A/N: A rather short and unfulfilled chapter, but even so. I'm going to try and write the next chapter now as well, but who knows how well that'll go. I've got a bit of a writers block with this story! Hence, the break in updating. However, I'm going to try and break through that! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas :) Chapter title from Take That's "The Flood"!

Oh, and any guesses anyone have, I'd be more than happy to hear! :D
xCNx

Chapter Seven: There's Progress Now Where There Once Was None.

It wasn't exactly as she had imagined it, that much was true. She had pictured a towering mansion, dark and foreboding, with sparse trees and dead flowers in the garden surrounding it. She should have known better than to be so childish! They lived in the south of France, and so the sun was shining when they arrived. The house was a neutral grey-stone colour and three stories high - lavish, of course. She could see that clearly from the outside. The grass was a blistering green and trees decorated the large garden, but strangely there was not an abundance of flowers accompanying them.

Hermione pushed away the sick and uncomfortable feeling she had in her stomach and followed Draco up the little path to the front door. Harry was close behind her while Blaise strolled alongside Draco, appearing perfectly at home as he whistled a tune she wasn't familiar with.

As they reached the door, Hermione was suddenly grateful that they weren't in Malfoy Manor back home. Harry sensed her unease and squeezed her arm lightly, assuring her that those were memories long gone. She nodded to him subtly, and then the door opened.

She couldn't recall ever seeing Narcissa Malfoy properly; it had always been in the darkness of a shadow, in the black and white of a newspaper article, and most commonly, from a distance. It was startling to see how alike she was to the pictures in the paper; she really was that youthful looking, utterly beautiful and aristocratic. As loathe as she was to admit, the difference between her mother and Draco's was stark, and it was evident to her that wizards simply had a much easier time aging - taking into account their longer life expectancy.

She regarded them with an abnormally warm smile. Abnormal because it, neither, was what Hermione had pictured. She returned the gesture weakly and then watched Draco hug his mother gently. "Draco, you missed lunch yesterday - Hopsy was making your favourite,"

"Sorry mother, I was busy - but next time. We're here today for business though. This is Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, Aurors from the Ministry."

"And you know me, Narcissa," Blaise gave her a charming smile, and then walked in the door as she pushed it open further.

Narcissa regarded her for a minute. "I do believe we've met before.." She trailed off, "But no matter. I understand you're here about the letters?" Her face had become grave and she was observing them intently.

Harry answered for her. "Yes, and the events surrounding all of it."

She nodded, "Well come on in. Hopsy is making tea as we speak, would you like some? Come now, Lucius is waiting inside. Wouldn't answer the door if I paid him!"

Draco had long gone ahead, and Hermione assumed it was to warn his father to be on best behaviour. Although, she had heard Lucius was most impassive and diplomatic when it came to such matters lately. One toe out of line and he would find himself in Azkaban. A Malfoy had never been so well behaved before.

Narcissa led them to a sitting room, which was far more personal than Hermione would of thought. Obviously her expectations of them had fallen dramatically short. She had expected a cold, detached and impersonal feeling to the room, but was surprised by the warmth she felt and the vibrant colour decorating the wall. She was also surprised that Narcissa was the one answering the door and guiding them, not the elves. It seemed the woman liked to take a hands-on approach to things, and she briefly wondered who held the control in the relationship of Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. She supposed there was a balance, with slight tips here and there. (the war.)

Lucius had reading glasses on when they entered the room, flicking through the paper nonchalantly. He barely paid them a flicker of attention as they entered, and instead continued to scan the news. There was a subtle nod that if one hadn't been paying attention, they would have missed. Hermione, and Harry, nodded back but neither were sure if it was seen.

Blaise had made himself at home, falling back comfortably into the sofa and propping his foot on his knee. His arms sprawled out across the back of the couch. Hermione sent him a warning look, and he gathered himself a little. She took the seat next to him.

Draco sat in a single armchair, while Narcissa took her seat next to Lucius. She sent her husband an annoyed glance, "Paper down, Lucius. We have guests."

With a disgruntled noise, he folded it up and put it down between the sofa and the table next to it. After much dramatics with putting away his glasses and getting comfortable (fixing his hair), Lucius Malfoy was ready. "Granger, Potter." There was a pause, and all wondered what could really be said as a greeting. 'pleased to meet you' ? 'pleasure to meet again' ? 'good to see you' ?. "We meet again."

Sounded ominous, Hermione thought amusedly. "Under better circumstances, of course."

"If I remember correctly, the last time we met was at some ministry ball?" Lucius questioned, quirking his brow in a fashion that Draco usually wore.

