Returning To His Roots

by Divess

Sent to Switzerland shortly after the end of the War. Draco Malfoy has been enjoying life. However, a nasty run in with Hermione Granger at a conference in France forces Draco to change his entire mindset. He will return to London to face his past and prove his worth as well. With all the mitigating factors, will Draco prevail? AU/T/OC/OOC Dramione/Blinny.

9. Chapter 9

Previously on Returning To His Roots: Chapter 8

Suddenly, a thought plopped itself in the front of Hermione's head and wouldn't budge. It had been about five months since she'd mentioned the big picture. In fact, she really hadn't been seeing much of anything since…..since she had run into Malfoy in France. Then, like in a bad movie, Hermione had an epiphany. Parvati was right. Ginny was right. Theo was right. Perhaps if she talked to Malfoy, said everything she needed to say and perhaps hexed his arse in the bargain. She could get rid of the knot of misery she'd been carrying around all this time.

Hermione decided what she wanted to do. She would take Malfoy up on his offer to talk. Then she wavered. She did not want to reminded of how stupid she had been. How used she felt and how treacherous Malfoy had been. Back and forth. Should she? Shouldn't she?

Hermione had worked herself up so badly she had to run for the cottage bathroom. She sat there shaking with sweat rolling down between her breasts while her stomach continued to roll and gurgle. She had spent the next twenty minutes indisposed.

After a quick shower, Hermione found parchment and quills in a desk drawer and began what would be her first of many efforts to answer Malfoy's owl.

Finally, on her sixth attempt. Hermione felt she had what she needed.

Malfoy,

You want to talk. Let's talk.

Hermione Granger

/

A/N: And so they meet.

Returning To His Roots: Chapter 9

Even though there were only seven words excluding her name. Hermione reread the message four times before addressing an envelope and putting the message inside. Hermione wasn't sure where the prat was living so she had addressed it to Malfoy Manor. She was sure the Malfoy house elf slaves would be able to find him. However, just before sealing it, Hermione realized she hadn't given Apparating directions. She unfolded the message one more time adding instructions that would land Draco at Minerva's front door. If she was going to talk to the prat, Hermione wanted at least one other person to know what was going on.

After pulling on a tee and slacks, Hermione walked over to knock on Minerva's door to borrow her owl and inform her they might have a visitor in the next day or two.

/*/

Minerva gladly lent Hermione her owl. As Hermione sent the owl on its way, Minerva stood back watching. She was curious about who would be coming to visit, but held her questions. If Hermione wanted her to know the identity, she would tell her. Even so. Hermione's demeanor seemed to imply that the arrival of this visitor would be more of a showdown than a visit.

Minerva knew she was old, but not too old to realize this all might revolve around some wizard. Whomever it was, Minerva guaranteed she wouldn't stand still for any foolishness from either him or Hermione.

/*/

The pressure Draco felt at the job had been washed away by a long, hot shower. He was ready to kick back and relax with a nice shot of Ogden's when he realized he hadn't checked his father's study to see if there was anything that needed his attention. Draco had gone down two stairs when he chastised himself for acting like a Muggle.

Back in his rooms, Draco called out to Missy.

Pop.

"Yes, Mr. Draco sir. Is I late with your chicken sandwich and celery? I been giving you time to get yourself settled. I be getting it right now. Ise sorry I wasn't on time."

After a few seconds, Draco became annoyed with Missy's rambling and spoke curtly. "Enough Missy. I did not call you because you are late with a sandwich. I called you because I need you to check the study. Bring me any envelopes addressed to my father. I need to keep an eye on Malfoy business while he is gone. You may bring the food when you come back with the owls. Thank you."

Missy stood with her head down listening to Mr. Draco speak. She didn't like it when he was angry with her. She didn't dare say anything else that might make him angrier, so she just kept nodding. When he finished speaking, she left with a pop.

Draco poured his drink and sat down. He had been short with Missy who had done nothing but answer his call. Sighing, Draco sat down. It was time he pulled himself together. He had a backbone. It was time he stopped being wary of using it. People would just have to take him as he was. If they didn't like it, they could move right over to the Granger club. But he would not continue acting the part of something he wasn't.

