a/n: I know I know, I've been gone for a few weeks, but I'm back now with what I think is a fairly interesting chapter. I apologize for the delay, but I've been clearing out my grandma's home and I've had a severe case of writers block. Anyways, I'm back now and hopefully going to update regularly again!
Please note: I do not have a beta anymore, the one I did have got too busy and can't edit for me anymore. So yes, there will be errors in here again. If you are severely bothered, then offer to edit it for me. I've done a bit of editing, but I'm no pro at it, so I apologize in advance. And again, if your interested in being my beta, contact me!
But overall, I hope you enjoy.
Eric: The necklace will be explained, in time...
Barbie: It was.
I vIsItEd DrAcO lAsT nIgHt: I'm not quite sure how many more chapters I'll have, but probably about 5.
Jelisha Baby 22: Ah, the necklace again! In due time, I promise!
HadBeen: A little shit? Lol, we'll see. And yes, there might be a few more flashbacks coming your way...
They Call Me Ginger: I will!
readingismypassion: The blood? Oh dear, that will be explained soon enough...
Erika: Hmm, we'll see...
joy johnson: No worries, I don't plan on stopping!
Hooker: Good to hear!
Lea: I plan to!
Week 15: January 31 to February 6
Astoria Greengrass sat in her family's mansion Monday the 31st, gazing out at the green landscape before her. So many years ago, back at the beginning of her schooling, Pansy Parkinson had run with her and Daphne out there, talking about boys and the Balls their families would host.
How things had changed.
After the death of the girls' mother, the Greengrass Balls had stopped entirely, although Astoria had only been thirteen herself when the last Ball was hosted. Pansy Parkinson had long since stopped being her friend, and Daphne had stopped caring.
Apparently, obsession bothered the two elder girls.
During her fifth year, it had started. She remembered the event clearly, in the same way she now hoped he did. They dated for three short days, but with her ever-growing crush on the boy two years her senior, it felt like a lifetime; a dream.
Until he had ended it.
She remembered his quick end to the relationship, saying that he had other things to deal with and she was dead weight. It hurt and pushed her emotions into the ground, but she had picked herself up quickly and resumed a normal life. After all, Draco Malfoy had been very strange all through fifth year.
Now, years later, she knew why. If the Dark Lord himself had been speaking to her, making drastic plans for her, she wouldn't have quite been herself either. So she blamed his harsh words on events at the time and moved on. She had even felt like she was completely over the blond by her sixth year.
Until she ran into Marcus Flint back in November. She had been walking through muggle London to acquire a new dress from one of the most prestigious dress makers in London - something she only did on rare occasions. After leaving the dress store with her new garment, she had walked headlong into Flint.
"Watch it." He shoved her over and continued walking. She had frowned, collected herself and rightened her hat to block off the cool air before turning around to glare at him.
"Excuse me? You ran into me you daft twit."
He had turned back, teeth jutting out a bit awkwardly and leered at her. "If you weren't taking up half of the damn walkway, I wouldn't have run into you in the first place!"
She had looked at him a moment, for some reason thinking about an article she had read in the Daily Prophet sometime last year. "You're Flint, right?"
He had raised an eyebrow and taken two intimidating steps forward. "And if I am?"
She shrugged. "I read an article about you once, in the Daily Prophet. You married that Golden Trio girl... Granger, right?"
His eyes had darkened at the mere mention of her name and his voice had dropped to a much lower tone. "Have you seen her?"
"Me? Merlin no! I've never associated with any of those Gryffindors from school." She narrowed her eyes. "I think you were at school when my sister attended... you were an older Slytherin I believe." Her eyes suddenly widened as she considered her own sentence. "And you've married a Gryffindor! What is the matter with-"
"I've never let school differences determine my life in the real world. Don't start insulting my wife." He took a step back and glared at her. "If you see Hermione, make sure she calls her husband. I'm worried sick."
That encounter had seemed extremely odd and strangely planned to Astoria in the days to follow. If she hadn't seen Granger in years, why on earth would she tell her to call him if she saw the girl? Besides, Marcus Flint wasn't someone she knew well either. It was a miracle she even recognized him from the article at all.
