Hey guys! I'm back from my one week vacation at the beach! Hehehe.

This next chapter's VERY lemony, so if you don't like that sort of stuff don't read it XP

Chapter Thirty-Four: Recognition

Darkness engulfed Draco as he slipped into his subconsciousness once more. One would think that he'd be used to this nightly ritual, but the eerie and desolate place never failed to frighten him.

"Hello?" he called out into the void.

Unsurprisingly, no one answered him. Suddenly, there was a rush of cold wind against his face, sending chills down his spine. A swirl of light appeared a couple of feet away from him, slowly growing larger and larger in size until it grew as large as a person. It lured Draco like a moth to a flame, and he took a few hesitating steps towards it.

Only two feet away from the burst of light now, Draco could hear murmurs of voices coming from inside. With a jolt of surprise, Draco recognized his own voice; he sounded amused about something. With what, he didn't know.

Suddenly, he heard another voice…a female voice. Leaning in closer, he heard the light peal of laughter, a sound so soothing that Draco found himself being drawn to it. He took another step, and he was so close now that he could feel the heat radiating from the light, the warmth seeping into his very bones, making him feel more like himself than he had the past couple of days. He took a deep breath and recognized the intoxicating smell of vanilla that wafted from inside of the radiant blaze. Unable to resist, he took a step inside.

The burst of light swallowed him whole, and Draco felt himself being pulled from somewhere behind his navel, much like a Portkey. He landed on a grassy hillside with a thump, and for a moment the sunny weather blinded him. Squinting his eyes, he glanced around his surroundings.

He scanned over the scenery, recognizing it at once; it was the hill that overlooked the village where Florean had resided. His sanctuary where he had spent countless times, hiding from his father and from the burdens of being a Malfoy.

"Are you alright?" he heard the female voice coming from behind him.

Draco tried to turn around towards the voice, but found himself unable to do so. Squinting his eyes even more, he glimpsed the figure of the brown-haired girl that had been haunting his dreams for days; Draco tried to focus on the woman's face, but try as he might, it remained as blurred as ever.

"Draco? Are you alright?" she asked once more. "Oh Merlin, I'm sorry! I was too excited to cast a spell...I wasn't even sure it would actually work."

Draco realized that he had been hit with the Full Body-Bind Curse, which explained why he was unable to turn around. Scowling internally, he cast the counter-curse nonverbally.

"What did you do that for?" he sputtered out indignantly.

He heard the sound of the woman's bright laughter once more. "I thought we were dueling?" she said in a teasing sort of tone.

"Well, that's not fair. We didn't even start the duel properly…or did you forget the rules?" Draco raised one eyebrow challengingly.

"Of course not." she answered haughtily.

"Let's start, then." Draco said as he gave a bow, while the figure in front copied him.

They were well-matched; Draco's expertise in dueling was met with the woman's quick-thinking. Never before had he encountered someone who was as adept at dueling as he was. She sent a stinging hex towards him, which Draco deflected by shouting 'Tarantallegra', making the girl's feet dance uncontrollably. Her clumsy feet accidentally tripped over a stone, but luckily Draco's fast reflexes as a Seeker had not abandoned him, and he was able to catch her from falling just in time. However, her still-dancing legs kicked him right behind his knee, making it buckle and sending both of them tumbling to the ground.

"Finite." Draco mumbled, pointing at her feet.

"Densaugeo!" she shouted in response.

Draco's front teeth immediately started growing at alarming pace. The woman rolled over in laughter. "Oh you have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that to you!" she laughed.

He was stunned. "What did you say?" he asked, confused over what she had said.

"I've been meaning to get back at you since our fourth year!" she said, still giggling over her spell.

Draco's jaw slackened as he had a flashback of a buck-toothed Hermione Granger during his fourth year at Hogwarts, her front teeth growing past her chin after he had accidentally hit her with a curse that was aimed at Potter.

"Okay, okay I'll fix it!" she said, misinterpreting his silence for anger.

"G-Granger?" Draco's voice quivered with incredulity.

"I thought it was Hermione now." she answered, tilting her head slightly.

