AN: I hope everyone is enjoying the story. Please review. The few reviews make me smile!

I own nothing, if I did I would be able to buy Christmas presents for my family, which I can't do right now. So I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 11

We Wear Many Masks

January 7th 1999

Hogwarts

The rest of the students had arrived back at Hogwarts with their spirits lifted. Neville had been honored to take Luke's place while he was out of town. McGonagall had made the announcement and neither Hermione or Neville had indulged the students curiosity and answered any questions. Hermione and Neville did tell Ginny and Luna. Luna and Neville were kind of seeing one another. Rounds were going well, that was easing Hermione's burden. They weren't having any issues with Andy, Astoria, or Holly. Neville had seen Marco and Astoria spending time together outsides of prefect duties. He saw them in Diagon Alley over the Holiday. That made Hermione laugh. She put them together because Marco could handle her mouth, now she understood just how well he was handling that mouth. Neville handled a situation with some 1st year Slytherins very well. McGonagall and Hermione decided that Neville would have made an excellent Head Boy. This made Neville blush, a lot.

Hermione didn't have any classes after 2 on Friday and she and Draco were going to meet in Hogsmeade after her classes. She was excited. She was nervous. They were going to grab a drink at The Three Broomsticks and do some shopping and then grab something to eat. She had to be back by 10 or rounds and she needed to get some studying done for her N.E.W.T.s. She again dressed in muggle clothes wearing dark blue jeans, boots that came to her knee, and a plum colored sweater that Ron had given her for Christmas. The scarf that Mrs. Weasley had made went perfectly with her sweater. It was rather warm for a January so she didn't bring a coat. When she walked into The Three Broomsticks she saw Draco sitting in a far corner. He looked good. He was wearing muggle jeans with a black collared shirt and a green sweater over the shirt. He was a very handsome man. Hermione almost lost her breath when he looked up and smiled at her.

When Hermione walked in the door Draco looked up. Wow, she looked amazing. That dark plum looked so good on her. He couldn't help but smile at her. She was beautiful. Maybe one day he'd tell her that.

They sat and ordered a couple butterbeers each. Hermione told him what Neville said about Astoria and Marco. Draco thought that was an odd match up, but no odder than him and Hermione, but he kept the last little bit to himself. They talked about Draco's work and about Neville covering for Luke. Draco snorted at some of Hermione's comments. She was too good. How can someone be this good, Draco thought? They talked about Michael and what he was going through. Draco aired his concerns about PTSD and how grateful he was that he wasn't suffering form it. They talked about that for a long while. As they shopped Draco noticed Hermione growing distance. He wanted to engage her in conversation. He wanted to ask what was wrong. He just didn't know how without offending her or seeming to care too much. Finally, as they sat down for dinner he asked.

"I know, I'm sorry Draco it isn't anything personal at all. I'm having an excellent time. I just got to thinking about some stuff and it distracted me. Really, I'm enjoying myself. Please stop looking at me like that. It's making me feel uncomfortable." Hermione said shyly.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't meaning to make you feel uncomfortable. I was concerned." Draco said just as shyly. He didn't say sorry. What was this woman doing to him?

"Please, don't be concerned."

"Hermione, would you like to talk about it?" Draco asked after they ordered their meal. He ordered some wine as well, hopefully that would loosen her up some.

"Oh Draco, I don't know. It's probably not something you'd want to hear about, anyways."

"You might be surprised what I'd like to hear about. Try me."

Hermione sat and told him about her family and how she altered their memories and sent them to Australia. She told him of her fears about giving back their memories and her fear that they might hate her. She told him about how her and Harry were struggling with what to do with their muggle families and how difficult it all was.

He sat there and listened to everything she said. He felt bad for her, he had never experienced the kind of emotional pain that she was going through. He even felt bad for Potter but he would never tell him or her that.

