Alone
After a few moments of hugging Ron tightly I stepped away from him and crouched down by the edge of the cave as Ron studied me carefully, I wanted to tell him everything that had happened I just didn't know what to say.
"What did he do?" Ron said gruffly and I couldn't help but scoff, of course his hatred for Draco would always shine through. I guess I couldn't judge him when after all this time he had been right.
"I don't know where to start Ron. He attacked me and killed my parents, Scorpius is my son and he stole my memories from all of that. The others, they all knew and they let me get close to him, why would they do that?" I blurt figuring it was easier to just rip the band aid off. Glancing up at Ron I saw his eyes widened as he processed everything I had said but he didn't seem overly surprised.
"I told them all along it was bad idea." He grumbled rubbing the back of his head uneasily. Jumping up I stepped away from him.
"You knew too?" I snapped watching as he fidgeted uneasily.
"I tried to tell you people don't change." He muttered sounding somewhat like a child who had been told off.
"You could have told me why! You made it sound as though it was just part of your stupid grudge." I yelled feeling the anger boil inside of me. Did anyone not know what he had done to me? The boy should've been in jail not acting as Head Boy. I'd always known he would've been head boy considering his grades were always just below mine in the class average, one of the many reasons he had to hate me back then. I figured after the war that he wouldn't be coming back at all but then it seemed as though everyone was fighting his cause, believing he had truly changed was the worst mistake I'd made but why did they all trust him when they all knew what he was capable of.
"Do you care because he lied or because you love him?" Ron snapped his anger rising equally as fast as mine had.
"You're just as bad as the rest of them for keeping his secret. I should've known not to come to you, now leave. All any of you can do now is leave me the hell alone." I snapped before disaparating to the only place I could think of, Hogwarts was the only home I had these days. I'd been back home once since the war and all I'd found was another family living where I lived, growing up in my room, living my old life. I knew by that point that my parents weren't coming back, I always thought it was my memory charm, the way I sent them away, but I knew why now they never came back. My heart ached knowing what happened to them I wanted to go back to save them but I knew I couldn't change the past. In many ways it hurt thinking about how much I'd grown to love Scorpius. How could I look at him the same again knowing the pain that he grew from? Staring up at the castle as I walked into the grounds I knew I had to calm down a little and think rationally, to plan and organise but Draco's face was crashing across my mind and right now, all I needed was sleep.
My sleep was restless that night as memories flashed through my mind scaring my memories. Each and every time I woke up in nothing but pain. Somehow these memories brought back physical pain, pain I didn't even know was possible to feel. I decided to get up at 5 unable to toss and turn anymore. I sat watching the sunrise and mulling over my options. I could either run from here and hide from the things I felt or I could get up and move on. Nothing would change the past now and as much as it hurt, it didn't change.
I was pulled out of my thoughts as the sound of the portrait hole made me jump out of my skin. Spinning around I saw Professor McGonagall climbing through. Stepping back I attempted to create more of a gap between us. McGonagall appeared to notice this change in me as she remained where she was and studied me carefully.
"Miss Granger, I thought I would find you here." She started her normally cold and Stoney voice soft and cautious.
"How could you let this happen? How could you let me know nothing?" I snapped having a need to know more. So many questions were running through my mind.
"Miss Granger, things really aren't all that they seem. I thought it important you grow to know your son." McGonagall replied calmly as though she was giving me a moment to react. How could she be so calm over this all? It was infuriating.
"So it was not important that I am scarred by the memories of what he did to me? I was supposed to fall in love with my own son, get close to the man who hurt me the most and know none the wiser?" I snapped throwing my hands up in the air as McGonagall watched me calmly.
"Miss Granger it will do you well to know your memory is not what it seems, you should listen to the full story. I fully understand that you find yourself in pain from Mr Malfoy's actions but I have made no decisions lightly. The memories you hold are dangerous to many lives and as such must be treated cautiously, I implore you to listen to the full truth, but only once you are ready. For now, I will leave you in peace." McGonagall nodded curtly before turning on her heel and leaving without letting me say another word.
I knew part of what she was saying made sense but my mind was so confused from what little I could piece together I just couldn't face hearing any more of it any time soon.
The rest of the holidays trickled by and each day blurred into another as I desperately tried to resolve the mess that was my mind. No one bothered me or tried to talk and whilst in some ways I was grateful for this, and finally by the end of the holidays I was ready for answers. I knew Draco would return to school tomorrow and I had finally decided that I would let him speak, let him explain it all to me. I couldn't stand the sleepless nights that continued to torture me and he was my only answer.
The next day when the portrait hole opened I stood, ready to face the music. Taking a deep breath I turned around fear flashing through me as the moment I had dreaded for so long had finally arrived but it wasn't him. Scorpius' little blue eyes weren't staring at me smiling widely and Draco's platinum hair wasn't brushing across his eyes. It was Harry, and somehow seeing him hurt just as much.
"Hermione…" He said as if frozen by the moment, fearful for what I might say.
"Harry." I replied curtly. As much as I wanted answers and explanations I couldn't help the fury that flooded through me at the sight of my best friend who had hurt me so badly.
"I know you hate me, I know I can't help the things running through your mind and the things you have suffered. As much as I want to explain there is no time." Harry blurted quickly his eyes darting about. He looked out of breath and I knew something was wrong.
"Harry, what's wrong?" I asked quickly. Despite everything, certain things justified putting arguments to the side for and Harry's face told me this was one of those times.
"It's Draco, he's missing."
******end of chap**
Thanks for reading! Sorry for the long wait guys! Hope you are all well, sorry for the filler chapter but hopefully more will be coming soon xoxo
