Bittersweet

By cenagurl

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters, I'm just borrowing them for my story so don't sue me, all I can offer you is my dog and a battered old computer…

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Chapter 4: Confused

The silence in the room was poisoning.

Harry stared at the slumbering face of nemesis for a long time, then at Hermione, who looked so ready to burst into tears.

"What's he doing here?" he asked in a steely voice. Hermione could feel herself cowering from her friend's penetrating gaze but she forced herself to look to look at him in the eye unblinkingly, defiantly.

"I saved him from a terrible fate." She answered, thankful that her voice came out calm and reasonable. Harry stared, while Rona and Ginny gaped.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked after a few moments of silence.

"Narcissa brought him to me," Hermione started in a drained voice. "She doesn't want Malfoy to become a Death Eater, so she decided to hide him from his father,"

Ron finally gained the strength to speak. "She entrusted her only son to you?" he asked in disbelief. "What about the git? Does he want to become a Death Eater?"

Hermione glanced over at Draco's sleeping face, as if the answer was written on him. "I don't know," she whispered.

Harry's gaze was getting more and more intense. "Hermione, how could you bring him here? What if this is just another one of Voldemort's plots? And what if Malfoy really does want to become a Death Eater? What will we do when he wakes up? Tie him on the bed? Hex him?"

Hermione was at a loss for answers. She honestly couldn't believe she had just helped one of their enemies.

But she believed in something.

"I believe Narcissa's word." She finally said when she could no longer stand the silence. "And if Malfoy really does want to become a Death Eater, then we'll let him go. If he doesn't, we could use him as an ally in the Order," she said, inwardly cringing when she heard her voice com out so un-Hermione-ish--- weak and unsure.

Ron gave her an owlish stare. "Do you think that he would just let himself be bossed around like that? He's a bloody Malfoy, for Pete's sake! How could you trust a Malfoy? Have they put a spell on you? Hell, Ginny, call mum or anyone from the Order so they can check Hermione," he ordered, and Ginny quickly scampered out of the room before Hermione could stop her.

"Hermione, why did you do this?" Harry asked softly.

Hermione didn't know the answer herself. Did she really trust Narcissa? Could she really trust her? And what about Draco? What would they do with him?

A scant minute later Mrs. Weasley entered the room, followed by Lupin and Tonks. When they saw the person on the bed, they gave identical gasps of surprise.

"What in heaven's name is he doing here?" Molly Weasley asked, her eyes round. Tonks rubbed her eyes and did a double take. "Isn't that Lucius Malfoy's son?" she asked, and Remus nodded his confirmation.

"Hermione took him here," Harry answered monotonously, shooting Hermione a rather irritated look. Ron was also glaring at her.

At least they weren't strangling or flaying her.

"Ginny told me to check if you were bewitched or something," Molly started, walking towards Hermione, and she started to back away like a frightened deer.

"I---I'm not under any spell," she stammered out, coming to a halt when she felt her back press against the cool wallpapered wall. Nobody listened to her, however.

Remus went over to check her, and when he was finished, he shook his head at them. "She isn't in any sort of spell," he announced with a relieved sigh.

Mrs. Weasley was about to pull Hermione in a motherly embrace when she gave small shriek of surprise. "Hermione, you're soaking wet!" she exclaimed when she felt the sodden fabric of Hermione's robes through her fingertips.

"I---It was r—r---raining outside," she managed to say through her trembling lips. "M—Malfoy's drenched too, he n—needs some clothes," she pointed at the bed, and Mrs. Weasley nodded.

"Ron and Harry would be willing to donate some robes," she said, eyeing the boys warningly when they opened their mouths to protest. "And you, young lady, are going to change into some dry clothes yourself,"

"But she still hasn't explained why she brought him here!" Tonks said. "Hermione can answer all our questions tomorrow," Mrs. Weasley answered in a firm voice. Turning to Hermione, she said, "Get some rest tonight, Hermione. We'll talk in the morning,"

Hermione gave her a grateful nod, then went over to the cabinet to gather some dry clothes. Harry and Ron had gone out of the room to find some clothes for Malfoy, while Remus and Tonks were examining the unconscious boy on the bed.

Hermione changed her clothes in the bathroom, and while she saw to the task, she pondered about they'd do with Malfoy. What she'd do with him.

What would he do when he wakes up? Would he tear apart the headquarters? Would he murder them all in bed? What if this is one of Voldemort's tricks?

Hermione's stomach gave a funny twist at the horrific thought. She suddenly had the urge to retch, but she clamped her mouth tight as she put on her long-sleeved nightgown when bile began to rise at her throat.

Narcissa hadn't told her what to do with Malfoy if he does want to do as his father wishes. Would she have to let him go? But he would already know about the headquarters of the Order by then.

Would they have to resort to murder? But that would not make them any different from those Death Eaters. What would she do?

Hermione's head was beginning to pound furiously from all the thinking that she swayed off-balanced for a moment, but quickly regained her balance. She really had to rest tonight.

