Finally I update! Hooray! Oh, shout out to latina-pr! I was so happy to read your review, it made me smile from ear to ear! Thank you for reviewing J Actually, everyone, THANK YOU, I love reading them and they give me so much inspiration. I cannot emphasize this enough, thank you! Chapter XI
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
The next morning they both resumed their roles as servant and master, playing it both so excellent it astonished them that they could be so tolerant and lenient to one another if one had to.
Hermione walked outside the room towards the kitchen, claiming that Master Malfoy had a craving for some sweets and tea. And told the girls, that mostly just stood around to waiting for her to give them orders, that they had to go take Master Malfoy's bed-linen off. This gave her some space to walk around, else she would just be trapped in his room plotting over nothing.
Walking inside the kitchen, were there weren't too many people there just yet, it was only ten, they didn't start cooking for lunch until ten thirty. She was hoping to spot Annette here too, but she it seemed that she had taken over Hermione's position in the linen department. Poor girl… Well at least she had a wand.
Seeing a familiar bun of white hair, with here and there some lose locks, Hermione walked over quickly.
'Margret!' She exclaimed happily. 'I need your assistance on something.'
'Hermione…' She smiled softly, happy to see the girl in a much better mood then yesterday.
'Has everything worked out well?'
'Yes… Don't worry about it, Margret. I was just being silly.'
Margret nodded her head understanding her. 'Yes, the Masters can be quite a handful.'
'They can?' Hermione asked curious, to what she meant by that. 'Uhuh,' She nodded, folding the kitchen towels, 'What was it you needed me for?'
'Oh, well you see, ehm…' Hermione all of a sudden needed to get her wit back, she was already thinking about how to ask Margret what she knew.
'Master Malfoy wanted me to get some tea but with some variety.' She mimicked him and rolled her eyes at his speech. Not that he had actually said that, but she could imagine him saying it perfectly like that. 'I'm a bit of a ninny when it comes to these sorts of things.'
'Of course! Of course!' She smiled happily; glad she could be used for more than just folding and cleaning vegetables for once.
Walking towards the cupboard full of herbs and other flavors of tea, Hermione took a tea set and placed it on a small tray. 'Well let's see…' She muttered thoughtfully. They stood in a small dark corner where people paid little to no mind to them. Hermione decided that now was her chance.
'What… What do you know about the Malfoys?' Margret gave her a strange look, suspicious why she would ask such a question. For a moment there Hermione thought she made a mistake.
'The youngest or the eldest?'
'Both' Hermione replied, 'Well… The youngest actually.' She added quickly, remembering the plan.
'Well, good he is less awful then the other one. But awful nevertheless.' She already knew that, she needed to know other things. Besides, these were commonly known facts…
'Yes but… between us… I heard them fight. They don't seem to get along very well.'
'No.. No, indeed not. After Mrs. Malfoy passed away… They grew apart. Their last fight was about Mr. Malfoy wanting young Mr. Malfoy to get married, to continue the Malfoy name and have an heir. With some fancy girl… don't remember her name, though.'
Wow… Hermione was astonished that she knew so much valuable information and hadn't even been anywhere near the argument. This house had ears and eyes everywhere apparently.
'I see… Well he was in an upset mood…' Hermione explained.
'Don't let it bother you, he's known for having a short fuse with his servants.'
'How long have you worked here?' Hermione asked genuinely interested.
'For about… Yes about less than five years. There was no need for me to go to Azkaban, too old.' She explained. 'I have a daughter… but I don't know where she is.'
Hermione saddened a little at the thought, she too had a mother somewhere but she didn't know where she was either. Or if she was still alive for that matter. 'I know how that feels…' Hermione confessed.
'So you have known them for quite a while.' Hermione said referring to the Malfoys. 'Yes indeed. Mr. Malfoy and Mrs. Malfoy are one of the few pureblood families that married each other out of love. You could see that, they were quite fond of each other. But near the end…it changed. Something must've happened because they were living on the verge of war all of a sudden. Even for Young Mr. Malfoy it wasn't an easy time. They pressured him a lot…'
'They did?' Hermione wanted to ask more about Lucius Malfoy but… 'I always saw him as a spoiled child.'
'Well, I'm sure he was when he was younger perhaps, but growing up… They wanted him to lead, every little thing depended on him and there was no room for mistakes.'
