Author's note: Do not buy bound fanfiction. It's illegal. The Dramione fandom is losing it's biggest stories because of this right now. Please research and educate yourself.

XoXo

Catstclaire

Chapter 6 Rolfe comes home

Malfoy told her Harry would be staying with them through the Christmas holidays, and on Christmas day Ginny Weasley would be brought there to spend the day with Harry. He was being rewarded Hermione knew, and she tried very hard not to dwell on the atrocity he likely committed in order to have his reward.

Neither Malfoy nor Harry left the home much during the time leading up to Christmas. Hermione had noticed that when Harry did leave it wasn't for long, and he always came back with food. Which was odd as Malfoy always had more than enough food. She hated to admit he was an excellent cook even.

He had thus far made roasts, soups, and soufflés: all of which Hermione struggled to decide on which was the we most delicious.

She wondered about this new Malfoy who was a good cook, and who seemed not to own a single house elf. Wouldn't a house elf make his life easier? Especially with a child to raise. New Malfoy was weird, but she sort of didn't hate him like she prepared herself to do when she first arrived.

Instead she was beginning to very much enjoy the sensations that came along when alone in his company. Warm tingly sensations when he smiled at her mostly, but those she could control, those she could stamp down before it was too late, and she allowed something foolish to happen.

Once he was regaling her with the story of how the pureblood registration office functioned, and he leaned so very close in towards her cheek she thought he might kiss her. She pretended to cough and the moment shattered thankfully. Nothing could happen between them she knew that logically, but there was a voice in her head getting harder and harder to ignore. 'Why shouldn't anything happen?' Afterall Hermione Granger had died a virgin in her previous life, why shouldn't she have a little fun in the new one?

Malfoy seemed willing, very willing. More than once she had caught him checking her out, and she knew he had caught her a fair amount of times as well.

She avoided Malfoy a bit after the almost kiss because she didn't know which of her thoughts was safest to listen to. The that wanted something to happen or the one that wanted to run from Malfoy.

From there it was mostly just alot of lounging around which Hermione used to continue her research of the past. She read from various books, and also finally garnered the bravery to chat up Malfoy some more when she came across something she 'forgot' that had peeked her interest. Mcgonagall was made headmistress of Hogwarts regardless in her part of the war? Do tell, Malfoy.

On one night Hermione came across Rolfe's baby book, but allthough she recognized Luna's handwriting the information in it had to be wrong.

"Rolfe is in 2nd year, yeah?" She had stood in front of Malfoy while he was reclined in his sitting chair with a glass of wine perched on his table. She flipped through the pages as he watched her.

"Yes." He sipped his wine glass.

"The dates Luna has written here they don't really add up..." Then Malfoy was tugging the book from her hands and gently shuffling her towards the stairs and to bed.

"That's enough for tonight i think Granger."

Why would Luna have written down the wrong dates in the baby book? She wondered the entire night before she blissfully fell asleep in the witching hour.

Hermione's plans were constantly changing, as she learned and gathered new details that might be able to help her later on. She had to admit though it was very lucky that things were aligning so nicely for her. Harry was here, and Ginny would be very soon. Malfoy had even given her a lead on the horcrux in Surrey. They still needed Ron though, and she had no idea of how to even start to try to find him. What if he woke up in a body half way across the world? How was Hermione supposed to figure that out? Without many options at her disposal she decided that on Christmas day she would reveal herself to Harry and Ginny. She needed their help to find Ron, she just wasn't sure how to go about telling them.

She laughed at some of the impossible scenarios of revealing herself to them she whipped up. 'Morning Gin, Morning Harry, oh yes by the way remember that friend you had that had to die for Ginny to live, well Surprise! It's me again.' Then they'd throw her right back in St.Mungo's probably.

Harry had ignored every attempt she made to speak with him after her comment in his room pissed him off. When they shared dinner with Malfoy he made brief appearances, then excused himself to his room. He bristled and turned noticeably icy when she so much as even walked into the same room as him. It was pretty unfair of him. Hermione quite felt if anyone should be pissed it was her afterall, Harry had killed her in the previous life not the other way round.

Hermione wasn't mad at him for that. For killing her. She knew. She understood it, but she was angry he was making things so difficult now. If he could just sit still and listen to her for 5 seconds, they could at least talk about Ginny's arrival.

She wanted desperately to ask Harry how they would find Ron. Perhaps he wouldn't know but still, she wanted to talk to him about something. She missed Harry, and even now especially that he was in front of her she still missed him.

Hermione had been sleeping in Rolfe's room for the time being, but the morning she awoke to the smell of bacon and the sound of multiple voices coming from downstairs: she dreaded where it would be that Malfoy would see fit to have her sleep now.

