"Hermione, no."
"If you would just-"
"Look, we've talked about this, okay? I am not going to talk to that man, let alone ask if he is in on some big pureblood scheme!"
Hermione closed her eyes and counted to five.
"Don't be daft. I'm not asking you to go chat with him. You don't even have to see him. Just make some excuse for us to be there."
"You actually want to go back to that place?" He sneered at the last word.
Hermione bit her lip. If she was honest, the thought scared her to pieces. But what choice did she have?
"Well, it's not ideal," she admitted.
Draco fell into a chair opposite of her, the movement jarring the mugs of tea cooling before them. There were bags darkening under his eyes and his normally pale pallor seemed even more so than usual.
She sighed and reached her hand across the table. Alarms went off in her head; panic froze her. She settled on her mug instead.
His eyes did not miss the attempt. He glanced from her hand to her face.
"I know you don't want to do this. I don't want you to have to..." She met his eyes, her soft chocolate to his tired grey. "But my dreams have to mean something."
She leaned over the table, both hands wrapped around the cold mug.
"I can't help but to feel that all this connects to the manor somehow." She stared down into her cup. "I want to fix my memory...I want everything to go back to normal."
Draco groaned and ran a rough hand over his face.
"You're going to be the death of me."
He peeked over and cocked an eyebrow at her.
"You know that, don't you?"
~*~*~*~
Hermione took a deep breath, filled with magically enhanced scents and oak burning fireplaces. Her eyes searched the shadows, the corners, even the baseboards.
Stop it, she chasited herself. Nothing is going to jump out of the walls at you.
Her hand found the young girl's shoulder in front of her. Agatha gave a little jump and smiled up to Hermione.
"It's okay," Hermione whispered close to the girl's ear. "I won't let them hurt you."
Agatha gave a stiff nod.
Nothing like torturous grandparents to brighten a girl's day, she thought dryly.
She sighed as Agatha went back to staring at the paintings and other frivolous decor.
In truth, she felt bad for putting her future daughter through this. For putting both of them through this.
She peeked over to Draco. He looked about to jump out of his skin, though his rigid posture and calm expression belied the emotions swirling underneath.
The only thing off from his pureblood appearance was his finger and thumb twirling his wedding ring round and round.
She glanced down at her own, the weight of it odd but not unwelcome. They had decided keeping a united appearance would be best. Everyone knew about Hermione's memories; no one suspected they had marital issues.
She took his hand firmly in her own. He did not look down but a small smile lifted the corner of his mouth. He gave a light squeeze.
"Ehh-hmm."
They glanced down to see a tiny house elf, meek and almost hidden behind a potted plant.
"The mistress will see you now, Master Draco, Miss..."
Her golden eyes trailed over Hermione, lingering on her ring.
"Mistress Malfoy."
She turned and began walking down the hall.
Draco took a breath, looking like he would rather face Voldemort again. Or, at least, Buckbeak.
Hermione squeezed his hand. He gripped hers back, his jaw clenched. Agatha led the way.
They followed the house elf.
Hi, guys! I am so sorry about the long wait between chapters! I have been editing an original work rewriting Romeo Juliet for my mother's english class, so my days have been a little swamped. Hopefully things will even out now more updates ( future stories) will come more often. Thanks for sticking with me being so patient! Ya'll are awesome!
Author's Note:
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Harry Potter series. Those rights belong to JK Rowling. I am only borrowing her beautiful creations