Chapter 10
She wanted to laugh, she wanted to scream, she had a million questions to ask but all she could do was cry in the warm embrace of her parents and inhale their smell deeply. From the woody cologne that her father always were to the floral scent of her mother a whole world of forgotten memories of embraces like these from her childhood came flooding back and the tears fell quicker and thicker. Her parents kissed her and stroked her hair and Hermione hung on for dear life, like she couldn't believe they were really there and if she let them go they might disappear.
"It's okay darling. We understand why you did it. But we're back now. We're all okay." It was as she let her lips finally turn into a smile that she became aware of the crowd gathered in the doorway behind them and she felt the damp grass under her thick socks. Hermione pulled away from her parents and looked towards the ministry official stood to their left, smiling broadly.
"Bogrod Wood, Miss Granger, very pleased to meet you." He offered her his hand, and she reluctantly let go of her father to shake it, "we've been receiving information to help with finding your parents for the past week or so. The person wished to remain anonymous, they didn't want any praise or reward, they must be a fan of yours. A good samaritan I believe is the phrase. Anyhow, we found them two days ago in a small town near Melbourne, Australia. It appears we have managed to fully restored their memories but of course youll4be more equipped to judge. We finally broke through last night and whilst we usually have Christmas off I felt the ministry owed you a great deal, Miss Granger, for your efforts in the war and so I offered to bring them myself so that you might be able to spend the holiday reunited." Hermione smiled, embarrassed that he'd brought up the war but eternally grateful to this kooky man for returning her parents to her when she needed them most.
"Thank you. You'll never understand how grateful I am. I don't know what to say, other than thank you."
"You are beyond welcome, Miss Granger. Like I said it was a joint effort with this anonymous gentleman, or woman. We have no idea who it was. Anyway, I should leave you to it and get back to my own family. Merry Christmas everybody." Everybody smiled their goodbyes and thank yous at Mr Wood and made their way back inside. Mrs Weasley offered Hermione's parents a cup of tea and asked them if they would like to stay for dinner. Hermione stood in the cold air unable to move and still unconvinced this whole day wasn't a dream, when Harry and Ron walked up to her and pulled her into a hug.
"See Hermione, someone must be looking out for you, I knew you would get them back." Harry beamed at her.
"A day full of good news eh?" Ron said giving Hermione a quick peck on the top of her head, "C'mon 'Mione, it looks like it's going to be a good Christmas after all."
Draco sat in the living room, looking around at the changes he still wasn't used to. The room - the whole house - had always been a dull spectrum of black, white and grey with the occasional green furniture and curtains. It was not that way anymore. Suddenly, the previously dark house was full if light. There were bright flowers in vases in every room, the walls were painted sunny yellows and pale greens and sky blues. The previous hard cold floors had been replaced with sleek wood or soft, plush carpet. The furniture was warm and inviting instead of antique and uncomfortable. Draco loved it. It no longer felt like the place he'd witnessed the most horrific acts imaginable, it was no longer the place he'd been bullied and manipulated; it was a home now. Narcissa entered the room and began dusting incessantly.
"Mother, calm down." Draco strode over and took the duster from her hands.
"I just want it all the be perfect." She smiled at him.
"It will be. It's Christmas, you should be relaxing. You told me he's already seen the house. And his impression of me and mine of him is not going to affected by a bit of dust is it."
"I just want you to get along."
"Look at what he's done for you mother, it's the first time I've seen you smile in years. If this is down to him, I like him already." As he finished saying that there was a knock on the door. His mother practically sprinted into the hall towards the front door. He sat back on the new cream sofa and listened to her mother's frantic chattering coming from the hallway. She entered, shaking, followed by a tall man in his late 40s. His hair greying at the sides and his face square and yet soft at the same time. He was taller than Draco by a few inches and he was dressed smartly. His mother looked between the two men in the room nervously, until Draco stood from the sofa and extended his hand towards the guest.
"Draco Malfoy, pleased to meet you." His mother visibly relaxed, her shoulders dropping and her face softening as the man took Draco's hand,
"Matthew Bell, I've heard much about you."
"Well, that's a shame." Draco smiled and Matthew laughed.
"Dinner will be ready at one. I hope you're hungry there's plenty of food," Narcissa smiled at her guest.
"If there's ever an excuse to stuff your face it's Christmas, right?" Draco laughed and sat back on the sofa, quickly joined by Matthew. His mother hovered for a moment, obviously pleased by the sight before her, before asking,
"Can I get anyone a drink?"
"I could kill for a cup of tea, thank you." Matthew smiled at Narcissa.
"Me too, thank you mother." Narcissa hurried off and Draco felt both happy and slightly disgusted by the way Matthew watched her as she left. He turned to Draco moments after she walked through the door.
