Chapter 8: Negotiations
"Why would I help you?"
Hermione and Blaise were in the dungeons trying to figure out a way to get Draco to remember.
Blaise was trying to find a reason to help Hermione. He wanted Draco to remember, but he knew that if someone cared for someone so much, they would remember on their own, but they would have to be pushed to it. And that's where he got his idea from.
Hermione said something before he could explain his plan. "If you help me, you'll be able to get rid of Pansy."
Blaise thought for a moment. He had always wanted to get rid of Pansy. She used everyone and Blaise had always been trying to get rid of her, but he never succeeded. Hermione could tell that Blaise was contemplating this. Out of no where, Blaise pushed past Hermione and went to the door. He opened it and looked around as if to make sure that no one was there. Then, he turned around and out a silencing charm on the room before saying, "Okay, the only way to get Draco to remember is to make him jealous. I know him well enough to know that he will be hurt if you start forgetting him and date someone else."
"But he and I are still dating."
"I hate to tell you this but, News Flash: according to Draco's new memories, he is dating Pansy and you and he had nothing together."
Hermione sighed. "There is only one person who would be able to pull this off and he and I aren't speaking to each other."
"Actually, I already had someone in mind."
"Who?"
"Me."
Hermione stared at him. She did not expect this. "I'm sorry, did you just say that I should go out with you to make Draco remember?"
"Think of how Draco would feel if his best friend is going out with the one person that he truly cares about."
"He would be devastated for one, but second, he doesn't remember, you git!"
"If Draco really loves you, the only thing that he will need to remember will be a little push. The two of us dating would be that little push."
"More like a big push!"
"The point is that he would remember."
Hermione sighed and thought for a minute. "I'm going to need some time to think about it."
"Take your time, but remember that the longer you wait, the harder it will be to get his memory back."
"I'll do it."
"Perfect."
Draco sat on Hermione's bed as she walked out the door. She had told him that she needed to talk to her head of house. He had no idea where he was, so he went wandering around the strange place that he was in. He was wandering outside when he came upon something that triggered a memory of the girl he had seen earlier.
Flashback:
"I still don't know why you would even think about following your father."
"I wouldn't. He and I have had problems with each other since I was five years old. He's always made me do things that I didn't want to do. If I objected, he would beat me. That's how I broke my leg. He told me that I had to get you to be friends with me and get you to tell me all of your secrets."
Hermione looked at Draco with hurt on her face. "Is that what you were doing all this time? You were only being nice to me because your father told you to?"
Draco stopped and stared at her. He never meant to let that slip from his mouth. "At first, yes. He told me to, but I objected and he told me that if I didn't do it that he would kill my mother. My mother is the only family that I have who really cares for me. She has been there to protect me since he first started to beat me. I was reluctant at first, but I agreed to do it. I just never expected. . . . ."
Before he could finish what he was about to say, the girl that was with him by the lake went running into the castle and she never came back out. Then he finished what he was saying to himself. ". . . .to fall in love with you."
End of Flashback
"What a weird thing to remember. Why would I ever love Hermione Granger?"
When Draco realized that he remembered her name, he looked into the lake at his reflection.
"Mister Malfoy?"
Draco turned around to see Professor McGonagall walking toward him.
"Yes?"
"We have just had a very disturbing . . . . . well; we witnessed a snogging between the Head Girl and Blaise Zabini."
Draco looked at her, horrified. "What did you just say?"
"The Head Girl may be released of her duties. Unless of course, you would be willing to keep her in line."
"No. I can keep her line. She doesn't need to be released. I'll take care of it."
"Good. She is currently with the Headmaster in his office. He needs you to go and speak to him."
Draco made his way around MaGonagall and went in the direction of the Headmaster's office. He had no idea how he knew how to get there , or how he knew the password, but he said "Lemon Drop" and the Gargoyle jumped aside so he could enter the office.
Hermione and Blaise were sitting in front of the Headmaster's desk while he was sitting in his chair, waiting for Draco to arrive. When he heard the door to his office open, he looked up and saw the Head Boy. He walked over to him and said, "I need you to go easy on them. They seemed to have no idea what they were doing. It's as if they weren't themselves at the time."
Albus Dumbledore left the office and let Draco deal with Hermione and Blaise. Draco sighed and walked over to them.
As he got to the two people sitting away from each other, he saw that Hermione looked down. She seemed to be ashamed of what she had done, but she was secretly happy to hear Draco trying to calm himself while he spoke.
"I . . . .sigh. . . .maybe the two of you didn't know what you were doing, maybe you did, but right now, given the evidence, I'm going to make sure that neither of you make fools of yourselves."
He watched the two of them and waited for them to say something. Seeing as, the room was silent except for Fawkes' faint breathing, he continued.
"Seeing as, the Head Girl cannot get detention, you will simply get house points taken away and you will no longer be able to have the privilege of giving house points."
Hermione tried to object this time, but Draco continued.
"Blaise? You will be having detention every Monday and Friday with Potter for the rest of the month."
As soon as this was said, Blaise jumped up and started protesting Draco's decision.
"You cannot possibly think that I will work with Potter!"
"You have no choice. Now if you don't stop shouting at me, I will take house points away from you as well."
"You never even took house points from Granger."
"Oh, right. Thirty house points taken from Gryffindor for lack of appropriate behavior, Granger."
He turned back to Blaise. "Happy?"
"No. You went easier on her then you did with me."
"That is just the way it is. Now the two of you will go back to your rooms. Granger, I will be there in an hour."
The two left and when they got out of ear shot of the teachers standing around the office door, they laughed and Blaise said, "Brilliant. That was really convincing."
"You did a better job then I did. I never expected that you and I would make such a good team."