This is a non-canon story. Different couples, different situations, etc. I am changing a lot from the book and doing it my own way. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it. If you do like it, then please, leave me some reviews because I love reading about what people think of my stories.

Disclaimer – I own nothing except my own ideas. Everything else belongs to Rowling.

Chapter 17

The overcast sky outside was a mere imitation of Hermione's mood as she secured the remaining items in her handbag. She had been preparing for this day since the end of last term. Dumbledore's death made her initial plan more concrete and she knew that there was no escaping what she had to do.

She had, selfishly, made her parents spend more time with her that summer than usual. They had decided to explore the Caribbean a bit, and she had fallen in love with the white sand and blue waters, vowing to return once the war was over. The trip was solely for her own benefit. Her parents, she was sure, suspected what her real motives were, but they kept silent about it all. They had returned a week ago and had fallen into a simple daily routine. No one spoke about the war. No questions were asked. Nothing.

She glanced down at her watch and noted that it was already 6:00 pm. She had five minutes before she needed to apparate to Harry's aunt and uncle's house, so that they could apparate together to their first destination. She stood up and looked around her childhood room for what she always knew would be the last time, picked up her handbag and quietly made her way down the stairs to the living room.

She stood in the shadows, staring at her parents. Her mother was pouring cups of tea for the three of them, while her father was trying to find the sports channel so he could watch the current cricket game. Tears already began to form in her eyes as she slowly pulled out her wand.

"Hermione, dear!" her mother called, causing her to still her movements. "Come down for tea, darling!"

She forced herself to choke back the whimper that threatened to escape her lips as she lifted her wand and pointed it at her parents.

As if sensing her presence, he father stopped flipping through the channels and turned to look over at her. His eyes went from meeting hers, to lowering at the wand in her hand. Mr. Granger knew this was coming. The kind Mrs. Malfoy had sent them a letter, after Draco had disclosed Hermione's plan to him.

Mrs. Granger, sensing a change in the air, turned as well to stare at her loving daughter. Instant tears began to fall from her eyes as she realised what was about to happen. Mr. Granger patted his wife's hand before dropping the remote and standing to face his daughter completely. He outstretched his hand to his wife and pulled her to his side, gripping her hand tightly as she wiped her eyes quickly with her other hand.

"Go on, darling." Mr. Granger encouraged. "We know what you have to do."

"How…?" Hermione choked out as her own tears flowed freely down her face.

"Draco." Mrs. Granger answered as she glanced up at her husband. "He told his mother, and she sent us a letter weeks ago. We knew all along."

"The trip…" Hermione breathed out.

"We knew how much you would need a family trip like that." Mr. Granger admitted. "Hermione, your mother and I love you unconditionally. We know how brave, intelligent, and strong you are. You have so much to look forward to in the future, after this war is over. We know that while we can't be at your side, you still have Draco, Harry and Mrs. Malfoy. Don't ever think that after what happens today, we will forget you, because you will always be in our hearts."

"Promise us, dear, that once everything is over, you'll come find us." Mrs. Granger added. "You'll...reverse...the spell...so we can continue being a family once more?"

Hermione nodded her head quickly, even though she knew the impossibilities of what she had just agreed to.

"Good, then this is just a break sweetheart." Mr. Granger squeezed his wife's hand. "Go on. Cast the spell."

"I love you." Hermione cried out as she pointed the wand firmly at them before saying clearly, "Obliviate…."

As she turned her hand with the wand, performing the spell to perfection, she saw the white stream of light erupt from her wand. Once all memories of her were erased, she lowered her wand and walked over to the front door before her parents could regain their composure. She glanced down at one of the picture frames in the foyer, that previously held a picture of the three of them on a tour of Scotland's Kismul Castle. She was no longer in the frame.

Strangled sobs erupted from her throat as she rushed out the front door and made her way down Granger Street to the apparition point. She couldn't stop wiping her eyes from the waterfall of tears that were pouring out. So focused was she on wiping her eyes and walking away as fast as she could that she didn't see the person walking hurriedly over to her. But, the moment the familiar pair of strong arms encircled her body, she allowed her weakness to show. She clutched onto the black robes in front of her and cried into the strong chest that she was being held against.

"Shhh, it's ok." Draco's calming voice washed over her. "You did the right thing."

"I...I...feel...hor-horrible." Hermione choked out.

"I know love." Draco rubbed her back gently. "I know. But it was either this, or allow the death eaters to hunt them down. You're saving their life."

Hermione pulled away and looked up at him with her bloodshot eyes.

"I told them that I could reverse it." she whispered.

Draco stared down at her with his own pair of sad grey eyes. He knew fully well that attempts to undo memory charms had ended up with severe consequences and majority of the time, the attempts had been unsuccessful to begin with.

"Then we will reverse it." he promised. "After the war, that'll be the first thing we do. I promise you that. We will find them and we will reverse the spell."

Hermione sniffed and wiped her eyes again, nodding her head as she felt partially relieved to have him on her side. She knew the reversal would be hard and would take a lot of magic, so it would be good to have someone with her. But the dark thought in her mind was that all these future plans depended solely on if they even survived the war.

She glanced down at her watch again and sighed. She was now 10 minutes late.

"Come on, I'll apparate with you." Draco clutched her hand tightly and waited for her since she was the only one who knew where Harry lived.

