Author's Note: I am so sorry for not updating on time... I had pretty bad internet connection, plus I've been really really busy... And I don't have them all typed up on my computer anymore, I actually have to type up chapter by chapter now... ): I'm not this inconsistent, I am so sorry! I'm a terrible person! But nevertheless, here you have chapter twelve of The Missing Piece. Yay! I hope you enjoy... I think this chapter is rather interesting, so I would love your thoughts on it(:
The Missing Piece Chapter Twelve
Day: 24
The fact that she had been obliviated was undeniable. It never really had been unbelievable. At times, especially in the beginning, somewhere in the depths of Hermione's mind she had always thought of those long forgotten memories as a dream. It was a play, a movie, which had never truly come into existence. But some things are too hard to ignore. Some things have to be accepted, and this was one. Especially given the memories she had recently seen. It hadn't hit her until she saw the picture of the coffee shop in France that Memory Malfoy held. The memory connected to a real place; a place where she once stood, and vividly remembered. That's when it hit her. That's when she had to truly accept what she was facing.
By default, if she believed the memories, she believed in Malfoy, and their relationship. And as she sat in front of the warm November fire, thinking, she consciously accepted that small detail that she had so stubbornly fought to deny. She thought back, to the memory, to his twitching hand, itching to touch hers, to connect with her, and to see if she was okay. He obviously cared, then. In the memory, he was reluctant to admit the reasons why he brought her to the hospital… Hermione could guess why. Did he still feel the same for her? The memory of Malfoy holding her hand caused a flashback to when Ron held her hand. Hermione had categorized that incident with Ron as a friendly gesture, so why couldn't Malfoy's hand-holding be the same?
Part of her hoped he did not like her. She certainly did not have feelings for him, and if he felt something for her it would complicate matters much more. Hermione didn't even know how to deal with a smitten Malfoy, if he was smitten with her at all. Her eyes flickered for three quick seconds to the hand print on her walls, with a new name popping into her head: Malfoy.
It was one word, a name. Simple. The name sat in her mind, tying everything together as she studied the hand print repeating one word: Malfoy. She broke eye contact with the hand print, slightly afraid of the conclusion she had just made. The question was no longer, 'Did she truly have a relationship with Malfoy?' It was now, 'How could she have fallen for him?'
She saw the civility and almost friendship Malfoy and she used to share through the memory she had watched yesterday. But perhaps she had missed something. Perhaps in the memory, she had already fallen for him. It was obvious Malfoy had already done so, but what about herself?
So many questions, so little answers, and one little hand print.
Day 25:
"Okay Miss Granger, before I go, I need to ask one more question." Healer Greene said in a very serious tone. Her scheduled checkup had been going well so far. Hermione was succeeding in being polite, and pleasing, and in response, the Healer was as well.
Hermione regarded Healer Greene with an expectant expression, inwardly bracing herself for anything the Healer could throw at her.
"Have you seen any memories recently?"
Hermione froze for a split second as she inhaled, but recovered just in time for the Healer to proceed without suspicion. Hermione knew the answer she should say was no, just to make Healer Greene leave quicker. But at that moment she felt mischievous. Her strong dislike of Healer Greene added to this as well.
"Yes, I have. Two days ago, actually." Hermione said, with a knowing smile. Hermione smiled a teensy bit wider as she watched the Healer's face get progressively red.
"Miss Granger I must impress upon you the danger of this irresponsible behavior." Healer Greene pleaded, pressing her hands together in prayer-like fashion.
"It is not irresponsible. In no books does it say that viewing memories could cause damage in any way to my situation." Hermione replied calmly, looking at the Healer directly in the eye, demonstrating she was not going to bend on this subject.
"Miss Granger, please. I have studied extensively in the field of memory modification. I think a certified Healer like myself would know a thing or two about memory charms, and the dangers they pose." Healer Greene said, her tone getting progressively more defensive with each word.
Hermione shifted on the loveseat she was sitting in. "Yet you have not ever offered any information as to why viewing memories in a pensieve could be harmful to my condition." She countered.
"One would think you would trust my judgment, considering my job. I do not understand why you would want to view memories. I have already informed you that your problem is irreversible." Healer Greene shot back, a small purple vein plainly visible from the upper left corner of her forehead. Hermione could sense the woman was getting offended, and angry, but she paid no mind. Hermione had never been a fan of people who did not give enough information, or did not know the field they were working in. Her feelings toward Healer Greene were quite similar to Hermione's dislike of Professor Trelawney, her Divination teacher during her third year of Hogwarts.