Shortly after running into Marcus, she overheard Pansy Parkinson speaking to her sister, talking all about Blaise's story of Hermione being there at Malfoy's. Obviously, from the way Pansy re-counted everything like a dirty secret, it wasn't something that was supposed to be widely known. She learned weeks later that Blaise hadn't told her so much as she had overheard him speaking with Draco on a muggle device.
After listening to the conversation, her curiosity had spiked, and her jealousy had skyrocketed. How long had it been since she had thought of Draco Malfoy romantically? Several years until that moment. Oh she very well knew about his long line of one night stands and his purely-sexual open-relationship with Pansy. Yet none of that had ever really bothered her, never really made her blood boil until she caught wind of the rumor that he was with a Mudblood of all people!
So she had gone to investigate the two, having located Draco's address in Astoria's room, courtesy of Pansy's snooping around Blaise's home. Pansy and Blaise may have a mutual friendship but Pansy was purely Slytherin; she was purely manipulative and a gossip. Address in hand, she had walked her happy self directly into Malfoy's building and snooped around, sitting at the end of the hallway with a disillusionment spell on herself.
Twenty minutes later, Granger had walked directly past her and down the hallway, towards Malfoy's door. Her clothes had been torn, and she was lightly bleeding. In Astoria's fury that the little bitch was living with Draco, she hadn't even started to consider why the bushy haired know-it-all looked so awful at that moment.
She returned a few times over the next few weeks, to see if things changed. Occasionally Draco had come out, paused by her location, and kept going. Hermione only left that room one other time.
The really startling appearance at that door though was Ginny Weasley and Marcus Flint. He disappeared a minute later, along with his dog, before Ginny knocked. That day, many people had come in and out.
One day Draco stopped right in front of her and shook his head. "You're not very good at monitoring your breathing. I can only imagine the amount of muggles who have walked by and been utterly confused by the sounds coming from this corner. Tell me though, how long do you plan on staking my home out?"
Astoria hadn't answered, but had tried to soften her breathing, hoping he would believe that she wasn't around anymore and go away. However, he leaned against the door and fixed his gaze directly on her, obviously sure that she remained. "You never were the best wizard Astoria, but I would hope even you could handle a simple spell like this. Accio wand."
Caught off guard, she didn't try to snatch her wand immediately after he spoke, and instead let her wand fly from her robes into his palm. Once he felt the piece of wood land in his hand, he muttered something under his breath, and both the wand and Astoria herself appeared in the hall. She scowled up at him and stood, dusting herself off.
"Greengrass."
"Draco." She sneered at him. "I see you have a new roommate there. Or is she something more?"
He rolled his eyes. "Don't start that again Astoria, its been years, we aren't in school anymore, we're adults now and its time you begin acting like one."
She pouted, an action so very Pansy-like that he seemed to shudder. "But what would have happened Malfoy, had the circumstances been different?"
He raised an eyebrow. "What? You mean no one ever told you?"
"Told me what?"
He had laughed cruelly, then shook his head. "Whatever your sister thought she would gain by not telling you this is about to come crashing down. She paid me ten galleons for a few days of my time to appease your crush on me. Being tied to Voldemort just allowed me a simpler way out."
Her face fell. "Excuse me?"
He shrugged. "I agreed because I hoped you would leave me alone, and its worked up until now. So what exactly changed, Greengrass?"
She stared at him. "How did you know it was me?" she asked changing the subject.
He smirked and her heart skipped a beat. "Blaise told me. He confronted Pansy a few days ago about why Daphne had asked him how Granger and I were doing, when she shouldn't have known in the first place. He figured out that people had been spying, and that was perfectly fine that those two knew. Of course, erasing their memories did wonders."
She opened her mouth to say something, but he continued speaking. "But I noticed something out of place besides that. There had been a presence out here the last several days, I noticed it each time I passed. At first, I assumed I was losing my mind a bit. But the apartments been secure for a while now, so I had no worries. But neither Daphne nor Pansy had any answers when I asked them about hanging outside here, so then I began to think about who else it could possibly be."
Again, she opened her mouth, but he raised his voice slightly, talking over her. "I ran through a list of names, but no one seemed very likely. No one, until I came to yours. Pansy is always over at your mansion, always hanging around her best friend, and you were always too nosy for your own good. I just put two and two together." He leaned closer to her. "Would you like to tell me why you have been out here for days?"
