Author's Note: And here is chapter thirteen, FINALLY. Again, so sorry for the late update. I really do feel guilty. I feel like I'm letting you all down, which is why I'm going to make a huge effort to update as soon as I can. I've just been so busy with everything!
Please leave a review, and let me know what you think of the story so far! These reviews do keep me going, and believe it or not, if I get enough reviews for something I will update faster!
The Missing Piece Chapter Thirteen
Day: 30
The kiss had haunted Hermione since she had left Malfoy Manor just a few days ago. She saw it every time she closed her eyelids to blink, and it inhabited every thought she had. Hermione tried to stop thinking about it in order to clear her mind a bit better but nothing she did was working. At one point, she had to resort to putting down the book she was reading and saying, "Stop!" aloud.
Had she overreacted? She had long accepted that she and Malfoy had a relationship, but perhaps seeing it actually happen was something completely different. It was all just so strange. She was not used to these types of things, and it just completely took her by surprise. She never thought Malfoy would show her those memories. Hermione felt nothing but anger at the blond man. Whether rational or irrational she did not know or care at that moment.
Hermione placed down the dishes she was cleaning with her wand in another attempt to clear her head. She sighed a heavy sigh, letting out all her exasperations she was feeling, but stopped short at a foreign noise. Holding her breath, she tentatively walked into the living room, in the direction of the noise.
"We need to talk." Came the voice of a very calm and collected Malfoy, who looked at Hermione with a very stern eye.
"I don't think so." Hermione replied shortly. She was surprised by the audacity he possessed, to just walk into her flat in such an unannounced manner.
"Hermione, this is ridiculous. Would you just listen?" Malfoy seemed like he didn't have much patience. Hermione crossed both arms over her chest in a defensive way, staring him down but keeping silent to let him know she was listening. Malfoy took the silence as acquiescence and spoke.
"I wasn't showing you these things in the hopes that you will one day come back to me. I showed you them because they happened, and you need to know about it. You need to stop denying to yourself that it never happened, because it did. You said you wanted to see everything, well, there it was. And there's more. You can't just lash out this way because you're too ashamed of what happened."
"Okay. You said your bit, now leave." Hermione said sternly. She wasn't quite sure why she was being so stubborn and rude but it was irrational anger that needed to be released.
"No. I'm not leaving until you understand—"
"I do understand Malfoy!" Hermione said, waving an arm towards the fireplace.
"I don't understand you. You know? You say you want to see memories, and I show them to you. This is the third time you've gotten angry with me, or refused to see them because you're ashamed of what happened between us, or because you think you're too good, or because it tarnished your glorious reputation—"
"Excuse me?! I do not think that at all! You need to stop making incorrect assumptions! Memories of us aren't essential for me to see. I need the ones that will get me moving in society not ones that are insignificant to—" Hermione froze mid-sentence at the petrified look on Malfoy's face. He looked like someone just slapped him across the face, and killed his favorite pet in front of him. "I didn't mean it like that, I—" Hermione attempted to amend the wound she had just caused, but she saw it was too late. Malfoy was staring at the floor, shaking his head.
"Hermione, you don't know anything about what memories are essential to moving in society. I've told you that. You were in love with me once," Malfoy said quietly but fiercely, his voice cracking on "once", "We were so in love, we had everything. You were my princess, my queen. So don't tell me how insignificant our relationship was because you don't remember what it was like." Malfoy paused, looking up at her, and Hermione felt terribly guilty at seeing that his eyes were brimming with tears. "Why do you want to remember everything but us? If you were in love with me once, I must not be such a terrible person."
Malfoy turned around, grabbed a handful of floo powder and dropped it in the flames. Hermione watched him spin out of sight with a heavy heart and a guilty conscience.
Day: 31
She knew. She knew he was right. She knew she was wrong, and being completely stubborn and unfair to him. She knew she should strive to remember every part of the life she had forgotten, not just the big things. But she would remain stubborn. She wouldn't ever admit she was wrong. Because admitting that, would give way to admitting something else, and that was unacceptable.
She didn't know why it was unacceptable, or why she rejected the very idea. It just couldn't happen. There was no possible way.
Day: 32
Hermione felt down and subdued the next day. Malfoy's harsh words truly brought Hermione to her own senses, and she couldn't stop replaying everything that he had said. Ron didn't help either, because every ten seconds he was asking if she needed something, or if she was okay.
"I'm fine, Ron, I promise." Hermione said for the sixth time.
"Are you sure?" He asked her, cocking his head and raising his eyebrows at her.
Hermione just nodded, and smiled to make her best friend stop. Ron kept eyeing her peculiarly, making Hermione shift uncomfortably on the sofa. Things had turned awkward with Ron. She didn't know when, or couldn't pinpoint how, but he was acting more reserved around her.
"Come to the burrow for dinner." He said suddenly, his eyes lighting up.
"I thought you and your mom were not on good terms." She stated blankly, looking at him briefly and then turning her attention to the hand print on her wall.
"Well, we made up. She made me my favorite food." Ron replied, smiling at the thought. Hermione chuckled, knowing Ron's weakness very well. If one had a plate of food, Ron would be disposed to doing anything.
"Okay. I'll go." She agreed.
"Good. See you at seven, then."
Later:
"Excellent nosh, Molly dear."
"Yeah, tasty, mom."