"As I said, better circumstances." She joked, and then realised that this wasn't how she normally conducted house visits for witnesses or victims. She cleared her throat, "I- We're here to discuss the letters that you've been receiving. Could we have a look at them, please?"

Narcissa called out for her elf, and it was in front of them immediately. The elf didn't look unhealthy or beaten, but Hermione still frowned at the absence of clothes. She supposed that would have been a large leap though. "The letters." was all she had to say to the creature.

"When did you start receiving these letters?" Harry questioned, looking between the two.

It seemed as if Narcissa was going to be the one taking the questions. "Oh, it must be something around the five year mark now, isn't it, Lucius?" A sound of agreement and she turned and repeated, "Yes, about five years."

Hermione frowned, "And you never reported it?"

"Oh, it was nothing to us, dear. We had faced much darker times and people than someone who can only write a letter."

"Well it's evident they can do a bit more damage if their death toll is anything to go by," Hermione bit back, but regretted it instantly upon the other womans expression. She hadn't meant it in a harsh tone - she was just getting sick of everyone's flippancy.

Harry picked everything up again by asking another question, "But things took a wrong turn when Astoria was found dead? How did you know it was him?"

"That was more aimed at my Draco rather than us, you see. But we were warned that he was going to strike a family member… Traitor written on the wall, like we were always addressed in the letter. 'Traitor,' was always at the start of each letter." She explained offhandedly, "It was blatant, darling."

"Okay then.. And do you have any idea of who it could be? Who would be thirsting for revenge or feeling the biggest betrayal from you? Any enemies at large?"

Narcissa looked to Lucius here, but responded once again, "Enemies? Dear, don't be silly.. We have too many to count. Although significantly less due to our hasty switch in the battle, but many of the old Death Eaters would consider us enemies.."

"Bellatrix certainly had enough enemies for us to contend with - we were always her enemies targets. Crazy bitch."

"Lucius!" Narcissa reprimanded, a flash of warning running across her face and putting her husband back in his box. It was amusing for Hermione to watch. However, she had to hold the remark of how Bella was gone now, which was difficult as it was on the tip of her tongue, begging to be let go.

"I see. Well that certainly narrows down the list!" Harry laughed good-naturedly, and she was surprised by how well he was taking the whole visit. Granted, he was probably seeing it as questioning, as she should have.

Hermione felt there was something they were missing - something and someone that was right in front of them, "Is there no one especially holding a grudge against you?"

Lucius answered this in his trademark aristocratic drawl that Draco had also perfected, "Granger, everyone holds a grudge against us. When you are this rich, famed, beautiful and notoriously held - there are going to be grudges. From both the Death Eater side of things, and the Order."

She wanted to roll her eyes on that response, but somehow refrained. Her control was really great today, she thought. Draco, who had been leaning quietly against the wall, finally spoke. "There really is too many enemies to count, Hermione. There's no exaggeration in that statement," He smiled wryly at her, and she got the feeling he wasn't too fond of being hated by so many people. After all, he was rather accustomed to being fawned over.

Blaise, who was unusually quiet, had taken to flicking through books that stood on the lone bookshelf behind them - Hermione automatically assumed they had a library somewhere in this mansion, and wondered what the chances were of her ever seeing it. She knew it would be both luxurious and large - meaning it would be packed with books waiting to be read.

"How long were you in France before you began receiving the same letter again?" Harry again took the reigns.

"It was about a month, I'd say. Not along. Of course, Lucius insists that whoever it is is a coward and he can easily defeat him." Narcissa said this with an air that portrayed a disagreement on the matter.

"He only sends letters, Cissa. He can't even confront us." He sniffed disdainfully.

"More of a death eater tactic, isn't it?" Draco questioned, but not to annoy his parents, as there was a thoughtful expression on his face and she could see the clogs turning, "Sneaking in the dead of night, catching people on the unexpected from behind. Playing mind games; very death eater of them."

Harry nodded, "That's true, but all the death eaters had been ruled out after interviews. Not by us, but by another auror that previously worked with us."

Blaise glanced up from his book, "You should probably review those interviews. It was Skye that conducted them, wasn't it?"

"Yes…" She wasn't sure where he was going with this, though she did agree they should read up on the interviews to double-check.

He went back to reading, ever the blasé Blaise. "Well he was arrested for accepting bribes, not exactly one to rely on."

"If that's the case, and he took a bribe, then the interviews could have been tampered with, and most likely are. Reviewing them won't help us in that event," Harry explained, countering what had been said earlier.

"Perhaps Potter, he was just waiting for the penny to drop. Of course you would have to interview them again." Lucius in his haughty tone again.

