A/n: I think this chapter covers a lot and is quite interesting. For once you guys might actually like me at the end. And leave a review so I know what you thought! Thanks again to my beta Tessa Cresswell!
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters belong to J. K Rowling.
Disclaimer: You've probably seen plots similar to this in multiple books. Hopefully this story will be just a tad different :)
Part 1: Let Us Talk, 1999 (Life Six)
Draco Abraxas Malfoy and Hermione Jean Granger
His head was vibrating due to the headache forming. Never could Draco recall a time when his head had hurt so much, but he supposed that was an after effect of the Imperius Curse- or maybe simply from hitting his head on the ground while having an inner battle. Whatever the reason, he only knew that he needed to get up to Hermione's room and speak to her, and soon.
The good news was that he was almost there. The bad? He wasn't sure he would remain conscious much longer. His vision was spinning in and out, and he could feel the bile rising in his throat with each step he took. Forcing down the need to vomit, he trudged on. It would never do to lose everything he had eaten today outside of her room- then she would be concerned and not listen to him one bit.
Purposefully, he stopped outside her door, rapping on the wood twice. "Hermione! Hermione it's Draco, please open up! I need to speak to you!" He didn't care what he was saying, just so long as she heard him and came to the door he would tolerate whatever words were spilling from his lips. "Hermione!"
The door opened half a second later, and his first thought was that it was foolish of her to open the door wide when he could very well be under the Imperius Curse still, but there was no time to go into that right now.
"Malfoy- Draco? What are you doing up here?" she asked, studying him once. He looked a bit green and one of his hands was clutching at his head in a tight hold. She didn't quite understand- was he ill?
"I had to tell you… I had to tell you…"
She reached out and gripped both of his shoulders tightly. "Are you alright? Maybe you should come inside and rest. Then you can tell me what's on your mind-"
Her sentence was cut off as the blonde collapsed, nearly crushing her under his sheer body weight. She quickly grabbed her wand out of her pocket before they both toppled over and said a levitating charm, lifting the now unconscious boy off of her body. Not caring a bit if anyone was standing around watching now, she moved him into her room and shut the door, easing him onto the couch.
Stepping back, she studied him. He looked a bit ill, but he was acting different now. Less… vile. For one thing he wasn't bitching at her about her blood or how he was superior. That left her to only assume that something had changed. Hoping that maybe he was back to normal, she moved to the small kitchenette and wet a cloth, returning to sit by his side and place it on his forehead, her eyes watching him closely. Something was a bit different, and whatever had changed would hopefully be a good thing. Maybe the git was back to normal. But she would have to wait for him to wake up to see.
Oh Draco, please be yourself again.
Draco awoke a short time later with a dull headache. The first thing he noticed was that he was in a room- Granger's room- spread out on the couch. The second was that he had a cool cloth on his forehead.
The third that he couldn't see her anywhere. With a groan, he sat up and rubbed his temples. Vague memories of coming to see her after breaking free from the curse rushed through his mind, but it was a bit blurry. He couldn't recall what he said, nor if he even saw her before he passed out. Cringing, he hoped he had; at least then he might've said something close to an apology.
"You're awake," a voice said, drawing his attention. Removing the wet cloth he looked over at the girl in question, noting that she was walking towards him with a tray. Thinking this was odd, he opened his mouth to question her just as she spoke again. "I thought some tea might be in order. Since you sought me out for once instead of the other way around, I'm hoping this means your back to your usual self- well, the side of you that I've grown to know anyway. You've been more like the old Malfoy for about a day." She set the tray on the table and came to sit at his side, watching him with those thoughtful eyes of hers.
"So I did say something to you then," he asked, watching her small hands reach out and pour tea into two cups. "Before I passed out? At least I'm gathering that's what happened since I woke up on your sofa in your dorm room." He made it a point to clearly state where they were, and she found it amusing how he seemed to be almost impressed that he was in there again. Was it a surprise?
