Never Let this Go

Chapter Two

Brink of Disaster

I, I always could count on futures

that things would look up, and they look up

Why is it so hard to find balance?

Between living decent and the cold and real

Hey now, what is it you think you see?

My darling, now's the time to disagree

When Hermione landed in Melbourne, Australia, she almost couldn't believe that this was winter time for them. It was a breezy 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit, basically what she had left only a morning before. She had left London at 8 a.m. and was now standing (marveling) in Australia at 7 p.m. the next day. It felt strange being in another country as well as another time zone completely that was so far away from her friends.

She exited the plane and headed straight to baggage claim. Australia felt like a different place completely, well it was, but it felt so new to her. She could see why her parents had thought it to be so interesting. She could see why they would want a house here. And they got their wish.

Standing downstairs watching the baggage carousel for her small black suitcase, Hermione couldn't help but feel nervous, yet excited. She was going to see her parents! The parents she had been so determined to save from any harm during the Second Wizarding War. And she had. They had been safe in a place they longed to be.

She had to compliment herself on her own handiwork. She had managed to keep them alive and without remembering anything about her in the process. Hermione knew their lack of memories about her was necessary, but nonetheless it still hurt. But it would all be rectified soon enough. She hoped so anyway.

Hermione spotted her black suitcase and made a grab for it. She pushed the button that elongated the strap that she could make it easier for herself to pull behind her. She walked to the escalator and patiently let it take her up to the main floor once again. Hermione went to exchange her Pounds for Australian currency. She then walked out of the automated doors and out into the setting Australian sun. It truly was breathtaking even if she had seen a setting sun hundreds or thousands of times in her life, but there was something about the one she was seeing now. Maybe because she was so close to finding her parents that it almost seemed a tad more special than any other sunset she's seen before.

Hermione saw several taxis sitting outside of the Melbourne International Airport. Hermione had called and made arrangements ahead of time to the hotel she was staying at. The Holiday Inn was only four minutes away from the airport. It was quite convenient for when she was going to leave, but with her parents. She was giddy with excitement at the prospect.

When she arrived at her hotel—which took only two minutes with the way the cab driver drove—she couldn't help but marvel at the geniality of it. Muggle London was nice, but she was starting to really warm up to Australia. She paid the driver and headed inside the hotel. It was even better on the inside. She thought she looked very tourist-like as she gawked and looked around the hotel. It was very clean and modern styled. She walked up to the desk and a kindly-looking young woman around her age smiled at her.

"Hello Miss. Do you have a reservation?" Monica, as Hermione read her name tag, said. Hermione automatically liked the girl. Possibly because she was so nice and her mother's current fake name is Monica.

"Yes, I do. My name's Hermione Granger."

Monica started typing away on her computer for a few moments.

"Here we are. One single bed with a balcony that faces the city, right?"

Hermione nodded her head once.

"And you'll be staying for how many days, miss?"

"I don't quite know yet. I can pay for a week and if I need to stay longer can I pay you when the week's up?"

"Of course. Let me place this information in the system. That'll be $230," she said with a cheery smile.

Hermione grabbed her wallet from her purse and handed over the money to Monica.

"Will you need one key or two?"

"One."

Monica nodded and handed over one plastic key. "Do you help with your luggage?"

"No. I only have one little bag," Hermione said with a smile.

"All right. Your room number is 605. Have a great stay," Monica told her.

Hermione couldn't speak. 605. 605! How very ironic her life had become. He seemed to rear his ugly head when she didn't want to think about him. She gave Monica her best attempt at a smile and headed for the elevators.

She headed to her room and was surprised by the vastness of it even if it just held a single bed and a bathroom. She plopped down on the bed and decided to order room service and stay in. She was going to read over the books she brought with her on the trip to read over what she needed to do to wipe the false memories from her parents' minds and get them back. She'll go searching for them bright and early in the morning.

~-O-~

Hermione remembered the next morning that she promised the Weasleys that she would write them when she got to Australia. She completely forgot. Before she went to go search for her parents she would stop into the wizard part of Australia and send them a quick owl.

Wizarding Australia was extremely different from Diagon Alley and Wizarding France. It was like its own sub-country. Hermione wanted to check it out more, but she was on a mission. She would have time to come back and look around. She was glad it was only a short walk from her hotel. How convenient.

Hermione found the Owl Post easily enough. The old woman that ran the shop smiled at her. Hermione picked one of the fastest owls and wrote a quite letter ("I've made it. I'm sorry I didn't write early! I was completely knackered. I'm going to find them today. I'll write you all when I know more. Love you all and hope you're doing well! –Hermione") and sent the owl off. Hermione walked to the counter and paid for using the owl and left. She gave Wizarding Australia one last look before she went back through the barrier and back to the Muggle world.

