A/N: Wow, I was surprised by the great response I received from this story! I want to thank everyone who alerted, added this story to their favorites or reviewed! I truly appreciate it and it makes me excited to continue writing. Luckily I was able to update quickly (less than 24 hours later actually) ! I probably will be able to update once a week but with school, my weekends and week days are always unpredictable. I promise to write and update when I can. So enjoy!
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything in the Harry Potter universe.
Trip to St. Mungo's
Hermione stared through the window of the Potter's house and out into the grassy yard. The Potter's yard was anything but perfect and it reminded Hermione of the Burrow a bit. Ginny had planted a few rose bushes here and there and Harry had designated an area as their "Quiddich pitch". Hermione smiled. The expanse of yard that was meant for playing Quiddich was very rugged and it reminded her of a simpler time. A time when she had watched Ron, Harry, Ginny, Fred and George play intense rounds of Quiddich against one another. She had always been a bystander due to her fear of flying and she had always rooted for everyone. Hermione's heart lightened at the thought. A slow drizzle began to blanket the overcast morning and Hermione looked across the yard. She sighed quietly as the soft rain falling outside calmed her senses. She watched as water droplets slowly cascaded down the window. Hermione followed various drops with her eyes until they reached the bottom and then she slowly repeated the action. Anything to keep her mind off of reality was enough for her.
"Hermione!" A familiar voice interrupted Hermione's thoughts as she looked up to see Ginny walking toward her. "There you are Hermione, nice morning isn't it?" Ginny's voice was somewhat sarcastic but good-natured. She smiled down at Hermione and placed her thin fingers on her shoulder.
"To be honest, I find the rain quite calming. It is rather pleasant." Hermione turned her attention back to the fluttering raindrops. Ginny barked in laughter.
"Oh Hermione, I love your remarks, they are always so brilliant and very 'you'." Ginny laughed again and sat down beside Hermione. "But really, how are you feeling? Did you sleep well in the guest bedroom last night? I have been telling Harry that we need more pillows in there but he just won't hear reason!" The seriousness in Ginny's voice made Hermione laugh for the first time in the past two days.
"Gin, I'm fine. The bedroom is lovely and the pillow ratio is perfect. No need to harass Harry over menial things." Hermione smiled at her friend. She missed Ginny a lot and after the events of yesterday she had practically attached herself to Ginny's hip. The only time she had left her alone was so that Ginny and Harry could go to sleep and that had been around 1:00 a.m. Ginny yawned briefly and smiled at Hermione, before taking her hand.
"Hermione… do you um remember anything, at all?" Ginny avoided eye contact with Hermione and had suddenly appeared quite interested with the garden gnome outside.
"Gin… You know I don't want to talk about yesterday yet. It's a lot to take in and I still have a lot of questions. I don't remember anything. Last I knew, I was dating Ronald, you and Harry were definitely not expecting a child and I was not married to Malfoy." Hermione said the last part rather quietly. It was still too much to take in. Ginny squeezed her hand.
"Hermione, you have to go to St. Mungo's today. I know you don't want to but we need to find out why you can't remember a year of your life. It's not something you can simply ignore. It is a really important issue and without proper care, you may never remember that part of your life… And it's just…" Ginny looked away from Hermione.
"It's just what Gin? Tell me… "Hermione tried to look her friend in the eye.
"It's just… This past year was the happiest I've ever seen you. Everything in your life was so perfect and you were so radiant. It just pains me to see it all disappear without warning…And now you are so upset and conflicted. I just want you to be happy again Hermione." Ginny's voice had grown very quiet and even a bit hoarse. Hermione swallowed uncomfortably and shifted her body. She felt awkward and touched at the same time. She was grateful that Ginny cared about her so much… But the fact that the happiest time in her life had been with Draco Malfoy… it was just too much to handle. She couldn't even wrap her brain around it. It seemed so wrong. Merlin! Ginny was talking about Draco 'bloody' Malfoy: mudblood and muggleborn hater extraordinaire. The Prince of Slytherin. Former Death Eater… It just didn't click in her mind. Even with her intelligence, Hermione couldn't comprehend the insanity of it all.
