Author's Note: The next chapter, finally here! Sorry for the long wait, everyone. I got really sick and needed to make some MAJOR renovations to the story. But it's all fixed now. I made this chapter longer than the rest so far (ten pages) to make up for it. Hope you guys like it! Leave a review!
The Missing Piece Chapter Eighteen
Day: 42
"Come with me." Malfoy said simply, from the doorframe.
His posture oozed confidence and a small amount of cockiness from the way his body leaned against the frame, with both hands in the pocket of his robes. It reminded Hermione of a younger Malfoy, a Malfoy she had disliked for reasons that right then she could not remember, because all she could see was a kindhearted, changed man. She paused, staring at him with her hand resting on the doorknob, in a mixture of curiosity, and excitedness. She felt like a silly school girl on the inside. Hermione wanted to spend time with Malfoy and actually be alone with him, but she felt a bit nervous and scared by the prospect of that too.
"Where, exactly?" Hermione asked, her stomach churning as she watched his eyes search her own eyes, looking for something… The only place Malfoy ever took her based on her own memory was Malfoy Manor, but Hermione knew that if their destination was his house, he would have used the floo. He was planning on taking her somewhere else, that was for sure.
Malfoy waited a few moments before replying, "out."
Hermione raised one eyebrow at him, cocking her head.
"Don't you trust me?" Malfoy purred, with an air of self-confidence that made Hermione blush. She could not tolerate his cockiness at Hogwarts, but now that she knew the other side of Malfoy, she felt herself starting to begin to find it amusing, to say the least. "Nice ring." Malfoy added, spotting the ring he had given her a couple days ago. Hermione blushed.
"Where are we going?" Hermione asked, once Malfoy had practically dragged her outside. She followed Malfoy down the street, slightly annoyed at the slow, steady pace he set. She was always used to walking quickly, with a destination in mind, and quite frankly it did not seem Malfoy had anywhere in mind.
"Just enjoy the walk, Hermione. You get completely worked up over every little thing, and I swear, as much as I find that adorable, sometimes you need to trust me."
"Who says I don't trust you?" Hermione said in an accusatory tone, a bit hurt by his words. Deep down, however, she knew he was right.
"Not completely, you don't. If you did, you wouldn't ask where we're going." Malfoy raked his hand through his white-blond hair as they turned a corner in the same slow pace. "Don't forget, I know you."
Hermione sighed loudly in an attempt to hide her defeat. She knew he was right, so there was no point in arguing. Instead, she looked around at the buildings to attempt and piece together where she was headed. A few seconds of surveying her surroundings told her they were in muggle London, and her curiosity grew. A thousand possible destinations entered her mind, and she considered them in her head and discarded each destination based on probability. An amused chuckle snapped Hermione out of her thoughts.
"Would you like to tell me what's so funny, Malfoy?"
"Stop thinking so hard or your brains are going to explode."
"How did you know I was even—"
"Well for one, you're looking around everywhere as if you were just given the ability to see."
Hermione laughed, wondering if it was virtue or vice that Malfoy seemed to know her ins and outs. It was comforting and nerve wracking at the same time. She wasn't used to it. Not even Harry nor Ron knew her gestures and thought process as well as Malfoy apparently did. Who would have thought that to be possible? Hermione gazed at the sky mesmerized by life, and the situation she was in.
"Look over there Miss Curiosity." Malfoy said, grabbing her elbow in order to slow her down.
Hermione stopped, and looked around once more. She had been thinking about Malfoy so much she had not been paying attention to where she was standing, so seeing the sign that said: FUTURE SIGHT OF ST. MARY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL took her a bit by surprise. She took in a sharp inhale and held it, looking up at Malfoy with a perplexed look. He looked collected, surveying what was left of London Public Park with a stoic face and his hands in his robe pockets.
"It's changed since we were last here together. This used to be the public park." Malfoy spoke softly, as if he were sad that the park had changed. He had memories in this park with her. Hermione understood. She herself had memories in this park with Ron and Harry that she would like to preserve.
