Prologue

21 March 2000

Unsavoury!

That is what could be said about their day . Their lives were faring much like the weather today. Completely bleak and cold air slithering inside their manor, the bleary sun almost failing to light the land.

It has been two years since the war diminished and they are still in the process of uplifting their status in the society. They were occupied with thoughts about their family and the power that their name once held.

Their son moved far away to Spain after he completed his N.E.W.T.S. and graduated from Hogwarts. For this Narcissa blamed herself and her husband-

Draco returned to the manor post the Hogwarts graduation ceremony. As his son was of age now, Lucius thought it would be best for his heir to take reign of the manor as well as other Malfoy properties or whatever remained of it after the Ministry had seized some of their assets and the first step for that would be to get his son engaged to one of those pureblood families who he could still convince.

With that decided, he asked his wife to make a social call to the Greengrass Manor a week later. The Greengrasses were one of those pureblood families who decided to stay neutral during the war and still maintained a semblance of respect in the British Wizarding Society. They neither cared for Lucius Malfoy nor his wife or their dark beliefs; they agreed for their daughter to get betrothed to the Malfoy scion, only because of the enormous wealth that the other pureblood family owned.

Draco Malfoy got engaged to the younger Greengrass sister Astoria at the tender age of 19. Two days after which he was absent during breakfast and when he failed to turn up during lunch and dinner as well, they knew something was up. Their son's absence from the dinner table was not the most unusual event, he mostly preferred to take his meals in his room , starting from the Easter holidays when the dark lord was a permanent resident in their manor. Unless he was forced , he would never budge to his father's orders of having dinner with the family. But the last few months seemed to have calmed him a bit, though he spent most of his time in the library, their duelling chambers or in his chambers, yet he attended all three meals with them. Narcissa was happy with the progress her son was making, now it all seemed to be for nought. In truth, they had never asked him what he wanted, instead took all his decisions for him, with the sole purpose of glorifying, uplifting the family name. Narcissa Malfoy knew that they had hurt his feelings and somehow in that process they lost their son.

Both parents were devastated , the house-elves were all apparating and disapparating from every chamber of the manor and even in the outskirts of the manor, but no sign of the heir could be found ; except a letter which Lucius Malfoy later found in his study chamber. The letter said:

Dearest Father,

By the time you read this letter, I would be travelling far off in Eastern Europe. I apologise for escaping the way I did, but you know there was no way for me to personally lay that out to you. Had the war not happened, I would have gladly accepted my fate. Father I have always wanted to make you proud, but the manor kind of makes me cringe inwards. Through this letter I hope you allowed me a bit of freedom for few years until I can get off the eerie feeling. And yes, I will do right by Astoria you don't have to worry over our reputation. Please give my regards to mother and ask her not to worry too much.

Yours,

Draco

As promised their son frequently conveyed them letters about his travels and the potion making apprenticeship that he had started under Potions Master Diego de la Vega. How he travelled internationally was yet a secret to them as their son was still supposed to be under probation and she shuddered to imagine what the Ministry must have proposed of him to allow such privileges.

Both the parents spent most of their time worrying for their son. Lucius though hasn't voiced his complex emotions yet could be typically seen strolling leisurely through his son's private chamber staring thoughtfully at his childhood photographs, the younger Draco who smiled frequently but resisted from even smirking now-a-days.
Narcissa worried more for her husband than her son, something seemed tacitly to be defeating him slowly, whether it was his moral conscience or his uncomfortable feelings for their son, she would never know. He was not open about his feelings and easily dodged any questions thrown in his way, about his feelings for his son.

She was habituated to see him thrash around in the bed but last night it was worse than any other nights. He might have forgotten taking the sleeping draught last night, she thought while subconsciously started looking for the empty vial which must have been near the bedside table, but the draught was nowhere to be found. She usually was the one to brew it for him and always kept a batch of freshly brewed draughts in the drawer enclosed to the table, when she checked those the vials were all empty. I will have to get another batch ready by this weekend.