"Yes, you passed out. You came up here babbling about needing to tell me something and then nearly crushed me when you lost consciousness. I levitated you in here- thank Merlin for magic! Otherwise I would've been dragging you inside and that would've been very unpleasant to wake up to later."
"Probably," he replied as she shoved a cup and saucer into his hand. "I don't understand why you have prepared tea though."
"You were obviously thirsty when you arrived, and probably still are. Whatever you were going to tell me about seems quite important, so I thought maybe if we were relaxed that this talk ahead of us would seem less intimidating." She watched as he took a sip, glad to see he wasn't shaking or anything. Good- that meant that he should be fine now. "So what was it you wanted to discuss with me?"
He sighed, setting the drink back down. "I wanted to say I'm sorry," he began, leaning back into the couch as he looked at her, "For being an arse. I hurt you. And I'm sorry I've been so unusual."
Her eyebrows rose a degree. "You're apologizing? I never thought I would see the day that a Malfoy was sorry for anything."
"Must you ruin the moment?" he asked, his eyebrows drawing together. "Have you learned nothing from the time we spent together? I'm different now."
"Yes, so I've seen," she agreed, studying him. "But are you a good different now, or are you still ready to pin me to the wall for the wrong sort of sentence?"
The blonde groaned. "That wasn't me! I was under the influence of a curse!"
"I gathered that- actually it's something I've been hoping from the start." She reached over and grabbed his hand in an effort to reassure him that she didn't think he was bad, and he looked at her again with startled eyes. She was pursing her pretty, full lips again. "It was Snape, wasn't it? He put some sort of curse on you."
He couldn't hold back an undignified snort. "You can't tell me the brightest witch of our year is unable to figure out what time of curse it was. Come on now, you know the name."
It was silent for a moment. "The Imerpius?" He nodded, and she sighed. "I had a feeling it was something like that, but I didn't really want to believe it. I mean, Snape was a good guy not long ago! He fought on our side and he never used any of the Unforgivable Curses-"
"And I was a Death Eater," Malfoy cut in, holding her gave. He reached down to the sleeve of his shirt, pulling back the clean material to reveal the faded but obvious tattoo hidden beneath. Her eyes widened a degree; she had not thought about him having that tattoo in a long time.
"It was one of the stupidest choices I ever made- in all of my lives. But I used to be a bad guy, and Snape was good. Times have changed, so have the people we know. You can't assume anymore that just because he was good at one point that he still is, Hermione. That was your first flaw- you let past facts blind you from what the possible reality of the present is." He pushed the sleeve of his shirt back down again and looked away. "I was only under for a day you know."
"Two," she replied, looking up again at the back of his head. "The first night, and most of today. So two days."
"I only count that as one total. Whatever you say Granger," he replied, closing his eyes. "I'm still sorry that I was such an arse to you. I should've fought the curse harder."
Realization finally came to her; of course Snape hadn't lifted the curse so soon! He had actually broken through it all by himself. "I didn't realize you ever had time to practice escaping such a dark curse like that."
"I haven't. It was diluted, not as hard to fight as what I assume a real Imperio is. For whatever reason, I get the strangest feeling that he wanted me to be able to break free."
She frowned, scooting a hair closer to him. "Well that doesn't make sense; why would he curse you just so you could escape it in a day- two day's time?"
Turning, he met her eyes. "That's the problem, isn't it? I don't know what the motive would be behind that."
"But you believe there is a motive?"
He shrugged. "Why else would I have gotten out so easily? If I was cursed to kill you it would've been a powerful spell, but there were no demands like that. Actually, I was told to do little at all."
Hermione frowned. "Well, what did he tell you to do then?"
The blonde closed his eyes and leaned his head back against her sofa once more, thinking back to that brief conversation with his godfather – former, actually. He would be damned if that man was a god-anything anymore to him.
Again, he shrugged. "I could always ask you the same thing Mr. Malfoy."
Draco narrowed his eyes, studying the man closely. "And what exactly does that mean, Snape?" He suppressed a smirk as the elder man glowered at the name, informally spoken without the Professor in front.
