24 March, Saturday, 0348 GMT
Harry thumbed through the report again for the umpteenth time since Greg had handed it to him an hour and a half ago. The pair talked in the waiting room for quite a while when Harry returned from the Tanner Compound after they wrapped up work there.
Greg had assumed control of the Hospital Wing routine duties while Madame Pomfrey was tending to Hermione. He welcomed the break from the early morning monotony as he conversed with his former House rival. Greg gave Harry the lay-wizard's report on Draco's condition, giving him the gist of what was in the written report before he returned to his hospital rounds. Harry had thanked the former Slytherin before heading into Draco's room.
He took a seat on one of the chairs close to Draco's hospital bed. He shut his eyes for a moment, resting them after a long day. He looked up at Draco, who looked paler than he usually did, even in the low light of the room. He cast Lumos as he sat back in the chair, turning to the first page of the 25-page report.
o-o-o
He made his way down the corridor that led towards the cellar, rubbing the ten-inch Hawthorne between his fingers. He heard the screams from upstairs and smirked, almost wickedly. He made his way down the familiar dank stairwell. He saw her leaning against the bars as he reached the bottom. Their eyes locked for a moment before she stumbled backwards.
He glared at her. He blasted the cell door violently off its hinges. The Muggle-born retreated to the rear of the cell, her robes tattered and the Muggle t-shirt and jeans under them were stained with the muck from the cell floor. 'Just like the filth that runs through your veins,' he thought as he held his wand out in front of him.
The brunette witch held her hands up in front of her as if that would halt him. He narrowed his eyes at her. He was finally going to get the revenge he had sought for all those times as children that she had gotten the better of him.
"Draco, wait," his former rival cried, looking straight into his eyes.
Draco paused for a split second. "Now you die, Mudblood."
"Please," she pleaded, still holding her hands up.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't wipe you off the face of the Wizarding World," he sneered aiming the wand at her.
She whimpered. He hesitated as he stared coldly at her, his grey eyes piercing her glazed dark brown ones. Then came the two words.
"Avada Kedavra," he cast the killing curse just as he thought he had heard her answer his previous question. She held his eye contact even as her knees buckled before collapsing to the cell floor.
He couldn't have heard right. He shook his head as he approached her. He knelt down looking at her tear-streaked face, her eyes shut. He took in a sharp breath as he saw the gold band on her left hand. He shut his eyes trying to remember the last few moments.
He gulped as he removed the ring from her ring finger. She couldn't have said she loved him, could she? He dropped his wand as he saw the inscription.
"No!" he screamed as he pulled her into his arms. "NOOOOOOO!"
o-o-o
Draco bolted up to a sitting position. He quickly scanned the dark room. "Accio wand," he said aloud as he heard metal scratching across the concrete floor.
"Lumos!" he cast the lighting spell at the same time as a voice from the darkness cast the same spell.
He held his wand out defensively as he felt the presence right next to his bed. His eyes were finally getting used to the bright light. He stared at the point of the other wand.
"Draco," the voice said as he looked up at the wizard, his face was out of focus. "Draco, put the wand down."
Draco's wand hand shook for a moment. He looked up as his eyes were starting to see clearer.
"Draco, it's me, Harry," Harry said. The dark-haired wizard moved his hair off his forehead exposing the old scar. The two rivals looked at each other. "Harry."
Draco pressed on Harry's forehead, feeling the lightning bolt scar, maybe just a little too hard. He elicited an 'ow,' from his old rival. Draco relaxed a little, lying back down on the bed. Harry sat down on the edge of Draco's hospital bed, rubbing his scar.
Draco blew out a breath as he looked around the small hospital room. He looked up at the scarred wizard. "Where are we, Harry?" the platinum blonde wizard asked.
"Hogwarts," Harry nodded at him. "Madame Pomfrey's hospital wing."
Draco raised an eyebrow, "Hogwarts," the Potions professor repeated. Then a thought came to the young father, "Drew."
"She's resting in your parents' room," Harry answered.
Draco nodded, shutting his eyes. Then he bolted upwards again. Harry had to put a hand on the wizard's shoulder.
"Hermione," Draco said, looking wide-eyed at Harry.
"Madame Pomfrey and her team are still working on her," Harry said.
