Author's Note: And another installment ready for your viewing! Hope you enjoy... It's a tad longer than my usual amount so I hope you enjoy it!

Some of you are also probably wondering why this is rated M... that's for later chapters. Just so you know(:

The Missing Piece Chapter Seven

Day: 14

Hermione,

If you're available today I would like you to come to the manor and view another memory of mine from the pensieve.

Be here at 5:00pm, if you wish to come. Send your reply with my owl, Regius.

Draco Malfoy

Hermione stared at the letter for what seemed like an hour, before the sounds of what she assumed was Malfoy's owl, Regius. It was a very regal owl. Hermione was pretty sure that if the owl could talk it would speak just like the Malfoy at Hogwarts, snooty drawl included. The owl was an eagle owl, which sat perched on her window ledge patiently waiting to bring back her reply with its head held high. Hermione returned her attention back to the letter with a heavy heart. She wanted to go to the manor out of curiosity for what she would see, but then she remembered the after effects of watching the memory, and suddenly she didn't think it was a good idea. Besides, if her theory about Malfoy trying to woo her proved true, she would only making her situation worse by going. She needed detachment.

Malfoy,

I do not think it's a good idea for me to view any more memories.

I think its best I move on without them. I appreciate the intention, but I will not be coming today.

Hermione Granger

She read over her reply about twenty times to make sure the wording was exactly as she wanted it, and then folded the parchment, tied it to Regius, and watched the owl fly away with graceful flaps of its wing. She hoped she was doing the right thing, and not ruining her chances of triggering her memory. Hermione was a woman of logic, and procedure, but there were times, like these, that she had to turn to her instinct. Right now, her instinct told her to refrain from Malfoy and anything he had to offer to avoid future complications. Perhaps when she saw his intentions were to truly help trigger her memories and not make her fall for him, she would accept. But not today. Not when she was completely unsure of everything going on.

Hermione walked to her granite counter to make herself tea. It was nowhere near tea time, but Hermione decided to ignore the time and indulge herself. She had just put the kettle on the stove and lit the stove with her wand, when she heard the familiar distant popping of apparition. She sighed and rolled her eyes, taking the kettle off the stove and crossing her kitchen into the living room, her heart hammering fearing that Malfoy had gotten the letter and was now at her door.

"Hello Miss Granger, I hope I didn't interrupt anything. I'm here to check up on you." Healer Greene said once Hermione opened the door.

Hermione's heart dropped, but she kept her face neutral despite the urge to frown. She was relieved that it wasn't Malfoy at least, but she couldn't help wishing the Healer were Ron or Harry. Hermione opened the door wider to allow the Healer to pass into her living room. Why else would you be here? Hermione thought idly. It seemed everything the woman said irked her.

"No, I was just making tea. Would you like some?" Hermione forced out, watching the Healer sit on her couch with overly kind eyes.

"Yes, actually. Two cubes of sugar, please." The healer replied simply, taking out her clipboard and quill, making herself comfortable. Hermione proceeded to go into the kitchen and add more water to the kettle, mimicking the healer in childish fashion. It was something Hermione didn't do often, but she couldn't help herself at that moment. In several minutes, she walked out with two cups of tea and sat down across from the healer, mentally preparing herself for any weird questions she might happen to ask. She straightened her back, and surveyed the healer for anything out of the ordinary. Hermione had not forgotten Healer Greene's last visit, when Hermione caught the healer walking awkwardly from behind the window.

"Thank you, dear. Now, anything out of the ordinary that you have noticed?" The healer began, taking a sip from her tea, and smacking her lips in an unattractive manner.

Out of the ordinary? With you? Yes. Hermione thought as she swallowed her tea.

"No, absolutely nothing. Everything is normal."

"Good. How are you dealing with your dilemma?"

Hermione nearly winced at Healer Greene's word choice. Dilemma certainly did not explain her situation. It was not a dilemma by any stretch of the word. That word made it all seem as if she had something wrong with her… as if she needed professional help… as if she were mentally unstable. Hermione plastered her best sweet smile and wrecked her brain for an answer.

"Just fine. I actually viewed a memory from two years ago through someone I know. I dealt with it pretty—" Hermione began nonchalantly, but she cut herself off once she caught the look of pure terror upon the healer's face and the broken cup of tea. She didn't even hear it break. Hermione thought back on what she said, wondering if there was something she shouldn't have said. Sure, the healer had warned her against trying to remember events but it certainly did not warrant that reaction.

"I am so sorry Miss Granger, it slipped from my hands…" The healer mumbled to herself distractedly. Hermione told her it was nothing to worry about, and was about to clean it up but the healer offered to do it herself. "No, no, allow me... I spilled it after all…" The healer bent down to retrieve the large pieces of glass that made up the tea-cup, bending her head down toward the floor. Hermione used a summoning charm to bring a small waste basket to the healer, noticing something on the back of the healer's neck. It appeared to be a tattoo of a black figure resembling a small dragon. Hermione eyed it for a few seconds, thinking it peculiar. Dragon tattoos were not a common thing in the Wizarding world as far as she could remember, but then again, perhaps the style had changed in the past two years.