She pursed her lips. "I wanted to see if Pansy's gossip was true."
"Oh, I think its more than that. I think that you got your evidence the first day you were here. But I wonder, why did you stay around?"
"Its none of your concern."
"You're outside my apartment watching my movements. Its entirely my concern."
She shrugged. "I'll leave you be then." She quickly turned to leave, before flipping her head around. "You could've told me!"
"And gotten my head bit off? I value my life Greengrass."
Her eyes watered lightly, finally understanding the reasoning behind her short relationship with Draco. "Just wait Draco, wait until I really find a way to hurt you like you've hurt me."
"Over a relationship that we hardly had when you were barely thirteen?"
She shook her head. "For letting me always believe I had a chance. For making me wait for years for something I thought I may have a chance of having! I always wanted you Malfoy."
"Your chance passed a long time ago."
She shook her head. "Its funny. I haven't thought about you in years, until recently. Now, I'm stuck in this emotional lapse again. I've even known about your fling with Pansy, and that didn't effect me. But lowering your standards to a Mudblood? Sick!"
He shook his head. "Don't wallow then. Move on with your life."
She shook her head. "Like I said, just you wait Malfoy. You won't have her. If you can cause my pain I'll cause yours. Accio Wand!" It landed lightly in her hand and she apparated away before he could say another word.
Draco's words had hurt. Not only had he never felt anything for her, but she had been betrayed by her sister as well she felt. She was angry, and hurt by them both, and felt she had few people left to turn to.
And knowing that he fancied that Mudblood more then he ever had herself or any other pureblood, made it worse. It was like everything had been thrown into her face.
She wanted payback on Hermione, who had everything she wanted. She wanted the feeling of being humiliated and played to go away.
So far, her tactics weren't working. Hermione Granger was strong and determined, and didn't back down despite her numerous attacks. Draco was careless of her feelings, just like that day in the hall, and didn't give a damn apparently how she felt so long as she left his girlfriend alone.
Fuck that.
Draco would feel her pain, since he wouldn't take her. Try as she may, that just wasn't working, and she had to accept it. That only left getting rid of Hermione Granger from his life.
How? She wasn't entirely sure yet. With a sigh, she looked past the end of her bed to the calendar there, and realized it had been several days since she had last talked with Derek. He hadn't returned her letter. Better write to that idiot again.
She stood and made her way across her bedroom to her desk, sitting down and picking up a quill. Reaching for some parchment, a scrap of muggle paper fell out. Bored, she reached down and picked it up, prepared to toss it out until she noticed what it was.
Draco's deadline. Yes, it was February 28, coming up very soon.
Slowly, a sly smile spread across her face and she changed her plans, beginning a letter to Derek on different topics entirely. First Derek, then Hermione's letter.
Monday passed easily for Draco and Hermione. Little happened and the two were able to relax. Tuesday, they had a fairly normal morning with Draco sending her off to work at the end.
Soon after, he sat staring at the two rings; one a marriage ring, the other his connection to Hermione's necklace. He had taken out the two boxes, knowing he had no more time to dwell on things.
He needed a to-do list before the end of February, done and completely finished, before that last day when his world did a 180 in the other direction. He had the blank paper beside him, staring down at the rings to begin his list of tasks.
He wrote the first one without question: 1. Tell Hermione about the necklace.
Guilt had been building up since his decision to hide the necklace's purpose from Hermione had surfaced. Now he knew he wouldn't feel right about keeping it from her. So, somehow he needed to explain it to her, before time ran out.
Figuring out anything else to put on that list proved to be a challenge. He wasted most of the day thinking, and by 5:10 he still only had the first thing. Frustrated, he tossed both rings back into the bedside table drawer and stood, wandering into the living room to await Hermione.
She arrived home at her usual time, and Draco couldn't help but feel guilty as he looked at the necklace that lay against her chest. It was an orange now, not red.
The power was fading, and his uneasiness was growing.
Tuesday, Hermione left for work, her neck feeling heavier still.
Draco spent the better part of his day staring at a paper he was now finding useless. Yes, he needed to tell her about the necklace, and soon. But the 28th was slowly growing closer and he had other things to worry about. Like the Manor for one.