Hermione needed a computer first. She had asked the person at the desk, who was not Monica, if there was a café around. James, she read his nametag finally, suggested to go to Lux Bites. It was about a half hour away from the hotel, but their macaroons were delicious. Hermione thanked him and asked if he could call her a cab.

While she waited for her cab to arrive she used the computer located on the first floor to search for any and all Monica and Wendell Wilkins. She wasn't surprised that it wasn't a common name. There were only two matches. She printed off the paper and headed out of the hotel into a slight overcast sky, but it was still warm. A silver Ford Falcon was sitting outside the hotel waiting on her. She got in the backseat and told the driver she was heading to Lux Bites.

The whole time she looked over the two names. One of the two could be her parents. It was almost unreal that she would get to see them again. When she arrived at the café, she paid the driver and headed inside. The café was extremely nice when Hermione walked in. It had a skylight with a chandler hanging from the ceiling. It was white and clean looking. As she made her way to the counter, her eyes immediately caught the different colors of the macaroons. She couldn't help but stare at them. They all looked delicious.

Hermione was greeted by someone behind the counter.

"Hello, how may I help you?"

"Everything looks so delicious. What do you suggest?"

"Heilala Vanilla Creme Brulee macaroon is my favorite by far."

"I'll have that then and the Belgian Mint Tea."

He grabbed her macaroon and made her tea. Hermione paid for her breakfast and sat down at one of the two-person tables. The macaroons were completely delicious. She would have to thank James once again for telling her about this place. As she drank her tea, she looked over the list. The closest M. Wilkins was only four minutes from her current location. She could easily walk there.

Hermione felt the same nervousness with a mix of giddiness wash over her as she left the café. She knew she mustn't get her hopes up for the mere fact that this person may not be her mother, but she couldn't help it. St. Kilda Road was very nice. People were roaming around and heading in and out of the shops. Hermione took everything in with wide eyes. When she reached the correct address, she noticed it was an apartment building.

When her parents were talking about moving to Australia, they talked about moving into a house. So she didn't feel that this was a place where her parents would live, but she had to make sure before she tried the only other possible match. Hermione took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. She raised her right arm to knock when the door opened before she could.

A tall man with curly brown hair looked as shocked as Hermione felt.

"Hello," he said a bit unsure.

"Erm, hi," Hermione said feeling awkward. She could feel her cheeks flame.

"May I help you?" He asked politely as he closed the door behind him.

"Oh, um, no. I got the wrong address. I was looking for the other Wilkins. I'm sorry to have bothered you," Hermione said giving him an apologetic smile.

"It's all right. It happens all the time. I've actually met them. They're quite a nice couple. They only live a few streets away actually. Do you want me to drop you off there? I was heading that way anyway."

Hermione looked at the man. He had to be at least ten years older than she was, but he seemed kind enough and it was only a few minutes ride. And he had said couple, meaning this could really be them. Hermione accepted and they headed down to the parking garage and got in his car.

"I'm Malcolm by the way and you are?"

Hermione felt silly for not introducing herself to a complete stranger that she was going to question just a moment ago. "I'm Hermione."

"You're English! On vacation?"

"Mhmm. I came to visit some relatives."

Malcolm stopped at the dead end of Tivoli Place and Hermione got out of the car. "Thank you," she told him politely.

"Of course. I hope you have a great time here."

Hermione gave him a smile and he turned around in someone's driveway and drove back down the street. Hermione took out the paper that had the addresses on them and looked for the house that her parents owned.

She found it right away. It was white, one-story with a short stone fence around it. Her parents were never one for lavish things. They liked to keep things simple and that's where Hermione had got her love for simplicity from. She walked up the short driveway and up the steps to the front door. She did the same breathing exercise that she did at Malcolm Wilkins' apartment. She held up her hand to knock and hesitated. She didn't know what to expect from them and it was quite frightening.

Before she could talk herself out of going through with her plan, she knocked three times loudly and rapidly. She waited with bated breath. When she thought that no one was home, the door opened. Hermione's heart leapt to her throat. A woman that looked very much like her mother was standing in the doorway peering at her.

It took all of Hermione's will not to rush over to the woman and give her a Molly Weasley hug. So she stood there stock still and at a loss for words (for once). Monica Wilkins stared at the girl on her porch for a moment.

"Hello, how may I help you?"

"H-hi. I'm Hermione Granger and I-I'm a distant cousin of yours. And I've been globetrotting trying to find some of my family. I'm sure you probably haven't heard of me before and I'm a complete stranger to you, but I was wondering if we could talk." Hermione had rehearsed this little speech over and over again before she went to bed and as she got ready that morning.

Her mother, with her familiar green eyes and wavy dark brown hair was almost enough to make her cry, looked her over for a few moments before she spoke. "What side of the family are you from?"

