((A/N)) Starting now, I won't be writing the disclaimer, summary, etc. in every chapter since you guys know the drill… Thanks.

Sorry if this chapter took too long…

Chapter Ten

Complications

Devon easily got to the bathroom, mostly due to the green door that Hermione was talking about.

The door, it appears, led to Joan's room. It was neon green and has a plaque that says "Joan" in elegant silver script, which would occasionally turn into the color gold.

Devon locked the door and turned on the light in the room. He looked at his reflection at the mirror and decided that he looked good. He turned on the faucet and splashed water on his face. Wiping his face with a towel, he looked up once more at the mirror and sucked in his breath.

The face of Draco Malfoy was staring back at him.

Devon cautiously shut his eyes wishing for the headache that had come to go away along with what he thought was an illusion. He inhaled and exhaled before he slowly opened his eyes.

He was relieved that he saw his usual blue eyes staring back at him, but stopped when he saw his new chin and nose.

Devon fingered his chin and held his head high. He obviously liked the way he now looked.

Gives me an aristocratic air…

He stared once more at his reflection, looking for more changes at his appearance.

"The change would be gradual, as your memory would come back gradually. And after this procedure, I would have to erase your memory of anything related to the process." An echoing voice said to him in his mind.

Where did that come from?

Devon rubbed his forehead and undressed himself as he headed for the shower. As he stood under the cold shower, his mind was reeling.

He got out of the shower and dried himself when he realized that he did not have clothes to wear. He certainly did not want to wear his "Prince" costume again. He thought of transfiguring the costume but decided against it, he was not feeling well yet, he might not be able to transfigure properly. He wore the bathrobe that Hermione has left for him in the bathroom. Besides, he smiled to himself; he wanted to be reminded of this particular Halloween night.

Draco…Hermione… Married… Pregnant… Love… Facades… Malfoy…Mud-… Slap… Pain… Ferret…King… Malfoy…. Mother… Kill… Bastard… Father… Crucio… Lucius…Malfoy… Draco Malfoy… Hermione… Draco…Slytherin king… Draco… Hermione… secret… boyfriend… Weasley… Potter… Draco Malfoy… Ginny… Graduation… Scared… Krum… Beaver… Pretty… Draco Malfoy… filth… Hermione Granger… Draco Malfoy… bride… Devon… Draco… Devon… Draco Malfoy…

Devon blinked. All the memories that came back to him the night before flashed once more, fast forward. An annoying drawling voice, which he identifies with this memories, kept on repeating Draco Malfoy's name.

Bloody…

He wanted to bash his head on the sink's counter for more memories to come back but thought better of it. If only the part about gradual changes and his erased memory were as vivid as the other memories – like the one of his marriage.

"BLOODY HELL!" Devon shouted out loud.

"BLOODY HELL!"

Hermione heard a yell from the second floor. She quickly ran up the stairs and knocked on the bathroom door, just as the sound of breaking glass was heard.

"Devon! Devon! What happened? Devon! Answer me! Are you all right? Devon!" Hermione knocked frantically.

Meanwhile at the other side of the door, Devon's fist was bleeding as he looked at the now shattered mirror.

"How can this be?" He spoke to himself in a hoarse whisper. "I am -." He paused.

"DEVON! DEVON! Answer me!"

Devon looked at his many reflections on the broken glass. "Draco Malfoy."

"Devon!"

He glanced at the door and got his wand out.

"Reparo…"

He promptly mended the mirror and healed his hand.

"Devon!"

He then opened the door and he found a very distressed looking Hermione.

"What happened? I heard you shout and broken glass, and -."

Devon placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm sorry if I caused you trouble and panic. Just don't mind me – I always hate seeing my face so unkempt in the morning." He smiled.

"Really?" Hermione visibly relaxed, before she heard the alarm clock from her room. "Oh my! Harry and Ron will be arriving any minute now!" She gently pushed Devon aside and went in the bathroom. "Look, the food is ready. Just go to the dining room, Ron and Harry will be dropping by, invite them to eat with you. We'll be going to the Ministry today and you're coming with us."

Hermione proceeded to shut the door but Devon tried to stop her.

"Go to the Ministry? What about?"

"Ask Harry and Ron about it."

Hermione pushed Devon's hand and closed the door.