"It seems to me, Hermione, that you did the right thing by your parents. You really didn't have any other options that you could think of. You wanted to keep them safe and you did. It will be very hard to bring them back to their life here and they might not understand all of your reasons for doing what you did but they will see that you did everything you could to keep them safe. They love you and therefore they will forgive you and will continue to love you. Things may be rocky for a while, but they will work out for the best." At this Hermione's eyes began to fill with tears. She blinked to try to keep them from spilling over, but a few escaped and ran down her cheek. "Please, don't cry, Hermione. Please." He was never good when girls cried. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to walk to the other side of the table and hold her and let her cry, but he didn't think they were in that place in their friendship to do that yet. Instead he said, "You've done an amazing job of holding everything together. You're an amazing, intelligent, smart, brave young woman. You are one of the mean reasons that the Light was successful and Harry and Ron are both still alive. You've kept your parents safe, you've been a friend to those who've needed one. You're going to be able to get through this. Your parents are going to be very proud of you when they hear everything you've done and how you've helped spare the entire world of one of the greatest evils that has ever existed. You're stronger than you think you are. Keeping going, Hermione."

At this tears really spilled down her cheeks. She never imagined that kind words like that could come out of Draco's mouth. She knew he wasn't evil, but had no idea he was kind. She could see that the tears really flustered and bothered him so she wiped them off and chuckled.

"Those last tears were good tears, Draco. Those were because of your kind words. Hearing words like that coming from someone who isn't one of my best friends means a lot. It's different to hear that from Harry, Ron, Neville, or Ginny. Coming from you it almost means more. I know that they believe it when they say it but you aren't obligated to say it like they are. You have nothing to lose by keeping your mouth shut, so it's more meaningful. So, thank you, Draco. Thank you. It means more than I could possibly convey."

At her words he blushed deeper than she'd ever seen him blush. He did have something to lose but he wasn't even sure what that was yet.

"You're welcome, Hermione. I meant what I said too. You're a stronger person than I could ever be. You are probably the strongest person I know. How have you been able to keep it together for so long?"

"To be honest, I'm not really sure. I am glad that everyone thinks I've been able to keep it together. I guess I have on the outside but it's pretty chaotic on the inside. I've been very good at holding that mask in place, I guess. Harry is the only other person to be able to see underneath that mask when it comes to my parents. Mrs. Weasley has noticed something is wrong but hasn't said anything, just 'If you need to talk about anything, Hermione dear, I am always here for you.' I'm afraid that mask is slipping with all the stress going on right now. Long baths with rose bath salts have been a huge help as well." She said giggling at the last part.

He grinned as he pictured her in a bath with rose bath salts. He could get used to that mental image. He mentally smacked himself and told himself that this was no time for fantasies. He would come back to that later though. He said, "I know about masks. You've done an excellent job of holding that one in place. I'm sure you wear many different masks at one time. I know I do. Besides Roddy, you're the only person to see beneath my mask without me allowing them too. I'm not sure how you did it either. We all wear many masks. It's how we keep ourselves from being hurt beyond recollection. Sometimes those masks need to come down or people need to see what is beneath them. Our masks help us, but they can also hurt us. When do you think you are going to bring back their memories?"

"I'm not sure. This is another area of internal battle I'm dealing with. I want them to be at my graduation, it is the only time muggles are allowed at Hogwarts, but then if things don't go like I've planned then I don't want to not be able to graduate because I'm having to deal with my screw up. I also want to have enough time to make sure things are going well for them and I don't want to have to worry about school or N.E.W.T.s when I bring them back. What would you do, Draco?" She kept all of Draco's words about masks in her mind. He was right. She wanted to ask about his masks, but decided that would have to wait for a day.

Draco thought about it. Eventually he said, "I, personally, would wait till after graduation. That way you can have as much time as you need with them and you can really work on your relationship with them without having to rush back off to school. You won't have to worry about your Head duties or assignments or N.E.W.T.s."

"You're right. That's what I've been leaning towards but I really would like them to be able there. I guess I can get Harry to record everything on a videotape and I can play it for them after I bring them back."

"Record it? Videotape?"

"Oh yes, it's a muggle device. I guess the closest thing we have to it is a memory and a pensive. It's a way that muggles can go back and watch things that have happened in the past."

"That would be a wonderful option for you, Hermione. What does Harry and Ron think?"

"Ron doesn't really know I'm having a hard time with it. He knew about my decision before the war really started but he doesn't know anything else really. He isn't too observant when it comes to stuff like that. It's one of the reasons I said I couldn't be with him. Harry is having the same problem I am. He doesn't know what to do with his own family. He doesn't have to bring back their memories, but he has no idea if they even want to see him. He, also, thinks I should wait till after graduation, though."

