June 21st

After learning the truth of what actually happened the day she tumbled down the stairs, Hermione was emotionally exhausted. Distraught by the clear evidence that she couldn't trust what she saw within her own mind, she's begged her husband more than once to tell her what was wrong. Antonin held her in his arms, whispering promises that they would do whatever was necessary to get the answers they needed. She wanted to believe that he was right, wanted to believe that it was possible.

She initially wanted to refuse the potion her husband offered her when they climbed the stairs back up to their bedroom. Somehow it seemed like cheating to allow the liquid magic to calm her thoughts and help her sleep. He was insistent. Besides being unable to sleep before they viewed his memory in the pensieve, their late-night adventure downstairs took a lot out of her both physically and emotionally. Her body and her mind needed to rest. How could she expect to get any better if she didn't give herself time to heal?

For one of the first times in their entire marriage, Hermione truly began to believe that Antonin had only concerns for her well-being. He wasn't trying to control her or keep her tethered to him out of fear that she would run off again or seek to overpower him. One look in his worried and fearful eyes put those thoughts out of her mind. Clearly she wasn't thinking correctly. Likely hadn't been for years. It would make sense that she had nothing to be afraid of when it came to Antonin. Hadn't he tried to prove for years how much he loved her?

When her tired eyes opened on Thursday morning, she was half-tempted to just close them again and burrow back under the covers. She knew that the potion she drank was one of the ones that kept her asleep for well over a day. Her husband only gave her those when she was terribly upset. The others, like the one Augustus slipped into her tea, were milder and the effects didn't last nearly as long. Knowing that she couldn't hide away in bed for the rest of her life, no matter how long or short it turned out to be, she stretched her entire body and rose to prepare for the day.

Breakfast was waiting for her downstairs when she was ready. Antonin sat at the table with the morning edition of the regime's propaganda rag waiting for her to join him. As was common throughout the entire length of their marriage and the years before when they were only friends, the meal was quiet. There was a great deal that needed to be said, but she wasn't sure that she really had the energy. Finally deciding that just as she couldn't hide in her bed, she couldn't hide from the truth, she put her fork down and looked into Antonin's dark brown eyes.

"How do you think we should start figuring out what is wrong with my memory?"

He didn't waste a moment folding the Daily Prophet and laying it down on the table.

"We need to find someone we can trust who is an expert on memory charms."

"Who removed the charms on my parents? Did I do it?"

"No, you tried and I tried, but neither of us were successful. A mistake was made when the charms were first cast. It wasn't your fault. You were simply inexperienced."

She sighed. Though he was kind to suggest she wasn't at fault, the fact that she was inexperienced was exactly why a mistake was made. She was to blame for it all. If it had been left to her after the end of the war to restore their memories, her parents would still be wandering around Australia blissfully ignorant of the fact they had a daughter thousands of kilometers away.

"Rod helped us. He was very generous to come back to Australia with us on our second trip. I wish I knew where he was or even if he was still alive. I would feel much better having someone I know I could trust looking around in your brain."

Hermione wasn't sure why she didn't immediately tell him that Rodolphus was alive and she knew where to find him. When her mouth started to form the words, she stopped herself. The last time she saw the animagus they hadn't exactly been on the best of terms. Was it possible that he would use the opportunity to hurt her instead of help her if they asked for his expertise? She didn't want to risk it.

"I'd feel more comfortable if it was a neutral stranger, honestly. Not just someone that we don't know, but someone who isn't involved with the regime at all."

Antonin considered her words for a moment before nodding his head in agreement. Sometimes it was safer to go with someone they had no emotional or professional ties with.

"It might take me some time to find someone from a neutral country that could help us, but I'll start looking. Maybe my contacts in MACUSA could point me in the right direction. I'll also check with Alain. My little brother knows a lot of wizards in Africa that might be able to help."

She left for work a few minutes later feeling more confident than she had for a long time. The Dark Lord had been unable to find allies in most of the African continent despite years of trying. Alain Dolohov was the only one of her brothers-in-law that she had much use for. She suspected the Dark Lord's failure in gaining a foothold in Africa was exactly the reason why he chose to make his home there. He was a bit selfish, never wanting to get involved in anything that could put him at any risk. Still, she thought he had enough begrudging respect for his eldest brother to help.