He ran his fingers through his hair, glancing down at Hermione's cat. The stupid feline had spent the better part of the night asleep on some of his black dress pants, which had been discarded once they entered the bedroom and he pushed her down.
That was certainly fun. He smiled at the memory. Memories of her, that may become all he would have left after he told her things. Things about the necklace, his magic, everything. It could all be his downfall. He just wasn't sure how she would react.
Picking up the muggle pen, he wrote number 2. Go back to the Manor.
He sat back, tapping the pen thoughtfully against his lips. The ideas were flowing now, and he knew what he needed to do.
3. Explain the dilemma with my inheritance.
4. Dig up the ring.
5. Explain the loss of my wand to Hermione.
6. Charm Hermione.
Draco raised an eyebrow. It sounded so very unlike him, the things listed there. The Draco Malfoy that had attended Hogwarts a few years ago would've never thought he needed to explain anything, nor would he want to charm Hermione Granger.
How the times have changed.
Standing, he wandered over to the front door and peered out. Months ago he had found Astoria out there, crouched down and hidden by an invisibility charm, watching his apartment. Draco vaguely wondered if she had been around the day Flint broke in.
Greengrass had been in his mind for days. Her persistence had begun to wear on his nerves, and he was pleased to see that she hadn't come around as of late. Hopefully, Daphne had said something to her and gotten through to the girl. The sooner her obsessive crush ended, the quicker his life with Hermione would go on. Until then, he would worry about the girl bothering his girlfriend, just like he had worried about Flint doing stupid things as well.
He shook his head. Why was he so scatterbrained?
Because I'm running out of time.
Hermione arrived home that night to find Draco asleep on the couch. Her cat lay asleep on his lap, unnoticed by the sleeping man.
She wandered over, placing the necklace quietly on the coffee table. Taking her kitten in her arms, she nuzzled its face, causing the animal to squirm. She smiled happily, placing the grumpy cat in her lap as she looked over at Draco.
He looks at ease whenever he sleeps. She smiled lightly, lightly running her fingertips over his cheek, when the cat suddenly jumped onto the table and knocked off his paper.
"Darn," Hermione said, shaking her head as she bent to pick up the fallen parchment. Replacing it on the table, she noticed there was a list written there, with her name placed within the text several times. Raising an eyebrow, she read the list three times before replacing it onto the table.
Charm Hermione? Tell Hermione about the necklace? Tell Hermione about my inheritance? Tell Hermione about my wand? The ring? What the hell is Malfoy getting at? She looked at his face, still calm in his sleep. What is this list for?
Before she could consider it, Hermione pulled out her wand a blank sheet of parchment from behind the list, and magically made a copy for herself. Tucking it away into her bag, she flipped over his own paper and kissed Draco's cheek lightly, traveling towards his ear as the boy woke up.
What are you hiding from me Draco? Whatever it is, I intend to make sense of this list.
Wednesday February 2, Pansy awoke to tapping on her window. The girl rubbed sleep from her eyes, before she pushed back the warm covers and walked across her bedroom to the window, letting in the Greengrass' owl. Untying a note from the bird's leg, she quickly opened the parchment and read the note:
Pansy~
Contact Potter at your earliest convenience. Astoria as been wandering around the Estate a lot these past few days, and each time she enters the library she leaves with a new book on magic. She hasn't eaten for days. I'm not exactly proud of my sister right now, but I want Malfoy warned in case she tries anything stupid. I'm not sure when she snapped, but her calmness the last few days has unsettled me. There's been no ranting, no icy replies whenever I mention certain people's names, nothing. Astoria has never been one for silent loathing, and I fear she may be attempting something worse towards Granger. Please let Potter know so he can alert them. Malfoy blocked any connections to our Manor months ago. I hope Astoria doesn't cause any disturbances anymore.
If she doesn't allow her mind to clear up soon, I may just have her committed. I worry about her Pansy, she hasn't acted normal in years. Let me know if anything happens.
Oh, and how are you and Potter going, hmm?
~Daphne
Pansy raised an eyebrow. Had Astoria ever really been sane? Her unhealthy obsession with Draco since fifth year couldn't be classified under normal. Shaking her head, she pulled out a clean sheet of parchment and wrote a messy note to Harry, attaching Daphne's warning underneath before going to her own bird.
Once the note to Harry had been sent off, she turned back to Daphne's owl and removed another sheet of parchment, writing a second letter.