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Enter."

Missy entered the room with a tray and one envelope which she placed on the side table then stood waiting for further orders.

Draco started to tell Missy that was all when he noticed the return information on the envelope. Jumping up from the chair so fast he caused Missy to take two steps backwards, Draco grabbed the envelope from the tray.

The size of Missy's eyes tripled into orbs as she realized the letter must be important and she had failed to deliver it in a timely manner. Taking a chance she might anger Mr. Draco even further, Missy spoke. "Ise sorry that you mail is late sir. I been trying to give it to you earlier, but you told me to come back later. Missy is hoping you not more angry with her. Ise sorry."

Staring at the letter in his hand, Draco didn't look up as he told Missy he wasn't angry and thanked her for the food.

"Ise so glad you not angry at Missy. I been doing everything you asked. There's no letters for Mr. Lucius. Ise be coming back for the tray later."

"Thank you Missy. That's all."

With a pop, Missy was gone

Draco continued to stare at the letter. The return information clearly stated it was from Hermione Granger. The miserable witch had probably written to tell him off. What else was new?

Taking another sip of Ogden's, Draco finally opened to the envelope to gaze upon the very short message. Hermione Granger had acquiesced. She was willing to sit down to have a discussion with him.

Draco didn't know whether to be pleased or terrified. He would definitely be taking his wand in case he had to… In case he had to what? Hex Hermione Granger? That wouldn't go over well with anyone in London. He would take his wand because a wizard carried a wand at all times. Nothing more. Hopefully, the discussion between himself and Granger would be cordial.

Without realizing it, Draco had picked up the chicken sandwich and scoffed it down while pacing and reading the seven words over and over. When Draco finally sat down, he was astonished to see nothing left on his plate except a few stalks of celery which he gobbled down as swiftly as he had gobbled the sandwich.

After one final glance at Hermione's message, Draco folded it and returned it to the envelope. Putting the letter aside, Draco formed a plan. First thing in the morning he would owl Granger to confirm the meeting. After which, he would owl the Portkey Office to have a Portkey set aside for him. After work, he would take the Portkey to Hogsmeade Station and Apparate from there.

/*/

It was late. Draco stripped down and climbed into his bed hoping to fall asleep quickly. He had no such luck. Fifteen minutes passed. Then thirty. His brain was on overdrive. As much as he tried, Draco could not push the upcoming opportunity out of his head. Even though this was only the first step, Draco felt renewed and invigorated. The only problem now was how he would rebut Granger's accusations. Whatever they might be. The last thing floating through Draco's mind as he dropped off was there wouldn't be accusations. There would only be truth.

As he slept, things passed through Draco's dreams he would not remember in the morning, but spoke directly to his issues with Hermione.

/*/

Draco's dreams took him back to that time. The time when he was being bombarded from all sides. His mother wanted to spirit him away as Blaise's mother had done for her son. His father wanted him to perform so he could get back into the Dark Lord's good graces. His Aunt Bella was hissing at him to grow some balls. Snape was growling in his ear to grow up. Potter was hounding him on a daily basis and the Dark Lord was frothing at the mouth over his lack of progress.

With all this going on behind the scenes, so to speak, Draco found himself in a place he'd never been before. No longer Draco Malfoy, pampered, arrogant pureblood. He had become a sniveling boy who couldn't figure out how to achieve his goals. The place he found himself, at that time, was new and frightening. In his ignorance, he had done very stupid things. He had cast the Imperius Curse on an innocent witch; Mishandled a cursed necklace which could have killed any number of his classmates; Poisoned a bottle of wine that could have killed anyone who drank it. All bullshite, trifling things that hadn't gotten him any closer to his goals.

It had been at this most vulnerable point Hermione Granger had seen the change in him and approached to offer her support. Support had turned into something more. After meeting a number of times to discuss how she could help him get out of his situation, they had found comfort in sex. Draco had been searching for something or someone to hold onto and had grabbed this most unlikely choice. A non-judgmental source who only had his best interest at heart.