"I know." Hermione said barely above a whisper. "I've been here before, on my own. They changed it. A lot." She surveyed what used to be London Public Park with empty eyes, remembering the memories that Malfoy had shown her. The first time she brought him here, they had sat under her favorite tree, talking, and feeding the ducks. That seemed so distant now. She turned her head to look at Malfoy, who looked back into her eyes with intensity. His eyes pleaded something, she did not know what. Hermione felt oddly comfortable with him now, as if she had spent her whole life by his side. Her eyes flickered to his mouth, remembering his lips on hers just a few days ago, and wished their lips could meet again. It was a small wish, and it quickly left her mind as she snapped back into the present.
"What made you come here?" Malfoy asked, his voice filled with worry and excitement. He then took his hands out of his pockets and began walking at that same slow pace which Hermione detested.
"Just… I didn't really choose to. I just ended up here one day when I decided to take a walk. I guess I subconsciously remembered I used to spend the time here with Ron and Harry." A walk wasn't the word to describe that day, the day she ran out of her apartment because she was so emotionally upset, but Malfoy did not need to know that. She also wanted to add that she apparently used to come here with Malfoy as well, but that would lead to a place Hermione did not want to go to quite yet.
Malfoy merely nodded, looking down at the ground and the treetops. Everywhere but Hermione. Hermione tried to sneak a glance at his face to get a clue of what he was thinking, but caught nothing. During one of her quick glances at Malfoy she thought she caught a pained expression flash through his smooth features, but as quick as it came, it had gone.
"How… " Hermione began, but her voice trailed off into a whisper. There was a question she needed to ask him, but could not pluck up the courage to ask. It scared her to ask, for some reason. What if he refused to give her an answer?
Malfoy looked at her with a patient expression, silently guarded for any question he did not want to answer.
Hermione took a deep breath. She was entitled to know. That thought calmed her, and gave her the strength to continue on. She squeezed her fists together. At that moment, however, Malfoy stopped walking and motioned for her to follow him. They were at her favorite willow tree.
All thoughts left her mind as she parted the branches of the ancient tree and stepped inside into its beacon of green leaves. Malfoy was already sitting on the yellowing grass, patting the soil beside him.
"How what?" He prompted her as she sat down.
Oh. Right. The question. Hermione took a deep breath once more, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them for a sense of security.
"How did I lose my memories?"
Malfoy looked away from Hermione, ruffling his white-blond hair while he thought. Malfoy did not look comfortable at all. After a few seconds he finally took a deep breath, and looked at her straight in the eye. Shock froze her momentarily when she noticed Malfoy looked to be on the verge of crying. She didn't know what to say, what to do, how to react. So Hermione just froze, waiting, and pretending she did not notice.
"You know we were working on a case, from the memories I showed you." Malfoy began, his voice strangely calm and steady. "Well we were on a mission. We think they're death eaters, but rumor has it they're going by a different name now. For a different cause. We were going to infiltrate their headquarters and capture the—the people behind it. We got there, we fought. You were there too. We fought alongside each other, you know. Then—then I turned my back, and when I turned back around you were lying on the ground." Draco Malfoy paused for a moment, unable to go on.
Through his eyes, which were looking through the past, not at Hermione, Hermione could see the battle, and those they were against. She could see herself fall, and Draco's pain at seeing her on the floor. Then Malfoy continued.
"I didn't know… what had happened…. I was … but you woke up after a day or two. It was then we realized you had been obliviated. There were days, where I didn't know what was worse. To have you dead or alive without even remembering your adult life."
Hermione stayed silent, feeling wet tears trail down her cheeks. She was just beginning to realize the pain Malfoy must have been through. She felt so sad then, so empty. It hurt her to see him this way, but at the same time, it amazed her that someone could feel so much for her. Especially a man she least expected.
Then, in a sudden and very rash move, Malfoy was in front of her, one hand upon her cheek, drying her tears. She dared herself to look into his eyes. What she found was a broken angel, mirroring her feelings. Her heart tore itself into pieces at the sight of seeing a tear down the corner of his grey eyes. She had hurt him so much. And without even knowing it.
