Apologies again for the long wait, as well as the shortness of this chapter. I've been dealing some sickly kiddos, one of which has an upper respiratory infection. It's been long nights and tiring days. I had a lot of fun with this chapter though. I love sneaking in actual quotes from the Beauty and the Beast movie. You may even start singing at some point... you'll see where. ;) Enjoy! ~HufflepuffMommy

"What kind of conditions?" Hermione repeated as she walked into the room, arms crossed in front of her chest.

"As I'm sure you are aware Miss Granger, a curse has been placed upon the manor," said Mrs. Malfoy.

"Yes, I figured that out," said Hermione, going over to the sofa and casting a quick scourgify on it before sitting down. "What happened, exactly?"

Draco sulked into the room and started pacing by the fireplace. "Some witch came to the manor and wasn't pleased when I wouldn't let her in."

Hermione raised a brow towards him. "I feel like there's more to the story then that. Do you know who cast it?"

"If we knew that, Granger, we wouldn't need you, now would we?" he bit back.

"Me? What do you need me for?" she asked, turning her attention to the teapot.

"Seeing as how neither Draco nor myself can leave the manor without causing certain… alarm, we need someone to go for us. Maybe find the witch who cast this and she if she can, or will, reverse the spell."

Hermione thought about that for a second, her brows close together. "I guess I can do. But I don't know what she looks like-"

"Old, wrinkly, smells like dragon dung. I saw her selling roses in Diagon Alley a few days before she did this," Draco spat, motioning to himself. "But that was a year ago so who knows if she's around anymore."

Hermione frowned in thought. "Have you considered finding the counter-curse for it?" she asked a moment later.

"We've browsed our library, but haven't found anything yet," supplied Mrs. Malfoy.

Hermione nodded, "Do you mind if I take a look? I may be able to-"

"No, you can't," Draco said, interrupting her.

Hermione huffed out an irritated sigh. "Ok, fine. Well, I'll see what I can find and if I come across a witch those flattering features," she said, rolling her eyes at Draco's direction, making him growl under his breath.

"We appreciate your help, Miss. Granger," said Mrs. Malfoy.

Hermione stood up. "I really should be going before someone starts to look for me," she said.

Hermione didn't wait to be excused, but started walking towards the front doors. She could hear Draco walking fast behind her.

"Granger!" he barked, grabbing her elbow with his paw.

Hermione whirled and glared at him, trying to yank her arm free.

"Don't. Tell. Anyone," he snarled before finally letting her go.

"I already said I wouldn't," she said before turning on her heel, opening the manor with her wand, and walked out without second glance at the beast behind her.

Draco slammed the door and stalked back to the parlor where his mother was still at.

"I still don't see why we needed to involve her this," he grumbled.

"You've said yourself that she has been branded 'The Smartest Witch' of your generation. I think if anyone can help us, it's her. Though, why you wouldn't tell her of the parameters of the curse-"

"Mother, do you really think I'll be able to break the curse by having someone, especially Granger, fall in love with me? I mean… look at me!" he roared.

Mrs. Malfoy tsked under her breath. "You'll just have to help her see past all that, that's all."

"I was a monster to her before I was turned into one. There is no way Granger will ever fall in love with me. Besides, the rules state that I have to fall in love as well and there no way I could love that bushy-haired, know-it-all of a witch."

Mrs. Malfoy made a noncommittal noise. "Alright, dear. Though, if you want her to actually start respecting you, maybe you should try and act like a gentleman. Straighten up, don't slouch. Don't growl at her. Just… talk to her."

Draco chuckled darkly. "What makes you think she'll be back? She probably just said she'd help so she could leave and never step foot in this place again."

"If she wanted to leave without helping us, she would have done so before breakfast was served, with probably a hex on her way out. But, she stayed and she listened. Her curiosity is peaked. She'll be back," Mrs. Malfoy said knowingly. Her tea cart started to move to leave the room. "I'm going to check on things in the kitchen. See you tonight, dear."

Draco grumbled as he went back to his room; he knew his mother was wrong; no matter how he treated her, he knew Hermione Granger would only see him as a monster.

Hermione had no intention, whatsoever, in helping the Malfoy's. She was going to head back to her flat, change into a pair of her own clothes, and forget about the last 24hrs by immersing herself into a book.

That was her plan.

Too bad her mind wouldn't let her stop thinking about Malfoy and his predicament.