Hermione had promised she could get him help from the Order with the only stipulation being he had to stop everything he was doing for Voldemort. For Draco, it had been easy to agree to Hermione's terms while they were together in the dark recesses of the Prefects bathroom. It had also been easy for him to use his sexuality to calm himself in those same dark recesses. While he wasn't a well seasoned lothario. He'd already had several sexual encounters. Hermione had not. No wizard had ever done to her the things she let Draco do. With his tongue. With his cock. With his fingers. No wizard had ever been under her robes.

Draco continued to sleep fitfully unaware that something Hermione had seen all those years ago was the catalyst for five years of bad feelings.

/*/

There were parts of the past Draco could not dream about because he did not know about them.

An infatuated Hermione had believed Draco. She had even gone as far as to plead Draco's case to Harry and Ron which caused both friends to stop speaking to her citing her need to get her priorities straight. Harry and Ron's rejection had only pushed the determined Hermione to carry out her plan.

She and Draco had met one more time. Engaged in intimate relations one more time. Then Hermione had secretly spoken to Dumbledore about someone who wanted to defect to their side. She never mentioned Draco's name, but felt Dumbledore knew who she meant. The Headmaster assured Hermione he would do everything in his power to help the person defect. But it would take time.

By the time Hermione got Dumbledore's assurances, several weeks had passed since her and Draco's last tryst. So she had been more than excited to be able to tell Draco Dumbledore would protect him.

Even though Hermione had Dumbledore's promise. She'd had to tread carefully. It had taken another week before she could slip away to the Prefect's bathroom. She had entered the bathroom stealthily in case a Prefect was having a bath. The main bathroom appeared empty so she had hurried to her and Draco's far corner. Then she had been brought up short. Draco, who was already there, didn't know she had come in because he had his eyes closed leaning back against the desk he had conjured up for….for what he was doing with someone else.

The witch was on her knees doing what Hermione had learned to do. She was sucking Draco's cock while he made small groaning noises with his hands locked in her hair.

Hermione gagged as she began backing away. She had been the cuckold. The arse. The….the. Hermione had made it to outside the bathroom before falling to her knees and vomiting right in front of the door. A quick swish of her wand cleaned up the vomit, but she had done it on the run.

Even in his current state, Draco Malfoy hadn't been interested in her or her strategy. He had only been interested in getting into her knickers. How he must have laughed over her easy capitulation to his advances. Hermione felt even more used as flashes of how she had argued with Harry and Ron and gone to Dumbledore in Malfoy's defense. Right then, a knot the size and weight of a Bludger began to form. She was through with Draco Malfoy. He could kiss her arse.

After making her way to the seventh floor, Hermione hurried through the Common Room looking neither left nor right. She had then spent hours in the shower spelling the water hot when it began to run cold. During those hours, the hate for the treacherous Draco Malfoy built to levels that enveloped her entire body. But before stepping out of the shower, Hermione had locked her experience deep inside never to be revisited.

Harry and Ron had been right. Malfoy was nothing more than a treacherous piece of shite.

Hermione had seen what she had seen. Although she didn't realize it at the time. Stumbling upon that simple act of oral copulation, would have far reaching effects on the way she perceived any wizard looking to her for a relationship.

/**/

On Tuesday morning, Draco made it his business to be in his office an hour early. He had owls to send. Today he would be going over the rules and methods of how evidence was collected from a crime scene. Technically, Aurors or MLE entered a scene first. However, they were not allowed to do anything except subdue the criminals. They then stepped away to make way for OTS Agents who came in to survey and collect.

Draco read over the procedures. After collecting wands, remnants of spells were logged next. Then damages to property were logged. Next, the agents collected any physical evidence. As the evidence was being collected, one agent tagged each piece shrinking down as necessary then placed it in an OTS kit. After OTS finished, Aurors or MLE took charge of any prisoners while the evidence was transported back to the department for inspection and cataloging.

The information was fairly straightforward yet Draco found himself rereading page two of the guidelines over and over. He had arrived early in hopes of getting everything committed to memory in short order. However, that hadn't been the case. His mind was on his appointment with the enemy. Nowhere near the folders in front of him.