"Why I view them is truly none of your business. And I do not have a problem. I am not someone who has a disease. And I am still waiting for you to provide information as to why I cannot view memories, by the way." Hermione said aggressively, enunciating her words with such anger that her hands shook. Her dislike of the woman, combined with the woman's completely unsupported statements made Hermione enraged. And by the look of the purple vein on Healer Greene's forehead, she felt the same way.
"I will most certainly not be talked to this way. I am trying to help you but I see you are too stubborn." Healer Greene abruptly stood up, positively fuming. Hermione was sure that if her life was animated, there would be smoke coming from her ears and nostrils, and a train whistle would be audible. "Perhaps maybe you do not know it all."
And with that, she stormed toward the door, opened it, and slammed it shut on her way out.
Day: 26
"You're late." Malfoy said almost sternly, as Hermione got out of the fireplace and proceeded to wipe the soot and dust from her clothes and hair.
"You never specified a time." She countered, looking up at him when she was completely soot-free.
Together, Hermione and Malfoy walked up the extremely eloquent stairs, down several hallways, and into the now familiar library in silence.
"This memory is from January 25th, 2000." Malfoy said, sighing when he finished talking. He poured the memory into the basin, and Hermione did not hesitate to enter the pensieve.
"Malfoy! Malfoy!" Memory Hermione shouted, as she ran to catch up to him. Memory Hermione passed by Hermione, and Hermione instinctively moved out of the way, and watched her memory self run down the hallway after the blond.
"Malfoy!" Memory Hermione yelled, louder this time.
Memory Draco turned around looking annoyed, but something in his expression told Hermione he had been trying to ignore her, and that this was not her first attempt at talking to him.
"Stop avoiding me." Memory Hermione said firmly, before Memory Malfoy could reply.
"I'm not." Was all Memory Malfoy replied.
"I think I'm intelligent enough to know when someone is avoiding me. Stop lying to yourself. You know very well you were avoiding me." Memory Hermione continued, her tone bordering accusatory.
"I am not avoiding you, Granger. Stop being so conceited." Memory Malfoy said, turning around in the direction he had been walking before Memory Hermione had interrupted.
"You can't hide your feelings forever, Malfoy."
Memory Malfoy stopped mid-stride and froze. Hermione noticed his back straighten slowly, as he prepared to counter her statement.
"Hiding my feelings? What, do you think I fancy you or something?" Memory Malfoy said disbelievingly.
Memory Hermione lifted her chin defiantly.
"All I ask is that you stop lying to yourself, and pretending like I don't exist."
"Blimey, you really think I fancy you!" Memory Malfoy said incredulously, facing her, and regarding her with a look that clearly said, 'Who-do-you-think-you-are?'
"You brought me to St. Mungo's when you clearly did not have to." Memory Hermione began. Hermione could see by her facial expression that Memory Hermione knew she was right, and nothing was going to make her think otherwise.
"I'm your case partner; I just wanted to make sure you got help, for the sake of the case, only." Memory Malfoy shot back, defending his case. He crossed both arms over his chest in a stubborn manner.
"And you wanted to make sure you got help, because you care." Memory Hermione said knowingly, raising her eyebrows, and daring him to deny he cared.
"I don't care about you. I care about the case, for the sake of my job—"
"And I suppose the way you look at me while we're at meetings does not have anything to do with caring about me, and has to do with the case." Memory Hermione countered sarcastically. Hermione watched Memory Malfoy as his face went from pale, to pink, to red in a matter of seconds. Memory Hermione cocked her head, waiting for a reply.
"You're completely full of yourself. I sit right near you, it's hard not to look at that bushy head of yours!" Memory Malfoy said, his tone becoming defensive.
"So you admit you look at me?" Memory Hermione said, cocking her head to the other side.
Memory Malfoy threw his arms in the air in surrender. He brought a hand up to brush through his hair, and placed his other hand on his hips.
"Fine, Granger. Okay." Memory Malfoy said in defeat, clearly seeing there was no getting around Memory Hermione. Hermione's stomach dropped, and her heart began to hammer at the same time. Her hands curled into fists, and her mind was completely void of thoughts, too shocked to even function.
Memory Hermione smirked, apparently satisfact with the results.
Black swirls engulfed Hermione, changing the scene. Hermione stood in the same hallway the last memory had taken place, watching Memory Malfoy walk toward Memory Hermione's office. Hermione could see thoughts and ideas forming in his mind, and the absolute focus in his features as he threw the door open, stepping into Memory Hermione's office. Hermione quickly stepped into the office before the door closed shut.
Memory Hermione watched him with shock and surprise, frozen in the middle of the paperwork she had been doing.
"What about you?" Memory Malfoy said, stepping away from the door, and stalking toward her in a predatory manner. Memory Hermione looked away from him, giving her paperwork a questioning look.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Miss Granger, what about your feelings?" Memory Malfoy questioned, stopping once she reached her desk. Hermione could see Memory Hermione pressing herself into her chair ever so slightly, in an attempt to put as much distance between them as possible.
