Author's Note: This is an AU. Characters are a little out of character due to the plot. I probably will not be describing what happened to each, but show them through dialogue instead. I also like pizza, and popcorn.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

You don't hear me when I say,
"Mom, please wake up.
Dad's with a slut, and your son is smoking cannabis."
No one ever listens, this wallpaper glistens
Don't let them see what goes down in the kitchen. — Dollhouse

Chapter Four

It had been a week since Mordechai Mason's case.

It took him a day and a half to wake up and another day for recovery. In the mean time, the team was wandering around the village, asking the residents relevant questions. The people claimed Mason was a gentleman, the potions he made were cheap but high quality and that they haven't even heard the old man shout, not even once. There was one businessman that said something suspicious though, he claimed that Mason was renowned for trying to find cure for the Memory Charm. When they reached Mason's Potion shop, they found no research notes for this 'cure'. The people also said that none of them saw any cloaked people running around suspiciously in the village. Only loud cracks of apparition that was a little common in their village.

The team decided it was best that Mason was asked of his relations for the two men that died within the second story of his house. But there also something that foiled that plan.

Mason was obliviated.

It was already mid-May when he saw her again, this time seated at his usual spot within the Manor's Library. She was staring up at the circle-top window, pushing at the table and balancing the chair on its two hind feet. She was muttering something softly, but he couldn't understand any word. The muttering increased speed as she closed her eyes, and he took in her form while she didn't realize he was there. Her hair had grown out of its wild curls and settled into poofy ringlets cascading to her lower back while wearing a dark-red long-sleeved knitted-cardigan, black circle skirt and the same color of stockings.

He mentally approved of her matured look, until he noticed a discarded Daily Prophet not far from her, and he felt his eyes narrow.

She must already know then.

"Who's there? I can feel you." There was a tap as she seated properly, but still not turning. "Narcissa, I don't feel well at the moment, let's talk later ins—"

"Funny Granger." He drawled, crossing his arms and leaning at the bookcase next to him. "I never took you as the type of person who would want to push someone away." He paused. "But then again, you did have the guts to leave everyone who genuinely loved you, so piss off me, huh?"

There was something that changed at Granger's demeanor just as those words left his mouth and he smirked.

Well things have just gotten interesting.

It was his turn to occupy the spot diagonal to Granger, who moved her face away subtly, but not subtle enough for him not to notice.

"Oh, what's this." He said, picking up the prophet, unsurprised at the Headline. "You must've seen the front page already, hmm."

"Malfoy, what makes you think that I have a tolerance of your bullshit today?"

He shrugged indifferently, "I don't know Granger. Maybe because I'd be going to this event and you're not?"

"How the fuck is that even related?"

He scrunched his nose, "You swear twice as much as Weasley and Potter combined."

"Don't. Say. Their names." She was pointing her wand at him then.

Draco laughed quietly, but it was a sardonic one. He placed his knees against the table and pushed, making the chair stand on its hind legs like Granger did a while ago. He placed the prophet on his lap and opened to the page where the complete article was to be found:

There on the Headline of the Daily Prophet's special section lay the words, "WEDDING OF THE YEAR!...

…Union of War Hero Ronald Weasley and Zoe Accrington!"

He gave her a moment before saying, "You know Accrington was a Slytherin two years behind us. She was a pretty little girl who had reddish blonde hair who always wore a green-gem eyed snake brooch on the left side of her robe. She was quiet, timid, and modest but she knew when she should stand up and to whom. She's dutiful, responsible and has these Hufflepuff qualities. Weasley met her at one of the galas my Mother threw. I heard she has always like him since school but afraid to approach him due to the animosity of our houses. On top of that she's a pureblood." He spoke the word softly and slowly, letting every word sink in. "That's not just it though. Do you want to know what makes their bonding a little more…perfect?" He lowered the prophet and leaned closer to whisper to her,

"She's never going to leave him like you did."

Thud!

Draco gave a feral grin as his chair fell to the floor with two legs gone, Granger hovering over with wand pointed at him. She was red instantly but he drawled, "Oh my Granger, you have to learn to control your temper. Mother won't like it if you hex me."

She was livid. His grin grew wider. That was until—

He watches her throw her wand away and was surprised when she yanked him by the collar with unbelievable strength and he took a blow at his left cheek. The impact caused him to bump his head again at the back of the fallen chair and he cried out a loud, "Bloody hell!"

