A/N: One hundred percent AU. Harry and Ron left Hermione behind to look for Horcruxes and then Hermione's mandatory presence at Hogwart's is requested.

Pairing is Hermione/Draco, rated M for themes of profanity, perhaps smut, torture, and death.

Let me know what you think :)? X

MEMOIRS OF AN UNTOLD STORY

CHAPTER TWELVE:

THE GRANGER EFFECT

oOo

Draco sat up properly as Hermione took a seat on the opposite couch, holding her stomach. She felt as sick as a dog. Hermione looked over and saw Draco leaning forwards, ready to listen. She couldn't believe what her visions had revealed about him. He already loved her? It was him who requested her instead of McGonagall? Oh god. She clutched her mouth and nearly gagged, sighing. This was all too much. And why the fuck was she even having these visions? But she whole-heartedly believed these visions were real and… wasn't that enough? The vision-Draco said he'd loved her for ages… She could trust him… couldn't she?

"Okay, look, I'm just gonna say this and you're just gonna have to get it, okay?" Hermione leaned forwards "And I can't tell anyone else because they'd think I was crazy… Okay. Lately I've been getting visions of the future. I'm drawn into it against my will, and I can view it like I was watching a movie but it's like, I'm there and I can feel my emotions… The first vision was… everyone was dead and you helped me escape from your house and we traveled back to when Tom Riddle was a baby because… we were gonna kill him and make it so he could never have an evil presence in the world except… we couldn't do it and Snape killed him instead. We killed ourselves knowing we would be born into a world without Voldemort and wouldn't remember all of this. The second vision was the changed world, the one where Tom Riddle never got the chance to grow up… except we both remembered what we'd done… It was all wrong, Harry was never born, Snape was married to Lily, I was a Ravenclaw and… things were all wrong and the only person I can tell is the one who is in these visions constantly" she looked up to him, tired and worn out.

"…Me" Draco said slowly, sitting back. He sat quiet for a moment and Hermione couldn't help but stare at him. He really was so beautiful. So beautiful and tortured. "So… I'm in these visions? We get along? We work together?". He sat back up and reached out for the glass of water on the table and took a big gulp like he wished it were fire whiskey.

Yes. Except no. How do you tell someone your going to become lovers in the future? Awkward. Hermione coughed a little before nodding. "Yep. You said you didn't want this life for you or your mother and you helped me escape with the idea of changing things so that Voldemort never grew up. Except it wasn't how it was meant to be, without Voldemort, there was never Harry. Snape wasn't lured into evil and he and Lily fell in love… I guess… the only reason Harry was born was because Voldemort was alive to turn Snape".

"I can't believe my future self would do something so reckless" Draco shook his head, sighing, "Because I know this. I know everyone is connected to everything. You change the slightest thing and things all over are instantly changed. It must have been so bad for me to do something that stupid" he frowned and looked over to Hermione "Is there anything else your not telling me?".

"I've told you everything" Hermione pushed her fringe back. Oh yeah that and we fell in love and risked all of reality to be together in any world, Hermione added silently. "Before I woke up though… we were heading to McGonagall to get the time turner, to go back to before we went after Tom Riddle as a baby, to stop past selves, we were gonna tell them to go save Harry and everyone before they were killed. Then we would stop Snape from killing Tom Riddle… and then kill ourselves".

Draco nodded, "To let our past selves change the future, and in turn, our future selves" he stood up abruptly and walked into the kitchen, pouring himself a drink of something clinky. Hermione watched as he reappeared with two glasses of what looked like whiskey. He gave one to Hermione who accepted it without a lecture of underage drinking. It really didn't seem like the time or place.

"Things got really bad?" Draco asked quietly, even though he knew the answer to that. He knew himself, what was left, but he knew he would only do something so risky and fragile if there was really no other option.

"Yeah" Hermione downed the whisky in the glass, nodding. She grimaced as the liquid burned her throat and she put the glass on the table. "Things were… things were really bad. After Harry died, so did morale and soon everyone in the Order was dead. I was next. Until you saved me…" she looked up and caught his intense blue-eyed stare, her breath catching.

Draco was the first to look away and he sipped his drink gingerly, sighing. He was still the detached Draco Hermione had known for years but there was something different about the way they were talking… They were connecting? Hermione shivered, so confused by everything that was happening to her. God forbid she had a year that was just normal and plain.

