Chapter 4- Forget Me Not

The sunlight shining through the gap of Hermione's curtain falling across her face. She gently opened her eyes and saw once again someone have left her a small bouquet of flower on her bedside table. Picking up the flowers, she smiled. She could still smell the scent it released during the night, as the flower tend to lose its scent when the sun comes out. She liked the sweet scent of forget-me-not how it was like a kiss from the rising moon shining across a flowerbed of the resting earth. She looked at the flower she now holding, forget-me-not was her favourite flower. She loves how the tiny flower was made up by a tiny yellow center which recreate the shape of a star, surrounded by five, dainty blue, thumb size petals. The flowers were ravishing yet they have a sad story behind. The flowers had reminded Hermione her parents now living in Australia. After the war, she went to Australia to find her parents so she could remove the memory charm she casted on them. However the charm she casted was so powerful in case the death eaters had found them and attempted to break through their memory, it became irreversible. She left Australia and returned to England alone without her parents, knowing her parents are now happily living in Australia the land of sunshine and ocean. Never knew they had a daughter, a daughter they have always been proud of, a daughter love them more than anything in the world, a daughter who was willing to erase herself from their memory to keep them safe, a daughter who visit them few times a year pretending to have a dentist appointment with them just so she could be close to them, how hard was for her to held back her tears when they were examining her teeth. Did she regret sending her parents to Australia? No, she did not, if she hasn't she was so sure they would end up sharing the same fate as her grandmother. War does tear families apart. Still holding the flowers, Hermione found her cheek now dripping with her tears. She wondered who could possibly know this was her favourite flower, who could possibly send her these flowers every day since she moved into her new apartment a week ago? What she didn't know was every night when she was fast asleep, Aki had been apparating into her room placing a small bouquet of forget-me-not tied by a silk sky blue ribbon on her bedside table, an order given by her master. Aki never thought her master could be so sentimental and a romantic. Every time when she was in Hermione's room, she looked at Hermione sleeping peacefully in her bed. Her eyelashes were just as her master described. This beautiful woman her master had loved since he was 11. She wondered if one day she would become her new master, she wondered why this woman has no memory of her master.

Lost track of time, Hermione hurried to get change and began her usual Saturday routine. Spending her day at The Reminiscence. Walking down the spiral staircase to the lobby, she pondered if Draco Malfoy would be there today. For some reason seeing his presence at The Reminiscence has become something she looked forward to every week. Suddenly she caught a glimpse of someone who has the trademark blonde hair and the trademark black suit at the door of the lobby. She couldn't help but to think she might have spotted him in her building, rushing down the staircase as quick as she could. That person was already out of sight. Maybe it was a hallucination she told herself. A bit disappointed she continued her way to The Reminiscence. Walking into The Reminiscence, she saw Madame Mulburry speaking with Draco and his suit and hair reassemble the guy she might have spotted at her building.

"Congratulations, Mr. Malfoy! You must be proud of the Burgdorf sisters winning the Moonshine Potion Award for the company three years in a row now!" Madame Mulburry offering her congratulations.

"Those girl truly deserve the award. They are talented, intelligent but extremely hard working. I am honour to have such brilliant employees working in my company. My best hire I would say. " Draco couldn't agree more with Madame Mulburry on the success the Burgdorf sisters have achieved.

"You must have contributed a lot toward to the girl's development! What are they working on now? Anything interesting?" Said Madame Mulburry.

"The girls were never disappointing, they have just hand in a proposal on a memory recovery potion." Draco then leans in towards to Madame Mulburry whispered, "Please Madame Mulburry, this is for my table plus Miss Granger's. Miss Granger has recently moved into the building she loved." Shoving two Galleons into Madame Mulburry's hand. "And don't worry about the change." Draco had debated the whole morning if he should pay for Hermione's meal today, as an act of congratulation on the new apartment. He knew Madame Mulburry well enough she would not reveal his identity, instead acting as a gesture on the café itself. There was an unspoken trust between him and Madame Mulburry ever since the day he started to reserve the two tables.

Hermione placed her usual order for her coffee and muffin, opened her parchment, today instead of reading a book, she planned to finalise all the details for her house-warming party tomorrow night. Looking at her guest list.

