Harry paced impatiently on the street below Hermione's fifth floor flat. He couldn't touch the doorknob, because every time he did, electric jolts racked his body. The more he touched the doorknob, the worse the shocks became. He knew that someone was up there; his only question was, was it only Ginny, like they'd planned? Ron had been giving him odd looks back at the Ministry.
He frowned.
They'd managed to get protective orders against him, but he was going to go back to the Ministry after talking to Hermione. He had to get them reversed, or he could lose Draco and Lucius. While Draco had a clean record and couldn't be arrested just yet, Harry knew that he was the key to bringing Lucius down, and he didn't want to let his chance just slip away.
He tried the doorknob reluctantly, yanking it open when no shock came. He bounded up the stairs and pounded on Hermione's door. "Hermione? It's Harry – are you in there?" When no answer came, his heart dropped into his stomach. He took out his wand, made sure no one was looking, and pointed it at the door. With a well-placed unlocking charm, the door swung open.
"Hermione?" he called. He took two steps inside the flat, and then froze as his eyes fell on the immobile body on the floor on front of him. He rushed to her side and dropped to his knees as he felt for a pulse. He sighed with relief as he found one, and then began gently slapping her cheeks. "Wake up, love. Harry's here."
When Hermione's eyes didn't open, his relief began to dissipate. He glanced around quickly, taking in his surroundings. Nothing was out of place, so it didn't appear that there had been a struggle of any sort. In fact, now that he looked around, the only signs that Hermione had had company were the two empty teacups sitting on the table. He frowned. Something was out of place here, although he couldn't yet put his finger on it. He picked Hermione up and apparated her to St. Mungo's.
When Draco finally made it inside the Manor, his parents were waiting along with Ron and Pansy. Narcissa fanned herself with her hand and took deep breaths in an effort to remain calm. Lucius rushed over to him and eyed Ginny's face.
"Take her to her bedroom, and I'll be there shortly." Draco nodded wordlessly and carried Ginny to her room while Pansy and Ron followed close behind. He laid her down on the bed and pulled the coverlet over her. Lucius hurried in shortly after, followed by his wife, who was carrying several books.
"Does anyone know what happened to her?" he asked, gently lifting each eyelid to peer at her eyes.
"She was given a potion of some sort, and then Memorie Raderan was used." Lucius' head snapped up and Narcissa's mouth dropped open.
"What?" Lucius asked. "Who in the world would try to use that on her? And why?"
"The Mudblood was trying to use it on her, and we don't know why." Draco's voice dripped with the loathing he felt. Lucius' eyes narrowed.
"Granger," he hissed. Draco nodded, and Ron shifted uncomfortably. Pansy put her arm around him to comfort him, and he responded in kind by wrapping her in a tight embrace. "I'm no expert when it comes to potions, but it looks as though she's been given a sleeping draught."
"Can't you get hold of Severus?" Narcissa suggested worriedly. "He'd be able to help, wouldn't he?" Lucius nodded.
"Draco, go get the black owl and let Severus know that we need him." Draco nodded and headed towards the door. Before he could leave the room, however, Ron shot out a hand and grabbed his arm to stop him.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," Ron said quietly. Lucius arched an eyebrow and Draco frowned.
"Why not?"
"Because Snape would turn us in, rather than help us." He let go of Draco's arm and met Lucius' eyes.
"What would make you say such a thing?" Lucius asked curiously. Ron sighed.
"Snape has been a double agent for the past several years," Ron admitted. Lucius' face turned red. "He's been reporting everything to Dumbledore." Draco's eyes widened, and he turned to look at his father.
"So what do we do now? We need help!"
"Go ahead and summon Severus here," Lucius said, struggling to maintain his calm façade. "Behave as though nothing unusual has happened. Tell him you have a friend here who has ingested a potion of sorts, and the effects it's having on her, and that you need his help. We'll deal with him further after he's arrived and attended to her." Draco nodded and headed out of the room as fast as his legs could carry him. Lucius turned back to Ron.
"Thank you for that information," he said softly. Ron nodded and held Pansy tightly. "You didn't have to tell us that, you know."
"I know. I did it for everyone, especially Ginny. She doesn't need for Snape to come over here and take her away."
"What makes you think he would do such a thing?" Narcissa asked, pressing a fragile hand to her breast.
"He's known for a bit that Ginny has been talking to Draco, and he's told us as much. None of us believed him. He'd bring her back just to prove to us that he could do it."
