Oblivious

Chapter 9: The Memory Charm

~H~

"Yes, I would like to know where my father is," I say to my mother, quietly but forcefully. "Is he dead?"

"Well, dear," I flinch at the endearing term as she settles onto the couch. "When I first brought Draco home, your father objected, as would be expected. Let's just say that Draco's temper got the better of him, and he turned the Cruciatus Curse on your father. When your father had had enough, Draco Stunned him." She seems to be taking some sort of sick pleasure in telling me this. "Now, when Draco returns, we will get to the business of your partial Memory Charm. For now, go up to your room and enjoy your last hours of knowing you're a witch. Go on."

I turn, sending one last glare at her, and ascend the stairs, casting a spell on the door behind me to keep it locked. Flinging myself onto my bed, I pull from my robes the picture of Ron and me that Colin took back in Gladrags. And for the first time, I cry.

"Where are you, Ron?" I whisper, gazing up at the stars through my window. "Why haven't you saved me yet?" I sigh heavily through my tears.

Summoning a self-inking quill to me, I begin to write on the back of the picture:

I'm sorry things didn't work out. I hope you can get over this and forget about me. I want you to be happy, even if it's with someone else. I don't want you to be miserable but remain loyal to me; I won't know that you are anyway. Good-bye, Ron Weasley. I love you, and I always will.

I place an Invisibility Charm on the picture and put it in the hole in my bedroom wall behind my wardrobe, as I have done with all my other wizard things. I hope that someday I will be able to use them again.

***

The next morning, Malfoy and Mum come into my room. Obviously fighting to keep a smile from his face, he explains the spell to me, even though we both know that I could recite it to him verbatim from Standard Book of Spells.

"The effect this charm has is to erase a portion of the memory of the afflicted, in your case, seven years' worth. When I point my wand, I will say the incantation and concentrate on the amount of time I want erased. Now, Hermione, prepare to say good-bye to Hogwarts, Potter, and your precious Weas--"

Malfoy is interrupted by a fluttering of wings as an owl swoops in through the open window. The small gray owl lands in front of me and holds out its leg. I take the parchment and unroll it, seeing Ron's untidy scrawl. Reading it, my heart is ripped from my chest and torn to pieces:

Hermione,

I had no idea you would be capable of such deception. I thought you loved me. What about all those special moments we've shared over the years? Did those mean nothing to you? Did it mean nothing when I poured my heart and soul out to you? Did it mean nothing when I changed, just for you? Did it mean nothing when I asked you to officially become a part of my very being, when you had already been so for years? Well, those things obviously mean nothing to you. I just can't believe . . . I'm speechless. I hope you realize just how much this hurts me. Have a good life with Malfoy. And don't worry, you won't ever hear from me again.

Ron

Tears pour from my eyes as I look up into Draco's smug face. He raises his wand, smiling amusedly, and lazily utters, "Obliviate!"

As the spell hits me, I feel the heat rush through my head, as I have read happens during the Charm. But another feeling is there which causes my head to throb.

What's going on? That's not supposed to happen!

Forgetting the strange feeling, I struggle to hold on to my memory of Hogwarts and the whole wizarding world, but especially of Ron.

Ron, I love you. Ronald Weasley, I love you. Harry Potter, my best friend. Ron, my love . . . Ron Weasley . . . Ron . . . Ron . . . Ron? Who's Ron?

When I look up through my tears at Mum and Draco, Mum smiles and Draco takes my hand, saying, "Come, my lovely Hermione. Mother is expecting us for dinner."

Looking up at this pale, pointy-faced blonde, I feel a rush of love. I wipe my eyes, smile, and stand, saying, "Yes, Draco, darling. I remember our appointment with Narcissa."

He smiles, sending an electric thrill through me. I gaze at him as we walk to Mum's car, thinking, Draco, my love, my fiancé . . .