"From Wendell's side. I'm his uncle's daughter's cousin's daughter," Hermione said the mouthful in a rush. She wasn't really lying. Her father's uncle's daughter's cousin did have a daughter, but they didn't really know their real family so it didn't hurt them at all.

"I think I have heard of you. Come in," Monica smiled at her.

Hermione felt relieved and headed inside. Now to gain their trust.

The trial came faster than Draco anticipated. He only got to experience two extremely short weeks of freedom before the Ministry owl came and left a bitter taste in Draco's mouth. His father was his usual self, strong and indifferent. Draco knew differently.

The night before the trial he was roaming around the Manor at night—a new pastime of his now that he couldn't sleep for more than four hours at a time—when he heard his father muttering to himself. Loud noises came from inside his study. Draco knew that he was upset about going to court, but he knew that was coming. It was no surprise. Draco pressed his ear against the heavy wooden door and listened. His father was cursing and throwing things. He knew that he was father had been drinking. He only got extremely violent when he was drunk. Draco listened at the door until it got quiet. That's when he heard his father's anguished sobs.

He had never seen nor heard his father cry, ever. Draco was almost certain the man didn't have any until that night. It was hard to hear his father cry. The man he had idolized for years was more broken than one man should be. Yes, he had done despicable things over the course of his lifetime that Draco was sure would come out in court very soon. In one day Draco was sure his father would be sentenced to some jail time. And everything would fall on his shoulders.

Again, he would never get any peace then. He walked away from the door and continued his trek back to his room. He had had enough wandering for the night. He laid back in his bed and looked up at the high vaulted ceilings.

He had to mentally prepare himself in a day to get ready for this trial. One day and then his life will be in utter shit once again. Draco rolled to his side and closed his eyes. He knew that he wouldn't get much or any sleep, but he'd let his mind wander just this once. Let himself think of her for awhile, just to relax him until he was thrown feet first into everything.

His mind wandered to their sixth year. She knew that he was hiding something from her and he knew that she was hiding something from him. They had an unspoken promise not to talk about either topic, but Draco had a bad feeling about whatever she was going to do. He had to comfort her about it.

They were sitting in the astronomy tower together late at night. They shared a comfortable silence together, but he soon broke it.

"What is it that you have to do?" He asked abruptly.

"You know that I can't tell you, Draco."

"I just feel that something's going to happen and—"

"You and I both agreed not to say anything about what either of us has to do. And I would like to—"

"—that something's going to happen to you and I don't like that, Granger. I really—"

"—keep it that way. I haven't asked you what you have to do and I'd appreciate the same right to privacy."

"—don't like it."

They were both breathing quickly when they stopped talking over the other. They caught their breath and continued to stare at one another.

"Draco, I know what I have to do is dangerous and I can't promise you that I'll be safe, but I can at least promise you that I'll try my hardest to…survive."

He thought her wording was very well thought out. She apparently had been thinking about this for a while now. The thought of something happening to her made his insides squirm. Part of him knew what she was going to do and he really didn't like it, but there was nothing he could do about it. And the other part of him knew that once he went through with his mission, she'd want nothing to do with him and it made his insides squirm even more.

"Let's run off," he blurted out.

Her brow furrowed as she looked at him. "I couldn't do that."

"I know, but…I just—I just don't want the war to happen. And we're on opposite sides…"

"We are publically, but you don't want to fight for Voldermort. I know you don't. If you did, you wouldn't be sitting here with me."

He knew what she said was true. He wanted nothing to do with this mission or Voldermort, but he had no choice. And she would hate him.

"I love you, Hermione," Draco said quietly. He didn't look at her. He was afraid to see her reaction. He had been thinking about the phrase for weeks now and it seemed like the right time to finally say it before everything became messy. The three word phrase boggled his mind. Their relationship was never supposed to be like this, but somehow she snuck up on him.

"Do you really?" She asked just as quietly as he stated his confession.

"I do." There was no going back now.

She shifted closer to him and lifted his chin with two fingers. Her eyes were swimming in tears. "I've wanted to tell you for weeks, but I didn't want to scare you away. I love you," she whispered.

Draco's lips crashed into hers. They instantly melded together. Draco wished in that moment that this could be their forever, but reality sunk in.

Draco was being shaken awake. He peeled an eye open and saw his mother standing over him. He must have fallen asleep after all.

"Time to get up. I laid your best robes out and breakfast will be ready when you get downstairs."

Draco nodded and looked at his mother; her blue eyes were a bit red. He didn't know if it was from crying, lack of sleep, or both. He could only imagine what she was going through right now. Draco stood up and wrapped his arms around his mother. She wrapped hers around his waist. They stayed that way for a moment until she pushed back and gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She left him to get ready for the morning.