Daphne~
I just sent it off to Harry. Honestly, you could've just sent it to him. I hope Astoria comes to her senses soon enough. Perhaps she's under some sort of influence? I doubt it though; she would never do anything that could jeopardize her looks. But I think you should commit her now and get your sister some help, before she loses her mind anymore.
Harry and I are doing fine lovely. I just don't want anyone finding out yet.
~Pansy
It was late Wednesday night when Hermione left her work. She was walking down the corridor to go see if Neville was finished with one of her personal books he had borrowed earlier, when she turned the corner and nearly collided with someone.
"Derek!" She stumbled, and the younger boy caught her shoulder, steadying her. She smiled gratefully at the boy, until she looked at his face. "Are you alright? You look rather pale."
He shrugged, letting go of her shoulder. "Do you still stay at Malfoy's?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes. The newspapers don't even know where I live exactly. Draco's flat isn't well known. "I'm still in the same place I have been for the past few months. Why?"
He tilted his head. "Curiosity." Reaching into his bag he produced a book and shoved it into her hands. "Mr. Longbottom asked me to give that to you, since I was headed this way."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. Neville had never really been someone who handed off things to other people to take. He always seemed to want to take care of things himself, even if he had a tendency to lose them. "Thank you Derek."
He nodded once, eyes focused behind her. "I'll see you tomorrow, Miss Granger?"
She shrugged, placing a smile on her lips. "I'm never anywhere else. But do try to stop by during your free hours, not during class."
He nodded, eyes glancing at the book. "Goodnight then." Before she could reply, he had already pushed past her, wandering down the corridor in the opposite direction. Hermione watched him for a moment, before deciding it was time to go back to the library and return to Draco's flat. She turned the corner, watching Derek disappear from sight.
As she trudged down the hall, her thoughts jumped all over the place. Derek was acting a bit strange tonight. She had never seen him so pale, or ask so few questions. Typically he drilled her about the latest article on her and Malfoy, and this time he had only asked one question.
"Do you still stay at Malfoy's?" Of course she still lived there! The newspapers had made a big deal out of her living situation, directly after the court case, but Derek had never asked about that. Nor had the newspapers stated where the couple lived, just that they lived together.
Besides, Malfoy Manor has been empty for years, hasn't it?
She shook her head, opening the library doors and walking directly to the fireplace.
Draco twirled his wand between his fingers, watching the fireplace intently. She was late by a good 45 minutes, and his thoughts had begun to wander. Had something happened?
He glanced up at the clock again just as the fireplace roared to life and Hermione stepped out.
He stopped twirling the wand, setting the thin piece of wood down. Hermione smiled pleasantly over at him, sitting down on the couch beside him with a quick peck on his cheek. Draco raised an eyebrow at the girl, crossing his arms.
"Whatever happened to you?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, still smiling. "Don't seem so upset. I had to go retrieve a book from Neville." She leaned over and placed a long, deep kiss on his lips. "Besides, I'm not always here directly at six."
He smirked. "No, I suppose not." He reached an arm around her shoulders and pulled the girl to him, rubbing her thigh. "I just get worried sometimes."
"Well don't worry," she sighed. "There's nothing to worry about."
Draco scowled then, glad that Hermione's head was against his shoulder so she couldn't see. "Don't be so sure about that Granger."
Pulling away, she met his eyes. "And why not?"
He nodded towards a letter on the table, folded up tightly. Hermione gave him a strange look, but nonetheless reached over and picked up the letter, addressed to Pansy, and scanned it quickly.
When finished, she pursed her lips. "Astoria sounds mentally insane, not a threat."
"Granger," he muttered, leaning forwards and breathing on her neck. "People who are out of their mind sometimes prove to be the scariest. I have reason enough to be worried."
But still, something didn't seem right to Draco. Yes, the Greengrass girl had always liked him way too much, but that didn't make her insane. Minus their talk in the hallway weeks ago, Malfoy hadn't had a conversation with the girl in years. He didn't know Daphne's sister anymore. For all he knew, the girl had lost her mind. Still though, she could just be obsessive, and that was no reason to commit someone.
