A favorite chapter of mine. Hope you like it too. Thanks to Trinka Belle who gently nudged me to post.

Chapter Twenty-five: Take Two

"This book is helpful. There are instructions on breaking a betrothal. Did you know that Malfoy betrothals have a special wand signature?" Hermione glanced up at Draco and demonstrated the motion with her wand. He was staring at her.

"What?" she asked. Draco shrugged.

"Have you even turned a page of that book, Draco?"

Draco shook his head. "I like watching you study. I could get used to this."

"Well, don't get used to it. Until we break the betrothal, your chances of keeping me around here are slim to none. You need to find the exact spell your father used for the betrothal ceremony with Astoria."

Draco lowered his eyes to his book. This time it was Hermione who watched. Draco's long slim fingers turned a page and a strand of white blond hair fell across his forehead. Her eyes drifted to his firm lips, and she sighed.

"Draco?" she began tentatively. His winter grey eyes met hers. "Why did you say that you've loved me for years? You know that's not true."

"Isn't it?"

"No, you hated me. You tormented me and bullied me. That's not love."

"No, it's not."

"So, what did you mean?"

"We were on opposite sides of the war, and I tried my best to stay away from you. By the time I realized... how much I cared, it was too late...you hated me."

"Bellatrix's Cruciatus curse," Hermione murmured. "I did hate you. Oh, Draco, I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for. I'm the one who should apologize. For myself, for Aunt Bellatrix, and now for my mother."

"And the entire beholden thing? Why on earth would you lie to me about that?"

Draco looked uncomfortable. "It was the only way I could think of to meet with you."

"Draco," Hermione said seriously, "if we are going to be in a relationship, you must never lie to me."

He nodded. And smiled. "If we are in a relationship, then I have no need to lie."

She noted his dimple and smiled back. She glanced down at her books and began to study again.

"Hermione. Let's take a short break. Let's head downstairs and have something to eat."

She considered the idea carefully and then nodded. The two held hands as they exited the Malfoy Library.

Hermione returned to the library alone. She stopped, perplexed by the empty table before her. Had the house elves returned her books to the shelves? She wandered over to the rows of gleaming mahogany bookcases to search for them again, but was startled by an unexpectedly harsh voice.

"Granger. What are you doing in my house?"

She jumped. "I beg your pardon?"

"I repeat, what are you doing in my house?"

With a book in her hand, Hermione turned slowly to face Draco Malfoy, a cold haughty Malfoy with narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw.

"I'm researching," she replied slowly. Her eyes drifted from the top of his shiny hair down to the wand in his hand. Her lashes lifted as she met his eyes warily.

"How did you get inside? How did you get past the wards?" He looked angry. "Are your sidekicks here?"

Hermione glanced down. What had she been wearing before? Her mind was blank. This was obviously not the Draco she had last seen, so she must be in a second reality. The question was...did this Draco hide the same emotions? Was he the same person as the other Draco? Kind? Or cruel? She gave him a measured stare and saw a flicker in his cold eyes. Perhaps she could take a chance at treating him like the Draco she knew.

"Are you going to answer my questions?" he asked impatiently.

"No, they aren't here. I'm alone."

"Are you seeking evidence of Dark Magic in the Malfoy library? Trying to send me back to Azkaban?"

"Why on earth would I do that? I'm the one who fought for your freedom," she responded in exasperation.

Hermione's fingers tightened around something in her hand...the Malfoy signet ring! Her brow cleared with relief, and she lifted her head.

"I hear congratulations are in order."

"Yes," he bit out.

"I have information that you may wish to know before your wedding." She faltered and looked worried. Would he want this? Should she attempt to stop his marriage to Astoria Greengrass? She bit her lip. "Both of you should know. I would be happy to tell both you and Astoria."

"Answer my question."

She drew her breath at his hostility and thought back to his first question. It was complicated because technically Draco himself had brought her to his home. But she didn't want to waste time explaining that there were two Draco's and two realities.

