Chapter 14

Ron arranged for Draco to Apparate directly to 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry was expecting him, but was still perplexed by his visit. Nervously, Draco explained Hermione's breakdown in the bathroom. "I don't know how to help her," he concluded.

"You're not worried about the kids' safety, are you?" Harry wondered.

The blond shook his head. "She'd give her life for our children," he replied. "I'm not worried she'll hurt them. I'm scared that she thinks she's going crazy."

Harry beckoned him to follow to the kitchen, where he poured two tumblers of firewhiskey. "Tell me what I can do to help," he said, sipping the drink slowly. When Draco said nothing, Harry knew he really had no idea how to help her. "I, um, I know she doesn't want to come back here, but maybe there's a wizarding hospital near you? St. Mungo's had counselors on staff after the war. I still go. She's repressed these memories for five years. Talking to someone who isn't one of us might be what she needs."

Draco nodded solemnly. "So, no potion or spell or charm that would work?" he asked.

"Sure, you could Obliviate her," came Harry's sarcastic reply.

But Draco saw no humor in his retort. "I won't let her do that again," he decided. "We both know she's never been the type to take the coward's way out, and erasing her memories a second time would be doing just that."

There was no disagreeing with that. "She's not alone now, is she?" Harry wondered. Draco denied it, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Look, um, I know the two of you don't want any contact with our world, but it might not hurt to have a few friends around who've been through the same things you have. You and I aren't each other's favorite people, but you know I'll do whatever I can for the both of you."

"Thank you, Harry," Draco replied, offering a grateful smile. He stood, ready to leave, but thought better of it. "I know you're not happy that we're together, but I appreciate your help."

Harry shrugged as Draco began to walk towards the door. "She's been my best friend since we were kids. I'd do anything for her," he replied. "And if that means accepting this marriage, that's what I'll do."

"I didn't think we needed your approval," Draco remarked, now standing on the porch, "but thanks."

Harry chuckled. For all the trouble he had given the Malfoy family, it was nice to be able to joke with the boy he had once regarded as the enemy. "Would you mind if I came back with you?" he asked.

Gray eyes widened in surprise, but Draco consented. Harry took hold of his arm, ready to Apparate before he was stopped. "Wait, you're not planning on taking me to the Ministry to arrest me for war crimes, are you?" he asked.

"I swear I'm not," Harry assured him. "I told you - the arrest warrant is gone."

Though wary of his intentions, Draco Apparated home with Harry. Ron was seated on the floor with Clara and two dolls between them, while Mrs. Bradbury fed Liam. Clara was the first to look up as the pair arrived in the living room. Gray eyes widened with wonder as the little girl proclaimed their appearance the coolest thing she had ever seen.

"Cooler than Ron making your dolls move on their own?" Draco wondered. "Where's Mummy?"

"Resting," Charlotte told him. "She asked for some Dreamless Sleep. Another rough night?"

Draco frowned as he nodded. "She sat in that blasted rocking chair all night with Liam in her arms," he said to anyone who would listen. "She keeps seeing that night at my parents' house."

"Reckon it's a side effect of the curse?" Ron asked. Draco shook his head, and asked his daughter to leave the room. "What about that blade Bellatrix used? It was cursed, right?"

"I healed the wound," Draco told them. "Besides, if it had anything to do with what's going on now, then it would have also been bothering her the last five years."

Harry considered this for a moment. "What if it was bothering her?" he wondered. "It might have just been bad dreams, but she could have been seeing this stuff all along. Maybe she just didn't know what it was until now."

Charlotte was the first to alert them to Hermione's appearance. Clearing her throat, the men knew to cease their conversation. Draco left the gathering to greet her, but her icy demeanor let him know he was in trouble. "What's going on here?" she inquired, arms crossed over her chest.

"I'm just here to play with the kid," Ron said, holding up his hands.

"I live here," Draco added.

All eyes fell on Harry. "I was hoping we could talk," he said. "Like we used to."

There was something in the way he looked at her, like the old Harry had. Sympathy and love radiated in green eyes. Hermione found herself nodding, and led him to the deck just off the kitchen. The air had begun to grow chilly, but a well placed and well concealed warming charm did the trick.

"Draco's told you, hasn't he?" Hermione mumbled after several tense seconds passed. Harry merely looked down at the table instead of answering. "Just how worried is he?"

Harry looked up. "Really worried," he told her. "I thought maybe if you had someone else to talk to, it could help."

Hermione laughed mirthlessly as she stared at the trees in her yard. "What's there to say?" she wondered. "I put off dealing with my feelings for five years, and now they've caught up to me. Just...tell me it gets easier. Even if you have to lie, just tell me this gets better."

"It does," he assured her, reaching across the table to hold her hand. "I know how strong you are, Hermione, but I also know how frustrating it is to be told you always have to be strong. You want to cry, do it. You want to scream, scream. Want to break plates? Call me up, and I'll help. Sirius's mother has boxes of fine china in the attic. Sure, half of them are gone because I smashed them, but there are quite a lot left."

Hermione laughed, and for the first time in a long time, it was a genuine laugh. "I don't know how that helps, but it sounds fun," she remarked. "I wouldn't mind getting into Malfoy Manor to destroy a few things."

"I'm sure Draco could arrange that," Harry added. "I'll bet he'd like to break a few things there too."

She chuckled softly as she squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry, Harry," she murmured. "My parents were dead, and I thought I had no one left in the world. Running away with Draco...I really do love him, Harry. It was cowardly though. I'm sorry I worried you."

"You don't have to apologize," he replied. "If I'd thought of your plan, I would have done it too. Everything we did and saw, the bad seemed to outweigh the good. What I wouldn't give to forget it."

She bit her bottom lip nervously. "What if we could?"