"Still working on her?" Draco felt tired. "How long have I been out?"
"A little over three hours now," Harry said as he looked at his Muggle wristwatch.
"Three hours?" Draco asked incredulously. "And they're still working on her?"
"That's a good thing, Draco," Harry said. "You have to believe that."
Draco ran his left hand over his face, trying to shake the sleepiness from his eyes. He ran his hand over his neckline and his eyes popped open again. He remembered yanking it from Roxanne's neck before leaving the Tanner Compound. He looked at the former Gryffindor, "My chain, Harry?"
Harry nodded at the bedside table. Draco propped himself up against the head of the bed. He took a deep breath as he grabbed the broken silver rope chain. He fingered the makeshift pendant, the silver wedding band Hermione had placed onto his ring finger during their small wedding ceremony a couple of years ago. He looked at the inscription.
"The Lioness and the Serpent forever, 21 March," Draco said softly. He shut his eyes trying to quell tears before looking up to the ceiling.
"Here," Harry said as he waved his wand casting Reparo. The broken chain repaired itself.
Draco nodded at him before placing the chain around his neck. He closed his fist around the ring, holding it close to his chest, over his heart. He breathed deeply several times as if collecting his thoughts. He caught a glimpse of his left forearm. He whimpered.
"This is my fault," he said quietly as he stared at the Dark Mark, a tear rolled down his cheek.
Harry breathed deeply. He looked at the former Death Eater. "Draco, things happen sometimes, that you don't have control over."
"They targeted me for a reason, Harry," the Pure-blood said as he showed him his marked forearm.
"Kellen and Roxanne knew Hermione and I had a history," Draco said blankly. "They knew we hated each other when we were here at Hogwarts. They knew I'd turn on her."
"Look, Draco," Harry started.
"I hurt her, Harry," his grey eyes glossed over. "I used the torture curse on her. I stabbed her."
"You also cast your Patronus around her and brought her here to Hogwarts to get her medical attention," Harry reminded him.
"I almost killed her," the platinum blonde couldn't help a sob from escaping. "I should be taken to Azkaban right now."
Harry laughed. Draco looked at him. "I think Hermione would be the first to disagree with you, Draco."
Draco laughed. "It wouldn't be the first time," Draco said. Harry joined in the laughter. They remained quiet for a while, neither wanting to break the silence.
"Hermione's going to hate me, isn't she?" Draco said, gripping the ring in his fist tighter.
"I think that boat sailed a long time ago, Draco," Harry smiled. Draco seemed to loosen up. "Look, Draco. Hermione married you for a reason. She has already seen you at your lowest.
"She married you anyway," Harry said with a straight face. Draco laughed. Harry smiled before continuing. "Get some rest, Draco. We'll talk in the morning."
"It's already morning," Draco said. Draco was once part of the Ministry, albeit for only a few months before becoming a professor at Hogwarts. He knew the Ministry would want his statement eventually. "I want to give my statement, Harry."
"Really, Draco," Harry said, studying his face. "This can wait until later."
"No," Draco said closing his eyes for a moment. "I want to while it's fresh in my head."
Harry nodded. He pulled something from his robes, a roll of parchment and a self-inking quill that were enchanted. Draco knew the quill would take down whatever he said during the session. At the end, he would be able to read whatever was written down by the quill before signing it as official. He nodded at Harry.
"Where should I start?" Draco looked at him.
"Hermione mentioned talking to you on the Friday before the Hogsmeade trip," Harry said. Draco nodded at him.
o-o-o
Draco heard a muffled sound on the other end of the line as he looked over the Black Lake. "Are you trying to cover up a yawn?" he playfully asked.
Hermione laughed. "Guilty. It's been a long night in the ER."
"Get some rest then. You're still on Hospital rounds. Get your Zs while you can," her husband said, also yawning.
"I love you, Draco," she said.
"I love you, too," he replied. "We'll talk when I get home on Sunday."
"That sounds like a plan," she said, hesitating. She straightened out her medical scrub top. "We've got a lot to catch up on."
"Yeah," he said as he looked down at his left forearm. He blew out a breath.
"Are you all right, Draco?" Hermione asked, immediately sensing something was bothering him.
