A/N: Hey all! I dedicate this chapter to my friend Beck! It was a while since we were in contact but I am happy we are talking again! Thanks for the reviews!
DISCLAIMER: Not mine, how many times do I have too say that?
Chapter Seventeen: Memories and Murder
"What is going on with her?" asked Merle once him, Ron and Draco were outside the ward, "She doesn't remember what happened? Please tell me that is normal."
Draco nodded, "It is. Her mind and body has gone through a terrible trauma and as a consequence has blocked the memory from what happened, worried that if she remembers it will do more damage to her body and mind."
"She needs to know!" cried Ron, "Her business, the people killed…"
"I know," snapped Draco closing his eyes to calm down, "As her Doctor and fiancé I believe she needs to know. Besides if we don't tell her the papers will."
"Do we do it now?" asked Merle glancing at Hermione who was sitting on her bed looking around the ward in confusion.
Draco nodded, "Let me break it too her gently okay?"
Merle and Ron nodded before following Draco into the room. All smiled at Hermione who half grinned back. Confusion was evident in her eyes, but she looked as though she was trying to remember something relevant too that day.
"What do you remember about today, Hermione?" asked Draco sitting on the bed beside her, but so he was facing her.
"Only waking up… doing the normal things and talking to Harry about his spilt from Ginny… then it just blurs… like I know something happened but I don't know what," replied Hermione getting hysterical towards the end, "My mind just won't let me remember."
Draco took hold of Hermione's hand and held in his, "Something did happen. You were injured – but are completely okay."
Hermione nodded, "But what happened?"
Draco sighed, "As I tell you, your memory may unblock the one it is hiding. Okay?"
Hermione nodded again.
"Okay. Someone used a spell to make your building collapse. People have died, Michael being one of them. The Aurours have a fair idea as too who is involved and are tracking them down as we speak."
Hermione's free hand was gripping the quilt as Draco spoke with tears running down her cheeks.
"Do you remember?" whispered Draco.
Hermione nodded let out a heartbreaking sob. Draco slid closer and pulled Hermione towards him into a hug. Hermione welcomed it and held him tightly as she cried her soul out for the devastation the couple, who did it, had caused.
Merle and Ron watched on in silence, feeling sorry for their close friend who was normally so strong. But it seemed life was enjoying dealing out bad cards too Hermione. Was this the pay back for her running away for four years?
Hermione pulled herself away from Draco and wiped her eyes, "It was horrible… I wish I couldn't remember it now."
Flashback to Earlier In Day"Luna I can't. I have dinner with my family. You know the company's policy- we finish at five no later," said Hermione signing the final bill before looking up at her receptionist, "Tell Miss Deville we will fit her in tomorrow. It's the best we can do."
Luna nodded, "I have been trying too tell her that. Maybe you can come out and tell her?"
Hermione nodded, "As long as you get these sent to the Finance people at the Ministry."
"Deal," smiled Luna following Hermione out too the reception area.
"Miss Deville?"
A blonde woman turned around to Hermione just as the building gave a loud groan. Everyone stopped and looked up at the ceiling before a crackling sound erupted around them. Hermione started towards the staircase, yelling for everyone to get outside. She banged on office doors yelling for people to get out. Just as she reached the staircase Michael called too her.
"You should get outside!" he yelled with Luna pulling at his arm.
"I have too get Ginny!" screamed back Hermione, "Get going!"
The staircase made a cracking noise, signaling for Hermione too run up the staircase, people shoved past her running down them not even noticing they were elbowing their boss. Finally at the top Hermione screamed for Ginny.
"There she is!" snarled a voice.
Hermione spun around to see Emery Flint and Sharla Mink standing towards the side of the staircase. Hermione's heart pounded as she ran a quick as she could, up the next set of staircase and then towards Ginny's office, thundering noises were happening, signaling falling ceiling on the lower floor. Hermione glanced over her shoulder too see no sign of Sharla or Emery.
"Ginny!" cried Hermione, "Ginny! The building is falling! We got to get out of here!"