"I promise," Malfoy whispered with a trembling voice full of passion. "I promise, I will hunt down whoever did this to you, and I promise I will get your memories back. You, Hermione Granger, you will remember. I promise."
Hermione couldn't control the torrent of emotions that overcame her at that moment. All she could do was cry harder, and weep as Malfoy took her into his strong and protective arms. She wrapped her frail arms around his neck, and moved closer to him. Here, she felt safe. Here, under the willow tree, in his arms, she felt she could remember.
Day 43:
Hermione felt at peace today, if only for a moment. It had been a while since she had completely lost herself to a book, and fully dedicated herself to the words written inside. She was in a different world, one where she was only a visitor, and did not have to worry about anything besides whatever lay between the pages. She felt calm and peaceful for the first time in weeks, months even. Hidden away in a world of paper, she passed the hours, until a soft knocking on her door disrupted the blissful moment she was enjoying. With a heavy sigh, she pulled herself up from the sofa with much regret, and dragged her feet to the door.
"Hi." He said.
Every bone in her body froze. Shock kept her in place, preventing her from speaking, or acting remotely human. What was he doing here? She hadn't spoken to him in ages since…
"I know it's been a while but, I just—can I come in?"
Hermione felt herself nod. Ron was her best friend, and yet right now he felt like nothing more than a stranger. However, she stepped aside to let him in, and walked back to the sofa, where her book lay. With a sad look at it she closed the book, and placed it on the coffee table. Then she sat down. Ron sat down as well, looking as if he wasn't sure what he was doing here. Hermione guessed he was probably here on a sudden impulse. He had been known to act rash over the years.
"What brings you here, Ron?" Hermione asked as politely as possible, trying to eliminate any nervousness from her voice, and make the question as nonchalant as possible.
"I just… " Ron looked around, trying to find words to express how he was feeling. "Hermione, so, um. Okay, well I know things are pretty awkward right now, but… I just never felt this way, about anyone before. I've been feeling this way for a long time—for years now, and when we held hands and stuff, I just couldn't help feeling it again, and I know you feel the same. And—and now that Malfoy is not—now that you're not with him, I wanted to know if—if we could—if yeah."
Hermione just sat there, trying to burn a hole in the ground with her mind. She did not want to be here right now, answering this. She wanted to be in her book, The Secret of Merlin, and not here.
"Hermione?" Ron prompted again, his face as red as a tomato.
"Ron, don't make this more complicated. You're my best friend, I don't want anything to get in the way of that."
Ron's face turned even more red, if that was possible.
"Don't tell me you didn't feel anything for me, because that would be a lie."
"Ron, I just—didn't know how I felt about you or anything, okay? I didn't have my mind set at that point." Hermione said, speaking to the floor.
"And now you do?" Ron pushed, shifting his weight on the sofa.
"Yes." Hermione feebly whispered, finally looking up at Ron. She felt so awkward. There was a point in her life where she could say anything in front of Ron and he didn't care. There was a time where they could say anything to each other, but it was obviously gone.
"Who is it then?" Ron asked hesitantly, barely above a whisper.
"Ron, aren't you content with what we have? We're friends? Don't ruin that!" Hermione exclaimed a little louder, suddenly possessing the strength to look him in the eye.
Ron's nostrils flared, and he rose angrily from the sofa like a rocket. Hermione flinched from surprise.
"It's always been him, isn't it? Is there never a chance for us? What about me? What about how I feel? I love you Hermione!"
Hermione stood up, running on pure adrenaline. How dare he!
"What about you? Well, Ronald, what about me?! Draco has helped me through everything, he's been there for me, the least you can do is accept that and be happy! Okay? I'm sorry that I don't feel the same way, I truly am, but just accept that Ron! You're my best friend! I need you to stay that way." Hermione yelled, her knees trembling so much she had to fight the urge to sit down. Ron was being his usual inconsiderate self right now, and it made her angry.