"But at Hogwarts Draco," she asked, not looking at him. "Astoria would have to get all the way up to the library to hurt me, and even then there's typically someone there someplace throughout the day. I'm rarely alone." She shook her head, and turned to look at him, their faces inches apart. "She doesn't scare me, and she shouldn't scare you."
He rolled his eyes. "Of course she scares me! If she is obsessed with me, she's going to come after the girl I'm attached to first." Reaching up a hand, he ran it through her messy locks, half up and away from her face. "I am sick of having to worry for you all the time."
Hermione shook her head again. "If Astoria's so bloody scary she should be committed, just like her sister said."
Draco sighed. "Daphne won't want to do that unless its her last choice. She doesn't want to have to go visit her deranged sister in a hospital all the time. Besides, obsession doesn't qualify as insanity. Maybe she's just lost her way."
She looked away. Of course she knew that. She just didn't think it made any sense. If Astoria was such a threat, and had been for a long time, why hadn't someone done something already? Hermione herself hadn't thought the girl to be mentally unstable that day at the restaurant, when she slapped her in front of Blaise and made accusations. Jealous of her relationship with Malfoy yes, but not unstable.
Besides, losing your way didn't mean losing your mind!
Hermione just though Daphne was looking for something to blame her sister's anger on.
"Come on," he said, rubbing her back. "Let's focus on something else."
She raised an eyebrow and looked at him, leaning into his chest. "And what are you thinking about?"
He grinned, pushing the letter aside. He laid down, pulling Hermione on top of him. "What do you think?"
Thursday and Friday passed by slowly, with Draco considering different things over those days. He had a list, and he was running out of time to consider things.
By Saturday morning, he knew that he needed to tell Hermione about the necklace, that night. She had stopped wearing it entirely, saying that it felt like a brick. The color had faded drastically by then, and he knew it was time to tell her.
Its not that bad, really. Right?
Draco was sitting in the living room, contemplating whether or not to take Hermione out to dinner that night, while she sat in the bedroom, studying his list.
Hermione nose crinkled. He needed the list why? There wasn't anything bad really on here, from what she could tell. But if these things weren't bad, then why did he have to write out a list of things to tell her, instead of just telling her?
She sighed. What was she supposed to make of this? Hermione desperately wanted to confront him about it, but thought it might be better to wait and see. But that was hard; she wanted some answers.
Frustrated, she picked up the book Derek had returned to her yesterday. Flipping top the chapter she had last been on, she began to read when a piece of paper fell out. Frowning, she set the book aside and picked it up, looking over the contents.
Granger,
Understanding that you are in a serious relationship, I believe its time to shed some light on your current state of living. At the end of this month, drastic changes will rock Mr. Malfoy's world and he will lose substantial amounts of money. Before the last day of February, I sincerely suggest that you question him about this or you will regret this relationship.
Hermione flipped the note over once. It had no signature. She read the letter twice more, unsure what exactly she was reading, before she picked up Malfoy's checklist. Why were so many papers falling into her hands this week? Malfoy's checklist was strange, but not nearly as large of a mystery as the unsigned letter in her hand. It was far more worrying.
He will lose substantial amounts of money. Why would Malfoy be losing money at the end of the month? Hermione groaned, remembering Pansy's words just last week. Study Draco's actions with a closer eye.
She shook her head. It was time to interrogate Draco.
Draco walked into the bedroom around two, having dosed on the couch for a bit, to find Hermione staring off into space. He walked to the bed and snuggled in beside her, wrapping a strong arm around her, licking her ear. "What's wrong?"
She flipped her head around, giving him a strange look. "What aren't you telling me?"
Draco raised an eyebrow. I'm not telling you many things love, unfortunately. "What do you mean?"
She huffed. "About the end of the month," she snapped, tossing a piece of paper to him. He caught it in the short distance, and scanned the contents quickly, horror pooling in the bottom of his stomach. He already had an idea who had sent it, but that wouldn't do him any good just then.
He pulled his arm off her and stood, running a hand through his hair. She watched him with a blank expression, trying to see if she could find anything off with him.
It was quite obvious he was stressing.
"Must you always ask difficult questions," he sighed.
Hermione shrugged. "You asked me questions about my past for weeks, I think its only fair that you let me do the same."
He smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I knew you would say something like that."
Hermione nodded, folding her legs under her on the mattress. "So what is it Draco?"
