Author's Notes:

As I was cruel enough to let the previous chapter end on a cliffhanger, I thought I'd be nice enough to post this chapter earlier than scheduled... ;-)

Thanks to everyone leaving a comment! You all manage to make my day a little brighter whenever I see the notification in my inbox, and I cherish them all, even though I might not respond to all of them.

And last but not least:
Thanks to diebirchen for being such a lovely person to jump in as a beta! Your remarks on my overuse of semicolons had me laugh. ;-) (Thanks, luunascope, for all you were able to do as a beta! Wishing you all the best...)

In addition, thanks to BrilliantLady for her insights on the talk scene, and many hugs to the lovely bunch of ladies who have the patience to answer my questions and listen to my doubts and ramblings. Debbie, Katie, Linda, Amy, and Evora, I love you all! :-*

Now, enjoy! :-)

Chapter 22 – Do You Remember What You Said?

"THAT IS THE REASON FOR LEAVING ME? A DAMN JOKE?!" Draco couldn't believe what he just heard; this couldn't be the reason for the break-up. Feeling the rage about to get the better of him, he got up, pacing frantically up and down. "EIGHT FUCKING YEARS OF MISERY BECAUSE OF A JOKE?"

"NO NEED TO SHOUT AT ME!" She got up as well, as always wanting to be on the same level during an argument. "BUT DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID?"

He stopped mid-step to look at her. She was about as furious as he felt, the restraint visible on her face, and he thought he could see a predatory glint in her eyes. "How am I supposed to remember what I said back then?"

"He should be locked away in a silver cage where he can't come in contact with others and possibly transmit his madness. Those were your exact words, Draco. I can still hear the contempt in your voice when you said them. You were disgusted."

"Goddamn it, woman!" he let out in exasperation, clenching his hands into fists. "I was frustrated, and I thought you of all people would understand. Hermione, he tried to stick a false claim on me that would have put me in Azkaban for the rest of my life!"

"I was scared!"

"YOU DIDN'T... You didn't say a word. How was I even supposed to know? Tell me!"

Hermione, however, didn't answer right away; she only continued to stare at him with an expression that seemed to put the blame on him. "I... I just thought it was better to break up because you wouldn't want to be with someone like me, a half-creature."

"You thought? Why not let me decide what I wanted?" The items on the counter started to shake in their spots until Draco managed to bring his anger down a notch by concentrating on his breath for a moment.

"Draco, what's–?"

"Have you any idea what you've done? Has anyone told you what you put me through with your decision? What you put my friends through?" he said through gritted teeth, completely ignoring her shocked face. "You... You destroyed me. I was this close to giving up everything, because life without you wasn't worth it–"

"Oh my God! Did you try to...?"

He found her horrified outcry satisfactory because it seemed that she finally started to understand. It was finally sinking in. "You should have known better, Hermione! You should have trusted me and let me decide whether I still wanted to be with you. But no, you took that decision from me. You and your bloody assumptions!"

"I–"

"NO! You still don't get it, do you? I DON'T FUCKING CARE WHAT YOU ARE! WE WOULD HAVE FOUND A WAY TO LIVE WITH IT!" As he shouted those words at her, the items on the counter not only started to shake violently; they even started to move, threatening to fall to the floor. "BUT YOU LEFT LIKE A FUCKING COWARD!"

"I KNOW! AND I WISH I COULD UNDO IT! I'M SORRY FOR EVERYTHING!"

"NO, YOU'RE NOT!" Everything in the room was moving now in response to Draco's seething rage. He knew that an outburst was about to happen, as he could feel it prickle violently under his skin. And damn, he revelled in the absolutely shocked and devastated expression on her face.

"Draco! Stop, please!"

"No, I can't stop it," he said with a strained voice that made her take a step back. "Just-just leave the kitchen..."

She shook her head defiantly, even though the situation upset her. "I'm not leaving."

Trying to cling to the last shred of control, he looked at her. "Please. I don't want you to get hurt. And..." He took a deep breath as he tensed up, the threat of the impending outburst about to overtake his senses. It was only a matter of moments now. "And I don't want you to see this."

