The large group stood outside of Malfoy Manor starring at the grand double door. Draco was persistent on just using the floo to get inside but Hermione insisted they not. There was seven of them and she didn't want to take the two by surprise.

After a few more moments of waiting they finally heard a small pitter patter of feet behind the door. Suddenly it opened and they all looked down to the ground. The Malfoy's eldest house elf Dotty opened the door.

"The Malfoy's are awaiting your arrival in the parlor," He bowed.

Hermione placed Cassie on the ground and watched in amusement as she ran passed the elf and towards her grandmother's favorite room.

"Oh Cissa, Lucy!" She called from the distant. Draco soon took off after Cassie, excitement strewn across his face as well.

Hermione watched the sight in front of her and couldn't help but place her hand upon her heart. Draco was embracing his mother tightly kissing her perfect porcelain cheek while Cassie was wrapped up in Lucius's arms telling him some story that involved a lot of hand gestures. He was laughing the entire time.

"How are you my darling girl?" Narcissa Malfoy asked as her embraced Hermione.

"I'm great. We're so sorry to intrude on you with such short notice. I know there seems to be quite a few of us but there were a few unintended incidents that occurred in Hogsmeades and Cassie wanted to come her. I hope this is okay?" Hermione informed.

Narcissa placed her hand on Hermione's cheek, "You and your friends are always welcome, no matter what. Come, let's go to the lounge, the seating has higher numbers than in here."

X

"So, what happened in Hogsmeades if I may ask?" Lucius inquired.

Draco was sitting next to Hermione, their expression complete opposites. One was ashen and one was livid. Blaise could sense neither one of them knew what to say.

"We were ambushed!" Blaise exclaimed.

"Ambushed?" Narcissa questioned. She was holding a sleeping Cassie, softly stroking her hair while she listened.

"You're being a bit theatrical, Blaise." Marcus declared.

"There has to be more than one person to be ambushed," Adrian stated.

Hermione interjected, "Actually, the ambush means to confront someone suddenly and unexpected with unwelcomed questions."

"Leave it to Mia to know the true definition," Blaise smirked.

"Now this is a very nice literacy lesson but will someone please explain to me what actually happened," Lucius demanded.

Draco sighed, "It was that bloody Weasel Father, every time he sees us in public it's like his impulses are telling him to come after us. This was a completely unprovoked situation."

"I never understood why he caused so much trouble. I mean I know he used to be your friend Mia," Adrian said.

"Whatever did happen, I don't think you've ever told us." Blaise wondered.

She began to rub her clammy hands on the thighs of her jeans roughly. Her irritation seemed to be growing and soon she couldn't hold it in anymore.

"It's because we were engaged, alright? Before the War, the actual War at Hogwarts where all those people were killed, when we were on the run he proposed. We thought we were going to die so that's what he did and in that moment, I said yes. But once we had won, I realized I never really loved him. I couldn't marry someone I didn't love and he understood that. He took it well actually.

"However, once I went to go work for Lucius and Draco he completely lost it. He tried forcing me to do things, making demands at me like I was something that he owned. Our friendship had weakened. We didn't speak for weeks, Harry tried to fix things between us but this was something he realized he couldn't fix for once. Then I got pregnant."

Tears began to swell up in her eyes and she abruptly brushed them away. "He didn't find out from me. He found out from that awful Rita Skeeter woman posting about it in the Prophet. I went to St. Mungo's to confirm my pregnancy and the Healer who was helping me was paid off and told her everything. She even told her that Draco was the father.

"When Ron confronted me about it he was angry, very angry. He told me I needed to handle the situation, I needed to take care of things or else he was going to. Ronald told me I would ruin my life if I had a Malfoy's child, especially because she's a half-blood. He said she would grow up being treated differently from her family and that once she got older she would realize that she could never meet the standards and values her family name held."

Hermione was sobbing now. Marcus quickly rose from the couch to tend to her but she held her hands out in rejection.

"I don't need anyone's pity. I don't want any of your pity. I never told anyone because I didn't want to repeat those words. They're wrong. Those words will never come true, ever. She's been treated like she is a princess since the day she was born. Cassiopeia Narcissa Malfoy is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

"She is the reason for who I am today. She helped me find myself and find out whom my true friends are. She gave me a new family. Before her I had nobody. My parents are gone and the rest of my family thinks that I passed with them. Do you understand how hard it is to live in a world where you can't go to your parents for your needs? There are days where all I want is to lay in my mother's bed with my mother and cry like I used to.

"Whenever I was upset she would bring me into her bedroom and let me cry on her shoulder. I miss that. My daughter has to grow up with one set of grandparents, she hasn't asked about my parents yet but I know she wants to. She's very smart and observant, she gets that from me. And I know that the day she asks me is the day I might break down for the first time ever in front of her.

"I choose not to cry in front of her because I want her to grow up strong; strong willed, strong hearted, strong minded. I want her to know that nothing in this world can stop her from pursuing her dreams. Cassie is a perfect child, she does as she's told, she has manners and she gives love to everyone, even those who don't want her love, she gives it to them."

Hermione was breathing heavy now, she tears gone but their pathways still red and visible on her cheeks. She closed her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair, brushing it out of her face.

"Mia, we didn't know," Adrian sympathized.

She shook her head softly, "I know."

Blaise rose from his seat next to Luna and hugged Hermione tightly, kissing her on the cheek as well. "We love you, so much. If I could vow to make it so you would never have to hear words like that again I would."

"Thank you, Blaise."

Cassie stirred in her grandmother's arms and rubbed her beautiful grey eyes. "Cissa, I'm hungry."

"How would everyone like for the house elves to make a dinner arrangement for us?" Lucius asked, rising from his plush wingback chair. Many eyes in the room lit up.

X

Hermione sat on the patio in the back of the Manor following dinner, in her hand she clutched a large glass of red wine. She nursed the drink as she watched Cassie sit on the ground with Theo while they observed every movement Blaise, Adrian and Draco made in their air on their broomsticks.

"I never realized just how much they truly cared for you until today," Marcus muttered sitting at the feet of Hermione's cushioned lawn chair. He has his back turned to her, almost like he was embarrassed to look at her.

"If this is getting to be too much for you Marcus I'll understand." Hermione placed her glass on the ground and pulled her knees to her chest.

Marcus turned his body around slowly so that he was now straddling the lawn chair. He scooted himself towards her toes were brushing the inside of his thighs. He grabbed her hands from her legs and pulled them to his face.

"What are you doing to me?" He whispered, moving closer to her face.

Hermione furrowed her brows, "What do you mean?"

He sighed. "You make me feels things, things I've never felt before. I've been thinking about you all day and night. Even when you're in the room I think about you. Your beauty. Your intelligence. Your strength. I'm not sure what you're doing to me Hermione, but I like it."

She smiled softly, getting so close to his face that their noses were almost touching. "You do?" Marcus nodded his head up and down before place his hands on both sides of Hermione's face and slowly bringing her lips to his own in a soft but very passionate first kiss.

Once they had released their lips she closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against his, "I think I'm falling for you Marcus."