Draco couldn't remember the last time he had been so uncomfortable. For the better part of an hour, he'd been wedged on one side of a long table, Hermione at one side and George Weasley on the other. If he had to choose a Weasley, he supposed George was the best of them all. But Draco had never been particularly fond of the clan, and to have half a dozen of them staring and assessing him―as though he wasn't quite welcome, but no one wanted to say it out loud―left him feeling more awkward than he had even expected.

In all fairness, he had come to know George well enough through interactions in Diagon Alley over the years since they had become acquaintances.

And Arthur Weasley had been making more of an effort than most.

But he could tell by the look on Theo's face, across the table from him, that his friend was as uncomfortable as he felt despite that he concealed it well.

Draco supposed the situation wasn't helped along by the fact that both Potter and Hermione had dated Weasleys before―both of whom looked as if they wished they could simply leave. The most critical appeared to be their mother, who had been tense and quiet throughout the meal, her narrowed gaze drifting between Draco and Theo―as though she couldn't wrap her head around any of it.

By the time dinner came to a stifled conclusion, Draco felt as though he might snap.

Hermione and Potter had attempted to keep a flow of conversation going, but Draco had given up on any efforts at speaking, instead focusing all his energy on not looking at his watch.

As soon as dinner ended, Ginevra Weasley leapt from her chair and vanished; Draco wished he could do the same.

Rather he sank into the sofa at Hermione's side, catching Potter's eye as everyone settled into the sitting room. In the kitchen, the steady sound of the dishes washing themselves interrupted the stifled silence. Hermione fidgeted with her hands in her lap.

George looked supremely amused with the whole situation.

Molly Weasley assessed the room, lips pursed as though she didn't know what to make of the group that had gathered in her sitting room. Draco didn't know about any of it either.

"So," she prompted at last. Draco could feel her eyes zero in on him. "Ronald tells me you're working with Harry as an Auror." She turned towards Theo, a thin smile spreading across her face, but Draco could read the insincerity in her face. He ground his jaw in Theo's defence.

He didn't care if the woman had an issue with him, but he definitely wouldn't accept her criticism of his closest friend.

Not for the first time, he wondered why they had all agreed to the charade. But even so, he was a guest in their home, and he cared enough about Hermione that he didn't want to cause a scene.

"It's true," Draco offered, as flippantly as he could manage. "Potter and I are partners in the Auror's department."

As though he weren't sitting in the same room, Molly turned towards Potter with a consoling smile. "I imagine that hasn't been an easy adjustment. Surely the department would allow you to―"

"Actually, Missus Weasley," Potter interrupted, clenching Theo's hand in his, "Draco and I work quite well together. And not only that but he's just received his full Auror certification and contributed vital information towards solving a major case in the department."

For a moment, Draco's mind snagged on the fact that Potter never used his given name without his surname attached―then he realised the man had stood up for him. He felt heat burn up his face and into his cheeks, and a restless streak darted through him as he stared hard at the far wall.

In his periphery, Molly looked flustered.

Hermione straightened and said, "I think you'd be surprised to learn how much Draco's grown since the war." Despite the idle phrasing, her tone brokered little room for argument, and a mingling of pride and affection swelled within him as he cast her a glance. "It's very evident, Missus Weasley, that you aren't certain what to make of Draco and Theo in your home, but I can assure you Harry and I are fond of them both."

Ron Weasley's ears were a bright red as he sank deeper into his seat. Arthur looked embarrassed by the whole thing.

At last, Molly sighed. "Well, fine."

Smoothing a hand along Hermione's spine, Draco pressed a kiss to her temple, a soft, "Thank you," breathed against her skin.

"There's dessert," Molly announced, rather abruptly, but some of the tension shattered in the wake of it.

Hermione shifted forward in her seat, offering a thin smile. "I'll give you a hand."

Molly's cheeks remained flushed, but as though chastened, she simply said, "Thank you, dear."