He frowned. "How do you know this person isn't lying? The note's not signed after all." He thought about that, and opened his mouth to say something more, when Hermione spoke again.
"I'm hoping that you will tell me the truth. If the person's lying, then there's nothing to hide and you can be honest. And if you are hiding something," she continued, biting her lip, "then I would hope that you would just tell me the truth. What's going on Draco?"
He sighed, sitting down and taking both her hands in his. He kissed her knuckles, looking into her eyes as he did so. "You know I care about you right?"
She frowned. "Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?"
Draco smiled sadly. "Hermione, you know when my parents... became unable to use the Malfoy funds anymore, they were left to me." She nodded. "Well, my father has never forgiven me for failing to kill Dumbledore. He lost all respect for me that day."
She flinched. "I considered it as a possibility."
"Before he went to Azkaban," Draco continued, "my father had help in creating a rather difficult obstacle for me to overcome to inherit the family fortune."
Hermione frowned. "Well what could he have done? He was in a holding cell in the Ministry, he couldn't have gotten away with magic, and anyone who goes down there had to turn in their wand at the doors-"
"It wasn't a magical problem he created Hermione." Draco reached up and lightly stroked her cheek, taking in how cute she looked when she was thinking. "My father changed his will with the help of one of his friends."
She shook her head. "Weren't all of his friends Death Eaters? They would've been-"
Draco chuckled. "Do you always have to interrupt?" She bit her tongue and watched him, waiting for the blond to continue. "Just because father worked with the Dark Lord doesn't mean all his friends worked on the same side. Several wizards that I had known since childhood turned their backs on us actually and joined your side. He easily slipped down into the prison and helped my father change the will."
Hermione frowned again. "Who was it?"
"I haven't the slightest idea. The new will was owled to me when my father's sentence went through, and I could never get him to tell me who helped him change it."
"So, he changed the requirements for it?"
Draco nodded, looking straight into Hermione's eyes. He couldn't believe he was telling her this. Cupping her cheek, he spoke, "He made it a requirement that I marry before the 28 of this month, when I was 21."
Hermione stared. Married? Suddenly, she lurched from his touch and jumped off the bed, fists balled up. Her heartbeat picked up and her eyes grew wide as she replayed Draco's words in her head/ "He wants you to get married by the end of the month? Is that why I'm here then Draco, to make sure you get your bloody fortune!"
Malfoy glared and stood as well on the opposite side of the bed, hands raised. "You think I would've gone through all this shit with you just to get you to marry me? If I was so desperate for a wife Granger, I would've taken Astoria in the first place. But I didn't, did I?"
Her breathing came quickly. What he said definitely made sense. Astoria was obviously trying to throw herself at him and get his attention. She was an obvious choice for Lucius' requirement, yet Draco was stepping around her at every given chance. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. Worry about Astoria later Hermione. "Why," she asked in a calmer tone.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Why? Why what?"
She gestured around them. "Why now? Why didn't you tell me that you had a deadline?"
He shook his head. "I've been trying to forget. I'm not saying I ever wanted to marry out of love exactly, but I wanted to end up with someone I would care about. This world makes that difficult." Draco shrugged his shoulders, chucking. He was fighting down the panic that threatened to jump out; the fear of Hermione walking out his front door. "I've been focusing on other things; girls, jobs, friends, you, in order to not consider the issue before me. I always figured I would end up with either the money or happiness, but I could never have both Granger." He nodded towards the note then. "I had no idea how to tell you. I didn't know where to begin."
"So you kept me in the dark?" Hermione sighed. "You still should have told me Draco. Everything you did for me, all your sweet words, they could've all been to manipulate me into agreeing to marry you and save your money." Shaking her head, she took a step back and leaned against the wall.
He scowled. "Well, that's one reason I didn't tell you."
"And what were the others?" She narrowed her eyes.
Draco tiled his head slightly, watching her. Then he slowly made his way around the bed to her side. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him, her brown eyes glazed over. "I didn't want you to feel like I was using you, like you do now. And I didn't want to manipulate you into marrying me so I can save the money my family has had for centuries." He gently ran a hand over her cheek. "I was just focusing on you. I've never done that before in my life Hermione."