She finished her morning rituals, taking time to obtain the regal look that the Lady of the Manor acquired during the initial period of their marriage. Though theirs was not a love marriage and Lucius being himself, had cleared the air politely informing her that it would remain merely nothing more than a social contract, yet she diligently sought her best to gain his genuine affection throughout her life. Narcissa succeeded though in her endeavour, but it had naturally come with a premium price, her happiness was promptly lost, her husband and son merely escaped their lifetime sentence to Azkaban; sincere thanks to Harry Potter and his mudblood faithful friend, but her family no long enjoyed a conventional life. After Narcissa was done, catching a last look at her glamorous image in the full length mirror, she went to join her husband in the garden area where they routinely took their morning tea.

"Lucius, darling do you feel under the weather today?" Mrs. Malfoy asked her husband while taking a sip of her Earl Grey. Having noticed his unusually tensed shoulders, from earlier this morning she couldn't help it.

Lucius Malfoy arched a blond brow at her enhanced interrogation, the only indication showing he had apprehended her.

He neatly folded the Daily Prophet; the front page held a lengthy section of Harry Potter and his notable company of aurors capturing yet another death eater; along with an explicit photograph of the boy-who-lived, beside him his fiery red headed best friend attending a press conference was adhered.

He turned to confront his wife, who was currently maintaining the ideal stoic expression. But interminable years of marital experience with Narcissa Malfoy (nee Black) prepared him not to prefer the innocent looks she gave. And right now she might seem apathetic, but was excruciatingly curious to know what was bothering her husband.

"What impels you to think, something is wrong dear wife"? He asked her indifferently. The purebloods are traditionally taught to encounter every social situation with indifference right from a premature age and both the Malfoys were carrying out an excellent job of that. He didn't desire his wife to tense more than her share. Merlin knows how much his dutiful wife had to suffer for his foolish decision in the past few years.

"These are naturally my nerves talking", Narcissa replied in nonchalance, she would break asunder his stony demeanour somehow.

" Don't you think we should launch a grand ball before Draco's upcoming wedding with the younger Greengrass girl?" she asked eyeing him slyly sideways, while drinking her tea and trying to gauge his blank reaction which was relenting slowly.
Lucius Malfoy carefully placed the dainty cup on the decorative plate with sharp clink , other than that he seemed perfectly calm "Well about that Narcissa," he sighed "we might have to visit a few people before you start planning any event."

This instantly made his wife smirk. "Is it about the nightmare you dreamt last night or the front page headlines?"

Without caution he took her hand and apparated inside the manor in their drawing room which had been refurbished.

"Why did you transport us here love?"

Motioning her to take a seat on the plush sofa, he sat at ease beside his wife "the unpredictable weather seemed too bleary to speak outside."He sighed again."I dreamt something horrible last night." He looked earnestly in her azure eyes "this was not about what has already happened, this my dear was precisely related to our sons marriage."

Narcissa gasped and instantly placed a hand on her heart "Pray, tell me Lucius you didn't forsee the imminent death of our son."

"No, Narcissa not at all," her husband articulated staidly "it was the younger Greengrass girl who was killed." He accioed the decanter of firewhiskey and two flutes, after preparing two shots of it.

He handed one over to his wife, who gulped the liquid down in an un lady like manner and smiled shyly. "Cissy, do you know what I treasure about you?" he politely asked her.
When she gently shook her sleek head , he knew the drink had merely started taking its toll on her " Your demureness even after being witness to the evil himself for so many terrible years."

"Thank you darling," she said tenderly. "You know I'm undoubtedly anything but innocent and can be the cruellest of all if it is needed," she said while twirling the flute in her hand, contemplating their future course, she said " I was thinking we should visit Madam Amelia today."

He remained silent for a while, calculating the whole situation "makes sure to floo call her beforehand," he smiled deviously, "lest she be entertaining her lewd guests", and slowly closed the distance between them, with a few inches between their lips.
Narcissa carefully closed her eyes eagerly anticipating the calm kiss that would happen naturally and it did, but was not relaxed instead a range fireworks burst through her stimulated nerves.

Later that moonlit evening, Lord Malfoy had his stable master adequately prepare four of his best Abraxons to pull their carriage to the little island of Foxdale where the old seer lived. Lucius couldn't fathom her age, as much as he could remember he has been observing her the same since he was a wee babe. They couldn't apparate there as the whole island was warded and without her fireplace connected to the ministry floo network, it was not possible for them to floo through.

