Chapter 18: Invitation

Hermione was sitting on the couch stretched out reading when there was a knock at the window. She looked up and went over to the window to let the owl in. It quickly dropped the note and flew out again. She picked up the note and opened it. Inside was a very expensive looking invitation to a ball – the St. Mungos Annual Celebration Ball. There was a list of people being honored she saw but kind of skipped over and then looked at the date… Saturday. Today was Wednesday. Hardly any notification at all! She wanted to skip out… no one would miss her presence. She quickly tucked it under something and went back to reading before Draco came home because he would want to go.

An hour later her fireplace roared to life. Out stepped Draco. He smiled as soon as he saw her.

"Hey gorgeous," he said as he came and kissed her quickly.

"Hi," she said smiling back. Their relationship had grown even stronger after their latest appointment. Hermione was still taking it slow and hadn't even said 'I love you yet' but she knew it would soon be inevitable. How could she not fall in love wit him?

The fireplace came to life again and Hermione was yanked out of her Draco dream land by two children running at them with full speed and two other adults.

"Aunt Mione!" yelled Lily as she jumped onto Hermione's lap.

"Lily! What are you doing here?" she asked.

She looked over and saw Draco being assaulted by James. She smiled. Then she turned her focus to Ginny and Harry who were slower to follow.

"Congratulations, Hermione!" said Ginny as she came over and hugged Hermione.

"On what?" asked Hermione incredibly confused.

"On your recognition with St. Mungos of course! I'm sure you got the invitation!" said Ginny.

"Yeah you never told us how much your work really meant," said Harry.

"What?" asked Draco.

"Hermione didn't tell you! She's being honored at the annual St. Mungo's Ball! Or have you not gotten the invitation yet?" asked Ginny.

Hermione still had a confused look on her face. She thought back to the invitation that she received. That was the information that she didn't bother to look over… oh and she hid it. Now she had to find it and Draco was standing right there…she hoped this didn't hurt him.

Hermione put Lily down on the couch and stood up looking for the invitation. She found the invitation she had buried and opened it scanning the names. And there it was… Hermione Jean Granger Malfoy. Her mouth dropped when she saw that.

"I don't… how?... what?" she stuttered. She didn't even know what she was being honored for. She didn't remember her job title or anything.

"Hermione you're a top researcher. Why wouldn't they honor you? They said you were close to a discovery with the cure for Cruciatus patients," said Draco.

Hermione looked at him, still feeling confused.

"Ok, but I don't remember anything. You had to tell me what I even did. I don't know anything!" said Hermione feeling frustrated. This is exactly why she didn't want to go in the first place. She would feel completely embarrassed at not having a memory.

"James? Lily? How about you guys go play? We'll be there in a second," said Ginny.

The kids left the room and they surrounded the now completely distraught Hermione.

"I know we sound like a broken record, but we're sorry you can't remember. It won't matter though. People will understand," said Harry.

"Maybe you can go to work even and read your notes or whatever it is that you have and learn. Maybe you'll get a spark of a memory," said Ginny.

"And if I don't?" asked Hermione.

"I'm sure people will understand that you got hurt working on your amazing cure that no one has ever been able to find," said Harry.

"An incomplete one! I didn't finish it did I? Why should I be honored if I'm not ever going to remember and it's not going to be finished? Even if I were to look at everything I won't be able to take back all that research that I've done and everything I've learned. It can't be completed without a memory. So why honor a useless researcher?" asked Hermione.

"Hermione, you'll get your memory back! I'm sure of it. Even though it's small you've made progress!" said Draco coming closer to her. He put his arm around her to comfort her, but she was as stiff as a board.

"We'll all be with you. We were invited too," said Ginny, "I'm sure it won't be as bad as you think. Maybe you'll even enjoy yourself."

"Ginny's right. Don't worry about that. Let's just concentrate on us and go together and have fun," said Draco.

Hermione looked at him and gave him a half smile.

"I'll think about it," she said and then she left the room.

Draco looked deflated as he watched her leave.

"I hate seeing her like this. I wish I could fix everything. And why did she hide the invitation?" asked Draco.

"Sorry, mate," said Harry.

"I'll go fix this," said Ginny as she followed Hermione.

Hermione hadn't gone far… just to her own room. Well she sort of called it her room. She hadn't stayed in here that much since she had felt more comfortable with Draco.

"Hermione?" called Ginny through the door.

"What?" asked Hermione sounding annoyed.

Ginny came in without even waiting for her approval.