No no no, Draco thought silently to himself as he shook his head. The woman can't possibly be Hermione Granger. It was impossible.

"Draco?" the voice called out to him once more.

"Hermione." he whispered, testing out her name on his lips and marveling at how easily it came to him.

"That was an excellent duel." she said, unaware that Draco had gone deathly white in shock.

Clearing his throat, Draco responded, "Yeah, it actually was. It's been quite a while since I actually felt challenged in a duel." he admitted, still unable to believe that the woman was Hermione Granger.

They fell silent, while Draco tried to process his thoughts; was it really possible that his mystery woman was none other than Hermione Granger?

Who else could she be? the snide voice in his head answered.

You again. Draco groaned. I thought you were gone.

I'm not leaving until you remember.

I'm trying!

I know. You're almost there…you're almost remembering. Try harder.

Draco closed his eyes in concentration, calling to mind every little detail of the relationship Hermione had told him about when he was awake. While he had been suspicious and unbelieving before, he accepted it with surprising alacrity now, taking in every little thing that she said and acknowledging their relationship with every fiber of his being.

Opening his eyes, he surveyed his surroundings once more. His gaze fell on the woman sitting beside him, and he noticed that her face was slowly coming into focus now.

"Thank you, Draco. For saving me, for looking for a cure for me and for giving me such a perfect day." she whispered to him.

He froze as the woman's face before him became as clear as the setting sun that was bathing them in its warm glow. He recognized the soft brown eyes that stared at him gratefully, the bushy hair that rippled with the gentle breeze...those soft pink lips that curved into a gentle smile.

"You're welcome…Hermione."

Draco awoke with a jolt, his head aching as every single memory flooded back into his mind. Flashes of the past month he had spent with Hermione replayed in his head, and he almost cried out in pain due to the gravity of it all. It felt as if he was being sewn back together, the two voices in his head finally merging into one as he recalled every single moment with ease.

"Hermione." he murmured in dawning realization.

"Hermione." he said once more, jumping up and hurrying over to the bed. "Hermione!" he called out more urgently, shaking her awake.

"Wha-wha's za matter?" she groaned, her eyes still shut as she lifted her arms to swat him away.

Draco couldn't help bursting out in laughter, remembering how grumpy she could get when she didn't get enough sleep. He lifted her up, hugging her more tightly than he ever had, relishing the warmth of her skin as he did so.

"Hermione, wake up!" he said, still laughing gleefully.

"Oomph, what's the matter with you? You're suffocating me!" Hermione said grumpily.

"I remember now."

Hermione's eyes flew wide open in surprise, and Draco found himself staring deeply into those chocolate brown eyes he had missed so much. Her eyebrow gave a little quirk as she gazed into his eyes, not knowing whether he was fooling her or not.

"I remember." he said once more, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "I remember you, me…us. Everything."

Tears filled Hermione eyes as she flung he arms around him. She sobbed in delight, and Draco didn't care at all that his shirt was suddenly drenched with tears. All that mattered was the woman in front of him. Hermione. His Hermione.

"I knew you'd remember! I knew you'd come back to me, Draco, I just knew it!" she said, laughing and crying at the same time.

Releasing her, he brought up his hand, wiping the tears from her face. "Don't cry. I hate seeing you cry." he murmured.

"I missed you." she said simply.

Bittersweet pain filled Draco's heart; happiness as a result of being reunited with her once more, pain because he knew how much he had hurt her due to his loss of memory.

"I'm sorry, Hermione." he said, cupping her cheek with his palm. "How could I ever have forgotten you?" he said, as he bent over to kiss her.

Sensation flooded into him as he sealed his mouth over hers. He remembered the taste of her, his Hermione, the subtle and alluring essence that affected him like an intoxicating drug. He remembered the feel of her lips, the warm strokes of her tongue…

"Merlin's beard, I've missed you so damn much, Hermione." Draco said as he drew back slightly.

Hermione's hand caressed his cheek in response, her brown eyes almost black with desire. With surprising confidence, she grasped his shirt and drew him in closer, pulling him in for another kiss.

"I missed you so much, Draco." she said. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."

"I think I have an idea." Draco replied, showering her with small open-mouthed kisses.

