The Uneventful Story

By: Snowflake Imp

Rated: NC-17

Chapter 16

Disclaimer: No. I just……no. I own nothing. Long live ME!

When Snape finally made his way to the dining room, leaving a muttering Draco behind, Harry and Hermione were already sitting down. There was a heavy silence in the air. They both turned when they heard him walking toward them on the wooden floor. As he sat down, he noticed Hermione was refusing to look at them, preferring to keep her head lowered. Apparently her clenched hands were fascinating.

The only sound in the whole room was the grand ticking of the old clock.

Tic.

Tic.

Tic.

"That couldn't have been Malfoy, it just couldn't have been!" she finally breathed, breaking the silence. That couldn't have been the same man she was arguing and fighting with before. Sure, he was a twisted soul in general but he was not that man in that cell.

"What he was talking about – he couldn't have really done those things, right? Right?" she looked around desperately for assurance. The two men didn't meet her eye.

"I-I mean, just the other day we were talking and bickering like we always have! He…he said…and then I…we were having tea and biscuits!!" she floundered, her voice cracking. She couldn't stop rambling, "And and and he was talking about buying a new suit and I told him he was a fanciful ponce and…oh my god, he had some crumbs on his chin…!"

The last few words were almost incomprehensible, her voice squeaking to new heights in her hysteria. Conniving madmen, in her opinion, did not go around drinking tea and getting bits of biscuit stuck to their faces. Madmen cackled wildly over nothing and…and…drank blood…and desired scantily clad virgins and the like.

"That IS the true Draco, Ms. Granger, you have to understand that!" Severus finally exploded, slamming his hands on the table and standing up. "His mind is warped but it's because of the Dark Mark!" He sighed and combed his hand through his silken black hair. He turned to Harry. "It seems as though the darkness hasn't fully taken over him yet – we still have a chance. At this point, at least he will have bouts of clarity."

Harry shot up, obviously not pleased with Severus' soft assessment of Malfoy. He rose with such abrupt force his chair tipped back and toppled onto the floor with a loud clack. "Bollocks, Severus! It's pure bollocks! I don't believe in your whole darkness taking over his beautiful, pure soul bullshit. Malfoy's a right bastard who's gone complete mental years ago! He's a selfish, spoiled, detached from reality rich-boy who won't stop for anything until he gets what he wants. It doesn't matter who gets in his way or even if he hurts Hermione in the process – and everything would've been fine if we locked him up like I said!"

"Both you just SHUT UP!" Hermione screamed, wanting to tear out her curly hair. The two men immediately shut their mouths. "I don't understand a word you're talking about and if I'm confused about one more thing out of your mouths God help me, I will pull your eyelids back so far you could use them for knickers!"

Harry opened his mouth, but when she shot him a glare, he closed it again. He and Severus exchanged a glance.

"Sorry, 'Mione, I know this is difficult for you," Harry muttered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Tell you what, it's been a long day. You need some rest. Why don't we call it a night, and I promise we'll tell you everything you want to know tomorrow."

Hermione was about to retort that she wanted answers now but was suddenly assaulted by a wave of dizziness. It was true it was a stressful day and past few days weren't exactly a walk on the beach. A comfy bed with cool sheets was sounding more and more appealing to her.

"Fine," she sighed reluctantly. "But I want everything explained to me first thing tomorrow. I'm talking six in the morning, Harry."

"Anything you want," he promised.

Like hell she was going to wait until tomorrow.

When she was sure they were in their respective rooms fast asleep, she immediately snuck out to see Malfoy. She just couldn't fully believe what she saw through that glass. She had to see for herself, face-to-face, what he was really like. She was scared but she knew she couldn't just sit around, waiting for answers to fall into her lap.

The underground was dimly lit with the glowing lights, giving the cells an eerie blue tint. As Hermione stood in front of his cell, one hand clenched around a cold, iron bar, she wondered idly if she was actually as smart as some hailed her to be. This might have been a mistake.

She was about to turn around and leave – part nerves, part assumption Draco was asleep – when shuffling within his cell alerted her attention.

"Hullo, luv," he drawled from his cot, turning to her. She could barely make him out; his shimmering blond hair was the only indicator of his location.

She swallowed, suddenly having difficulty finding her voice. She miraculously found it after a pause and asked quietly, "Is it true…what they're saying about you?"

"I'm not quite sure what they said exactly, though I can guess Potter's assessment was littered with loving expletives, so I'm afraid I really can't say yea or nay to your question." Much to her exasperation, he spoke with an amused tone.

