People often say that it takes hands to build a house, but only hearts to build a home. Draco Malfoy disagreed with this nonetheless. First off, he would never perform manual labor with his own bare hands to build anything, let alone a house, and his arrogance and bitterness seemed to overpower the capabilities that could have emitted from his heart. He did love, but only his mother and father. But that too was dwindling on thin ice. Malfoy Manor was never the same as it was before the war. The psychotic dark lord ruined his only home, though thank merlin the boy who lived defeated him. He was thankful Potter took action and defended his family from getting that one way ticket to Azkaban, and forever he would be grateful. He just didn't have to show it nor did he want to. Though the Malfoys didn't get off so easy.
" Father, you've got to be kidding me. They can't expect us to leave the wizarding world. What about our manor? We won't last a day in the muggle world. Why aren't you doing shit about this?" Draco hissed. Lucius looked at his son annoyed. They walked side by side leaving the ministry toward the floos.
" Draco have some class. If you prefer a cell in Azkaban, be my guest. We were in the wrong side of this war, and now we have to face the consequences. If our punishment is to live amongst muggles so be it." Lucius tapped his cane to Draco's spine. " Do suck it up son. Our role in this world may have deteriorated, but we walk with our dignity. We'll speak more of this when we're home. " With that, he flooed to the Manor, with Draco grudgingly following.
Upon arrival, the Malfoy men were greeted by a beautiful middle aged women with blonde hair and blue eyes.
" How did it go?" Narcissa Malfoy asked, observing Lucius' calm face.
" House arrest, mother dearest." Draco drawled slumping in a large red velvet arm chair. The woman gave a sigh of relief and let out a giggle. " That isn't so bad. Not at all. " She said with her hand to her chest.
"What? What is it?" noticing Lucius' distressed face.
" Well Cissa. We're not being assigned for house arrest to the manor. " Her forehead crinkled in confusion.
" What ever do you mean? Where? " She asked horrified.
" The land of the muggles mother. " He exaggerated. " Isn't that great? " he spatted.
" Really Draco. Must you be so sarcastic." His mother said rolling her eyes. " Is this true Lucius? No contact with the wizarding world at all? Anything?"
" We are to remain in the muggle world, but the ministry was lenient -" " Lenient my ass." Draco interrupted. " - in letting us come to the wizarding world during a day in the weekend."
" Just one day?" Narcissa gasped in shock. " What else do you know?"
" That Granger girl will be in shortly to explain everything. She'll be keeping an eye on us as well as assisting us in our - muggle home." Lucius' voice strained.
" Oh yes that's right. The princess of the muggles. Can't wait. " Draco exasperated. A faint pop of apparition was heard.
" Master, Miss Hermione Granger is here to see you." Behind the frail house elf, stood the Gryffindor Princess wearing office harem trousers and a white button down blouse with her hair up gripped by a quill with loose wavy strands framing her face.
" Oh, look what the cat dragged in." Draco sneered. Anger flashed in her eyes.
" Ferret. It's been a long time, hasn't it? Still got that bounce in your step?" Draco glared , about to retort -
" Miss Granger. Welcome." Lucius started. " I know your last visit here wasn't exactly pleasant, and I do apologize - "
" It's fine. We're not to discuss that. I came to discuss the ministry plans with you and your family." She gave a small smile.
Narcissa then took a step forward. " I'm sorry. We haven't properly met before. I'm Narcissa Malfoy. Draco's mother." She greeted her with warm smile. A scoff was heard from the back.
" I know. Well I'm Hermione-" " Please Granger. She knows who you are. Save your breath for someone who cares."
" Hush Draco. " His mother sent a piercing glare at him. Hermione smirked. " Please make yourself comfortable. Would you like some tea?" Lucius and Draco exchanged confused looks at Narcissa's polite actions toward the muggle born girl.
" Thank you but no. We really should get to these rules set by the ministry." Hermione said wishing to leave the manor as soon as possible. Lucius instructed her to continue.
" Well. The rules are quite plain and simple. The ministry will be giving you a house to live in Muggle London, or near it. You are allowed to travel freely within the muggle area, but you are to remain there and should not go anywhere else at a certain distance away from your assigned destination. You may exchange owls and you may have visitors from the wizarding world, so it's not exactly horrible. You only get one day in the weekend to visit the wizarding world, so you can go to Diagon Alley or something. You are to reside in the muggle world for a year and then you can return back home. There will be no house elves, so you will have to do things around the house, maybe get a job. And absolutely no magic, so I'll be needing your wands when I come to collect you this upcoming monday. The minister has assigned me to stay with you for the first half of the year to get you up on your feet, and the rest of the 6 months, we'll have daily check ups." After Hermione released the ministry's information, Narcissa sat shocked, Lucius was gritting his teeth, and Draco still managed to keep the glaring face he had on towards Hermione.
