authorsnote: ngl I actually felt a little emotional writing this chapter

the story continues...

songrecs: dont fear the reaper - denmark & winter

She was not in truth convinced Malfoy could be polite.

By God, she was shocked when she was proven wrong.

She hadn't felt the need to threaten him again as they'd apparated from the station straight to her parent's sleepy home in Surrey, it was no Malfoy Mansion but a nice 3 bed detached property, down the road from their dental practice, and she hated how she felt like her back was up as she landed on their doorstep, dropping Malfoys hand the second they landed.

This was already difficult enough, what she'd have to do here, she hardly wanted Malfoy along for it.

And yet, they didn't have a choice, she trusted Harry more than anyone, and he trusted Dumbledore, and so here she was, Malfoy stood next to her as she opened the front door, tucking her keys away, stepping over the threshold.

"Be polite or I'll kill you" Succinct, to the point, all she had time for as her Mom and Dad hurried into view at the sound of the door going, and quite quickly yanked her into a hug.

"Darling!" Her Mom said, always delighted to have her only child home, Hermione's heart swelled with love as her Dad pulled her into his arms the second her Mom relinquished her, she was going to miss this.

She tried not to dwell on that, sure her paper-thin resolve on this plan would crack if she allowed herself to think on what she'd be losing. She knew it was the right decision, the only decision really, the only way to keep them safe, but it still broke her heart to have to do it.

It was why she hadn't told Harry and Ron, not yet, they wouldn't have been able to talk her out of it, coming not the conclusion like her that this was the only option, but she didn't want their guilt, not when she had to do this.

Not when it was her heart breaking.

And worse, she now had Malfoy to bear witness to it all, she was sure she'd pissed off some deity in another life, for whatever God existed to be punishing her like this.

But there was no other choice.

"Hermione who is this?" Her Mom interrupted her thoughts as she stepped back, facing opposite her parents as Malfoy stepped in through the doorway, taller than all of them, even her Dad by an inch, she'd never noticed that before, how tall he was, how imposing, it made her shudder, she was just thankful that he no doubt knew she'd stand by her threat.

And would if he dared insult her parents before she did what she'd have to do to them. She would not stand for it.

"Draco Malfoy" He said, and her eyes widened, blinking rapidly at how he slipped on a charming smile, held a hand out to shake even, sleeve rolled down so to cover the dark mark she knew lay on the wrist he of the hand he offered to her Mom, resisted the urge to step in and stop her taking it, and instead watched as Draco Malfoy, muggle-hater shook her Mom and then her Dads hand in turn, all with an easy smile on his face, polite.

Perhaps Narcissa and Lucius had beat such good manners into him that even now, faced with those he despised they fell into place.

She almost hated it as much as she would any rudeness as he complimented her Mom on her home, and explained he was a friend of Hermione's from school.

"Are you in the same house as Hermione then?" Her Mom asked as she ushered them inside, fetching lemonade and indicating to the sofa for them as her Dad took the armchair, Hermione went to protest but could say nothing as Malfoy took a seat, seeming at ease in a muggle home.

She wondered how torturous this was for him, how much his skin was crawling, that brought her no satisfaction, only simmered her rage.

"No" Malfoy said as he took a seat and she reluctantly slid in next to him, shooting him a hidden glare as she did so, he only smiled, and she felt her anger sharpen, what was he up to? Mocking her? The last thing she needed today, "I'm in Slytherin house"

"Isn't that the one you said was all snakes darling?" Her Mom asked as she set a tray of fresh unsweetened lemonade down on the table, Malfoy took one without hesitation as her Mom sat in the other armchair, a pleased smile on her expression as she looked across at them.

Hermione didn't even want to think on why her Mom was smiling that way, not if she wanted to keep her lemonade down.

"Yes" She said with a nod, her cheeks a little pale as she took a sip, "Known for their cunning and ambition" She said, leaving out the worse parts, tried to ignore Malfoys smirking face next to her, that she didn't even have to glance at to know was there.

"Sounds like it could have bene your other house sweetheart!" Her Dad said with a jovial laugh, and she forced one, Malfoys sounded sincere, and she perhaps had never disliked him more.

"Well, I just need to gather some bits Mom, and then I'm over to the Weasleys for dinner" She said, jumping to her feet and tugging Draco up beside her, he went easily, placing down his lemonade.