"Ginny… I need you to understand that to me, this sounds completely demented. It is just a lot to take in and I'm not sure I'm ready for a full-blown explanation yet. I need to take baby steps. I'm willing to go to St. Mungo's but I need you to refrain from speaking about Malfoy for right now. I'm still trying to accept it. In fact, I think you should take this from me for the time being…" Hermione quietly unzipped her jacket pocket and fished around for the item she was searching for. She pulled out a beautiful silver ring with one simple white pearl with white diamonds glittering around the pearl. It was gorgeous to say the least but Hermione didn't feel right keeping it as of now. Ginny gaped at her and looked down at the ring.
"Hermione I… I understand that you don't want to be bombarded with information and that you don't want to talk about Draco right now… But isn't this a little much? I mean that is your wedding ring." Ginny stared down at the ring again and hesitantly took it from Hermione's hand. Hermione nodded quietly.
"It's for the best Gin. I'm going to go rest for a while. Wake me up when you and Harry are ready to go to St. Mungo's."
Hermione woke up to the sound of a quiet knock on her door. She pulled the golden covers down and slowly and reluctantly pulled herself from the guest bed. The door opened and revealed Ginny and Harry both standing there in their raincoats. Hermione quickly placed her coat on. She had only slept for about fifteen minutes, at the most. She yawned as she walked with the couple towards the fireplace.
Harry and Ginny's place looked almost the same as the last time she remembered being here. The only new additions were a set of blue curtains in the sitting room and a set of new plates in the kitchen. Aside from that, everything was practically the same. Hermione was comforted by this lone fact. It felt calming to be in a place that appeared familiar to her. She hadn't realized that she had stopped walking until she heard Harry call for her. She quickly resumed her journey towards the floo, taking one last look at the familiar room.
Hermione linked hands with Ginny as they flooed to St. Mungo's. She was encased by darkness and suddenly coughing as they appeared in the main office of the hospital. She looked over at Ginny who was looking at her with worry. Hermione smiled weakly and Ginny's face relaxed. Harry had approached the main desk and was talking to a group of healers who were intently listening to him. Hermione walked closer. She listened to their conversation as Harry continued to speak.
"My friend," He pointed to Hermione, "woke up yesterday morning and couldn't remember more than a year of her life. We are concerned about the cause of this abrupt memory loss. She can't remember her husband whatsoever, which caused quite a scare for her yesterday." Hermione blushed as all the healers turned towards her sympathetically.
"What is your name dear?" The oldest looking healer pulled out his clipboard and wand. He cast a spell, which enchanted his quill to write without him, much like Rita Skeeter had done. Hermione smiled.
"My name is Hermione Granger." Hermione felt Ginny shift uncomfortably next to her.
"Actually sir, her legal name is Hermione Malfoy… So I think it would be best to place the file under this name…" Ginny looked awkward and tried to ignore the slight glare Hermione was throwing her way. Hermione Malfoy? Hermione shuddered. "Oh… and before we go into the room, we are awaiting one more person." Ginny stepped away from Hermione and Harry took her hand. Hermione looked at both of them and her hand shot up to her mouth. No. There was no way in hell that he was allowed to be present during this examination. No.
"No…" Was all Hermione could say before she saw the young blonde man approaching them. Malfoy looked horrible to say the least. He had dark bags under his eyes and his normally impeccable style was shabby in comparison. Hermione wondered if he had stopped dressing as nicely in the past year. But she halted her thoughts and quickly went back to being upset that he was here.