Hermione decided that they'd discuss the rest of it later, "Could we see those letters now? We really have to be going." The letters had been left on Narcissa's armchair, and Hermione was itching to read them. Letters from psychotics were strangely fascinating - or maybe not so strangely, as many people found such things interesting.

Narcissa looked dismayed, "Oh, you won't stay for some tea?"

Hermione already had an excuse ready for Harry and she, about reviewing information and a meeting with their boss, but unfortunately for her, Draco Malfoy knew exactly that they had no plans for the day and he exercised it to his advantage completely; why would she be surprised?

"Actually mother, we will.. All of us are free for the next hour, so we'll have a quick cup and then be gone."

A bright smile graced the elegant woman's face, and her eyes lit up a little. "Wonderful. It has been too long Draco, and you too, Blaise. You know how we love your company around here."

"Oh I know, Narcissa, I know."

"A little too much," Draco grumbled, leading the way to the dining room, when Hermione would have to take part in the most excruciating cup of tea ever - or at least, that was what she imagined. Although it was now clear that all she imagined wasn't always accurate.

The dining room was had a sophisticated feel to it; beige walls, a long cherry wood table with up to ten seats around it, an ordinate bouquet of flowers livening up the room from the middle of said table and a great chandelier hanging overhead. It was certainly grand, that much was true.

She took a seat between Harry and Blaise, they being the ones she would feel most comfortable with. She was too jittery around Draco as of late - there were too many elephants always dancing around them. Draco sat across from her beside his mother, and Lucius sat head of the table. Narcissa's hand was noticeably on his knee - or at least Hermione hoped that was the case. They presented more of a united front than she remembered during the war.

"So Harry, Hermione, I never thought you would become an auror! After all of that fighting, why go back for more?" She seemed genuinely interested, so Hermione felt an obligated to reply genuinely, too.

"I just want to help," She shrugged. "There are so many that need rescuing and I'd hate to see them perish without someone trying to save them."

Draco was looking at her in a curious way, "You can't save everyone."

It was a fact she hated, but she could accept it. Harry, however, found it hard to swallow and he always had. For as long as she could remember, he tried to save everyone around him. She had expected him to launch into some rebuttal, but instead he simply sat there. She gave him a confused look, and he shrugged. It seemed Harry was growing up, too. It was about time - they were nearing thirty, after all.

Hermione decided to change the thread of conversation, and focused her eyes on the man sitting across from her, "I never knew you played piano, Draco. You kept that well hidden for all those years."

As he began to respond, Narcissa launched into a reply, "Oh, yes! And what a wonderful player he is. We had him learning at the age of six - at the time it was to beat that severely irritating Gina Parkinson, as Pansy was learning violin and by Merlin, we never heard the end of it. But we soon saw a talent, and a love, for piano. It was truly impressive and lovely." Her eyes were on Draco, pride beaming and warmth radiating off her in waves. She had never known Draco to be so loved, and Hermione knew it was probably in their later years - much after Voldemort and the war - that this kind of relationship was allowed to flourish.

Harry smothered a laugh, but Draco picked up on it, "Potter? Care to share the secret?"

He waited until he was finished, and then sighed contently, more to irritate Draco than anything, before he answered. "Gina Parkinson, is all."

"That is something to laugh at," Blaise agreed, chuckling. "Now there's a crazy bitch."

"Oh now, lets not get into all that." Narcissa said, but her pleased expression contradicted it completely.

Hermione noticed Lucius was checking his reflection in the glass of the door beside him, and for the first time saw the bow holding his hair together. Now, that was worth a laugh, but for the sake of their dignity, she held it in. She recalled him wearing something akin to that in their early years. It seemed Draco had picked up on this, also.

"Father, the bow is taking it a bit far."

He seemed unperturbed, "It does the job just fine, Draco." It was clear in his posture that Lucius was very much proud of his golden hair. Which, granted, was understandable as those locks were rather brilliant, it was just humorous seeing as it was the cold and biting Lucius Malfoy. Just as Draco was about to reply, a potronous entered the room. Hermione recognised it immediately and stood, feeling Harry do the same beside her. It was an advanced one, that could also carry a voice message, and came in the shape of a stallion.

"There's been another attack."

A/N: I knw, I'm a bit awful for the cliffhangers! I've a few requests to make of certain readers now.
1) If you'd like to see me write a certain one-shot containing a certain pairing, I'd be more than happy. Vote in my poll or PM me, I'm dying for some fresh one-shot ideas :)

Actually, I was going to say something else, but it doesn't really matter! Happy New Year to everyone, hope you had a good one and have many good times in 2011! :D
xCNx