Draco grasped his wand tighter in his hand, feeling a cold sweat forming on his forehead. He was just about to say something when multiple things happened at once. He heard a deafening blast and a bright flash of white-blue light exploded above the clearing, illuminating their faces; multiple voices shouted curses, making chunks of trees and splinters fly everywhere. Draco ducked and quickly placed a protective spell in front of him. That is when he saw Harry, followed by Ron and Theo, running into the clearing. They managed to take out McKinley's followers, but got a few curses thrown at them in the process. By the time the enemies were down, Harry sported a grazed cheek, while Ron had an injured forearm, which was bleeding profusely. Theo was the only one who got away without a scratch. They were all panting hard due to the effort.

"Took you long enough, Potter." Draco drawled, feeling relieved, even though he would never have admitted it.

"Yeah, sorry mate. This McKinley had set some pretty tough wards over this place. Had to bring Theo to help us break them." Harry replied with a smirk. He nudged his head towards Theodore Nott, who was standing right behind him, an excited grin on his face.

"You're losing your touch, Nott." Draco threw at his friend.

"Shut up, Malfoy!" Theo threw back at him. "I see you've been entertained while you waited for us."

"Nothing I couldn't handle, Nott." Draco smirked.

"Harry Potter and company. It's nice to see you all gathered here." a sudden voice said coldly from behind Draco.

He whipped around and froze. McKinley was holding Hermione by the arms and neck. She seemed to be too weak to fight him off. Her body was dangling limply in her captive's tight grasp. Her eyes looked unfocused and her face was slightly paler than before.

Draco cursed himself for not paying better attention to her. During the earlier mayhem he had lost sight of his surroundings for a second and now this happened.

"Let her go, McKinley." He bit out, raising his wand at shoulder level. He was eying the red-haired man dangerously.

"McKinley, you'd better stop this." Harry said, taking a step forward.

He looked angry, his black hair more ruffled than usual, his eyes bright with fury.

"Perhaps I will, but only after Malfoy shares his story with us. I have told them mine, it's his turn to tell us his." McKinley said then turned to Draco "If you don't... she dies." He finished coldly, pointing his wand at Hermione's throat.

Draco's anger flashed in his eyes. For some reason he knew McKinley wasn't bluffing. He gripped his wand tighter, until his knuckles turned white. He stared back at McKinley, then at Hermione. She was slowly starting to wake up from her daze. Her brown eyes were beginning to focus, and they soon found Draco's face. She stared at him, before settling on his eyes. With an intense gaze she looked into their stormy grey for a moment, before gasping out his name. Her eyes went wide, and she looked stunned.

"D-Draco... Malfoy... you... I know y-you." she breathed out, struggling to stand in McKinley's grasp.

Draco's insides twisted painfully, and his breath caught in his throat. His worst nightmare was turning into a reality; Hermione was starting to remember him. Harry looked dumbstruck, shifting his gaze from Hermione to Draco, while Theo looked at them with a pained expression on his face. Ron was clearly confused by what was happening because he remained still and quiet.

"What is going on?" Harry asked Draco, his expression a mixture of worry and apprehension.

"He's given her something." Draco said through gritted teeth. "A potion."

Harry rounded up on McKinley. Taking another step forward he pointed his wand straight at the red-haired man's face.

"What have you given her, McKinley." Harry spat.

McKinley simply grinned, showing his white teeth in a vicious manner.

"I have given her a potion to jolt up her memory, Potter. Don't worry" he added quickly, seeing Harry about to shout something. "It won't harm her, at least not if Malfoy here doesn't decide to play the coward again." McKinley finished with a satisfied smirk.

"What are you talking about? What is he talking about, Malfoy?" Harry shouted, this time turning to Draco.

"He's talking about that day, Potter." Draco said in a strained tone. "He wants me to tell her the whole truth."

"Then what are you waiting for you idiot?!" Harry bellowed. "Go ahead and tell her! You've already told me so what's the matter?"

Theo looked as if he wanted to say something, but Draco shot him a warning look, shaking his head slightly.

"It's alright, Theo." He said in a low voice. "We should get this over with soon and get Hermione back to safety."

Theo hesitated, then nodded quietly. He strode closer, placing himself right behind Draco, who gave him a grateful look.

Harry glanced between the two of them, trying to catch the meaning of their strange exchange . The whole situation was starting to make him feel angry with Draco. He kept flashing him irritated looks, all the while keeping his wand directed at McKinley.

