Author's Note: Sorry I took a bit longer than usual, I was really busy! But to make up for it, this is a PRETTY LONG chapter. About 12 pages. That's like, two chapters plastered together, so I really really hope you guys enjoy. Consider this the turning point, because this is where everything starts. Enjoy!
The Missing Piece Chapter Twenty-One
Day: 49
"Why are you here?" Hermione blurted out upon opening the door, unable to hide the suspicion and accusation in her voice. Not that she cared whether she was nice to the healer or not.
"Miss Granger please understand it does take time to find a replacement healer. This will be my last visit, however." Healer Greene replied, not bothering to mask her impoliteness. The healer then barged into Hermione's apartment, sitting down on her usual place on the couch, and conjuring a clipboard with her wand.
Hermione crossed her arms. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. This was her last day.
"Alright then." The healer began once Hermione sat down. "Have you been experiencing anything out of the ordinary since my last visit?"
"No."
"Are you able to recall anything in the past two to three years?"
"No."
"Any strange dreams, unusual feelings of foreboding, deja-vu?"
"No."
"Have you been experiencing anything off due to the fact that you have been watching memories?"
"No." Hermione took a sharp inhale. "There is nothing wrong with watching memories." She added indignantly.
"Miss Granger, I come to realize what you do with your health is your business, but please take my warning seriously. Watching memories in the pensive may trigger many unsafe side effects."
"Warning taken." Hermione replied shortly.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Miss Granger." The Healer warned again. She got up, and walked herself to the door. As she closed the door, Hermione caught the words, "There's no turning back once your memory has returned." The words were spoken so softly Hermione almost hadn't caught them.
Hermione paused, a bit taken aback by what she had heard, but promptly decided to let it go in favor of having the healer out of her apartment as soon as possible.
Once Healer Greene left, she went to the fireplace.
"Harry? Harry!" Hermione called through the green flames. He should be in his office, Harry was definitely working today.
"Hermione?" Responded Harry's voice from somewhere in the room. He then appeared in front of the fireplace, kneeling down to look at Hermione properly. "What's—"
"The healer came back. Didn't you replace her? St. Mungo's doesn't usually take this long to replace a healer…" Hermione interrupted.
"Hermione they already replaced her. The new healer is supposed to come in two days from now." Harry replied, his words slow and his tone confused.
Hermione scrunched her eyebrows together.
"Apparently not because Healer Greene was here today—Hey! Harry where are you going?!" Hermione shouted after Harry's suddenly retreating form. Hermione had seen the sudden realization in the green eyed wizard's face. Harry knew something. And she wanted to know what.
Yelling at Harry Potter from the fireplace was not going to accomplish anything, as for Harry had just left his office, so Hermione retreated back into her own living room, her mind racing.
Day: 50 part I
It came like an epiphany. Hermione lay on her bed, absentmindedly admiring the ring Draco had once given her, and suddenly, as if a light bulb had been turned on, she realized she had been wasting her time.
Yes, she had been wasting her time with Draco Malfoy. She had been wasting time fighting over her feelings concerning him; she had been wasting time arguing with him and distancing herself from him rather than be with him. It was so obvious.
Malfoy had been there for her since day one. He was the sole person actively helping her to regain her life back. All of her other friends had sort of accepted her fate, and stood by. Malfoy hadn't. And despite her grudges with him, and all of those times she had resisted his attempts at returning her memory, he was still beside her. He knew when she needed space, and when she needed to be figuratively slapped.
Besides, she had once loved him. She knew herself. She wouldn't have fallen in love with him if Malfoy wasn't worth it.
Hermione sighed. She wished she realized this sooner. It was all so clear now.
She got up and walked to her living room. She owed someone an apology.
She couldn't help coughing as she crawled out of Malfoy's fireplace. Hermione stood up with shaky legs, whipping soot from her pants, shirt, and hair. The living room was empty.