Instead she opened her hand to show him the Malfoy signet ring.

"Where did you get my ring?" Now he was furious. She hoped he wouldn't hex her. His wand was definitely out and pointing at her.

"From you. You gave it to me."

"I would never give anyone my ring. Especially you. You're lying."

"I wouldn't lie to you, Draco." She was offended, and her voice rose.

"Draco? Are you pretending that we have some kind of relationship?" he sneered. "Oh, let me guess. We shagged, and now you're pregnant with my half blood heir."

Hermione recoiled as if he had slapped her. She had forgotten how nasty he could be. But really, she reasoned, after taking a shaky breath and blinking away the pain, those were the exact words she herself had chosen to wound Narcissa. Words with a power to hurt.

The empowering words the other Draco had spoken the week before: Will you marry me? caused a healing tingle to rush through her. She relaxed and swallowed to get her confidence back.

"I am not pregnant, no," she answered calmly. "I believe that you gave the ring to me for my protection. And to keep your memories safe. I know it seems ridiculous to you, but the fact of the matter is you came to Australia to help me recover my parents' memories and subsequently lost your own. Do you remember anything about Australia?"

"I do not."

"But you do remember me from Hogwarts."

"Unfortunately."

"Do you remember my visit with Bellatrix in your drawing room?"

Draco looked extremely uneasy. "Yes," he replied stiffly. His lips were pressed tightly together. He did not meet her eyes.

"Do you remember coming to my office after your trial and offering friendship?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember meeting Harry for your parole?"

"Get to the point, Granger," Malfoy bit out.

"Harry asked you to visit me in Australia. While you were there, something... happened between us. Your mother obliviated you so you would forget me."

"My mother would never do such a thing." At least this time he did not call her a liar outright.

"If she wanted you to marry Astoria Greengrass, then yes, she would." Hermione lifted the ring. "Your memories are stored inside."

Draco reached for his ring and slid it on his finger. His eyes had not left hers. He took a step closer, towering in a threatening manner. "So you are claiming that the Slytherin Prince shagged the Gryffindor princess? I find that hard to believe."

"Why? Do you have a problem with my blood status?" Hermione's eyes glared angrily into Malfoy's. He did not step back.

"No," he replied. "I find it hard to believe that a member of the Order would shag a former Deatheater. And an engaged one at that."

Hermione lowered her eyes. "I didn't know you were betrothed. You neglected to tell me."

"And you think Astoria would be happy to know this?"

"Not at all, but there are other things to discuss. She doesn't have to know that part if you don't wish to tell her."

"As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing to tell. Nothing. So get the hell out of my house, Granger."

But contrary to his cold command, he stepped closer. Hermione instinctively retreated.

He sneered and pushed closer, trapping her against the bookcase.

"Are you sure you don't want to revise your claim?"

"You should check the memories inside the ring," Hermione insisted nervously.

"I don't need to if I can make new ones."

Her eyes flew up to his as he pressed his body tightly against hers. Her breath hitched. His wand was pointed at her neck and his other hand slid under her shirt to hover near her breast. At first she was shocked, but quickly she realized that yes, he did desire her, so she let her eyes laugh at him and lifted her lips to gently touch his. He kissed her back harshly, violently tasting and stroking until they were both breathless. They pulled back and stared at one another in shock. Draco dipped in for a second round. The wand was gone, and his hands were roaming freely. Draco's eyes were a molten silver. Hermione touched his cheek where his dimple sometimes appeared. It was not there now.

She slid out of his grasp. What would the other Draco have to say about this? She wondered with amusement, shaking her head at him.

"You've always wanted to snog me in the library," she smiled. "Consider this one fantasy come true."

Draco was stunned. How did Hermione Granger know that? And why was she laughing at him? His hand pulled out his wand and he held it defensively before him.

