Hello avid Fans, it's been a while but I have a new story for you all. Now this chapter will be a tad dull but i hope it will intrigue and entice you all to remain loyal and read on. :-) I'm confident you will enjoy it when it hits a good pace. For now just enjoy. DT xx
"Mudbood!" The dream scream mingled with her own as Hermione jolted awake. A bead of cold sweat rolled down her temple as she scanned the room fearfully, Ginnys snoring could be heard coming from the rumpled ball of bedding. Breathing deeply she tried to regain a regular heartbeat, her wrist watch ticked away the minutes towards dawn. It was the third consecutive night she had woken screaming and drenched in sweat, the memory of Bellatrix and her torture methods had risen to the surface of her subconscious mind after the Malfoys' trial last week. Lucius had been sentenced to a minimum of ten years in Azakaban for involvement in Voldemorts' workings, but with no witnesses or evidence to tie him to any of the murders he could not receive life imprisonment. This had, of course outraged the Wizarding public who had howled for his blood in penance for his crimes, Kingsley had flatly refused. Draco had received eighteen months for suspected involvement but being as he had been underage whilst the war had been raging he couldn't be sentenced as an adult. And Narcissa, well she had been stripped of all luxuries, elves; the lot. All in all, the once feared and respected Malfoys were now nothing more than common criminals. Harry had of course spoken in defense for Narcissa, her final act being to lie to Voldemort had in the eyes of the law softened her sentence greatly. Ron had ranted and raved about it for hours until tired and a little irritable Hermione had snapped at him to not be so stupid and pathetic and actually consider the fact that she had saved them all by lying. The comment had shut him up, but not for long as he soon started on Lucius's sentence claiming 'the dirty Deatheater should be given the Dementors Kiss then locked away for all eternity'. Fed up with her un-official boyfriend's narrow mindedness she'd left making sure to slam the Burrow's back door forcibly just to make a point.
Wriggling back under the duvet she closed her eyes and counted slowly backwards from twenty, it was an old method her mother had taught her for winding the brain down before her body relaxed. Picturing her mother's smiling face Hermione felt a small tear leak from her eye and drip onto the pillow, fighting the impending sobs she breathed in and waited for the moment to pass before exhaling. Although deeply grateful towards Molly and Arthur for welcoming her into their home, she still missed her parents terribly, but she knew that once her spell had been cast you couldn't undo it. Rolling over to face the wall she thought about her situation. No parents, little money, no job and no qualifications; brilliant. Everything she'd hoped her life would be was not what it was. Hogwarts had taken much longer to rebuild that expected and considering it was nearly a year to date since Voldemorts downfall she had little hope for it being reopened for the new school year. McGonagall had offered her a place as a student as well as a part time position as teaching assistant to practically all lessons. The woman understood the strained position Hermione was finding herself in, but with the lack of development in regards to the school things were not looking hopeful. She didn't know how long she lay there thinking about Hogwarts but soon sleep fell and unconsciousness took hold.
Bright hot sunlight streamed through the gapping curtains warming her cheeks and blinding her eyes. Molly's cooking wafted around The Burrow as the muffled sound of chatting voices could be heard coming from the kitchen. Rolling groggily out of bed she groaned, the nightmares were taking a toll on her body clock, ever since the war she'd found herself sleeping later and later. Headaches were a constant reminder of her lack of appetite and fluid intake, not to mention the dark circles and lank hair that she'd acquired. Luckily her body hadn't changed too much, she'd obviously been eating enough to maintain her weight. Knowing it would be rude to turn down Molly's amazing breakfast she pulled a crumpled jumper and jeans on and stumbled downstairs.
"Morning dear, eggs?" Molly's cheerful voice sounded from stove.
"Poached please Molly" Hermione smiled plonking herself next to Ron who grinned mouth bulging with fried breakfast.
" 'Ay 'Er-mi-ne, 'Uo k?" Trying hard not to grimace she nodded "
Yeah just tired".
"You look it and all" Ginny said sipping a mug of steaming tea, Harry was avoiding looking at her instead concentrating on his scrambled eggs on toast. Smiling up at Molly as she placed a plate of poached eggs, bacon and sausages in front of her. They continued eating in silence, Hermione could feel her friends' eyes on her, swallowing her mouth full she placed the cutlery down.
"Alright, what's wrong with all of you, why are you handling me with kid gloves? And staring at me like I'm about to combust?" Harry she could see was blushing under his mop of black hair. Ron shuffled uncomfortably next to her whilst Ginny just looked at her,
"You don't look well Mione, you barely eat and apart form anything I've heard you screaming in your sleep. You don't talk to us anymore apart from when we're all at the table. We've tried but it's like you've retreated back into yourself". Hermione frowned at the red head
"That's not exactly fair Gin, I think it's just my way of coping. As for the screaming I can't help it what she did to me, I can't get her out of my head".