They finished up their dinner and they still had a while before Hermione had to be back in the castle so they went to an ice cream parlor. Their conversation was much lighter while they ate their ice cream. Hermione laughed at Draco for his extensive knowledge of ice cream. He had a big sweet tooth apparently. They talked about Quidditch. Hermione told him how Ginny was the Gryffindor captain and how Gryffindor and Slytherin were going to battle it out for the cup again this year. He tried to explain the game to her, again, but failed. She laughed because he got frustrated at her for not understanding why it was a wonderful way to spend time. He walked her back to the gates of Hogwarts.

"I've had a lovely time today, Draco. Thank you so much for listening to me and for your advice. Can we do this again?"

"I'd love too. When are you free again?"

"I'm not sure. I'll owl you and let you know when I have a free night. We will be going to Hogsmeade in 3 weeks. I really hope to see you before that, though."

"I demand to be able to see you before then. I'll keep you updated with everything in America. It's been a couple weeks now since the last attack. Let's hope it stays this way."

"Please do. I'd love to help if I can. Thank you again for this evening."

"It was my pleasure, Hermione. I'll be sure to owl you. Please owl me if you need to talk, or floo me." Draco said before he wrapped his arms around her. She wrapped hers around him and they stood there for a few moments. He hadn't planned on doing that, but he was glad he did. She did smell like roses. That was officially his favorite scent. She was surprised that he hugged her, but she liked the feeling of his strong arms wrapped around her. When they broke the hug off they smiled at one another and said goodbye. Hermione walked into the gates and Draco apparated back to his flat.

Washington State, United States

Michael was enjoying his time with Luke. It had been so long since they'd seen one another. They had been very good friends back in Hogwarts. They had been together in the room of requirement that final year. Luke was someone Michael trusted. Michael had been doing so well with keeping his journal and keeping control of his fits. He was really starting to feel better. He was laughing with Luke. He wrote in his journal that he needed to find a friend here in the America's. It made him feel better and feel more normal to have a friend around. They had gone site seeing along the west coast of America and Canada. They went to wizarding Las Vegas and had a wonderful time. They lost some money but they eventually won it all back and then some. They split the winnings.

So far Luke had seen Michael dealing with his fits very well. He had seem them come up in him real sudden but he watched how Michael was dealing with them. He would excuse himself to his bedroom and most of the time he would shut the door but once he didn't so Luke was able to see what Michael did to deal with what was going on. He would sit on his bed with his head in his hands and take deep breaths and mummer things to himself. Luke wasn't able to hear what his friend was saying though. Once he got control of himself he would got to his desk and pull out a journal and a quill. He would write stuff down. Luke wanted to look in that journal but it was secured with a charm and a password. Once Michael finished in his journal he would go to the bathroom, splash his face with water and he would then be good to go.

Michael told Luke that after Christmas he decided that he needed help. So he looked up things to do on the muggle devices. Luke said that it looked like it was helping and he looked much better than he had seen him in a long time. They then talked about the muggle devices. Luke wanted a T.V. He wondered if Hermione had one growing up. He could get use to having one of those around.

Luke would disillusion himself and go with Michael to work and see how Michael handled things at work. He didn't seem to go into any fits when he was at work. He seemed to really enjoy his job. It was very much like making potions. They would apparate to wizarding Seattle and Vancouver and stroll around and sometimes they would venture into the muggle parts of the cities. They went to the bars and checked out muggle girls. One night they even brought back two girls with them. They were muggles so they had to be careful but they had a good time. There was no regrets in the morning.

Michael hadn't had this much fun in a long time. He was sad when Luke had to leave. He understood that Luke had to get back to school and his position at Hogwarts but he was sad to see him go. Michael decided that after he had gone a month without killing he would go into one of the towns and he would make some friends. Being social made him feel better.

Luke was sad to leave his friend. He had a good time. It was nice to spend time with him. He was glad Michael was doing better and he didn't have to force him to go to a hospital.

January 10, 1999

Luke arrived back at Hogwarts and filled Hermione and McGonagall in on everything. He showed them the memory of how Michael was dealing with his fits. He said that he seemed to be doing much better. He said he was doing much better and he was eating better and feeling better. McGonagall agreed based on the memory she had seen. She said he did the right thing.

Hermione and Luke went back to her room and she caught him up on everything going on, Neville joined them and filled him in on his side of things.

Now Luke had to get back into the swing of things. Joy.