Dropping her wet clothes in the laundry basket, she made her way out of the bathroom, and saw Mrs. Weasley shedding off Draco's drenched clothes with Lupin's assistance. Ginny and Tonks were nowhere to be seen. A scant minute later, Harry and Ron entered, carrying some clothes.

They dumped their pajamas at the foot of the bed, looks of loathing etched on their faces. When Mrs. Weasley picked up the clothes Harry and Ron had gathered, she gave them disapproving looks.

"Ron, this was your pajamas when you were in second year, and they would never fit this young man. And you, Harry, seem to have mistaken the kitchen rugs for sleepwear," Mrs. Weasley said sternly, and the two boys cringed.

"Ronald, go fetch the blue pajamas we bought last week, and you, Harry, I want you to hand over some clothes he can actually wear," the plump red-headed woman ordered in a voice that made Harry and Ron scuttle out of the room to bid her wishes.

When the boys returned with more suitable clothes, they were both looking murderous. Hermione could hear Ron muttering curses under his breath, but when Mrs. Weasley gave him her meanest look, he fell silent.

"Remus, help me put this clothes on him," Mrs. Weasley said, and Lupin nodded. Hermione assisted them in lifting Malfoy's slack form to slip on him Ron's new pajamas. When they were done, they were all sighing in exhaustion.

"Now, let's all get some rest," Mrs. Weasley said, and Harry and Ron hurriedly snuck out of the room, followed by Lupin, who bid Hermione a good night. She could only nod in response, as she was too tired to even smile or talk.

"Hermione, dear, why don't you and Ginny sleep over with Tonks and Arabella tonight?" Mrs. Weasley suggested in a gentle voice. Hermione shook her head at the woman.

"I'll watch over him," she said, glancing over at Malfoy, who was still sleeping. "Only God knows what he'd do if he finds out he's here at the Order's headquarters."

Mrs. Weasley didn't look too happy with the idea. "No, you're too tired dear, you need your rest… I'll just ask one of the members of the Order to watch him until morning," she suggested in a worried tone, but Hermione just gave her a grim smile.

"No need to bother, Mrs. Weasley… It's my fault he's here, so it's my responsibility to watch over him," she said in a firm voice, and Mrs. Weasley gave a hesitant nod.

"But if you need someone with you here…" she started, but Hermione had already begun shaking her head again. "There's really no need, Mrs. Weasley. I can handle him myself,"

Hermione heaved a sigh when Mrs. Weasley left. She walked over to one of the closets and brought out her old sleeping bag, then rolled in down on the floor ad got one pillow from the bed.

She was about to lie down on the sleeping bag when she remembered something. She went back to the bathroom and got her wand from her wet robe pocket, then sprinted back to the bag and lied down, sighing happily as she snuggled deep in the covers.

Before closing her eyes, she placed her wand under her pillow, just within reach.

She could never be too careful.

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Narcissa hastily shrugged off her wet robes and dumped them in the laundry basket for a house-elf to pick up.

She locked the door of the master's suite and dropped on the bed, crying in anguish for her son, whom she had left in the hands of the enemy. A capable enemy who promised to take care of him. She hoped Draco would fare well, and that he would change his mind about those people whom he considered his foes. The memory charm she had used on him was not a strong one, which would only last for two to three months. She prayed that by then that the war would be over.

And that her husband would be a cold body buried six feet under the ground.

Yes, such a cruel thought of a wife towards her husband. But Lucius Malfoy was no loving husband. She honestly wished he would just get killed by one of the people from the Order so she and her son could finally live in peace.

Those were her last thoughts before she fell into troubled slumber.

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Hermione woke up feeling a lot better. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she gave a small yawn and stretched out her arms.

Just as she opened her eyes, she saw a figure looming over her, gray eyes fixed on her face and blonde hair gleaming from the sunlight in the window.

She screamed. Draco jumped in surprise, and fell bottom first on the floor beside her. A few seconds later Harry, Ron, Lupin, Tonks, Ginny, Fred and Mr. Weasley came running inside the room, wands at the ready, and all alert.

They all pointed their wands at Draco, whose eyes were wide with fright. "Hermione, what's wrong?" Tonks asked.

Hermione was still calming her racing heart, her breathing ragged and uneven. "H—He just surprised me," she managed to say between gasps of air.

"What did you do to Hermione?" Ron snarled to Draco, who was cowering on the floor. "I—I didn't d—do anything," he stuttered, his whole body quaking with fear.

Hermione felt the need to defend him. "He didn't do anything. He just startled me, that's all," she said hastily, and all seven of them slowly lowered their wands, although they still looked at Draco in distrust.

"W—where am I?" Draco asked in a small voice, his question directed to Hermione because she was the only one who looked accommodating enough in the room. The others were giving him looks of loathing.

"Why do you want to know?" Harry asked harshly. Draco flinched at his mean tone. Why was everyone so mad at him? Has he done something wrong?