"Hey," Devon said. "What about," The door was locked. "My clothes?"

Devon shook his head in defeat and muttered to himself as he headed to the dining room. "And she's my alleged wife…" He smirked to himself.

"Hi Lav, how are you? Where's Ron?" Harry greeted the pregnant woman who was comfortably sitting in the living room couch, eating a banana.

"I'm fine, thank you, just relaxing." Lavender smiled at him and gestured towards the kitchen. "And Ron's in the kitchen, preparing Angel some late breakfast."

Harry said his thanks and left Lavender to go to Ron.

"Daaaddyy!" Harry heard Angel Weasley's whining voice. "I want the cereal with the maaarrsshmallowsss!"

"I know, I know – but you have to drink milk." Ron replied.

Harry entered the kitchen.

"Daaaaaaddyyy," the red-haired child whined. "I don't have to drink milk. I'm eating cereal with milk remember?"

Ron threw his hands up in exasperation and pointed his wand at the refrigerator then at the cupboard with both sprang open. A box of cereal and a bottle of milk levitated towards the table where Angel was waiting with her bowl.

Angel then cautiously poured herself some milk and cereal, well, as cautiously a six-year-old could. She ended up spilling some milk on the table.

"Whoopsie…" Angel said, facing her father sheepishly.

Ron sighed as Harry came to the rescue and cleared the spilt milk with magic.

"Gooood mohrnin Uncle Harrrrry." Angel greeted her uncle in her six-year-old pronunciation.

"Hey there." He smiled at his niece and ruffled her hair. Harry now faced his best friend and brother-in-law. "Are you ready, Ron?"

"Huh?"

Harry looked at him with a mock-confused face. "Are you ok, Ronald? Or have you gotten bloody daft? Remember today, we're going to -."

"Yes, Harry, I remember what we were going to do today. It's just, Lav is due in a week and I have to get used to making breakfast for Angel and the lot of responsibilities that Lav won't be able to do while she's, what's the word, recuperating or something."

Harry patted Ron's back in an assuring manner. "You'll do fine."

Ron's face was a grimace. "I hope so."

"Well, ready to floo to Hermione's?"

Devon sat in Hermione's dining room, drinking coffee while thinking of his situation.

"To reveal or not to reveal? That is the question." He said to no one in particular.

Devon speared a hotdog using his fork and held his coffee cup using the other hand.

"Well, what do you guys think?" He talked to them. "Nope, I don't think I want to reveal now, I might put myself or her into danger. Besides," He ate the hotdog. "I'm suspicious about that Potter guy." He swallowed. "Who knows, he might have staged killing me, for all I know." He put down his fork. "Argh! I must be loosing it, talking to inanimate objects."

Devon, also known to himself as Draco, resumed sipping his coffee in silence.

Just then, two figures got out of the fireplace.

"Hermione! We're here!" Harry called out, then stopping short, causing Ron to bump into him.

"Harry, why did you halt? What the -?" Ron cut himself as he saw a man wearing nothing but a bathrobe sitting in the dining room of Hermione.

Devon faced them. "Good morning, gentlemen."

Harry and Ron both began stuttering simultaneously.

"What are you doing here?"

"Where's Hermione?"

Devon coolly put down his cup. "I slept here last night and Hermione is in the bathroom. By the way," He motioned towards the food on the table. "She told me to tell you to, ahem, indulge." He reached for a piece of toast.

Harry and Ron, though shocked, sat down and ate.

They ate in silence, nevertheless; Ron would throw a glare or look of suspicion towards Devon who was currently reading the Daily Prophet and was oblivious to him.

The silence was broken when Hermione called out from the second floor.

"Devon! I think you left your wand here."

Devon calmly replied without looking up from his paper. "Yes, I did."

In a few moments, Hermione appeared in the dining room with them, wearing her usual business attire: black slacks, white blouse and a black blazer.

"Here." Hermione tossed the wand to Devon who caught it suavely.

Seeing Harry and Ron, she beamed at them. "Hi guys, ready to go?"

Devon got up from his seat and tapped Hermione lightly at her shoulder. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"I don't think so – oh!" Hermione blushed deep scarlet. "Ok, you may apparate to your place and dress up. Then come back here."

Devon just smirked in response before apparating.