She tumbled bleary eyed out of Rolfe's twin bed, and followed the heavenly scent.

"Oh..." Her voice puttered out. She had expected to see Rolfe, but she found 4 people gathered round the plates of food stacked elbow high on the counter. "...hello."

Harry was stood on the far side of the room nursing a cup of what Hermione suspected was anything but pumpkin juice. He had an uneasy look crinkling his eyes as he surveyed the occupants at the table. Like a bear sizing up other bears when there was a juicy pound of meat around.

Then at the table was Malfoy a grin curdling up on his handsome face. Beside him a person Hermione had not even thought about in this new life thus far. Blaise Zabini. One of Malfoy's old mates from school. Hermione surmised immediately from his clothing he worked for the disciples. He regarded her carefully, and a look exchanged between Malfoy and Zabini made Hermione dread this meal.

Before Hermione could offer up any other words the boy she identified as being Rolfe Malfoy flung himself up from the table with a joyous cry of, "Professor James!" His tiny arms flung around her neck, and Hermione could only stumble back in surprise.

Zabini it turned out had brought Rolfe home from Hogwarts personally, as a favor to Malfoy.

Malfoy and Zabini had amused expressions on their faces. Malfoy's son smiled up at her brilliantly showing off his tiny perfect teeth. Hermione was about to pull back, but then remembered probably Sloan James would not. She patted the boys back awkwardly.

Zabini had a plate stacked a mile high in front of him, he ate as Hermione stood there willing the moment to end.

"So nice to see you, Rolfe." She wondered at what she should do next and was thankful Malfoy spoke up.

"Unhand our guest so she can eat, son." His smirk still glimmering with amusement. Both he and Zabini seemed to delight in her obvious discomfort in the situation.

Rolfe released her, and pulled a chair out for her. It was admittedly sweet, and she smiled at him.

Hermione suddenly had a desperate wish to have put on pants instead of shorts for the morning, for when she took her seat Malfoy followed the gait of her walk meticulously all the way to the table. Everyone noticed.

"Good morning everyone." She said as Malfoy slid a mug of hot coffee over to her. She spared a look at Harry who had still yet to join the table. "Good morning Potter." She said, and he eyed her like a bug, and perhaps she shouldn't have bothered.

"Come on Potter, even you have to eat." Zabini taunted from their table, he waved a piece of bacon at Harry then ripped the tip off with his teeth.

Hermione didn't bother suppressing it when her eyes narrowed at him. She didn't remember much about Zabini from school, except he was always a dick to them. Still was to it seemed.

Malfoy chuckled. "It's not that he isn't hungry, he just doesn't trust my cooking." Malfoy swirled his drink in hand poshly. "Isn't that right Potter?"

Harry scoffed. Hermione choked up on the drink as it slid down her gullet.

Poison?! She'd been eating what Malfoy gave her for days now, and the thought hadn't even crossed her mind. Now she eyed the food in front of her wearily.

Rolfe slid his chair over to be as close to Hermione as he could, she gave a tight smile. Rolfe leaned in close to her ear and whispered. "Don't worry, he wouldn't do that, especially not with you here." Rolfe winked at her.

"If i was going to kill someone i wouldn't waste my time with poison to do it." Malfoy said very seriously. "Plus it wouldn't exactly behoove me to take you out, Potter. Not when HE wants you alive at least."

"That's true enough i suppose." Harry muttered under his breath and took an uncomfortable seat at the table. Rolfe smiled at him, and Harry inclined his head slightly in return.

Rolfe didn't seem to care that his father and Harry obviously did not get along. Or the fact Harry was convinced Malfoy might poison him. Harry didn't touch a scrap of food at the table and it made Hermione refrain as well for awhile until she realized there was nothing for it. She couldn't get food herself like Harry could so the risk of being poisoned would have to be taken.

The bacon was bloody good. Hermione had 5 slices of it before she noticed Zabini staring at her. He had stopped inhaling his omelette for the moment and her eyes roved over him, something about his face was different than she recalled.

"What's your problem?" She asked nastily biting into another piece of bacon.

"That's all?" Zabini quirked his brow. "That's all you have to say?"

"What's all?" Hermione rolled her eyes.

"That's all you have to say to your brother?" Hermione chewed the mouthful she had in carefully, and sighed. "I haven't seen you in months and i don't even get so much as a hug in greeting, you went more out of your way to greet Potter than you did me- I tried to see you at St.Mungo's, but the staff said you didn't want visitors anymore. Additionally i only found out just this morning you left Mungo's to come here."

