It all belongs to J.K. Rowling!
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers. I love you all! And if your not my reviewer but are reading this story I love you too (but I'd love you more if you'd review Please!). Anaways I added a part in this chapter about a breif relationship that Hermione had with Ron the summer between her 5th and 6th year. It is not going to play a major part in this story, I just needed something to spark Draco's protective brother feelings. I thought this would work the best. Tell me what you think. As always I will wait anxiously to hear what you have to say on this chapter. Without further ado.
Chapter 7: In which there are conflicts
A startled scream awoke the two Malfoy men the next morning. Narcissa was a heavy sleeper and was not disturbed. Donning their dressing robes they hurried towards the source of the noise wands at the ready.
"Accalia, what is it?" Lucius asked just before opening the door. Hermione was standing in front of a full length mirror clothed only in a skimpy night gown ogling at herself.
"I'm a bloody blonde!" She informed them of the obvious changes in her appearance. Draco sighed rolling his eyes though he was studying her shrewdly.
She was indeed a blonde now, the signature blonde of all those of the Malfoy line. Though it was not straight. It fell down her back and across her shoulders in glistening ringlets Her eyes however were not the grey that both Draco and her father sported they were a brilliant blue that might have glowed in the dark surrounded by long fanning lashes. He cheeks were high and shapely, her nose straight and slightly pointed giving her very defined features. Her shapely lips stood out full and red against her pale porcelain skin. It was a face one would not soon forget. Her height had not changed much she was still relatively about 5'4 with long slender legs and a bum that would make Merlin himself blush. It was nice addition to the petite girl. Her breasts had not really grown, she realized, she reasoned they were still about a C cup.
Lucius' wand had lowered as he inspected her approvingly. Of course she was gorgeous. How could he not create and attractive child. Pride, you see, was one of Lucius Malfoy's most dangerous faults. "Be careful when you scream. It is not taken lightly in this house." The eery tone of his voice sent shivers crawling down her spine.
"Pardon the disturbance," she recovered nicely, "It was quite a shock." Lucius nodded at her words disappearing from the room Draco soon to follow. Before he left he had a clear view of his sister running a hand down her new face in confusion and despair.
"Merlin help me survive this," she whispered heavenward walking towards the door that led to the bathroom. Draco was waiting in her sitting room when she walked into it following a house elf on her way down to breakfast. He knew what was expected of him. Play nicely Draco, he reminded himself sternly. She looked startled to see him.
"Good morning," she said cautiously. The boy would have grinned as he saw the gears in her head begin to whirl as she tried to figure him out if he wasn't still unsure about this new development in his life.
"May I escort you to breakfast, Accalia." Her answer didn't come right away. She didn't quite see the point in arguing over her name with him. Besides being called by her preferred name, Hermione seemed to personal for her newly discovered brother and long time enemy. Knowing Draco as she did it seemed more logical that he would claim it was un Malfoyish to be called by anything except your first name. So Accalia it would be to all but her Uncle for now.
"What? Oh yes of course. That will be all Tipsy," Hermione dismissed the house elf and accepted her brothers arm that he extended.
"Certainly missus," the small creature scurried away to complete her other tasks. The walked for what seemed like an eternity through the twists and turns of Malfoy Manor. Funny, she thought it hadn't seemed this far away last night.
"Are you always this formal with family," Hermione asked breaking the silence that covered them like a burial cloth. Draco glanced at her from the corner of his eyes trying to see if in her lie ulterior motives.
"It depends," he finally replied hoping to let it rest. Hermione however took no time in running with his answer.
"Depends on what?" Curiosity always got the better of her.
"If I like them or not." he ground out wishing she would shut her ever opened mouth.
"Oh," she said quietly. Hermione sighed suddenly feeling very tired despite her restful might sleep. She stopped suddenly turning Draco to face her with one swift move of her wrist. "Listen I'm sorry about what I said the other day. I've been wound tight lately and you just happened to snap my last strand of sanity." She stopped searching for words, "This is hard enough adjusting to a new life void of anything I've ever known. So can we just call a-a truce. It's going be hard enough without fighting with you too." If she was expecting an apology from her brother in exchange she was going to be sorely disappointed. Though he wasn't a total prat.
"I suppose I can forgive you." He looked her over shrewdly an inner war raging, "and I guess we can call a truce, but don't expect me to actually be- a you know- a brother," the last part was said in rather a defensive tone. Hermione hid her smile well as she stuck at her hand to seal the deal. He accepted it gingerly and shook it swiftly right before the doors were opened that led into the sun room. Hermione turned questioning eyes to her brother when she saw the bright garden just outside. Everything was alive and growing in the warm sunshine yet it was the middle of December.
"Mother's Summer garden." he hissed through tight lips, "It's charmed. Blooms all year long." She nodded turning her attention back to the occupants of the room. At the head of the table Lucius sat with Narcissa on his left and Severus next to her. Two empty chairs were situated to her father's right obviously meant for Draco and herself. The people all rose to greet the new comers.
"Good Morning father, mother, Severus " Draco greeted the party. Hermione was stunned nearly speechless when her uncle reached out a trembling hand to touch her face. Personal space invasion. She resisted the urge to jerk away as she waited for his words. The man quickly regained his composure pulling back from her.