She looked around, coughing again due to the residue soot in the air, and that's when she saw Draco Malfoy at the top of the stairs. His expression was one of surprise and joy.
Hermione smiled a small smile, feeling a bit foolish for coming unannounced.
But Hermione threw caution to the wind and followed her instinct, running up to where he was and kissing him fiercely.
She poured all of herself into the kiss, hoping to let him know she was finally here to stay. Draco in turn pulled her closer, a bit taken aback by her sudden move.
"I'm sorry." Hermione whispered as she pulled away, looking into his loving grey eyes.
Malfoy still looked taken aback.
"I was not expecting this from you." He replied. He then smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "You don't need to apologize."
Hermione sighed, content. She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted of her shoulders.
She stayed there, embracing her love with all her might, and he held her close as well. Suddenly, as if a new idea had struck her grey eyed wizard, Draco pulled away, and looked at Hermione deep in her eyes.
"I had the library investigated. We found no trace of who did it. Whoever did it was good, really good. They had some sort of training. Definitely from the ministry or something. So that has us all tensed up. But we're on the case. I just wanted to let you know, because they hadn't destroyed the memories you needed. I was wondering if you'd like to finish them up?" Draco Malfoy informed her, his voice rising as he approached the end of his sentence, forcing it into becoming a question.
Hermione studied him, and the expectant gaze he gave her. She wanted to think about the information he just told her, about who the culprit could be, but she would save that for later. For now, watching the memories was higher on her priority list. She quickly accepted, and with a kiss on the lips and a tug of her hand, Malfoy led her to the library.
"This one needs a bit of background." Malfoy said in an informational tone one the memory was in the pensieve. "This took place in May, a few days after my parents passed away—"
Malfoy stopped once he saw the look of mild shock and curiosity that graced Hermione's features. Hermione remembered that right after the war, Draco's parents had been put on trial. It was a long process, filled with controversy. No one knew if the Malfoys were still on Voldemort's side, if they switched during the battle because the Death Eaters were losing, or if they truly had a change of heart. Narcissa's lie also became quite the hot topic, but Harry quickly cooled that one, claiming that no matter what her motives were, they were crucial to Harry's survival and the end of Voldemort. Hermione didn't recall anything after that.
"My parents passed away, yes." Draco said, resuming his speech. "They committed suicide. You used to know this. I told you all about them." Draco's voice became pained, and his eyes misted over, probably remembering times when Hermione remembered Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. "They were very proud—too proud. And even though the Ministry ruled that they were innocent and on the right side, society still shunned them, and considered them liars, and cheaters. Everyone thought father paid his way out of Azkaban. They didn't, though. They truly lived like honest people. After they were freed from him, it was like they were brought to life. I mean, they still kept their ideals, but they weren't as afraid. But they were alone. Practically everyone who they were acquainted with either got thrown in Azkaban for life, or thought them cowards and turned the other way. So mother and father grew tired, and decided to end their suffering. It was wise, I think. If they're happy."
It was in his words that Hermione found a glimpse of the snobby Draco Malfoy she knew from Hogwarts. She found it in his proud tone when talking about his parents and the way his eyes shone bright and proud. Once a Malfoy, always a Malfoy, Hermione supposed. She was glad to see parts of Malfoy she remembered, however, although she was surprised it did not waver her feelings for him at all.
"That's terrible. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Was all Hermione could say. She couldn't feel completely bad, because she never had a great reputation with Draco Malfoy's parents, but losing a parent was horrible nevertheless.
"Anyways." Malfoy said, changing the subject quite abruptly. "Here's the memory."
"Well, I think I've got everything." Memory Malfoy said, checking over his luggage. Hermione saw he had taken what looked like all of his possessions and shrunk them all to fit a small carry-on bag. They stood at the front lawn of Malfoy Manor, with the awkward air or departure lingering between them.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay, Draco?" Memory Hermione asked. "I could come with you, at least offer some comfort." She added in a hopeful tone.
Memory Malfoy leaned over and kissed Memory Hermione's forehead.