Hermione yanked open the door towards her, Ginny wanted doors opening outwards to they would make more pace inside the office, though Hermione had hated the idea, she just went along with it.
Ginny was quickly packing her important things into her bag.
"Ginny we have no time!" cried Hermione grabbing her pregnant friends hand and pulling her towards the door. But they were too late, not only was the lower floor crashing down underneath them but Sharla and Emery were walking towards the office.
"We're too late, get under the desk now!" cried Hermione shoving Ginny under the desk, "Get down. Hide. He's outside."
"Who is?"
"It's her brother. He's with her outside. We can't make it. Just get under the desk," cried Hermione pushing Ginny down and under the desk.
"Get going Hermione!" cried Ginny, "You could make it."
"No," said Hermione as she turned around, but then the lowest floor gave way, causing Hermione to fall and hit the edge of the table with a crack, mingled in with Ginny's terrified screams.
End Of Flashback.
"That is what I remember… Emery Flint and Sharla Mink. They are related I swear. They look so much alike," said Hermione looking at Draco through tear filled eyes.
Draco looked at Ron and a pale Merle.
"Sharla has conned Emery into bringing down Hermione," said Ron thoughtfully, "He hates Hermione for not letting him near Merle all those years ago and seeing too it that he got arrested and charged. But Sharla has conned him into taking things further. Now that Hermione's business has been temporarily destroyed she will up the advertising on her business – possibly thinking you are dead or incapable of telling us who did it. That way she can do what she has always wanted: have a successful business that rivals Hermione's."
Everyone nodded.
"But why does she have to go about it this way?" asked Hermione before blowing her nose, "I mean… people have died. I have too go back there and rebuild everything. Only this time I will make sure to use protection charms on it. I won't let this happen again."
"How is the patient?" came Pompfrey's voice as she walked in, "Oh, you are awake. How are you coping?"
"I'll be fine. Just another memory," replied Hermione bluntly.
O
The next morning if anyone looked in the Malfoy's dining room they would have thought Narcissa and Lucius were just redesigning some part of their Manor. But they were already contacting the Ministry about the rebuilding of Hermione's business. So far they had given permission too the same sort of building being built, but Narcissa and Lucius were changing it around so people wouldn't have to go to work and remember everyday the devastation that had happened.
Dakota on the other hand was happily making her mother a picture of her, Hermione and Draco playing out the front of their house.
"Crème or gray with white edging? Remember the floor will be hard polished oak the furniture will be dark wood with white silk covering," said Narcissa showing her husband the two drawings.
"Gray and white. It is more sophisticated and not completely girl like," replied Lucius after just a glance, "They are clearing the rubble away carefully today, in case of more dead bodies. Hannah Abbott died this morning from head injury, along with her clients."
Narcissa shook her head sadly, "Terrible. I hope they catch whoever did this."
Lucius nodded and tied another letter too his owls leg, just as another one flew through the window.
Lucius grabbed it and opened it to read aloud.
"Mother and Father,
"We are on our way home. Hermione is doing well, but she is still very shaken up from the ordeal. Please do not ask what happened. She does not wish to talk about it.
"Bring Dakota home when you are both ready. I am sure she is enjoying her time with you both.
" -Draco."
Narcissa nodded, "That is understandable."
Lucius was about to reply when Pansy appeared in the dining room with a loud crack, blood covered her hands and her eyes were wide with terror. Lucius and Narcissa ran over too her shocked and worried. Just as they reached Pansy, she collapsed too the ground, a knife protruding from her back.
Narcissa screamed from terror and Lucius swore.
"Grandma?" called Dakota from the hall, "Poppie? Grandma!"
"Narcissa, take Dakota home now. Explain to Draco what has happened. I will owl for help, or send Draco here immediately."
Narcissa nodded and backed from the room pale in the face. Her back hit the door, but she managed to turn around and grab the door handle just as Dakota was nearing it.
"You screamed," said Dakota, "Is Poppie okay?"
"Y-yes. He is just… cleaning up. But Mummy and Daddy are home now so I have too take you home," replied Narcissa calmly.