Harry Potter, +1 Luna Lovegood

Ronald Wesley, +1 Blaise Zabini

The Weasley Family, total 7

Lupin +1 Tonks

Neville Longbottom

Manuel Faith, +1 Jacqueline Faith

Hannah Abbott

It's a small list. She would like to keep the party small, only for the people she was closed to. Hermione being a war heroine she doesn't like the attention she received from people, she hated when everyone wants to be her friend because of her fame. Hermione was never a social people back in her school days. She believed you only need a few close friends and that is enough for life. After an hour preparing for her house-warming party. She decided to take a break, she opened her book to the page where she left her newly hand-made floral bookmark.

The bookmark has caught Draco attention. Hermione had made her a pressed bookmark from the forget-me-not Draco had been secretly sending. The sight gave Draco a certain level of comfort, it felt like Hermione has been carrying something from him everywhere with her. He wondered if she knew the meaning behind this flower.

"My Lord, I have news regard to the rest of the Bones family. They have been offered a safe house and protected by The Order. However, I understand Emmett Bones is planning to flee the country after what happened to his siblings Amelia and Edgar Bones." Said Yalaxy. " They are planning to flee the country on the coming Saturday. The Order will provide every protection they can to escort them."

"Now that would give us precisely 5 days. It is critical for you to capture the Bones Family especially Emmett Bones." Said Voldemort, his voice was so soft, Draco could hardly hear it from the end of the table. His eyes turned to Bellatrix Lestrange. "Bella, you will lead a team of 20 death eaters on that night. I would expect to see Emmett Bones and maybe the rest of his family in this room no later than midnight. Do you understand?" "Yes, My Lord. It gives me no better pleasure than to be your servant doing your bidding." Bellatrix answered Lord Voldemort request with a hunger of attention in her voice. Totally ignored her husband Rodolphus LeStrange sitting next to her. "Make me proud." Lord Voldemort left his chair and his snake Nagini followed him out of the room.

Tonight was the night. Draco was waiting outside the safe house of the Bones with the death eaters his aunt has gathered. He didn't know the Bones too well except they were a well-known old family among the wizarding world with excellent connections inside and outside the ministry. He only knew their daughter Susan Bones was in the same year as him. A bit worry for the Bones, but he has informed The Order about Lord Voldemort's plan straight after the meeting, provide The Order more than enough time to arrange the best way to escort the Bones.

The moment has arrived. Draco saw 4 members from The Order flew out from the safe house with 3 members in disguise working as a distraction. Draco task assigned from The Order was to make the death eaters chased after the disguise members. "Look! Over there!" Draco pointed at the fake Bones family and set off chasing them leading the rest of the death eaters all riding in their broomsticks speeding off all eyeing on the prize "Emmett Bones". The real Bones family would then be leaving the house 15 minutes after their disguised member departure. Unfortunately, Rodolphus LeStrange's spell hit one of the disguise members and reversed the disguise spell. "This is a distraction! GO BACK! FLY BACK NOW YOU ALL!" you would hear Lucius Malfoy yelling to all of them, when they realised they have been fooled. The death eaters immediately flew back to the safe house hoping the Bones were still there. Yalaxy the first one who got back to the safe house made it in time when the Bones were just exiting. Spells started to shoot from both sides. Draco's eyes were searching for the sign of Hermione, he knew she wasn't a good flyer, least he could do was to fly near her secretly protect her. But instead of spotting Hermione, he saw Susan Bones now riding behind Ron's on his broomstick, separated from her parents. She was holding tightly onto Ron, there were no right words to describe the fear showing in her eyes. He saw Yalaxy shot a spell toward to their direction before he turned and flew to what appears Emmett Bones. He flew quickly toward to Ron, he knew he wouldn't be able to reach Ron before his body hit the ground along with Susan. He casted "Aresto Momentum!" towards both of them, Ron landed on the cushioning charm and rolled onto the ground safely with only a few scratches. However the spell just missed Susan, luckily she landed on some tree branches growing along the side of the cliff wall. "Weasley, are you alright? Look Susan is hanging down the cliff holding by some tree branches I got to help her. Here is your broom, I managed to recover from mid-air." Draco threw the broomstick he saved in mid-air to Ron then flew straight to the cliff.

Susan now too scares to move an inch, she knew the tree branch wouldn't be able to hold her weight much longer. She was relieved when she saw Draco appearing above her.

"Susan, are you okay?" asked Draco.

"Yes, I managed to land on this tree branches. But I don't think they can hold me any longer." Susan tried to hide her panic, which obviously not working.

"Stay where you are, no need to worry you are fine!" Draco could hear the panic from Susan's voice, he tried to give her some reassurance hoping it will comfort her a bit. He knew the branches would break anytime soon, but there were a lot of branches growing out from the cliff above Susan, which really prevents him from reaching her. The wind blowing against the cliff also made it hard for him to remain balance on the broomstick. He needs to figure a plan soon.