With a sigh, Draco headed to the kitchen area for a cup of strong tea. Blaise who was already there getting himself a cup of tea, greeted him. "Morning mate. I am a firm believer in early arrivals, but you've outdone yourself. You were deep in study when I got in. There's no need for you to be first in the entire Ministry." Blaise added clapping Draco on the back.

For the length of a breath, Draco remained silent.

"Granger owled me. I intend to speak with her this afternoon." Draco remarked quietly.

Blaise was surprised. From what he'd heard, Hermione had left the Ministry the previous day on some pressing matter. Ministry spies had no idea where she had gone. "She owled you? From where? Ministry sources say she will not be back in the building for at least several days."

"Ministry sources?" Questioned Draco. "What the bloody hell does that mean? I've received an owl invitation to meet with her. If the bloody woman has taken off, she obviously doesn't want anyone to know her location…except me." He added thoughtfully.

"Yes Draco. Except you. I don't think Hermione would go this far, but perhaps she plans to get you somewhere to curse your balls off. What will you do then? On the other hand. If you're sure this isn't some kind of trap, go for it. Turn on that Malfoy charm. You'll have her underneath you in no time. Unless she really does curse your balls off. Then that issue is moot."

A suddenly wary Draco scowled at Blaise. "She wouldn't dare."

"Please. Hermione Granger would dare. Although, I know she has a brain in that lovely head and wouldn't really do anything of the kind. This meeting sounds like just what you both need. Take off the last hour. Go do what needs to be done. If things get sticky, extricate yourself as quickly as possible."

Blaise laughed at the look on Draco's face. "I'm having you on. You'll be fine. You and Hermione will be great friends by this time tomorrow. Changing the subject. You were in so early. I know you haven't had breakfast. Today, you deserve a nice breakfast. Let's go down to Food Services to see what we can find. You'll need the fortification for later."

"Good. Buy me breakfast you prat. Later I might let you have your way with me." Said Draco striding from the room."

An amused Blaise followed Draco out telling him he might have to fight Ginny for the privilege.

/*/

Draco and Blaise were enjoying a breakfast of eggs, sausage and toast when Harry stopped by the table.

The three wizards shook hands.

"Good morning Blaise. Morning Malfoy. How are things? I got your owl Blaise. Thanks for the consideration."

"No problem Harry. I had Draco sort out the candidates. For some reason, he thought you were the top of the list."

Draco continued eating wanting to soundly thrash Blaise. Potter didn't have to know the particulars.

"Really?" Asked Harry. "In that case, I owe you a debt of gratitude Malfoy. Who knew you could be fair and impartial."

"Let me say this." Blaise remarked a bit sharply. "If you are hired, you'll be working alongside Draco. So now is as good a time as any for me to tell you I won't tolerate any bullshite. If you can't work beside Draco without a problem, I suggest you rescind your application. My department is tight. That's the way I plan to keep it. Another thing. His name is Draco. You bloody Gryffindors don't know the meaning of a given name. I'll see you upstairs Draco. Think it over Harry. If you don't think you'll be comfortable in OTS, drop out of the running."

Draco who was finishing up his meal didn't say anything. He was actually a bit chuffed that the great Harry Potter had been taken down a peg or two.

"I've never been your friend." Harry remarked as he watched Blaise walk away. "I've always called you Malfoy. If such a small thing annoys Blaise, it's probably better if I don't interview tomorrow. I'll pull my application and hope for better results with the DOM. I've applied there as well."

As Harry stood to leave the table, Draco asked him to stay for a moment. "I know we've never been friends Potter. Perhaps it's a matter of an apology standing between us. I apologize for all that went on during the war. I apologize for myself, for my parents, for the things that were done in the name of war. This apology may not make us great friends, but it should be enough to allow us to call each other by our given names. What Blaise said is true. I reviewed a number of applicants and you came out on top. OTS could use another good man. Don't let pride drive you away from what is purported to be one of the most coveted positions in the Ministry. Have a good day, Harry."

Extending his hand to Draco, Harry made a genial remark. "The apology wasn't necessary, but I appreciate it. Thanks Draco."