"But I'm having fun painting!"
Dakota gave her Grandmother the Malfoy puppy eyes. If the circumstances were different Narcissa knew she would have caved in and said yes. But she couldn't let her Granddaughter be here with a possibly dead body in her dining room. Narcissa picked Dakota up and immediately apperated her too her home. Just as she arrived Hermione entered the lounge room.
"Where is Draco?" asked Narcissa placing Dakota on the ground.
"In the kitchen," replied Hermione hugging her daughter "Are you okay Narcissa?"
"I-I can't say," said Narcissa paling again before running to the kitchen.
Hermione sat silently listening to the urgent whispers, followed by Draco's yell of "WHAT!" Hermione stood too see what was going on as Draco walked briskly into the lounge room followed by Narcissa.
"Hermione something awful has happened… I have too go help Dad. Mum stay here, where it is safe," said Draco before apperating.
"What is going on?" cried Hermione in confusion; she'd suffered enough of it in one day before that memory was unblocked.
"Dakota darling, you can go play with your toys if you want," smiled Narcissa, "I will keep your Mum company."
Dakota nodded and ran upstairs too her bedroom to play as Narcissa and Hermione sat down.
"Lucius and I were in the dining room when Pansy Zabini apperated in. Her hands… her hands were covered in blood and her eyes… oh I never want too see eyes like hers again," whispered Narcissa looking at her hands before looking up at Hermione, "They were full of terror, loss and confusion. Then she just fell too the ground… she had a knife in the back of her chest."
Hermione's mouth fell open in shock, she knew Pansy was once Draco's fiancée and bestfriend, "Is she dead?"
"I don't know. Dakota was coming and Lucius told be to get her back home."
Hermione shook her head, "Who… who would want too kill Pansy?"
"I don't know. She got along with everybody. She was such a loving mother too Samantha."
Hermione nodded, "So I've heard. Draco visited her a few weeks back too catch up. He didn't get home till late. But I was just happy he was socializing again."
Narcissa smiled a little, just as Draco arrived with bloody hands.
"Is she okay?" cried Narcissa standing up.
"Dead… blood was everywhere… Dad flooed the hospital and Ministry and they came. But she was dead… Dean was there. Blaise is missing," said Draco, "No one knows where, but him and a team of Aurours are going to their home to find out what is going on."
"Where is your father?" asked Narcissa worriedly.
"Giving a statement too the Ministry. Is Dakota in her room?" asked Draco glancing at his blood covered hands.
Hermione nodded and Draco went too the kitchen to wash his hands clean of the blood. Hermione and Narcissa remained seated in silence listening too the tap water run, but it wasn't long before the sound of sobbing made its way into the lounge room.
"I should go home," said Narcissa softly as Hermione nodded and ran into the kitchen.
The tap was still running with blood covering the hot tap and edges of the sink. Hermione turned it off and knelt down in front Draco, who was leaning against the cupboards in a seated position. Hermione tilted Draco's head up too see the tears falling down his cheeks.
"I'm so sorry," whispered Hermione as she slid closer to hug him tightly.
Draco wrapped his arms around her back, the blood staining her blue shirt. His tears soaked the front of her shirt, but Hermione didn't care. All she wanted too do was take away his pain or kill the bastard for causing it.
O
"I don't believe this!" cried Harry reading the letter causing James to glare at him and Ginny too look up from feeding Rianna her bowl of porridge, "Blaise has gone missing, his wife has been murdered and Dean and a team of Aurours are searching for him. Ron is helping out though. He has the support of the Australian Ministry Aurours, they are sending over a team to help us out."
"Well that is a good thing," said Ginny smiling at Rianna as she blew a raspberry bubble, "Oh! Clever trick!"
Harry smiled affectionately at his daughter and folded up the letter, "It is a good thing. So James I was thinking we could go to Granny and Pop's place today and I can teach you how to fly on a real broom. Interested or are you still angry with me?"
James' face broke out into a grin, matching his father's, "Why would I be mad with you Daddy?"