"We all are having to cope Mione you're not the only one, George, think of him he's not been the same since Fred died. Mum and Dad are trying to hold us all together and yet you…..we can't seem to get through to you". Angry tears burnt behind her eyes as she looked from Ginny to Harry and finally to Ron, her last line of support and yet even though he looked embarrassed she could see he agreed with his sister.
"Right well sorry about my methods of coping but I there's nothing I can do about it, it'll go away in time same as everything else but if it's irritating you I'll stay out of your way".
"Now hang on Mione that's not what I was meaning, we are trying to help you but we can't if you don't let us"
"I don't need help Gin I'm fine!" Pushing her chair back vigorously Hermione tried to leave but a firm hand held her wrist
"Mione what's gotten into you?"
"Nothing Ronald now let me go"
"Mio-"
"Let me go!" wrenching her wrist out of Ron's grip she stormed back up the stairs and locked herself in the bathroom.
An hour later she returned to the kitchen to find it empty apart from Molly who was sat dozing in the armchair, tea-towel still clutched in her hand, deep worry lines crisscrossed her face. The past year had aged her greatly, grey had begun to fleck her hair while her clothes hung loosely from her usually plump frame. A scribbled note lay on the kitchen table 'Mione gone to play Quidditch, come find us if you want' Harry's familiar writing glared up at her, a slap in the face at the way she'd reacted. The sickening feeling of guilt slithered into her stomach at his never failing faithfulness. Catching sight of herself in the mottled mirror above the fireplace she'd sighed, they were right she didn't look well. Truth be told she new she hadn't exactly been the most sociable person in the world, and her temper had grown not to mention her lack of appearance. Again the slither of guilt moved within her. "Hermione dear" Molly was looking at her bleary eyed
"Sorry Molly did I wake you?"
"No, no dear just resting my eyes. A letter came for you while you we're in the shower, it's from Kingsley".
"Kingsley what does he want with me?" Molly shrugged and heaved herself out of the arm chair,
"Heavens knows my dear, but it says it's urgent". Dread filled Hermione, maybe Kingsley had found her parents dead, maybe she couldn't attend Hogwarts when it reopened, maybe, maybe… She fumbled with the envelope.
Waving frantically at the four zigzagging figures above her she steadied herself for the great possibility they may not take kindly to what Kingsley had written. Ron was the first to land smiling sheepishly at her, then Harry and finally Ginny and George both obviously wary of another outburst from her. "I've received a letter from Kingsley" She panted, running had never been and never would be her forte. "He wants me to come straight away to the Ministry for a private meeting with Draco and Narcissa"
"What!?" Ron's face grew a familiar shade of pink, "why do those two piece of scum want to meet with you? Don't go 'Mione it could be a trap"
"It's not a trap Ronald" irritation crept into her voice again at his shallow mindedness. Harry frowned at the tone of her voice
"Does it state if you have to be alone?" He asked rubbing the side of his chin as if struggling to come to some decision as to whether or not he should let her go.
"Kingsley is going to be their apparently it's important and I can't have anyone else influencing my decision on the matter".
"Sounds a bit dodge to me" George mumbled, she eyed him, since Fred's death he had hardly spoken more than a few words to anyone, let alone state his opinion. Sighing she looked at Harry again,
"If it makes you happy you can all come with me to the Ministry but wait outside Kingsley's office with his assistant, that better?" Slowly they all nodded their agreement and followed as she began walking back towards 'The Burrow'.
Regardless of there having been a war the Ministry was one of the first parts of the magical world to be restored to its former glory with of course new features that were hoped to improve the security and convenience of the place. Each department had a waiting room where an assistant would tell the customers which subcategory and which desk they should go too. This helped with the filing and access to documents quicker. All in all the Ministry was running smoother than ever before. So there they all sat, Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Fred on a large sofa in front of a tiny desk to which Kingsley's PA sat behind, busy scribbling away on different pieces of parchment. "Let's just go this is stupid" Ron was clearly not impressed with the fact any moment now they would all come face to face with their arch enemy and his mother. As if on cue Draco and Narcissa walked into the waiting room. There was an intense silence penetrated only by Hermione's gasp of surprised, gone were the duos former blatant superiority. Instead in front of them stood two ordinary looking people, a mother and her grown up son, who bore the signs of a life unseen by most.