"I-I get it, Draco. I really wish I–OH MY GOD!"

The rest of her words was silenced by the sound of his magical outburst causing every loose item to break and shatter.

..

Mostly recovered from the outburst he experienced earlier, Draco paid a visit to his company in the afternoon. He was in dire need of a distraction because the talk with Hermione hadn't ended on a good note—she had been too shocked about his outburst, and he had been too hurt and upset for it to continue. So yes, he needed a distraction.

"Draco..." Blaise entered the President's office with a questioning look on his face. "I was surprised when the reception witch called to tell me you'd just entered the building–"

"I need to come back." Draco turned around from the table he had been hovering over; he brushed through his hair before rubbing his neck in an absent-minded move. "I can't just sit around at home after... after..."

Blaise nodded in understanding and stepped closer. "Pansy told us what she knew with a few more details than the newspapers were allowed to publish. We're all glad that she's back safely, despite everything, okay?"

Draco appreciated the last words, knowing that Blaise was honest. After a deep sigh, he nodded and crossed his arms; he simply didn't know what else to do with them. He never did when he was nervous or upset. "Let me come back."

"Mate, no. Not like that. And you know that I'm not the one deciding this, anyway. You'll have to convince my wife–"

"Where is she?"

"Draco, no. Seriously, I mean it." Blaise came up to him at the desk, his questioning expression turning into a worried one. "You look like shit."

"You would too after such a morning–"

"Draco!" Astoria showed up at the door, breathing heavily from running through half the company to get here. "How... How are you?"

Draco straightened back into a standing position, taking a step from the desk to gain some distance to avoid feeling cornered by them. "I want to come back."

Astoria shared a look with Blaise, who simply shrugged in response. "Why?"

"I don't want to sit at home all day with nothing to do," he replied, pacing up and down, close to growling at his friends for simply being such a well-working unit against him.

Astoria shook her head. "No. Not like that."

"I told you, mate."

"I need something else to think about!" Draco retorted loudly. "She is fucking everywhere, and my head won't shut up..."

"Draco!" Astoria let out as the objects closest to him started to shake. "Calm down, please..."

"I... we..." Choking on the rest of the words, Draco briefly closed his eyes and took a deep breath in the faint hope that the hold of the choke on his throat would lessen. It had taken him long enough to get back down to a manageable level after Apparating out of Hermione's place this morning; he didn't want to lose control again. Gods, he could still see the shock on her face as the realisation had dawned on her—it had been so satisfactory in that moment, but he knew that they weren't through it yet. Not by a long shot.

It was Astoria's surprisingly soft voice that pulled him from his thoughts. "Did you two finally have that talk?"

Draco nodded, feeling his body tremble slightly. He didn't protest when she pulled him towards the closest visitor's chair. "Left me because of a joke."

"What?" Blaise asked surprised at his absent-minded remark and sat down next to him in the other visitor's chair while Astoria leaned against the desk.

"Nothing." Draco shrugged dismissively; he wasn't going to discuss the details of the talk earlier with them. "Just let me come back. I'd do–"

"No, Draco. You're in no condition to shoulder any responsibilities right now," Astoria stopped him with an appeasing but firm smile. "You're all overwrought and confused. We've been there before with you."

"Please," Draco said with a quiet voice, watching his fingers trace the small cuts on the back of his hands, a reminder of what had occurred earlier. "Just give me something I can focus on. I don't care what. I don't want to think about her any more today..."

Astoria sighed sympathetically before she leaned down to his level. "I understand, I really do. But we all think it would be better for you to sort out your private life first. The company won't run away. We will still be here when everything has settled and you feel better again, okay?"

Draco nodded reluctantly. "You know, telling her was all I looked forward to, because I thought it would make me feel better. Why do I still feel so bad? Why hasn't it changed anything?"

"Mate, give it time," Blaise piped in, nudging his elbow. "You two have too much history for it to be simple."