"I'll be fine, love. I'd love for you to come, but you know how my family is. I don't want them hurting your feelings. I'll be back before you know it." Memory Malfoy comforted, taking her hand and kissing it as well.
Memory Hermione smiled sadly.
"Twenty days is a long time."
"An eternity when it's spent apart from you, Hermione. I'll write to you. Every day."
Memory Malfoy checked his watch. His face scrunched, and the expression in his eyes dictated there was little time left.
"The portkey leaves in one minute." Memory Malfoy took Memory Hermione into a tight hug, planting a passionate and feverish kiss on her lips. He then stepped back and carried his luggage over to a small statue that was placed on the ground. He checked his watch once more, and promptly touched the small statue.
As soon as he was gone, the memory shifted.
Hermione was in the same place. Nothing had changed but the sky, and the temperature of the air. The sun was setting, and a chill had settled. Hermione jumped from fright when a shape suddenly appeared with a pop. It was Memory Malfoy, having just arrived by portkey. He looked drained, exhausted and Hermione noticed there were dark circles under his eyes. Memory Malfoy must have had sleepless nights.
The doors to the manor opened, and out came a house elf, to Hermione's utter surprise. A flash of hot anger coursed through her—how had she allowed him to keep a house elf?
"Welcome back, Master Malfoy." Greeted the house elf regally, approaching Memory Malfoy with grace and taking his suitcases for him. The house elf snapped its fingers and the suitcases vanished. Hermione took a good look at the house elf for signs of abuse. She found none. The house elf was female, stocky, and held herself with a sort of proud posture. This calmed Hermione a bit more. Perhaps Memory Hermione had allowed him to keep a house elf as long as they were paid, and treated fairly.
"Thank you, Daisy. Good to see you as well." Memory Malfoy greeted back, his voice tired, yet gentle and polite.
"Daisy prepared Master's supper. Shall Daisy call Miss Granger too?" Daisy asked, walking alongside Memory Malfoy back to the manor.
"Yes, please tell Hermione I am here."
Daisy the house elf opened the doors to the manor, and allowed Memory Malfoy to step inside. Daisy then went into another room, probably to call Memory Hermione, Hermione guessed.
The fireplace lit up a brilliant shade of green not even ten seconds later. Out of it came Memory Hermione, who looked frantically around the large and luxurious living room until she found what she came for. There were dark circles under her eyes as well. Once she spotted Memory Malfoy, she quickly dusted off the dust from the fireplace, and ran to him with such a force that it knocked them both down to the floor.
Memory Malfoy groaned loudly.
"oof—did you miss me her—"
Memory Malfoy did not get to finish his sentence. Memory Hermione had trapped his lips in a passionate kiss, rendering his speech impossible. Memory Malfoy seemed to return the passion with even more intensity. His hands roamed all over her body, touching, feeling, and remembering. Memory Malfoy's hands traveled up to her hair, gathering her curls in his fists and tugging on them occasionally. Memory Hermione's hands, however, didn't seem to be able to stay in one spot. They groped his hair, and then quickly went to caress his neck, shoulders, biceps. Her hands squeezed his waist, and she put one leg on either side of his body, straddling him. A groan escaped Memory Malfoy's lips, making Memory Hermione grind her body against his. Hermione saw Memory Hermione's tongue slip inside Memory Malfoy's mouth, exploring him, and feeling him as much as possible. It was evident they had missed each other.
Then suddenly, it stopped. Memory Hermione sat up, still straddling Memory Malfoy, her chest rising and falling, completely breathless. Memory Malfoy's hand raked through his hair, and a sigh escaped his lips. Memory Hermione got off of the handsome wizard, and helped Memory Malfoy stand up by giving him her hand. Once he had stood, she still had not let go of his hand. Instead, she tugged on it, and started walking in the direction of the stairs.