"Fine, then is it true what you were saying to Severus?" she bit out, gripping the bar tightly.

"More or less I suppose," he said airily. His reply would have been more appropriate for answering a more run-of-the-mill question rather than affirming that the only one that mattered to him was Hermione.

"Well…then what about all those women?" she asked tightly, not believing she was asking such a question.

He didn't say anything for a bit.

"Would you believe they were a distraction?" he offered.

"A-A distraction?!" As a woman, she couldn't help but bristle with sympathy for her sisterhood. "They dedicated their hearts and their lives to you and all you can say is that they were a distraction?"

"Please stop before you continue to spout out more of that romantic drivel. Really, it's not like you," he scoffed.

"I hardly think you're the right person to dictate what's like me or not," she hissed with forced bravado.

Draco heaved a sighed. "You know, you may find it hard to believe, but I did try. They told me to keep my distance and I did, for the most part. I tried to obey their rules but I'm a man, darling. If you weren't going to satisfy me, I needed something to focus my energies on."

It was just too bizarre to think that he wanted her to satisfy him. She really couldn't get past that point. She was at a loss for words.

He clucked his tongue, mistaking her silence for jealousy. Draco walked up to her slowly, grabbing the bars with both hands. He tiled his head sideways, leaning down slightly to meet her horrified gaze.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked with almost child-like guile. His eyes were wide and somewhat mocking, but he was being completely sincere. "If it makes you feel any better, they're all worthless. Not worth a second of my time. Not like you."

He reached out with one hand and lightly caressed her springy hair. "I'd give you anything, Hermione," he whispered.

At that, Hermione broke out of her trance. She instinctually slapped his hand away. "You'd give me nothing," she snarled coldly.

To her surprise, he started to laugh. Not at her, but out of…joy? Through his laughter, he managed to exclaim, "You'd never back down from me, would you!"

She was glorious.

Hermione didn't know what to say to that. So that was it? Was it because she was able to stand up to him that he desired her? Did it give him a high, knowing that she was on equal footing with him and gave him a hard time? Her eyes unconsciously trailed down, only to notice he was getting aroused – his black pants revealed his growing passion from their conversation.

Dear lord, her resistance turned him on. That was why he had always sought her out, relishing their squabbles.

She felt dizzy. It was too much to process and she needed to get out of there. Without another word, she managed to run off but not before collapsing somewhere down the corridor. She curled up into a ball, covering her ears and rocked herself back and forth.

She started to sob out of frustration. Her semi-perfect little world – it used to be so predictable and lackluster. What had become of it?

"I HATE YOU!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face. It was all his fault. He destroyed everything she had tried so hard to create for herself. Too numb to even be appalled, she couldn't do anything even when she heard him unzipping his pants. Her stomached churned as she vaguely heard him pleasuring himself.

"Oh yes…," he hummed in ecstasy.

Where was the normal Draco Malfoy she used to know?

"FUCK YOU!" she continued to scream, her throat raw with emotion. She stifled another sob.

"Yess," he hissed.

"I hate you," she repeated weakly, her voice desperate.

"More…," he whispered, his voice echoing throughout the underground.

"More…"

By the time Hermione managed to drag herself out of bed and head downstairs, Severus and Harry were already huffing and puffing from arguing. They must have been at it for at least an hour prior.

"Jesus Hermione, did you sleep okay?" Harry asked abruptly, turning around to look at her. She looked a wreck. If one could ignore her out of control hair, the bags underneath her eyes would immediately indicate her lack of sleep.

"Eh…," she mumbled. Rather than elaborate, she chose to sit down. The two men followed in suit and sat down in front of her at the table.

"Now, Miss Granger, your memory was temporary Obliviated for a number of reasons," Snape began without preamble. "I suspect the main reason is because Draco suffers from the curse of the Black Stream. I presume you're familiar with that?"

Automatically her encyclopedic skills kicked in. "When a person is either branded with a magical insignia or dons an enchanted object of darkness, under certain circumstances and um, duress, I suppose, the person could potentially convert into a dark being themselves. The dark mark or object would act as a catalyst to a person's dark intentions, slipping into a person's soul like a…black…..oh…," she trailed off.

"And that is exactly what I believe Draco is afflicted with. When he was fighting the War with us, he suffered countless hardships. His dark mark must have begun seeping into his conscious, distorting his most primitive desires and surfacing them."