"You would know what not leaving would feel now, wouldn't you?" she spoke with tremendous amount of venom laced in her voice.

He held his left cheek bone and glared back at her, vaguely noticing her broken hand. He was busy trying to comprehend the accusation she made of him. "What—"

"At least Ron had actually loved me." She snarled, "How does it feel to be in a relationship knowing that your Fiancée," she spat, "is fucking another man?!"

Something snapped right then and there.

"You don't know what you're talking about Granger!" he growled, shoving the broken chair aside and staggering to get on his feet.

"Oh, I don't?" She challenged, "You—"

"They're just friends! And you— who the fuck even told you!? Astoria is—"

"Don't be stupid Malfoy! Stupid is not your colour!" she shouted, shoving a finger at him, "You know she's cheating on you for months! MONTHS! I—"

"At least I get to actually be with her. And you? All you can do now is look at him from a far, knowing you couldn't even do anything even if you tried!"

She stared back at him with her chin raised to the air, wandlessly and nonverbally re-summoning her wand. "No Malfoy. I'd rather keep my pride than be with someone being sullied by another person."

"Get out of my sight." He hissed.

She was quiet then, staring back at him with narrowed eyes.

"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" he bellowed, shoving the items on the table to the floor, ink bottle shattering due to impact.

And Granger smirked at him. Leveled that mind-fucking smirk Voldemort would've been so proud of. She knew she has won this one, and he hadn't thought of how things would've back fired on him. She also knew about Astoria, huh? That ought to remind him that that filthy Mudblood shouldn't be taken lightly. Who knows where she's getting the information. Not from his Mother, that's for sure. All his Mother knows is that his relationship is sunshine and daisies.

But it's…not like he can just leave Astoria. Even if he wanted to. It just doesn't work that way. She was… because it was normal for Purebloods to have affairs before marriage right? She was still going to be his. So it doesn't matter whoever she's been befor—

"You already know, don't you?" she sneered from her spot, wiping the beads of sweat that was covering her forehead. All the action had done was smear blood from her broken fist. When he didn't answer, she laughed, a dry tone. "Un-fucking-believable. You do. Oh my, Malfoy. You're more selfless that I gave credit!" She paused, "But then again what you're doing…it's not selflessness but stupidity right? Something your lot had always tried to point out. Merlin," she shook her head, "you're spending a lot of time with Gryffindors."

She turned, her trek to the door way. At that moment all he really wanted to do was hit something, and it would be better for everyone if target is not her.

He noticed the ruined parchments on the floor then, and he recognized her penmanship enough to know that the scribbles didn't belong to her. He bent down to examine them and one word quickly ate up his attention.

"Graaaanger." He called out, gathering the four pieces of parchments covered in blank scented ink. Draco wasn't surprised when she didn't stop nor look back, so he continued. "What do you know about Mordechai Mason?" He was pleased when her head swung back so fast it would've snapped. He watch her watch him finger the edge of the paper.

"Shit." Her voice rose, but not enough for a scream, "Don't touch those papers Malfoy, if you know what's good for yo—"

Too late, he was already reading the words written.

—in attempt to reverse the effect of the Memory Charm. I can finally say it's 64% plausible. I've prepared the cure through a trial and error method, li—

It disappeared.

"Granger!" he cried out in disbelief, his gaze square on her again, "You…you took the files!? You're the one who raided Mason's house?! You're the one who…"he made an unintelligible sound, "Fuck, I knew there was a possibility that you were connected but for you to brutally murder those—"

She was standing before him, "Look, I did what I had to…" but trailed off upon the look on his face.

"No." he sneered, grabbing her by the arm. Granger whined softly, and he loosened his grip though it wasn't tight in the first place, "You're com—"

"You can't bring me with you, you dolt." She hissed, still struggling with his grip, "I'm under your Mother's—"

"—ing with me. I should've known it would be you! All the clues were... wait, what the—"

"—Life Debt and she would be in danger if you…You're hurting me!"

"Well I'm not letting go!" despite saying this, Granger is still able to retrieve her arm, and he paused for a moment when he looked at his hand because he felt it damp by red liquid.

"Fucking hell Granger, you're bleeding."

When he looked up again, she was already fleeing the room.

Heheh. We've unlocked the idea of Malfoy-Greengrass relationship and Granger's participation in Mason's case. Or is she really a part of that? Who knows!