"I am only saying that perhaps she is important to the both of us."
That put him on edge. "And how would she be important to you," he spat.
Severus sneered. "Oh, you would be surprised."
He drew his wand. "I'll repeat myself. How is she important to you?"
"Touché," Snape replied, pulling out his own wand that he held in a slackened, lazy grip. "It's not so much that Miss Granger herself is important to me but what I can get from her is."
"Petrificus Totalus," the blonde practically screamed, but his godfather was prepared for the attack and reflected it quickly.
"You take such a liking to her, as you have before. And that will be your downfall. You simply cannot fathom the idea of allowing harm to come to her ever again." Draco steeled his eyes and watched the man closely, waiting to see if he would attack. "But you see Mr. Malfoy, I need to make sure you understand that I am serious about getting back at the two of you. You made my life exceptionally hard before, and I will only return the favor. Imperio."
It happened quickly, and he had no time to respond to the man's words. Merlin's balls, he did somehow remember the past! But how? Draco had only seconds to ponder that before the violating spell pushed him to the back of his own mind, the new presence awaiting orders.
"That's better," Severus said, smiling a crooked smile. "Now you will do as I say. It won't be too much listening on your part for too long, but we do need to make some things known dear boy. First and foremost, you will not speak to Hermione Granger in anything resembling a pleasant manner until you break free- stay away from her as best possible. And above all else, you will ignore her."
"Of course," his lips replied, although the semi alert part of his mind wanted to say otherwise.
Snape suppressed a chuckle. "I don't know why you didn't listen to me from the beginning."
"Nor do I."
"Good, which means you will do as I said. Ignore her, hate her, until a time when you no longer listen to my words. Then everything will break lose, and you won't like the war coming. You won't like me in the end Draco, but for now you won't worry about me until further notice."
"Of course."
"You listen so well when you don't have a mind of your own. Now, I best be on my way. Go back to your dorm and sleep, and then resume your normal pattern tomorrow. Remember how I said to handle Miss Granger, and do not worry about her feelings."
"Yes sir."
"Good; you're dismissed boy."
The blonde came out of his memory, hating that the conversation had ever grown foggy in his mind to begin with. He lunged forward and picked up the saucer and cup she had prepared for him and threw it at the wall, the teapot following suit. He stood and began pacing.
"I assume that means it was bad," she asked, crossing her arms on the couch. Her broken tea set was no concern at the moment.
"He told me to ignore you, to not speak to you kindly. He wanted me to be cruel." Malfoy was running his hands over his face. "He wanted me to be cruel and hate you, but why then did I break out so easily. I could subconsciously think about you and the part of my mind that was me knew that you were getting hurt." She didn't argue that point or say much of anything, and he continued right now. "He definitely remembers the past- he said something about making us pay."
"Snape was in our second life, right? He was that Alabaster bloke?"
"Yes," Draco replied, still walking in circles in the room. "Yes, he was the one that tried to force himself on you."
"I remember."
He was shaking his head. "I just don't understand why he is so angry. Things got around and we said a few things, but everything that happened was all due to what he originally did. He can't be mad at us for that!"
"Draco- you're rambling. What exactly are you getting at?"
Finally, he paused in his movements and glanced at her. "I'm saying he really shouldn't be angry at us for something he administered. If he hadn't been after you in the first place then what does he want now? We proved once before that it's not sex because he didn't attack you in the classroom."
She nodded her agreement. "And when I was in the library with him he did nothing that would make me think he wants sex either."
Draco paused entirely then, sitting down on the couch beside her. "I think I missed something; since when did you go to the library with Snape?"
The brunette rolled her eyes. "I wanted to see if he would drop any hints about what had happened to you. I heard you two talking in the hallway the first night you were under the Imperio curse and thought-"
"Wait- you went alone, when I wouldn't have even helped you? Hermione, if revenge is something he is looking for then going someplace by yourself with him is practically playing into his hands! What if he had done something?"
