Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter! I have taken everything on board and I'm hopefully going to thank you individually once that 24 hour thing for new users finishes.
Hope you like it!
Draco knocked gingerly on the door to his old home. He would not usually be so nervous, but he had to ask a question that his father would not be too pleased with.
One of the towering double doors swung open, and a smiling house elf looked up at him.
"Master Draco! Miffy is very happy to have you here! Master Lucius will be very pleased!" The female house elf led the way, even though Draco knew the Manor like the back of his hand.
"Master Lucius and Master Severus are in Master's study." Miffy stated with pride as she led Draco to his father's study.
"Master Lucius? Master Draco is here to see you!" Miffy disappeared with a pop after she was dismissed by Draco.
Lucius and Severus were sat by the fireplace, both with a glass of fire whiskey. Lucius placed his glass on the mahogany coffee table and stood up to greet his only child.
"Draco! What a pleasure it is to see you! Your godfather and I were just discussing you." They shook hands, and Draco conjured an armchair to sit in, between the two others.
"Yes, I was just telling your father about how eager you are to learn. I admit I had my doubts to begin with, but you are quite the apprentice, Draco." Severus remarked in his velvety baritone.
"Thanks, Severus. If I knew you were here I would have brought some of the potions for the infirmary. I could always go back if you want." Draco suggested, trying to delay the real reason he was here.
"No, no, Draco. They are not urgent. It can wait." He replied smoothly, not looking up from the thick book he had begun to read.
"Well? What do you want to ask me? You don't often visit unless you want something. " Lucius inquired slowly. He took another sip of his fire whiskey, keeping his eyes on his son.
Draco fidgeted under his father's gaze and forced out his answer. "Well, um…You know how Hermione Granger and I are close friends now…"
"Spit it out boy." Lucius said.
"Ok, I have a favour to ask." Draco began, "Hermione has a project she has to do for university, and I said she could…sort of…make it about Malfoy Manor."
Lucius just looked at his son with a confused frown. "Why would you have to ask? I'm flattered that she has chosen our humble abode!"
"Yeah, but it's not just writing about it though. She has to make it like a documentary…so she has to film and talk about the Manor's history…and our history. So that would mean she would be here a lot, and she'll be writing all about our ancestry...and you. So…can she?" Draco looked at his father pleadingly as he made up his mind.
"What do you think Severus? Should I let this girl into my home? Should I risk personal and invasive questioning about my family to make my son happy?"
Severus placed down his book and considered the question carefully. "I think you should go for it. What have you to lose? But I must say, don't complain to me when the insufferable know-it-all drives you mad." He picked up his book again and resumed his reading.
"Well then Draco, it's a good thing that Severus here is so lenient with you! Fine, you may invite your friend to do her oh so important project here. I just have one question; what is filming?"
"Really? He said yes?! Draco, thank you so much! I should remember to thank Mr Malfoy when I get there." Hermione was overjoyed that she was allowed to make her project in and about Malfoy Manor. "When can I start?" She asked eagerly.
"Hmm, father said any time tomorrow actually. He said for you to start as soon as possible, but only so you can finish sooner." Draco replied with a mischievous grin.
"I should be preparing then! I need to buy a decent camera to film with, and I want to find out as much as I can before tomorrow. You know, just to avoid unnecessary questions. And-"
"Whoa, calm down Mione! It's only two o'clock; we have plenty of time to shopping. And Draco is here you know, so she can just ask you, can't she Draco?" Ginny asked brightly.
"Yeah, of course. Oh, and we don't have to out to get a camera; I've got one." Draco laughed when both of the girls gave him a "You, the pureblood wizard who was raised to believe that muggles were scum, has a camera?" look.
"Hard to believe I know, but Blaise was clearing out some old rubbish before he moved back to Africa with his parents after the war, and he said I could keep it." Draco went into his room, with Hermione and Ginny in tow, and rummaged around at the top of his wardrobe.
"Got it!" He exclaimed, as he presented Hermione with a dusty, heavy, old-fashioned filming camera. "Scourgify." He said, and the dust and fingerprints disappeared. "There you go! You can use it too Gin, if you don't have one." He suggested, smiling.
"Thanks, but I've already got one; dad's letting me use one from work. Hopefully one that he hasn't charmed yet." She replied with a grimace.
"Well I'm sorted then! Thanks, again. You know what? I think we should go shopping! And, I can't believe I'm saying this, but what would your dad like as a thank you gift? Nothing too big or expensive, but just something to say thanks for letting me do my project at his house." Ginny and Draco just stared. They both looked shocked and slightly concerned.
"Have you gone absolutely mad?!" Ginny asked incredulously. "You want to buy Lucius Malfoy a present? As in Lucius Malfoy who's tried to kill you, and treated you like crap every time you've been in his company?! Wow, you really have gone crazy Hermione."
"Yeah, even I'll admit that's a bit weird. I mean, he's not exactly been nice to you these past few years, has he?" Draco said, running his fingers through his hair.
"It's just common courtesy! And besides, I want to start out on the right foot with him. There's no point doing my project if he hates me is there? You've forgotten that I'm going to be writing about his, your family; you never know how people will react to things like that. So? What do you think I should get him, Draco?" Again, her friends just stared.
"Er, well, what do you a get man who can probably buy a hundred of whatever you get him?" Draco said jokingly. Hermione sighed, as she knew how true it was. What was she thinking, wanting to buy a gift for Lucius Malfoy?
"What am I saying? Of course it's a stupid idea. He won't appreciate anything, and he hates me anyway! Sorry, forget this whole conversation. That was just me being stupid." Hermione went into her room and sat down on her bed and turned on the camera. She fiddled around with the many buttons until she noticed Ginny and Draco looking down at her.
"I'm fine, before you ask. It's just…do you not think this is a bad idea? I mean, just think how awkward it will be, and who's to say he's not going to treat me the same way? It's not that I don't trust your judgment Draco, but…you know…maybe he hasn't changed."
Ginny sat next to Hermione on her bed and hugged her. "Hey, you don't think I'm going to leave you with Draco and Daddy Dearest do you? I'll come with you, and if says anything, or does anything, he'll have me to answer to!" Ginny smiled encouragingly at her best friend, and Hermione smiled back.
"You know, I never did figure out how to use this camera. Show me!" Draco demanded eagerly.
"Calm down! Here, look." Ginny and Hermione began showing and explaining the camera to Draco.
Tomorrow would be entertaining…
Thanks again to everybody who's reading! I take all your comments on board, so please review!
Caroline xx
