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A week passed with little to no progress on Hermione's potion. There was only nine more days until Blaise and Luna's wedding, yet neither had been seen for the past week. Last Draco had heard was that they were going out to search for some strange made up creature. He and Hermione had a dinner date scheduled with the Potter's and The Weasel tonight. The birds chirping at his window did little to lift his spirits. He had hardly seen his girlfriend, except for when she was healing his mother. She had slept at the hospital two nights in a row and Draco seriously questioned if she was eating anything. A loud crack whipped the blondes head towards his door to find an exhausted looking witch. Her chestnut hair was frizzing in every direction and dark circles had taken a permanent stay underneath her chocolate eyes.
"Sorry I didn't come home last night," she sighed, "I'm on the edge of figuring out what could help them."
Draco let out a long breath, "It's fine. You didn't forget that we have to go to Potters place tonight right?"
Her eyes opened wide, "shit." She mumbled under her breath. "It completely slipped my mind." Draco strolled over to her and took her tired body into his arms.
"It's not until seven tonight, so why don't you sleep for a bit and I can have Cerry wash a nice outfit for you?"
"Cerry isn't doing anything for me." She shot back, but was already beginning to lean into his body for support. "Although the nap sounds quite nice."
"Alright I'll pick out something for you to wear and you just sleep. Cerry won't do anything." They both knew it was a lie but Hermione's eyes couldn't stay open long enough to argue. Draco laid her into his bed and tucked her in. She was asleep before he soundlessly clicked the door shut.
She was running down a never ending corridor while voices screamed from the walls. The witch could feel a hand reaching for her back but she pressed on and continued to sprint down the hall. Her parents popped up and caused her crying out limbs to be relieved as she skidded to a stop.
"Why did you do this to us Hermione?" Jane's eyes looked dead.
"We loved you and you sent us away. Now we can't remember our own names." Greg's voice shook on every word, but he did not sound weak, only anguished.
"I'm so sorry!" Hermione screamed through her tears and reached towards her parents but they stepped away each time she came close. A cold hand grasped her shirt and pulled her backwards. Bellatrix stared out of hooded eyes.
"How many times do I have to teach you a lesson mudblood?" Her rotten teeth shone wide as she grinned with horrific glee.
"No! Mum! Dad! Please I can help you! Save me from her!" Hermione's screeches tore at her throat but she continued.
"We can't help you dear; we don't know who you are." Her mum smiled with absolutely no recognition. It only caused the Gryffindor to sob harder.
Draco's voice soothed her from the walls, "Wake up Hermione. Please wake up." She fell through the floor and landed into his bed. Her eyes shot open and Draco's worried face was looking down at her. "Are you alright?" He asked cautiously.
Embarrassment flowed into her cheeks, "I'm fine…just a bad dream."
Draco's brow rose, "Hermione I could hear what you were screaming…that was more than a bad dream. No need to deny it." Hermione was shocked. The king of not talking about it, wanted to discuss her nightmares. How time could change things.
"I just haven't been sleeping well so…I think it was my fears just cropping into my subconscious." She kissed his cheek, "But thank you sweetheart." She made to get up from the bed but he pulled her hand back.
"Are you really afraid you won't figure out a potion for them?" His words were whispered but they delivered a fatal blow. Hermione reached up to her eyes to stop tears, only to realize her face was already wet.
"What if I can't? What if the forget about me? Forever? I can't do that again. I already had to say goodbye to them once and watch them live on without me." She turned to face him with vulnerability oozing out of her very being. "I just don't…I don't know what to do." She looked down in shame. Draco put a finger underneath her quivering chin and brought her eyes up to stare into his sincere grey irises.
"Hey," he began, "your parents are never going to forget you. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to ensure it. I believe in you and I know you will figure out a potion." She looked down in doubt but he brought her right back, "Listen to me Granger. You will figure this out, and if you need funding, if you need a whole damn team of researchers, well I can help out on that aspect. You will heal your parents…just like you healed my mum. Just like you healed me." He kissed her tenderly and wiped away her tears. "Now c'mon it's nearly six and I know you want time to get ready."
"Draco, Hermione! I'm so glad you guys made it!" Ginny hugged the couple with one arm while she held a pie in the other hand. "Sorry, I was in the middle of putting this in the oven when you guys rang the bell…forgot to set it down." She laughed lightheartedly and happiness shone out of her very being.
"No problem Ginny." Hermione smiled, "We're glad to be here!" She took the pie out of the gingers hands and sped off towards the kitchen, "You don't mind if I add some whipped cream to the top do you?" Ginny laughed and led Draco into the dining room connected to the kitchen. Pansy, Ron, Harry, Luna, and Blaise were all seated around the table laughing about a joke that was unknown to the blonde.
"Draco! Good to see you mate!" Blaise stood and gave his friend a quick pat on the back, "Luna and I just got back from our exploring in the rainforest, I have so many good stories to tell you." The dark wizard couldn't stop smiling as he sat down next to his fiancé.
"I'm sure they will be extremely interesting." Blaise was the only one who caught sarcasm in Draco's voice.
Hermione walked in behind Draco causing both Harry and Ron to raise from their seats. "Hermione!" Harry took her into a strong hug and Ron made it into a group hug. "It's so good to see you."
"Can't breathe." Hermione mumbled underneath the two wizards. The whole room broke into laughter, even Draco. Though his eyes had gone a shade darker.