"Have you talked to Dr Pendry?"

Draco finally looked up straight at Astoria, his brows furrowed. "She is full until Thursday next week. But she said she'd contact me if an earlier slot frees up..."

"Good," Blaise said affirmatively. "Use it."

Before anyone else could say anything, an owl arrived at the window, pecking impatiently to be let in. They looked at each other in puzzlement before Astoria finally went over to open the window.

"Treats are in the top drawer," Draco said as she went through his desk while the bird held his leg out, a note attached to it.

"Thanks." Moments later, Astoria had pulled the note off the bird's leg and gave him a couple of treats as a reward. "It's from Harry. And he doesn't sound too happy."

"Ugh." Draco slipped down in his chair. He couldn't deal with Potter's indignation right now.

"They can't find Hermione. She wasn't at that house you gave her..."

With that, Draco was on his feet and rushing over to Astoria to see the note for himself. This couldn't be true—she ran away again!

"He wants to know what happened between you two."

..

"Oh, thank Merlin!"

Hermione had barely opened the door of her old flat when she was pulled into a tight hug by Ginny. "What?"

Smiling relieved, Ginny finally let go of her and passed inside. "I had a bit of time this afternoon, so I came over to your place. I mean, the one Draco gave you. You weren't there... You gave us a good scare!"

"Sorry." Hermione led her friend to the living room. "But I had to get out of there."

"What happened?" Ginny asked, sitting down in the armchair, letting her gaze wander through the room. "Did you have another panic attack?"

Hermione shook her head and curled up on the sofa. His outburst this morning had been a complete shock, and the whole situation had overwhelmed her, so she just had to get away. "We talked."

"We?" Ginny furrowed her eyebrows, and then she widened her eyes as realisation hit her. "Oh. OH! You and Draco..."

"It was horrible." Hermione pulled up the knitted throw next to her. She just felt safer underneath it, as if it could keep away all those images of the talk that were still circling through her mind, especially Draco just moments before his outburst with all that pain his eyes. It still made her throat choke thinking about it. So much pain, and she had caused it.

"And why are you here now?"

Hermione looked at Ginny, confused for a moment, before she sighed. "He's never been here. His magic is almost everywhere in that house, and I couldn't bear it. Gods, he exploded!" She rubbed her eyes, the shock about his magical outburst still sitting deep in her core.

"Exploded?" Ginny by now sat on the edge of the armchair, leaning forward. "Has he...?"

"Gods, no!" Hermione cried out, staring with wide eyes at her friend for even implying such a thing. During their relationship, Draco had always been the most supportive and the most loving person she had ever met. He'd never hurt her. Never. He had only shown her how much she had hurt him with the break-up.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to imply such a thing," Ginny said, apologising and raising her hands. "Really. He was always sweet around you. More of a git with Harry and Ron."

"They never agreed on anything," Hermione replied with a mock sigh but smiling timidly. "Men."

Ginny chuckled, only to then turn around towards the fireplace as she remembered something. "Can I make a Floo call? Harry is going to hang me for not contacting him immediately."

Hermione nodded and then watched her friend firing up the Floo. She should have left a message for someone, as she hadn't meant to scare them so soon after her rescue. But then, she had been so overwhelmed with what had happened that she hadn't been able to think clearly; she had just felt the urge to get away.

"Ginny!" Harry's voice sounded through the Floo, still sounding worried and maybe a tad frantic as well.

"Relax, Harry. I found her."

"Where is she? Is she okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine," Hermione replied from her spot on the sofa, smiling ever so briefly when she could hear his relieved sigh. "We talked, that's all."

"Harry, she is okay, maybe a bit upset," Ginny continued, appeasing her husband. "I'll stay with her, and you let everyone else know that she is safe, okay? And tell Mum that she might need to keep the children over night..."

"All right," Harry let out. "See you tonight."

Ginny made a kissing sound. "See you tonight..."

"Do you really have to stay?" Hermione asked as Ginny returned to her previous spot on the armchair. "I hate being watched like a baby. You know I can defend myself."