/*/

Hermione had slept in for the first time in ages. Usually, she was up with the sun. This day was different . As much as she was loathe to admit it. A small part of the ever present knot in her chest and abdomen seemed to be dissipating. At least the tightness was less evident.

Hermione hurried through a shower. She was ravenous, but hadn't brought any provisions with her. She hoped Minerva would spot her another meal until she could get to the shops. Dressed in a Basic Wear outfit of a cropped top and jeans, Hermione knocked softly on Minerva's door.

Minerva opened the door with a wide smile on her face. "Good morning Hermione. I have breakfast under a warming charm. Come join me."

Hermione couldn't help thinking her old professor was still like some seer who could read minds and empty stomachs as well.

"Thank you Minerva. I am a bit hungry. I will gladly replenish your stores if you direct me to the nearest shops."

"Don't worry about it child." Minerva replied as she laid out a delicious looking breakfast. "I don't have to go out if I don't want. An owl to any of the shops and a delivery appears at my door. I'll be glad to order what you need if you'd rather not go out. Make a list. If we get the order in before noon, it will be here by 3:00. Now. Let's tuck in."

After breakfast, Hermione made a quick list. She had decided to remain at the cottage at least until the end of the week and would need things to tide her over. And liquor. That was a given. If she was going to sit face to face with Malfoy, she'd need something to fortify her nerves.

Minerva sent off the order then suggested she and Hermione have a walk around the grounds. The two women talked as they walked. With the sun shining down on them through the large trees on the property, Hermione explained who would be showing up at her door and a bit of why.

Minerva was surprised, but did not comment. If Hermione needed to get something settled with Mr. Malfoy, that was her business. Privately, she was determined to keep a close eye on the cottage. There wouldn't be any shenanigans on her grounds.

/*/

The day passed fairly quickly for Draco. He had sat in on a case in progress to watch how the OTS Agent in charge worked the evidence. The wizard was meticulous. Draco couldn't help thinking some criminal was definitely destined for Azkaban. He had also spent a bit of time running through what he had learned in the past two days. His Assistants freely admitted they couldn't wait to lay hands on their own case.

At 4:00, Draco tracked down Blaise to let him know he was leaving to catch his portkey. Blaise tried to pry information from Draco, but Draco wasn't falling for it. "I will not divulge information Granger has given me in confidence. I'll see you in the morning. Merlin willing."

Blaise shook his head. "Merlin willing is right. Before you go, I'll tell you what I told Harry this morning. Calling a person by his or her given name is much more conducive to a good relationship than calling them by their surname. Stay sharp. I hope you and Hermione get things sorted." With a wink, Blaise made a last comment. "Sometime in the near future. You, me and Theo need to sit down so you can tell us just what you did to her. It has to be more outrageous than knocking her on her arse showing her knickers to us boys outside Potions."

Shite, thought Draco as he headed back to his office to close up for the day. I totally forgot about that. If that's what it's all about, this witch is going to have my arse for sure.

/*/

The delivery had come at 3:15 so the refrigerator was nicely stocked. Hermione now had coffee, tea, wine and brandy along with bottles of water as well. Then she had suddenly stepped back. What in Merlin's name was she doing standing there counting provisions as though she was expecting company. In no way was she expecting company. She was expecting Malfoy who she wouldn't feed if he was dying of starvation.

Then she had done another thing she couldn't explain. She showered and changed into a fetching two piece outfit that was better suited to a night out than a meeting with a man she despised. Gazing into her mirror, Hermione justified the outfit by thinking she would show that low life piece of shite just what he had thrown away. Then she had put on a touch of makeup.

/*/

Draco landed outside a neat, white house with a fenced in yard. He was on unfamiliar ground even though he knew Hogwarts was only a matter of miles away. He had been under the impression that Granger….Hermione lived in one of those sleek London flats single witches had gravitated to these days. Turning to look around, he decided it was now or never. Draco's last thought before knocking on the door. I hope it isn't Hagrid who greets me.

Draco couldn't have been any more surprised when Minerva McGonagall opened the door. It might as well have been Hagrid. "Professor McGonagall! Is this a joke?" Draco asked in confusion remembering his conversation with Blaise. "I…I…I."