After he had seen to it that the Abraxans were ready, Lucius apparated straight to their bedding chambers to check on his wife. "Darling", she was standing in front of her full-length mirror "you look like an enchantress in this lavender green dress", he complimented walking behind her and placing a chaste kiss on her neck, reminding both of them of the afternoon they spend in each others arms.

"tsk tsk, My Lord, we wouldn't want to be late", she turned to face her husband, giving a peck on his lips "later."

Lucius grinned one of his rare ones which he now reserved exclusively for her. Even his son had never witnessed him smile politely except when the lad was a little kid. "Come on, I have had the Abraxans ready for our travel."

After travelling for most part of the evening, they reached the cottage past 7 in the evening. The enchanted forest surrounding the private cottage was eerily quiet, except the whooshing of the wind passing through the magnificent trees.

When the carriage came to a effectual stop, Lucius walked out and held the hackney door open for his wife to exit. Even after years of being married, she was pleased to see that his manners didn't recede with his dark activities.

"Let us not keep her waiting love," she placed her hand on the crook his arm.
As Mr. Malfoy pushed, the cottage door opens, they saw that shack was enlightened with several candles.

"Come in Lord and Lady Malfoy", a musical voice from the chambers inside called them in.
Narcissa looked up at her husband and with a quick nod both followed the familiar voice. The interior of the cottage was lined with apothecary chests in one side, leading to a door which seemed to open a conservatory. There were glass bell jars floating in every corner of the room, glowing a light shade of green; giving the real essence of the seer whose direct energy came from the Earth.

As they strained their eyes to acclimate with the fusion of lights and find the seer, lord Malfoy spotted the old woman sitting close to the corner with an oracle ball in front of her.

"Its good to see you both after so many years," the old witch summoned them, "so what brings you both here in my humble cottage."

They took seats opposite to her and were silent for a while before Lucius spoke eloquently "Madam, I had a nightmare last night", he started gravely.

"Which was quite different from the ones you generally have", she spoke trying to concentrate on "and you think might be related to your scion's future," she cackled. "Well you are right. "

They stole glances at each other and this time it was Narcissa who accepted the lead "Madam, we don't want the Greengrass girl killed for this wedding," she said, fear etching her angular features.

The seer cackled loudly at her statement "Getting the bride to-be killed will not get you an heir," she said, making even the cold daughter of Blacks fidget her dress.

Madam Amelia closed her eyes, chanted a few spells and then stared directly on her foreseeable ball; "The most powerful witch she is who will be fit to be the bride for your dragon," she cackled. "But my lord you will have to make the biggest sacrifice to secure the Malfoy heir."

Befuddled both the husband and wife stared at her for answers "The purebloods have all faced with power so dark, producing all their heirs with the future equally stark, to withhold the bonding strength of ancient house of Malfoys, will involve a witch whose magic when placed totally deploys", she almost sang out the words, while shaking vigorously.

"The girl will be protector of your heir and his throne, one with blood you believed muddy that she was tortured under your roof by a woman long gone", her words had slowly formed an image in their mind which they didn't want to believe, but the final sentence put a nail on the coffin.

"No it can't be, not the mud blood", Narcissa cried out in fear of soiling their pureblood lineage.

"But it is what the fates desire my lady," the seer hissed. "with the pureblood girl and your heir's bonding you might proceed cautiously, but this will merely steer her to bleed; no heirs will be born, lives will be forever torn", she spoke once more in one of her trance moods.

Lucius was equally terrified as his wife, but the seer was never wrong. He didn't require his family to be torn again, nor was there any other way for him to properly maintain the Malfoy name in England unless his son produced an heir. He had hitherto heard vicious rumours of many of the recently wedded pureblood couples being unable to naturally produce heirs. The reason might be the presence of dark magic still lingering in their body souls, as most of them were followers of the evil lord.

He might be repenting for his son, but there is one thing that Lucius Malfoy and all the Malfoys before him loved was having power and political control over the societal actions. And it's not that the Malfoys have never pursued muggle-borns, Lucius Malfoy I before him asked for Queen Elizabeth I's hand in marriage (which was declined because of political reasons). If the daily prophet is to be believed, Hermione Granger is the youngest witch in history to be appointed as the Head of a Department in the British Ministry of Magic at the age of 21.