Harry smiled, more from relief but also happy him and his son were getting their relationship back on track.
Ginny smiled at the too and looked at Rianna, "It is going to be a Mummy and Daughter day! How about we bake from cookies? I have a craving for some… can you believe it? Almost four months too go. Due around May 10th."
Harry smiled, "Not long too go indeed. Come on James. Let's go get dressed so we can get going. I'll get my broom."
"Harry, not the firebolt. It is too fast and turns rather easy."
"Fine. Does your mother still have the Cleansweeps?"
Ginny nodded as she spooned the final bit of porridge into Rianna's mouth, "She never got rid of them because they are family belongings. And besides she knew we would need a slow broom for the children."
Harry nodded and chased James upstairs. A grin was on his face holding so many meanings. But one was obvious – Harry Potter was truly happy with his life and would never give it away for anything else.
O
"I found him!" bellowed Ron running into the dining room of the Zabini Mansion where Dean was going over the house plans they had delivered from the Ministry, "In the kitchen basement. He is unconscious. Follow me!"
Everyone ran after Ron, out of the dining room, down the long corridor where blood was splattered over the ground, down a flight of stairs, into the kitchen where houselves were trying too not break down in tears or go clean up the bloody mess. Ron weaved his way around the stove into a low door and down a rotting flight of wooden stairs. The air was thick with floating dust and cold from the dark. They all, the ten of them, lit their wands up allowing the light to flow around the room and onto the still body in the ground.
"Blaise!" yelled Dean pushing past Ron and kneeling beside his friend and work partner, "Wake up man!"
"Finite!" said Ron to break any spells placed on him.
Blaise suddenly groaned and sat up looking around. His memory finally kicked into motion and he stood up whipping out his wand, "They are here… Pansy! Where is Pansy? When did you all arrive?"
"Blaise… you have been missing for two hours," said Dean calmly, "But… Pansy… Blaise, Pansy is dead."
Blaise looked around before what Dean said sunk in, "What?"
"Pansy was killed. She apperated to the Malfoy Manor for help I guess, but she was already dead before Draco arrived there too even save her."
"Pansy is dead?" whispered Blaise, "You mean… he killed her?"
"Who?" asked Ron frowning.
"That Emery Flint guy… he said kill us and it will weaken Draco making it easier for Sharla to get too Hermione… are, are you sure Pansy is dead?"
Dean nodded, "I'm sorry man… we found Samantha in her room crying. She is fine we have a young Aurour looking after her in her room."
"Samantha!" cried Blaise pushing past Ron and Dean and running up the stairs.
"Sirs, we got word from the Aurours in Hogsmeade saying people saw Flint and Mink at the Hogshead ten minutes ago," said a Aurour running down the stairs into the basement.
"Let's go! They could still be there!" yelled Ron, "Dean, I know you are worried for Blaise but we need to keep on task."
Dean nodded and apperated away alongside Ron.
O
Hermione turned the shower taps on till they were just right. She turned back to Draco who was starring blankly at the wall. She stepped closer to him and undid his shirt and pants before helping him into the shower. She shut the glass door and walked out, closing the bathroom door behind her.
What else could possibly happen now that would make her life worse?
"Mummy can we watch Herbie?"
Hermione jumped and looked down at her daughter in surprise, "Sure honey."
"What is that red stuff on your hands?" frowned Dakota seeing the blood on Hermione's hands, then on her shirt and neck.
"Oh, just some… paint. I was painting something for work," lied Hermione, "How about you go and create me a pretty drawing or maybe you could draw one for Daddy too cheer him up?"
Dakota nodded and ran back too her bedroom. Hermione opened the door to the bathroom and re-entered too wash the blood off her. Just as she turned the sink tap on Draco stumbled out of the shower holding a razor in his hand, with tears falling down his face.
"I-I can't!" he cried.
"Draco!" screamed Hermione grabbing the razor from him. She then grabbed a towel and wrapped it around him before he sat on the closed toilet, "What were you thinking?"
