September 3, 2000

Draco stood over a cauldron stirring concentrating intensely on the task and yet he heard Hermione approach from behind though he knew she moved as quietly and carefully as she could so as not to disturb his brewing.

She waited until he had finished and turned to look at her, and then she simply said, "Buckbeak."

His breath caught and he willed his heart to beat steadily as he said in an even voice, "What about Buckbeak?"

"You never sent me memories about him attacking you when you were such a snot to him, or when you were being a prat about him being executed and I hit you. Rather sneaky to leave those out but I suppose I should have expected you to try and keep at least one secret, you are a Slytherin after all."

He rushed over, picked her up in his arms, and twirled her around, "You remember!"

She laughed, "All of it. Before you ask," she said as he set her down, "I don't know what happened or why, it just came back to me. Slowly all morning it's been coming back, like a trickle that became a flood. It started in small flashes, just little bits, images mainly. The first was your face after I hit you. I think that was enough to intrigue me but I know enough after everything we tried not to push. So I went about my day and just stopped now and then to do a bit of deep breathing and a stretch or two. Now, it's all there again."

"And you're still here."

"Did you really think I would leave?"

He shrugged, unable to put his thoughts into words.

She reached up to caress his cheek, "You showed me the best and worst of you in the memories, even if you didn't send every memory of the two of us. Actually you showed me the best of you by showing me the worst. You let me fall in love with you all over again. You helped me find myself and helped me find my best friends again as well. There is nowhere else I want to be."

He pulled her close, rested his head on her hair, and smiled.