"She is her mother's child Lucius. Her hair not the coloring but the curls are Selena's," he tilted her head to the side with his hand on her chin as he inspected her, "Her nose is that of my sister. Her eyes in coloring and shape are also hers. But the mouth is that of a Malfoy. Stern, proud, and cold." He released her stepping away.
"It is good to see you for the first time Hermione." He nodded his approval.
"Thank you Uncle Severus." She replied dutifully hiding her smile under pretenses. Lucius took control.
"Accalia I would like you to meet my wife Narcissa Malfoy. Narcissa my daughter Accalia Malfoy." The women shook hands eyeing the other warily.
"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione said softly. Reaching a decision Narcissa spoke.
"Call me Narcissa dear. I'm sure we will be great friends," the blonde gushed hugging the startled young lady. Narcissa had always wanted a daughter and if she could not have one of her own perhaps Accalia would suffice. The fact that she would be stealing Selena's child was simply a bonus. Hermione patted the older woman on the back awkwardly her expression screwed in confusion. Finally she was released and ushered into her chair which was to the right of her father and to the left of Draco.
Breakfast preceded rather nicely, with Narcissa dragging words out of the reluctant new family member. Right now she was attacking Hermione's love life.
"My last boyfriend..." Hermione though chewing thoroughly on a bit of egg, "was Ron." She nodded confirming her answer. "Ron Weasley," she explained before Narcissa could ask. "We broke up over the summer. It was mutual." A similar look of disgust past through the occupants of the table causing Hermione to bristle slightly.
"Don't think another thing of it , "Narcissa advised, "You didn't know any better." Hermione felt like pulling away from the witch that was patting her hand in a motherly gesture that was so fake Hermione wanted to retch. "Now dear," Narcissa busied herself with her raspberry tea. "Have you ever..." The witch raised her eyebrows suggestively. Causing Draco to spray his pumpkin juice across the table as Snape was beating Hermione on the back to dislodge the food stuck in her windpipe.
"Mother!" Draco admonished. His father waved away the protest.
"I'm actually quite interested in this answer," Lucius words jolted the girl. Draco threw up his hands in mock offense.
"Well excuse me, but I happen to know for a fact that little miss perfect Gryfindor over here is a virgin." Hermione blushed scarlet as they all waited for her to affirm Draco's words. She stuttered a little bit before getting started.
"Well, you see Ron and I – "
"Dear Merlin you and the weasel were sexually active. My baby sister slept with that piece of trash." Hermione's ire rose.
"Now wait just one minute Draco Malfoy. You have no right to say those – "
"I am your brother I have every right!" he bit out forcefully, "He is below you. You can't just go around shagging people who are not worthy of you. You are a Malfoy" He paused collecting his thoughts, "As a matter of fact you can't go around shagging anybody!" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I would like to see you stop me," her words were a challenge, "I thought you weren't going to play the brother card" she countered him boldly. Draco opened his mouth to argue his expression clouded, but a smirking Lucius stopped him.
"Now, now children decorum please." Hermione glowered at her brother pushing herself into her farther into her seat.
"We can go shopping for the ball tomorrow!" Narcissa bubbled excitedly changing to subject before Severus could voice his thoughts. The man was wonderful at masking his feelings though a little of his steam was showing by the way he stabbed his pancake viciously.
"Ball? What ball?" she pointed her question toward her father this time.
"The New Years ball that we will be hosting in your honor." Lucius bragged slightly.
"For me!"
"You will be introduced into the wizarding high society and I will officially claim you as a Malfoy. Then is anyone has a separate claim they will voice it then." Snape laid down his napkin.
"Since we are on the topic Lucius I do have a claim to the girl." Hermione's eye brows lowered affronted at his words.
"I do have a name Uncle Severus," she huffed. No one at the table took notice of her.
"And what would that be Severus?" Lucius asked his colleague a predatorial gleam in his cool eyes. Hermione shivered, sometimes her father scared her.
"As you are aware Lucius, Hermione," he stressed the use of her name, "and I are the only living decedents of the Snape line," At the blonde's nod he continued, "The chance of myself procreating and providing another Snape is in itself minimal. Due to the fact that I can neither stand women or children for that mater. To the point, I would like Hermione to be the sole heir to the Snape fortunes."
"Since she is Selena's child it is rightfully mine to ask." Severus finished. Hermione opened her mouth while Lucius was still thinking.
"What exactly does carrying the title of heir entail?"
"In simple terms, on the course of my demise you would inherit all property and money that the Snape family has acquired over the years. Also your second born child must carry the Snape name so that the line will continue as you must also."
"So what my name would be Accalia Gwen Hermione Snape Malfoy?" Or was it Malfoy Snape, she wondered.
"Precisely," Lucius spoke, "Very well Severus I shall see that your claim is finalized."
"I would also like Hermione to spend half of her summer with me at the estate."
"That can also be arranged." She was going to be one rich woman Draco thought. Seeing as how she would inherit all Snape lands and titles plus what their father would provide for her as well.
"Accalia darling, I'm confused. Why does your uncle not call you by your given name?" Narcissa's sugary sweet voice asked.
"It is one of my middle names and I prefer Uncle Severus to address me as such." She shrugged it off lightly hoping Narcissa would abstain from speaking further on the subject. Her hostess simply nodded. Hermione refrained from sagging in her seat with relief. For some reason it mattered greatly to her not to loose her last link with her old life.