"How did he know that she'd been talking to him?"
"He's a Legilimens." Lucius' frown deepened, and Narcissa gasped.
"And he must also be an Occlumens," Pansy pondered, glancing at Lucius. "Otherwise the Dark Lord would have known… he would have seen."
"It would seem that our dear friend Severus has more facets to his personality than we realize," Lucius mused aloud. Draco reentered the room, panting for air.
"Ran the entire way," he gasped, bending over and putting his hands on his knees. "Sent the owl."
"Good. Is there anything else that we should know before Severus arrives?" Lucius asked Ron.
"He taught Harry Occlumency." Draco stared at Ron.
"Potter is an Occlumens?"
"And a Legilimens, although that part happened by accident," Ron said, nodding. Draco swore softly under his breath.
"If he's a Legilimens, why didn't he see anything about Ginny wanting to come stay here, or anything related to that?" Ron met his gaze and held it.
"Because he didn't look. He didn't care." Draco was going to say more, but before he could, an owl tapped on the window. They all watched with bated breath as Lucius opened the window, retrieved the parchment attached to the bird's leg, and unrolled it. His eyes scanned the page as he read. He folded the parchment and looked up.
"He's on his way."
Harry paced the corridor outside of the examining room that Hermione was in. They wouldn't let him inside to be with her, citing their need for privacy as the reason why. He paced endlessly, wondering if he could wear his path into the tiled floor. Just then the door opened, and the attending MediWitch stepped out, closing the door behind her. Harry's face paled when he saw no trace of happiness in her features.
"Mister Potter, I think you should have a seat."
"Why? What's wrong with her?" The MediWitch sighed and cleared her throat. She wasn't meeting his eyes, so he couldn't use his Legilimency to find anything out.
"She's perfectly healthy," the woman began. Harry tensed.
"So what's wrong, then?"
"She's physically fine. Her mental state is another matter altogether." The blood drained from Harry's face.
"What?"
"She has no recollection of her name, her family, her childhood – nothing. There are no memories. She has no idea who she is."
"But you can rebuild those things, can't you?"
"If she had been Obliviated, we could. She hasn't been Obliviated, though, Mister Potter. A much stronger memory spell was used." Harry shifted nervously. He knew what spell had been used; had shown it to Hermione himself. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do."
"Nothing?" he echoed flatly. She shook her head.
"Are you responsible for this woman, or does she have family?"
"She only has me," he said quietly, his throat constricting. "Only me."
"You have choices. You can keep her at your home and take care of her, or you could leave her here. She could stay in ward forty nine." Harry stared emptily at her.
"Ward forty nine?"
"The Janus Thickey ward, on the fourth floor." Harry's eyes registered his recognition.
"The crazy ward?" he hissed angrily. She tapped her foot impatiently at him.
"Those people are not crazy, Mister Potter. They're spell damaged, and you'd do well to remember that your friend is now among their number."
"I'll take her home with me," he said defiantly.
"Do you realize what sort of care that entails? The girl can't even go to the loo by herself anymore! She doesn't remember how!" Harry's anger faded into sadness and guilt. Somehow she'd attempted to perform the spell on Ginny, and it had backfired. So Ginny was left with her memories, and his best friend, his Hermione, was for all intents and purposes, gone. If only he'd never suggested the spell… no. His temper flared. It was all Ginny and Ron's fault – if they had stayed where they belonged, instead of letting Malfoy's money romance them, then none of this would have happened.
"Can I see her?" he asked. The woman nodded.
"For five minutes. Then visiting hours are over." Harry nodded solemnly and hesitated before pushing the door open. Hermione turned to look at him, and chills ran down his spine at her empty stare.
"Hey, Mione," he said gently, sitting down on the side of her bed. "It's Harry. Your best friend, remember?" His heart plummeted when she only stared at him in response.
"I'm sorry that this happened, Mione," he said, his throat constricting. "I'm going to get them back for doing this to you, I swear it. And I'm going to come back and see you tomorrow. I love you, Mione." He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She cocked her head to the side and gave him a puzzled look. Hope flared for a moment, but died in the next when she closed her eyes and rolled over. He stood and went to the door, casting a longing glance at her before his expression hardened. He left the room and headed back to the Ministry.
He'd get Ginny, Ron, and Draco – but first things first. He had to find out who had given the statement for the protective orders and confront them before he did anything else.