"No, it's just," he began. "It's nothing."
"That brush off might have worked with your Slytherin chums," she began. She heard him laugh. "Come on. What's up?"
"My forearm's starting to pulsate again," he finally admitted. He heard silence on the other end. "Hermione?"
"Have you spoken with Professor Snape?"
"No," Draco answered. "I'm sure it's nothing, Hermione."
"Why do you sound so worried, then?"
"Alright. I'll talk to him," Draco tried to hide his exasperation. He could already tell she was about to press him. His tone softened. "After Hogsmeade."
"Okay," Hermione said as both she and Draco heard her name over the P.A. system. "I have to."
"I know," he said wishing he were in the same room as she. "I'll see you on Sunday."
o-o-o
17 March, Saturday, 1648 GMT
Draco was one of five professors accompanying students into Hogsmeade for the Saturday. Students no doubt were going to fill up on sweets to take home for their Spring Holidays. The whole day seemed to pass by slowly. Draco couldn't wait to get back to the castle to pack up for the week off. His mind was clouded with thoughts of seeing Hermione and Drew again for the first time in a month mixed with what the ache in his forearm portended. So much so that when he bumped into Professor Snape, he didn't realize what time it was.
"Draco, we need to start rounding up the students," the Head Potions professor interrupted his thoughts.
"What students, Sir?" Draco answered absentmindedly.
"Are you daft, Draco?" the older Wizard almost sneered.
Draco shook his head trying to focus. "Right, Sir. Sorry. It's just. I've a lot on my mind."
Professor Snape nodded his understanding. He had seen the young man literally grow up in front of his own eyes. He had been a mentor to the former Slytherin for the past 19 years.
"I'll wrangle from the northeast corner on down," Draco said as he started in that direction before hesitating. He turned suddenly, "Professor?"
The older wizard nodded. "What is it, Draco?"
"Would you mind it if we talked during dinner tonight?" the younger wizard asked as he picked at his left sleeve. "I've got things on my mind that I would like to run by you."
The usually stern professor raised an eyebrow. He noticed Draco's anxious look. He finally nodded as if he already knew about what the younger wizard wanted to discuss. "Of course, Draco."
Draco blew out a breath. He stopped fiddling with his sleeve. "Thanks, Professor," he said, before heading off.
On his way to and from the northeast corner of Hogsmeade, Draco instructed eight students to start for the meeting point at the entrance of the town because it was time to leave. All the students at Hogwarts knew there were a handful of staff you wouldn't want to cross; Professor Draco Malfoy was one of them. The students did as they were told.
o-o-o
"I saw Boyd Tanner on my way back to the meeting area ducking into an alley, Harry," Draco said as the quill continued to write. "He walked strangely and he appeared a little dazed.
"Do you suppose the boy was in on it?" Draco looked warily at Harry.
Harry shook his head. "We talked to him. He said he didn't even see you, in fact. He said he didn't remember much of anything right before he made his way back to the meeting point. Blaise asked him some questions. Somebody used a low grade Obliviate spell and the Imperius on him."
"On his own nephew, Harry?" Draco asked.
"Yeah," Harry nodded solemnly. "So what happened next?"
"I followed the boy through the alley. He turned back onto the street at the end of it. I called after him. I don't think he heard me. That's when I felt like my insides were being crushed. I remember falling to the cobblestone street trying to breathe before everything turned black.
"The next thing I remembered was sitting in a room full of," Draco paused. He looked at Harry, "of Death Eaters, former brethren. I hate to say it, but it kind of felt like a Homecoming. Kellen and Roxanne were leading a discussion on blood status. Everyone was riled up.
"That was two days ago. I think, Wednesday," Draco's breath hitched, as he looked at his empty left ring finger. He blew out a breath, "They acted like I was one of them and … I believed them. We were supposed to retake the Wizarding World.
"They had a surprise task for me tonight, Friday night, whatever," Draco gulped. "They said I would enjoy it."
Draco quickly detailed what had happened in the bedroom. Tears streamed silently down his cheeks as he recounted what he had done and said to Hermione. He continued with the events that occurred in the ballroom up until the point where Harry and the other Ministry aurors raided the compound.