"Master and Mrs Malfoy would you mind going straight in the Minister is expecting you". Kingsley's PA eyed the pair warily as they walked across the room, the door to Kingsley's office swung open to admit them, then shut quickly. Hermione swallowed, seeing the Malfoys like that had unnerved her some what, like the world had been turned upside down and she still expected to see them dressed in their fineries. The door opened and Kingsley stuck his head out,
"Hermione we're ready would you mind coming in?" She nodded at the smiling man donned in impressive dark Maroon robes.
"Good Luck" Harry muttered in her ear as she breathed in deeply, "Remember whatever it is that they want to see you about, we're all going to be waiting right here for you so don't worry okay", again she nodded and slowly made her way towards the office where two very unlikely people wished to talk with her.
The three figures sat and looked at anything but each other, Kingsley was occupied with an official looking document. "So what's this all about Minister?" Hermione spoke her voice not as strong as she had hoped. Kingsley looked up at her and smiled again,
"Mrs Malfoy and Draco here would like your help, isn't that right?" Hermione looked at the two blondes, they both nodded, Narcissa chanced a glance in her direction then blushed faintly when she realized Hermione was watching her too.
"Help with what exactly?" Kingsley smiled wider
"Perhaps it would be better if Mrs Malfoy explained exactly what she hoped you will do for her". She could see the older woman tense, readying herself for obvious rejection.
"Me…uh….Draco and I were….were hoping you could" Narcissa swallowed not looking directly at anyone but more at her immaculate fingernails. "We were hoping you could….reintroduce us back into society and help us get out of the gutter and start again". A dark pink flush spread across the woman's cheeks at the apparent desperation in her voice. Hermione blinked
"Help you get back into society?" Her voice was low as her remarkable brain pieced together the underlying meaning in the woman's words. "You must be joking. That's not what you want really is it Mrs Malfoy? Secretly you want me, one of the 'golden trio' to put you back on that pure blood pedestal you have created for yourself over the centuries, wipe the slate clean for you and then claim you are changed. And the only reason you asked to see me, was because you know Ron and Harry would hex you out of this room laughing all the way. Well what makes you think I won't do the same? Because I'm weak because I'm a girl? Well? Come on" Hermione could feel the tears of anger burning behind her eyes, never had she detested two people more than she did the two in front of her right now.
"That's not it" Draco's voice was so quiet for a moment she wondered if she'd heard it at all. "We asked for you because you are kind and considerate and the public believe you over Weasley and Potter. And we don't want what you have just said we just want to be accepted again. Please Hermione help us, we are begging you". His voice was cracking, Narcissa gripped his arm and squeezed
"We'll do whatever you want just please help us" she implored, gazing at Hermione as if she were her only life line.
There was a pause as Hermione sat open mouth staring. "Mrs Malfoy has made it perfectly clear to me Hermione that there is no ulterior motive for her asking for your help. She merely wishes her and Draco have a better chance of being accepted back into society with your help. I will of course be backing your choice but understand me when I say I think it would be quiet beneficial for the Wizarding world if they saw ex-criminals changing their life styles to match the new one we have rebuilt". Kingsley's words fell on dead ears Hermione continued to look at her former classmate and his mother with a deep frown.
"Their names are Harry and Ron and If I agree to help you" she began ignoring Kingsley's delighted mumbling beside her, "We do it on my terms and we don't rush things, I don't want to help you if you are going to treat me the way you did the last time we met for a prolonged period of time. Also the derogative name for my blood status is band, if I so much as hear the word I pull the plug and you go back to sorting your own lives out, do we have an understanding Mrs Malfoy, Draco?"
"Of course, anything you wish" Narcissa had gone pale, and was trembling slightly.
"Excellent, excellent" Kingsley exclaimed scribbling frantically on the document in front of him. The two woman looked at each other, feeling slightly sorry for the harshness of her words Hermione stood up and crossed the short distance to stand in front of Narcissa. Stretching out her hand Hermione whispered
"We are now equals Mrs Malfoy, and regardless of what the public are going to say about this situation I am going to treat you as my equal the same with Draco, as of now our past is null and void and your blood status does not matter. I will do all I can to help you regain your footing in society". The blonde eyed the out stretched hand before standing to looking the young woman in the eye, smiling slightly she slipped her hand into Hermione's
"Narcissa please. And thank you Miss Granger, you have no idea how much this means to us both" Smiling awkwardly back Hermione merely answer
"You're welcome, and its Hermione".
Glancing up from his bent over position on his chair Draco felt a tiny twinge of hope at the two woman shaking hands. Perhaps Hermione could save them from the terrors that he knew would come if they didn't change their ways. Regardless of his father being locked away, the comrades that still remained on the outside were baying for his and Narcissa's blood. Sighing quietly he looked at the polished wooded floor between his feet, wondering if yet another letter or grotesque gift would be waiting for them at home as a warning that 'they' were coming.