'So Mr. Malfoy still pressures him a lot…' Hermione made it sound more of a statement then a question, she didn't want Margret to go any deeper about Malfoy, she didn't need to know that. 'I think he is still grieving about his mother's death.' Hermione announced quietly, as if she had just drawn a conclusion of Malfoy's behavior. She knew she wasn't the greatest actress but she tried her best to conceal her true interest. 'How did his father take her death? Even after all the fighting?' Hermione couldn't stop herself from asking that, not when they had reached a point in their conversation were she actually got the opportunity to ask so explicitly.
'He too suffered, maybe not in the eyes of his son…' Her voice wandered off. 'He seems to blame him.' Hermione pointed out. 'Yes, everyone knows that.' Margret confirmed.
'Oh…' Everyone? Who was everyone?
'But don't worry Hermione, he just needs some time, mourning is a long progress that simply takes time.'
'There, that looks rather nicely, no?' She said when she arranged the tray. 'Now you take all the credit, you hear.' She winked, 'I'm just an old bat, I've had my time. You still have a long way to go.' That sounded a lot more depressing then she probably had indented, Hermione mused. Thanking Margret for her help and her little talk, Margret answered that all she had to do was ask.
With that she walked off back to his room. She didn't mention anything of her conversation with Margret to Malfoy because it had simply been more about him than anyone else.
Malfoy ignored her presence, certain that she would speak up if she had information.
Seeing that there were no fresh sheets on the bed, she figured it was another good excuse to leave the room personally and now she could even go look for Annette. Not that she wanted her to get involved too much, but she had mentioned that she too had heard of things, maybe she knew who to talk to.
*****
Luck was on her side because Annette was just walking in hall in front of her, her long red hair was tied in a knot, but it still stood out among the grey halls that surrounded her.
Walking quickly towards her, she lightly tapped her on the shoulder. Annette turned around with a scowl but that was quickly replaced by her usual bright smile, 'Hermione!' She exclaimed excitedly.
'Shh!' Hermione shushed her and pointed towards a door on their left, not catching anyone's attention they both snuck in. 'Hermione! Are you alright? I was worried last night…'
'Don't be.' Hermione smiled. 'Everything turned out fine.'
'Well, you gave me quite a scare.' She frankly said, 'Good thing Margret was there.'
'I know. She's an angel and so are you.' Hermione smiled; glad to have a real friend again.
'What had happened?'
'Malfoy had a fight with his father and he was just… being mean.' She hated lying to her but she couldn't tell her the whole story. Because if she did she knew Annette would want to help and she just didn't want her to take any risks.
'Oh… Did he hurt you?' She sounded worried and put a hand around her shoulder. 'No… He was just being…his usual self.' Hermione said. That part was true actually. 'I'm sorry…' She muttered apologetic, as if she had been somehow responsible. 'Don't be sad! I'm fine! See?' Hermione gave her best reassuring smile, 'There is something I wanted to ask you, though.'
'Ah, sure what is it?
'Yesterday you said that you had heard of things about Malfoy.'
'Ah things?' She asked confused, 'Oh! You mean… about his lady-friends?'
'Yes! Well not about that actually… more about where you heard that stuff? I never picked up on anything and believe me I always had my ears open.'
'I know.' Annette smirked, 'That's why no one speaks when you're around.'
'What?'
'People might not say your name out loud anymore but they do know your name. Besides you are always getting yourself into trouble.'
'So people talk? Have you heard something of an alliance?' Hermione blurted out, as soon as the words left her mouth she wanted to swallow them back in.
'Alliance?'
'Oh, never mind…'
'So you work for them?' Annette gasped. 'No… No I don't. But I hadn't heard of any alliance and know it has come to my ears that there are people fighting for us. I just thought…'
The truth is that I'm not thinking at all, Hermione thought to herself. She was only getting herself in deeper and there was no way she could stop herself from falling apparently. She had told herself to keep Annette safe and she wouldn't give her any information. This was supposed to go the other way around.
'I don't know about that.' Annette confessed. 'I haven't heard anything either, is you source reliable?'
'Very reliable.'
'Who?'
'Ahm… nobody. I-I just can't tell you that.' She confessed, she couldn't just say she had heard it straight from the horse's mouth. She was already taking enough risk and she had all said it by accident. 'Really, you can't?' She said indignantly.