"Oh that's a shame darling, will you be home tomorrow?" Her Mom asked, and even though it was an innocuous question, Hermione felt her eyes water, but she forced a smile.

"Of course, just this one dinner and then you'll have me all summer" She said, knotting her hands together to stop them from trembling.

"Oh good" Her Dad said, "We've got plans for a little jaunt down to Cornwall in August, perhaps Harry and Ron can come along? You too son if you're free"

"Would love to" Malfoy interjected before she could speak and she resisted the very real urge to stomp on his foot, but instead just offered him a tight smile before forcing herself to take his hand to drag him upstairs, leaving behind her parents who began to discuss dinner.

Another pang in her stomach; a dinner she would never attend.

"I don't know why your mad" Malfoy drawled as she tugged him into her childhood bedroom, refusing to be embarrassed that it was probably a quarter of the size of Malfoys, she liked her room and felt another pang; she wouldn't be back here for a while, possibly ever. "I was perfectly nice"

"I could hear the mocking in your tone" She sneered as she hurried to her wardrobe, her trunk had gone on to the Burrow which she'd sort through there, she had her beaded bag ready to go and quickly grabbed her hold all bag that held everything else she'd need; more muggle clothes, books, and a couple of keepsakes.

The rest would have to be left behind.

"Imagining things Granger" He carried on in that stupid sarcastic drawl that had to be practised, no one sounded that uppercrust naturally, so her glare continued, "I was impeccably polite, my parents wouldn't stand for anything less"

"Your parents wouldn't even shake my parents hand" She sneered back, turning around to him, bag in hand, eyes ablaze, "I know what you think of this, of the muggle house, of my parents, so don't mock me by making fun of it" She said, her cheeks turning red now, not pink red, steam practically coming out of her ears, "They are good people, kind people, which is more than I can say for yours"

"Watch it Granger" He threw back immediately, some venom in his tone, she noticed he looked a little taken aback, but he smothered it immediately, Malfoy never showed any true emotion for any real period of time, she'd learnt that much about him from school at least.

"Well then stop it" She said, perhaps she was being foolish, Malfoy had been as he'd said; impeccably polite, but she knew he didn't mean it, and to her that was somehow worse than if he were openly disdainful, like he was making fun of her family behind her back; the thought made her blood boil.

"I was not mocking your parents Granger" He said with a roll of his eyes, any hint of being startled by her anger gone as though just wiped away, "You know me at least a little bit, you know I'd just be outright mean if I wanted to hurt them or you" He said with a shrug, as though that just made sense, and she hated that it did … a little.

"Fine" Was all she could muster as she grabbed her favourite jacket from the back of the door, scooped up her hold-all, took one last look around her room and nodded, this was it.

Potentially for good.

"Should I be nasty to them when we go back down?" There was a sneer in his tone now, and her back went right back up, "Don't want you to think I'm being cruel without seeing it"

"Shut up Malfoy" She said, cheeks blazing again, "You have no idea"

"No idea of what Granger?" She knew what he was doing; needling her, knew how he enjoyed it, knew she hated it. He was such a prick, and gods she would never question Harry, not on the big things, but damn right she felt like questioning Dumbledore in this moment.

"You have no idea what I'm about to do!" She said, throwing up a quick silencing charm, her hands shaking as she did so.

"Ooh is that a threat?" He said, and she near did level her wand at him, and yet when she spoke it wasn't with anger, it was with almost a deflation of her shoulders, and defeat in her voice.

"Not to you, you idiot" She said, "To them" Her voice cracked at the end then, and a tear slipped down her cheek against her will, which she quickly scrubbed away furiously, hoping Malfoy didn't see it, knowing he did.

"You didn't just come here for your stuff" He said, and she wasn't surprised he worked it out quickly, always second to her in class, near just as smart, lazier, more entitled, but the brains were there, she'd have had to explain it to anyone else, but she just nodded to him here.

He didn't sound kind when he spoke, but the venom in his tone was gone, and that was enough.

"Sending them away?" He asked, eyebrow raised, "It's a smart idea, if he can find them, he'll come for them" They both knew to who they referred, and she watched as Malfoy paled, willing no more tears to come.

Willing and failing as another slipped down her cheek.

"I have to do more than that" She said, scrubbing the tears away again, shaking her head, "I can't risk he'll find them, and they won't go without me … not unless…" She paused, she couldn't say it out loud.

