Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N: So not a huge response last chapter. I'd love to know why! Anyone?
Draco
-Past-
The screaming woke him.
He sat up, reliving nightmares of silent screams and blood stained floors, his stomach churning and his heart beating too quick in his chest. His door burst open, his wide eyed mother stumbling in. He was up in a second, the blankets tangling around his legs as he grasped his mother's upper arms.
"Dr-Draco..."
"Are you hurt?" He asked, taking in the sight of her blood stained dress as she trembled in his hands. "Mother. Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, the sobs that wracked her body completely cutting off her voice as she pointed out the door. He helped her up, setting her down on the settee at the end of his bed as he palmed his wand and slowly left the room, waiting for an attack.
He walked slowly, the light from his wand illuminating his path as he made his way down the hall and straight in to the puddle of blood. His stomach rolled as he caught sight of the house elf, the knife stuck deeply in her gut, her eyes unseeing. Ninny.
"Meeky." He called and the small house elf appeared beside him almost instantaneously, tears streaming from her eyes. "What happened?"
"Meeky did not see Master Mafloy... Meeky only hears." She said and Draco had trouble hearing through her sobs.
Sighing he reached down, turning the little elf around and kneeling down in front of her. "What did you hear Meeky?"
"Screaming..." She sobbed and Draco reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"I need you to do something for me Meeky..."
"Anything for Master Malfoy."
"Find Hermione Granger? Bring her here as quick as you can... please." He added the last word as an afterthought, turning his back on the surprised little elf before he made his way back up to his mother, letting her cry in to his shoulder until she had fallen asleep against him and he covered her with a blanket, leaving her on his settee as he left the room to wait for Granger and hoped that he had made the right decision.
She was still in her pyjamas when he arrived, holding Meeky's hand lightly as she gripped her wand in the other hand.
"Malfoy?" She asked once she had finally regained her footings. "What-"
He sighed, setting his glass of amber liquid down on the stairs as he stood up, pulling himself up to his full height. "Come with me Granger."
She glanced around, noting the small elf still shaking at her side and he saw her hesitate as he turned and walked back to the room where the murdered elf still lay. He could hear her footsteps however, letting him know that she had decided to follow him after all and when he came to a sudden stop, he felt her collide in to his back.
"I didn't know who else to call..." He trailed off and he heard her sharp intake of breath as she took in the scene before her.
"Oh my God..." She trailed off, her voice higher than normal and he bit back the scoff that threatened to escape his mouth at the swear. "Who would do this?"
He looked at her, his frown deepening before he finally looked back to the scene on the floor before him, his jaw clenched as he replied. "I don't know Granger. I was hoping you would tell me."
"Is she alright?" Granger's voice was soft in his ear as she handed him the warm cup, her eyes locked on his mother in the corner of the room, staring despondently in to the fire.
He grunted, sipping the drink in his hand as he turned away from her, back to the room full of aurors who stayed away from the pair of Malfoy's in the house.
"I didn't... I didn't even think about-" Granger said awkwardly and he turned his head minutely to meet her gaze before turning back to the wizards and witches who had invaded his home.
"What? Potter and Weasel couldn't make it today?" He asked scathingly and he saw her posture tighten at the mention.
She didn't respond however and when next he looked she had moved away from them, back in to the throng of people who had invaded his home, the ones who wouldn't dare step foot near him or his mother, or offer them tea.
He watched them work, taking in their hurried steps and nervous glances, as they cleaned up the mess left behind, even after the house elf had been moved. Then his eyes found her, as she poured over pages of notes, the tip of her quill between her teeth as she thumbed through the thick stack of parchment and yet as he looked at her she looked up, catching his gaze before he turned around, turning his back to the flurry of magical folk and Hermione Granger.
"You can't go in there!" Draco ignored the witch yelling from behind her desk as he marched in to Granger's office, letting the door slam shut behind him as he did.
"Granger." He said with a sneer and she jumped as she swiped at her eyes, tossing something in her desk drawer as she stood up too quickly.
"Malfoy, what are you-"
"I want answers. Since you've been ignoring my owls."
"I have not been-" she started indignantly.