"My feelings a-about what?" Memory Hermione said, trying to seem unknowing and curious as to what he was talking about. She constantly looked around the room, to her desk, her quill, her walls, her pictures—everywhere but him.
"You know very well what." Memory Malfoy said flatly, clearly not in the mood to play games. Hermione could see he had a goal in mind, and he was determined not to get off-course. Hermione grew steadily nervous—so nervous she thought she would literally throw up from nerves. Her knees became weak with a mixture of anticipation and fear of what was to come. It was a terrible feeling.
There was an awkward silence, in which Memory Hermione became terribly interested in her nails.
"Don't deny it." Memory Malfoy prodded, moving forward ever so slightly in an attempt to have eye contact with Memory Hermione.
"I'm not denying anything." Memory Hermione shot back quietly but stubbornly, her eyes flashing to his face for a split second and then back down at her nails.
"Granger…" Memory Malfoy called, narrowing his eyes at the bushy haired witch.
Memory Hermione did not reply. Hermione watched as Memory Hermione's face became at least ten different shades of pink, red and everything in between.
"Granger." Memory Malfoy repeated, clearly trying to get her attention.
Memory Hermione did not budge. She stayed frozen in her chair, fidgeting with her nails, and attempting to keep her breathing under control.
"Hermione."
Memory Hermione's head snapped up, surprised by his use of her first name. Hermione froze, not daring to breathe. Memory Malfoy's face was inches away from Memory Hermione's…
"I—" Memory Hermione began, but was not able to finish.
At that moment, Memory Malfoy's lips were covering Memory Hermione's in an obviously passionate kiss, impeding that she say another word. Hermione had to squat down, not being able to support her own weight any longer. She wanted to look away, but somehow could not. Hermione thought Memory Hermione was going to push Memory Malfoy away, slap him even, but to Hermione's utter shock her eyes fluttered closed, and her hands drifted up to rest on his shoulders, pulling him closer. Memory Malfoy complied, deepening the kiss, and exhaling in an audible sigh. Hermione watched, chained to the sight before her, as Memory Hermione froze for a split second, and slowly broke away. Memory Malfoy rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. Hermione could see Memory Hermione's hands tremble as they drifted back down to her lap, feeling the muscles in his arms on the way.
Memory Hermione looked up at him, and chuckled lightly. Memory Malfoy smiled, and began to laugh.
Hermione didn't know the cause, or the reason. She just knew at that moment, now about one year ago, she had been perfectly blissful.
Those feelings of perfect bliss, however, did not continue once Hermione left the past and stepped into the present. When she caught sight of Malfoy, observing her critically while leaning against an oak shelf, a flash of white-hot anger overcame her.
"WHY DID YOU SHOW ME THAT?! I THOUGHT YOU WERE TRYING TO HELP ME, NOT MAKE ME FALL FOR YOU!" Hermione shouted shrilly, her voice furious. She wasn't sure why she was feeling like this, or why she was lashing out on him, but it just made sense to her. Hermione felt betrayed and plain lethal. Malfoy simply looked at her sadly from his spot by the shelf, not a trace of shame or anger on his features.
"I DON'T WANT THIS. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS. I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH YOU, STOP TRYING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, MALFOY!" Hermione said, getting progressively angry at the lack of response from the man in front of her.
"I wasn't trying to make anything happen. You have to learn to—"
"I DON'T NEED TO LEARN ANYTHING! YOU NEED TO LEARN NOT TO MANIPULATE MY FEELINGS—"
"Hermione. Stop." Malfoy said, his face turning a light shade of pink. His eyes portrayed anger but he was doing a good job not showing it. He leaned away from the shelf to get a better stance. "You wanted to see memories. I am showing you memories. That's all I am doing. You need to see everything. Why hide some aspects of your now forgotten life? What's the point—"
"The point is I don't want to see that, Malfoy. I don't want to see it. It's too… weird for me. Okay? I—"
"No. You need to accept it happened, Hermione. You have to. Because it did. And I'm not trying to sway your opinion, I am simply showing you—"
"Then stop showing me! Stop showing me anything!" Hermione blurted out angrily. Her voice shook when she spoke, and her hands were trembling once more.
Malfoy looked at her with frustrated eyes, his chest rising and falling visibly.
"Fine. Go, then." Was all he said.
Hermione didn't think twice.
A/N: It's hard to write a kissing scene from third person perspective... so please don't judge. I've been practically pulling my hair out, trying to make it something actually readable but it's hard because Hermione is watching it happen... I don't know. Please let me know what you think about everything so far! And once again, sorry for the late updates, but thank you for putting up with me(: