Author's Note: Okay finally! Chapter seventeen, for your viewing. Sorry that it took a while, I had to redo the entire story line I had in mind but now it's fixed and happy. Please enjoy, and don't forget to review!

The Missing Piece Chapter Seventeen

Day: 40

The words Malfoy had said to her in Hermione's dream did not fade with the passing of days. If anything, they resounded within her with every breath she took. Come back to me. Come back to me. Those four words were on repeat inside her brain, haunting her more and more with each attempt to ignore them.

But as Hermione held another letter from Malfoy in her hands, she knew she couldn't ignore her conscience any longer. Everything was a jumbled mess, even though somewhere in her mind, Hermione knew it shouldn't be this complicated. She placed the letter along with the other two letters Malfoy had sent her. They were short letters; the first asked her to go watch another memory; the second asked her to reply, and the last one Hermione put down asked why she wasn't replying. She didn't know exactly why she wasn't replying, she just knew she couldn't just yet.

On one hand, she wanted everything she had seen in the memories. She wanted the walks in the park, working late together in the ministry, the stolen kisses as she painted… him. But on the other hand, she felt awkward. She felt like perhaps a small part of her attraction to him was due to the fact that she had seen these memories. And if she loved him, if that's what it indeed was, she wanted it to be because of what she saw in him, not what she saw in the memories.

Her eyes flickered to the imprint of his hand upon her walls. The memory she had seen at the manor flashed before her eyes before she could shake it away. Keep it he had said, once her memory self had seen the imprint. Hermione shook her head, and took a deep breath. Perhaps she needed space. Yes, space. Space to think, and get her thoughts straight… see where her feelings lied. Orient herself to all the events that were happening.

Hermione was about to take another deep sigh when the fireplace flames turned green, making her breath catch in her throat. Momentarily startled, she stared at the flames with wide eyes, hoping with all her might that it was Harry, Ginny or even Ron, but once she caught sight of blond hair, her hopes went up in smoke. Her heart began to pound like mad, afraid of what he was here for. What if he demanded to know exactly what was going on with her? She was not the one to openly admit her feelings to anyone.

Malfoy stood regally in her living room, brushing the soot off his expensive robe, and she watched, barely breathing. He then stood to face her. His silver orbs met her wide chocolate eyes for a moment before he tore them from her gaze and began to scan her flat.

"I see you've received my letters." Malfoy stated simply, as his eyes found the three letters on her coffee table. His tone was flat, as if he had expected her to ignore his letters, but at the same time very disappointed that she did so.

"I was going to reply." She lied weakly. It technically wasn't a lie. She was planning on replying, just not that day.

"Why did you change? Why the sudden step back? I was under the impression everything was going well." Malfoy questioned her, ignoring her reply completely. His eyes were intensely focused on hers. His gaze pierced through her soul, making her feel small.

"I didn't, I just had a lot of things to do." Hermione replied a bit louder, in an attempt to regain her composure.

Malfoy gave her a look that clearly said he didn't believe her. He raked his left hand through his white-blond hair, and placed it on his waist, breathing out heavily.

There was a full minute of silence. It was the longest minute Hermione had ever experienced in her life.

"Are you afraid?" He finally asked.

Hermione had the feeling she knew what he was talking about, but decided to act clueless by raising one eyebrow at him.

Malfoy shook his head, seeing through her façade.

"I don't understand you."

"I'm not afraid of anything! I just—It's overwhelming!" Hermione replied, not meeting his eyes. "It's overwhelming. I don't want to see this. I don't want to see us together, I don't want you and I don't want to fall in love with you!"

Hermione finally faced him, her chest rising and falling noticeably, from her small outburst. She looked at him defiantly, the words that she had just uttered sinking in to her brain.

It seemed her words were working their way into Malfoy's brain as well. Hermione had never seen him so pensive.

"You already have, haven't you?"

Hermione didn't answer him. If she answered, she would lie. And she didn't want to lie. Her eyes grazed over her wall, landing on the handprint, and she remembered just how he had come up behind her and kissed her while she painted. Her knees began to feel weak.

"Hermione, there's no shame in that."

Shame? Her eyes flickered to his face upon hearing him utter that very word. The knowingness in his eyes told her it was true. She was ashamed of falling for him. Afraid too. Because a woman like her shouldn't fall for a man like him. Not under these conditions. It was at that moment too, that Hermione realized he knew her far better than she knew herself, and that scared her.

Malfoy took a few steps toward her, eyeing her in a way that told her he was expecting an answer.

"What's the point if I don't remember?" She uttered breathlessly. Even at this moment, when her emotions were running high, she couldn't ignore how attractive he was. The way the natural light in her flat accented his facial features, and made him more pleasing. It didn't help.

Hermione resurfaced from her thoughts to realize that Malfoy was dangerously close. Her breath hitched in her chest, and she made a move to step backward when she felt a hand lightly grasping her waist. She looked up to meet Malfoy's eyes, which bore a hungry, predatory expression. She didn't know if she should feel scared, or turned on.

"The point, Hermione," Malfoy said slowly, his voice rasping slightly, "is to make more memories."

