A/N - Please do leave a review if you are enjoying the story, have theories or feedback! I love to hear from you. Thanks as always to my beta!

Chapter 13

Hermione woke up the next day determined. She had read the entire book over three times last night. She felt confident and even had practice clearing her mind throughout the night into the earlier hours of the morning until she couldn't stay up any longer and fell asleep. At first all she did was focus on breathing, once that was the only thought that occupied her mind, she released it too. Then there was nothing. She stayed in that state for hours, experiencing nothing at all. She had never done anything like it in her entire life, her mind usually was continuously racing, prepping, thinking about all alternatives. It was unusual to just be - not feel, not think.

Theo was standing by her door. "You're awake. Vippy brought your belongings from the flat and it's all here now, just like you asked. He did his best organizing it like you had before but if you are looking for something in particular, just call for him. Your kitchen items aren't in this room though, I think he just added them to our collection downstairs."

Hermione didn't recall asking for her stuff, but she supposed she was glad to have her possessions with her considering that she had to stay here now until they could break the curse.

"Do you like this room? There are others, larger ones that we can move you into if you prefer." Theo asked

"No. It's beautiful. Bigger than my entire flat actually. I'm fine here - really." She hurriedly said

An awkward silence passed between them.

"Umm. Where did you go yesterday? You were right behind me on the stairs and then…." Her mind felt confused like there was something missing.

"I had something come up. But I'll be in the library all day today researching…" A pause. "…if you want to join me after you're welcome to. I know you have a training session with Draco this morning." Theo uncomfortably massaged his wrists as he spoke with her.

Hermione noticed a thin design, like a scar, shaped like an odd-letter 'Y' on his wrists.

"Is that an ancient rune? Algiz – right?" she asked inquisitively

He nodded.

"For protection? A shield?" she pushed curiosity filling her mind

"Hm." A few seconds of tense silence passed between them. "You took ancient runes in Hogwarts?" he asked her

"Yes. I got an O in it. But Arithmancy was always my favorite."

"I see." Another pause. "Well – I'm not going to keep you much longer. I know that Draco's waiting for your session, whenever you're ready. Vippy has breakfast for you downstairs. He's made quite the feast actually. You still haven't told him what your favorite items are, so he decided to make it all again." He shook his head slightly and gave her a tentative smile, that looked almost like a grimace. Hermione felt like something had changed between them. He was keeping his distance and was not as warm compared to when they first met. She gave him a small smile back and watched as he turned around and walked down the hallway headed to the library.

Hermione was staring out the drawing room's large windows taking in the scenery. It was so beautiful and peaceful, and it made her smile. A wave of guilt bubbled up in her chest. She turned around and for a second couldn't remember what she was doing. Oh right! Breakfast.

"Vippy?" The elf appeared with a POP and gave her a low bow.

"Mistress call for Vippy?" he asked

"Yes. I heard that you made a delicious breakfast. Thank you. I'm not sure where I should go to have it though." She said pondering.

"Is you hungry mistress? You is eating French omelet, your favorite, but Vippy can ask to make another." He asked as he wrung his hands nervously.

"Oh! I – No you're right. I'm quite full. Sorry I…"Hermione was very perplexed. She actually felt stuffed but couldn't remember eating.

"Master Theo and Mister Draco is in the library. They is waiting for you." Vippy looked at her with a tentative smile.

"Thank you. I'll head there then." She returned the smile to the elf that she felt an unexpected sense of fondness for.

She rushed over to the library.

A few days passed and a routine began to form between the three of them. Training sessions with Malfoy twice daily, and most of the day was spent in the library as they devoted hours buried over books trying to find useful information. Harry and Ron popped by to check-in on her regularly. As she read over her most recent ancient leather-bound book, she had a sporadic thought about having a heated conversation with Blaise and Daphne, but for some reason she could not quite recall the interaction. She unexpectedly felt a wave of hopeless, culpability, and entrapment. Shaking her head, she continued reading through the detailed script.

She practiced controlling her emotional response and mentally compartmentalizing her feelings almost every minute of the day. She felt quite confident sitting across Malfoy and he looked at her face critically.

"How are you feeling Hermione?" he asked in a soothful tone, his warm grey eyes looking at her with an unexpected sense of empathy.

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise and a light blush trickled across her cheeks. He was usually cool and distant in their sessions and the use of her name brought a shiver to her spine. She had not ever heard him call her anything other than Granger and it was usually said with utter disdain.

"I'm fine Malfoy. Why?" she said sharply

In an instant she saw a myriad of emotions flicker through, at first his face frowned deeply, recognition passed through, then frustration shifted into fury and finally a composed mask of indifference appeared.

"Alright Granger. Clear your mind from all emotions. Legilimens."

Their session carried on for around two hours and when he finally left her mind, there was a sense of satisfaction on his face.

"You've made a lot of progress. In our next sessions, we'll continue trying to provoke responses. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Same time." He stood up, opened the door to his room and walked out without another word.

Hermione was standing in front of the fireplace looking up at her mother's portrait, absent-mindedly playing with the indigo diamond resting against her clavicle. Theo was dozing off on the couch, a book splayed open on his lap. Daphne, Blaise, Harry and Malfoy were huddled over a table around an intricate map of Xander Cooke's estate. They had discovered that he had an old goblin-made dagger that had been embedded with the blood of a Gulon. One of the oldest books in the library indicated that Gulon's blood was rumored to have immense healing properties. They had been working on a plan to break into the property as it was heavily guarded with dark magic and complicated wards. Hermione was about to join the group when the fireplace burned with green flames and Ron stepped out.

