Obliviated

Hermione ate some sandwich triangles with Ginny and the boys and then excused herself. She needed some more time alone with her thoughts. It was just too surreal seeing the three of them interact so happily; so carefree.

She made her way outside and sat on the grass. Her mind took her far away from the present and she allowed it to roam where it wanted. The sun on her face felt amazing, she didn't want to move. She began to wonder what had changed since the Final Battle. How much had changed.

What were all of the Weasleys up to? Did George keep WWW open? Did Arthur and Percy still work at the Ministry. The Ministry! Who was Minister for Magic these days? How had it changed since the demise of Voldemort? Were people still afraid to say his name? It would seem she was quite deeply involved with the Ministry these days if she was an Unspeakable.

Maybe that's why she was attacked. Had she known something she wasn't supposed to? Or did she find out something scandalous or even dangerous? She would imagine that being an Unspeakable had it's downsides. She frowned, starting to get frustrated that she couldn't remember.

She felt someone watching her. She turned and saw Draco leaning against the door frame.

“Sorry to disturb.” He said, folding his arms across his chest casually. “Your parents plane arrives in an hour. I'm going to go and pick them up. Did you want to come?”

Hermione was bursting to see her parents. She felt horrible about sending them to Australia during the peak of the war.

“Yes. That would be brilliant.” She said, standing. “How are we getting there?”

Draco smirked. “We're driving.” He said cheerfully.

Hermione frowned. “We have a car?”

He nodded. “You insisted we both get our licenses so that if we were ever unable to Apparate or Floo or fly, we'd have an option.”

Hermione wanted to laugh. She had always wanted to cover all of her bases just in case of an emergency. And she had never liked flying. She thought driving would also be fun.

She walked towards Draco and became suddenly hesitant. He was looking at her with that smirk and he towered over her. She became intimidated. She would be all alone with Draco in the car for an hour. Fear seized her and she didn't know if she could just yet. He must have sensed her discomfort.

“Or I can just go get them myself, if you like? Give you a chance to have a look round the place by yourself.” He smiled politely.

Hermione was touched by his thoughtfulness and sincerity. She thought about it for a moment, following him back inside. She scolded herself. Where had all her famous Gryffindor courage gone? She was one third of the Golden Trio for goodness sakes!

“No.” She said turning to Draco. “I'll come. It'll give us a chance to talk. Hopefully jog my memory.”

He looked at her surprised, but happy.

“Alright then.” He said with a genuine smile.

Hermione said goodbye to Harry and Ginny, giving them each a hug.

“Thank you so much for just being here.” She told them. “Don't know what I'd do without you both.”

“Don't even go there.” Ginny said, giving her a peck on the cheek. “I wouldn't be anywhere else.”

“Neither would I.” Harry said, stepping into the fireplace. He smiled at her. “See you later, Mione. Potter House!”

Ginny stepped in after Harry had disappeared.

“Oh! And before I forget, Mum and Dad usually have a family dinner Sunday nights at the Burrow. You and Draco usually attend but everyone would understand if you decided to skip it. Anyway, I'll pop in sometime tomorrow and see how you feel.”

Hermione nodded and Ginny gave her a last smile. Then she was gone too, leaving Hermione and Draco all alone. She supposed they had been on their own quite a lot in the past eighteen months, but it felt so new to her.

She checked she had her wand in her pocket. Draco showed her into their garage. Parked neatly was a dark blue BMW. The interior was a creamy leather. It was very nice; fancy even. It seemed to be a bit more of Malfoy's taste rather than hers.

Draco hopped into the drivers seat beside her. He turned the car on and pulled out of the garage with ease. This was surreal, watching Draco Malfoy of all people driving a car. She wanted to laugh at the irony.

He saw her smile. “What?” He asked grinning.

“Nothing.” She said quickly. “Just you, of all people, driving a car. It's nuts.”

He looked out the window and chuckled.

“Many things have changed.” He said. “Including you, you know.”

Hermione almost snorted. “Clearly!”

She realised how it must have sounded and she turned to him.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that I just - ”

“Just what?” He snapped. “Find it too strange to be around me? Would rather me not be here?”

She saw the hurt in his eyes. His face hid it well, but she felt she knew him better. Even though her mind screamed at her that she didn't.

“No.” She said. “It's just so hard. And I know it must be for you too! I just feel like it was yesterday that you were calling me Mudblood and telling me to fuck off and go back to my books.”

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“This feels like deja vu.” He said. “We spent the first month together, talking through all this shit. There is so much I explained and that we got through. I honestly don't have the strength to go through it all with you today. I am exhausted. I've spent the last few days going through hell. First, they told me you wouldn't pull through. You were so bloodied up and you looked on the verge of dying, you really did.”

He shook his head angrily.

“I didn't know whether you were going to wake up, Hermione. They told me to prepare for the worst. I have been telling you for months to give up the fucking job because it's getting too dangerous, but you didn't listen to a fucking word I said.”

He slammed his palm into the steering wheel. She jumped at his sudden outburst.

“I have changed since the Final Battle. So have you. We forgave each other and we started afresh. Do you know how much it hurts just to look at you now? The way you look at me; like I'm a stranger. That's what is so painful.”

Hermione didn't know what to say. He seemed to be a bit more like the Malfoy she knew. The man who swore and got angry. But it wasn't over petty things like it used to be. It was over her, her lack of remembering what they had together, and her apparent insistence on keeping her dangerous job.

“I just can't tell you to just click your fingers and trust me, but I just can't go through all that again just now. It was so fucking painful to open up and talk about it the first time.”

She looked at him and still couldn't find the words. She didn't know how to fix this. She wanted to trust him, she really did. She was going to give him and their relationship a chance. She saw a tear roll down his cheek. This made her want to cry herself. He was in as much pain as her.

“I...” She began, swallowing her tears. “I know it's going to take a while for both of us to get used to this... It's a fucking shite situation.” She cleared her choked up throat. “I'm determined to stay, Draco.”

He wiped his cheek angrily.

“I appreciate that, Hermione.” He said. “Don't think I'm not grateful. I just am so angry. I just want to take you in my arms... And I'm scared.”

Hermione frowned. He was afraid?

“I'm scared that you'll leave. I don't want you to go.” He said, looking away from her.

Hermione took a breath and blinked back her tears. She did the only thing she could think to do. She took his free hand in hers and linked her fingers with his.