Chapter 3

He stood in his lab, and ran a hand through his hair, letting himself laugh nervously, smiling. Then he pumped his fist, letting his youthful excitement take over.

A real date!! An actual date with a girl!

Draco threw himself into his chair, leaning back, still grinning He reached for his notebook, and knew he couldn't let his thoughts distract him from his work. He picked up the rat that was still bare, no fur visible, and made sure it was healthy, before setting it back into the cage, and walking to his potions set up.

He watched it for a moment and sighed, summoning his dragon hide gloves, strapping them on, grabbing his safety goggles that he dearly despised, even though they are the reason he wasn't blinking yet. He then pulled back on his tunic, so his dress shirt wasn't baggy and then turned on his cauldrons, using his wand to get all the ingredients he had used for the failed hair growth tonic. He examined each of them, and set up three different stations, so he could try three different ideas. Draco added the basic independent items, making sure each cauldron stayed at the same temperature and all retained a blueish tinge, as he shredded up boomslang skin, squeezed the juice from glow worms and then added fumes from dragon flames, one into each.

Draco then turned up the heat and turned his attention to the boomslang skin induced tonic, not hearing the bubbling behind him. He then turned around, just as the dragon's flame cauldron erupted, sending a shock wave through the room, throwing Draco across the room and into the wall, as his lab exploded with smoke and all the glass panels shattered. Fire was erupting everywhere, and crumpled on the floor, was his unconscious form.

The eruption had shaken most of the offices like a miniature earthquake, but working at the ministry, most of them knew that was not the case.

Back in her office, Hermione was writing a letter to another minister from her department, when the entire room shook, and her ink well fell over, spilling over the desk, as a few things fell off her desk. It stopped, and then the ministry's built in fire alarms started blaring.

"Shit-" She muttered, and got up, walking out her door, ad saw the smoke covering the roof, and knew it was from one of her labs. She ran the opposite way, and farther into the building. As she ran, she was joined by Harry and a few other aurors, who were sent to make sure it wasn't an attack. The smoke grew thick, and the group cast bubblehead charms, as Hermione ignored Harry's constant insistence for her to leave.

"This might be one of my employees!!" As she went ahead, and found the demolished lab, recognizing it, "No..."

The team started to try and put out the fires, as Hermione climbed through the rubble, and saw a form on the ground, burnt shirt and clothes. She quickly rushed over and turned him over and saw that it was Draco. He looked horrid, dehydrated obviously from how dry his skin was, along with the blackened soot on his face.

She grabbed under his arms, "Harry!! I found him!!"

It took a moment, but after a minute or two, Harry appeared, as they put out the fires.

He knelt beside her, "We need to get him into St. Mungo's. The amount of smoke he must have inhaled..." As he helped her pick Draco up, "GET THE LAB SAFE! WE FOUND THE SCIENTIST. THEN EVACUATE." HE yelled to his team, and then he apparated himself and Hermione to Mungo's, wondering what the hell must have been added to cause an explosion like this or almost kill someone, especially what had been added that Malfoy hadn't realized was dangerous. He had gotten an O in his N.E.W.T.S. Potions exam.

They got Malfoy to Mungo's, and instantly a nurse came and took him to a room. He sat beside Hermione, knowing she didn't like the hospital. 

"Do you know what happened?" He asked, putting an arm around her shoulder. A simple head shakes.

"He was making hair growth tonics. A request from the salon in Diagon Alley. Nothing dangerous. He was trying to correct one that had been a flop before we went for a lunch d-...meeting. I walked him back to his lab and everything was fine..." Hermione's voice shook, and he wondered what exactly had happened when she stayed at his house for the day. She cared about him more than someone who had just became friends.

"Is there a possibility he mixed up the bottles?" She shook her head, once again. "Before I left, he showed me the ingredients, as I am head of the department, and we discussed the things he could try. Glow worm juice, shredded, not sliced, boomslang skin, and fumes from a dragon's flame."

He nodded stiffly, and stayed quiet, thinking. Nobody knew he worked there...right?