"I'm going to get some air," Draco said quietly; Hermione squeezed his hand with a nod. He rose, jerked his head towards Theo, and made for the garden door. As soon as the cool night air swept over him, he released a long breath; Theo fell into step, jamming his hands in his pockets.

"That was awkward," Theo drawled, peering up at the cloudless night sky.

"Right," Draco returned, feeling oddly deflated. "Where's Potter?"

"Stayed inside with Hermione." Theo cast him a look, and Draco couldn't quite meet his stare. "Are you alright? I know you better than to think you'd allow her words to get to you."

Draco managed a shrug that felt half-hearted. "Not really. But it's all… it's weird, isn't it?"

"Fucking weird," a third voice responded, and they both glanced up to see George Weasley brandishing a bottle of whisky and three tumblers. "Come on, lads. Join me for a drink while everyone else suffocates on whatever that was."

Despite himself, a smirk tugged at Draco's lips.


A drink and a half later, Hermione dragged up a seat at the garden table where they'd settled themselves, resting her head on Draco's shoulder. Potter and Weasley wedged themselves in between Theo and George, the former relieved and the latter a little shifty.

"How was dessert?" Draco asked, taking a swig of whisky.

"Fine," Hermione mused softly. "There's more inside if you'd like some." Then, lowering her voice so only he could hear, she asked, "Are you alright? Genuinely?"

"Yeah," he breathed, offering a tired smile. "I'm good."

Draco could feel Weasley's gaze linger on him, but when he slid his eyes towards the man, Weasley offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that―inside. My mum doesn't always get it." George snickered. "At any rate, friends of Harry and Hermione are friends of mine."

Lifting a sceptical brow, Draco assessed him for a moment before allowing a sigh. "I appreciate that, Weasley."

He wasn't certain what he had expected from Weasley or whether there would be problems. But in all fairness, Potter and Weasley were still friends, and Draco had been training as an Auror long enough that he supposed he could admit he and Potter had become friends as well.

Especially when dealing with Hermione.

But Weasley blew out a breath and poured himself a measure of whisky. "I know you and Harry worked together in bringing Hermione back to us and―well, that's important. So cheers, mate." He brandished his cup, and, surprised, Draco lifted his in return.

He took a sip and murmured, "Thanks."

As far as he knew, whatever had occurred between Hermione and Weasley after the war had been incredibly brief, and it was also years ago; the thought that Weasley wasn't still pining over her allowed a swell of relief into Draco's heart.

"Cheers to awkward dinners," Theo announced with a smirk, "and good whisky."


Hurricane Hermione had been racing around her flat for the better part of half an hour while Draco hovered in the living room, attempting to keep sane for both of them.

"I'm never this disorganised," she exclaimed as she rushed past him, wrenching at her hair. Her eyes were wide with unconcealed panic. "I don't know what I'm forgetting, and I―"

Draco caught hold of her shoulders, looking her straight in the eye. "Deep breath." Freezing on the spot, she took a sharp, rattling breath. "Another."

Hermione drew in another breath, deeper, and blew it out on a long exhale.

"Now." Ducking his chin, he offered a smile. "You've been packed for two days already. If you forget anything, we have money, and we have magic." When she still didn't relax, he frowned. "What is this actually about?"

The skin between her brows knit. "I'm afraid that this is all for nothing, and I'm still not going to find out what actually happened."

It was the only block of memories that remained absent, and as far as Draco could tell, it had left her more stressed out than she'd initially tried to let on. But after a conversation with Huxley, Draco suspected it wouldn't come back naturally. Whatever happened between the moment of the spell and the moment when her memories vanished was still a mystery.

He drew her tight into his chest, resting his chin atop her curls.

"I promise," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her crown, "we're going to find out what happened."

Her voice was muffled against his chest. "That isn't a promise you can make."

Draco drew back to look at her. "I know. But I'm making it anyway. Because even if this isn't it, and we don't find the answers in Australia, I'm not letting this go until you know exactly what happened."