"Miss Granger, it is vital you do not view any memories. It might make your condition worse!" the healer practically scolded Hermione as she picked up the last pieces of the broken tea-cup. Hermione was taken aback at her tone, unable to believe that the healer was talking to Hermione as if she were Hermione's mother.

"There is nothing written anywhere stating that viewing memories will make anything worse," Hermione countered with a stubborn tone. Her statement was completely unsupported, and unlike her to say, but her rising anger with this woman topped staying in character.

Apparently, the healer had nothing to counter with as well. Healer Greene did not look as if she was ready to counter anything Hermione Granger said. The healer cleaned the hard wood floors with a sweep of her wand, pursing her lips at her patient. Hermione raised her chin with an expression that dared the healer to say anything else.

Fifteen minutes later, the Healer left with a stern goodbye, muttering words like, "good for nothing", and "what am I here for."

Day: 15

The sudden noise erupting from Hermione's living room caused her to run over from her bedroom, pulling her shirt on while she moved toward the noise, completely alert for anything, wand in the back of her jean pocket.

"Malfoy?!" Hermione practically shouted in both surprise and anger. She felt her cheeks grow hot, and her blood rush through her veins in anger. Malfoy stood up regally, apparently having come out of the fireplace. He brushed the soot and dust off his pants and shirt, and ran a hand through his soot-covered white-blond hair. Hermione stared back incredulously, the words failing her. Malfoy just stood and gave her a hint of a smile, which angered Hermione more.

"What are you doing here? Why did—why are you here?" Hermione asked harshly, crossing her hands in front of her chest in a very territorial fashion.

Malfoy either had no idea how she felt at that moment, or chose to ignore it, because he replied very simply, "I came to see if you'd like to view another memory of mine."

Hermione suddenly felt very awkward and unsure. Didn't he get her letter?

"Didn't you get my letter?" she asked him, eyeing him with curiosity.

"Yes." Malfoy replied, as if the letter had nothing to do with the reason he was here. "I had a feeling you weren't being honest in it, so I came to ask you in person."

Now Hermione felt offended. How would he know if she was honest? What made him think she would lie?

"I am not going, Malfoy. I don't think it's a good idea for me to view them. I don't need to explain myself further; I think I made my choice pretty clear." She countered, shifting her weight to the left side of her body in a defensive stance. But apparently Malfoy wasn't taking no for an answer.

"I thought you said it would be a good idea to catch up on what you missed in the past two years, so that way you could move on and still have a sense of what happened. I don't think the memories are what's keeping you back." He stated bluntly, a small amount of hurt detectable in his velvet voice. His facial expression revealed another emotion that Hermione could not point out. His eyes softened the tiniest bit, as if she triggered some memory in his mind, but it was gone as soon as it had come, and his eyes were solid silver once more. "Why don't you just leave then? Start a new life?" Hermione simply stared at him, not making sense of what he was saying. Leaving? Starting over? She couldn't possibly do that. "Because you want to remember. Because you're not ready to completely forget." Malfoy answered for her, as he extended a hand out toward her.

Hermione's heart began to pound quickly at the truth in his statement. She was surprised at how well he seemed to know her intentions and thoughts. He was right: If he were someone else she would be viewing memories right now. She was afraid of what he might impose on her if she went. She was afraid of what he might show her. It wasn't so much as viewing the memories that was a problem for her anymore… it was Malfoy.

"I want to help you, that is my only intention. I'm simply showing you memories, and nothing more. I promise." He said softly now, meeting Hermione's pondering eyes. He knew her fear concerning him, then. There was no doubt in her mind. He simply wanted to show her memories, and she could always turn back if need be. Hermione uncrossed her arms and straightened up, her mind set and decided.

"Okay." She whispered quietly, as Malfoy lowered his hand. Hermione followed him into the green flames, shoving the tiniest doubts from her mind.

"This one is a couple of weeks after the first memory, on October 19th." Malfoy explained as Hermione prepared to delve into the memory. She nodded, placing a brave expression on her face, and touched the tip of her nose to the water, immediately feeling her feet lift off the ground.

Black swirls surrounded Hermione momentarily, and then those swirls molded into walls, ceilings, chairs, and people. She was in the Ministry of Magic again, in Malfoy's office. It looked the same as it did in the previous memory. Two figures stood in the middle of the room: Memory Malfoy, and Memory Hermione.