"Close your mouth Mr. Malfoy. You've landed in the right place. This is my home. Hermione is staying in the cottage out back. You may wait here while I get her or you may walk around the back and knock on the cottage door."

An astonished Draco finally remembered his manners. "Thank you professor. It's very nice to see you. I appreciate you allowing me into your home. If you would point me in the right direction, I believe I'll go knock on the cottage door."

"Fine Mr. Malfoy. I understand there is a matter you and Hermione have agreed to discuss. Just so you know. I will not sit still for any foolishness. If you take my meaning. Go ahead then. Just around that bend. Hermione is waiting."

Watching Draco's back as he walked down the narrow trail, Minerva had to admit that this new, improved Malfoy was not only mannerly but had grown into a very handsome wizard as well. Then she had felt a distinct warming across her face when, no longer a ferret, passed quickly through her mind. Stepping back from the window, Minerva glanced furtively around as though someone could hear her thoughts.

/*/

Hermione was pacing the floor with a glass of white wine in her hand only stopping every so often to take a sip. Malfoy's owl had only said he would be there that day. It was coming up on 5:00. Hermione wondered if the lying bastard had decided not to come at all. That would be just like him to….to.

Knock. Knock. Someone was at the door.

Hermione tried to remain calm, but along with the knock on the door had come a bout of panic. Even more unsettling was the fact the wine she had been drinking was trying to climb its way back up her throat.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione slowly opened the door. For several seconds, neither Hermione nor Draco spoke. Then Hermione stepped back and invited Draco in.

/*/

Draco stepped into the modest cottage holding out the bottle of expensive wine he had picked up on the way. "I didn't know your drink of choice so I settled on wine."

With a shrug of her shoulders as if brushing off his comment, Hermione spoke. "You can't buy me Malfoy. I don't want your wine. I have my own thank you." Snapping out the answer as she turned away. "Come in and close the door."

At first, Draco was going to let Hermione's curt comments pass. Then he decided he was in for a penny in for a pound. If they were going to have a discussion, it wouldn't be with Hermione snapping him up over any comment that came out of his mouth.

Keeping his voice level, Draco made his thoughts known. "If you didn't want to have a reasonable conversation, why accept my request? I've barely set foot in the room and you are snapping my head off over something as trivial as a bottle of wine. What will it be? I had hoped we could work through our differences. If not, I can walk right back out that door and we'll continue the way we've been going. I'm here to find out what I've done that has driven you to this point."

"Do you think I care if you walk away? It won't be the first time." Hermione replied with a slightly raised voice.

Draco moved further into the room. "Now you're throwing unfounded accusations. Are you referring to something I did during the war? Just tell me what it was."

"Tell you what it was? Tell you what it was?" Hermione shouted moving closer to Draco.

As soon as Hermione raised her voice to a shout, Draco took the liberty of throwing up a Silencing Charm. "You won't have Professor McGonagall rushing in to hex me. Now you may shout all you like."

And Hermione had. She shouted so loudly Draco wasn't sure the Silencing Charm would hold. In her fury, Hermione began to ramble stringing odd sentences together. "YOU'RE A PIG AND A PIECE OF SHITE. NO WIZARD EVER TOUCHED ME BEFORE YOU. YOU AND YOUR FILTHY TRICKS. BLOODY LIAR. YOU WALKED AWAY LIKE I WAS NOTHING."

"What?" Asked Draco jumping back from Hermione. "You seem to be revising history. You need to get this straight. You're the one who promised to get me protection then turned your back. I'M NOT THE CULPRIT HERE" Draco replied in a voice just as loud and shrill as Hermione's. "I FUCKING WAITED DAY AFTER DAY FOR YOU TO COME WITH NEWS, BUT YOU NEVER SHOWED UP. TELL ME THEN. WHO'S THE PIECE OF SHITE? HOW COULD I COMMUNICATE? YOU DESERTED OUR MEETING PLACE. YOU WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT ME. WHAT WAS I TO DO?"