" Oh Lucius. This will be horrible ! No magic ! That's preposterous ! How will we manage? " Narcissa cringed at the thought of cleaning the house without any house elves around.
There was an awkward silence as the Malfoys were trying to process the things in their heads. Hermione fidgeted in her chair wanting to get out.
" Living with the mudblood. That's great, that is. " Draco spat. " Well, if that's all. I'm going to head out and drink my sorrows away. Maybe fuck a girl or two. Shall I show you out? Actually, never mind. I rather not." Draco stood up towering over Hermione sitting on the sofa. She scoffed.
" How crude. You really are mature now aren't you ? I can show myself out, thank you." She then stood up with her 5'3 frame and pushed past Draco. " Thank you Mr. Malfoy and Mrs. Malfoy for your hospitality. I'll see you on Monday." And she left to go in search of the comfort awaiting her at the burrow.
Draco scoffed. " Did you see her? Walking out with that air of superiority. Thinking she's all that. Honestly. She's a fucking cow. "
" Honestly Draco. Quit your whining boy, it doesn't become you. It's your fault you goaded her. You are to be polite to her, do you hear? If not polite, civil. She's one of the few people who treat us as equals. She's also one of the few who speaks to us with kindness and civility and you will do just the same." Lucius hissed.
" You know you should really stop telling me what to do father. I'm getting rather tired of it. I'm 19 years old and I do not need your discipline. I will do whatever I please as it's my life and not yours. It was your own fucking fault we got into this mess. Frolicking with the fucking dark lord." Draco argued. Lucius charged towards Draco.
" Lucius ! Draco ! Stop this ! " Narcissa shoved herself between them. Gray on gray eyes fought to see which would back down first. Lucius chose to look away and angrily took off up the stairs. Draco then looked down at his mother and was met with her piercing blue eyes.
" Don't make this harder than it is Draco." He pushed past her towards the doors and went to search for a nice bottle of firewhiskey and a bimbo.
" I can't believe you're making me do this Harry." Hermione banged her head against the table.
" Come on Hermione. There's no one else best for the job" Harry nudged her.
" Yeah thats true Mione. But Harry, the job really does suck. Who'd want to be around Malfoy, and his whackjob of a family?" the red headed boy sitting next to her Hermione said, mouth stuffed with food. Harry and Hermione gave him a disgusted look.
" Chew, swallow, then talk Ronald. How many times must we go over this?" Ginny Weasley entered with a face matching the ones of Harry and Hermione.
" It's good money Hermione. It can't be that bad." Harry sympathized.
" Are you kidding? Malfoy had already verbally attacked me once I entered the room. Not worth it." Hermione pouted.
" Well, it's for a good cause. Who know's Hermione? You may be able to change their views on certain things. They could be sweet decent people." Ginny encouraged. Harry, Ron and Hermione burst out laughing.
" Malfoy? Sweet? Those two don't go together." Ron said clutching his stomach.
" Listen Mione. You can get through it. Were you not put in the great house of Gryffindor for nothing? Malfoy may be a challenge, but he's nothing you can't handle. Pass the ham, Gin." Ron stated.
" Wow Ron. Didn't think you'd be the one to give me good reassurance." Hermione smiled.
" No problem."
" We'll help if you need it." Harry stated.
" We will?" Ron looking horrified.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
That night, Hermione laid in her bed thinking of what was to come. Malfoy was a git as always, but she had to admit he did improve in looks. Though his whole personality deflected his good looks. He was absolutely horrible. Though talking with Lucius and Narcissa wasn't as bad. They were merely trying to get the year over with, but she knew Malfoy was going to give her hell. Just 6 months with the Malfoys, Hermione. Just 6 months.
In a pub sat two slytherin alumnis downing their bottles of firewhiskey.
" It's fucking horrible Blaise. We're gonna be living with fucking muggles. Fucking Granger. No fucking magic. The ministry is ridiculous."
" Come on mate. Can't be that bad."