"In an open library with students and a librarian?" she asked skeptically.
"Yes!"
She pat his hand. "I was prepared to defend myself. Sometimes I think you forget Malfoy, but I fought in the war too. I know how to handle myself and all he did was talk a bit oddly."
He huffed, brushing her hand off so he could clasp it instead. Neither student thought this action was odd, but maybe that was just because they had grown to slowly become comfortable with each other- even if Hermione was the only one who needed any real adjustment. "I wish you wouldn't. It's still a bit unclear what he is playing at. Sure, he wants to get even, but for what? And more importantly, we need to know how. Neither of us should really be alone with him, just in case."
If nothing else, she was glad he said neither of us instead of her specifically. "All right, fair enough. But then what are we going to do Draco?"
Part 2: Sofia Madeline, 1538 (Life Two)
Dreu Antoine Malfoy (15) and Harmony Joan Potter (19)
Harmony did not see Dreu again for a long time. Although her husband often journeyed with her past the man's ancestral home, she never told him to stop and go thank Dreu for what he had done the previous year. Alexander did not like to admit that his sweet had been assaulted, and was even more hesitant to admit that the person responsible was someone he preferred to trust. So she let the topic sink, although the events of that night sometimes woke her from her sleep. If Alexander did not wish to look at everything as closely as he did because his mind was intoxicated with the vile drink he so often consumed, then she did not wish to tell him her fears; they would be but wasted on careless ears.
It was in a cavern one day as she had a festive lunch with her beloved that she overheard the conversation that chilled her to the core. Alabaster Snape was quite a bit older than she was, yet he remained a bachelor until recently. Apparently in the previous months he had found himself a suitable bride and was marrying her soon. Harmony knew few and far details about the affair, but she could not stomach the unease in her stomach that whoever this unlucky soul was, she was about to marry someone dangerous. Little did Lady Potter know that she was eavesdropping on the future Lady Snape herself.
Getting up after excusing herself to the lady's room, Harmony passed the table she had been listening to earlier. The sole occupant was a woman who was very young, with dark ebony locks and a hat that masked her face. She passed without a thought to the girl until she spoke up.
"Thou are Lady Potter?" she asked, halting the raven haired girl in her tracks. She turned back.
"This is I. May I help thee?"
"Sit," the woman said, beckoning to the chair across from her. "My company has gone out for a smoke and shall not return for some time."
"I see," Harmony said cordially, sitting in the designated seat. Now she could see beneath the extravagant, tilted hat to the woman's face. She was a beauty, with full lips and vibrant green-gold eyes. "I am sorry, but I dost not know thou."
She nodded. "I am aware. My name ist Lady Sofia Madeline. I am but engaged to one Alabaster Snape."
Potter suppressed a cringe. So this was the unfortunate girl in the flesh? She finally understood the man's fetish with her; for Sofia had to be roughly nineteen as well, and Alabaster was nearly double that. She gave a strained smile. "I see."
"I have heard much about the rumors of my fiancé," she continued, sipping the tea before her. When she offered her guest some, Harmony declined politely. "I met a fine man a few days ago Lady Potter, a man of whom warned against my union with Alabaster, but he hast been nothing but good to me. He mentioned thou- only briefly- and I hoped that thou could shed light on my predicament. Is there but something I am missing from the life mine fiancé hast led?"
Harmony wished she had taken her up on the tea offer. Her throat felt dry as she listened to Sofia speak. If a male had told her about Alabaster's dark side, then that could only mean that Dreu had somehow met this woman and informed her in private of the misdeeds he had attempted to push on her just under a year ago. She certainly felt that this woman deserved to know who her husband truly was, but was it worth ruining a union? Marriage was a difficult thing to break, and unless she went forth and told her father of what she had learned and could make the man believe, the wedding would continue on even though she knew the truth. Was it worth it if she would be stuck with Alabaster anyway?