Hermione nodded and closed her eyes, needing to concentrate more than usual this time, as she felt the familiar pull and tightness in her stomach. In less than five seconds they had landed on the corner of Privet Drive. She quickly walked down the street until she came to #4. The house was dark and she glanced up nervously at Draco, who had already withdrawn his wand, before stepping up to the front door, knocking on it exactly 3 times.

After waiting a few moments, the door finally swung open to reveal a rather disheveled Harry, clutching his wand tightly. He released a sigh of relief at the sight of them and moved aside to let them in. Before Hermione could look around the empty house properly, her eyes were pulled towards two still bodies on the floor. She couldn't turn away.

"Shit, I didn't realise that they were going to attack you so soon...I thought you both had at least an hour…" Draco murmured.

"Are they dead?" Hermione wondered.

"No." Harry shook his head. "I stunned them."

Draco wasted no time, pointing his wand at the pair on the ground and whispering the Obliviate charm. He couldn't risk getting found out when things were so heated at the moment. Hermione gave him a firm nod of approval before turning to face Harry.

"We should go." she said quietly.

Harry merely nodded and grabbed his trunk. He looked around the place that he had unwillingly called home for 17 years and sighed softly. Everything he owned was in his trunk, but the house held no memories he wanted to keep. He followed Hermione and Draco outside, rolling his trunk behind him.

"I should head back now." Draco grumbled. "He's having a meeting tonight with everyone. I have to be there. You two...remember...if you're ever in a bind...apparate to Severus' house. The wards are designed to allow you both in, and I will be alerted instantly."

"Right." Harry nodded firmly and glanced at Hermione. "Um...I'll just apparate to the first stop...I'll meet you there Hermione."

Hermione gave Harry a grateful smile before he disappeared with a pop. She turned to Draco, fighting everything inside of her to not burst into tears once more.

"I have something for you." Draco said softly as he pulled out a small jewelry box from his pocket. "My mom helped me put the finishing touches on it yesterday, but the spells are all originally from Severus."

He opened the box to reveal a long silver chain with a star shaped locket attached to the center. A picture of a snake wrapped around a small lion was etched in the center of the star. Hermione couldn't stop the tears flowing after that.

"Draco…" she whispered.

"No, listen quickly." he rushed out as he realised that the two death eaters will be released from their stunning spells soon. "I have the same locket. If either one of us opens it, we can see what the other is doing. However, yours is also set to alert me of any serious danger you might find yourself in. I know you can't owl me...so this is the best I can do. I...I need...I needed to make sure - "

"Shh." Hermione leaned up and placed a kiss against his lips softly. "I know. Thank you."

"I love you, Hermione." he murmured against her lips. "You better take care of yourself, because if you don't...I will have to kill every single person who hurt you and I know you don't want me ending up in Azkaban."

"I don't." Hermione chuckled lightly. "I love you too, Draco. Please, try to reach me if you're in trouble. You know I will drop everything for you in a heartbeat."

"I know love." Draco leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead lightly. "Go, now, before they wake up again."

Hermione clutched the necklace tightly in her hand before pressing her lips once more to his, apparating away with a light pop, leaving Draco staring down the deserted street. After realising that he was finally alone, he faltered to the ground, allowing his pent up tears to finally fall. He embraced the agony that he had been expecting. The love of his life was about to go off, fighting for her own life and he was stuck on the wrong side. All he could do now was hope to see her again.

As Hermione appeared on the doorstep of 12 Grimmauld Place, she couldn't make her feet move forward anymore. She crumbled to the floor in a heap of tears as the realization dawned on her that she might never see Draco again.

That's how Kreacher found her when his master sent him to look for her. He placed his hand on Hermione's wrist and transported her into the house. Sirius and Harry both stood up from their places on the couch and rushed over to Hermione's side.

"She needs a night to herself." Sirius suggested. He knew the look on Hermione's face. He'd seen it many times during the first war. "Trust me...I've seen this before. She feels as if she's lost someone she loves."

"To be honest, in this case, she probably feels as if she's lost the 3 most important people in her life tonight." Harry quietly admitted.

Sirius looked up sharply at Harry, waiting for an explanation. Harry had already informed him of the truth behind Draco and Severus' actions, but as far as he knew, it was only Draco she was saying goodbye to tonight.

"I wasn't sure if Hermione wanted anyone besides Draco and myself to know…" Harry inhaled sharply before looking down at his broken best friend. "But...she obliviated her parents today."

Sirius looked down at the intelligent young witch laying curled up on his living room floor, whimpering softly to herself, oblivious to everything that was around her. The amount of respect he suddenly felt for her soared. She did what most pure blooded wizards would never even consider doing. He reached down and gently brushed a few strands of her hair out of her face. She had saved his life after his escape from Azkaban, so the least he could do was help her now.

"Come, let's get her upstairs to her room." Sirius suggested.

Harry nodded numbly as he watched his Godfather lift Hermione into his arms as if she weighed nothing more than a feather and carried her to the staircase. Once they laid Hermione in her bed and closed her door, the tearful screams began. She was in mourning.

A/N

If anyone is interested, there's a song for this chapter. It's a Korean song called "Again Today" by Kim Bo Hyung. Anyway, let me know what you think about this chapter! From here on out, a lot of things will seem different.