" Susan do you think you can reach my hand?" Draco reached his hand out to Susan. Susan was too terrified shaking her head, Susan's hands were holding onto the tree branches and refuse to let go. "Come on Susan you can do it, hold out your arm!" Draco could hear the cracking sound coming from the branches. Time was running out. " Susan you have to let go! Trust me! Grab my hand!"

Susan slowly removed her left hand from the tree branch and slowly reaching to Draco's hand, before her hand could touch his. The tree branches have snapped, she fell just like how she fell from Ron's broom. Draco managed to grab her arm in mid-air, holding Susan with only one hand was certainly difficult. With the wind and the weight of Susan, he could feel himself slowly slipping to the end of the broom. Draco tried his best to remain on the broom not letting Susan go, but as time passes by through their struggle his hand started to sweat. The same thing running in both of their minds, they knew either both of them would fall together or if Draco lets go of Susan now, he might still stand a chance to survive. Draco refused to see this as the only way, there must be alternative.

"Draco, its okay. It's my fault, I should have let go and reach for your hand when you told me to. I have got us into this situation." Said Susan who seems to have accepted her fate.

"No Susan, just hold on we will find a way!" Draco screaming to Susan, tears pouring from his eyes there must be another way.

"Just tell my parents I love them so much and thank you so much for bringing me to this world would you?" she smiled. " Malfoy, you are a good person."

Susan still holding her tears when she let go of Draco's hand. Although she was in Hufflepuff, she refused to shed a tear before she met her death. She would face death just like her aunt Amelia and uncle Edgar brave and meeting an old friend. At least before the moment of her death she knew she was loved and cared by a lot of people in the world. Her body collided with a couple of rocks during her fall, tumbled down onto the bottom of the cliff. She looked up at the beautiful night sky sparkle with hundreds of stars, the full-moon light shining across the shoreline, she could hear the ocean waves bashing on the cliff wall. If this was what death suppose to feel like it wasn't that bad she thought, as she drawn her last breath she had left the world with a smile on her face.

The wind was so strong, Draco was bounced back to the top of the cliff as soon as he has lost the weight of Susan. He looked around and found the place was absolutely absence of either member from the order or death eater. Judging from the physical evidence left behind the sight, The Order has failed to protect the Bones, they were captured and probably on their way to the Malfoy Manor meeting their death. He slowly flew himself to the bottom of the cliff searching along the shoreline for Susan's body, this was the least he could do. It didn't take him long to find her body lying in between some rocks. For some reasons he sat next to her body, watching the ocean with millions of things going through his mind. He didn't know how long he has sat there until he heard someone called his name.

"Malfoy! Ah… what are you doing here?" Hermione was surprised by the sight of Draco. He didn't answer her question, instead he kept staring the ocean watching the waves hitting the shore over and over like he did the whole time. "We were outnumbered last night and we failed to protect the Bones, they were captured by the death eaters. Susan wasn't captured with her parent nor we found her with any of the members. Ron told us what happened last night, so I thought I should come and see if I can find her or her body." She could barely utter her words as tears started to stream down when she saw Susan's body, holding her hand over her mouth.

Draco still remained silence. Hermione did not know what was running in Draco's mind now, but she had decided to sit next to him quietly. Sitting next to Draco was a strange feeling, she looked at Draco who's appearance was nowhere near the Slytherin Prince back in their year in Hogwarts. His signature slicked back blonde hair were now messy and untidy, there was dirt all over his face, his shirt and his shoes. Hermione could just see the dried tear trails on his cheek, he had been crying? Hermione asked herself. She never thought the rude, arrogant Slytherin Prince she had known would cry, especially over someone he hardly know?

"Granger, about last night." Draco finally started to talk.

"Malfoy, go on. Sometimes it is better to let out then keeping it in. Plus its only me here, no one else." Hermione looked at Draco. This is the first time both of them sat together without shooting mean words to each other. Even during the meeting, Hermione avoided having any direct exchange with Draco as much as she could. " Ron told me you have saved him with a cushion charm and recovered his broom last night. He said you left to get Susan, but no one has seen either of you after."