"I missed you, Draco." Was all Memory Hermione said. Her voice surprised Hermione. It was not a tone of voice she usually used. It was seductive, low, and completely sexy. It worked like a charm on Memory Draco, however.
"I-I missed you too, Hermione." He replied, a bit stunned by her tone of voice. "What are you doing?"
Hermione followed Memory Hermione and Memory Draco up the stairs, and down a hallway. Memory Hermione had not yet answered him. A bundle of nerves formed in the pit of Hermione's stomach, due to anticipation.
"I want to show you how much I missed you." Memory Hermione said simply, in the same seductive manner. Memory Malfoy's eyes widened in surprise, and a smile crossed his lips. He opened his mouth to say something, but promptly closed it when nothing came out. Hermione chuckled lightly at the smirk on Memory Hermione's lips.
Memory Hermione approached a door, and opened it, still holding Memory Malfoy's hand. Hermione unwillingly followed inside before the couple shut the door.
Once inside, Memory Hermione did not hesitate to shrug off Memory Malfoy's robes, and pants. He in turn helped her shrug off her pants, and shed her shirt. Memory Malfoy gave Memory Hermione an appraising look, his eyebrows raised in astonishment at the sight of her toned body. Memory Hermione wore a lacy red bra, with matching underwear. Hermione blushed, knowing that she never bothered to match her undergarments. This was definitely planned.
Memory Hermione stood there as well, her eyes devouring Memory Malfoy in his blue silk boxers. Two seconds had barely passed when Memory Malfoy suddenly lurched forward, closing the space between himself and Memory Hermione, trapping her in his embrace.
"I missed you so, so much…" Memory Malfoy moaned as he kissed along Memory Hermione's neck. Memory Hermione closed her eyes, her face blissful. She pressed her body closer to his, the yearning for him very evident. Every time Memory Malfoy moved, Memory Hermione's body adjusted with his so that she was touching him at every possible moment.
Memory Hermione's hands reached up and grasped Memory Malfoy's shoulders, and she pushed him back until the back of his legs hit the bed. She then pushed him down onto the sheets, and climbed over him, straddling his body, and trapping him there. A loud moan escaped Memory Malfoy's lips—Memory Hermione had just bitten where his neck met his shoulders. That action caused him to raise his pelvis and grind it forcefully against Memory Hermione's driving her wild.
Hermione felt a bit uncomfortable watching all of this. Why would Malfoy want to show her welcome home sex? She averted her eyes to the far wall when Memory Malfoy used his teeth to remove Memory Hermione's bra, feeling a blush climb to her cheeks and a distant tightening on her lower stomach. When Hermione regained the courage to look back at the memory, all of their clothes had been removed. Light gasps and sharp intakes of breath could be heard escaping from Memory Hermione's lips as she moved back and forth on top of Memory Malfoy.
The noise of skin slapping against skin echoed throughout the room, intermingling with Memory Malfoy's grunts, and Memory Hermione's sighs. After about five minutes the gasps and moans grew louder and came one after another. Memory Hermione's body moved faster against Memory Malfoy's, and he met her thrusts with passionate lust. Hermione blushed and felt her face heat up when Memory Malfoy yelled Hermione's name as he orgasmed, followed by Memory Hermione's moans. It was too embarrassing for her to witness, so she looked away from the scene awkwardly, tapping her foot out of nervousness.
Once the loud breathing had subsided, Hermione slowly and hesitantly averted her eyes from the point in the wall she was starring at, and looked at the tangled mess of bodies that was Memory Hermione and Memory Malfoy.
Memory Hermione was now lying on the bed, with Memory Malfoy beside her, caressing her face. She looked up at him lovingly, the smile on her face never fading. One of Memory Hermione's legs was wrapped over Memory Malfoy's waist as he hovered over her, the ends of his white-blond hair skimming her forehead.
"I can't spend another minute apart from you my love." Memory Malfoy whispered, his voice shaking from their previous activities.
Memory Hermione remained silent, her eyes studying his, her hands reaching up to touch her fingers to his pale cheeks.