"I don't know… I'm sorry," he sobbed, "She was my bestfriend… and now some arsehole has murdered her! Taken her away from her daughter and husband."
"And you were about too take yourself away from myself and Dakota."
"I know… but when I tried… I couldn't do it."
"I'm glad you couldn't," whispered Hermione kneeling in front of him, "Because I love you too damn much too loose you."
Draco half smiled, "Pansy would kick my arse if she knew I went too do this."
Hermione chuckled a little before looking serious, "I know you are in pain… I mean I know loosing my mother is different but the pain will ease along with the hate. It takes time. Just always know I love you and will always be by your side."
Draco ran a hand down Hermione's cheek before leaning down a little too kiss her softly, "You should shower… the blood."
"Too Dakota it is paint. I told her that."
Draco nodded and stood. As soon as he left the bathroom and was walking down the hall, Hermione let out a sob at what she could have entered the bathroom too see. She leant on the vanity starring at her pale reflection. Never again did she want to see something like that.
O
Narcissa thanked the houselves as she too, stood up from scrubbing away the blood with some "Instant Blood Stain Remover" potion. Lucius had finalized the last bits off the rebuilding and decorating of Hermione's business. He looked at his wife and beckoned her over for a long cuddle.
"When will the torment end?" asked Narcissa looking up at Lucius.
"It never will. These things are happening all the time," sighed Lucius, "All we can do is stay strong."
Narcissa sighed, "I hope they find Blaise… what if little Samantha has no parents?"
"Don't panic yourself. Everything will be fine."
Narcissa just nodded and pulled away from Lucius, "I am going to shower and destroy these robes. They have blood on them."
Lucius nodded and watched his wife leave the room. He looked down at the wet ground and gave a slight shudder from the memory of Draco pulling the knife from her back and healing the wound, then doing the muggle CPR, too even trying to revive her with the Finite charm. He had to pull his son away from the body and make him go home.
"Is everything okay Master?" asked his house elf, Twoggle.
"Yes, Twoggle. But can you bring me a glass of fire whiskey?" replied Lucius.
"Yes Master, right away!"
Lucius sat down with a sigh. As much as he was against drinking, since he saw what it did too his son, he needed something to ease his mind and calm his nerves down.
O
"Okay, now place your hand over the broom and say up," instructed Harry in the snow covered field him and James were standing in.
James nodded, standing beside the old Cleansweep. His raised his hand over the broom and shouted, "Up!"
The boom bounced but didn't jump up into his hand like it did for his father in his first year. James looked up at his father disheartened, but Harry smiled.
"Try again, James."
James nodded and again shouted, "Up!"
This time the broom flew up into his hand, sending the four year old into a wave of excited giggles.
Harry cheered and walked over to James, "Okay. Now climb onto your broom… yep that's it and kick up off the ground slowly."
James pushed off the ground and floated in the air, "Look Daddy! I am doing it!"
"Way too go!" cheered Harry as he climbed onto his Fire bolt, "Now lean forward like this and make yourself want the broom to move forward… yes that's it! James you are a natural."
"Like you Daddy!"
Harry laughed, "Okay, follow me. But we will go slow today."
James nodded and Harry flew ahead of him, doing little curves, and up and down movements, every time Harry went a little higher causing James too giggle or tell Harry too go higher. His son was a daredevil when it came to flying. Like his father he loved it.
But after two hours of flying the snow began to fall. Harry flew lower to the ground and landed smoothly as he always did. He turned around and watched James come in. He landed pretty good, except he fell onto his bottom at the last moment. Harry stepped forward expecting James to cry, but instead James laughed and stood up.
"That was the most fun thing ever!" declared James, "When can we fly again?"
"How about tomorrow maybe?" suggested Harry as they walked back to The Burrow, "It's snowing now and Granny is cooking us some hot muffins."
James nodded and they both walked back too The Burrow grinning and chatting the whole way like all father and sons should.
A/N: Okay well I hope you all enjoyed that chapter. Review!
Bye for now!
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Love Coz!