Hermione took a minute to soak it all in. It all sounded logical and would explain a lot of about why Draco was acting completely insane.

No.

Wait.

That didn't explain anything at all!

"So what does this all have to do with me? If what you're saying is true, then wouldn't we just have a madman on our hands, you know, running around, zapping elderly people and possibly banning festive holidays? That sort of thing?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Harry coughed to hide a chuckle. Severus shot him a glare.

"Highly unlikely," he drawled. "I believe you and Draco were in a relationship during the War. Before you say anything denying that, may I remind you your memories were altered?"

She sputtered but managed to hold back her cries of disbelief.

"Apparently you became his focus during his struggle," Severus continued. "You have to understand, the things that he did…it wasn't really him. It was many factors. He did horrible things to you, I admit this. But if Draco wasn't suffering from the black stream, I know he would not have done what he did."

Harry had enough of his sugarcoating. "Please, spare me," he sneered. His tone softened as he looked back to Hermione. "He locked you up and abused you, 'Mione. He took advantage of you against your will and even drugged you to keep you by his side. He was obsessed with you! Do you see why we had no choice but to separate you two?"

Dry mouthed, Hermione barely nodded.

"We had…opposing ideas on how to solve this problem, but we ended up with a fairly decent compromise. We would Obliviate the both of you and during the time you two lived normal lives, I would try my best to find a cure. Thus far all I could offer him was a potion that would keep the dark stream at bay. I am very close to finding a cure, Miss Granger. We only need to wait just a little longer and I assure you, we can save Draco," Snape announced.

"I personally think we should just lock him away and wipe him out of your mind," Harry muttered. "It would be the best option. You don't need a beast like him, 'Mione. He's not even worth a memory."

Hermione barely heard him. Her mind was buzzing, thinking back to when he offered her a venue for her birthday. What did say? He wanted some of her minions to help create a pill that…changed a person's demeanor?

Her eyes shot open. No doubt at that time he was already reverting back, and yet, wasn't his request a testament to his struggle? That he was trying to resist the curse? If he really was the horrible monster Harry was making him out to be, wouldn't he have easily succumbed to his dark desires and had his way with her? Instead, it seemed as though he was genuinely trying to find a way out, even though he slipped along the way from time to time.

She made her decision.

"I want to remember," she said clearly, her back straightening.

The two men looked at her as if they were about to argue but she wouldn't back down. It was one thing to hear everything from other accounts, but the only way for her to fully understand the situation was to remember everything. It was the only fair to Draco after all. She didn't want to judge him on dicey information.

"I had a feeling you'd say that," Harry sighed, frustrated but not at all surprised.

"Well, if you were really my friend, you'd help me unlock my memories and support me in this," she said firmly.

Harry shook his head. "It's not that simple."

"I have to agree with Potter, I'm afraid," Severus said. "It would be unsafe to reverse the memory charm, if what you're seeking is a better understanding of Draco. You would most likely lose your impartiality on the matter as the emotions that grappled you in the past would come to surface."

"In other words," Harry interrupted, "Malfoy brainwashed you and controlled your every thought. There'd be no question whose side you'd be on."

Hermione frowned, her heart pounding. What exactly happened to her? Did she really want to remember? She squared her shoulders. No, she did. "So what do you suggest?" she asked.

"We've discussed it and the best course of action would be to use the Pensive. You would see your memories but as you are now, so you could witness everything with fresh eyes," Severus explained. "I suggest if you wish for a true objective version, we combine all three of our memories."

While Harry looked vexed, Hermione nevertheless nodded. "I understand. Is there anything else?"

Suddenly Harry shifted uncomfortably. "Since you don't remember, I should warn you most of what you're going to see is after we recovered you from your first mission," he said. "You were captured but worked undercover in enemy territory. It all went downhill after we rescued you."

Hermione wondered how he could say so much while revealing so little. She narrowed her eyes but she decided this was an argument she could have with him later.

She was finally going to find out everything.

Hermione took a deep breath.

Whew! So…what did you think? I'm dying for feedback, good or bad. Lay it on me, I'm here to learn! Please stop by my livejournal in case you have any questions (I may be able to answer a few there) or just because! Lurkers are welcomed, obviously!

So the next few chapters or so will be a flashback (which I personally love). Also, these chapters will be smut heavy. Muahahaha!

Anyway, that's about it, dunno when I'll find inspiration to do the next fic but reviews always gets my motor running. Till next time, my hearts!