"I just wish I knew why I was getting these" Hermione sighed, "Ginny thought they were just dreams but I can't explain it… I just know. I can feel it. These are visions of my future… Of a future I'm supposed to stop, and I know it sounds stupid because I'm one person and the D.A isn't even that strong and fuck knows where Ron and Harry are but… I just know I'm supposed to do something differently. Like you said, everything everybody does has a cause and effect on the world, right? I just need to work out what I can do differently before it's too late". This was the most she'd ever spoke to Draco, ever, and instead of telling her to shut her rambling up, he was just looking at her with a silent, unreadable expression.

Hermione looked up to Draco, "Doesn't this prove to you now that you are absolutely not a destined Death Eater and going this way, going quietly, doing what he wants… is just going to wound up the worst choice? You can help us, you can join the D.A, we can escape and find Harry-".

"Only in a perfect world, Hermione!" Draco interrupted, running a hand through his hair, "Don't you think I want a world where my mother is safe? A world where there's no fears or limits or restrictions? Acting right now, unprepared… we might as well all be dead anyway! It's stupid and reckless and exactly what we shouldn't do!".

Hermione felt tears swarm into her eyes and she looked down. According to her visions, Draco already loved her… And did she love him? What about this Draco? This Draco in front of her, so afraid and trapped and lost? Did he honestly love her here and now? Instead of screaming and going insane like she felt like doing, Hermione took a deep breath in and out, trying to calm herself.

"I feel sick" Hermione announced and walked slowly to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She let out another breath and walked over to the sink to throw cold water over her face. This was like a story out of a book. Everything was wrong. She let the sink fill the water until she looked down and saw her reflection. She looked so much older than what she actually was and the bags and purple lines under her eyes made her look like a junkie.

"Hello..?".

Hermione's closed eyes snapped open and she looked down into the water to see… herself. Except, not her reflection. Actually… herself. The blonde version of Hermione from her vision. Hermione's eyes widened as she stared down at her blonde self, who looked like she was hiding in the Dark Art's section of the library.

"If you're getting this Hermione, I assume you got my message" the blonde Hermione told herself pointedly, "You know, the visions? Well, I sent them to you, well, to me, to my past self- this gets a little confusing. Anyway, the last vision I sent you was me and Draco going to find Professor McGonagall, except she didn't get the time turner so the only thing I could do was to send these visions to you, me, me that's you, because you're the only one that can change the future now".

"What?" Hermione gasped, staring incuriously at herself.

"And don't start screaming" the blonde Hermione told herself, "This is a pre-recorded message, so I'm not arguing with you. Now, assuming your still there and not passed out, listen carefully. Draco and I-you, are meant to be together, okay? This may be a little hard to take in but if you let him in, if you push past his barriers…" the blonde Hermione wiped a tear from her cheek, "It'll be the most amazing love you'll ever experience. And the worst. In my timeline Draco and I only got close after I was taken to Malfoy Manor. You have to change that, Hermione. You have to get close to him, now, before things go bad. Just trust me, trust me when I say that that little time difference will make or break everything you've ever cared about in this entire world. In my timeline, the ultimatum between good and evil came… and Draco hesitated, and that cost us everything. We were captured. Love him now and when that moment comes, he won't hesitate, he'll know what the right decision is".

"What?" Hermione cried, so utterly confused.

"I'm afraid I've given too much away already" the blonde Hermione bit her lip. "Remember what I said; the way you change the future now affects everything. Ultimately only Harry Potter can defeat Voldemort but without this small but powerful thing, he won't be around to do it. Don't tell anyone about this message, not even Draco" the blonde forced a smile, "And don't be so controlling yeah? Life is supposed to be fun, try being a blonde after all this is over" she paused before looking back up, "Good luck, Hermione".

Hermione watched the blonde version of herself disappear from the water in the sink until it was just clear water. She took a few steps back, gaping. What the fuck was going on these days? Especially with her? "I cannot deal with this" Hermione gripped her temples, shaking her head. She walked out of the bathroom, seeing Draco sitting on the couch.

Draco looked round and eyed her with a worrying expression. "You look like you've just seen a ghost…".

"Close" Hermione let out a deep breath. "I think the visions are gonna stop and you can't ask me how I know this, I just do. I know why I was sent the visions, sort of. I'm supposed to change the future".

