A/N: Special thanks to AYNATT for reviewing! I'm so glad you like my story!

Chapter 24

He shied away from her, the anger in her eyes bright enough to burn him. "I was just…" he couldn't explain this to her. What could he possibly say? I was just going to kiss you because I love you. Clearly she didn't remember.
"You don't remember?" he asked, his voice barely audible.
"Remember what?" she asked, one eyebrow raised. He couldn't answer that question either. He just stood there, like an absolute idiot, looking at her. Every fiber in his body wanted to grab her and hold on to her until she remembered. He wanted to tell her he loved her over and over until she finally understood, but knowing Hermione Granger, that seemed a bad idea.
"How is he doing?" he finally asked, gesturing towards the redhead still passed out in the bed.
"You're asking me about Ron? Why the sudden interest, Malfoy? Worried someone will point a finger at you?" she spat. The amount of venom in her voice made him shudder. There was no warmth, no sign that she remembered anything about the past few months. "Get out of here, Malfoy, no one wants you here. I sure as hell don't," she turned from him and grabbed Rons hands, pressing them against her lips. He felt his heart break inside his chest. He felt the breath being stolen from his lungs. The way she was holding his hands, the was she was whispering against him. The warmth in her eyes, the love. He remembered when she looked at him that way. But seeing her, sitting there with the Weasel, he felt like that belonged in the past and this was the present. He'd rather take ten more swords to the gut, the pain would still not compare to this one.

Without Hermione, Draco felt empty. He felt like he had nothing to live for anymore. Maybe this was what the prophecy meant. It had changed his past, it never spoke of his present. He decided to turn all his attention to fixing the vanishing cabinet. He needed to keep busy and the cabinet kept him plenty busy. If he wasn't in the room of Requirement, he spent his hours looking at Granger when he thought she wasn't looking. She spent a lot of time in the library, where he hid in the shadows, carefully watching as she focussed on her work. He watched her bite her lip when she wrote, he watched her brow furrow when she focused extra hard. He loved to watch her tie her hair up to reveal her elegant neck. He hated watching Weasel sit down next to her. He hated hearing the rumors of him whispering her name when he was out. He hated the slight blush that appeared on her cheeks when they were together. He hated the way she laughed at his jokes. He wanted to punch him until he could no longer be recognized, but that wouldn't do him any good. He needed her to remember the time they spent together, he needed her to remember the fairytale where he was her prince and she was his princess. He needed her to remember their kiss that set everything in motion. He needed the book.

He searched the entire Hogwarts library for the book Hermione had in her arms before they were thrown back in time. It had that picture of him and her and he could use it to remind her, to help her remember. It was the only thing he could think of. He was searching in the restricted section for the book when he heard someone clear their throat behind him. He turned, slightly startled.
"You've been in here a lot lately," she stared at him. Her eyes softer than before, there was more curiosity than animosity in them now.
"You baffle me with your keen observations," he replied, very aware of the sass he was giving her. This wasn't his Hermione, so he was allowed to sass her.
"What are you looking for?" she asked, her head cocking to the side just a little. Dear god, she's like a dog with a bone.
"Nothing in particular," he answered, resuming his search.
"If that were through, you would've left already. You keep looking for a book, tell me which." She was clever and she had probably been observing him for a while. My how the tables had turned.
"I don't need your help," he answered.
"Alright, you just continue on your futile quest," she turned away and started walking off. He closed his eyes and bit his lip.
"Wait," she turned, the look of victory so apparent on her face. "I'm looking for a book on English royalty," he finally said.
"You're interested in our royals now? What, you think there's some hidden Malfoy blood in there. It's not enough to just be rich, you need confirmation that you're royal too?" He rolled his eyes, if only she knew just how much Royal blood he had.
"No, I'm just doing some research. It's a book about the royals around the 15th century, I do believe it was a muggle book." Hermione looked at him and raised her eyebrows.
"Draco Malfoy looking for a muggle book, you feeling alright? You sure it won't burn you when you touch it?" she asked.
"Are you going to help me or insult me?" he asked.
"Oh, bite me, Malfoy." Gladly. "If it's a muggle book, chances are it's not in here. You'll need to find it in a muggle library or a book shop, so good luck with that." She turned to leave once more. He took his chance.
"Have you ever heard of Argon?" he asked. She turned to him once more.
"Argon, are you talking about the chemical element? Because if you are, then of course I have." He shook his head.
"No, the country." She furrowed her brow.
"There is no country named Argon," she answered haughtily.
"There is, you should read up on its history. You might find something interesting."
"What are you playing at, Malfoy," she hissed, taking a step towards him. Her face was mere inches from his, if he just tilted forward a little, he would be able to take her lips with his.
"I'm not playing, just saying you should check it out. I know you like to read." He wanted to sound confident, but it came out as a whisper.
"Stay away from me," she hissed before stalking off.

Draco waited for Hermione to find him. Either to hit him in the face, spit him out or yell at him. Any of those options would be fine because it would mean she had found the book. He divided his time between the room of requirement and the most obvious places. He needed her to be able to find him, he wasn't too keen on playing hide and seek. It took her long enough, after four days, he was beginning to despair. Maybe she couldn't find the book, maybe he overestimated her curiosity. It was late at night on a thursday when she finally found him. He was just minding his own business when she grabbed his arm and pulled him into an empty classroom.
"I found your book," she hissed, pacing the room. He needed to stifle a laugh when he looked at her. She looked a mess, just like she had when Potter had bested her in potions. "Care to explain this to me?" she asked, walking over to him.
"You already know this, Hermione," he answered, knowing it had been a gamble to use her given name.
"Hermione?" she asked, a little bewildered.
"Yes, Hermione," he repeated.
"Nevermind, why is there a picture of me in this book, and even more, why is there a picture of you? Why does it say we got married?" she sounded like a raving lunatic. "Well, not you and I but these people that look exactly like us," she corrected herself.
"No," he answered.
"No what? Please use full sentences, Malfoy," she rolled her eyes.
"Not people that look like us, us." Another gamble.
"Are you insane? We did not get married. You have gone completely mad. Did you take another bludger to the head, is that what is happening?" she laughed a crazy laugh. He was losing his patience. He grabbed her upper arms and shook her once.
"Yes me and you! Yes we got married! The guy in the picture is me and the girl is you. It's time for you to remember because you're driving me crazy, Hermione. I can't take this anymore. I can't watch you with the weasel anymore. You need to remember the prophecy, the kiss. Please!" For a little while she just looked at him, he knew there had to be all kinds of crazy thoughts going through her mind. "Please," he pleaded and heard his own desperation.
"Malfoy, you sound insane," she finally whispered. "Let go of me," she added a little later when he didn't move or respond.
"I know I sound insane, believe me. I wished I was like you, I wished I didn't remember either, it would make everything easier, but I can't."His mind was racing, he needed her to remember. He needed her to feel how much he loved her, he needed her back. There was only one thing left to try. He grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her as if his life depended on it, and in a way, it did. He felt her body stiffen for a second, terrified she would push him of, he put everything he had into the kiss. He needed her, he needed her like he needed oxygen and if this was the last time, he needed to get as much as he could. The next second, he felt her melt against him. Her hands grasping his neck as he pushed her against one of the desks. His tongue found hers just as it did the first time, she had to remember. That's why she was kissing him back, right?

Please please please read and review! Thanks guys!