She blinked large, watery eyes at him, and at last, some of the tension dropped from her shoulders. "How would I have done any of this without you?"

"You haven't needed me for any of this," he breathed, shaking his head sadly. "I've just been along for the ride."

"Wrong." Her gaze locked on his, beseeching, filled with that insistent, relentless hope she had carried for as long as he'd known her. "I never would have rediscovered any of this if it weren't for you."

"Eventually, you would have." He brushed her cheek with his fingers, scarcely able to hear his thoughts over the clamour of blood rushing in his ears. "But I appreciate you for keeping me with you. And for believing in me."

A solitary tear slipped down her cheek, but she didn't make a move to stop its path. "This feels so surreal," she whispered at last. "You and me." She entwined their hands, slipping her fingers between his with a squeeze, and a soft smile curled her lips. "Draco and Hermione."

The simple assessment of everything that comprised them―that summed up the weeks and months they'd spent learning one another, helping one another through hardships, loving one another―caused his heart to clench in his chest.

He caught her mouth in a searing, drawn-out kiss. Murmured, "I love you," against her lips. Then he met her gaze again. "Our Portkey leaves in ten minutes. Have you genuinely forgotten anything?"

"No." Swallowing, she shook her head. "I've triple-checked everything already."

"Good. Then we're all set to go."

Hermione nodded, a smile at last slipping across her face. "We're all set."


They didn't know how long it would take to sort through the vague knowledge Hermione did have from the last time she'd been in Australia. It was scarce information to go off, but it was enough for a start. Given the time difference, it was already the evening in Australia, and they'd only planned to get settled and prepared that night. The Portkey would return them to London for Sunday night.

Draco had reserved a hotel room in Brisbane, and at first, it almost felt like their trip to Paris―but so much had changed in just over three months.

The air was balmy on his skin, thick with humidity compared to London's typical dreary days.

"This is incredibly nice," Hermione said, sinking into the plush bedding in their hotel room. "Did you need to reserve the finest suite in the whole hotel?"

Sometimes, the difference between Hermione when she didn't have her memories and the Hermione who knew exactly who he was and how he'd grown up was glaring. The version of Hermione who knew all of his faults and his flaws had more of an edge, but he didn't love her any less. He cracked a cheeky grin, dropping down at her side.

He nudged her in the shoulder. "I did, in fact." Pulling her hand into his, he gave it a squeeze. "I know how important this is to you. And it means a lot that you wanted me to come along."

Hermione released a sigh, resting her head on his shoulder. "Of course, Draco. I'm glad I don't have to face this all alone. And I don't know―maybe it shouldn't matter all that much. My memories are back; my parents are in England. I should be able to put this all behind me without knowing what happened."

"But it does matter." Draco fixed her with a stare. "It's important to you that you know what happened, and it's important to me that you can finally put this all to rest."

Her eyes shone with moisture, and a soft smile curved her lips. For long enough that Draco grew uncomfortable, she only stared at him. Then she slid a finger beneath her eye, collecting a drop of moisture that had escaped. "Sometimes I think of you now, and I know if I hadn't witnessed the changes in you firsthand, I wouldn't believe it." She tucked closer into his side, and, without a word, Draco wrapped his arms around her. Dropping her voice to a whisper, she added, "And I'm so thankful we had the chance to get to know one another without everything else in the way."

Draco's heart felt tight enough to burst through his chest as he brushed a kiss to her temple. "Same. Believe me, same."

Every day, he wondered what he'd done to deserve her by his side.

She had been the lighthouse in the storm through one of the hardest times of his life, and Draco knew he could never fully express how much it meant to him.

At last, Hermione withdrew from his hold with a sheepish smile. Draco pressed a kiss to her lips and murmured, "I'm going to have a shower."

They would have a busy day ahead of them in the morning, and the muggy air had pervaded his skin.

"Okay," she said, biting down on her bottom lip.