"Sorry I'm late! Bloody insane day at the ministry." He gave Hermione a brief smile and dumped his satchel on the couch where Theo was napping. He rushed over to the group leaning over the map. The bag tilted over, a few ministry reports and a Daily Prophet tumbled out onto the sofa. Hermione rolled her eyes with a warm smile settling on her face and went to tidy up the spill. She shoved the reports back in and saw Ron's face on the front page of the newspaper. The headline highlighted how he had solved a case of a missing woman and had apprehended the wizard that had kidnapped her. She was about to place the paper back in the bag, when the date caught her attention.

August 6th, 1998.

August.

Hermione's mind reeled. It was still June. It was supposed to be late-June. Did Ron get a time-turner? No. They had destroyed them all at the Department of Mysteries their fifth year. A dull pain appeared at the back of her mind. Why did it say August? Her head began to throb. She didn't understand.

August. August. August.

The room began to tremble and she saw Theo wake up with a start. The group gathered by the table spun around to face her.

"What is this?" she held up the newspaper, her hands were shaking.

Theo rushed towards her and snatched it from her hands glancing down.

"WEASLEY! Are you a fucking moron?" he roared. The room was violently shaking like an earthquake breaking through the manor's foundation. She saw wands drawn by every person in the room.

"Why does it say August?" she asked her voice filled with dread

"Petrificus Partiallius!" A steam of yellow light emitted from Blaise's wand and Hermione was frozen on the spot. Other than her face, she couldn't move her body at all.

"Hermione…please calm down. Remember your technique. Compartmentalize your emotions. You can control it." Malfoy's soft low voice called from across the room. She looked at him, his warm grey eyes imploring.

The walls stopped shaking and a collective sigh was released from the room's inhabitants.

"Why does it say August?" she asked again trying to keep her voice controlled.

She saw the group exchange guarded looks. Harry walked over to her.

"We've had to obliviate you several times over the past 2 months." He said his voice filled with sadness

"I don't understand. Why?" she asked

"You've been trying to leave. Trying to turn yourself in for execution Hermione." Ron's said filled with anguish

There was silence in the room.

It didn't make sense. They had agreed to look for a way to break the curse. They have been planning to steal the dagger. She had been working on controlling her emotions with Malfoy. Their sessions had been working. She had wanted to turn herself in when she first attacked Malfoy. A small wave of guilt washed over her. Then unexpectedly she couldn't breathe. A tidal wave of remorse poured into her for something she had done. Something she couldn't remember. Did she do it again? Had she attacked them?

"Yes. Yes you have." Daphne responded to her thoughts.

"Who?" she whispered

"All of us." the reply was sighed out dejectedly

Hermione's eyes widened with shock.

Memories of Malfoy's crumpled body flashed in her mind as blood oozed out of him. Had she done that to all of them?

"No. You've developed a new curse. A modified version of the Cruciatus."

"STOP!" Theo and Harry both yelled out simultaneously.

"She remembers her guilt. She thinks about it all the time. The memories might be gone but.." Daphne said gently

Malfoy nodded. "Most of the memories have disappeared. I've been trying to help her bury the regret in her recess of her mind during our sessions. But it's there." His low voice said

Daphne continued onwards, ignoring Theo and Harry's protests. "The spell you use doesn't just cause pain; it clears the mind so that we visualize someone we love being tortured and experiencing the same agony. It doesn't stop until healing runes are carved on our bodies."

Hermione glanced down at Theo's wrist, at the Algiz ruin she had seen before.

"Show me." She cried

They didn't move.

"SHOW ME!" she screamed, and the windows shattered. They flinched as shards of glass began to fall around them.

"Immobulus!" Malfoy's voice called out and the fragments froze mid-air.

"Reparo." Ron said and the windows were fixed in an instant as the glass pieces shifted back in place.

Theo, Harry, Ron, Malfoy began to unbutton their robes. Blaise and Daphne rolled up their sleeves. Blaise had a few ruins etched on left forearm while Daphne had two on her wrists. Hermione stared in complete horror. The rest of them were significantly worse - they were all covered in ruins. Red scars carved and etched into their skin. Most of Harry's right forearm, the entire length of both of Ron and Theo's right arms, and worst of all was Malfoy - almost every inch of his torso, chest, back and arms was covered in ruins.

Tears were pouring down her face. She gasped and realized that she had been tormenting Malfoy daily during their training sessions for the past two and a half months. His body was hacked up in ruins because she tortured him every single day.

"Please. Please you have to end this. There is no cure. I can't keep torturing you. Please. Let me go." She begged

"You just need to control your emotions. You've made so much progress. You haven't had an…incident...in several days. We are so close. You just need to hang on a little longer." Theo whispered.

"Days…Days…I haven't tried to hurt you in days…please. Please I'm begging you. Harry. Ron. Please. Let me turn myself in. You owe me. I fought for you." She pleaded

"It's okay Hermione. Don't cry. This will go away soon." Harry said gently as he raised his wand towards her head.

"No. No. Don't take this away. Don't take away my memories! Ron. Stop him! Harry! No! No! Don't do this." she cried

Ron looked at her, tears streaming down his face - distraught.

"Harry please no..Theo please stop him!" She wailed. Theo shook his head sadly.

"Draco…Draco please." She looked at his grey eyes etched with concern and conflict. His name slipped out of her lips and she knew that it felt familiar - it wasn't the first time she had said it. Moments together, her sense of familiarity with him. Lost memories – gone forever.

"Potter! Hold on. I've said this before…I don't think –"Draco's voice urgently spoke

"Obliviate."