Obliviated

The rest of the drive was spent in silence. Draco only removed his hand from hers to park the car at the airport. They walked into the International Arrivals. They looked around for her parents. Hermione smiled as she saw them collecting their luggage. She hurried over to them.

“Mum!” She called.

She almost bowled her mother over as she hugged her. Jane hugged her back tightly and laughed at Hermione's enthusiasm.

“Hello, darling!” She said, taking Hermione and holding her at arms length. “You look well.”

Hermione hugged her again and sighed. Jane stroked her hair and gave a kiss on the cheek.

“It's going to be alright.” She said.

Hermione pulled away, nodding and smiling. Hermione then hugged her father. He squeezed her and kissed her forehead.

“How are you feeling, pumpkin?” John asked, pushing her hair over her shoulder. “We were so worried about you.”

“I'm alright.” Hermione said. “So glad to see you guys.”

“Draco!” Jane cooed.

She turned to see her mother pull Draco into a warm and lengthy hug. That was something she didn't expect. She had never really thought about how he would be with her parents.

“How are you, darling?” Jane asked him.

“Getting through.” He answered honestly. “Better than expected though. I can't ask for much more.”

“It's a difficult situation.” Her father said, shaking Draco's hand. “It's hard to know how to go about everything.”

Draco nodded, smiling politely. John loaded their last bag onto their trolley and they set out for the car park. Hermione walked with her mother, desperate for her advice.

“I feel so helpless, Mum.” She said. “What do I do from here?”

Jane looked at her empathetically.

“I don't really know, sweetheart.” She said as they walked into the car park, a fair distance behind Draco and her father. “There's so much I don't know about your world, but I assume issues like love and work are basically the same. Just go with what you feel is best.”

“And, what do you think about Draco?” Hermione asked, looking at him and John talking and laughing.

Jane stopped and looked at her.

“Well, your father and I were quite surprised when you first told us.” She explained. “You had always described him as a bit of a rude snob. But over the first few months, you were convinced that he had changed. When you introduced him to us, we were delighted. He was such a gentleman; so polite! And we adored him instantly.”

They began walking again, her mother taking her arm.

“When you told us that he had proposed, we were thrilled.” She looked at Hermione and smiled.

“So he proposed to me?” Hermione asked.

“Oh sorry!” She said. “I didn't know how much you knew. I'll let Draco tell you the rest. He has the right to.”

Hermione agreed with her mother. She watched John clap Draco on the back in good humour. They were both laughing. For the first time, Hermione felt as though she wasn't so scared about exploring a future with him.

They all reached the car, loaded the bags, and were soon again in the countryside. They had covered all the small talk topics such as the weather and the traffic, and soon there was silence. Hermione looked out the window, thinking of what to say. She turned to look at Draco.

“So do you enjoy driving?” Hermione asked him.

He looked at her with a smirk. Nervous butterflies fluttered in her tummy.

“I do.” He said. “I never thought I would, but I do. You and your family have shown me many Muggle things that I like.”

He saw the incredulous look she was giving him and he laughed.

“I know it seems bizarre.” He said. “I've changed a hell of a lot since the Final Battle.”

“We even managed to get him hooked onto TV.” Her father said. “And he goes for Manchester United like a good son should.”

Hermione looked back at her father and laughed.

“Oh please don't tell me you got him hooked on football!” She said.

Draco looked at her and smiled.

“It couldn't replace Quidditch, don't worry.” He said.

She laughed, enjoying the carefree moment with them all. She then looked at Draco and realised that her father had called him 'son'. She noticed that Draco had seemed a lot more cheerful since her parents arrived. He must be close with them. He seemed much more at ease with them around. She wondered whether he was on speaking terms with Narcissa. She knew that Lucius had been killed in the Final Battle. She pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind. Now was not the appropriate time.

When they arrived at the cottage she felt like she had arrived home. They all sat in the living room with a cup of tea until the sun had set and Hermione was getting hungry.

“I'll make us some dinner.” Jane said.

“Are you sure?” Draco and Hermione asked in unison.

They looked at each other and shared an awkward smile.

“Of course.” Jane said. “It's been a very trying few days for you both. You both look like you need a decent home cooked meal.”

Draco nodded.

“Thanks.” He said. “I could go for some thing that's not reheated.”

Jane left with a grin and John quickly followed, muttering something about giving her a hand and giving them a chance to talk. Hermione smiled at her fathers lack of subtlety.

She looked over to Draco who brought his legs up and lazed across the couch. She brought her feet up and rested them under her comfortably. She studied him for a moment. He looked so much more relaxed than she ever remembered him being at school. He had always looked so tense. And she supposed he had good reason. His family and his father were always pressuring him, not to mention Voldemort himself. Draco looked over to her.

“I'm sorry I snapped at you in the car.” He said. “I was short with you and I'm ready to open up again, if you want me to.”

Hermione felt tears spring to her eyes. They were sudden and unexpected.

“No, don't be sorry.” She said. “You're being patient with me and I owe you the same. You don't have to talk about it yet, if you're not ready. I'm not going to force you.”

The tears began to roll down her cheeks. Draco was quickly in front of her. He took her hands in his.

“Why are you crying?” He asked gently.

Hermione blinked several times trying to stop. She shook her head.

“I don't entirely know.” She said. “I'm so confused. I have such conflicting thoughts in my head. I want to hug you but then I want to run away. I feel so at home and so outcast at the same time. I know that before my memory was obliviated I was deeply in love with you and I want to be again. I want to remember what we had, but I can't. I feel like I love you, and I don't know you. My mind is going straight to defense mode. I'm so scared of being vulnerable. You make me feel things.”

He wiped her cheeks dry with his thumb.

“I have no words. I have no idea what to do. But I'm so determined to make you mine again.” He moved to sit next to her. “May I hold you?”

She looked at him. His smell was intoxicating. So familiar, so nice and safe. So arousing. She closed her eyes and leaned into his embrace. As soon as his arms came around her to hold her close to him, she felt home. She sighed in contentment.