"Potter, Ginny…" Malfoy greeted them with a simple nod and he then turned and looked at Hermione. Hermione immediately moved her face and looked in a different direction all together. "Hermione…" He said as a form of greeting. His voice sounded coarse and intransigent. Hermione looked at him briefly from her the corner of her eye and then quickly turned her attention towards the healers.
"And this young man is?" The oldest healer asked calmly.
"Draco Malfoy, sir. Hermione's husband." Malfoy outstretched his hand and shook the male healer's hand. Hermione was still cringing from what Malfoy had said. Hermione's husband… It felt so weird and she shuddered, pulling her cloak tighter around her arms.
"Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy and Mr. and Mrs. Potter, if you would follow me please." The older healer smiled and began walking down the hall. Hermione nearly attacked Ginny's arm as she held the redheaded girl. She felt so uncomfortable with Malfoy here. She didn't care that he was her husband. She couldn't remember that life. All she could remember were the cruel taunts, the daunting sneers and ultimately the way he had stood by as she was tortured by his aunt. She shivered at the thought. Harry and Malfoy walked together in front of the girls, in what looked like an amicable silence. Hermione felt odd watching the former enemies act like comrades… It was just too weird. They all entered the room and quietly sat. Hermione refused to look anywhere but her feet. She jumped in surprise when she heard the door open. She looked up as she held her hand against her heart. Hermione took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself. She saw Malfoy watching her and blushed from embarrassment.
The healer who entered was a pretty blonde woman with dark brown eyes and light toned skin. Her hair was long, straight and healthy looking. Hermione envied her hair for a moment before looking up at the smiling woman.
"Hello Hermione." The young woman brightly said as she outreached her hand. Hermione smiled as she shook it. "I've heard so much about you and your two best friends. I want to thank you for helping to save the wizarding world." The healer blushed and Hermione felt herself grow red from embarrassment.
"Oh well thank you. In all honesty, it was Harry here who saved it." Hermione looked at Harry who was now just as embarrassed.
"Hermione, you and I both know that you did just as much as me. Without you and Ron, I would have been dead long ago." Harry smiled at her and Hermione couldn't help but smile back. The healer looked ecstatic before she pulled out her clipboard and quill.
"Sorry for deviating away from the issue at hand. I just had to say something! I'm just so excited to have met you both...on the same day too! But anyways on to my job. So Hermione, you woke up yesterday morning and couldn't remember the last year and half of your life, correct?" The healer looked at her expectantly. Hermione nodded in response.
"Yes, I can't remember the past year and half of my life." Hermione confirmed.
"Can you please tell me the last thing you remember?" The healer had her quill ready. Hermione thought hard and tried to think of the last event she remembered.
"I remember going out to eat with Ron, Ginny and Harry. It feels like it happened just last week… I remember Ron, my…boyf- I mean ex-boyfriend taking me home from a muggle movie…" Hermione blushed. Malfoy looked miserable and Harry and Ginny looked around the room awkwardly.
"Okay good. Anything else?" The healer smiled softly.
"Well… this is extremely awkward… But the morning I woke up… I was expecting to see red hair and freckles but I saw… er… well I saw my hu- …Malfoy instead." Hermione felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment. She heard someone gasp slightly and looked up to see Ginny pat Malfoy on the back. Malfoy's face had become stoic and an icy air pooled off of it. This was the Malfoy she remembered. Indifferent. Emotionless. That's how she remembered Malfoy and thats how she would always see him. He had always been a master of hiding his emotions but she knew that she had caused him to become unnerved and she couldn't help but feel slightly guilty. She was simply being honest with the healer thought. She wasn't trying to hurt Malfoy's feelings. This didn't feel real to her but she wondered how real it must feel for him. She sighed and looked at the healer.
"I'd like to do a few scans now. Hermione if you would stand up and come over here please." The healer pointed to the spot beside her. Hermione quickly obliged, happy to avoid the awkwardness in the room. "I'm going to cast the first scanning spell over you, it may feel weird but it shouldn't hurt." The healer preformed a non-verbal spell and Hermione felt a slight warmth wash over her. "Alright, do you feel okay?"
