holy shit. jeez you guys are just now showing you can review? That made me think I needed to write this chapter faster!

I know it's short, and I don't like it, but I don't want this scene to be a part of last chapter or apart of the next chapter.

but review quickly and the next (already half way finished) chapter will be up quickly too, but I can withhold it till I get the reviews I know you guys have ;)


I suck in a deep breath at the sight of the blonde woman. Slowly, I finish walking down the stairs with shaky legs and hands. My left hand grips the rail, but my right was gripping my robes as I tried to stay calm. I don't speak or move to greet our guest when I reach the last step until Blaise and Draco are next to me, even then I am still unsure what to do. I stay on the last step and Draco and Blaise stand in front of me, slightly below me but because of their heights, they are still taller than me. Blaise takes my hand as he passes the last step, but releases it when he stands in front of me. Draco is the first to speak.

"Mother," Draco says in greeting, nodding his head towards her.

"Draco, come here." Narcissa Malfoy says, opening her arms like she wanted to give her son an embrace, something I had not seen a Malfoy do.

The phrase makes me tense and flinch slightly. I knew Narcissa Malfoy was not a Death Eater, I wasn't sure she even had the Dark Mark. Nothing about her scared me because I knew she was a good person, but she was there. She was there when I was tortured, there when Voldemort killed Harry for the second time, there when Voldemort was killed, and there when Aurora was with the Zabini's. She was the woman who tried to kill me and everyone I love's sister. She was supposedly an extremely nice person, but her presence and voice brought back memories that were easier to face when I could wake up and stop thinking about them. When you begin thinking thoughts you don't want to have, they tend to stay in your mind longer than normal thoughts. I don't like having to face thoughts of war.

Draco stays where he is, "How did you know I was back?" Draco asks, sounding more and more like the scared boy I saw in war. So he didn't know who the guests were going to be after all.

"After the war when you left along with your father," Narcissa pauses and puts her arms down. "I placed special wards on the house that were similar to the Zabini's. No one could come to the house unless they were of my blood." She glances from me to Draco. "On Monday, the wards went off, informing me that there was a Malfoy and a guest in the Manor. Obviously it couldn't have been my husband, seeing as he has his own cell in Azkaban. I apparated home and heard yelling in the drawing-room," Draco and I both tense up at thought of the drawing-room. "When I entered the room I saw Draco following a woman into the fireplace. I assume, I hope, that it was you, Aurora."

"It's Hermione." The three of us reply. My voice was a whisper, Blaise's sounding far away, and Draco's tight and angry. Blaise steps back and laid a hand on my arm, knowing I was in slight shock.

"Of course," Narcissa smiles in my direction. "The only word I caught was Zabini, so of course, I immediately got in contact with Circe and began planning. After all I am your godmother and among other things." She explains, implying other things were going on besides a godmother greeting. Narcissa looks to Circe and Felix. Both of the older Zabini's were holding hands and looking at us with the same look Blaise had when I arrived earlier. They all seemed wary about Narcissa's presence. Maybe they weren't as close to her as Narcissa was implying. Or maybe things were going on behind their front of calm. "Why don't we get started?"

Circe let's go of Felix's hand and walks forward looking at the three of us and not Narcissa. "Are you three hungry?" She asks, looking at her son only. The question was simple, but I still didn't reply. Blaise understood what was going on better than I did.

"I'm hungry," Blaise replies in monotone.

Crice nods, trying to keep a smile, and turns to Narcissa. "Come, Cissy, our elves have been working all day on a fantastic dinner." She walks to Cissy and both woman walk down the hall with one glance back at their children.

Felix stay behind and look at us. I was still stunned from the choice of words Narcissa used, words that were exactly the same as the ones she used to call Draco over to see if Harry was who everyone thought he was during the war. Draco was staring after his mother in confusion, still unsure of her intention. Blaise was looking between Felix and I, making circles on my arm to try to soothe me.

"Hermione?" Felix speaks softly, stepping forward and crouching down in front of me to meet my lowered gaze. My father- Wendell use to do that every time he saw me crying. I had to blink a few times to make sure I wasn't right now. "I know you don't know Narcissa very well, but she is just like Draco. She is a really good woman and had nothing to do with things that happened in her home." Way to remind me.

"I know," I whisper, feeling like a child.

