and stuffed them in her beaded bag. She cast one last glance around the room to make sure that they had everything before she let the two Slytherins lead her out. Since Grimmauld Place was secret kept, they weren't able to floo in from an unauthorized floo, so the pair pulled her to the nearest apparition point down the hall from her room.

With a quick twist, Hermione felt Draco pull her into the squeezing tube of apparition. They appeared in the library where it seemed that everyone had gathered for their evening nightcap. Harry and Ron were visiting, both seemingly alone, and Charlie, Remus, and Tonks were there keeping them company. Charlie was the first to step forward and pull her into a crushing hug. She meeped quietly when it made her ribs uncomfortable.

"Hermione Jean! Did you get released or did you decide to rebel on them, taking these two stoic and snarky Slytherins along for the wild ride?" She giggled into his shoulder before he released her and Harry stepped forward. He had barely gotten his arms around her when Draco spoke.

"Keep your paws to yourself, Potter." Hermione rolled her eyes as Harry released her. Harry just grinned at the Slytherin and ignored him. Hermione decided to answer if only to keep the boys from fighting.

"I was truly released. The healer said that I would have some lingering soreness in my ribs and pelvis, but that was it. Warned against headaches and then set me free." Harry grinned at her before he brushed her hair away from her face.

"That's great, 'Mi. We should have known you'd never just leave. You're too much of a rule-follower for that." He stepped back and Ron stepped forward like he was going to hug her. Draco came forward and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Go hug your own woman, Weasley." Not waiting for a response, Draco pulled her over onto the couch. Once she was settled comfortably into his side, Severus sat next to her, making everyone else share the other couch or sit in arm chairs.

Hermione listened to the conversations going on around her. Remus seemed to be chatting with Draco and Severus about what was being done about the Death Eaters that had taken her. Not wanting any part of that conversation, she turned to Charlie and Tonks who were discussing the merits of having Care of Magical Creatures as a necessary N.E.W.T. for being an auror. Ron and Harry seemed to be whispering back and forth to each other and they were completely oblivious to the fact that she was listening. Finally, after a few minutes of them not including her, she spoke.

"What are you two talking about? It seems like a big secret." Harry shook his head in the negative.

"No, we were just trying to decide if now was a good time to tell you. You did just get out of the hospital." Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes.

"For the love of Merlin, if you try to start protecting me at every turn, I'll start calling you Draco." The blond in question's head turned at her words. He seemed to realize that she was in a conversation with her two friends so he remained quiet. Harry looked horrified at her words.

"Ron and I wanted to tell you that we're going into auror training. King told us that he would waive our N.E.W.T. scores so we could just go straight into what we want to do with your lives." Hermione heard Severus snort next to her, but she wasn't surprised. Instead, she kept her attention on her friends.

"He's letting you skip ahead because of your fame and what you did during the war? You always hated when people did that to you, Harry." The dark-haired boy rubbed the back of his neck and looked sheepish.

"I know I hated it, 'Mi, but I have no interest in returning to Hogwarts. That's where everything ended and if I go back, all I'll see is the Final Battle." Hermione shook her head and she felt the two Slytherins next to her tense slightly. Hermione visibly tried to calm since she knew she wasn't supposed to get too stressed out.

""You'll never be taken seriously, neither of you, if you don't at least go test at the Ministry. I wouldn't take someone seriously if they got to skate by and didn't have to meet the same requirements that I did." Ron spoke, his face turning red and his hand raking through his hair.

"Just leave it, Hermione, this is why we didn't want to tell you. You'd nag at us like you always do, you always think you're right. Just because you like school and I'm sure you're just dying to go back, we aren't. We both suck at school. This is our chance to achieve our dreams." Hermione could feel her eyes flashing as she responded.

"I nag at you because I want you to succeed at your jobs. You're going to get into training and be completely clueless because you didn't finish your fucking classes. I'm scared you're going to enter training as heroes and end up as jokes because you won't have the proper education." Ron looked like he was about to start in on her again, but Harry moved out of his arm chair to kneel in front of her.

"Hermione, there comes a time when you have to let us go. You have taken excellent care of us for years, but now it's time to let us start making our own mistakes and letting us learn from them. Less stress, remember, 'Mi?" She sighed and felt Draco twine their fingers together. After a few moments, she met Harry's eyes.

"Alright. I'll keep my opinions to myself unless you ask me for them. Same goes for advice." He stood and kissed the top of her head before going back to his chair. When he was seated once again, he turned the conversation Hermione's way.

"What are you going to do now that the war is over, Hermione?" She considered her options carefully before speaking. She hadn't had a chance to discuss what she wanted to do with anyone yet.