"Why don't you want to go?" asked Ginny, "It's just a ball."

"Yeah being thrown in my honor!" said Hermione.

"Yeah you and like 10 other people. Trust me it won't be as bad as you're making it out to be," said Ginny.

"I just don't need all that extra attention," said Hermione.

"Ok fine. You leave me no choice. Hermione Malfoy, I don't care anymore what you think! You're going if I have to manhandle you to get you there!" said Ginny, "Don't think I won't. You know I would."

Hermione gave a small smile at the thought.

"See. I know you secretly want to," said Ginny, "Plus think of how hot Draco will be. And how he'll look at you after I do your make up and hair and we find the perfect dress that he'll just want to rip off you."

"Ginny Potter!" said Hermione as her cheeks turned red.

"Oh please tell me you've shagged him by now. You're married for Merlin's sake and I see how you look at him," said Ginny.

"I'm just going to completely disregard that comment. Sometimes I wonder why I married him instead of you," said Hermione.

Ginny laughed.

"I love Harry and am very attracted to him as well, but the goal is to get you to think of Draco so of course I have to say those things. But don't deny he's one of the sexiest wizards alive," said Ginny.

"After your husband right?" asked Hermione smirking at Ginny.

"Naturally," said Ginny smiling, "So you'll go?"

"I guess so," said Hermione.

Ginny squealed excitedly.

"You won't regret it I'm sure! It will be fun! We haven't been to a ball together in ages! And don't worry about being honored. They'll list off your names probably and your accomplishments and you'll have strangers congratulating you. But honestly that would happen anyways," said Ginny.

Hermione smiled at Ginny.

"You remind me of a school girl sometimes," said Hermione.

"Sometimes I wish I were one. I was in such better shape back then," said Ginny.

They laughed and then went back to find their husbands who were off playing with the kids.

"Aunt Mione are you ok?" asked Lily who immediately came up to Hermione as she entered the room.

"Of course I am! What makes you think I'm not?" asked Hermione who picked up Lily.

"You were sad. I saw. It made me sad," said Lily.

Hermione smiled at her and hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry I made you sad. You're right. I was sad before but I'm not anymore," she said.

"Good," said Lily with a big smile on her face.

"Ok. I think it's time for dinner and bed," said Ginny.

"Aww mom! Do we have to?" asked James.

"Yeah! Uncle Draco was just going to play dress up with me!" said Lily.

"Do as your mother says," said Harry.

They cleaned up and the four of them left for home.

"Dress up?" asked Hermione when her and Draco were left alone.

"Malfoys don't play dress up," he said.

"Oh don't lie. Lily's got you wrapped around her finger," said Hermione laughing at him.

Draco ignored the comment by rolling his eyes. Then his face went serious.

"Can I ask you something?" he asked.

"Sure," said Hermione.

"Why don't you want to go to the ball with me?" asked Draco.

"I never said I didn't want to go with you," said Hermione.

"You hid the invitation and you didn't exactly jump at the chance when I mentioned we could focus on us," said Draco.

"Draco I'm sorry about earlier. I don't know what's come over me. Oh wait no. I do. I'm pregnant and missing information on a large chunk of my life," said Hermione, "I do want to go with you. I'm excited about it now. Before I just… "

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want," said Draco.

"No. I want to. It's just embarrassing," said Hermione as she sat down on the couch and looked up at him, "I didn't want to go because I'm embarrassed about what's happened to me. I know, I'm Hermione Granger but… "

"Malfoy," corrected Draco.

"See! That's exactly what I'm talking about! It's embarrassing not knowing anything about yourself! As I was saying before I'm Hermione and I don't care what people think but right now I do. I won't be able to talk about anything I've accomplished or they think I've accomplished. I don't like not remembering people and things. It was dumb and that's why I didn't want to go. It has nothing to do with you. Trust me."

Hermione tried not to smile too big as she remembered her discussion with Ginny about making him want to rip her clothes off.

"Oh. Well then I'm sorry for being…"

"You?" asked Hermione.

Draco smiled, "Yes, I'm sorry for being me. I shouldn't have thought like that. You are my wife after all and falling in love with me."

"Oh you think so?" asked Hermione.

"I know so," said Draco as he pulled her up into his arms and kissed her passionately.

"Cheater," said Hermione as she broke the kiss.

"I'm Draco Malfoy. I always get what I want. And playing fair is no fun," he said giving her his famous smirk.

So I think this story is coming to an end soon. A few more chapters still though!