He came down in his fitted black robes and sat down at the table. His mother was looking at his father; she hadn't touched her food at all. His father was eating his breakfast as he always did. He was reading the paper as he usually did. He seemed to so at ease, but Draco knew better from the night before.

Draco kept his eyes down and ate bits of his breakfast. The Floo lit up and Draco looked up to see Arthur Weasley's redhead poking through.

"Ready Lucius?"

"Not even going to give me a 'good morning'? But yes, I am ready. Thank you for asking," Lucius said in his usual drawl.

Arthur stepped through the fireplace and stood in the dining room. Lucius stood, head held high, and walked over to Arthur.

"Hands at your sides so I can check you over," Arthur said. Lucius complied and Arthur took out his wand and checked Lucius over. Once he found nothing and took his wand, he placed shackles on his hands. "Time to go."

Neither Draco nor Narcissa said anything as Lucius walked to the Floo and disappeared a moment later with Arthur right behind him.

"We should leave as well. We'll have to go through the visitor's entrance," Narcissa said.

Draco nodded and got up silently. He and his mother headed outside beyond the wards of the Manor and apparated to London. Once inside the Ministry, they got their badges and headed down to Level Two – Department of Magical Law Enforcement. They walked into the Wizengamot and took a seat in the front of Lucius's side.

He was already sitting there, his back ramrod straight with his hands folded in front of him. The members of the Wizengamot filed in one after the other. Draco recognized several faces as they came in, mainly Kingsley Shacklebolt, Arthur Weasley and Percy Weasley. Kingsley took his seat as the Chief Warlock.

"Today we are proceeding over the trail of Lucius Malfoy," he said in his deep voice. "The charges are being a Lord Voldermort extremist, murder, and plotting against the Ministry of Magic. How does the defendant plead?"

"Guilty," Lucius' voice said loud and clear.

The clerk's quill glided over the paper easily as it recorded the conversation.

"Tell me, Mr. Malfoy, do you believe everything you did was necessary?"

"It was necessary to keep myself and my family alive," he said without a waver in his voice.

"But would you say that keeping your family under Voldermort's thumb has done more harm than good for your family?"

"We're alive, a little worse for wear, but nonetheless alive."

"So you agree that going along with Lord Voldermort's plans were worth it?"

"Not completely. I will admit, I do regret being in his inner circle, but by being in his inner circle I knew what would be happening, what I needed to do to keep my family safe. And that's why I stayed."

"Yes, but didn't Voldermort call on Draco to murder Albus Dumbledore?"

"Yes," Lucius replied curtly.

"And how did you feel about that?"

"I didn't like it, naturally, but I had to encourage my son to make the right choice so that he didn't get killed."

"Did you encourage him for his sake or yours?"

"For his! I had already fallen from the Lord's good graces. He's already had to grow up with all the shit I dished out because of Voldermort's threats, but I didn't want that for him. I thought if he did what he asked then he could ultimately save himself from this."

"And how did you think he would save himself from Voldermort?"

"I knew deep down that Draco didn't want to have anything to do with Voldermort. He already saw me suffer through it and he didn't want to go down the same path. He thought he did when he was a young boy, but he didn't more and more as he got older. I thought that if Draco followed Voldermort's orders, then he would be able to get away with a lot more than I did and eventually become so powerful that he could leave and Voldermort would never find him again."

Draco was shocked with what his father had said. He thought he had a chance to actually pull the wool over Voldermort's red, snake-like eyes and leave. He would never have done it. He would never have abandoned his family. He had said to Hermione that they should run off together and leave the war behind, but he knew that they would never do it.

But he didn't know if his father was telling the truth or not. His confession sounded sincere, but was he? Was Lucius Malfoy: liar extraordinaire, capable of telling the truth? Draco didn't know and that was sad. He had no idea if his father was capable of telling the truth or not.

"Very well. We'd like to call Harry Potter to the stand," Kingsley said.

Draco's head whipped around as he looked for Potter. He didn't see him when he entered the room. And why was he here? Was he here to condemn his father even more? That had to be the only option. He certainly couldn't be here to actually help, but with Potter you never knew what would happen. So Draco sat there and waited.

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed and favorite and alerted! I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter. All of these places and streets are real. I looked them all up using Google. Look up Lux Bites. Everything looks delicious! And there actually is a M. Wilkins in Melbourne. Interesting. Oh yes, as for the timeline between Hermione and Draco, things are happening simultaneously. When Draco returned to the Manor, his timeline was behind Hermione's by a few days, but now he's caught up. Review?

Yvonne: You spelled everything correctly and thank you!

Disclaimer: I obviously do not own anything. I merely borrow characters and twist them into random plots that my head supplies me with.