Draco slipped into the adjoining loo while Hermione began to sort through her bag, shrugging out of his clothes, and stepped into the spacious shower. Not a minute after he stepped beneath the hot spray, Hermione's head appeared through the glass door, face alight with mischief.

"Hi," he said, smirking.

"I've come to inspect the loo," she returned loftily, then stepped into the walk-in shower, fully nude.

"Oh," Draco choked. He swallowed, gaze roving her form as the peripheral mist caught in her curls and beaded on her curves. "Yeah, of course. How's it look?"

Her eyes remained locked on him as she breathed, "Fantastic."

The shower was more than big enough for two. Draco curled a hand around her hip, drawing her flush against him. "You have to really assess the water pressure."

"I agree," she breathed, leaning up to capture his lips in a kiss. Instantly, his body responded to her proximity, the feel of her pressed against him. He palmed her arse, groaning into her mouth as she wrapped a hand around his hardening cock. She drew back only slightly, a wicked smile curving her lips as she stroked his length. "It's really something else."

He released a heavy breath, losing track of the game. Rivulets of water chased down her smooth skin, arousal deepening and swelling within him at her languorous movements. But before he could do or say anything, her gaze flashed, and she dropped to her knees.

"Fuck, Hermione," Draco managed on an exhale, propping a hand against the wall as she ran her tongue around the head of his cock.

"I'm just," she giggled, taking him firmer into her hand, "ensuring the floor is comfortable."

Draco barked a laugh, the sound catching in his throat as she wrapped her lips around him. He slipped a hand into her hair, curls plastered sleek to her head from the relentless spray. She swirled her tongue around him, drawing him deeper, smoothing her hand along the flesh. A moan slipped from his lips at her ministrations, the almost lazy pace, the way her eyes flitted up towards him with a hidden heat.

Her mouth was searing wrapped around him, teasing and sucking, and combined with the scalding spray from the shower, Draco felt a quake in his legs.

"That's so good," he breathed, eyelids fluttering as she carried on, increasing the pace. Her hand wrapped around him firmer, dragging along his length in rhythm with the way she took him deeper into her throat. He dropped his head back against the wall of the shower, feeling his entire body tense and tighten with impending release.

Tugging her hair back, Draco stared at her for a moment. A smile curled her lips, and she darted her tongue out to lick the head of his cock again.

"Get up here," he muttered, pulling her to her feet, and pressing her against the wall. He kissed her hard, tasting himself on her tongue, and hitched her leg up around his hip. Sliding two fingers between her folds, curling them inside her, he smirked against her lips and swallowed her whimper.

Draco withdrew his hand, aligning his cock with her entrance and teasing the head along her folds.

"Draco," she breathed, snagging his bottom lip between her teeth. "Please."

His heart stuttered a beat at the sight of her, flushed from the heat, eyes sparkling with lust. With a sharp exhale, he eased up into her, allowing a moment for her to adjust to him. Slow, almost reverent, she curled a hand around the back of his neck, drawing his mouth back to hers for another lingering kiss.

She ground against him, her eyes sliding shut.

Pressing a hand to the sturdy wall, he withdrew―and drove into her. A cry fell from her lips. He caught her mouth, coveting her moans against his lips as he thrust into her in a punishing rhythm. Draco could already feel his core tightening with his approaching orgasm, rolling his hips against hers.

Hermione clung to him, winding her legs around his waist, wet skin slick against his. She dragged her nails along his shoulder blades, drawing a sting to the skin beneath the hot water.

"Fuck me," she breathed in between kisses, "harder."

He huffed a laugh, his heart racing, and slammed into her harder still. Her cries fell, muffled against his skin as she pressed a kiss to his jaw.

Reaching between them, Draco pressed his fingers to her clit. She came with a cry, her walls clenching tight around him. Unable to hold back any longer, he drove into her once more, feeling his entire body tense and burst, release crashing over him with undulating waves of pleasure. His vision darkened, overwhelmed at the feel of her as he pressed his forehead to hers, utterly spent.