"I couldn't sleep, just thinking about you, and how you were, what you were doing. It was like a part of me was gone. I can't do that again. It was too much." Memory Malfoy continued, his silver eyes melting under Memory Hermione's loving gaze. He inhaled, and kissed her forehead gently and tenderly. Hermione continued to regard the scene, completely transfixed by what was going on. He was so gentle with her. Hermione felt warmth in her chest as she watched the couple, enjoying their moments together.
"It was the same for me, Draco. Those days away from you were the hardest to get through." Memory Hermione finally whispered back. Hermione caught a look in her eye—a look that said there was so much more Memory Hermione wanted to say, but couldn't find the words to. She loved him. Everything pointed to that.
"Stay with me then, Hermione. Move in with me."
"Yes."
The memory shifted. Swirls of black engulfed the tender scene, surrounding Hermione and changing her surroundings. Once it had cleared, Hermione found herself in Malfoy's large living room, moving boxes and furniture with her wand and positioning them wherever she pleased. House elves went back and forth between Memory Hermione's flat and Memory Malfoy's living room, snapping themselves from one destination to another with ease. Memory Hermione levitated three boxes marked with the word "clothes" and sent them up the stairs.
"Draco there's three more coming!" Memory Hermione shouted in the direction of his bedroom.
"More?!" Came Memory Malfoy's voice from up the stairs.
"These are the last ones, stop complaining!"
"I'm working like a house elf up here!"
"DRACO MALFOY!"
There came no reply. Hermione imagined Memory Malfoy upstairs in his bedroom, cringing from Memory Hermione's thundering voice. She chuckled.
Three house elves materialized in the living room, and tugged on Memory Hermione's shirt in order to get her attention.
"There are no more boxes, miss. Is you needing us still?"
"No, I don't. Thank you so much for helping me, Daisy. You too, Clyde and Rosie." Memory Hermione said tenderly. "Here is four galleons for each of you."
"Oh no miss, we is not needing money, we is happy to help miss out in any way!" Daisy the house elf said, distancing herself from the money Memory Hermione was offering. Memory Hermione studied the house elves curiously a bit, and then hesitantly placed the money back in her robe pocket.
"Told you." Came Memory Malfoy's voice from the top of the stairs.
Memory Hermione let out a defeated sigh, and the house elves apparated themselves out of the room with a snap of their fingers.
Memory Hermione looked up at Memory Malfoy, pouting.
"Welcome home." Was all he replied.
"Well that was…" Hermione said, trailing off at the end of her sentence. Visions of herself and Malfoy having sex replayed vividly in her mind, making a deep red blush crawl up her face.
Malfoy took no notice. He was already dumping another memory into the pensieve. Hermione looked at him curiously.
"Again?"
"Well, this is the last one. I thought you might just want to get it over with. This is the most important one. This is everything. All these last ones… are just background. If you don't want to see, that's fine."
Malfoy stood by the pensieve, watching Hermione with a guarded and curious expression in his eyes. Hermione paused, her heart rising to her throat. The last memory. The most important one. She felt nervous to watch it, unsure of what it would hold, but on the other hand she felt her curiosity rising, and a feeling of anticipation coming along with it. To end her questions once and for all.
"I want to watch it." She told him, as strongly as possible.
Malfoy stepped aside, gesturing silently with his hand to the pensieve. Hermione stepped forward with purpose, and plunged right in without hesitation.
She found herself in a battle scene. It looked to be placed in an abandoned muggle factory, from the looks of the crumbling walls, the shattered windows and scrap metal lying everywhere. Witches and wizards were firing at each other, some ducking for cover, and some falling down injured. Hermione found Memory Malfoy and Memory Hermione in the midst of all this, fighting side by side. Hermione immediately noticed something wrong with the scene, which no one else actually in the memory seemed to grasp. Everyone who they were fighting against—she assumed they were Death Eaters—would periodically shoot glances at Memory Hermione. In fact, everyone on the opposition seemed to be working their way toward her. Hermione shook her head, thinking she must be seeing things and decided to concentrate on what was truly happening.