"Yes, perfectly fine actually."
"Okay I have two more scan's and then I'll show the main healer the results." The healer quickly preformed the last two scans and sent Hermione back to her seat. "I will be right back with Healer Edlin." Hermione nodded in response
The thickness of the room was slowly suffocating Hermione. She wanted to be out of here more than anything but she knew she couldn't leave. Ginny had come to sit beside her while Harry remained by Malfoy, who was staring into the oblivion. Hermione was relieved when the female healer and the man she believed to be Healer Edlin entered the room.
"Hello Hermione, I'm Healer Edlin and this is my assistant, Adonia."
"Nice to meet you Healer Edlin." Hermione smiled at the older man and waited patiently for him to speak.
"It is possible, but a bit unlikely, that someone may have obliviated her-" The healer was abruptly cut off.
"I was with her all day the day before she lost her memory…. How would that be possible?" Malfoy looked at the healer with a somewhat confused and angry expression. Hermione was a bit surprised.
"Well Mr. Malfoy, in very rare cases strong witches and wizards have been able to cast obliviate and allow it to go into effect anytime they choose. When they cast it they may intend for it to go into effect a year later, a month later, three days afterwards or any given time. But it is quite unheard of and very difficult to do, but that doesn't mean we have ruled it out as an option." The healer looked at Hermione and smiled softly.
"Who would want to harm her though? She is so kind to everyone…" Malfoy said more to himself than anyone else. Hermione blushed at the sincerity in his voice.
"Sir, has she been under any high amounts of stress lately?" The healer looked at Malfoy. Hermione felt weird. They were talking about her almost as though she wasn't there. But in a sense, the Hermione, Malfoy knew, was not here.
"Not that I knew of. Everything at work was going smoothly. Our home life was good…" Malfoy's voice trailed off and he looked at his feet. Hermione felt herself blush again.
"Sir I am not insinuating that I believe this to be true, but since Hermione cannot object to anything you say, we need to ask you a few questions… But we ask that you allow us to use veritaserum so that you will truthfully answer. It's simply a precautionary." The healer smiled hesitantly.
"I'll do anything you ask of me. Just… help me get my wife back." Malfoy looked at the healer pleadingly. The healer motioned for Malfoy to go with him.
"We will be back shortly Hermione." The healer then left the room with Malfoy. Hermione let out a breath she had been holding for along time. She felt herself relax.
Draco willingly took the small vial of veritaserum in his hand. He didn't care that they may ask him personal or embarrassing questions. He wanted Hermione back: the woman who had loved him and cared about him. He hated seeing her reaction to him now. It was evident that she was disgusted by him and could only associate her negative feelings towards him. To make things worse… She believed that she was still with Weasel. She was still in love with Weasel… It was too much for him to bear. He quickly ignored the crushing thoughts and pushed them aside; he had more important things to worry about. Once he had drunk the veritaserum, he waited for it to take effect. The healer then directed him to his seat. The interrogation quickly began.
"Have you ever struck your wife in anger?" The healer asked hesitantly.
"Never. Not once. And I never will."
"Have you ever thrown things at her while in the heat of a fight?"
"I have never thrown anything at her while fighting. I've only ever thrown pillows at her but it was out of good fun and she did so too."
"Have you ever thought about hurting her in anyway?"
"It has never crossed my mind."
"Have you ever forced her to have sexual relations with you?"
"I would never rape her. She has always willingly complied."
"Did you have a healthy sexual relationship?"
"I think so and I would like to say she felt so too."
"Has she hit her head recently? Complained of any head pain?"
"Actually yes, I was planning on telling you while in the previous room but I didn't want to make her feel awkward. The night before she lost her memory… We were 'celebrating' our anniversary and she hit her head against the bed frame slightly. She seemed perfectly fine and I asked her if she was okay but she only wanted to continue from where we… started." Draco said sheepishly and blushed slightly.