Sofia seemed almost timid to her, like she was afraid of an answer. Did she have her suspicions? Did she believe that he was not the kind man he came across as? Harmony was not sure, and chose to word her next sentence carefully.
"If thou wishes to know the truth of thy fiancé, then this place ist not right to discuss such matters. Thou must remember that knowledge ist sometimes more of a burden then ist worth. Think on thy question, and comst to mine home tonight if thou seeks the truth. Thou may not like it, and I have now warned thee. Do not be mad at me if thou comst, for thou will have chosen to know everything. I live up on the Southside of this town, and thou will know mine home once arriving there. It is thou decision, Lady Madeline." She nodded her head to the woman, who stared on at her with large eyes, as though searching to see if she could call her bluff on the matter being so serious. When Sofia said nothing else, Harmony bid her goodbyes. She was not certain she wished to see Lady Madeline at her home or not, and was still unsure if telling her the truth was a good idea.
I could owl Dreu, but he told her once before. Ist will do no good to return to him for help. I shall have to go about this on mine own. Perhaps saving her from that man ist better than anything else.
Nightfall came and Harmony was sitting in the sitting room when one of the servants headed towards the door. She could hear the knocking as well and knew that this night it was not her husband- he lay upstairs passed out on his stomach, thoroughly drunk. She had commanded the maids leave him on the floor, since it was his own fault that he was there in the first place. No, she knew who came knocking, and she could feel the dread rising in her chest.
A maid came and looked at her, and Harmony wondered why the doorman was not addressing her. "Lady Madeline wishes to have an audience with thou."
"Thou said thee would tell me about mine fiancé," Sofia said, watching Harmony closely as she sipped her tea. The glass was nearly empty when she finally replaced it on the saucer.
"This I did," she commended, her eyes going to search something out behind the woman's head. She needed something else to focus on. "How old be thee?"
"Twenty," she said, confirming the suspicions Potter had before. Indeed, the girl was young, just like her.
"Thou husband will be nearly double that," Harmony replied, raising an eyebrow as she refocused her eyes and placed her hands in her lap. "He ist so much older."
"Mine father commended the marriage," she said lamely, touching her hair slightly. "He believes it shall help us much, since the Snape line is so very prestigious in society."
"The Snape line, yes. But Alabster Snape is another story dear. He ist known in these parts to have a dark side. Where are thou from?"
"York," she replied.
Harmony nodded once. "Then thou ist expected to know little of what thou fiancé hast been like before now. He ist being kinder to impress thee- thou must see this. He hides his true colors behind the image of generosity and love."
She almost looked offended by that. "Then please tell me about mine fiancé, for I canst not stay long."
"Like I said Lady Madeline, he hast a dark side." She delved into a tale of her worst encounter with Alabaster, from the moment Dreu left her alone until his return and the events following, even the man's apology letter. She spoke of the rumors whispered around town, knowing that this girl was captivated in horror the entire time.
"Thou expects me to believe," she asked when Harmony finished, "to believe mine husband ist a monster?"
"I explained that thou would not like the truth, and ist up to thee what ist done with this knowledge. Ignore it, tell thine father about it, or tell Alabaster. I only exist to inform in this situation."
The girl looked shaken and uncertain about what to do with her newfound information, but nodded her thanks all the same. As they said their goodbyes and she left, Harmony knew that what would happen next was anyone's game. She was not obligated to tell a soul, and whatever she chose to do would determine her union to Snape, as well as the man's possible fate- for who would defend him? He had attacked her after all, one of the most prestigious and loved woman in London. She could not predict what would unfold from their discussion.
"Who ist here," said a voice, drawing her from her thoughts. She glanced behind her to see her husband wandering towards her, the after effects of his drinking evident. She turned back and watched the carriage disappear into the night through a window.
"A friend," she commended, unsure what to do next as she waited for events to unfold.
Part 3: Remains of a Letter, 1999 (Life Six)
Draco Abraxas Malfoy and Hermione Jean Granger
"Are you sure this is going to work," she asked hesitantly, looking at the blonde from her place across the room. They had been talking for nearly an hour and had finally come to a difficult decision.