"How is that even possible?" Draco asked hopelessly, "Voldemort has followers everywhere, spies crawl these walls, if there was any way to stop him, do you really think Potter would be off chasing Horcruxes he won't be able to find instead of here, fighting the good fight?".

"He is fighting the good fight" Hermione said fiercely, "And that's what we all need to do for fuck sake, I'm so sick of lying down and playing dead! Right here and now, we take the fight to them. We're so much more powerful than we give ourselves credit for. We grew up in an age petrified of the Dark Lord and yet, here we are, still breathing. Voldemort may be evil and dark and powerful but love is so much more powerful because he simply can't understand it. Power, fear, status, money, followers, he'll have it all but love is the one thing in the world he will never have and that will ultimately destroy him".

Hermione walked up to Draco, so angry and charged and ready to blow. He looked down at her with black clouded eyes and she finally felt free. She hadn't felt this free since she was a little girl. He was just looking at her, with an unreadable expression and she stared back, more honest than ever. And when he finally looked away, almost scared looking, a pang in Hermione's heart almost made her jerk into him. Without even thinking, Hermione grabbed his neck and pulled him down in one swift one movement and let her lips crush against his. He wasn't as cold as she thought he'd be and it was only seconds until Draco responded.

Hermione felt Draco take control as he leaned over her, pressing every inch of her into him. One arm wrapped around her waist and another one went to her neck and Hermione was pulled closer, which was virtually impossible. He touched her special spot at the back of her neck and Draco ended up swallowing Hermione's vibrated moan. Hermione fought for dominance just as much as Draco but she needed to breath and pulled back an inch. A second later Draco was on her again and he forced his tongue inside, tasting her strawberry lip-gloss. Without really knowing how fast this was going, Draco slipped his hands under Hermione's top and crept it's way up her smooth stomach. Hermione ran her fingers through Draco's hair and pulled it back, making his head move slightly from her. Hermione in took a deep breath before Draco was on her again like a hungry vulture.

Hermione had kissed guys before, obviously, but this was so different. With Draco, it was passionate, raw, filled with so much unspoken emotion that didn't need to be said. The kiss was primal and animal and Hermione wondered why all her other kisses hadn't felt just like this. Hermione felt her stomach swoop with pleasure as Draco pushed her into the couch with ease and slid on top of her, careful not to lie on her. The fire in Draco's eyes was something she had not seen in him for many years and every time he kissed her she felt alive and powerful and like she could conquer the world. She knew she'd been having feelings for Draco, but this feeling… This new feeling… Was it love?

Hermione hissed when Draco moved onto her neck, sucking her pale smooth skin with his teeth. He looked back up to her when he heard her hiss and stared into her eyes. Both of their eyes were clouded with black lust and Hermione suddenly wished they both naked and continuing their antics. This was definitely not the old Hermione. This was something new. She had discovered something lacking in her life; passion and she wanted more of it.

"Don't pull away from me" Hermione wished she didn't sound so husky and mangled with emotion. The thought of Draco walking away now and acting like it never happened would be too painful to deal with.

"This wasn't part of my plan" Draco muttered to himself, almost in a daze. He looked down at Hermione, confused and drew himself off her, grabbing his hair in more confusion. "You weren't supposed to kiss me" Draco shook his head, gasping.

"But I wanted too!" Hermione jumped up and followed his pacing. "What's so wrong with it? Is it because I'm a Muggle-born?".

"It's because we could both be killed if anyone ever found out!" Draco screamed across at her and Hermione felt tears coming out of her cheeks. All she wanted was Draco's touch on her skin and his kiss on her lips and if a couple hours ago you told Hermione this she would have thrown water over you. Hermione grasped her head, so utterly confused at how Draco just went from being Draco to… Draco. The one she wanted to be with. The feelings had started before the visions she knew that but now… This was real.

"This has been such a confusing night" Draco had managed to compose himself, although not entirely. "Just go to sleep and we'll talk in the morning" he turned, without anything else and walked into his room, closing the door behind him.

Hermione looked around, distraught at how he had just left it before she ran into her own room and slammed the door shut behind her. She flung herself into her bed and the tears she cried just flowed out. She cried for her parents who she missed, she cried for Harry, for Ron, for her friends. She cried for the responsibility of this world, because of Voldemort, she cried for the hard times she was going through and the worst ones still to come. She cried for Draco, and herself and the confusion at her feelings. And once she was finally done crying, Hermione felt so much better.