Ginny let out a small huff of disbelief but then covered it with a warm smile. "I know. You've beaten their arses more often than they would ever care to admit... But those three men raised hell to find you, so of course they are worried about you right now. Just give them some time, and they will calm down."

"I just want to be alone today..."

"I know... We don't have to talk if you don't want to, okay?" Ginny got back on her feet. "Tea?"

Hermione accepted Ginny's offer to disappear into the kitchen gladly with a nod. It was great that her friends worried about her, but right now, she just needed some air to breathe and think without having someone sit by her side.

..

Ginny remained in the kitchen after she had brought Hermione a cup of tea, the wireless providing a low background noise while she read a bit in a book pulled from Hermione's shelves. She was here, but she didn't intrude to Hermione's relief.

It was a knock on the front door that eventually interrupted the silence.

After a second knock, Ginny came back to the living room, her wand in her hand. "You don't expect anyone, right?"

Hermione shook her head, getting up as well and reaching for her wand on the small sofa side table.

"I'll open."

Hermione nodded, although she followed Ginny into the corridor, the Stunning Spell ready on her mind. Her arms and legs trembled, and the picture of the guards opening her cell resurfaced. It took her a deep breath and great willpower to push it back down.

To both women's surprise, it was Blaise who stood in the door when Ginny finally opened it. He smiled briefly when he saw the red-haired witch; although, the smile disappeared as soon as he saw Hermione at the entrance to the living room. "You."

"Get inside," Ginny ordered sternly, with a glance back to her friend. "Just please no more drama."

"I'm not here to cause drama," Blaise retorted as he entered, his gaze fixed on Hermione; she thought she could see the same hurt in his dark brown eyes as she had seen in Draco's. "I'm here to give her something."

Hermione returned to her spot on the sofa, Blaise following her, only to take a stand in front of the fireplace.

"I'm not going to stay long, so no need to offer me a tea or anything." He started searching through his coat pockets; seconds later he produced a small vial that contained a silvery shining liquid. "I honestly have no idea what Draco told you this morning, because Merlin knows he won't tell you all the painful details–"

"Blaise, it's enough that he shouted at me this morning," Hermione stopped him tiredly, pulling her knitted throw back over her legs. "I know it was painful for him–"

"I don't think you understand the scope of his pain yet. That's why I'm here." He held up the vial, shooting her a glare filled with barely contained dislike. "These are some of my memories of the time after you left him. Maybe then you understand what you did to him... I won't apologise for my opinion of you during that time, however. Just watch it."

Nodding solemnly, Hermione accepted the vial Blaise handed her, giving it a swirl before carefully putting it on the sofa side table, next to her book. "I know that I hurt a lot of people, even Ginny, and I wish I knew how to apologise–"

"Don't. It won't be enough."

"I know." She sighed defeatedly. "Just one question."

Blaise crossed his arms but nodded, still glaring at her.

"He had a magical outburst... Is-Is that... I mean, does that happen often?"

"They happen when you are involved. And he had a few of them over the years. I hope you're happy now."

Hermione wanted to retort to Blaise's cynical words, but then, he was surprisingly civil, given the situation. And even though she deserved him holding a grudge, she was glad that he didn't descend into rudeness and shouting—one such argument was enough. "I promise I have a look."

"Good. I'll tell Draco that you're safe and not alone." Indicating a bow with his head, Blaise finally turned to leave the room. He passed Ginny who had been waiting at the door. "Tell your husband thanks for the address. And then give him hell for sending that damn note."

Ginny nodded, sharing a quick look with Hermione. "Thanks for coming."

"Goodbye." With that, Blaise left the place; the sound of the door closing echoed through the corridor.

"What was that?" Ginny asked as she joined Hermione on the sofa, puzzled about the brief intermezzo.

Hermione shrugged; she didn't know either, except for the importance of the memories Blaise had handed her. She reached for the vial, fascinated by its silvery colour, and let it roll between her hands. "Do you have a pensieve that I could borrow?"