"You're still a liar until this day." Hermione said lowering her voice to a growl. "Aren't you Malfoy? Twisting shite to fit your story. You shagged me then deserted me for another witch. Why would I continue to help you? You were and are the lowest of low."

Draco's ears perked up. Now they were getting somewhere. This piece of information about a witch hadn't been mentioned before. Hermione could only be talking about Tracey Davis. But how? Draco hadn't wanted to be bothered with any witch except her. Originally, it had been for selfish reasons. She had promised to help him and his family get away from the Dark Lord. But after spending time with her, he began to look forward to seeing her, touching her and making love to her. But she had given up on him. Now he was finding out it had something to do with Tracey. Draco was livid. He made a promise to hunt Tracey down if he found out she had said something to Hermione that had set all of this in motion.

Hermione was red in the face and huffing like she was out of breath. "You filthy, despicable…... I did everything I promised I would do. However, the day I came to the Prefects bathroom to tell you of Dumbledore's promise. I found you and something else as well."

Draco who honestly couldn't fathom what Hermione was on about covered his eyes with his hand as she ranted on. In the space of that moment, Hermione pulled two things from her purse. A half size Pensieve and a small jar Draco recognized as a memory holder.

"I've saved this memory all these years to remind me of what you are." Hermione said with her voice breaking. "No matter what or who you pretend to be now. The truth will out. Get up and look at yourself. Just so you know. This is what I stumbled upon when I arrived in the Prefects bathroom the day I came to tell you Dumbledore had confirmed his offer of protection."

The unflappable Draco Malfoy was suddenly at a loss. What memory could Hermione have that would prove him a liar? Draco bent over the Pensieve and the memory immediately began to play. He watched in horror as a perfect rendition of him and Tracey Davis appeared. He was leaned back against the table groaning with his hands wrapped in Tracey's hair while she had his dick in her mouth all the way up to his scrotum.

Leaning heavily on the table, Draco bowed his head. "I can explain this Hermione. I can explain."

Finally facing the thing that had caused all the hate in her heart, Hermione began to break down. Five years of tears sprung to her eyes as she stood there shouting at Draco. "You can explain this? How? With more lies. You used me. You took something from me I'll never be able to get back. And all the time you were inviting other witches between your legs."

Draco was mortified. He was a liar. He had done this. "Hermione. Please stop crying. I promise I can explain what happened. I am guilty of what you see in the Pensieve, but there were extenuating circumstances. Will you please sit down and listen?"

Hermione didn't want to hear Draco's excuses. She had done what she promised herself she would do. She had confronted her demon. She didn't need to hear anymore. She asked Draco to leave the cottage before exiting the room headed in the direction of the bathroom.

Draco didn't move. He could hear the water running in the bathroom. Still he remained in his chair. All they had done was open the wound. He had to be the one to close it.

Hermione stopped short when she saw Draco still sitting there.

Her pink face told Draco she had been in the bathroom scrubbing the tears away.

"Please go Malfoy. I've reopened a very painful and personal time in my life. I'd like to be alone."

Draco watched Hermione as she spoke. His eyes flicked quickly over her body and thoughts of what this witch had been able to do as an inexperienced lover made his dick hard. What must she be able to do now?

As quickly as the provocative thoughts crossed his mind, Draco had pushed them away. If they were ever going to get to a place of peace, he had to tell his side. "I'm not trying to upset you any more than I already have Hermione, but I can't leave before you hear me out. Please."

Hermione didn't reply. Instead, she pulled the memory from the Pensieve and put both items away. Turning back to Draco, she told him she would listen. Then he had to leave.

"Fair enough."

For the next hour, Draco explained everything.

/*/

He explained about the Dark Lord. "In the weeks we were apart, the Dark Lord found out I was consorting (his word) with you. Knowing you might try to steer me away from doing what I had been ordered to do, he summoned me.

"That was a miserable day. The Dark Lord saw fit to torture me with the Crutiatus Curse. He ended his little game of torture by threatening to have you torn apart in front of my face if I ever so much as looked in your direction again. To insure I understood him. He told me if I dared defy him, he would make me kill you in front of him."

Hermione sat rigid with arms wrapped around her body and eyes as wide as Missy's had been the previous night.

