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With a whoosh and a final jolt of intense heat from the snitch inside her palm, Hermione returned to the present. She panted, exhausted and exhilarated. Her parents. She had fixed her younger self's mistake, had fortified their memories against corrosion and–
Pain flashed inside her skull, bright and sharp. She squeezed her eyes shut, dropping the snitch as she curled in on herself. Memories rushed, swirled and rearranged themselves. It felt precarious, dangerous, like heavy books piled too high, threatening to topple over and bury her underneath.
"Hermione," someone called. "Focus, Hermione. I know you can do it."
Draco.
His voice was like a beacon, helping her find a way out of her head and back into her body, re-inhabiting her slack limbs and clammy skin.
"What happened?" Draco's eyes were wide with alarm, and he held her tight.
"We're not close," Hermione sobbed. "I saved my parents' memories. I thought I'd get my mum and dad back, but they don't trust me anymore."
Draco patted her back, and despite everything, it felt good, grounding.
"I didn't stop the war. My biggest regret was selfish, and I couldn't even fix that."
Draco said nothing, just kept patting her back.
Eventually, Draco stepped away and gestured at the snitch he had somehow secured again. "Let's pack up, label and shelf this bugger, then go have some of those fishes and chippers you like. I'll bring the firewhisky."
Hermione rolled her eyes but didn't correct him on the fish 'n' chips.
It was a balmy night and they still sat out on the embankment when Draco poured their third firewhisky.
"You're not selfish," he said quietly. "You proved that during the war, during the trials." He sighed. "You prove it doing this underpaid job, tracking artefacts so they can't harm anyone."
Hermione didn't look at him, just stuffed some leftover chips into her mouth as she watched the dark waters.
Draco handed her her glass. "You're allowed to want things for yourself, Hermione."
Taking a deep breath, she found his surprisingly gentle gaze. "I'll drink to that."
Minutes later he added, "Your parents will come round. I wouldn't have to cover for you during all those weird Muggle holidays if they didn't."
As her new memories settled, she realized he was right. They had made progress. It wasn't like before, but it had gotten better.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Anytime."