"You said he's kept himself a secret...?" Harry asked.

Jeez this woman hated words. Hermione nodded again, leaning into his arms.

"Ok..." Knowing only two things were possible. He was given the wrong ingredients...Or someone was trying to kill him.

As he went to say something, the door opened, "Miss Granger? Mr. Potter? The man is conscious again."

Hermione jumped up, before the doctor could continue, and was rushing into the room. The man sighed, "I didn't finish...."

Harry stood, "What else is there..." His eyes narrowing slightly.

"The man uh...He has...No recollection...Of...Anything..." The doctor said slowly, "Not even his name..."

Harry froze, "What!?"

He quickly pushed past the doctor, and quickly walked into the room, towards Hermione, who was standing, staring at Draco. The boy was sitting up in the bed, shirtless as he had received numerous burns. He was watching her as well, but...He didn't look right. His eyes weren't guarded, and he had lost his confident posture.

"Hermione..." Harry said gently, touching her shoulder, "You need to-"

"He doesn't remember..." She whispered, turning to Harry. "He doesn't remember a single thing!!" Hugging her best friend, who was slightly shocked. Draco, who looked very blank, spoke, "I'm sorry.... I didn't mean to upset you miss..."

Harry looked at him over her shoulder, "Just give her a minute. Then I'll talk to you. You haven't said anything wrong." His voice taking a softer tone than usual when he spoke to Malfoy.

Hermione stayed quiet, just hugging him, "Hey...Take a breath. He didn't say anything mean. Turn around, and we can talk to him, at least so he knows his own name and age...Ok?"

She nodded against his chest, and took a deep breath, turning back around, and she sat on the edge of his bed.

"Sorry...I got emotional. I assume you don't remember me.... My name is Hermione Granger. My friend, his name is Harry Potter." She explained, keeping her voice even.

His head tilted slightly, "Hermione....Interesting name." he glanced at Harry, and muttered, "Potter...Potter...I recognize your name...I don't know why...It's just...Familiar."

Harry smiled slightly, "That's a good thing. Don't push yourself, ok? You were at work and received a very life-threatening injury. You are very lucky that amnesias the only last result."

Draco tilted his head again, "What do I do that is so dangerous?"

Hermione went to answer but Harry beat her to it. "Chemistry. You work as a chemist." Giving her a side glance, 'no magic yet' he mouthed, which Draco didn't see. She nodded the slightest bit, but he saw. They weren't going to tell Draco about magic, until they knew he could process it.

Draco nodded slightly, and looked at her, "Ok..." Not really knowing how to respond. He looked a bit startled, pink in the cheeks when she took his hands, "Your name is Draco Lucius Malfoy. You're 23 years old. You have no spouse, but...."

She glanced at Harry before continuing. "Over the past few days, we got to know each other. You saved me from my crazy ex-boyfriend when he stalked me through the park, and you took me to your home and protected me.... It ended up that he refused to leave so I ended up staying the night. You were awkward at first.... But then you started to relax and be a bit more you around me. We fell asleep on your couch, while watching a horror movie... I don't really know what you did after that, but I woke up in the morning in your arms...." She felt awkward retelling this in front of Harry but wanted Draco to know. He seemed enraptured, his face showing an emotion she couldn't place. "We uh...We talked for a while and... And then it came time for me to head to work.... And uh...We almost...Kissed."

"YOU WHAT!?" Harry burst, obviously not knowing this, "AND I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WHY!?"

"Harry, please calm down-" She said quietly when she saw how startled Draco looked, "He doesn't have his war and battle reflexes. He's going to be scared by loud noises."

Draco swallowed, looking at her hands over his, "We almost kissed...?" Tilting his head, a bit, studying her, "I mean, yeah, you're hot, so I wouldn't mind kissing, but...I... I have this nagging feeling in my head...That..." He didn't know why, but he felt like he was meant to hate them. Both, but also, he felt a strange attraction to the girl. She meant something to him. Something special. "I don't know...."