Old family friend Malfoy had called Sloan, and this was how.

"Laying it on thick eh Blaise?" Malfoy remarked. "She's only your adopted cousin."

"Still gets her inheritance like the other siblings and i doesn't she?" Blaise pointed out then picked up another forkful. "It's whatever though Sloan," He shrugged his shoulders. "just let me floo call next time or something would you? I've had important things to discuss with you for months now."

Merlin. What else didn't she know about Sloan James? She was the cousin and adopted sister of Blaise Zabini? How had that escaped her in the previous life? She roved back over Zabini's face and she did find one similarity between them. There was an 'x' shaped scar at his cupids bow.

Interesting.

"Well here she is Blaise," Malfoy tipped his glass towards her. "discuss away."

"Private family matters, to discuss, thank you very much." Blaise speared more eggs and popped them into his mouth. "Perhaps after breakfast."

Hermione shook her head.

"I'm having memory problems actually." She mumbled quietly, and looked to Malfoy hoping he may fill in everyone on her behalf. He did.

Blaise bristled a bit but kept eating through Malfoy's explanation.

"You don't remember last year?" Rolfe seemed quite sad when she shook her head. "I could tell you all about it?" He offered, and she agreed to cheer him up.

"I thought you were acting odd lately." Harry commented, eyes sharp. Harry had known Sloan as well then. For how long Hermione wondered? She didn't think it could have been a very pleasant relationship from the way he glared at her with such intensity she truly thought she may catch fire. Harry didn't like Sloan James, so what did that say about the way Sloan interacted with him before? Had she told Harry of the prophecy?

Hermione sipped at her drink while they spoke around her like she wasn't there.

"Can't even remember your own brother?" But it wasn't that Zabini sounded upset, but more that he was checking. Like a test. Then Zabini eyed up Malfoy like there was a secret lying around that he wasn't finding, and there probably was. Fucking Slytherins.

"No." She admitted. "I don't really remember you. Sorry."

"What's the last thing you remember then?" Zabini challenged her.

It was weird to Hermione. That the person claiming to be related to Sloan was more concerned about what she remembered and not how she was.

She was unsure of what to answer and was glad for an interruption when it came.

Zabini sucked in a sharp breath suddenly and sputtered his food all over the table.

Rolfe had charmed a piece of lint to scurry across the table like a spider. It had rushed right for Zabini, and scared him to pieces.

Zabini pushed back from the table at the same Malfoy chastised his son. "Rolfe!"

Rolfe sniggered, and Hermione saw Harry wipe his face to cover his grin.

"My apologies Mr. Zabini, the opportunity was too good to pass up." Rolfe let the spider turn back into lint on the table.

Hermione stared for a moment because something about the way Zabini had reacted...it was...like deja vu or-

"I felt a bit of deja vu, just then." Harry commented and rubbed the back of his head. "How strange."

Hermione sat up straight. It hadn't just been her. Harry felt something about that too, but what was it?

Zabini straightened his robes, and sighed as he picked his fork back up. "Don't make me regret doing favors for your dad, kid." Then he turned to Malfoy, "Lucky you make such a damn good meal these days or i'd never come back."

Rolfe knew Zabini well enough to know he could garner a reaction like that from the display. It didn't even seem Zabini was very bothered by the kids prank he seemed to like Rolfe alot actually, but more so it was just the spiders had scared him.

Hermione would have lingered on those thoughts more but Malfoy excused Rolfe from the table so they could discuss grown up things, and an air of unease floated around them all.

This all hadn't been happenstance to find themselves at Malfoy's for breakfast this morning. No. The sod had planned for it.

Malfoy cleared his throat when it was just the 4 of them left. Each of them were suddenly appraising each other shiftily. None of them truly trusted the others not even Malfoy to Zabini. Zabini kept his hand readily at his side nearest his wand. Harry's eyes kept drifting down to the food he believed to be poisonous. Hermione's eyes located each and every exit around.

The way though Malfoy watched the rest of them...he was waiting or searching for something between them all.

"Miss James is here to assist with the house in Surrey." Malfoy told them all. Harry shot her a dirty look before turning his thunderous expression at Malfoy.

Zabini busied himself with the closest food plate. He was an absolute glutton and seemed never to stop eating. He scarfed down a handful as Harry told Malfoy just what he thought of what he said.

"Perfect. Just perfect! So you've already told her all about it then?!" Harry jabbed a finger towards her and Hermione shrunk back. "You just do whatever you fucking want Malfoy, regardless of all the lives you've weaved into your web? For what? Fucking pillow talk with your slag-"

"Hey!" Zabini protested as Malfoy slipped out his own "watch yourself Potter."