"I know this probably came as an enormous shock to you Draco, especially with my...background."
"That was never really what I was fighting for. My mother is the one who is amazing, but then again I was never really certain it was her fight either, not really. All I care about is that she's happy. And she is. So thank you." Michael smiled broadly at him and patted him on the shoulder.
"So, Draco, did your mother tell you we found what you were looking for at the ministry." Draco suddenly sat upright in anticipation.
"All is well."
"Thank you. Thank you so much for your help."
"It's a very honorable thing you did. You helped us a great deal. I'm sure your mother missed you whilst you were looking bit at least you're here for Christmas." At that moment Narcissa entered with the drinks and placed them down on the coffee table. The men made room for her to sit down and she sat between them. Michael's hand reached around her and pulled her close to him. Draco saw the embarrassed flush rise in her cheeks but he felt so wonderfully happy that she had finally moved on. He imagined how his father reacted to the news but there wasn't much he could do about where he was.
The Grangers and the Weasleys and Harry all sat around the magically extended table for Christmas dinner. The wine was flowing and everybody was laughing and chatting gleefully to each other over their food. But Hermione could do nothing but grin. There was no Christmas gift like it. But she wondered who she owed it all to. Whoever they were was, in Hermione's eyes, the most wonderful human being on the planet. Her parents had told her about the wonderful adventures they'd had in Australia over the last year or so and Hermione told them all the things she'd been through. Her parents had cried hysterically and told her they were sorry that they hadn't been there for her, Hermione had cried and apologised for not allowing them to be.
Later when everybody had drank themselves or stuffed themselves to the point of exhaustion. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny helped clear up.
"So, who do you think it was? This good samaritan?" Ron asked, "Kind of crazy timing isn't it. And who outside the ministry would want to help you?"
"Maybe it wasn't someone outside the ministry? Maybe they just worked in a different department and wanted to help but didn't want anyone to think he had an ulterior motive." Ginny suggested.
"Maybe. But then they'd still have the same resources as the ministry and the ministry would've been able to do it without their help." Ron reasoned.
"Not necessarily. They might have friends or family over that side of the world who could do some digging." Ginny added.
"What does it matter? They're back and I'm just grateful to whoever it was, whatever reason they did it for." Hermione settled and left to get ready for bed. A few minutes later Ginny followed her.
"Hey," She smiled.
"Hey."
"You don't suppose it was them."
"Who's them?"
"The person that gave you the locket. You don't think it could have been them that helped the ministry do you?" Hermione thought about the locket still hanging round her neck, and she thought of how she'd left it with Draco. She felt something tighten inside her that felt a little like regret. But he couldn't possibly be in the ministry's good books so they wouldn't have accepted his help even if he'd offered it. And what help could an eighteen year old be in a ministry investigation.
"No. Whoever left that locket had to have been in the school and I don't think anybody at school would have the resources to help find my parents." She wished that Ginny would forget about the locket.
"I suppose," She conceded, "Well, I'm going to wash up and get ready for bed I'll be back in a few." Hermione lay back on the bed and absent mindedly fiddled with the chain of the locket. She wondered once more and then shook her head in resolution. It couldn't be. A few minutes later, before Ginny returned, she fell fast asleep. The most peaceful nights sleep she'd had in almost a year.
Draco sat on the terrace at the back of the house looking out into the garden. A chill set about over his skin and he took a large mouthful of firewhisky to keep it at bay. The doors opened and Michael stepped out beside him.
"So, has it been a good Christmas?" He asked. He'd enjoyed Michael's company and could see clearly how happy he made his mother. The fact he was muggle born clearly didn't damper her feelings for him and Draco was glad. He was a good man. The kind of man Draco knew he would get along with. They'd spent most of the day discussing the differences between Muggles and wizards, something Draco had never had the opportunity to learn about before.
"It has. Thank you. And I hope you've enjoyed it. Thank you for taking care of her whilst I've been gone. It makes it easier to think about going back. I'm glad she has someone special."
"She has someone special in you too, you know? You're a good man, Draco. I know you don't think that about yourself but you clearly care a great deal about your mother. And what you did for your friend is incredible, especially not taking any of the credit for it. She must be very special to you."
"She is." Michael nodded knowingly and patted Draco on the shoulder before heading inside. Draco sure he would ever get used to the affection Michael showed him, especially when he hadn't done anything to earn it. He took another deep swig from his drink and thought about Hermione in her sapphire gown.
A/n: I know it's not very long, but I did everything I wanted to in this chapter. You're feedback for the last chapter has been so lovely so I really hope you enjoy it as much as it goes on. Again thank you for continued support. It's a little overwhelming really.