Hermione gently pushed his wand down. "I know it's a lot to take in," she began soothingly, "but the fact of the matter is, you've won me over. I'm yours, Draco. You can't un-win me now. Unless of course, you want to marry Astoria. I told your mother that I would come back to fight for you. Even if you want to marry Astoria or anyone else, it should be your choice, not an obligation forced upon you by betrothal magic."

Draco Malfoy's jaw dropped. He lifted a hand to his brow to hide his emotions.

Hermione laughed softly and took his other hand. "Let me fill you in on my research, Draco. I've been finding ways to undo betrothal binding ceremonies."

She reached for the books that she had chosen previously in the other reality and led him to the table. Having walked through this before could save time, she thought.

"Here is the book of cautionary tales, Lessons for Little Witches and Wizards." She opened the leather bound book that was illustrated with dark drawings of violent ends for the witches and wizards who did not obey their parents. The stories of heirs who fulfilled their obligations were illustrated with color and light and happy endings. She turned to the tale of Flora and Maximus Knight. "Do you know this one?"

Draco nodded warily. He still didn't trust her, she realized sadly. Boldly, she continued.

"Her story is mine. You and I slept together, and I was immediately split into two realities. There is a Draco who loves me and wants to marry me and there's you-a Draco who doesn't remember that I exist."

"I know that you exist." The eyes that were molten before were now shuttered.

"Well, you certainly don't want to marry me, do you?"

Draco was silent.

"Flora and Maximus married, but their love could not survive the betrothal curse. Maximus was betrothed to another woman. Now, if Flora had remained with the Maximus who loved her and with whom she had a child, they might have been happy, but instead she ended up in another reality with the other Maximus and couldn't find her way back to her child. She died of a broken heart the story says, but apparently after her death, both Maxes married Alice, the original betrothed and lived happily ever after. See? The illustration of the ending is in color," she noted bitterly.

Draco was silent.

"I'm Flora. Things are not going to end well for me if we can't break the betrothal. Would you be interested in breaking it? To help me? I have found a book on breaking betrothals, but we have to find the spell your father used on you and Astoria."

Draco cleared his throat. "I owe you, Granger. You set me free from Azkaban, and I'm grateful. I want to help you, but I couldn't betray Astoria. I can't back out this close to the wedding."

"No," Hermione agreed doubtfully. "Can we get her here? To talk about it? With Blaise Zabini?"

"Blaise? Why would Blaise need to come?"

"I'm not sure, but he might be a help. Kingsley is available tomorrow at 2:00 to break the betrothal bond if we can find the right incantation that was used when you were a child."

"No one can break it save for my father."

"Or Astoria's," she agreed. "And they are both in Azkaban. The Minister of Magic believes that he has the power-if we can find the original spell."

Malfoy moved slowly as if in a dream to the immense mahogany desk opposite the entrance to the library. He opened the third drawer and withdrew a slim leather-bound black book. "It's in here. This is the spell my father used."

"What? You knew all along where it was?"

Hermione rushed over to see the book, but when her eyes met Draco's uncertain silver eyes, she beamed at him and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. His arms remained stiffly at his side. He disentangled her and set her away from him. Hermione blushed.

"I'm sorry," she began, but Draco interrupted.

"Don't be sorry. If the betrothal is broken, I will be happy to... investigate your claims, but until then, I need to honor Astoria and the betrothal."

Hermione's brows rose skeptically. And the passionate, almost punishing kiss they had shared just a moment before? He hadn't seemed intent on honoring his betrothal at that moment.

"The book," he hastily assured her. "I never dreamed that the tales were true. If your suspicions are correct, then for your own protection, I should stay away from you."

"And for Astoria's sake as well."

"Yes."

"Fair enough." Hermione reached out a hand to shake Draco's.

He tentatively clasped hers within his own. Hermione smirked.

"Show me the page with the exact spell your father used. Then we need to owl Kingsley and Astoria."