A line of red light flew in the direction of Memory Hermione but Memory Hermione blocked it before it close. Memory Hermione threw green light at in the direction of where the red light had come.
"Stupefy!" Memory Malfoy shouted at a masked Death Eater. The spell hit the opponent straight in the chest and they fell to the ground.
"Get him away from her!" Hermione heard a male voice shout.
Two death eaters suddenly materialized in front of Memory Malfoy, both shooting a green light in his direction. Memory Malfoy ducked, turning away from Memory Hermione and sent a stream of red light in either direction. Hermione watched, trying to resist the urge to bite her fingernails out of nervousness. Her eyes went back and forth between Memory Hermione and Memory Malfoy, watching them each take down death eaters.
"Stupefy!" Shouted a death eater, their spell aimed for Memory Hermione. Memory Hermione blocked it, but just as she did the death eater sent another spell. Memory Hermione was able to block that too, but the next spell shot out of the opposing wand even quicker than the last. Memory Hermione's defenses were slipping, and Hermione's hands shook, knowing full well her own potential on the battlefield.
"Obliviate!" The death eater shouted. The spell hit Memory Hermione square in the chest, the impact sending her back about ten feet. Memory Hermione fell limp to the ground, her wand rolling out of her hand. Hermione couldn't help but scream, tears filling her eyes. This was it. This was that moment. The death eater retreated, a spell brushing the back of the death eater's neck just as their back turned. Hermione spotted a black shape upon their neck, black, like a dragon. As soon as she saw it, her heart stopped. She knew that shape. She knew that dragon tattoo.
"HERMIONE!" Came Memory Malfoy's pained scream. His voice cracked with fear and anger. He ran to her, shooting killing curses at everything in sight. "Hermione?! Hermione! Hermione please please Hermione! Hermione HERMIONE!" Memory Malfoy repeated over and over, holding Memory Hermione's limp body by the shoulders and shaking it vigorously. It was no use.
Hermione couldn't breathe. With her newfound information and the emotional strain of watching Memory Malfoy scream over Memory Hermione's body was too much for her. Her body shook, and convulsed.
"Oh god make this stop." She gasped, bringing her hands to her mouth.
Memory Malfoy was sobbing now, tears rolling down his cheeks making him resemble an angel.
"Hermione?!" Came Memory Ron Weasley's voice, from somewhere. Hermione did not know.
"Tell Potter I'm taking her to the hospital." Was all Memory Malfoy was able to choke out, and with a cracking sound, he was gone.
The scene changed. Hermione found herself in St. Mungo's standing in front of a hospital bed. Tucked in neatly under the sheets was Memory Hermione, still unconscious. Hermione was shocked to see how pale Memory Hermione's face was. It truly did look as if she were dead. Memory Malfoy sat in a chair beside the bed, deep in thought. In his hands was a velvet box, which was open. Inside was the object which Memory Malfoy was studying. Hermione crept behind Memory Malfoy to get a look.
It was an engagement ring.
The memory shifted again. Hermione was still in the same room, but now it was night. Memory Malfoy was still there, occupying the same chair. Memory Malfoy's eyes were empty, void of all emotion. A single tear escaped his eye, but he didn't seem to notice because he made no move to wipe it away.
Memory Malfoy's nostrils flared, and he took a deep breath.
"Hermione?" He said, his voice shaking and barely above a whisper. There was no answer from Memory Hermione. Hermione didn't dare breathe.
Memory Malfoy suddenly got up, pacing angrily across the room. His fist collided with the wall. He let out a frustrated growl and raked both his hands through his hair. Hermione saw his face was filled with more tears. She had never felt so sad. She desperately yearned to comfort him.
The memory shifted again.
Hermione was still in the same room, but by the sun's position in the sky Hermione guessed it was early morning. The atmosphere inside the hospital room did not reflect the blue skies outside.