She sat on her couch, book in hand, but her eyes were unfocused, trying to recall if she saw anyone in Diagon Alley selling roses within the past year. Shaking her head, she tried again to focus back on her book.

When she read the same sentence four times without retaining it, she closed the book with a snap and grumbled to herself as she placed it back on the bookshelf.

She decided that a trip to Diagon Alley wouldn't be too bad and maybe a new book will peek her interest rather than ones in her flat that she's read before.

Donning her long winter coat, she floo'd herself to the Leaky before making her way into Diagon Alley.

The first thing she smelled was fresh baked bread. She smiled and glanced over to the new bakery that opened a year or so before. It was always the same type of bread and rolls for sale, but she would be lying if she said they weren't delicious. Perhaps she'll pick some up on her way home…

"Hello Miss Granger!" called the baker.

Hermione waved and smiled "Hello, how are you?"

"I'm well. Where're you off too?"

"Oh, just the bookshop, I need a new story and-"

"Ah that's nice!" he turned his head behind him "Marie! The baguette's! Hurry up!"

"Coming father!" came a voice within the shop.

Hermione smiled, "I'll stop by on my way back to pick out something."

The baker gave her a friendly wave as she continued her day down the cobblestone path.

Without meaning too, she kept an eye out for any elderly witches selling roses, but by the time she got the bookshop, she found no one with the description Malfoy had given her.

When she entered the store, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, a smile formed on her face. This was a new store and not quite as busy as Flourish and Blotts. She liked how the small size of the shoppe welcomed her in like a childhood home.

The elderly shopkeeper, Mr. Watson, gave her wrinkly smile. "Hello Miss Granger! What can I do for you today?"

She smiled at the old man. "Hello Mr. Watson. Just looking around today. Have you got anything new?"

The old man chuckled. "Not since yesterday," he said with a wink.

Hermione blushed, nearly forgetting that she stopped by briefly on her lunch break the day prior.

She browsed the books and came across one she has been eying for awhile. She took it off the shelf and began thumbing through the pages.

"Why don't you take that one? It'll be on the house."

Hermione looked at him stunned. "Oh, I couldn't, I have the galleons-"

"Nonsense," he said waving her off, "I insist."

"We'll, thank you, very much," she said, grinning at him.

They chatted for a bit more until the door chimed, signaling a new customer. Hermione waved goodbye as she exited, her nose her new book and promptly collided with a tall, muscular body.

"Hermione?" asked the voice.

Hermione looked up and tried not to groan. "Hello Cormac… how are you?"
He gave her a grin, "I'm well. I stopped by your office yesterday but you weren't in… avoiding me?" he teased.

Hermione rolled her eyes and started walking away, knowing he'd be following her. "No, Cormac. I was working."

"Ah, yes, I figured that, so I stopped by your flat, and-"

"Cormac!" she said, turning around, "Please… just… stop. Ok? We went out for a bit in 6th year, but that was it. It's over. Please do not ask me out again."

Cormac held up his hands in defeat. "Alright, Hermione, alright. Though, if you change your mind, my office is only a few short steps from yours," he said with another wink.

Hermione sighed as she turned around and muttered, "Not bloody likely" before walking away.

Later that night, as Hermione ate another roll from the bakery, she turned the last page of her new book and smiled at the happy ending.

It was a fairy tale; the one with a damsel in distress, a brave prince, and a dark curse brought upon the land. Hermione couldn't help but think about Draco and the curse that he and his whole house was under. She knew she had to help him; but how?

She used her lunch break the next day to search the old library at the Ministry. The place was usually deserted as the tomes were very old and out of date, but maybe that was just what she needed. She combed through book after book to no avail. After a week of looking and coming up empty, Hermione finally gave in to defeat; there was no answer here. Her next logical step was to go back to Malfoy Manor and talk to Malfoy to get more details. Maybe even convince him to let her use his library...surely he had books that dealt with curses and the like.

When she was back at her desk, she penned a quick letter to the blonde beast, asking if it would be alright if she came over during the weekend to discuss his 'predicament.'

She didn't receive a reply back until later that evening, when her owl, Phillippe, swooped into her kitchen and dropped the reply on the table. She unrolled the parchment and squinted her eyes at the scratch marks she assumed was Malfoy's handwriting. It took about ten minutes, but she was finally able to decipher it:

Granger,
Saturday, noon.
-D.M.
PS. No more owls!