He couldn't remember anything. He didn't know who he was, where he was, or who these people are. His mind seemed as blank as an untouched parchment, and no matter how much he tried to recall anything, anything at all, nothing came.

"I'm asking you," the raven-haired man wearing glasses said, jolting him out of his thoughts. Draco was fidgeting under his hateful gaze. Why does he hate me so much? He wondered.

"I—I don't remember anything," he mumbled, having a sinking feeling that they wouldn't count on his word.

He was right.

"What do you mean you don't remember anything?" Ron demanded. Everyone was looking at Draco as they waited for his answer.

"I… I woke up not remembering anything," he started, gazing intently on the floor. "I couldn't remember who I who I am and where I was. So I watched her (he pointed at Hermione) and waited for her to wake up… and when she did, she screamed,"

Silence followed his statement. Fred, Ginny, Mr. Weasley and Tonks were having mixed looks of bewilderment and disbelief. Remus was frowning, while Harry and Ron were gawking. How could Draco Malfoy, proud pureblood and Slytherin Prince look so innocent and truthful while telling them a ridiculous lie?

When what Draco said began to seep in Hermione's mind, she finally understood everything. "I think he's telling the truth," she announced.

They then turned to stare at her, as if she had gone bonkers. Finally, Remus spoke. "I think we should let Melissa check her," he suggested, referring to the latest member of the Order, Melissa Abott, one of the healers in St. Mungo's and cousin of Hannah Abott.

Everyone save Draco nodded their agreement. He was still looking a little dazed and a tad too innocent. Tonks quickly bounded down the stairs to call the healer, while everyone stood silent in the bedroom, watching the boy who claimed to have lost his memory with puzzled yet shrewd eyes.

A few minutes later a disgruntled-looking Melissa stepped inside the bedroom, closely followed by Tonks. "Where is he?" she asked, looking around the room. "I want to do this quick, I ain't happy without my morning coffee," when her eyes landed on Draco she gave a disapproving cluck.

"Ah, the Malfoy heir huh?" she said, kneeling down to face Draco, who was again beginning to cower away. "Don't hide away boy, I ain't gonna eat yeh," she said, and Draco stopped squirming.

Melissa gave him several examinations while everyone watched, and when she was finished, she gave a sigh. "Someone's cast a mild Obliviate charm on him. Nothing serious or damaging, he'd just be a mite too forgetful for a couple of months or so," Melissa declared, completely shocking everyone except Hermione and Draco.

"I told you I couldn't remember anything," he grumbled in a child-like voice, but no one answered him. They were all still in a state of shock.

Hermione moved close to Draco and gave him a pat on the knee as a pathetic attempt of comfort, but he smiled at her nonetheless. Hermione was stunned with the sudden transformation in his face when he did that--- he no longer looked like the sulky, dour, arrogant, bigheaded bully he was before.

Now his gray eyes sparkled with a swirl of positive emotions, and its corners crinkled with the upward movement of the corners of his mouth--- not the cocky cold smirk that usually lingers there.

But he was still Draco Malfoy. And after a few months, he would be back to his old arrogant self.

"Draco." She suddenly said. "Draco Malfoy is your name," Draco gave her a nod, and gave her a look that told her to go on. "I'm Hermione Granger." She pointed a finger to herself.

Draco blinked. Then softly, he said, "Hermione." Hermione felt the hairs at the back of her neck go up as her name rolled in his tongue.

Suddenly flustered, she turned to the other people in the room. "He's Harry Potter," she motioned towards Harry, who was still suffering after-shocks. "That person over there is Ron Weasley," she pointed Ron. "That girl with the long hair is Ginny, Ron's sister. Beside her is her older brother, Fred, and the one standing over there is Mr. Weasley, their dad," Draco nodded as she pointed to each person.

"That man with the pink haired girl is professor Lupin, and the girl with him is Tonks. The one who checked you up earlier is Melissa," Hermione finally glanced back at Draco, who seemed to be absorbing everything she said.

"That one is Harry, the one there is Ron, the girl is Ginny, and she standing there with Fred and Mr. Weasley. Professor Lupin is talking to Tonks, and the one who examined me is named Melissa," he said promptly, and Hermione couldn't help but applaud.

"Very good, Draco," she said, and he gave her a shy smile that reminded Hermione of a bashful child who was congratulated for doing a good job. "Now, why don't you change into some clothes there by the bedside and come down with us for breakfast?"

Draco nodded and stood up, then went over to the bedside table to gather some garments. Hermione almost screamed again, when he began to unbutton his top, his back turned to her.

"Hey you!" Ron yelled. "Change in the bathroom!" Draco, however had already taken off his shirt.

Hermione gave a gasp when she got a full view of Draco's back.

They were covered with scars.

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A/n: Now that's a long chappie! I hope you wouldn't be too disappointed now… And I swear to update soon if schoolwork doesn't get in the way!