Amnesia

Her head was spinning when she opened her eyes. However, she closed them quickly again, as the dazzling bright white just seemed to increase her headache.

'Good Morning,' a familiar voice said.

Slowly, Hermione opened her eyes again. Parvati Patil, who had attended Hogwarts School with her, was standing in front of her, wearing a white coat. 'How are you?'

'Er... I've got headache - what are you doing here?' Hermione asked and sat up.

'I'm working here,' Parvati answered.

'And - er - where am I?' Hermione asked.

'At St. Mungo's. You do suffer from a -' Parvati glanced at her clipboard. '- Amnesia Muggliosa.'

'So what does that mean?' Hermione asked. After all, Amnesia Muggliosa did not sound too good. If only her head would stop aching, she would at least be able to try and think.

'Well, if I asked you what the date is, what would you answer?'

Hermione thought about it for a moment - in her head there was yet another throb of pain. 'It's the eight of August, unless I'm mistaken,' she said finally.

'Well, there you go - you are quite mistaken. Today's the first of September. Not counting the two days when you were unconscious, you have forgotten little more than three weeks of your life.'

'What?'

'Don't worry, Amnesia Muggliosa is not permanent - the time will come when you will remember everything. But until then, you should rest as much as possible -'

Someone knocked at the door which was opened only a few seconds later.

Ronald Weasley entered, holding a huge bunch of flowers, followed by Harry Potter, whose jet-black hair seemed to be even messier than usual.

'Morning, sweetheart,' Ron said, leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. He sat down next to her on the bed and instantly took hold of her hand. In the meantime Harry, who had taken the flowers, put the bouquet into a vase on Hermione's bedside table. 'I was so worried about you, really, what did you do at that time out there?'

Hermione just regarded him blankly.

'Ron,' Harry said reproachfully, 'have you already forgotten what the witch down in the entrance hall had said? She can't remember.'

Ron's expression quickly changed.

'Oh, if I get hold of the Muggle who did this to you -' he started furiously, but Parvati interrupted him.

'You, show some consideration for my patients, if you don't mind,' she said sternly. 'It's me who is responsible for her. Just don't upset Hermione.' Turning to her patient, she added, 'Can you remember the accident?'

Hermione considered as hard as her headache would allow her to, and finally she said, 'No, I can't. Was it really a Muggle?'

'We think so,' Parvati answered. 'Draco Malfoy said you were hit by a car.'

'Malfoy?' Hermione said, surprised. Draco Malfoy also had been in her year at Hogwarts, he'd been in Slytherin. 'What does he got to do with it?'

'Personally, I even think it was him,' Ron growled. 'Would fit, wouldn't it? Hiring a Muggle to run over you. That stupid git -'

'I wouldn't talk about him like that, Ron,' Harry said simply. 'If it wouldn't be for him, Hermione probably would now be in a Muggle hospital and you know yourself how bad they are, compared to the St. Mungo's healers...'

'It's a complete mystery to me why he brought you to St. Mungo's in the first place,' Parvati mused. 'With his father being one of You-Know-Who's followers. He could've just kidnapped you and blackmailed us. Or kill you instantly.

'But well, maybe there's something good left in his heart. Maybe he isn't at all who we think he is...'

'Parvati, just to make sure, we're talking about Malfoy, right?' Ron said. 'I'm sure he's up to something, having done this. Why should he, after all? He's bound to profit from it; otherwise he wouldn't have done it.'

Parvati gazed at her watch. 'Oh, I've got to do my rounds in the Alderton-Ward. Magical explosions. Not nice there.

'So, Ron, Harry - if you would go please - Hermione needs to rest.'

'I'll come back as soon as I can,' Ron whispered and kissed her on her cheek. Then he left the room, followed by Harry, who wished Hermione the best and left with the words, 'See you tomorrow.'

Parvati stayed a few moments longer in the room.

'There's something I have to tell you, Hermione,' she said, sitting down next to her on the bed. 'Okay, it might sound weird, but I have to tell you - and I couldn't do it when Ron was here, because - well, if it's not true -'

'What are you talking about?' Hermione asked.

'Well... where to start? Draco was here yesterday. He visited you. Don't ask me why, but I had to permit him, I had no reason to keep him away from you, plus I'm only a trainee healer... but -'

'But what?'

'Well, when I entered to check if you're alright, he did something with your bag, the one Ron brought you, the one that contains everything you need at the hospital -'

'Did he remove something?'

Parvati sighed. 'No - just the opposite.'

'He put something in my bag?'

'I'm not allowed to rummage in your bag, but I checked from the outside if something dangerous is inside. My wand didn't react, so you should be safe when you look what he'd put in. You can do it now, if you want.'

Hermione just nodded. Parvati stood up and pulled out Hermione's holdall from under bed.

'And one last thing, Hermione,' Parvati added swallowing. 'I - it - well, you were holding a Slytherin tie in your hands when Draco brought you here two days ago. It... well... I just thought...'

'What?' Hermione asked. 'You don't think -?'

'You've been weird, lately, you've often been to bars and the Leaky Cauldron late at night, although everyone knows these places are full of You-Know-Who's followers...'

'No, I - that's -'

'I'll leave you alone now, alright? The Alderton-victims are awaiting me,' Parvati said, forcing a smile she didn't succeed in too well, and left the sterile sickroom.

Hermione kept staring at the blue white holdall. Draco Malfoy had put something in there? Maybe it would be better if she waited for someone to check with her, just for safety's sake?

But her curiosity prevailed. She unzipped her bag and immediately saw an envelope bearing the words Hermione Granger. So it was for her, no doubt.

She took it out, forgot all precaution and opened the letter. Nothing happened. A piece of parchment was in the envelope, and wanted to be read by her. She took it out and started reading.

Hermione,

I hope you're well and not seriously injured. I couldn't warn you in time when the accident happened, all I've heard were a bang and then the Muggle vehicle when it drove off quickly. I swear to you, if I find the one who did this to you, I'm going to wipe him off the earth's surface.

Patil said you're suffering from an Amnesia Muggliosa and can't remember everything - but you probably can't have forgotten me, can you? Not now...

If you did, come tomorrow, September 1, to my apartment, Combat-Place 19. Only if you've already woken up, of course. If you haven't, I'll visit you again.

Love,

Draco

It took her a few minutes to actually understand what she'd read. Draco - Draco Malfoy - had signed a letter addressed to her with 'love'? A letter addressed to her, whom he had called 'Mudblood' on graduation day?

I swear to you, if I find the one who did this to you, I'm going to wipe him off the earth's surface.

It scared her to see these words written with Draco's handwriting - it seemed a lot more serious then when Ron had said those words only half an hour before. But if it was serious...

What had Parvati said about Draco, earlier this day?

Maybe he isn't at all who we think he is... The words were resounding in her head, and quietly, almost gently she said, 'Maybe he isn't at all who I think he is...'

She had forgotten everything that had happened in the last three weeks. What if Draco Malfoy - as unreasonable as it might seem to her now - had joined the good side? What, if he had fallen in love with her? What if he wanted to pass her some information about Voldemort - after all, his father was one of Voldemort's biggest supporters...

Now, at the latest, she was convinced that she'd visit Draco Malfoy in his apartment.