"Fred, pass the napkins will you?"
"I'm George."
"Oh, sorry George. Pass the napkins?"
"I'm kidding. He's George. I'm really Fred."
Hermione chuckled merrily as Fred passed the napkins to Arthur Weasley, who shook his head at his son. Dinner at the Weasley's was at it usually was, very noisy and bright. The food was to die for, as always, and Hermione couldn't help stuffing her mouth with everything that was an arm's length from her. Once the food was finished, and engaging conversation began, everyone moved to the living room, and settled down for dessert. There wasn't a whole bunch of people in the living room. Hermione counted Arthur, Molly, Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Charlie, and herself. But for eight people, the room was quite noisy. Fred and George were laughing at Charlie, who had ice cream all over the front of his robes. Hermione guessed it was another one of the twin's pranks. Molly and Arthur were talking excitedly about something with Ginny (probably about the Hollyhead Harpies, a professional quidditch team Ginny played in).
Ron nudged Hermione on the arm, and Hermione turned to him, watching his lips move, but unable to make out what he was saying. She cocked her head at him.
"What?" She asked, inclining her head closer in order to hear better.
Ron shook his head and looked up at the ceiling in a way that said, "nevermind."
"Let's go outside, shall we?" He shouted over Fred and George's wild laughter, and Charlie's cursing.
Hermione nodded and stood up, leaving her plate of ice cream on the coffee table. Ron did the same thing.
"Pretty nice night, huh?" Ron said casually, once the pair had stepped out into the cool breeze. Hermione looked up at the sky, and the many stars that filled it. It was a beautiful night. A night that could make one think about many things, like life, and love, and existence. Hermione took a deep breath, allowing the cool air to fill her lungs, and purify her thoughts. She felt calm, now. The night often did that to her.
"Yeah. Beautiful stars." She muttered, remembering that replying was in order. Hermione walked over a fence that outlined the Weasley's yard, placing both hands on top of it and looking up to the sky.
"You know my father says muggles think the moon is made of cheese?" Ron asked, walking over to where she stood, and mimicking her motions. Hermione gave him a look, and turned her attention to the moon.
"They don't really think that, Ronald, they say it looks as if it were made of cheese because of all the craters." Hermione muttered, slightly annoyed.
"I wish it were made of cheese… Imagine, me eating the moon?" Ron wondered aloud. Hermione shook her head, smiling. Only Ron.
Hermione studied the bright moon, trying to imagine what it would be like if it were actually made of cheese. She took a waft of cool air into her lungs, and watched the air condense and fade into the atmosphere, fully appreciating the peacefulness and beauty of the night sky. Some things were so simple, yet so wonderful to experience.
A few moments of silence surrounded Ron and Hermione like a warm blanket, as they both studied the night sky for a while, allowing their minds to wander. This was what Hermione loved about Ron. These moments could easily turn into awkwardness but with him, it never became so. Within their friendship, it was understood that they didn't need to talk all the time in order to have a good time. They could simply stand outside, observing the sky, quiet as mice, and have a great time. Hermione never felt the need to say something whenever there was silence with Ron, because she knew that he appreciated the quietness.
Hermione felt something along her left hand, and looked down to see Ron's hand, reaching to hold hers. Immediately, as if on instinct, her stomach contracted, and her heart rate sped up. She watched his hand entwine with hers, completely in shock. She was so surprised; all she could do was watch with wide eyes and blushing cheeks. She blinked a couple times, coaxing her mind to focus, and come to its senses.
"Ron, I can't do this." Hermione whispered quietly, pulling her hand away. His hand had been warm, so the absence of warmth was something she dully missed, but that would have been using him for her own purposes. Off in the distance, she heard George laugh, and Fred yell something indistinctly.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, I thought—" Ron began, whispering back. Even in the night, Hermione could sense that he was blushing madly.
"I know, it's just that… you're my friend. And, I don't know if I feel like that about you. It feels awkward." Hermione admitted. Those reasons were very true, but there was something else that bothered Hermione, and was the driving force in pulling her away: Draco Malfoy. She didn't know why, but she knew she had to pull away from Ron because it somehow wasn't fair to Malfoy. She felt guilty the whole hand-holding incident even happened, when she shouldn't at all. Her mind spiraled into an out of control analysis of her feelings for Malfoy, and Ron. It wasn't that she didn't like Ron, Ron was sweet, and funny, and very intelligent when he wants to be. Hermione knew they would make a great pair, and she would be happy, but admitting that she liked Ron felt like cheating on Malfoy. Of course, she wasn't tied to Malfoy in any way, but somehow, it didn't feel right. Hermione felt stressed at the fact that she couldn't decipher her own feelings. Did she like Malfoy as well? Hermione shook that thought from her head as soon as it entered. Having feelings for Malfoy was preposterous. She did once, but not again. Things weren't the same anymore.
"Yeah, I understand. You want to head back in? You look cold." Ron stated, his voice weak. Hermione knew he wanted to head inside to avoid tension and awkwardness, not because she was cold. She simply nodded, and they headed towards the hustle and bustle of the Weasley family, both hands in each of their pockets as they walked side by side.
A/N: For some reason, One Direction makes me think of Dramione. I think the song, "Gotta Be You" really outlines this story, from Draco's POV. (For you non-one direction fans, I'm sorry...)