She finally drifted off into a visionless dreamful sleep.

oOo

As Hermione knew would happen, she had slept in. Draco had already left the Dorm and Hermione didn't know whether to be relieved or not about that. Just when she thought she'd need to make up an excuse on being late, she quickly remembered it was the weekend and that she was free, for 2 whole days… more or less. She left things with Neville and Ginny kind of awkward but lately, her and Ginny really hadn't been getting along. Ginny was so convinced Harry was going to make this work and save us all when Hermione was constantly surrounded with evidence that said otherwise. But they were still in this together and Hermione was determined to keep her friendships.

She showered, and dressed and headed out of the dorm, walking quickly along the gloomy looking corridor. She sorely missed it when Hogwarts was a bright cheery place, bursting with knowledge and life. Hermione walked to the one place she knew would make her feel better. As usual, the library was empty and Hermione walked in, looking around just to be sure. She walked to the very back, at her usual reading spot, the same spot where the blonde Hermione had sent the now Hermione that message from and sat down. She picked a random book from the shelf next to her and opened it at the first page.

It was quiet and the book was familiar to Hermione but just being alone, reading in her usual spot with the sun shining through the window, it was just a little escape for Hermione in her constant world of danger. She sighed happily and turned the page on the book. Finally understanding her visions and finally crying, more like howling, into her pillow had definitely made herself feel better. Her stomach knotted with nerves when she thought about seeing Draco. It knotted even more when she realised she'd have to face Ginny and Neville soon, and what she'd say when they asked her what the hell was going on.

"Haven't seen you in a while" a voice made her jump up and she looked up to see Blaise Zabini looking down at her with unreadable eyes. If it wasn't for his quiet voice she would have jumped in shock but Blaise had an easy aura that made him subtle. The last time she'd spoke to Blaise was the first testing of the crystals and although it was only a couple of days ago, it did seem like ages.

Hermione moved over on the floor and Blaise went to sit down next to her, sighing. "Spoke to Draco since he found out about you being in D.A?" she asked quietly, hoping they were completely alone.

"Not really" Blaise rubbed his head, "Draco and I don't really talk anymore. Draco doesn't really talk to anyone anymore, unless it's too argue with Pansy or meaningless chat with Theodore Nott".

Hermione paused. Blaise didn't know about the visions, the only one who knew was Draco. Ginny and Neville now thought they were just 'dreams' and she wondered if she should tell Blaise. She knew she could trust Blaise, after all, he made the unbreakable vow for people he barely considered acquaintances, just to stop Voldemort, but… It wasn't the trust side of things. It was whether he would understand what she was even saying. It was whether or not she was ready to admit out loud that she knew she had fallen for Draco, way before the visions.

"Is there something on your mind, Hermione?" Blaise looked at her like he already knew what she was thinking.

"Yes" Hermione sighed and looked up to Blaise, "Yes there is something on my mind… And you can't ask me why but… I know it's good, somehow".

"Okay" Blaise accepted, nodding his head, "Good is… Good, I hope".

"I hope so too" Hermione agreed.

oOo

Hermione hurried herself into the dinning hall towards the Gryffindor table and saw Ginny and Neville sitting at their usual spot. She took a deep breath and went to sit down across from them.

"Hello Hermione" Neville grinned happily, "You look better".

"I feel better" Hermione admitted, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Look, I just want to say, you were right, Ginny".

Ginny's head snapped up in surprise and she almost dropped her knife "What?".

"You were right" Hermione replied, smiling. "My 'visions' weren't visions at all" she lied easily, shrugging. "They were just… nightmares. Last night I dreamed Malfoy killed me and then killed Harry and you guys. Then I dreamt of Snape in women's clothes… Safe to say what I thought were visions about me and Malfoy and Harry's death was just my insecurities of what the future might bring".

"I'm sorry I seemed so harsh" Ginny looked down, "I just can't lose faith in Harry, he's the only one who can stop this".

"Don't worry about it" Hermione shook her head, "And Harry will win, no doubt about it" she took a bite out of a piece of toast. She paused for a moment and then looked up, "Do you guys think I would suit blonde hair?".

Neville and Ginny both frowned.