"I think I want to go back to Hogwarts. I mean, I know I want to take my N.E.W.T.s, and I haven't been in a classroom for almost two years. I need some practical practice time." Draco nodded next to her, reassuring her of her decision.

"I think that's a wonderful idea. I shall return as well." Ron snorted.

"No mind of your own, Ferret? Have to follow Hermione around because you don't want to seperate and have her realize she can do better than ex-Death Eater trash?" While his words were hateful, there was a smirk on his face and Hermione couldn't help but wonder if this was just a bad attempt at joking. Draco, however, let the comment roll right off his shoulders.

"That doesn't scare me at all, Weasel. It's a widely-known fact that there isn't anyone better than me. Didn't being at Hogwarts teach you anything?" Hermione nudged him in the side, a soft smile on her face. She wanted him to know that she was thankful that he wasn't starting an argument with Ron.

"Enough, boys, no more measuring of your boy parts." Draco snorted in delicately and she was surprised that he had made that unsophisticated sound in front of company.

"If we're talking boy parts, you know I'll win. Nothing boy about me." Hermione felt her face flame at his words before she began swatting at him over and over. The room at large laughed heartily until Draco grabbed both her hands and pulled them to his chest. She allowed him to pull her into his lap and let him snuggle her as close as she could get. A quick wave of his wand had her shoes disappearing, leaving her socked feet tucked ever so carefully in between his thighs.

The happiness in the room was palpable as she closed her eyes and listened to things around her. Her mind drifted to the conversation about her parents with Draco. While she was relieved that she hadn't had to deal with them for a year now, there was an immense amount of guilt that came with the knowledge that she had effectively erased parts of their memories and took control over their free will to make them move. As much as she dreaded having to deal with them, she knew that she had to restore their memories. Once this decision was made, she raised her head.

"I need to go to Australia and fix my parent's memories." Harry spoke first.

"That's a great idea, Hermione. You need to have people in your life that will love and support you." Hermione nodded, but she turned to see Severus glaring at her.

"We still have a conversation to have before you go anywhere near them." She quailed slightly at his glare, but met his gaze defiantly.

"Tomorrow. I'll tell you everything tomorrow." He gave her a stiff nod before she met Draco's questioning gaze.

"You also. There are things you need to know about me that nobody else knows." He held her gaze for several seconds before nodding and taking her at her word.

Hermione settled back against Draco as the conversation around her started again. She realized that everyone was beginning to adjourn to their rooms for the night so she leaned closer to Draco's ear.

"Will you go with me to Australia?" His face screwed up in indecision.

"I don't know, mon coeur, muggles make me nervous and I've never been in the muggle world." She laid her hand on his chest.

"I understand. I would never dream of making you do something you were uncomfortable with." He kissed her hairline before he spoke.

"Let me think about it." She nodded again as she spoke.

"Can we go to bed? I'm pretty tired." Draco nodded and held out his hand to help her up. Severus stood as well, holding out his arm for Hermione to take so he could escort her up the stairs. Severus wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I'm not angry with you, little one, please don't think that I am." She peered up at him from his side.

"You promise? You looked angry." He bent his head down and kissed the top of her head as they reached her door.

"I'm angry that you feel guilty for what you did for those muggles. You saved their lives and I have a sneaking suspicion that when they have had their memories returned to them, they won't react well and will try to hurt you. That makes me livid. However, I can't begrudge you your feelings. That sense of compassion is what makes it possible for you to see that there is more to me than a filthy Death Eater." She met his gaze.

"You're a half blood. If Draco won't accompany me, will you? I don't want to go by myself and you could handle the muggle world with ease." He kissed her forehead before he replied.

"Of course I will, little one." She smiled at him before going to her toes and kissing his cheek.

"Thank you. I love you, Daddy." He gave her a soft smile that lasted for exactly one second.

"I love you as well." Without another word, Severus turned on his heel and strode towards his own room while Draco stepped forward to open their door. As they undressed, Draco gave her a smirk.

"I've never seen Severus act with anyone as he does with you." She shrugged as she slid under the blankets.

"Perhaps that'd be because nobody ever realized that he was more than an emotionless Death Eater. Nobody has ever accepted him for who he was." Draco slid in next to her and gathered her close to his chest. He stroked her hair softly.

"You do the same thing for me, mon coeur. I'm grateful for it also." She made a humming noise to let him know that she had heard, but before she could answer properly, she had drifted off to sleep.

A/N- Sorry for the delay, y'all. The Thanksgiving holidays kicked my ass, I ain't even gonna lie. Today was my first day off since last Wednesday and it was spent at my grandparent's house doing a deep clean on their house. Hope that this chapter made y'all happy. Next chapter, heart to heart about her parents, the announcement that she's going to Australia, and some sexy time. Leave me your thoughts!

Love,

A