"I thought you'd never come back to me." Hermione whispered fearfully.

"I'm here now." he muttered in response.

Suddenly, words weren't enough; Draco pulled her down towards the bed with him, and disposed of her blouse before she could even utter a protest. His lips grazed over the pulse point in her neck, and he heard Hermione sigh in pleasure as he suckled gently on it.

She brought her hands to his body, relishing the hard planes of his stomach and his chest. His shirt suddenly felt oppressive and confining, but before he could lift his hands to get rid of the offending garment, Hermione had ripped it off, running her hands all over his chest while biting her lips with desire. Draco tore her bra off in retaliation, and took a moment to admire her in all her glory.

"You're beautiful." he whispered as he gazed over her body. Hermione's cheeks reddened in response, as she made a move to cover herself.

Draco brought his hand up to stop her. "Don't ever be ashamed…you're so goddamned beautiful, Hermione."

He caressed her soft breasts with light strokes while pulling her in for another lingering kiss. His lips drifted down to her neck once more, then drew her breast into his mouth, plying her with such delicacy that made her arch towards him in response.

She needed more…they both did. It was lust at its finest; they simply couldn't get enough of each other, unable to be apart for a moment longer.

Draco's hand drifted south, and tugged at her knickers, cupping her appreciatively. His fingers circled her as Hermione flung her arms around his neck and nestled into his shoulder, moaning in delight. Draco pushed one finger inside of her, chuckling slightly at her wanton sigh.

"More, Draco. Please." she begged breathily, her hands pulling at his hair, tousling it.

He obliged, and added a second finger, pumping into her languidly; so slowly that Hermione berated him for his gentleness. He increased his pace gradually, and Hermione clung onto him as she bit onto his shoulder to stifle the moans she was repressing. And just when he had almost brought her to the edge, Draco stopped.

"What's wrong?" Hermione groaned, unfulfilled.

"My wand." Draco gasped, his breathing uneven as he motioned to the stick lying on the bedside. Hermione handed it over to him, and Draco cast the Silencing charm all over the room, and a Contraceptive charm over Hermione.

"Are you sure you want this?" he asked her.

Brown eyes met silver ones. "I want you, Draco. I need you." Hermione said with such finality.

It wasn't just lust anymore; it was so much more than that. Something Draco couldn't describe. No, something he was still afraid to name.

He pounced on her, his kisses more demanding than it had ever been. Hermione kissed back with equal fervor, both of them making up for the lost time.

Hermione unzipped his pants quickly, and pulled down his boxers. So great was their need to feel each other that Draco almost cried out in response when Hermione took him in her mouth.

"Oh Merlin, Hermione." he gasped. Her mouth felt so good, so hot and warm around his length that it was all he could do to contain himself.

He was too large for her, but she did her best to take all of him, her eyes glinting with desire at the guttural sounds of pleasure he made. She sucked him gently, her tongue swirling around his cock as she teased him.

"You're driving me mad, woman." Draco groaned as she flicked the tip of his length, giving it a small kiss.

Hermione hummed in delight and increased her pace. She could feel his release coming, and was therefore surprised when he pulled her up suddenly.

"I won't be able to last long if you keep doing that." Draco said, his breathing uneven as he reprimanded her. He kissed her with wild abandonment, and Hermione let out a moan of pleasure. Their hands roamed one another's body, unable to get enough of each other.

"I need you now, Draco." Hermione let out breathily as Draco suckled on her neck once more.

That was all that he needed to persuade him. Without a second thought, he plunged himself into her and buried himself to the hilt. Hermione gasped loudly, and Draco felt himself slide home.

Hermione was his home. His Hermione.

He lowered his head to hers, catching her lips in a searing kiss that touched her to her very core as he slowly pumped in and out. Hermione clung onto him, her nails raking his back as he gradually increased his pace.

"Oh, Draco!" she moaned as she gripped his shoulders. "Draco!"

Her hips met his each of his thrusts, and both of them let out groans of delight. "More, Draco!" Hermione begged, clutching his hips with her hands and pulling him in closer.