" Blaise. This is Granger we're talking about. She's gonna be living with me and my parents. It's worst with just my parents, but now you add a fucking swotty bitch riding in on her high horse. As if my life wasn't shitty enough."
" Look Drake. Maybe you need the change. You've been taking your old habits far to extreme since after the war." Blaise pointed out.
" What's that supposed to mean?" Draco snapped.
" It means, that before you would get girls and get all boozed up. Just for the fun of it. But now, its more than the fun. It's just become a way to deal with your problems, escape from your shitty past. I haven't seen you smile in a while, or laugh. What's happened to you man?" He explained.
" How touching. Well thanks for the insight Blaise, but I don't really give a fuck about what you think at the moment. I can still have fun."
" But you were happy before everything. Now you're cranky and you make it easy for wanting me to kill you nowadays. I just don't have the fucking guts to tear you from limb to limb."
" Thanks for your support." Draco snatched Blaise's bottle and downed the rest of it. " Well if you'll excuse me, got women to fuck." Blaise watched as his friend walked cockily over to a table full of girls, and rolled his eyes.
" Well, we're here." Hermione said presenting a quaint little house behind her. Lucius looked horrified while Narcissa scrunched her nose.
" Well, it is cute. I suppose." Narcissa observed the untrimmed hedges and the faded grass.
" Don't lie mother. It's not becoming. It's absolutely hideous. That stupid minister couldn't find anything better?" He spatted. Hermione rolled her eyes.
" Well, there was this one place. Hard cold stone floors. Metal bars. No birds singing, but maybe an occasional crazy person babbling about their sad life. But I can get it upgraded for you. Perhaps a small window overlooking the black dirty waves surrounding your very own home, Azkaban maybe? Would you like that?" Granger drawled with sarcasm.
" How dare you speak to me like that you filthy mud - " Draco yelled until he met with his mother's gaze.
" I didn't think so. We're not children any more Malfoy. So suck it up and take this like a real man. If you are one."
" That's it Granger. I will not take your shit any longer !" He reached for his pocket but was met with nothing. He growled at her and she responded with a smile, patting her little satchel containing the three wands.
" Shall we? " Hermione addressed Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy.
As they opened the door, their sights were met with a house of hardwood floors, light blue sofas and armchairs, a television and a small fireplace.
" Up the stairs will be three rooms. There is one bathroom in the room you'll be staying in Mr. and Mrs Malfoy and the other bathroom is up in that hall as well. If you'll excuse me , I should unpack." The three Malfoys watched Granger trudge up the stairs with her luggage in tow.
" Right. No house elves. Perfect." Draco glared at the girl until she disappeared from his view.
After Draco and Lucius managed to carry their luggages up to their rooms, they went downstairs to the living room and saw Granger speaking and holding a weird block to her ear. Narcissa was sitting in one of the light blue fluffy couches also staring at her in awe.
" Yes Harry - Everything's settled - Things are fine - No Ronald! I will not tell Malfoy he should turn himself into a ferret for the better of the community - I don't see any food here Harry, so I guess I'll have to cook - for the last time Ronald no ! - Bye." Hermione turned around and was faced with the curious intimidating stares from the three Malfoys.
" Knew you were always messed up in the head. First sign is talking to yourself. Got that part down, didnt you Granger." Draco smirked.
" Haha. You're a comedian Malfoy." Hermione walked into the open kitchen opening the pantries and cupboards in search for food of sorts.
" Miss Granger? What was that contraption you were talking to?" Narcissa questioned.
" Oh right. Well that's called a telephone. A telephone is basically an instrument that allows voice and sounds to be transmitted to another destination, in this case Harry's place." Hermione explained.
" How remarkable." Lucius raised his eyebrows impressed.
" Oh please. You sound just like that dumb Weasley who has that stupid fasciation of muggle things" Draco scoffed. Lucius and Hermione sent death glares at him. " Do make me something Muddy. I am famished."
" Don't be rude Draco. Though we really are famished. What are we having? " Narcissa asked.
" Anything you can find in the kitchen." Hermione's smile then turned to a frown as she saw their faces.
" Don't you know how to cook? Surely even with house elves, you did know how to cook, didn't you?" Hermione asked desparately. Narcissa blinked innocently. Hermione gave them a nervous look, and then turned around to open the freezer. She reached in and pulled out a large square box.
" Pizza it is then." Hermione covered up with a smile, hiding her distress of wanting the year to be over already. Yet she knew that the year had only just begun.