'Who do you talk to?' Hermione ignored her question and tried to change the subject back to the rumors that Annette had heard. 'I pick up on here and there. I'm just the little redhead, no one really tells me anything. I just eavesdrop and they let me, I guess they don't see any harm in me.'
'But they do see it in me? I don't understand…'
'Me neither, but you're not very popular, Hermione. And I guess people are just afraid that you'll use that information against them. Or maybe that you'll mention their name or something.'
I guess they are still afraid, everyone still lives in fear… 'So they won't talk to me no matter what?'
'Nope.' Annette shrugged, 'Why do you want to talk to them, actually?'
Hermione stayed silent and weighed the options in her head. She could tell Annette, partially, the truth. Or she could tell her a complete lie. One she had yet to think of. She had made up a few, but she was pretty certain Annette wouldn't believe them and if she did she would just be pretending to believe her, to not press the subject. She was a smart girl, lying to her would be hard. And doing this thing without any assistance and the corporation of fellow servants… Hermione didn't have a choice.
'Annette… I'm about to tell you something and I want you to listen to me very carefully.'
She nodded her head and waited tensely for Hermione to talk. 'I… I have a way of getting us out of here.' Sort of anyway… She wasn't going to tell Annette just how grand the scale was of getting out. If Hermione did her job well then not just her and Annette would be getting out, everyone else would be getting out of here too.
'Y-you do?' Annette gasped at what she had just said. 'Wait. Both of us? Or just you?'
Neither, Hermione thought. I hadn't really bargained for my own freedom or yours… 'I don't know… Depends on how well I do my job.'
'What is your job exactly?' She now sounded suspicious, as if the other servant might have a good reason not to trust her. Hermione could see the fear of treachery, 'I need to find out who killed Malfoy's mother.'
Annette's mouth stayed open and she didn't make any movements, astonished at what she had just heard. The silence made Hermione feel uneasy. She bit her lip, anticipating her reaction.
'By whom?'
'I can't tell you that.' Hermione resolutely answered, her voice sounded stricter than usual when she was with Annette, it reminded her of her time with Harry and Ron.
'Malfoy himself?'
I knew she was smart enough to figure it out! 'I can't tell you.' She answered her stubbornly, why couldn't she just accept that answer? Hermione had thought she would have had her at "freedom", why was she pressuring the issue of who had asked her, didn't the end justify the means?
'It's him isn't it!?
'Annette!' Hermione yelled out in frustration, why didn't she get it that it was simply better that she didn't know. 'I think I have a right to know! You take risks, I'll take risks but I have a right to know.' She yelled back. 'Never mind, I didn't want to tell you in the first place! This was a stupid idea!' Hermione snapped ready to walk off.
'You better wait, right there!' Annette grabbed her shoulder, 'I want to help you but you need to be honest too, Hermione! I thought we were in this together!'
Hermione saw all the emotions Annette felt in her eyes, anger, sadness, hope… Her amber eyes had lit up with fire, ready to fight. A true Gryffindor. But she wanted to know who she was risking the line for.
'Malfoy… thinks his father is responsible for the death of his mother.' Hermione said quietly, whispering, afraid someone might hear.
Annette didn't say anything but just nodded. After a second of thought, she spoke her mind out lout, 'So we need to know more about his father? Maybe even get into his private room?' Her mind was already plotting, which made Hermione want to laugh. She reminded her of her younger self. Always ready for action, having a well thought out plan.
'Yes… but like you said if nobody will talk to me there is very little I can do.'
'But they'll talk to me!'
'It's too dangerous. I don't want you to get hurt, Annette.' Hermione spoke softly, showing a glimpse of her feelings. 'I want this to happen just as badly as you, Hermione.' Annette spoke determined. 'If I can help, why not let me? I'm not a little girl… I've seen the war too, Hermione.' The last part she spoke on a softer tone, letting Hermione know that the world had given her too her part of despair and pain. 'Alright.' Hermione nodded in approval, she knew Annette was just like her and that she too was determined to get their freedom back. There was no one who was going to stop her.
'So how do we do this?'
'Well, Malfoy and I discussed that we should see who to trust and who not. Today was kind of a test to see who'd snitched. I was supposed to only ask about him and not his father, so if anything goes wrong, he would have to… ehm, "punish" me.