She shook her head and closed her eyes. "And by focusing on me, you've wasted you time. You'll lose the fortune now Malfoy, since you never took Astoria up on your arm-"
He laughed hollowly. "I really don't want a clingy wife Granger." His hand still lay on her cheek, rubbing a circle on her skin. "I could never ask this of you, Hermione, that's why I haven't. You deserve more then a rushed proposal and quick marriage so we can be rich."
Hermione smiled sadly. "I wouldn't need all that money Draco." Opening her eyes, she looked up at him. "But you never really gaze me a chance to tell you that until now."
Draco stared. "And if I had told you before, that I either get to keep my fortune and marry you or give you a choice, what would you have done Hermione? You would've laughed and then run, afraid that I would probably trap you like Weasley or Flint. You were unstable for so long Granger, I couldn't have if I wanted to."
"Don't use that as an excuse," she said tiredly. "You should've told me about this. You shouldn't of held onto me this long and this close to your deadline without some knowledge of what I'm getting into. Malfoy, I hate that you didn't tell me. If you had, maybe I could help you now."
He gave her a small smile. "You couldn't ever help me with this Granger. You are the last person I know who would rush a marriage, again."
Hermione's next words slipped off her tongue before she could consider them ."Maybe I would if I loved the person enough."
Draco stood quiet for several seconds. "Loved him enough? Granger, I never knew you loved me at all," he teased halfheartedly. He didn't really know where she was going with all of this, but he didn't want to make a stupid comment and set her off.
She shrugged, looking away. "Why wouldn't I? You've saved my life, and taken care of me. And you are always so sweet to me." She stepped forward and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, his going around her waist instinctly. "I wouldn't have given you my virginity Draco, if I didn't feel something. I didn't even give my husbands that much."
Draco smirked, and leaned down to softly kiss her lips. "I know Hermione, but that doesn't mean your going to willingly marry me in the next few weeks. Besides, all those things could just mean you feel like you owe me."
"No, it doesn't," she sighed. "I don't feel like I owe you anything Draco. You never asked for anything, like your old self would. And anything that I can do for you I have. I didn't give you my virginity because I felt obligated to." She rubbed his neck. "I can't say that I'm in any way ready to be someone's wife again, even yours. I've had my experience with marriage, and its not something I plan on returning to anytime soon."
Draco nodded once. "I know, I never expected it." He chose to ignore the rest of what she said, and let it process through his mind instead. At least she never thought I expected anything from her.
Hermione smiled lightly this time. "I wish I could help you with this Draco, but in all reality I'm still not ready."
He nodded again, leaning forward to place a kiss on her forehead. "And I won't make you. I didn't ask for a reason you know."
"I know." They were quiet for a long time, leaning comfortably against each other, lost in their own thoughts. Hermione kept thinking over what his father had done to the will, considering any options Draco may have.
"Let me see the will."
Draco gave her a skeptical look, dragging himself out of his own thoughts, all circling around the girl in front of him. "Hermione, the will is set in stone. I can't change it and neither can you. I've read it a thousand times and I can't find any loopholes."
She grinned up at him. "Yes, but you aren't the smartest witch of our age either."
By Sunday February 6, Hermione had read the will more then a dozen times. It did indeed seem very specific, and she had yet to notice a flaw.
But she was determined to find one. Even if Draco refused to do anything once she found a loophole, she still wanted to try. He had been sweet and honest towards her, and although she was a little uneasy that he had kept the deadline from her, she didn't plan to let that effect her decision to try and help.
She sighed, pulling out the checklist from within her book, the one that Draco had made up, and read its contents:
1. Tell Hermione about the necklace.
2. Go back to the Manor.
3. Explain the dilemma with my inheritance.
4. Dig up the ring.
5. Explain the loss of my wand to Hermione.
6. Charm Hermione.
The ring. That one bothered her. Draco had talked about marriage, but had said he didn't plan to force her. Yet he needed to find a ring? Seems a bit contradictory...
Sighing, she circled number four. Draco still had several secrets it seemed, and she intended to find out what they were in the next few days.
Hermione refolded the paper and placed it back between two pages of the book, closing it firmly.
Hope you enjoyed it! Please review, the reviews from the last chapter were amazing. Do it again this time, even if I have been awful with my updates... I'll try to get the next chapter out by next week if there's a huge feedback, like I usually do!