"I failed to save her life. I did try you know? The branches were not going to hold her weight. I kept telling her to let go and hold on to my hand. But it was too late. I managed to catch her in mid-air. But the wind was so strong and everything. We both knew we were not going to make it. She then decided to sacrifice herself, letting her hand go." Draco quickly finished the story and went back to staring at the waves. Hermione gasped at the story, knowing how bad Draco must have felt now. Sometimes it is easier to sacrifice our life for someone then the other way around. "Draco, it was Susan choice. I am sure if you really did not deserve to live, she would have just had you go down together with her. Don't blame yourself." Hermione holding her hand not sure if she should give Draco a pat on his shoulder. They were no longer enemies, but they were not friends either. Would he mind her skin touching his?

"She told me I am a good person before she let go. I never thought I am a good person you know? I have done so many evil things in the past." Draco finally told Hermione what really was bothering his mind.

"Look, Malfoy you have done a lot of things in the past you now regret. But you have showed remorse and anyone who had worked with you know it." Hermione saw tear dripping down his cheek retracing the tear trails from last night. She could not believe this was the Draco Malfoy she knew. The Draco Malfoy she knew was a heartless, cruel and ignorant person. There he was sitting in front of her crying like a real person with feelings and emotions. "There is a muggle saying. Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today, and you make your tomorrow. What you were yesterday does not make who you are today. Like you saved Ron's life last night, now he was grateful of your act and can't thank you enough except he would like to do it in person. Things always change in our life." Hermione gave him an approved smile. Honestly, she hoped he would take in her words and feels better, but since this was Draco Malfoy. She wasn't sure he thinks like normal people.

"But what I have done in the past, I can not erase or pretend it never happen. People will always hold prejudice to me." His voice strayed off. Hermione did not know what to say, the only thing she knew it would make him feel better was to sit next to him quietly. She was sure he would prefer some company. Together they sat next to each other until the sun raised from the horizon. It was the most beautiful sunrise Hermione had seen.

"Well, I guess its time for us to return to our job. Take Susan's body with you to The Order and I will go back to my death eaters life and check out the status of the Bones." Draco got up ready to disapparate.

"Hey, don't tell me what to do!" said Hermione, a bit annoyed as Draco has showed no signs of appreciation that she, in fact, has accompanied and comforted his mind the whole night! The wind was so strong, she felt like she almost freeze herself to death the whole time.

"Hey Granger"

"What?"

"You have something dripping down from your nose, did you know, just there!" Draco smirked and disapparted before Hermione could throw a rock at him. Damn I almost thought he had changed and there he was the Malfoy she had known for years. Maybe he is somehow bi-polar, Hermione couldn't help to think. She then turned her attention back to Susan's body, she hold on it tight as she apparated back to The Order.

Hermione spend the rest of the afternoon reading her book until her coin alarm warmed up in her pocket at three. She picked up her bag and heads towards the counter to pay for her bill.

"Miss Granger, please it is on the house today." Madame Mulburry smiled. "You are one of our most regular customer here, please see it as a congratulation on the new apartment and your upcoming birthday."

"Well, thank you so much for the generosity Madame Mulburry. I will see you next week same time." Hermione was delighted from the complimentary meal she just received and turned to walk towards to the door.

Something just doesn't feel right about the complimentary meal, Hermione couldn't understand the feeling she was getting. She turned and walked back to the counter, pulled out her bookmark. "Madame Mulburry. A gift for you for the meal." She left the café so quickly before Madame Mulburry had a chance to reject her little gift.

Without a second of hesitation, Madame Mulburry walked towards to Draco's table and put the bookmark next to his coffee. "That is her thank you." She watched as Draco picked up and examined the bookmark in his hand. He saw a quote written on the top left hand corner.

"Do not think of me as gone, I am with you still in each new dawn".

Hey Guys! If you are reading this, congratulations you made it this far! You must be extremely patient with my writing! I hope you have enjoyed this chapter.

I have borrowed a poem I saw on Pinterest on forget-me-not in this chapter and I really like it :D

To MicPen, thank you so much for your review! and I am glad you like the relationship between Draco and Aki. (one of my favourite relationship in this story) and I hope you like this chapter too! I would like to think House elf not just there to look after your daily needs but like a friend for life like our pet except they are extremely powerful in magic and able to talk back haha. :D And I am so sorry that my story is going sooooo slow

Haha let me know what you think of my pairing between Ron and Blaise and Harry and Luna (Oh i know not everyone is a big fan of this ship)

Coming up Next : Hermione is throwing a house-warming party at her new apartment. Harry, Ron and Blaise went to visit Draco after the party which is convivence locate two levels up. And with the final horcrux now find located in the Malfoy Manor. Draco was assigned to destroyed it and guess who but Hermione has volunteer herself to be pair up in this task!