'Punish you?!'
'No, no, not really. Just pretending, so he can keep me safe from his father.'
'Well people are going to snitch about you no matter whom you speak to.'
'I see… I didn't know I had such a bad reputation…' She hadn't really counted on this.
'Blame White.' She grinned happily. 'I do.' Hermione grinned back. 'Well I'll do some spying! You just need to keep me out of White's hands and out of Malfoy's. You think you can do that?'
'Yes… I'll discuss it with Malfoy too though. He needs to know.'
'Right! How do we meet actually?'
'I'll summon you.' Hermione winked. 'Comes with the promotion.' 'Fancy… Poor White if she only knew what you were scheming this time.'
'We can't let her know anything. She's very loyal to Malfoy's father.' 'I know that, don't worry, I'll talk to the right people.' She said reassuring.
'So I'll see you tomorrow?' 'Yes.' Hermione was already planning out a few things, things for Annette's safety.
'Oh! Hermione?'
'Yes?' Snapping her out of her train of thoughts. 'What has happened the last of couple of nights?'
'What do you mean?'
'I mean how come Malfoy hasn't … changed his sheets?'
'Oh!' Hermione's ears became a little red, just out of sheer embarrassment of the conversation. They were gossiping about Malfoy's sex-life!
'He was ill.' Hermione answered quickly. 'Really? It's seldom that that stops him.' Annette clearly held no embarrassment over the manner, it made Hermione wonder if she had some experience on the subject. 'Annette! Does it matter!' Hermione said ashamed.
'I was just wondering…' The fact that her voice sounded so childishly innocent made Hermione flush harder, she had a hard time discussing the matter, it just made her feel… uncomfortable. 'I guess not…'
'So what did you found out?' Malfoy asked when they both sat down to eat. 'Not much.' Hermione muttered, clearly a little disappointed. 'And I'm probably not going to find out much more than what I found out today.
'How so?' He asked intrigued. 'Apparently people do not want to talk to me… or in my presence.' Hermione said, 'Something about popularity.' She smirked.
'You always were…' He smirked back, knowing fully well that this was about her and her knack of getting into trouble. 'I spoke to a few people.'
'One looked as if I was crazy.' She did try, hoping that maybe not everyone was like that but she had concluded that Annette was right.
'One was an old lady, who I'm almost certain of that I can trust. But I'll guess we see that when you father arrives. 'And then there is Annette.'
'Annette?' He repeated. 'Yes, you've seen her, the red head.' Hermione explained her problem and the dilemma that she had been in; she told him what Annette had offered.
'She'll spy in your place?' He seemed to be troubled by the thought of someone other than her doing the job. 'Yes.'
'I would've had rather had that it was you. But I understand the problem. If you trust her, so do I'll.'
'Great but there is something I want in return.'
Malfoy raised an eyebrow and scowled a little at the thought of taking more risks. 'I want you to let her go.'
'Aren't I'm helping letting you all go?' He retorted back. 'Yes but you and I both know that will take months and even then we aren't certain of the results will be.'
'You don't? Come on, Granger, you know better than that. There are people who want to take us down, I already told you that.'
'Yes, but I want her out, now. The moment we have certainty, I want you to let her go.'
'Alright, I'll try. It's not so easy, I can't guarantee it.' 'Than neither can I.' She answered sharply. Negotiations had always been her specialty; it was seldom she didn't get what she wanted.
'Granger, be reasonable.' He said, but he saw his pleading wasn't going to get him anywhere. 'Fine.' He grunted.
'So how will she do this?' He asked, if he was going to take more risks, it better be worth it. 'I don't know yet.' That wasn't a very pleasing answer. Hermione noticed his sour expression and tried to lift up the bad atmosphere that was creating itself around them.
'I wanted her to wait a little too. Your father, White… She has to work around them and yet found out more about them. It's difficult.'
'I'm sure she'll find a way.' She added reassuringly. Malfoy didn't reply, a look of disappointment washed over his face. I guess he wanted results already, Hermione thought.
He'll get them as fast as possible.
The remainder of the evening Hermione sat on the couch reading, she was enjoying her royal life at the moment. The fact that she could spend her time being actually useful seemed to ease her mind and worries. Malfoy on the other hand seemed more tense now that he had confessed his plan and had lay such a delicate thing in her hands.