The quill finally stopped with its advancement. Harry handed the document to the blonde wizard. Draco skimmed over his testimony and quickly signed it. He shut his eyes for a moment before turning to Harry.
"Merlin. What Drew must think of me? I said a lot of awful things to her about Hermione and herself, Harry," Draco said looking at the half-blood.
There was a slight pause. Harry seemed like he was collecting his thoughts.
"She's two, Draco," Harry said. "I'm sure she'll forget in time."
Draco looked skeptically at his old adversary. "She's smart, Harry. She's Hermione's daughter."
Harry laughed. Draco laughed, too, welcoming the levity.
"Like you said, 'she's smart.' She knew you were only saying those things to help her and Hermione to safety."
"I don't know, Harry," Draco said unsure.
"She kicked you, didn't she?" Harry asked, canting an eyebrow at the other wizard.
"Yeah," Draco said, shrugging. "She packed quite a wallop, actually. She's Hermione's all right."
They both laughed again. Harry nodded at Draco when they both settled down.
"I spoke with Greg about you," Harry said, holding up the medical report.
"Am I gonna live?" Draco asked half-joking.
Harry smiled as he leafed through the report. "A couple of small abrasions on your face and forearms. Four broken ribs on your right side, five on your left. Greg said you'll be tender for the next week as they fully heal. Your left lung partially collapsed as well. Give that two weeks," Harry said.
"The students will have a field day with that," Draco said closing his eyes.
"I'm sure Professor Snape won't mind taking the First Years for a week or two," Harry smiled as Draco laughed.
"Greg also said you suffered from five Cruciatus curses," Harry said looking at the grey-eyed wizard. "Four within the week and one within an hour when we arrived here. Probably explains the pain you felt in the alley. They needed to subdue you somehow."
Harry paused for a while as he skimmed page 18. He handed the report to the patient as he cast Lumos maxima brightening the room even more.
Draco read the introductory page about the memory charm Obliviate. He looked up at Harry and shrugged his shoulders.
Harry nodded at the report. "Greg said that Pansy and Blaise showed up after his shift at the Ministry. They both wanted to check up on you and Hermione."
o-o-o
24 March, Saturday, 0135 GMT
Blaise exited the control room where some of the personnel of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes monitored the Muggle neighborhoods, making sure to keep on top of those wayward spells. He saw his wife waiting right outside in the hall.
"Hey," he said kissing his Slytherin Housemate. He noticed the usually composed dark-haired witch look slightly flustered. "Pansy, what's going on?"
"Draco's back," she smiled slightly. "The whole family's at Hogwarts, though. Hermione's hurt pretty badly."
"Merlin. Let's go," Blaise said, leading his wife to the lift. They needed to get to the floo network.
o-o-o
The couple reached the Hogwarts Hospital Wing after arriving in the main foyer's floo network connected fireplace. The near empty waiting room was quite eerie.
"Just the wizard I needed to see," a voice seemed to come from out of nowhere surprising the both of them.
"Bloody hell, Greg," the Ministry auror whispered loudly as she glared at the former Slytherin.
"How are they doing, Greg?" Blaise asked concerned.
The mediwizard took a deep breath. "Madame Pomfrey's still working on Hermione. Draco's a little worse for wear. He'll come through, though.
"You came at the right time, Blaise. I need a second opinion," Greg said, waving the both of them to the private room as he handed Blaise the medical report.
Pansy covered her mouth as she gasped stepping into Draco's hospital room. She once had a thing for the platinum blonde wizard lying in the hospital bed. Their relationship grew to being very good friends, almost like siblings.
Blaise helped her to a seat as he skimmed through the last pages of the report. He looked up at the mediwizard. "Is this real?" the Ministry Obliviator asked.
"I was hoping you could verify that," his old friend said nodding at him.
Blaise waved his wand over Draco's head assessing his brain activity, checking the hippocampus and the frontal lobe. He canted his head, not believing in the result. He ran the test again.
"Wow," Blaise said, taking the seat next to his wife.
"That's what I said," Greg nodded as he leaned against the bedside table.
"What's going on?" Pansy asked, looking back and forth between the two.
"Draco was hit with a Category Four Obliviate," Blaise said.