"Okay, thank you Mr. Malfoy that will be all." The healer smiled at Draco and took him back towards the room.
Hermione fidgeted nervously as she waited for the healer to come back. She wondered what kind of questions they were asking Malfoy but more importantly she wondered what his answers were. She felt herself jump in surprise when the door opened. Malfoy walked in and sat beside Harry again. She felt his intense stare burning into her and she pulled her cloak around her body even tighter.
"Well Mr. Malfoy has ruled himself out as a suspect. The only thing he said was that you hit your head briefly the night before while um… 'celebrating' your anniversary. But from what he said, I don't believe that it has anything to do with your memory loss. " The healer approached Hermione and placed a spell on her. She felt it and looked up at him questioningly. "The blow you received to your head that night was minuscule. It couldn't have possibly caused this. I'm afraid we have no idea what caused this… You were not stressed so it isn't stress related, the obliviate is a very rare possibility, and your husband never abused you thus making it impossible for him to have caused this… So as of right now Hermione all I can tell you is that we will try to look further into this. But I'm afraid that you may never gain your memory of the past year back." The healer looked at her sympathetically and Hermione felt her spirits being crushed. The sound of glass shattering drew her from her own sorrow as she looked up to see Malfoy's face. The look on his face said it all. He was devastated. His face looked sullen and his eyes looked withdrawn. The glass of water he had been holding was shattered all over the floor and his hand was bleeding due to a cut he received from the glass. Water was all over the floor and on Malfoy's shirt too.
"I'm very sorry Mr. Malfoy. Don't worry about the water on the floor. We will attend to it later. I'll give you all a moment. " The healer left the room to allow them all time to themselves. Ginny ran over to Malfoy and took out her handkerchief.
"Here use this to wipe the water from your shirt and the blood on your hand." Ginny reached out and placed her hand on Malfoy's shoulder. Malfoy suddenly awoke from his daze and roughly took the handkerchief from Ginny, who only looked at him sympathetically. He removed her arm from his shoulder and refused to acknowledge her presence as he dabbed at the water on his shirt and then moved down to wipe the blood from his hand. Hermione was taken aback by his rude gestures but neither Ginny nor Harry seemed to mind.
"I'm sorry Draco." Harry said quietly. Malfoy merely nodded in response. Hermione could see the utter devastation and misery in Malfoy's facial features and she felt guilt creep up her spine.
"I'm sorry too." She said quietly. Malfoy's head shot up so quickly that she was surprised he didn't injure himself. Her eyes locked with his for a moment and she could see the confliction and pain in his usually dull grey eyes. She quickly looked away. She wasn't sure she could handle anymore. Ginny got up and walked over towards Hermione. "I want to go home Gin, with you and Harry. "Hermione saw Malfoy out of the corner of her eye. He was listening intently.
"Draco, I think it's best that Hermione stay with us for now. But I think you should come back to our house with us, briefly. I think we should all talk a little bit and then you can leave and Hermione can remain in our guest bedroom." Ginny said quietly. Malfoy nodded resignedly.
Hermione didn't want to talk but she knew she would have to. She stood up as Malfoy, Harry and Ginny exited the room. Hermione walked beside Harry as Ginny and Malfoy followed behind them. She was exhausted and she wanted to avoid Malfoy at all costs. She was emotionally drained and she knew Malfoy was even beyond that. Hermione was pulled from her thoughts as Harry linked arms with her. She felt the harsh pull of side apparition take her from the hospital and into the garden of the Potter's.
A/N: Well as of right now, Hermione's memory may possibly never return. Poor Hermione but ultimately poor Draco... He remembers everything about their relationship while Hermione feels nothing except her initial feelings towards him, which are anything but good. In the next chapter, Hermione is going to find out a bit about what has been going on in her life for the past year and a half... I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Until then- jesokaa :)