She smiled a bit, and just said, "I'm just glad you're alive Draco....Your lab was on fire; all the glass had shattered.... It looked like you hit the wall and collapsed..."

His eyes widened slightly, and he said, "Do...Do you want a hug?"

Hermione stopped, and looked at him, before nodding and he took her into his arms, pulling his legs out the covers and crossing them so she was in an almost cradle-like hold. 

"From what it sounds like. We meant nothing to each other, but now you mean something...And I guess that we just must work through this.... together?" He mumbled.

She had never heard Draco Malfoy being so...Reasonable? No, so.... Accommodating. She smiled a bit and looked up at him, "Sounds like a plan."

Harry was watching this, and he was amazed. Even with long term amnesia, Draco was still so gentle and calm, giving off the same 'I'm a gentle giant, what are you gonna do about it' vibes around her.

"Draco?" He didn't get a response and nudged him, "You're Draco, remember?"

The boy looked up and flushed slightly, "Oh...Right...What?'

Harry rolled his eyes slightly, "I'm just letting you know that Hermione is taking you home, as you can't be left unsupervised in case of another injury or mental issues start to develop."

The blonde nodded again and then asked, "Has this happened before?"

Hermione and Harry stayed silent until she spoke, "Well, there was this one time in third year that you...Well, some Gryffindors pranked you in Potions and it went.... Well, you couldn't remember the entire school year for three days. It was quite funny, but it was obvious that you were getting worked up and quite scared until Professor Snape had to physically hug you and tell you that you were ok. He's your- He was your godfather."

Draco didn't have to ask to know what she meant by was, "Oh..."

The two looked at each other and then Hermione looked back at Draco, "Yeah...uh..." She felt Harry's hand on her shoulder, "Why don't you get some rest while me and Harry go and set…Set up a room for you…"

He nodded a bit and laid back into his sheets, looking at the ceiling. Hermione sighed, rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand, before getting up and walking with Harry out the room. She took in a deep breath and looked at him.

Hermione smiled a bit, "You're helping with the set up right…?"

Harry nodded, looking down a bit, and said, "Come on Mione. Let's get a room set up for him…" Feeling a bit awkward, but knew he had to stay with his best friend. He took her hand and apparated, as they both reappeared in her apartment.

Harry looked around, as Hermione walked down the hall, and walked into a new room. Harry followed, and saw it was her own.

Hermione took a deep breath, "This has gotten…So deep…" Looking back at Harry, and shaking her head, "He's…I only just started to get to know him, and suddenly that small thing we had gets taken away…?"

He walked over and hugged her as her wand arm dropped, "Why does this feel like a bad thing…?"

Harry stayed quiet for a while, just holding her, and then spoke into her hair, "Because you still feel as if you must be faithful to Ron…Scared to try something new…. Scared to trust…" He gently rubbed her head with his fingers.

She sighed against his chest, "Either way it must happen…. I honestly don't trust anybody else with him…I don't know why, I guess I'm just scared of him being mistreated, especially without any memory."

Hermione pulled back and walked over beside her bed, muttering a spell under her breath. Beside her bed, another bed appeared, forming. She took in a deep breath as she layered it with blankets and pillows, conjuring a side table between their beds. She smiled slightly, hoping he would feel safe.

She looked back at Harry, not really knowing what to say or do, and he smiled a bit, "In your room?"

Hermione looked away, and mumbled, "He might get scared during the night."

Harry laughed, "Oh my god- "

She rolled her eyes, and said, "Let's just go back and collect him. I'll make him some dinner and get him to bed…Then I must go in to work…. Try and figure out how to fix the office…Make sure everybody is ok and- "

"Hermione." Harry cut her off, looking at her, "What you are going to do, is bring Malfoy home, and make him dinner, but you are also going to bed. He has had the longest day of all of us, but you have also had a very lengthy and stressful day."

She sighed and looked up at him, "Fine…. But I must go in tomorrow. I just want to make sure that nothing is in dangerous conditions."

Harry smiled, "Ok, I'll allow that."