She took in a sharp breath. Auror training had touched on the effects of the Obliviate memory charm. She knew her husband was the expert in what this really meant. So she looked at him for a further explanation. Blaise nodded as he started to explain the gradations of the spell.
"The Ministry authorizes us Obliviators to use Obliviate; usually on Muggles who've seen too much. There are five categories, differing in potency and each subsequent level increases from the previous one exponentially.
"We use the Category One spell to erase an hour of one's memory; usually small infractions but fairly potent. Nobody's ever recovered a hundred percent of their memory of the incident.
"A Category Two to erase a day's worth of memories. Usually we use this if the event was quite horrendous. Of the thousands we've used this potency on, only ten percent of them ever get more than half of the memory of the event back.
"As Ministry Obliviators, we're licensed to cast up to a Category Three doing routine work for the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. This is a very dangerous spell, only used in real dire situations. This spell can wipe one to five years of the victim's life. There are hundreds of documented instances when we needed to use this and only two percent ever remember partially the event.
"The last two Categories," Blaise paused. "They are rarely ever used. Even Upper Level Ministry Obliviators need permission from both the Minister of Magic and the Wizengamut to use either of them. A Category Four wipes ten to fifteen years of memory. The Five wipes out a life's worth. Suffice it to say, nobody's ever recovered fully from either."
"How much of his memory do you think will be recovered?" Pansy asked softly.
Both wizards were silent for a while. Blaise squeezed his wife's hand. Greg blew out a breath.
"It's hard to say," Greg said as all three looked at the unconscious patient.
o-o-o
"Category Four," Draco said as he shut his eyes for a moment.
"They didn't want you to remember Hermione," Harry said.
"Yeah, they did," Draco said as he looked up to the ceiling. Harry took in a breath. "Category Four, Harry. Fifteen years. You remember how much animosity there was between her and me after Second Year."
Harry smiled remembering how Hermione had connected with the blonde Slytherin's nose in Third Year. "They wanted you to forget the past three years you've shared with Hermione. They wanted you to forget that you two have a beautiful little daughter, Draco. That was the only way they were going to get you back on their side. They needed to go to that extreme."
"It almost worked, Harry," Draco's grey eyes were teary. "What kind of husband and father does that to his family?"
The scarred wizard studied his former rival's face for a moment. "You're right, Draco," the former Gryffindor started. Draco whimpered. "They made sure you remembered hating her so much that they anticipated you taking great pleasure in torturing Hermione before you would kill her.
"What they didn't foresee," Harry said as Draco tried to stifle a sob. The platinum blonde wizard looked at Harry. Harry continued, "was the depth of your love."
"It didn't stop me from hurting her, Harry," Draco said, wiping his face with the back of his hand.
"True," Harry said looking at him. "But it did stop you from killing her."
The scarred wizard placed his palms on both of Draco's shoulders, making the Slytherin look at him. "Category Four, Draco. They didn't mean for you to remember anything. They didn't mean for the spell to be broken, Draco.
"Something broke that spell," Harry said, looking him square in the eye.
"Someone did," Draco said, smiling a little. Harry nodded, releasing the other wizard's shoulders.
"You're going to be fine," Harry smiled crookedly at his friend. "You're a good husband and good father, Draco."
Draco shut his eyes. He clutched at the ring again, holding it close to his heart. He opened his eyes. He sat forward with much pain. "Help me up, Harry."
"Help you up?" Harry asked extending his arm. "Where exactly are we getting up for?"
Draco looked at him as he stood up shakily. He leaned on the scarred wizard.
"I want to see Drew," Draco said as he placed his right arm around the other wizard's shoulder.
"Aw, what the hell. Madame Pomfrey's used to a Potter or Malfoy leaving our hospital beds anyway," Harry said as he assisted Draco out of the room.
They walked the short five meter distance, across the quiet hospital hall. Draco saw his sleeping parents. He nodded over to his daughter's bed. Harry set the wizard down on the chair next to the sleeping child about to leave. Draco held onto his hand, silently asking him to stay. Harry nodded and took the chair next to Mr. Malfoy's bed.
The dark-haired father watched the platinum blonde father stroke the child's hair. Draco rested his chin on the bed, watching the child breathe. Both of the wizards shut their eyes to rest.
21