Memories of Us
Chapter Two
Draco dropped his head into his hands and sighed. He had just unleashed the biggest can of worms in his life so far. It was more of a spur-of-the-moment decision than anything else. Saving his own butt was the only thing on his mind right now. Although now he would have to pretend to be some magical saint, otherwise Hermione would know something was up.
Getting up off the couch, Draco wandered around the house, discovering many new things. There was one item he took an instant liking to. It was small and square, and you put something in it–he wasn't sure what–pushed a small lever downwards and a couple of minutes later, the wires inside popped back up. He didn't want to test putting anything in it and risk it exploding on him.
Eventually he found the bathroom, and he thanked his lucky stars that there wasn't anything foreign in there. He showered and cleaned himself up, then headed back out to the kitchen where he decided to make himself a bowl of cereal.
Sitting in a chair at the table, he picked up a magazine that was next to a pile napkins. He was shocked at what was in this months' edition of Cosmopolitan; articles like "30 Ways to Keep Your Guy Entertained," "What Kind of Sexy Underwear is Right for You," and his favorite "5 Things to Use When the Batteries In Your Vibrator Run Out." Placing the magazine back where it had come from, Draco finished off his cereal, and went back into the living room where he was bound and determined to figure out this thing called a television.
"Piece of crap!" he yelled, wanting so badly to kick the television set. "If only I could remember what my Muggles Studies professor had said about these things." Fiddling with the buttons on the T.V. itself was getting him nowhere, so he grabbed the plastic remote and began pushing buttons on it. "Come on. Help me out here...Aha!" He mentally patted himself on the back when the screen turned on. All he had to do now was figure out how to turn the channel.
Guessing at the button labeled 'Ch.' button, he flipped through the 300 or so channels that the satellite offered. Finding one of the game show channels, he sat back and enjoyed his time to himself.
Hermione returned to her cottage, and to her dismay, back to the company of Draco Malfoy within a couple hours, having bought her new school books at Flourish and Blotts and a few new books for pleasure reading at the bookstore in London.
She walked in to find Draco on the couch watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? She couldn't help but laugh when she heard him scream at the television.
"No! You idiot! The answer is B! Why do you need to ask the bloody audience for something that simple!" He punched the cushion next to him. "I hate retarded people."
"I thought you said you didn't remember anything?" Hermione asked, putting her hands on her hips. "How do you know the answer is B?"
"Umm...some of my memory is coming back. Common sense things, and I am remembering a bit about school. Not much of the people, but of what I've learned." Hermione plopped into the beanbag chair. "I did remember a little about you, too."
She didn't know why, but this made Hermione blush. "Like what?"
"You being an over-acheiver. Why is that? Or do you not trust me enough to tell? Because I remember the hostility between you and I." Draco leaned forward on the couch and rested his elbows on his knees. Hermione stood and began to pace the floor. Running a hand through her messy brown hair, she sighed, then faced Draco.
"No; I'll tell you. It was more to please my parents than myself. I would much rather slack off once in awhile, but you don't know my parents. They were always pushing me, even before I started at Hogwarts. They mean well."
"Is that why you're already studying to be Healer? To please your parents?" He looked at her as she continued to pace, the subject at hand clearly bothering her.
"Old habits die hard. I can blame myself for that one. I figured if I volunteered a bit, then when I actually went into training, I wouldn't have to train for as long."
"Guess that's something we have in common, you and I–wanting to please our parents." She looked at the sky light in the middle of the living room ceiling just as little drops of rain began to fall.
"What do you mean 'something we have in common'? Why would you have to please your parents? You were what they worshiped; I saw it every time you and they were in public together."
"That's why they worshiped me: because I did everything I was told and made them proud. You shouldn't have to give your own parents a reason to be proud of you. They should be proud just to even have a kid. I know it took my parents years of fertility potions before they had me."
"Mine, too. It's funny..." Hermione stopped and starred at a spot on the floor.
"What is?" Draco got up and stood in front of Hermione.
"You and I hate each other, yet our lives are so similar. We actually understand what each other feels. I wish we could have discovered this during year one." She turned away from him and looked out the window, watching the rain fall harder. "Maybe we could have brought you over to our side. Maybe Dumbledore would still be here."
"Dumbledore has had this coming since the day he threatened Voldemort. He–" Draco caught himself before he went too far. Calming himself down, he continued. "I just remember being told that Voldemort has had his eye on Dumbledore for a long time."
"That is a topic for another day. I think I'll turn in." She turned and headed towards the stairs.
Confused, Draco replied, "But it's only three o'clock..." Stopping, she looked at him.
"I just need some alone time right now."
He watched her walk upstairs, heard a door shut, and water run. Assuming she was in the tub, he turned his attention back to the television. Millionaire was over; now it was time for Jeopardy.
Here's a longer chapter for you all! Hope you like it, and I'm in the process of making chapter three. It should be done in a couple days.