She took another deep breath and took his hand, muttering, "Let's go collect him…" And she snapped her wand down, spinning on her heel, apparating back to St. Mungos.

Hermione walked back into Draco's room, and saw him lying on his side, slowly twirling the bed sheets. She approached slowly.

"Draco…?" She said gently, and he didn't respond. "That's your name, remember? Draco?"

His eyes trailed up and connected with hers, "You came back…?"

Hermione stayed quiet as she slowly sat on the edge of the bed. Harry had stayed outside. "Of course…Why wouldn't I?"

Draco shrugged a bit, "I don't know…. I just felt like you had left for good…I felt alone…They won't tell me where my parents are either, or if I even have any."

The brunette felt air catch in her throat, as she smiled tightly, "It's alright. I'll take you home and make you some dinner, and then we can talk about whatever you want."

She hadn't seen him so relaxed and so much like a regular muggle boy before.

Draco nodded, "Ok then…" As he got out the bed, seemingly weak. She reached out as his arm shot out, and latched onto her shoulder, and she placed it gently on the palm of his back, and Hermione looked at him.

"Are you alright? You seem unbalanced." Hermione asked, as he started to regain his footing.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine…" He muttered, looking at her, and he held onto her shoulder tighter, "You know, usually when someone is supporting somebody else, they usually need to be taller, right?"

Hermione rolled his eyes, "I see you haven't lost your sense of humor…" Hiding the fact that she was happy with this fact, and said, "Once again with the short jokes."

She led him out the room, and saw Harry, who took the boy's other arm. 

"Try and stay focused on your breathing, and don't be scared to pass out. Me and Hermione have a strong grip on you." Harry said, as Hermione slid her wand into her hand where Draco couldn't see but knew she would have to tell him tonight. She spun on her heel and disappeared with the two boys. Her feet landed on solid ground, and she felt a dead weight on her side, and quickly grabbed Draco, as Harry caught most of his weight.

"He's out cold. Is it really that bad? I never felt sick from side-along." Harry observed, tilting Draco's head back to see his face, and then letting his head thud back onto his chest. "We should probably lay him on the couch, and then I'll leave so you can get settled with him. Ginny will be worried sick about where I am after hearing about the fire at work."

Hermione nodded as they got Draco inside, laying him on her sofa. He was way too big to sit on her couch, his legs bent a bit, but he looked to be comfortable, and he was fast asleep now. Harry smiled again.

"Ok, I need to head home now. Seriously." He muttered, giving her a side hug, and he pulled out his wand, and left the house, leaving Hermione to figure out what to do with Draco.

She took in a deep breath, and walked into her kitchen, wondering why this felt so intimate, so trusting, such a big step after only a date and a day spent together. Hermione pulled her wand out again, and started cooking a simple meal, chicken tenders and macaroni. She hadn't eaten that for years…Since Hogwarts probably. She heard a sound from her living room and smiled, before her eyes widened, "His dogs!!" Remembering that they were now left at home without any food or water, and then groaned, wiping her face with her hand, and going to see if he was awake.

She walked in, and saw Draco not stretched out but sitting up. She walked towards him, "I guess that form of transportation isn't a good idea yet, huh?"

He looked up, seeing her, and smiled slightly.

Draco looked at her longer, "You're Hermione, right?"

She nodded, and sat down beside him, "Yeah…Do you like chicken tenders and macaroni?"

His face remained blank, "No clue."

She blushed slightly, "Oh- right- uh sorry…"

He laughed, and it startled her, but also sent butterflies down her spine. "I know what chicken tenders and macaroni is- Oh you got so red- "

She smacked his arm, "Don't do that!!"

He chuckled, and leaned his head back again, going quiet. Hermione spoke gently, "Are you ok, Draco?"

He peeked through his eyelashes at her, "I don't know, honestly. Like, physically? I feel ok, although I have an ache in the back of my head. The doctor said I had a dangerous impact, so it will take a few days for the ache to fade. Mentally? Not at all. I know basic stuff, like how to read, talk, walk…What a chicken tender is…" Smiling slightly, "But anything to do with myself or my life is gone…. I don't even know what I look like, other than that I am tall and pale. I guess you wouldn't know how it felt, to be sitting next to someone, who knows you, but you don't know yourself."