Chest heaving, Hermione's eyes blinked open to meet his, and a soft smile curled her lips. She gave a bit of a wince as he eased himself out of her and unwound her legs from his waist.

"And?" Draco asked with a smirk, smoothing her hair back from her face. Her skin was pink from the heat and exertion. "How does the shower measure up?"

A bright spell of mirth fell from her lips. "It's probably the best shower I've ever seen."

Draco was inclined to agree with her.


He had long since given himself over to the fact that he cared about Hermione in ways that he never had for anyone else―nor had he imagined it was even possible―but Draco didn't know if he would ever get enough.

They'd stayed up late after actually cleaning up in the shower, fooling around in bed, until she rolled on top of him and rode him to completion again, indolent and slow.

But seeing her lithe form tucked against him the next morning, her face relaxed and peaceful in sleep, embedded a deep ache in his chest that Draco almost couldn't comprehend. He'd never imagined this sort of connection for himself―this sort of love.

This all-encompassing, unceasing desire for another person.

He couldn't help himself. Slipping beneath the thin sheet, he ran his hands down her thighs, gently spreading her legs. He pressed a kiss to the soft skin of her inner thigh, darting his tongue out to taste her sweet skin. As he drew a series of kisses along her legs, inching higher, she stirred with a quiet groan.

"Again?" she asked, tugging the sheet free and sliding her fingers into his hair. A sleepy smile pulled at her lips, and Draco dipped his tongue out to taste her clit.

He hummed against her flesh. "Again."

"Pull my leg, then," she breathed with a soft titter, spreading her legs to accommodate him better.

Parting her folds with his fingers, Draco laved the flat of his tongue from her passage to her clit, dipping his tongue inside of her as he drew slow circles against the sensitive nerves. He could taste her arousal, eyes fluttering as he smirked against her flesh.

"Draco," she breathed, arching her back as he thrust his tongue inside of her again, then shifted to suck her clit between his lips, teasing it with his tongue.

After the night before, he eased one finger, then two, into her, basking in the soft affirmations tumbling from her lips as she pulled at his hair, her legs tightening around him.

Lost to the feel of her, the taste of her, Draco plunged his fingers into her with a quicker pace, lapping at her clit. He knew she was close, could feel the quake in her legs as he held her in place. "You taste so good," he breathed, sucking her clit hard between his lips.

She came with a huffed curse, whispering his name as an oath as her hand tightened in his hair, her walls tightening around his fingers. Draco teased her nerves through her orgasm, licking her juices from his lips when he caught her eye. Her chest lifted and fell with rapid breaths, a lazy smile dragging across her face as she pulled him up.

Kissing him deeply, she palmed his cock, already hard from the taste and sound of her.

"You're insatiable," she breathed against his mouth, guiding him to her entrance.

Draco wasn't certain, but he almost thought she was more physical now that she remembered him; it was an interesting juxtaposition from what he had anticipated, but he wasn't going to complain. She'd started brewing contraceptive potions as soon as she remembered how, so they didn't need to worry about spells every time anymore.

"So are you," he muttered, teasing her entrance with the head of his cock. A wicked smile curled her lips as she moved, easing him into her. Despite her natural lubrication, she grimaced a little as he slid his full length in. Brushing a gentle kiss to her lips, he asked, "Alright?"

She shifted beneath him, curling one leg up against his side, and ground her hips against his. "A bit sensitive―but good."

He wasn't surprised after the night before but grinned all the same. "Okay." He slid back out and eased into her, careful and slow, his every nerve alight with the feel of her.

Although they had come to Australia for a reason, at the moment, they had all the time in the world.


Author's Note: Thanks, as always, for reading. We're into the final few chapters, and in light of that, the update schedule is going to pick up in order to finish this story by the end of November.

Hugs and gold stars to my lovely alpha, Kyonomiko, and beta FaeOrabel.