Obliviated

Hermione tried to open her eyes. She couldn't focus, everything was so blurry. Her head was thumping painfully. Someone's hand was holding hers.

“Hermione?” Came a familiar male voice. “Baby, can you hear me?”

Baby? Hermione frowned and closed her eyes, trying to gain some focus to see. She groaned as she tried to move her body into a sitting position. She felt like she had been hit by a truck. The hand let go of hers to brush her hair behind her ear.

“Don't move sweetheart, I'll call the Healer.” The voice said.

Sweetheart? Who was this person? It didn't sound like Harry or Ron, or even her father. Who ever he was, he was going to get the Healer. So she was in St Mungo's. She opened her eyes again, her vision getting a little clearer. No one was in her room. She tried to speak but her throat was sore and her voice hoarse. Then the healer walked in quickly, robes billowing behind her.

“Hermione, I'm Healer Clarkson.” She said. “Can you hear me?”

Hermione nodded. She blinked a few times and tried to look at her surroundings. There were four other people in the room. A glass was put up to her nose. The contents smelled horrible.

“Here we go, have a few mouthfuls of this please. It is like a Pepper-Up potion. It'll help your headache and your throat.”

Hermione opened her mouth and swallowed as much as she could handle without throwing up. She closed her eyes and sighed as the potion began to take effect. Her head was buzzing and then everything was calm. She opened her eyes. Healer Clarkson was leaning over her, blocking all else from view.

“Fantastic.” She said, waving her wand over Hermione's head and then down her body. She came up to check Hermione's eyes. “Okay, Hermione. Do you know where you are?”

Hermione looked into her cool blue eyes and nodded.

“St Mungo's.” She said quietly.

“Excellent.” She continued waving her wand around Hermione's head, continuing with her testing. “Can you tell me your name, please?”

“Hermione Jane Granger.”

“How many fingers am I holding up? Is your vision fuzzy at all, or do you have a headache?” She asked.

The Healer waved three fingers in front of Hermione's eyes and examined the information that Hermione imagined was appearing above her head.

“Three. And no, I felt better when I drank the potion.” Hermione took a deep breath in, her body still sore. “What happened? Why am I here?”

Healer Clarkson stood back and frowned. Hermione sat up slowly and looked around to see Harry, Ron, and Ginny. She was quite shocked to see Draco Malfoy at the end of her bed.

“What the hell is going on? Why is Malfoy here?” Hermione demanded, raising her voice. “What happened to me?”

Malfoy frowned and she saw a look of confusion and sadness in his eyes. She looked over to Harry. He was frowning too.

“What do you mean Hermione? Of course he's going to be here.” Harry said.

“What? I don't understand!” Hermione shrieked.

“Everyone just take a step back for a moment please.” Healer Clarkson said.

She waved her wand over Hermione's head once again and then shook her head angrily.

“Hermione, your memory has been obliviated.” She said. “What is the last thing you remember?”

Hermione looked around her. She looked at Ginny who stepped forward and took her hand.

“I – I don't know.” Hermione said. “Ginny and I were shopping in Diagon Alley.”

“And what happened before that, Hermione?” Healer Clarkson asked.

Hermione blinked back the tears. How much time had been stolen from her memory? What had she missed?

“We've just buried Fred, Tonks and Remus...” Hermione said sadly. “And started to clear the rubble from Hogwarts.”

Ginny's eyes started swimming with tears too. She covered her mouth with her free hand. Ron walked about the room, swearing under his breath. Harry shook his head angrily, and Malfoy just looked at her in disbelief.

“What is it? How much of my memory has been obliviated?” She asked, fearing the answer.

The group looked between them and before anyone could answer her, the Healer spoke.

“I'm afraid almost two years has been erased.” She said sadly.

“Two years?!” Hermione cried.

She covered her face with her hands and brought her knees to her chest.

“Is it permanent?” Malfoy asked quietly.

Hermione looked up to the Healer who looked at him sympathetically.

“Generally, an obliviation spell this strong would cause irreversible damage the brain. It's a miracle that she's sitting her talking to us, quite frankly.” She said.

“Yes. But can get her memory back?” Malfoy asked shortly.

“There has been a potion created that stimulates brain and helps with memory loss. But it has never been trialled on someone who has lost so much memory. All we can do is start her on the potion and hope for the best. Perhaps with any luck, she may gain a memory or two.”

Fucking hell! Hermione looked from Malfoy to Harry. He was looking at the floor. Why was Malfoy so concerned? What didn't she remember that concerned him? Then it occurred to her. How had this happened?

“Who did this?” She asked shakily. “What happened?”

Healer Clarkson looked around to Harry and Malfoy.

“Would you like to fill in the details?” She asked.

They nodded. What would Malfoy be able to fill in? Hermione then remembered the voice when she had first woken up. It was Malfoy's voice. He had called her 'baby' and 'sweetheart'.

“I'll leave you to it.” The Healer said nodding. “I'll be back in a little while to check up on her. Depending on how you go tonight, Hermione, we may be able to release you tomorrow.”

Hermione was mind was reeling. She had so many questions. She nodded absent-mindedly. Ginny sat down on the bed next to her and pulled her into an embrace.

“Somebody please just tell me what's going on!” Hermione said, hugging Ginny tightly.

Harry sighed and sat down on the chair next to her bed. He looked up at Malfoy.

“Mind if I start off?” He asked.

Malfoy shook his head. They were so civil it was scaring her. Everything felt so foreign.

“You were attacked on your way home from work a few nights ago.” Harry said. “We don't know who it was yet, but let me assure you, we're working on it. You are an Unspeakable and you were working late. You were attacked just outside your house.”

“My house?” Hermione asked.

“You live a few blocks away from Harry and I, in Godric's Hollow.” Ginny explained. “You and Draco just bought it.”

Hermione shook her head and looked up at Malfoy.

“I'm sorry, what?” She said.

Malfoy nodded and opened his mouth to speak.

“We're engaged, Hermione.”