"Oh so now he's Draco, is he? Hermione you have feelings for me I know you do! Give them a chance—"
"Ron don't you understand?! There is nothing between us! I'm sorry but I have feelings for Draco and Draco only! Just accept that!"
"I really don't know what you see in that git." Ron said in a dangerously low voice. He then stepped around Hermione, and left her apartment, slamming the door on his way out, and permanently disrupting the peace she had made for herself.
Day 44:
"Oh hello. I have not heard from you in a long time, not that I am complaining, but I think I am entitled to know why my personal healer, who is supposed to be helping me, did not show up for several days. Rather unprofessional, don't you think?"
"Miss Granger I apologize for my unexplained absence, but St. Mungo's was supposed to send the substitute healer while I was away." Healer Greene said, strangely polite.
"Away?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, my mother died, I had to arrange the funeral and tend to other family matters. I am not unprofessional Miss Granger, St. Mungo's is, now let's get down to business." The healer said briskly, inviting herself inside and taking her place on Hermione's sofa. Hermione thought to offer her condolences but she kept her mouth shut.
"Now, I know you are most likely still looking through memories, are you not?"
"Yes." Hermione replied affirmatively.
"Who's memories, may I ask?"
"Draco Malfoy's."
The healer froze for a split second, long enough for Hermione to notice.
"Is there something wrong?" Hermione asked coyly. She knew very well the healer was against her viewing memories, although she had no idea why.
"Miss Granger, I urge you, please stop. Viewing these can put you in critical condition, not to mention give you emotional trauma if the memories are strong. I have seen cases like this, I know you will not recover your memory, I am sorry to say."
"Why though? Why? I have not read anything negative about viewing memories and their effect on the obliviated."
"Miss Granger, I am a professional. I think I would know what is right for you given your situation. Now I would suggest starting over—"
"Starting over?!" Hermione exclaimed, not quite knowing where the healer was going.
"Yes, move away. Live a new life, and begin new memories. Leave everything."
Hermione did not know if she should laugh, or spit in the healer's face. She couldn't believe the audacity the woman possessed. Completely unprofessional, and insulting. Anger bubbled up inside Hermione like boiling water and she tried to steady herself by taking deep breaths. Hermione pictured herself grabbing her wand (that was currently out of her reach, unfortunately) and hexing the woman into oblivion. After she realized how rash she was acting, however, she quickly tried to steady her emotions in order to make sense of what the healer was telling her.
"Excuse me?!"
"It is my opinion that it would be better for you to begin again. Without the burden of knowing you have a whole chunk of your life missing. And if you do choose to leave, do not take anyone with you. Just yourself." The healer spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, which reminded Hermione of Professor Umbridge and made her even more angry.
Hermione rose from where she was sitting in the very same manner Ron had done yesterday.
"Wh—what—who do you think you are?! Your opinion is completely irrelevant! Your job is to—to make things better not—not offer advice—which is completely mental, by the way—on my life! Just what kind of healer are you? You haven't been giving me the proper care OR explanations, then you suddenly don't show up for weeks—"
"Miss Granger that was a family emergency—"
"I WAS TALKING. I am sorry but that's no excuse as to why you or the hospital, can't let me, the patient, know! And-and now you say this?! With what authority? The audacity you possess is incredible! I will not have you giving out opinions on how to live my life. I mean, are you even an actual Healer? Because you sure do NOT act like it!"
Hermione finished, feeling like a huge cinder block had been lifted off her chest. Everything she wanted to hurl at the healer had been said, she didn't care whether it was polite or not. She was left standing in the middle of her living room, facing this vile woman, with her chest heaving up and down. The healer looked unsure as to whether slap Hermione or cry. A small part of Hermione wanted to apologize but she held her tongue. There was no room for compassion with this woman.
"I understand," The healer began in a soft voice after a few seconds of tense silence. "I understand that you are offended, Miss Granger. That was not my intention. I was simply offering a bit of advice that I felt would make your life more bearable. It is for your safety, and for others."