"Fuck Granger" He said then, surprise colouring his voice, she near laughed at that; something so severe Draco Malfoy was surprised and showing it; did she win a medal?

No, there were no winners here.

"I know" She said, "So please don't be a prick, this is hard enough"

He nodded, and Hermione was infinitely thankful he didn't try to talk her out of it, thankful he wasn't questioning her decision, and it was that, that had her ask. "Do you think I'm making the right decision?"

"You say they won't go without you?" He asked, no emotion colouring his tone, she nodded. "Then yes, you are"

"Really?" Her voice cracked again, and she gripped her wand so hard her fingers hurt, she would not break down, could not, not until after at least.

Malfoy didn't offer her any kind of comfort, a hug like Harry would have, or some kind words like Ron, instead he just nodded.

"Gryffindor bravery" He said with a shake of his head, "Only you could do this"

She didn't know if he was trying to insult her, and yet somehow it made her feel better, and she nodded.

She could do this.

She had to.

"Right" She said, wiping at her cheeks again, taking a breath, it was time.

"Wait" She paused as Malfoy stopped her near the door, "Do you know how to do it?"

"The charm?" She asked, a little affronted, she nodded, "I've been practising for months"

"Have you ever performed it on anyone?" He asked, voice a little strained now, where was he going with this?

"Well no" She said, for she hadn't, but had spent months practising the charm, reading the theory, doing the wand flicks, she knew it inside and out. "But I know how to do it"

"And you'll risk that?" He asked, eyebrow raised, his face pale as always, eyes flat, void of emotion, except for something she couldn't identify stirring in the centre, "Risk them being your first subjects?"

"Don't call them that" She said, the clinical term making her shiver, "But yes, what other choice do I have?"

"Me"

"Are you mad?"

She wasn't sure how long she paused for, eyes wide, completely thrown by what Malfoy had said, certainly not expecting him to volunteer, certainly not wanting him to.

"I've actually performed the charm Granger" He said, all snob again, palming his wand, nose in the air now as per usual, "Several times, to success"

"I can't trust you with my parents" She said, for she couldn't, trust Malfoy to point his wand at muggles? What did he take her for?

"We are on the same side now Granger" He drawled, "And I'm well aware that if I dared do anything to your parents you'd eviscerate me, or at the least leave me for him to do so" He raised an eyebrow then, and she glared back.

"Why do you care?" She asked then, why on earth was he volunteering for this? This was nothing to do with their wider mission really, what did he care if her parents lived or died? Surely, he'd be happy to have two less muggles on the planet? Why was he offering this? Seemingly sincerely?

"I obviously don't" He sneered, "But this is important to ensure you're not distracted, which is important so we all live" He said, rolling his eyes, "So, as the only one here with practical experience, let me do this, save you the burden at least, you can check I did it right and then we'll be on our way"

"Just like that?" She asked, her tone dropping, all anger and surprise gone, only replaced by a sadness that settled in her bones, that either way this was happening.

She'd had a long time to accept this, to understand this had to be the way of things, but it didn't hurt any less.

And … maybe it would be easier if she didn't have to do it, if she didn't have to wield the wand to erase her parents' memories, perhaps it would be nicer, perhaps she wouldn't drown fully in the guilt already threatening to choke her.

"Swear you'll do it right?" She asked, turning to look at him properly, eye to eye, her brown to his grey, hers wide, his without a hint of emotion, but something flickering. She grabbed his hands then, not caring that he flinched, not caring that he would probably try to shake her off (though he didn't), "Swear"

He didn't hesitate.

"I swear Hermione"

And with that she nodded, followed him down the stairs, and tried to hold back tears, as the pictures of her were erased, as her parents shifted as though something had changed in them, as every aspect of her, Hermione Granger, their daughter was gone at the end of Draco Malfoys wand.

A follow up spell showed he'd done it, perfectly, and just as he'd said.

And then when they walked away from her little family home in Surrey, her parents bound for Australia the next day, he didn't offer her any comfort or kindness, didn't put his arm around her or take her hand, no kind words, or sweet offerings, he didn't need to.

This was the kindest Draco Malfoy had ever been to perhaps anyone, and his actions spoke louder than anything else.

don't even ask me where dracos headspace is rn, I dont even think he knows

did you enjoy? this was quite emotional to write and one of the first scenes I thought up when this idea came to me

do review