He paced around quit a lot.
'Malfoy.' Hermione's voice halted his movement. He was about to walk to the bookcase for the seventh time that evening. He would start reading and then throw it away cursing it was poorly written and just awful.
'This isn't going to make things go faster. Try to relax.'
'I am trying.' He sulked. 'Than try doing something else.'
'Perhaps…' He answered slightly less tense then before. 'What are you reading?'
'N-nothing.'
'Nothing? You are reading, right now. Read it to me out loud.'
'No!' She answer horrified. 'Why not?'
'I-I can't… not now…'
'What?' Clearly confused by her behavior he stalked over to her and snatched the book out of her hands and started to read the page she was on.
'Don't! Malfoy! Give that back!' She tried to snatch it back but his arm was a lot stronger than her, his eyes were glued on the page. 'So this is what you read?' He asked amused.
'No! Of course not! That is just a passage!'
'Then why so embarrassed?'
'Because!' She ridiculed how he could not understand that. 'I'll read out loud than.' He teased her, which made Hermione only more frantic. He made a fake coughing noise and started to read out loud, 'It felt strange for Lidija to feel his foreign fingers on her, searching her body and touching places that she didn't even know how sensitive they could be. And even though she was fearful, she could feel the excitement in her lower abdomen and it made her curious with desire…'
'Malfoy! Shut up!' She yelled loudly, stopping him. 'What?' He said innocently, 'Stop that! And give it back!' Hermione huffed, blushing furiously.
'Nah…' He responded lazy, obviously having too much fun embarrassing her.
'Stop it, Malfoy! I mean it.'
'What are you going to do?' He sneered back, 'Turn red?'
His taunting made her already short fuse, grow shorter. Somehow she managed to grab the book back and she stomped off to her room, only to be stopped by Malfoy who had snatched it back.
'Stop being so childish!' She said irritated that he could act like this.
'I'm bored.' He confessed, 'This humors me.'
'Oh, well I'm glad I can humor you.' She said sarcastically.
'Come on, Granger…'
But before he could finish the sentence there was a knock on the door. 'What?' He barked, annoyed at whoever was ruining the fun he was having. 'Master,' A small timed female voice spoke, 'Your father has arrived.'
Hermione and Malfoy looked at each other for a moment. He had ordered that he wanted to know when his father had arrived, no matter what the hour was. 'I guess he's early…' He muttered quietly. He had hoped for tomorrow morning. He gave the book back to Hermione, 'Stay in your room.' His voice was stern and resolute.
'Alright.' She nodded. Was he afraid of what was to come? 'You'll think he'll come to your room…?'
'Maybe but probably not.' He shrugged, 'But it's best to stay low.'
'Right. But what about-?' 'There is nothing we can do about that. It doesn't matter; it all depends on your friend, anyway.'
'But what if someone talks…' She started. 'I'll take care of it.' His voice sounded convincing, he was sure that he was in control of the situation even if his father had returned earlier than planned. But she knew better, he wouldn't be pacing around like a madman if he was so certain of his case. 'I can take care of this.' He said as if he had just read her mind.
'Right… Goodnight.' She turned on her heels and as she was opening her door, 'Oh, Granger.' His singed, 'You might want to plug you ears tonight.' He grinned.
'Malfoy!'
'What? I'm a healthy boy.' His grin grew wider. 'So are you apparently.' He added teasingly, his eyes stayed on the book in her hands for a second.
'It was just a passage!' She shrieked, smashing the door closed. She could hear Malfoy snicker through.
Still she worried about his father. Would someone speak up to him? Or would he stay oblivious of what was going on? Or what if he found out about her? Her mind was once again twirling with questions. She tried to focus back on her book, which was hard since Malfoy had somehow managed to ruin it for her. When she heard talking in the other room, Hermione knew it was best to go to sleep before Malfoy's bedroom activities started and would keep her awake all night. She rolled her eyes at the thought Malfoy's stupid grin, giving the closed door a last glance.
'Idiot.' She mumbled.
Ok, so I kind of feel like this is a filler chapter, but don't worry next chapter is more exciting! I think…
We are taking baby steps and at one point we'll be running and you'll wish you'd still had chapters like these…
Don't forget to leave a review with your thoughts on this chapter!