Draco felt her muscles tighten around him, and he bit his lip to keep himself from coming before she did. He wanted to last longer, to enjoy every second of their coupling, but their need to feel each other overruled his desire to make it last.

"Fuck, Hermione…come for me!" Draco said as he pumped into her relentlessly.

"Draco!" she screamed as she came. "Oh Merlin…I love you!" she cried out loudly.

"Oh Merlin…Salazar…" Draco groaned with his eyes shut, not realizing what she had said in her climax. "Hermione!" he shouted, his release as powerful and overwhelming as hers was.

Hermione watched him with wonder as he rode the waves of his ecstasy. Never before had she seen him so unhinged and wild with abandonment. His shouts could have woken the entire house if he hadn't cast a Silencing charm around the room.

He slumped down to the bed in exhaustion, bringing her close to him as he spooned her. They lay in bed for a few moments, trying to catch their breaths. Never before had Draco experienced sex like that before. He tried to contemplate why it had been so great with Hermione when…

"Did you say that you loved me?" he asked, appalled by Hermione's confession.

Hermione turned to him, her eyes heavy-lidded and her expression fulfilled and happy. "What?" she replied, apparently still on her high.

"A while ago when you…you said…nevermind." Draco muttered in confusion.

They fell silent; Hermione enjoying the bliss of the afterglow, while Draco pondered on what she had said.

She loved him. Him, Draco Malfoy! It was unbelievable, and Draco's eyebrows knit in confusion. How can she love him after all of the times he had hurt her? He had promised her a while back that he would never hurt her, but he did so anyways when he had lost his memories. He remembered how hurt she looked when he pushed her away when he first woke up. He never wanted to see her like that again; he never wanted to be the cause of her pain once more.

If he stayed with her, he was bound to hurt her again. She would be in constant danger from his father and his aunt, and would most likely be alienated by the Wizarding community.

But he couldn't let her go; he was selfish in that sense. Draco knew what he wanted, and he wasn't about to let it go. He'd savor every moment he had with her until-

Until what? Until he hurt her again? Until she could bear him no longer? Draco knew that his happiness with her couldn't possibly last forever; that it was only a matter of time before she found out about his mission. It was only a matter of time before she realized that he didn't deserve her. He had long since resigned himself to a sad fate, but he'll be damned if he didn't enjoy his happiness while it lasted.

It took him a while to realize that Hermione had been staring at him curiously for a while now. "Are you okay?" he asked her.

Hermione smiled and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Of course. That was amazing, Draco. God, I missed you so much. Don't ever scare me like that again."

"I promise."

"Don't ever leave me, okay?" she said, her brown eyes huge as she stared at him.

"I'll do whatever it takes to protect you, Hermione. I promise." Draco vowed, unable to resist her.

He let go of all of his worries as Hermione snuggled into his chest. Draco gripped her hand and started played with it, kissing and sucking on each of her fingers as Hermione giggled. Never before had the afterglow been so blissful to him.

"I can't believe you tore my shirt." he smiled at her.

Hermione lifted her gaze onto his. "I can't believe you destroyed my bra!" she laughed.

"Well you started it!"

"So I did." she answered smugly.

Draco kissed her on the forehead, a gesture Hermione had missed so badly. "I missed you." he whispered to her once more.

Hermione repeated the words to him, and slowly drifting back to sleep, thoroughly sated. Draco stared at her in wonder, noting that she had never looked so beautiful before. He'd never seen her look so at peace before.

She opened her eyes slowly and gazed deep into his eyes. "I meant what I said, you know. I love you, Draco Malfoy. And I don't mind that you can't say it back yet. I just wanted you to know that."

Not waiting for his reply, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Draco pulled the blankets over themselves and pressed his lips gently on her forehead. Making sure she was asleep, he whispered:

"I love you too, Hermione."

Awww, I know, this chapter was too lemony and fluffy hehehe. There you go, Draco finally regained his memories and Hermione finally plucked up the courage to admit that she loves Draco, yay! Let's see how long it'll take for Draco to do the same. :P

I really hope you like this chapter. Guys please leave a review so I'll be motivated to write and post the next chapter as quickly as possible. More reviews= faster updates :)