Hermione hadn't expected that answer, "No, I suppose I don't…." She studied him, "Although I can understand what you're saying even if I haven't experienced it. I know you a little, but not a lot. However, I know you enough to help you. You said we can work on this together, and we will. Tonight, all you need to do is eat some dinner and go to bed. I need to deal with something before I go to sleep, so you'll get some peace and quiet."

He nodded again, and then watched her as she got up and walked to the kitchen, returning moments later with a plate, and he smiled.

She noticed that he was much more subdued without his memories making him jittery and scared. Hermione sat beside him and decided she needed to explain some stuff incase memories started coming back.

"Draco, I need to tell you something, and I really don't want you to freak out. It's over, the good side won, but you, and I, and Harry, and many other people, went through a war." She said gently.

He froze, staring at his plate, in silence, "It was a wizarding war. Magic. Mythological creatures." She continued, "You…Were on the dark side."

"What…...?" His voice sounded tight and quiet.

"Don't worry, you never harmed anybody…. I wanted you to know, in case you started having nightmares from it, and didn't understand…When you get more memories and understand all this better, we can have a good talk about it, but right now…" She tilted his chin up with her fingertips, "Don't be afraid…. You're safe and in good hands…"

He nodded, God he did that so much…

Hermione patted his knee, getting up, "I am going to go get something from your house, and I'll be back soon."

He watched her leave, feeling very awkward as soon as she left the room.

She apparated to his house, landing outside, and unlocking the door, kneeling to greet the two excited dogs. "Scotch. Severus. Hi guys."

She stood up, closing the door and walked down the hall, towards Draco's room, feeling weird as well, as she opened the door, and made her way over to the large black owl she had seen before.

Hermione opened the cage, holding her arm out, "it's alright. I'm taking you back to Draco…"

The bird hesitated before fluttering onto her arm like a perch, and Hermione smiled, before walking back out the room and having the dogs walk by her side as she stepped outside, locking the door, and she knelt, touching both dogs, and she apparated. The four of them landed, right in the middle of the living room. She heard a loud curse and a thud, followed by a groan. She blinked and had muffle her laugh. Draco had fallen over the back of the couch to jump away. Draco grabbed the couch and pulled himself up.

"Draco, it's ok. It's me. Scotch, Severus. Go look behind the couch." She instructed his two dogs, who scrambled around, and tackled him, whimpering and licking him. He held the two pets, and managed to stagger up, looking confused.

"Are they yours?" He asked, seeing the owl, "Woah…."

The owl saw Draco and fluttered from her arm and settled comfortably on his shoulder, his dogs settling beside him.

She swallowed, having to shake the fact that he looked very attractive with his messy dress shirt half untucked, messy hair, a black owl perched on his shoulder, and two dogs sitting on either side. "Uh…"

She blinked, and looked away for a moment, and then looked back, "The black haired one is Severus, and the other is Butterscotch, but you call him Scotch. The owl on your shoulder…. I don't remember his name. Say hello to your pets, Draco ."

He looked at the owl, slowly stroking down some of its feathers, and then down at the dogs, kneeling. She walked around the couch and watched his interaction.

"Scotch…" He murmured, repeating the name a few times, "Don't remember you buddy…" Stroking his head, and then Severus's head, both dogs happy to see their owner again.

He sighed, and looked up at her, "I don't remember any of them…."

She smiled tightly, "it's ok…Have you finished dinner?" Draco nodded a bit, "Ok, I'll show you to the bed you can use. In my drawers, on the left side, I conjured up some sleeping pants for you to use, and I can change the size if you need."

He nodded again, and stood up, following her as she made her way down the hall, to her room. She could sense him behind her, swallowing again. Was her throat usually this dry?

Hermione pushed the door open and pointed to the set-up bed beside hers. "The one more in the middle is mine. Your bed is beside the window."