"I would like you to leave my apartment please."
Hermione had nothing else to say to the woman. Hermione had a ball in her throat, getting tighter and tighter with each passing second, and a strong desire to scream and cry. Anger and sadness mulled over in her chest, not permitting deep breaths.
To her relief, the healer left without a word. As soon as the door shut with a soft click, Hermione ran to the fireplace and spoke the first name that came to her mind.
"Hermione?!" Came his voice from somewhere in front of Hermione's curled up body, followed by his arms, which surrounded her with warmth and comfort. Malfoy began to wipe the soot from her hair, her clothes, and her face, and then proceeded to wipe her rapidly falling tears with his smooth pale fingers and his kind touch.
He did not ask what was wrong. He did not ask what had happened. He simply held her close, making Hermione feel protected and cared for. Sometimes, that's all one needed.
"Draco," Hermione whispered tearfully, looking up from where she was against his chest. She pulled her hands away from him and placed them on either side of his face, studying him, feeling him. Malfoy's eyes betrayed a feeling of shock from the fact that his first name just came through her lips. That shock was soon replaced by fierce emotion as soon as Hermione went on. "I—I want to remember. I want to remember everything. I want to remember us."
"You will remember. You will remember everything, love." Malfoy whispered back, his voice shaking from emotion as his right thumb traced her soft, supple lips. "If that's the last thing I do."
A flicker of Hermione's eyes to Malfoy's lips was all it took. He leaned in, bringing their lips together for the second time. Hermione's heart felt full of joy and love for the man kissing her, and it beat quickly as he swept her up in his arms in mid-kiss, bringing her up the stairs.
Hermione wrapped her legs around Malfoy's waist, pressing herself closer to him, and opening her mouth to allow him entrance. He immediately responded with a hungry tongue, feeling every inch, exploring. Malfoy's hands wrapped around her lower back, hugging her waist, and pressing her even closer.
Hermione bit Malfoy's lower lip, which caused Malfoy to let out a ferocious growl. She moved away from his mouth and down his neck as Malfoy turned a corner and opened the door with one hand. Hermione found the place where his neck and shoulder met, and bit down. Malfoy let out a grunt.
Suddenly, Hermione felt herself fall, and she clung to Malfoy's shoulders to keep from falling. She looked around, and found she was in his bedroom. Her heart beat faster, and her mind raced, trying to make sense of what she was doing, and whether she was really going to go through with it. But once Malfoy climbed on top of her and kissed her lips slowly, all rational thought was lost. She only focused on the sweet taste of his lips, and the intoxicatingly wonderful smell of his cologne. He was everywhere. She felt a feeling take charge in her which she hadn't felt in a long time, and all she wanted now was to feel him, to move closer, to melt into him. Hermione's hands moved from their place on his shoulders to his soft hair, running her hands through it, and feeling each hair slip between her fingers. All there was in life at that moment was Draco Malfoy, kissing her sweetly and softly.
His mouth parted from hers slowly, and Hermione found herself lifting her chin up to him in an attempt to have him kiss her again. Instead, Malfoy moved down to her neck, planting butterfly kisses on every inch of her skin, savoring her. Hermione let out a sigh of contentment, feeling for the first time, truly happy. She felt his chest pressing against hers, his hands interlocking with her fingers above her head, his legs in between hers, his pelvis pressing down on hers. She had never had so much of Malfoy at once, and it made her head spin.
His hands ran down the length of her arms as he bit down on the base of her neck, making Hermione arch her back. His hands continued to roam downwards, to her chest, her stomach, and finally rest on the hem of her blue tee-shirt. Hermione then felt the weight on top of her lift, missing it immediately. But once she realized what he wished to do, Hermione lifted her torso a bit so that he could pull her shirt over her head with ease and Malfoy threw it on the floor. Then, to Hermione's relief, Malfoy was once again over her, pressing her against the silk sheets. Hermione suddenly wanted nothing more right now, than to feel her skin on his. With shaking hands, she lowered her arms to his shirt collar, and undid each button, one by one, revealing more and more of Malfoy's soft, warm skin. Once she was halfway, Hermione looked up to Malfoy's eyes, which stared intensely back at her with raw passion. Malfoy looked ready to rip the shirt off himself, in addition to the rest of their clothing, but with an incredible amount of self-control, he stayed where he was, allowing Hermione's trembling hands to do the honors. The shirt was off after a few more seconds, and then Malfoy's shirt joined Hermione's on the floor.