"Um Hermione," Harry started. "Did Devon sleep here last night?"

"Yes." Hermione nonchalantly replied as she prepared herself some coffee.

"Where exactly?" Ron continued for Harry.

"In my bedroom." She sipped her coffee.

"YOUR BEDROOM?"

"I slept in Joan's."

"Oh."

"Honestly, Ron." Hermione shook her head. "You guys were practically bugging me to have a boyfriend and now that I'm -."

Harry intervened. "We know Hermione, we know. It's just that Ron's being a prat because he's going to be father of another child in a week's time so -."

Pop.

Devon was back, wearing a black business suit.

"Shall we go?"

Joan leaned back in her seat and got out a Weasley wand play with. She occasionally glanced at the platform that was set up in the Quidditch field, which had been rigged up for the occasion. The wizarding world was commemorating the Martyrs and the Fall of Voldemort.

It was not that Joan did not understand the observance of the event; she had attended them since before she could remember. But it had just sunk to her that, technically, her father is not one of the War Martyrs. She looked back at the platform where her Uncle Harry was delivering a speech about the valor that Martyrs had shown and thus imparted liberty from the Dark Age. Her eyes scanned the platform until she saw her mother sitting beside Professor Snape, looking very solemn and demure.

My father should have been up there, Joan thought, with the War Heroes.

She inaudibly heaved a sigh. Before her father had passed away, her parents, Ron and Harry had been taking turns hosting the event. During the turn of the Malfoys, Joan had been four years old then; her father had insisted that the said event should be held at the Manor's grounds. And so it did.

Joan looked at the people beside her.

James was sitting up straight, listening very intently to what his father was saying while Andrei was merely pretending to listen, Joan could tell since he had this zoned out look.

Sighing, Joan began to randomly flick the Weasley wand around, thus Andrei's hair became purple, James' nose a potato, and Mariel Jordan, who happens to be sitting in front of Joan, had spiders forming webs at the back of her head.

Just then, Joan felt someone glaring at her. She looked up and saw her mother doing so. Joan then began to undo the spells.

Devon was crouching near the stage, positioning his camera so that it was centered on Harry.

Why do I have to take Potter's bloody picture anyway?

Because this is my bloody job, Devon told himself.

It has been two weeks since Percy Weasley had talked to them about the plans for the Commemoration. As expected, Devon was assigned to become the official photographer of the event.

He continued to take two more pictures of Harry then took more of the guests on the stage. Lavender was not around due to the fact that she just recently got out of the hospital and is resting at home with her one-week-old baby girl, Ailene. Ron was, as usual, looking nervous to be in front of plenty of people. Then there's a whole bunch of people who Devon could only slightly recognize. But his eyes swept over to a certain brunette who was there, sitting ever of beautifully and so sophisticated.

Devon shook his head.

I will not be mushy-mushy – I'm on a job, remember? But really, I'M MARRIED TO HER?

Devon stood up and made his way to the stage to get a close-up shot of each of the special participants of the Commemoration.

"Joan, just please, promise me that Devon would still be in one piece once you get back." Hermione asked of her offspring.

"Yes, Mom, I do promise." Joan replied, smiling brightly, holding Devon's hand.

"Devon, is it ok?"

"Yes, Hermione, don't worry, we'll live." Devon smirked, knowing that this will be a good time to get acquainted with his daughter.

"Take care – just make sure to back for snacks. Harry, Ron and I would probably be in the Three Broomsticks by that time."

"Bye Mom." with that, she and Devon apparated to Malfoy Manor.

After the program, the students were free to do anything for the rest of the day, especially since their families were there as they all attending the program.

It was halfway through the clam chowder when Joan announced that she wanted to go and explore the Manor, as she wanted to look for new reading materials. Well, at least that was the reason she told her mother.

Hermione had easily consented as Devon offered to accompany Joan; Hermione really wanted the two of them to get along together. Besides, Joan had gone out of the way and declined the offer of the boys to play Quidditch, something that Hermione was not exactly fond of.

"Master Draco! Young Miss Joan! Welcome back!" Saddy the house elf greeted them.

Devon, out of the corner of his eye, looked at how Joan was going to respond to this.

Joan simply waved the house elf off. "Ok, Saddy, enough with the formalities and good day to you too. I'll just call for you when I need you, alright?"