"—And what makes you think you're better qualified to do this than I? Do you think you're better than me because—"

"Sod off you scummy bitch! I'm only saying it because I've actually had experience in this type of thing. But you can't stand being involved in everything can you? You insufferable—"

"Watch your mouth, Malfoy! Just because I never kissed up to Voldemort-" Memory Malfoy winced at Memory Hermione's words, "-Does not mean I cannot do this case. They put you here to help me, not the other way around! Now—"

"Put me here to help you? Get off that high horse of yours Granger—"

"Oh look the ferret is going to teach me about not being snooty…" Memory Hermione shot in mock amusement. Hermione saw that both Memory Malfoy and Memory Hermione's faces were red, and their hands balled up in tight fists.

"We never could work together then, you know." A voice mumbled behind Hermione's left ear, making her jump and gasp in surprise. Malfoy looked amused at Hermione's reaction, and added, "I can come into the pensieve as well, you know."

Hermione ignored his statement, and turned around to watch Memory Malfoy and Memory Hermione in the midst of their heated argument.

"You are completely impossible to work with, Malfoy!" Memory Hermione yelled in frustration, grabbing some parchment and walking toward the door, passing Hermione and Malfoy on her way out. Hermione watched Memory Hermione leave, and turned to watch Memory Malfoy, who was massaging his temples with his smooth fingers, in an attempt to relax himself. He sighed deeply, and suddenly, swirls of black appeared, signaling the end of the memory.

Hermione did not feel her feet touch the Manor grounds however. Instead, the swirls of black continued, and she looked at Malfoy, a worried look etched on her face. He did not reply or acknowledge her worries, and merely stood there, waiting. The Ministry of Magic materialized once more, but they seemed to be in a different room now. It appeared to be a giant hall, with a single oak door. Sounds could be heard from behind the door: Talking and rustling of papers. Hermione tentatively reached to turn the doorknob with her hand, but Malfoy's voice stopped her.

"Wait." Was all he said. Sure enough, a few seconds later, the doorknob turned by itself, and Memory Hermione came out from behind the door, in conversation with Harry. They walked a few feet down the hall, and stopped, obviously waiting for something. "This is three weeks after the argument we just saw I think." Malfoy informed her.

Hermione looked back at the door, and saw Memory Malfoy step out into the hall. He looked tired, and worn. There were bags under his eyes from the lack of sleep. It was the first time Hermione noticed any change between Memory Malfoy and Malfoy, taking note of how much he had changed over the years. Hermione looked back at Malfoy, and then at Memory Hermione and Memory Harry, just in time to see Memory Hermione saying something to Harry and then walking back toward Memory Malfoy.

"Listen, Malfoy," Memory Hermione began to explain, as soon as she was close enough to Memory Malfoy. The man just stared at her impatiently, obviously having better things to do than talk to her. But Memory Hermione continued regardless. Her facial expression and the way she twiddled her thumb told Hermione that this was one of her rehearsed speeches. Hermione would often do that when something needed to be said, that she didn't quite want to say. "I know we aren't fond of each other. Trust me, the feeling is mutual… But this is our job. We got put on this case, and we need to put our personal problems aside for the sake of finding these death eaters and bringing justice to the affected persons. I'm not asking to be friends… I am simply saying that the insults and crude remarks have got to stop. From both sides. I am willing to put aside my personal dislike for you in order to solve this case, and I hope you are mature enough to do so as well." Memory Hermione took a deep breath, apparently satisfact with her little speech.

Memory Malfoy stared at Memory Hermione with an amused look on his face and replied, "It's not an insult if you're telling someone the truth, Granger. Now I understand you're obviously hurt by the truth so much that you had to concoct this speech and make it seem like I'm the wrongdoer, but there really is no working with you, Granger."

And with that, Memory Malfoy turned right around, and walked out of Memory Hermione's sight. Hermione felt a distant anger at what just happened, and turned to look at Malfoy with a sharp look, but he only looked at her apologetically. Black swirls appeared again, and then Hermione felt her feet leave the ground, and touch upon the Malfoy Library floor.

"What's the point of showing me that? It's just pointless arguing. It isn't necessary for me to see that." Hermione told Malfoy as they walked out of the library.

"Hermione, don't talk about what you don't know. I know what you missed. You don't. Trust me when I say there's a point."

Hermione stopped mid-stride, staring daggers at Malfoy's back. The plain truth in his statement took her aback, and his as-a-matter-of-factly tone offended her. However, the truth in his words kept her mouth closed, and she resumed her walk, refraining from any talking whatsoever.

"Would you like something to eat?" Malfoy offered her once they returned to his extravagant living room.

"No thanks, I'd better get going." Hermione said in a stubborn tone, still angry at his previous statement. She didn't plan to make this an extended stay anyways. He nodded, and Hermione dropped some floo powder into the fireplace, longingly shouting her address, "Apartment 13 Shaftsbury Avenue!"

The last thing she saw was Malfoy's regretful face, watching her spin away toward home.