Memory Malfoy stood beside a healer, who was carefully evaluating Memory Hermione.
"Yes, yes, it is quite obvious now." The healer told Memory Malfoy. "She is not dead, Mister Malfoy, she has been obliviated. Very strongly, I must say. No wonder she has been unconscious. There is nothing to do but wait."
Relief and pain set in Memory Malfoy's features. The hands that had been balled up in fists relaxed a bit.
"It's been three days." Memory Malfoy let out angrily.
"I know it's hard Mister Malfoy. But that's all that's left to do. You may take her home after today. We estimate that she has had about two years' worth of memories erased. Make her wake up in a place which she is familiar with." The healer instructed calmly, unfazed by Memory Malfoy's angry tone.
Memory Malfoy shook his head, and searched his pockets for the velvet box. He held it up for the healer to see, the shattering pain that was hurting him displayed in his eyes. The healer placed a hand over her mouth.
"How long have you two been in a relationship?" The healer asked softly.
"Two years." Memory Malfoy's voice cracked on the word 'years.'
The healer gasped. She shook her head, placing a hand on his shoulder, and then walked toward the door.
"Oh excuse me." The healer said, allowing the person at the door to enter before she could leave. It was Memory Ron.
"She's still not awake?" Memory Ron asked Memory Malfoy.
Memory Malfoy shook his head, and put the velvet box in his pocket.
"Is-is that… an engagement ring?"
"Yes, Weasley."
"oh."
Hermione's heart felt heavy in her chest. Knowing Ron's feelings for her, it pained her to see this transpire. She could only imagine Ron's pain at that moment. But she could imagine Malfoy's a lot more. She remembered Malfoy saying something about this memory. That he didn't know if she was dead or not. That he didn't know whether it was better for her to be dead, or to forget him. She had no doubt no one was as troubled as Malfoy.
"I'm taking her home tomorrow. The healer's say there's nothing left to do but wait until she wakes up." Memory Malfoy informed Memory Ron.
Memory Ron just stood there, staring at Memory Hermione with a glaze in his eyes Hermione couldn't quite pinpoint.
"Home?" He said after a while.
"Her apartment. It's still vacant, I think."
"But why? Will she not remember you?" Memory Ron asked. He was unable to hide the small twinge of hop in his voice.
Memory Malfoy's nostrils flared. He obviously didn't like the thought of feeling forgotten. Memory Malfoy just sniffed, and left the room without so much as a look in Memory Ron's direction.
Hermione just stared at Draco Malfoy, not caring about the tears that were forming in her eyes. She was glad to understand where he came from, and the motives behind everything he did. She was glad to see where his pain had come from, and to truly and finally know he was forever at her side. But the pain in his eyes during that memory was something she never wanted to see again. Guilt settled in her heart. She had unknowingly put him through this. Not only that, but Malfoy had to deal with her bitter resentment after she regained consciousness. He must really love her.
She wanted to run to him, to hug him and kiss him, and never let him go. She wanted to stay at his side and reassure him that she would be with him every day. She wanted to say all this, but all that came out of her mouth was a pathetic, "I'm sorry."
Hermione made her legs move toward him, and she managed to embrace the blond wizard in a tight hug. Malfoy rested his head above hers, and Hermione placed her ear to his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Snapshots of the memories she had seen came back to her. The battle, spells coming and going, Draco screaming her name, and running to her… the death eater that obliviated her. The dragon tattoo that seemed so familiar.
Hermione broke from the hug with a loud gasp. She looked up at Malfoy, comprehension and shock dawning in her eyes. Hermione began to shake.
"What is it?" Malfoy asked tentatively.
"Healer Greene." Was all she could manage to say.
A/N: SO HOW WAS IT? Hopefully you all enjoyed it! I worked really hard on this chapter so PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU REVIEW! There are a lot of you favoriting and following this story, and I'd like to know what you all think!