"Well, it's the best idea I have to get alone with Snape," he said, crossing his arms. "There's no way you are getting anywhere alone with him, since we don't know what he is after."
She rolled her eyes. "Very well, oh protective one. And what exactly do you plan to ask him?"
"A great many things."
They had formulated a plan that both students hoped would work. As far as they knew, they were the only two who knew that he was no longer under the Imperio curse. She didn't believe for a moment that Snape was aware, meaning that they had leverage now. If Draco continued to act like he was under the curse during the day, then perhaps he could wait after class one day to speak to Snape and switch things around. It was a long shot, but it was a plan. Things were moving so slowly right now that they had grown impatient, and this was the next best form of action besides storming the potions class during lunch and demanding answers. That had been Draco's initial idea, which she had quickly shot down as being both dangerous and stupid because it would possibly draw attention from other students and staff, and this was really a situation none of them could or would explain. It might be more effective, but for now it had been crossed off the list.
"We have potions first thing in the morning," she said, taking a seat again.
"I know, and I have to be a bastard to you all bloody day. Do you think Potter and Weasel will have a fit again?"
She smiled slightly, thinking of her two best friends. "Actually, it might be better. They have been asking me about your new interactions, and this will steer them clear of any ideas of us being together, at least for now."
He caught the last part, and dropped the hard exterior. "What do you mean, for now?"
She looked away, the remains of Viktor's last letter to her sitting on the table. He had not owled since she kissed him and then ran away, though she couldn't blame him. Reaching out, she picked up the envelope again. "You know I didn't stay, don't you?"
Draco frowned. "What are you talking about," he asked, walking to sit beside her. "Krum? Must we talk about him now?"
She tilted her head slightly. "Why do you hate him so much- Viktor, not Henry. He doesn't even remember the past."
"Any Krum will always be an obstacle to me so long as he is infatuated with you," the blonde replied, no hesitation evident in his voice. It wasn't rushed, but the statement felt very real. Hermione smiled, reminded why she had run away from the bloke to begin with.
"I realized something when I went to see him," she said, watching Draco closely- and he watched her in return. "I realized I don't care for him at all."
"Shouldn't you have realized that before-"
"Will you be quiet so I may speak? I realized I don't feel anything for him because I am slowly falling for someone else." His eyebrows drew together, his mind not allowing him to think ahead at all about what she was saying. He needed her to say it aloud. "I realized, I really was beginning to fall for you, all your mind fucking memories and all."
He smirked at that. "They are a bit of a mind fuck, aren't they?" She nodded, and he reached out to stroke her cheek. "I've waited centuries to hear you say that again, you know?"
"I didn't say I love you Malfoy, I haven't even had a relationship with you in this life-"
"And I didn't say you loved me either," he agreed, cutting her off. "But you feel something, you're falling for me, and that means more to me than anything."
She smiled lightly again, noting how uplifted he looked. Since she started uttering this nonsense he had started to glow, like huge weights were slowly coming off of his back. She reached up and placed her hand over his own, which still rested on her face.
"So, amidst everything else we are going to embark on, perhaps we can try for a relationship as well," she breathed, studying his eyes slowly; they were gleaming. This was the first chance she had really had to bring this up, and if she had been able to bring it up before she got the feeling that they would be a lot further along in figuring out what Snape was up to; seeing them together was likely to fuel his anger more than anything.
And then he did something she had not been prepared for. He leaned forwards and brushed his lips softly across hers, the pressure only lasting for a moment; it was so different from the first time they kissed in the corridor, when they were demanding and full of need. This was different, and as he leaned away she smiled lightly. It wasn't an over powerful kiss that made her wonder about how quickly he wanted her to love it; it had a burst of passion that was underlined with an exceptionally powerful will to wait. After all, he had waited for six hundred years to even get close to her again.
"Indeed, we can, Hermione."