"Good." McKinley said in cold, yet satisfied tone. "Now, take this Malfoy, before you start telling your story. I need to know that I can trust you. I wouldn't want you to lie to me again, like you've done that day."

McKinley waved his wand, releasing Hermione's throat. A vial appeared in front of him and hovered for a second in midair, before heading for Draco.

"Is this Veritaserum?" Draco asked, eyeing the small bottle suspiciously.

The liquid was clear, but as soon as Draco touched the glass it turned milky white. They all gasped.

"Yes." McKinley stated simply, eying the bottle almost fondly. "Though, it is not the one you Aurors are used to. This one is a special type of Veritaserum, one that I made myself after finishing Argus Pyrites' formula. This Veritaserum works in pairs. The bottle you are holding Malfoy, is the one meant for the person who is to be interrogated, while its counterpart is given to someone dear to that person. In this instance, dear Hermione." He finished, pushing Hermione in front of him.

She stumbled slightly but kept her footing. During this entire exchange, her eyes never left Draco's face.

"The red potion." Draco said calmly, turning the small vial in his fingers.

"Exactly. So, you'd better take that potion on your own free will. I'd hate to have to Imperio into complying." McKinley said with a grimace.

"You wouldn't!" Harry cried out.

"Oh, I would. That's how important the truth is for me." McKinley replied coldly.

With a sudden determination, Draco gulped down the Veritaserum and remained still for a moment, waiting for it to take effect. He felt a tingling sensation in his body as the potion slid down his throat, but other than that nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"Perfect." McKinley exclaimed, visibly happy things were going his way. "Now we should first establish you're telling the truth." He pondered for a moment then continued. "Do you know her?" he pointed with his wand at Hermione.

"Yes." Draco said simply.

He saw Hermione taking a deep breath, steadying herself.

"Do you love her?" McKinley asked calmly, but with a mean glint in his green eyes.

Draco hesitated for a second and Hermione sucked a deep breath. She squinted her eyes, grimacing against something invisible to the rest of them.

"Yes, I love her." Draco finally said, slightly taken aback by Hermione's reaction.

He did not hesitate because he did not love her, but because he was feeling ashamed of his past. Loving her while being who he was felt like an insult to her. He just hopped against hope she would understand that.

McKinley's voice aroused him from his thoughts, his next question making him shudder.

"Have you hurt her, Malfoy?"

Draco hesitated again, before whispering an almost inaudible 'No'.

The second the word escaped Draco's lips, Hermione cried out in pain. A second later she collapsed on the ground with a frightening scream. She was holding her head in both hands, rocking her body back and forth, her eyes tightly shut against the excruciating pain.

"What's happening? What are you doing to her?" Harry shouted at McKinley, taking a step closer.

Draco, on the other hand, rushed towards Hermione, not caring if McKinley attacked him. He didn't though, instead he retreated a step, allowing Draco to reach Hermione.

Gently, yet firmly, Draco picked Hermione up slightly, clasping her body protectively. She was shuddering and whimpering in pain, so he pressed her tighter to his chest as if trying to shield her from the entire world.

"You said you wouldn't hurt her." Draco said in a low dangerous voice.

"I am not. You are." McKinley said, grinning down at Draco. "Oh, did I forget to mention the fact that if you either lie or hesitate to speak the truth, she will feel excruciating pain? That's how the twin Veritaserum potions work." He finished with a wide malevolent grin.

Draco flinched. His eyes went wide, and he looked down at the trembling Hermione, horror plastered on his face.

I am doing this to her. Again, I am the one hurting her. The hell with everything! What good is hiding the truth if this happens anyway?!

After finishing that though, he let out a deep sigh, his eyes still settled on Hermione. In the meantime, she had calmed down and was watching him carefully. She seemed fully awake now, as if the pain had cleared her mind. Slowly, she sat up straight, pulling Draco with her. Her small frame was still shaking slightly but she remained firm on her feet. Her brows were furrowed, and her eyes flashed dangerously at him.

"Tell me everything, Malfoy." She said quietly, her slightly hoarse voice hitting his ears painfully.

Thank you all for reading this story! At first I hadn't planned on finishing this chapter with a cliffhanger, I swear XDDD but it would have been too long. I promise you though, the next one contains the truth about what Draco did that day. Until then, have a wonderful day! ^_^ <333