"If the Granger girl can help us keep the family running, I will see to it that it happens", he spoke softly to his wife, while they were walking out of the cottage.

Once inside they boarded the carriage both of them were quiet for a while. Narcissa ruefully contemplating reasons the mudblood should be allowed to be her dragon's prospective bride and Lucius thinking of possible ways to stealthily approach the girl. "Cissa, the girl was unfortunately born among those third-class citizens, but we can't deny that the mudblood is the most powerful witch of the generation," her husband informed. She knew that the girl was intelligent, but to be the head of a department, she must be skilled. That remains to be decided until we encounter her.

"But how do you believe Lucius will we persuade the girl for the sacred bond? As much as I know about her, she is the stubbornest of the trio and barely looks in the way of purebloods during her personal visits to diagon alley. I fear she will never willingly set foot in our manor, lest marry our Draco," Narcissa sighed.
The whining of the horses announced triumphantly their arrival back to their manor, Lucius heretofore stepped out of the carriage and had now offered his hand for his wife, help her out of the vehicle.

"Darling," he smiled adoringly at his wife "she might be strongest and most stubborn of them all, but she is also the kindest", he smirked as he recollected their trials and positive testimony for his family, also who can forget the famous Elfish Welfare Society of Hermione Granger "you will surely find out a way for her to co-operate with us."

"I sure will, Lucius," she said, letting her doubts aside and her brains running into complete concomitant of a flawless plan.

British Ministry of Magic

Ministry Archives

13:00 hours

"Hermione could you please wrap up your extensive research a bit earlier today"? Ron resolutely shut the massive book that he had been handed over, with a large thud.
When she didn't indicate any ominous sign of hearing his baseless complaints which the red head had been managing for the past countless hours with enough subtlety, he gently nudged Harry with his knee to speak eloquently on their behalf.

"Mione, why don't we continue seeking the standard variety of trolls tomorrow"? He took a sideways glance at Ron while maintaining eye contact with his other best friend "I mean so far we have already established that the damage was done by a troll right, so. –"

"So we abandon the high-profile case in between and run along to watch attentively the snitch bouncing amidst Holyhead Harpies and Chudley Cannons?" Hermione snapped from her almost profound meditation like stance while levitating the book to the shelf where it properly belonged.

I don't know why Kingsley even proposed them to inevitably accompany me on the glorious day of a quidditch match. "Harry, we only found that it is a troll, but do you think it will intentionally started hurting people"? When her boys were quite for a while, she sardonically continued relentlessly "Well don't you fondly remember the troll incident from our First year and how the giant being was voluntarily released by Voldemort "?

"Mione that was only once ", Ron being himself chimed in. "I am certain we'll get to witness more action than on the previous match", altogether overlooking the fact that Hermione was discussing about trolls, her best friend slumped back on his seat, unlike the past few hours when he had been straight rigid on the chair trying to grasp in whatever words advanced his way.

"I will have you know precisely, that Chudley Cannons performed a similar action with Puddlemeres United", both her loyal friends stared wide eyed at her official declaration " and Ron could you please learn to prioritize your specific tasks, Harry, You and Me are not here to earnestly discuss quidditch; let's focus on trolls for a while"; she hmphed.
"You are right," Harry said while fixing his glasses for the umpteenth time. "What?" he quirked a brow at Hermione.

"Both of you are from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, not me," she huffed indignantly , "You blokes should be setting up guards in the village to protect the people instead of giving up for quidditch, come on guys."

"Uh, I will go get few more books", Ron stood up with Harry in tow, in no time both of them started browsing through the aisles related to magical creatures.

A smile crept up the brunette's face, her best friends were idiots most of the time, but no matter what she loved her boys.

After a while they both returned holding a book each in their hand.

"So what did you guys bring?" she anxiously asked them while continuing thoughtfully to scribble on the parchment.

Harry was gently pulling out his already used chair , while he replied promptly "I got 'Myths of Trolls of England' , Oi mate," Harry exclaimed to his red-haired best friend who was still moving through shelves, unable to decide on a book.

"Coming Harry," Ron pulled the book nearest to him and took the chair next to Harry, "Mine is called umm", he turned a shade brighter.