Draco kept talking. He didn't want to chance Hermione throwing him out before he'd gotten it all out. "From that day on, I couldn't risk even looking at you for fear that the unknown someone would report the look back to the Dark Lord. I had to stay away. The day he tortured me, the Dark Lord gave me an additional order. He insisted I conduct myself as a proper Slytherin and find a Slytherin witch. I had no intention of chasing any witch. Even if I couldn't sneak off to see you, I still hoped you would come through with someone to save me and rescue my parents. Unfortunately, the choice was taken out of my hands. The Dark Lord ordered Tracey Davis to entertain me, so to speak.

"My hopes were dashed in the following weeks. I couldn't contact you and you were pretending I didn't exist. To make matters worse. It seemed as though Potter and Weasley were watching me even more closely than before. They had circled the wagons around you Hermione. I didn't know how much if anything you had told them about you and I. I was only certain you hadn't mentioned shagging because I was still alive. For another week, I held onto the hope you were still trying to help me, but I finally came to the realization you had deserted me."

"I did desert you." Hermione remarked softly. "I saw you with…. I did desert you."

"I apologize for what you had to see Hermione. I was not chasing witches. I was trying to save the lives of me and my parents. You were the only person who could help me. I needed you. In more ways than one." Draco added checking to see if Hermione had caught his meaning.

Hermione was staring into space. Draco couldn't tell if she understood what he had just inferred.

"Had I known you walked in on Tracey and I. I would taken the chance to find you and explain. No matter the consequences. I wouldn't have knowingly hurt you. It was weeks before I found out Tracey had been chosen by the Dark Lord to keep me away from you. It took me even longer to figure out Tracey was the witch who had reported me in the first place. I was being pulled in so many different directions. By the time I went to confront Tracey, she had disappeared from Hogwarts."

Lowering his head, Draco ended his compelling revelations with a solemn statement. "Shortly after, Death Eaters got into Hogwarts, Dumbledore was killed and I was dragged from the school by Severus Snape back to the lair of the demon. All hope of rescue was gone.

"Dumbledore tried his best to save me that night even as he was dying on his feet. It never occurred to me he was trying to save me because you had interfered on my behalf. I just thought he was being Dumbledore."

/*/

Looking up from her chair, a visibly shaken Hermione began to speak. "I did desert you. I didn't know. I saw you and that witch and immediately thought you were…"

"Thought I was what Hermione? Using you? Cheating on you? We were offering each other support and comfort in trying times. It wasn't like we could have walked out of that bathroom holding hands. I apologize again, but my mind was too fucked up to think about any witch as a girlfriend. I'm sorry, but that's the truth. I wasn't trying to mislead you."

"I remember when that Tracey witch disappeared. Dumbledore had teams searching the school and grounds for her." Hermione whispered softly. "As appalling as it sounds, I didn't care if she had fallen down the stairs and was lying somewhere with a broken neck. I had seen her with you." Here Hermione stopped to take in a deep breath. "Because I had begun to have feelings, I read more into what was really there." She remarked as another sob slipped out. "There was no real culprit."

Then Draco made another revelation. "I would like for you to know that the intimacy we shared back then was extraordinary. It was your….. closeness that kept me from jumping off the Astronomy Tower and ending it all. Had it been a different time and different place….." Draco let his words trail off.

Hermione gave Draco a sad smile along with a wistful comment. "A different time and a different place probably still wouldn't have been enough.

Draco offered a sad smile in return. "You've allowed me to have my say so I will now leave as promised. I hope my explanation helps to lighten the burden you've been carrying around all this time. Before I go, I would like to ask a favor. Please destroy that memory. Not for my sake, but for yours. Gazing at it over and over will not help you heal. I hope now that we've spoken, we will be on civil terms with each other. I won't bother Professor McGonagall this time of night. Please thank her for allowing me into her home. Goodnight Hermione."

Draco was just about at the door when Hermione called to him. "Thank you Draco. For reaching out to me and for opening my eyes to the truth."

"No problem." Said Draco before turning the door knob. "Be well."

Then he was gone.