"Are her memories even gone, or is that a lie you've concocted for whatever merlin forsaken reason I can't fathom?! You'll get us all killed. You've brought to many people in on this Malfoy. I told you not to bring in Zabini and look what good that did?" Harry was still clearly about to continue in but Hermione interjected.

"So you know about your house in Surrey? About the-" She lowered her voice. "Horcrux that's there?"

Harry put a hand over his mouth. "-and you fucking told her what's inside it?" His voice was spread deadly thin. "No. No." He moaned. "This is to dangerous now. I won't be a part of this any longer Malfoy. I won't risk Ginny's life."

"How dramatic." Malfoy frowned over the rim of his glass.

"Part of this?" Hermione looked helplessly around the table. She assumed from what she had gleaned from Malfoy since staying here that he was guarding the house in Surrey for Voldemort, and that Harry had no knowledge of it. Now it seemed Harry was aware of it, and even helping Malfoy somehow. "Are you trying to destroy it, the horcrux?" She knew how hopeful and desperate she sounded. Another dirty look from Harry came.

She felt relieved to find Harry was still working against Voldemort somehow, but she was confused because Malfoy had done nothing but represent himself as Voldemort's man thus far.

"For the record Potter, i never told her what was in the house." Malfoy gave her a small victorious smirk, that told her he was very much onto her. "Don't you want to see Voldemort rot for everything he's done to us all? We have to take all the help we can get."

"I don't want her help," Harry said pointing to her. "or his." At Zabini.

"Well whose help are you waiting on? You think Granger and Weasley really are going to rise from the dead to help you?" Malfoy's remark was taunting and cruel but it broke something in Harry. "Be glad anyone's trying to help us at all."

Harry didn't answer.

Hermione was too tired to even be shocked once it all occurred to her. Malfoy did not own house elves. He was a loving doting father to Rolfe. "You said you were guarding it." She accused Malfoy. "I didn't think you were anything but one of those..."

She and Malfoy were on the same side. She had been right in her assessment that Draco Malfoy was no longer that boy she knew in school. She had been wrong to say he had changed for the worse, because now she gathered it was for the better he had changed.

"Go ahead say it." Malfoy challenged from his seated position hands held outward imploringly. "Show us what side it is that you are truly on Miss James." The way he said her name, it was clear to her he meant it sarcastically. Probably even he knew she was not Sloan James for certain.

"I thought you were a toad." Hermione admitted. Zabini rolled his shoulders letting the tension in them out. Even Harry finally seemed to warm to a degree after she said it but still he was doubtful. She could tell.

"The Sloan James i know would never make this kind of risk." Harry said it exasperatedly. Be rose like he may leave.

"Well this Sloan James would." Hermione challenged. Let Harry decide if it was due to her scrambled memory or some-other reason as to why she wasn't acting in accordance to what he knew of her.

"She's with us, allright." Malfoy told the other men. "No one who wasn't would be foolish enough to call me a toad."

Hermione glanced between Malfoy and Harry. Certainly they had been in cahoots for a long period of time if they were far enough into destroying a horcrux together.

"Is this the first horcrux you've managed to find together?" She asked of all the men, though she still didn't quite understand what Blaise Zabini's involvement here was. How much did he know of what Harry and Malfoy had been up to?

"Yes." Zabini answered. "There's rumor of another outside Hogwarts grounds but we can't get close enough for one of us to confirm."

She nodded.

"Well are you in or out Potter?" Malfoy questioned. "We won't go any further until you tell me where you are."

If she had lived longer in the previous life maybe they would have been able to destroy them all but now Hermione knew they still had lots of work to do.

"I still don't like this." Harry muttered, but he sat back down in his seat obediently.

"I just want to help, truly." Hermione bit her lip. Everything in her was at war with itself she didn't know what instincts to trust and normally she did. Run? Stay? Reveal herself to Harry?

But if Harry trusted Malfoy it probably was safe for her to just go ahead and tell him who she was now, and she was just about to but then- she remembered.

Harry said once 'you have to mean it.' When one cast the killing curse, they had to mean it. He had to have meant it when he killed her, regardless of reasons. Hermione hugged herself tight and let the words 'It's me.' die on her tongue.

Hermione stared passed Harry.

"Are you OK?" Malfoy asked.

Hermione had gone still for too long. "Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I be?" She replied, rudely. She dug her nails into her thighs and welcomed the sting of the burn because it settled her unsteady mind.

Maybe it did bother her to some degree that Harry killed her?

"Right then-" Malfoy summoned a series of books and maps that floated down onto the table as the plates of food disappeared. "let's get to work then, shall we?"