"Yes, Miss Joan." Saddy disappeared with bow and a pop.

"Ok, uh, Joan – what do we do now?" Devon asked, hands in his pockets.

Joan pondered the possibilities. "Well, like I told Mom, I want to look for more reading stuff and explore… Why don't we start in the library?"

"Sure." Devon said, letting Joan drag him to the direction of the library.

Devon let his eyes linger on various articles struggling in vain to jog his memory into action. Sadly, some memories are just too stubborn to come back.

"Well, here we are. You can go and explore at that side of the room and I'll do the other end – just tell me if you find something interesting." Joan directed.

Devon smiled faintly as he complied. Joan really got Hermione's bossy attitude.

As Devon scanned several books, a massive headache hit him.

"You really aren't going to put that book down now, would you?" He had entered the library and spotted his wife reading a book in one of the soft plush chairs.

"Nope." Hermione replied without looking up from the book.

He sighed. "Thank Merlin that when Joan was born, she was not born with a terrible eyesight."

"Your point?" Hermione looked up, with her eyebrow raised playfully.

"AHHHHHHH!"

Devon was shook from his dream-like state by a piercing scream from the other end of the room.

Joan was crouching in front of an opened cabinet with a black-cloaked figure in front of her.

It was a Dementor.

"Expecto Patronum!" Devon immediately shouted, wand pointed at the Dementor.

The Patronus of Devon shot out of the wand's tip and dashed towards the Dementor.

Joan looked at the Patronus with awe.

The Patronus had a massive head of a dragon with its body flowing behind it, like a long colossal snake. All in all, it was a silver form too majestic to behold.

But, something bothered Joan about it. She just can put her finger on it now.

The dragon-snake hit the Dementor full force but the Dementor did not flee. This continued for several rounds until the Patronus disappeared in a wisp of silver smoke.

With an idea, Devon stepped nearer to the Dementor and it changed into the body of Hermione, dead and lifeless.

Devon, using his quick reflexes shouted. "Riddikulus!"

The boggart was gone in pop.

Joan threw herself into Devon's arms, shaking and near tears.

Devon stroked Joan's hair in a comforting manner. "It's ok, Joan, it was a just a boggart. There is nothing to worry about."

After a few moments, Joan was finally calmed.

"Thank you." She slowly replied as Devon let go of her.

Devon looked thoughtful for a while. It was just a boggart, but he had just realized his greatest fear – to see Hermione dead.

Joan seems to sense what he was thinking of.

"You really love my mother don't you?"

Startled, Devon nodded.

More than you really know, kid…

Joan smiled. "Well, just continue to love her, ok?"

Devon smiled back. "Ok." His face clouded. "Your greatest fear is a Dementor?"

Joan became sheepish. "I was doing light reading about Dark creatures and such the other night and I guess it sort-of stuck to my mind and scared the hell out of me. It's one of the reasons why I wanted to look for more books here – to ease my mind."

Devon shook his head.

An avid reader – just like Hermione…

"Don't worry, I'll help you out with looking for pleasant books, but I doubt it if you like to stay here longer."

Joan shook her head vigorously. "I don't think I like to see another boggart looking like a Dementor today."

Devon offered his hand. "Then let's go to Hogsmeade, we may find a bookstore there or two."

Joan took it. "That would be nice."

"Hermione, don't get yourself so worked about nothing. I'm sure Joan's fine." Ginny said for the umpteenth time.

"Yeah, besides," Ron casually took a gulp of butterbeer. "I think we should be worrying about Devon being hexed by Joan and not the other way around."

Hermione was about to retort when Joan and Devon entered the establishment, the latter carrying a paper bag of books.

"Hey Mom!" Joan promptly kissed her mother's cheek. "Hey Aunt Ginny, Uncle Ron, Uncle Harry! Where are the boys?"

"They're back at Hogwarts, dear, showering maybe. They'll be joining us in a few minutes." Ginny answered.

"Oh." Joan took the paper bag from Devon and said her thanks. She sat down at Hermione's left side and engrossed herself in one of the new books that they had purchased.

Devon proceeded to sit on Hermione's right side.

"So, how did the bonding session go?" Harry asked Devon lightly.

Devon smirked. "It was a lot of fun actually – boggarts and books actually reside together."