A fire ignited inside Hermione's lower region as her eyes roamed Malfoy's perfectly sculpted body. Her hands ran through his pectorals, his abdomens, and biceps, trying to study and feel them under her fingers. Malfoy took one of his hands and placed them on top of where her hand was on his chest, carefully bringing it up to his cheek. He lightly kissed it with the corner of his mouth, never once taking his eyes off of her. Hermione felt herself smile, and closed her eyes blissfully. Malfoy had never been sweeter. She felt his hands on her stomach, moving up until his fingertips met the very edges of her bra, caressing her as they went around to her back in order to unclasp the bra. It too, joined both of their shirts on the floor. For a few seconds, she felt no movement from Malfoy. She kept her eyes closed, being too nervous to look. Was there something wrong? She dared herself to open them after a few more agonizing seconds, and found Malfoy's appraising eyes. What she found in his facial features was unexplainable. He looked as if he were desperately trying to remember this moment, and at the same time, his face dictated he was remembering perhaps other times when he might have seen the same thing. He looked like he yearned to touch her, and as if it's been too long since he had experienced Hermione this way.
His eyes met hers in that instant, and he murmured, "I missed you."
Hermione's breath caught in her throat, completely filled with yearning for the man on top of her. He must have seen in in her eyes, because at that moment, he kissed her, with the same passion, if not more, than he had kissed her with after she came through his fireplace. Before she knew it, every single article of clothing joined the pile of shirts and bra on the floor. Malfoy placed his hands on either side of Hermione's head, and with her legs loosely wrapped around Malfoy's waist, he entered her. Malfoy buried his head by Hermione's neck, taking a deep sigh of relief. He then kissed his way up to her mouth, and once he was there did he begin moving inside her, making Hermione feel as if she were on top of the world.
Malfoy's body seemed to know what to do, where to touch, how fast, how hard. Hermione's body welcomed it, to her surprise. Malfoy's body knew Hermione's very well. Her body seemed to remember his as well, although her mind did not. With each thrust Malfoy gave, Hermione's body rose to meet it. Her hands were entwined in his hair, holding on tight. Her body pulsed, moving to the rhythm he set. Hermione let out a few sighs and grunts, feeling herself getting closer to the edge. Malfoy then bit her earlobe, grunting while he did so which made Hermione go internally wild. With each thrust she pushed herself even closer, feeling Malfoy go deeper and deeper inside her. She begged him, faster, and Malfoy in turn picked up the pace, expelling grunts and groans that rang through Hermione's body like echoes. It was the first time she truly felt complete. Her hands moved down to his back, holding it so tightly it no doubt would leave a mark the next morning. She was close, and by the sound of his voice and the animalistic look in his eyes she knew he was too. Three more thrusts from him was all it took, for Hermione to arch her back like a cat, her eyes wide. She let out a loud moan, yelling Draco's name just as Malfoy let out a raw grunt.
They both came down on the bed, Malfoy still inside her, their chests heaving up and down in time with their racing hearts. Sweat covered every inch of their skin. Malfoy looked into Hermione's eyes from where his head lay in between her breasts, and Hermione reached with her head and planted a small kiss on his forehead.
Malfoy's head came back down, exhausted, while Hermione's hands ran through his hair once more. She looked to her left, over at the pile of clothes, and then up to the window. Then they both fell asleep, immersed in the blissful heaven they created.
A/N: So, how was it? I just want to say thank you for all the reviews you guys have been leaving so far! I really appreciate each and every one of them! Oh, and I know the healer is a bit confusing, I mean what's her deal, but just be patient!