His voice came from very close behind her, "Thank you, Hermione."

She shivered slightly, and spoke in an even tighter voice, "Your welcome…Draco…"

He walked past her, and she was shocked that he had been almost touching her, as he walked to his bed, patting the end. Scotch and Severus jumped up, his owl perching on the headboard. She stared for a moment, before saying, "I'll give you time to get ready…"

Hermione quickly left the room, closing the door gently behind her. She took deep breaths, and calmed her nerves, walking into her living room. She lit the fire, and bent her head down, speaking, "Number 12, Grimmauld Place."

She called out, "Harry? Ginny?"

She heard footsteps and saw Harry come into view, followed by Ginny. "Hi Hermione."

She looked at Harry, "He's settling nicely, but he doesn't remember his own pets. And I…" She thought about the shiver she felt when he spoke close to her, and she sighed, "Maybe it won't be such a bad thing, to get close to him…"

Ginny looked at Harry, then back at Hermione, "You're talking about the scientist? The one who almost died today?"

Hermione's eyes flicked momentarily to Harry, then back at her, "Yes. I'm his boss, so I volunteered to take care of him. He lives alone and has long term amnesia. So, he's staying with me."

Ginny smiled, "Oh that's sweet!!"

Harry chuckled, "Are you good for the night?"

Hermione nodded, after taking a deep breath, "Yeah, I have lots of wards up, and special protection for if he gets passed them…and I have a feeling that if anything happens, Dr- his instincts might kick in. A punch is a punch."

She then said, "Alright…Goodnight." Pulling out the fireplace, and getting up, coming face to face with Draco. He was shirtless, wearing a pair of green and black plaid pants, no shoes on. His hair was still a bit messy.

"What was that….?" He asked slowly, his eyes trailing to the fireplace, then back to her face.

"It's something I know I need to explain to you…. Come on…" She reached out, and took his hand, leading him back to the room. She had him get comfortable and into his bed, as she laid down on hers, looking at him. She reached into her pocket and pulled her wand out.

"Draco…What I haven't told you yet, is that you are a wizard…" Hermione said slowly. His eyes trailed to her hand and locked onto her wand. 

"I found something like that in my pocket…" Draco muttered, getting off his bed and walking to the dresser, pulling out his own wand. "It sparked a bit when I touched it, so I put it into a drawer…"

Draco sat back down on the edge of his bed, holding it by the handle, and inspecting it. "So that thing, with the green flames. I've seen it before…I don't know when, but I know it isn't…Wrong."

She smiled, "That's good. What I was doing was called a floo call. We have a system, attached to every fireplace in the world that is connected to it, called the Floo Network. The thing I did, is just a small call, where the person on the other end, at the other place, can see and hear you. Another thing you can do is step into the green flames and call out a destination. It will suck you down, into the system, and then spit you out at that address."

His eyes were intrigued, as he said, "So, that loud crack I heard earlier, when you suddenly appeared, that was magic?"

Hermione chuckled, "Yup. It's called apparition. It's a faster form of travel, but for new witches and wizards, or muggles, it can make them sick. That's what made you pass out earlier when me and Harry were holding you."

Draco made an 'o' shape with his mouth, understanding now.

The brunette studied him for a moment, seeing the shadows that had formed over the past hour under his eyes, and she spoke gently, "Draco…You should get some sleep…"

He blinked and rubbed his eyes, mumbling something, but then he laid down on the bed, his hands curling and clutching his wand. She studied him again as he fell asleep, and then she slowly pulled the wand from his grip, laying it on the side table, and turning out the light. She walked to the bathroom, and got changed into lighter clothes, before brushing out her hair.

Hermione walked out, closing the door quietly and walking to her kitchen and getting a bowl, filling it with water, walking back to the room, setting it on the floor for the dogs, and giving the owl a gentle stroke, before sliding into her own bed, looking at his sleeping form.

He looked calm and relaxed, and as she closed her eyes, she hoped that she could help him.

She slowly drifted off, slightly realizing that Scotch had climbed onto her bed, and snuggled closer to her chest.