Nothing exciting waited for her at the Ministry. Even after missing a full day, she hadn't really missed anything. When Rabastan came waltzing in around ten, he gave her a wide berth. Annoyed at first, it was only when he explained that Antonin dropped in the day before to tell him that she was out sick with a stomach bug that she relaxed. She'd wondered if she was going to have to make up some lie to explain her reason for being gone. Rabastan was even kind enough to ask how she was feeling.

"It was nothing contagious, I hope? I can't really afford to get ill right now."

The day passed quickly to her relief. They were getting closer to creating a plan to bring Theodore Nott and his new in-laws in, but they had to be very careful. If they didn't close up any potential loopholes in their warrants, they might have to release them prematurely. It wouldn't help their cause any to make a public enemy out of someone with as much influence as Theodore. The man might have been grotesque, but for a reason few seemed to understand, there were those who would follow him in the coming power struggle.

Hermione was nervous to enter Number Twelve at the end of the day. She missed a day as she stayed asleep in bed. While it was theoretically safe to be left alone for a day or so, she didn't like to risk it. The end was so close! If she managed to ruin the potion after working on it for so long, she wasn't sure that she would have the opportunity to get the ingredients again. Nor was she certain she'd have the patience.

To her relief, the polyjuice potion was still happily bubbling away on the kitchen table. Whether or not the master of the decrepit house was responsible for dropping in to check on it, she was unsure. She hadn't seen Draco since the wedding reception and hadn't spoken to him since the day William Wood surprised them. Because of the specific wards he set up on his house, if he wanted to drop in while she was there to finally speak to her, he would. She was beginning not to care one way or the other.

Two full weeks and a couple days passed since the potion was started. Hermione was growing impatient. Maybe it would've been better to come up with a plan that didn't hinge quite so heavily on the substance. Of course, when she tried to come up with a backup plan, none of them were nearly good enough. She would just have to trust that the polyjuice potion would turn out all right.

After being there only a few minutes, she heard the sound of footsteps descending the creaky staircase. Her instincts weren't warning her that she was in danger, but just to be safe, she held out her wand prepared to do battle if it wasn't the person she expected. When she saw the familiar blond hair, she relaxed and put her wand back on the table.

"I was beginning to wonder when I'd see you again."

She didn't even look him in the eye when she spoke. It was easier to stare at the cauldron.

"You weren't here yesterday. I was concerned."

The urge to scoff at his statement was strong. Somehow sensing that she wasn't in the mood for the activities they usually engaged in when they were alone, Draco kept a respectable distance away. He leaned against the table, watching every move she made.

"Yes, well, I'm fine. Didn't seem necessary to come every day."

It wasn't the truth, but she wasn't sure she could trust him. Every moment she was away from him, she dissected their previous interactions. Draco wasn't the sort of man to do anything without a purpose. What his purpose was with her was still unclear. She suspected that he was simply using her for her ability to get Aberforth released… and maybe because she did that thing with her tongue that he seemed to enjoy. His close relationship with the Resistance was cause for concern. If he trusted her enemies enough to give them lessons on the secret magic he used to keep himself alive, she could be in danger. There seemed no reason to waste any more time.

"Why does William Wood know how to track like you?"

Draco sighed. She could tell by the sudden droop in his shoulders that he didn't want to have that conversation.

"This may come as a surprise to you, Hermione, but there was a time when the Resistance wasn't that trusting of me."

She rolled her eyes, not caring that he saw. There was no reason to be patronizing. Of course that wasn't surprising. No doubt there were still those who didn't full trust his commitment. Just like there were still Death Eaters who didn't trust hers after twenty years of relatively loyal service.

"I taught Will how to track as a way to prove myself. He knows my biggest secret. If that ever got out to anyone on our side, there wouldn't be a need to keep me around. It's his collateral, his leash. I can't betray the Resistance without him betraying me. Plenty on our side would love to know how I do what I do. The Snatchers could be vastly improved with that knowledge."

"It wouldn't take much to improve them."

A chuckle was her reward for the pathetic attempt at a joke. Satisfied that her potion was brewing as it should, she knew she needed to leave. If she stayed any longer, she was in danger of doing something she might regret.

"I didn't want to teach him. Will controls me with that secret. I have to comply."

"Only as long as he is still alive."

Her ominous words hung in the air as she climbed the stairs to make her exit.