"Boggarts?" Hermione was alarmed.

"Don't worry," Devon faced Hermione. "It's gone now, but I think your precious house elves should work harder, apparently they don't clean the library well."

Hermione once more did not get to reply as James and Andrei came to their table, caked with mud.

"JAMES POTTER! ANDREI WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU APPEAR TO DINE WITH US IN THAT ATTIRE!"

"But Mom – we -."

"Aunt Ginny - ."

Both excuses from both boys were cut short by Ginny pinching their ears.

"GO TO THE SHOWERS! BOTH OF YOU! I'm sure Lavender would tell you to do the same thing, Andrei. NO BUTS!"

"The Malfoy Heir is at Hogwarts? Indeed…" A sly grin crept on the face of the man.

The room was dark and only a glowing orb in the middle of the room, in front of the man who was sitting in black throne–like seat, was giving off light.

"Indeed, it is time for my plan to come to action and fruition." The sinister man once more grinned to himself.

Joan had gone up to bed early like she used to whenever something was bothering her.

Everyone else was at the Great Hall having dinner, even her mother.

It was a custom for the commemoration day to end with a feast for everyone.

But instead of still pigging out in the Hall, Joan was in her room reading her new books. One of the books was about charms and the like. Joan quickly scanned the table of contents and turned the pages so that she found what she was looking for. Her suspicions were correct. There was something wrong with Devon's Patronus.

A Patronus must have a definite form, Joan had read.

But Devon's Patronus absolutely did not have one, Joan recalled. It was partially a snake and partially a dragon.

Then it clicked in her mind.

Part snake and dragon…

Joan opened her trunk and dug in it. After a few minutes of searching, she finally found the tome she was looking for.

"Auror Training Progress Reports." It said on the cover.

Joan hurriedly turned pages of the book, which covered the progress of the different Aurors trained before Hogwarts graduation. Her mother was the one in-charge of keeping track of their progress for obvious reasons.

Joan stopped at the page with the heading "Patronus Exercises".

She speed-read the paragraphs until she came to the photo of the Patronus she encountered earlier. She read the description: "Form: Part-snake and part-dragon. Comments: Patronus is in rare form. No one has seen anything like it. Only one known produced in such a manner. Produced in excellent quality."

Joan held her breath as she read the name of the Auror.

"Draco Malfoy."

Devon could hardly pay attention to the food he was eating. He was busy processing the latest developments of his identity.

Ten minutes before dinner, he had gone to meet the Headmaster.

"Why don't you go see Professor Dumbledore? I'm sure he can help you with that memory lapse of yours." Joan had said while they were choosing books in the bookstore. "He's a great man, I'm sure he has advice to impart."

And that is why Devon found himself climbing the steps to Dumbledore's office.

Cautiously, Devon knocked on the door, since he did not know the password.

"Come in."

Devon entered the room and was surprised to feel that he had entered this room before.

"Oh, Mr. Black, I've heard all about you from Hermione, is there anything in particular I can help you with?" The old wizard asked, eyes twinkling.

Devon did not feel unnerved since those eyes seem to be vaguely familiar.

If I am Draco Malfoy, then he must've been my Headmaster before… Devon told himself and debated whether or not to tell the man of his so-called identity. Then again, this man seems to know everything by just staring at other people.

"Professor, would you believe me if I said I am Draco Malfoy?" Devon inadvertently blurted. He shut his mouth in shock. He realized too late that he was thinking out loud.

Dumbledore simply smiled. "Yes, I would and I do.

"You – do?" Draco slowly asked.

The headmaster nodded. "Of course, I trust former students of mine, you know." He smiled knowingly.

Draco opened his mouth to speak but found out that words have failed him.

"Don't worry, Mr. Malfoy, I will keep your secret until the time comes."

Draco mumbled his thanks and said. "But, how could I – Hermione – believe – reveal – identity?" He stammered.

The headmaster nodded meaningfully and reached for a small package in his drawer and handed it to Draco. "Here, Draco, I trust that this will help you out." He looked at the clock. "Gracious me, it's time for the feast. Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy, but I better be on my way. You should be too." And he got up and head for the door.

"Professor, I-." Draco started but Dumbledore had already left.

He absentmindedly placed the package in his pocket and headed for the Great Hall.