As soon as those words were out of his mouth, Malfoy's lips collided with hers. Her eyes widened with the shock of being caught off-guard. She hadn't expected him to be so rash, but with each second that passed, her eyes slowly fluttered shut, enjoying the moment.

It was nothing like she had imagined, or witnessed. His lips were surprisingly soft and tender against her own lips, but at the same time Hermione could feel a sense of urgency and yearning with every passing second. Malfoy's hand was gripping her lower waist in a possessive manner, while his other hand was entangled in her curly hair, pressing her closer to him. Hermione's hand trembled slightly as it made its way up his strong shoulders, feeling every muscle, every inch of exposed skin. Malfoy's tongue lightly brushed her lower lip, almost pleading for entrance, and Hermione immediately complied, opening her mouth to him without thought. It was easy, kissing him. Natural, even. Malfoy's hot breath against her lips gave her goose bumps, and a chill shot up her spine. Her heart thundered against her chest, and she could feel his heart pounding as well, as he gripped her waist even tighter, pulling her even closer. It was almost as if he couldn't get enough of her. Malfoy let out a low, hungry rasp as he bit her lower lip, in an attempt to coax a reaction out of Hermione. She gasped, and Malfoy smirked against her lips as his hand moved down her waist to grab her shirt at the base of her spine. Her mind could not process the simplest of thoughts. Her brain was completely empty of reason, and filled with instinct. And instinct told her to deepen the kiss, and pull him closer. So she did. It was as if her body was familiar with his, as if it already knew what to do. It was second nature to her, kissing him. And somewhere, in the back of her mind, that scared her. But she couldn't think about that now, not with his soft lips and sweet breath.

Day: 41

Hermione opened the door with mixed emotions. Upon seeing Harry and Ginny, she smiled wide. But her smile dropped the tiniest bit upon seeing Ron, lingering behind the happy couple like a shadow, looking unsure as to whether he should be there or not. Her eyes parted hastily from Ron's face, remembering very clearly that the last time they had been alone together he had tried to hold her hand.

Ginny, being the most alert out of them all, seemed to sense the tension between Hermione and Ron, and so she spoke quickly.

"We came to see how you were, Hermione! Haven't seen you in a while."

"I'm fine, same old same old, not much to tell." Hermione said, stepping aside and allowing her three friends to sit down. Harry and Ginny sat together on the sofa, while Hermione took up a love seat in front of them. She saw that Ron was about to sit beside her, but he obviously thought better of it and sat in the seat farthest from her. Hermione took a deep breath to calm herself. She pictured herself with Ron for a fleeting moment, thinking of what it would be like to be with him, but suddenly, Ron turned into a familiar blond haired man and she shook her head in order to focus on the present.

Hermione started off the conversation by asking Ginny how her Quidditch career with the Holyhead Harpies was going, and soon the four friends were talking the time away. Hermione felt a wave of nostalgia hit her, because sitting there talking with her three best friends reminded her of those nights at Hogwarts spent in the Gryffindor common room, talking into the wee hours of the night.

"Hermione… how are things with the healer?" Harry suddenly asked. He had been looking like there was something on his mind the whole two hours they were talking, and once there was a break in conversation, he grabbed his chance.

Hermione cocked her head. She hasn't seen or thought of the healer in a while.

"She hasn't stopped by, now that you mention it. Oh no, that's a good thing!" Hermione added as she saw the look of concern on Harry's face.

"She's supposed to stop by at least twice a month. She hasn't come by at all?" Ginny cut in.

"No… not since… well I can't remember, but the last time she was here it didn't end well. I think she's angry at me for viewing Malfoy's memories." Hermione squirmed uncomfortably in her chair. Ron gave her a jealous look at the mention of the word 'Malfoy.'

"I'll stop by St. Mungo's on my way home. This is against protocol." Harry said in a serious tone.

Hermione sighed. Her friends were always so protective. She could take care of herself, and she didn't need any healer to come by to tell her she was okay, when she knew she was perfectly fine.

"Who-Who did this to me? Where and how did it happen?" Hermione blurted out, to her surprise. She had been subconsciously wondering this question for weeks now, and now that the subject of the healer was brought up, the question resurfaced. She had not intended to say it aloud, however, but what was done was done, and not even the uncomfortable looks on her friend's faces could make her regret asking.

"I wasn't actually there when it happened… Well, I was, but I did not witness it." Harry spoke slowly. Hermione looked around. Ginny was intensely focused on her fingers that were resting on her lap, and Ron had become suddenly interested in his shoes.

"But you must know how it happened." Hermione pressed, ignoring the tension in the room. She needed to know. These were things that were vital to understand about herself. She had put off the questions long enough, because she was distracted by Malfoy and the Healer but now that she wasn't, she needed answers.

"Hermione, I'm sorry but I don't think I am the right person to ask. I can't tell you. I wasn't there, so whatever I tell you won't be accurate."

"Then who is the right person to ask?" Hermione said almost desperately.

Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione caught Harry's eyes flicker to Ginny's who gave the tiniest shake of the head. Then Harry's eyes found Hermione's and resolve set in his features.

"Malfoy." He spoke simply.

A/N: What do you think so far? The next update won't be far away, I won't ever make you wait this long! Hope you liked it!