"My mother is terrified in her own home. I want to know what you've come up with."
Granger snorted and rolled her eyes. "Like you care what I've done. Your mother is terrified of the aurors who may come knocking.."
Draco stormed forward, slamming his hands down on her desk as he leaned his face closer to hers. "Come off it Granger. Stop acting like a know-it-all little swot because in reality, you know nothing."
"I know that one of your help is dead and if your mother can't be bothered to make a cup of tea-"
"My mother saved Potter's life." He snarled as Granger laughed bitterly.
"To save yours."
"My mother loved that damn elf." He roared, pushing off the desk and away from Granger. "She was the youngest of three siblings Granger, you really think either of them cared much for her once they grew? Her own parents didn't have the time for her until my father took an interest. That elf was the closest thing to family she had left..."
Granger swallowed and stood up, crossing her arms over her chest loosely. "They've closed the case Malfoy."
"What?" He asked in disbelief.
"It's true." She said, sighing as she reached down to pick up a heavy folder and passing it over to him. "They think it's a string of suicides stemming from the fact that since we've started regulating laws for the elves they've become despondent, and prone to self harm."
"Ninny wouldn't." He said hotly, flipping through the papers in his hands.
Hermione shrugged. "I didn't think so either..."
"This is signed by the Weasel."
"Yes, well Ronald feels like our time is best spent elsewhere."
"And Potter agrees?"
Hermione bit her lip, looking away from him, the only answer he really needed as he let out a curse.
"Malfoy, I can't... I have to know." She said suddenly and really, he wanted to laugh because of all people to say that of course it would be her. In reality though, he knew exactly how she felt. "I didn't return your owls because I've been trying to work on it myself. In the mean time I've gotten some other cases and I just- I'm swamped."
"I'll help." He said quickly, his mind catching up to his tongue too late as he realized he had just told Hermione Granger that he wanted to help her. The thought made him ill.
"I- okay." She said, surprise coloring her tone as she sat back down in her chair and started pulling out parchment and folders and stacking them up on her desk.
Draco's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the stacks she was collecting for him. Even as he left that night, however, his arms laden with papers and parchments that seemed larger than he was, He realized the thought of working with Granger wasn't as nauseating as he had once thought it would be.
Hermione
-Present-
"I don't understand-"
"Once she comes to we should be able to gauge-"
"Just tell me what it is-"
The voices slowly began to become more clear as Hermione came to, the cacophony only exacerbating the headache that was still plaguing her before they slowly faded out again. She sighed as she shifted, trying to replay the events that had unfolded just before she lost consciousness and sighing when everything just seemed to become even more confusing.
"There, there dear." She turned her head, meeting the kind gaze of the elderly witch who was mixing up a potion beside her bed. "This should take care of that headache I'm sure you're feeling."
Hermione sat up slightly as the witch handed her the goblet and downed the potion in one gulp, welcoming the relief the thick, green liquid provided. "What happened?"
The witch tsked sadly and shook her head as she took the cup back from Hermione's hand. "That's what we're trying to figure out..."
Hermione watched as the witch took her cart and wheeled it out of the room, the voices floating in through the door once more as it opened and then shut again.
Sighing she pushed her blankets back, testing out the potion as she set her feet on the floor and made her way over to the doorway, opening it just a crack as she peered out in to the sterile hallway.
Her heart stopped as she took in the sight of Harry face to face with Draco Malfoy and for a second, her hand moved towards her wand, only to realize it wasn't in her possession. Before she could rectify it however, Harry reached out, clasping Malfoy's shoulder firmly and saying something to make the pale, pointed man nod dejectedly.
Hermione breathed out heavily, moving back to the bed she had woken in and settling herself on the edge as she willed herself to breathe.
Things were backwards. Things weren't right.
What the hell was going on?
And why could she not remember.
"'Mione?" Harry's voice filled the room and before she could even think she was on her feet, her arms wrapped around his familiar shoulders as she breathed in his scent.
"Harry..." She sobbed, hiccuping in to his shoulder as he reassuringly rubbed her back.
"S'okay 'Mione."