"What is it called Ron"? Hermione was at the point of running out of her patience.

"Mating Among Trolls", Ron muttered incoherently, which almost came out as a cautious whisper, both he friends didn't react for a while until Harry guffawed and a delighted giggle escaped the lovely brunette.

"Sorry mate", the boy-who-lived held up his calloused hands captiously, gradually suppressing the boisterous laughter.

Meanwhile, Ron's ears turned red "I should go and get something to eat", he escaped before they could even say lunch.

"Honestly, Harry", Hermione waved her hand " go, follow him."

Her best friend stood there for a while "What about you"?

"Bring me a few fish chips and some salad."

After they went to have lunch, she bookmarked the page she was going through and started rummaging through the investigation reports that Ron and Harry had brought for her, the reports were confidential to the aurors only, but who deny Hermione Granger? She was the War heroine above all.

Analysing halfway through the reports, she realised that the trolls were not main culprits behind these attacks.

"The death eaters must be behind this ",

"But Harry, why would the death eaters influence trolls to attack villagers", Ron pointed out "I mean, with their receded numbers, they should target us, especially Hermione or other muggle borns."

Hermione smiled and looked up at her best friend; these rare sparks of intelligence was what made her fall head over heels in love with this man "Ron's right Harry, I think the attackers belong to a total different, just a hunch, though", she succinctly stated.
"Food really does help you mate," Harry joked lightening up their terse mood.

Typically bringing up the Battle of Hogwarts and death eaters still messed with their heads. The magical society has been comfortably at peace for sometime now and they didn't want to cry out battle classic songs again.

"Guys I have a rough idea of how to move forward with this", Harry whisper screamed after reading those reports for a while.

"We are all ears," Hermione conveyed and brought her closer to her two best friends.

"Hermione since you are the head of your department; you can assemble a few investigative teams to work on this specific case," he told the brunette, " You can ask them to find out information regarding the latest troll movements, more of a field, you understand?"

When Hermione nodded, he turned towards Ron "As for us we will have to engage in the game controlled, and slow", the red head looked sceptical so Harry explained him "Kingsley requires the case to remain exclusively as trolls attack, one of the reasons as to why the Minister didn't involve the MLE department head only Jones, the Head of Auror Office and the two of us," he said pointing towards himself and Ron.

"He still feels that our Head is corrupted?"

"The Minister has reasons Ron," Harry sighed, "So we will be able to investigate the case only when there is general chaos in the area, which", he grinned at Hermione "our dear best friend will definitely be able to handle."

"You can count on me, Harry", Hermione waved her hand as a salute," I think Padma and her team should be up to the arduous task of rousing a useless bit of unusual agitation in these French English borders," she smiled deviously.

She then glanced at her pocket watch, a recent gift from her father "I don't know about you guys" , she said hurriedly levitating the books back to their shelves "but I have to be back at my department before Tracey departs for the day."

"Will see you guys tomorrow," she said while leaving.

"Still a bit snobbish, isn't she?" Ron asked rhetorically while holding back a careless laugh.

"You ask me", Harry guffawed unable to hold back any longer.

Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures

Level 4

17:00 hours

Walking down the necessary steps towards her office door she instantly realized that her secretary was getting ready to leave. "Tracey! " she called, "Did I receive any memos today?"

Tracey Davis looked up at Hermione, worry etching her angular face "It's good you are back sooner than I thought," she said, "I was about to leave..."

"What happened to Tracey"? Her pleasant voice filled with genuine compassion. "Is it your son again?"

The secretary took her bag and was about to leave "oh Hermione , I might a day's leave tomorrow, depending on the situation." The secretary hauled her bag and was about to leave

"oh Hermione , I might a day's leave tomorrow, depending on the situation."

"Don't worry about the office I will manage here and please don't hesitate to ask for help," Hermione said solemnly while her secretary smiled sadly and walked thoughtfully towards the lifts.

Now what does Kingsley require with me?

Hello, everyone this is going to be a multi chapter story. First of all, I am still in search of a Beta , so if anyone is interested please inbox me. Honest reviews will be appreciated. This is my second Dramione and I am very excited about it. Hopefully I can take it to the end.

Thank you everyone