"You guys just saw her a week ago!" Blaise chuckled, "You act as if she went through a third war to see you!" Both boys turned slightly red and laughed quietly.
"We're just excited to see that our best friend is doing alright." Ron avoided eye contact with Hermione and suspicion raised her eye brows. Ron had always been a terrible liar. She shot her gaze over to Draco but he too avoided her face while sitting down next to her. She chose to drop it for now, with a silent promise to bring it up later.
With the table full, conversation soon got started and chatter ate away at any worries the witch had had earlier. There were at least three different chats going on within the table when Ginny stood from the table.
"I think dinner is almost ready if everyone could help me bring the food out?" The group of friends all followed her into the kitchen and helped carry far too many dishes of food into the dining room.
"You really do take after your mum here Gin." Hermione chuckled as she set down a casserole.
"I wanted to make sure everyone had something they liked." Harry wrapped his arm around his wife and kissed her cheek.
"I think it's the perfect amount dear." They all sat down and talking was at a minimum as they dug into the delicious food. Soon though, forks hit empty plates and the noise continued. Hermione offered to help Ginny clear the table and then surprisingly, Ron sprung up to clear dishes. He followed the women into the kitchen and shut the connecting door.
"What do you want Ron?" Ginny set down the plates and put a hand on her hip. Harry walked in through the door and stood beside his wife.
"What's with the weird looks all night mate?" Hermione turned to face Ron as well and he pulled at the collar of his shirt.
"I need to tell you guys something." He avoided their eyes.
"Alright well let's hear it." Hermione said impatiently.
"I'm…I'm asking Pansy to marry me." He pulled out a velvet box and Hermione dropped a plate onto the floor. Before it could drop, Harry waved his wand and shot it back towards the sink to wash itself. Shock was written clearly on all three of their faces and they did not speak for quite some time.
"Are you," Harry swallowed, "Are you sure about this?"
"As sure as I have ever been about anything. I love her."
"Well that's all good and dandy Ron, but you've only been dating her a few months." Ginny's voice was edging on hysterics.
"I don't care how long it's been. We could have started dating a week ago and I wouldn't care. I'm crazy about her and living together has only proved to me that…she's the one." He smiled sheepishly. "I just wanted to tell you guys before I actually did it. I already asked her father if it was okay and the guy practically kissed me on the spot. We get along pretty well."
"Did you just say you get along with Peter Parkinson? He secretly donated hundreds of galleons to the Death Eaters during the war!" Harry said.
"Yeah and so did Malfoy, but I don't see you yelling at Hermione."
"No one is yelling at you Ronald." Hermione spoke up, "It's just surprising you get along with Mr. Parkinson. He isn't exactly your type."
"Yeah well I do." Ron looked a smidge moody, "So are you guys gonna congratulate me?"
"Of course mate!" Harry gave Ron a quick hug, "Congrats! This is great news! When are you gonna do it?"
"Next Wednesday is our 5 month anniversary so I'm taking her to a nice restaurant and then I'm going to have the waiter put the ring on the top of her wine glass or something like that." Ron beamed at his plan and got a hug from Ginny.
"We are all so happy for you Ron!" Hermione smiled and took the box from him to look at the ring. "Oh it's just gorgeous, she will love it!" They were just passing it around when Pansy opened the door.
"Are you guys alright in here? It's been a while and I thought there were too many dishes." Ron nearly dropped the ring and stuffed it into his pocket.
"Nothing is wrong at all honey. But thank you." He kissed her cheek and they walked back out to the dining room.
"Hermione are you alright?" Harry asked the moment the door shut.
She looked up in surprise, "Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?"
"Well uh, Malfoy flooed us earlier today and said you had a bad nightmare…he said you were having a hard time." Harry took her hand into his, "Is it about your parents?"
"What did Draco tell you exactly?"
"Just that you had a nightmare and to be extra nice and welcoming to you tonight. I figured it was because of your parents but he wouldn't say at all what it was about."
Hermione smiled and warmth rushed throughout her body. Her trust of the Slytherin multiplied at Harry's words. The fact that he kept their deep conversations strictly to them, even when concerned about her, made love for him overwhelm her heart.
"Yeah it's just been a tiring week and I worry about them a lot now."
Harry hugged her and Ginny put a hand up to her shoulder, "Have you made any strides in the potion?" She asked lightly.
"Yeah I have actually. I think I only need a couple more things and it will work, but I can't be sure."
"Well that's great!' Said Harry, "I know you'll figure it out 'Mione. You're brilliant!"He let go of her and they began walking back towards the dining room, "You know you can always talk to me about this right?"
"Of course I do Harry, you're my best friend." The trio walked into the dining room to find their circle of friends all joking about some new invention of Fred and George's. Draco caught her eye and winked. Hermione giggled and left Harry's side to be by his. She grasped his hand and whispered into his ear, "Thank you."
Draco grinned and kissed her softly, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Sorry for the long wait! I hope the length of this chapter will make up for it(: Thank you so so so much to everyone who reviewed last chapter and helped this story get to 54,000 hits! I appreciate it so much and I love you all! I hope everyone likes this chapter, I know it's a bit boring but there are big events in it! Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon cause I have finished the rogh draft of my research paper so my life doesn't suck as much anymore. Please please review! They make my day!