"I just... I don't know what's happening to me."
"Shh... Shhh, we'll figure it out."
And as he held her against him, she could only hope that he was right.
"So you don't remember anything?" Harry asked, perched on the side of her bed as she toyed with a loose string on her blanket.
"I just.. I remember being with you and Ron..."
Harry's jaw clenched slightly at her words but she continued on.
"And Fred... Oh Harry... Fred?"
Harry met her eyes, nodding sadly and she buried her face in her hands. "Ginny?"
"She's.. she's fine." He said, a hint of something Hermione couldn't quite place in his voice. "Hermione-"
"What aren't you telling me Harry?"
"The healers said-"
"Damn the healers Harry. I've known you since we were children and you're hiding something from me. What the hell aren't you telling me and where is Ronald?"
Harry sighed, his shoulders sagging before he turned to her, taking her hands in to his and rubbing his thumbs along her knuckles gently.
"Hermione, everything you just said you remember, it happened, it did. But Hermione, it happened years ago."
"But-" She trailed off, her brain warring with her body as she tried to recall something, anything, and failed. "It can't."
"I'm sorry 'Mione." He said, his words soft as he reached out, pulling her in to his side as she sat, shocked.
The minutes passed in silence, her breathing ragged as she fought against whatever it was that was keeping her memories from her. But then, her first time waking up played in her mind and she stiffened.
"Harry... why did I wake up in Draco Malfoy's house?"
"Er..." He edged and she pulled away to give him a glare. "Hermione… he's your husband."
"Ginny." Hermione breathed as the red head woman flurried in to the room, wrapping her arms around her.
"'Mione. I was so worried." She whispered against her friends head as they hugged and Hermione let go of her to pull back, taking in her friend's face first and the rest of her last.
"Oh Ginny... You're..." She reached out, her hand gently touching the swell of her friend's abdomen.
Ginny smiled and rested her own hand on the bump that resided under her jumper. "Third one.."
"Third?" Hermione exclaimed.
"James is four and Albus is almost two..."
"Oh Ginny..." Hermione breathed. "I feel like I've missed so much."
"Harry said.. but I didn't think..." Ginny started, squeezing Hermione's hand as her eyes welled with tears.
"He won't tell me anything Ginny.. I just.. I have no idea what's going on right now. I know I'm in St. Mungo's but I don't... what else is going on? He said.." She swallowed. "He said I'm married to Draco Malfoy. Please Ginny..."
Ginny gave her a small, sad smile and reached out to push a stray curl behind her ear. "You have the most beautiful children Hermione. Leo is almost four and your mini-me. He can already read 'mione. And Lyra is two and a spit fire to put it lightly. She looks like Draco though, but her hair is curly, like yours."
"How did this happen?" she cried, pulling her hands from Ginny's as a knock sounded on the door.
She watched as it opened slowly and Harry walked in. It wasn't Harry that gave her pause however as Malfoy stalked in behind him, letting the door shut too loudly behind them.
"'Mione." Harry nodded and moved to sit beside her bed as Ginny got up to make room for Malfoy.
"No Harry, I still don't remember anything." Hermione said brusquely, cutting off the man before he had even gotten air into his lungs to ask. "And I still don't understand what is going on."
"Neither do we." Malfoy spoke up finally and Hermione felt her heart stutter a bit at the sound of his voice, as though somehow, she should recognize it. "You came home late last night and this morning..."
He gestured around him and Hermione glanced to her friends for confirmation as both nodded.
"We're figuring it out though Hermione, I promise you, we are doing everything we can.." Harry's voice was soft and sure.
"Where's Ron?" The question left her tongue before she had even known it was coming and she saw both men in the room stiffen slightly, but neither offered an explanation. "Ginny?"
"He's at home." The woman offered with a smile and Hermione felt comforted, at least by that, as she relaxed a little in to the pillow behind her and her eyelids began to grow heavy.
Harry promised her, again, that they were working on figuring out what had happened to her lost memories as sleep slowly invaded and as she drifted off, she could have sworn she felt the slightest pressure on her forehead as the smell of sandalwood and rain surrounded her.