"It's the memories," Draco tells Felix, who stands up from his vulnerable position. Draco takes a step up to be next to me and I look up at him with wide eyes. "They go to the back of your mind after a minute." I nod, not knowing how else to reply. Was he admitting his mother's presence brought up bad memories for him too?

"Come on, I know you're hungry too," Blaise says, forever trying to lighten the mood. He keeps his hold on my arm as we walk towards the hallway, but drops it when Draco pulls him away to speak to him in some what private.

Without meaning to, I walk down the hall next to Felix with Blaise and Draco in front of us. I burn holes into their backs with my stares, unsure if I'm suppose to start a conversation with Felix or if he wanted me to even try. I still felt dazed from the tsunami of memories that attacked me a moment ago.

"I was there when Narcissa attended her first meeting, you know," Felix says. "She had gotten out of going for so long that even her son had attended a meeting before her," I look away from Blaise's back and to Felix, who was watching me.

"The Malfoy's were in his inner circle," I remember. Implying what Felix was without meaning to.

I knew he still felt responsible for everything that happened, but I didn't blame him at all. I didn't blame anyone when it came down to me being raised away from my blood family. Why would I when I got two families -muggle and wizard- out of it that love me even if I wasn't related to them. Never would I accept a ticket to go back and live my life with the Zabini's, they are a wonderful and nice family, but my childhood was more than satisfactory. I wasn't mad that I didn't grow up with my real parents, only upset that I didn't know what to do in this situation and that I didn't have control over the situation. Also that my planned future was going to be messed up now. I didn't blame anything on the Zabini's though, but I could see the look of self-hatred creep into Felix's expression again.

"Yes, I was there also, because of my resources and international connections. Narcissa and Draco should not have been there though. Thinking back on it now, I don't think the Dark Lord even wanted them there except for picking on Draco every now and then. Lucius wanted them there to prove his family was very powerful and close to the Dark Lord," Felix explains.

"He was a terrible man," I remark, looking away from Felix to scowl at Draco's back. I could not believe he was raised by Lucius Malfoy and lived to be as sane as he grew to be.

"Still is," Felix whispers. The conversation ended there and we walk the last few steps to the door in silence.

The seating is messed up with an additional body. It threw me off to see Blaise in my seat. I got into routines easily, and though doing things in this house had little routine, meals were always the same. Narcissa was sitting where Blaise usually sat, and where Draco usually sat was empty. The head of the table and a seat between Circe and Draco were the only two left open unless I wanted to sit alone at the empty end of the table. The thought was tempting at the moment.

I took the seat that is expected of me and Blaise smiles at me as I do. It doesn't reach his eyes but was only there because he always had to be smiling.

Once Felix took his seat, the empty platters spread across the table fill with food and the quiet dinning room fills with the smell of fresh and delicious food. Circe and Narcissa were both watching as the boys fed themselves, which must be another woman pureblood thing. So of course I began serving myself also. Next to me Draco chuckles but besides that, no one seems to notice my actions. Despite trying to show I was not following pureblood rules, I still served myself food that was adequate for an elegant dinner. This meant I had to eat salad for the second time today, luckily wizards had a dressing that was similar to Ranch Dressing. Blaise and Draco both have steak and Felix has a lobster. Once they have all began eating, Narcissa and Circe serve themselves similar plates to mine. Then we eat in silence aside from the sound of silverware hitting glass plates.

Unlike other quiet meals where I avoided all eye contact, I continually look up from my plate to look at everyone around me. Blaise and Circe both kept their heads down like I had done in other silent meals, and were eating their meals with slow bites. Felix was eating his lobster quietly, while watching me. Draco was glancing from his plate to his mother. And his mother was either staring at me or staring at her son. She didn't eat. Something is up, I know it.

"Aren't you hungry, Narcissa?" Felix asks, after following my line of vision. Blaise and Circe look up.

Narcissa doesn't even flinch at the amount of eyes on her. "I ate before coming here actually."

I quirk an eyebrow up. "That's odd, Blaise said you were coming over for dinner." Blaise swallows nervously.

"Just to discuss things over dinner, dear." Narcissa smiles gently at me. It reminds me of the way Professor Trelawney use to look at me, like I didn't know something. It's annoying.

"Discuss what?" Draco asks, voicing my question and his.

Narcissa gives Draco the same smile, "Later. We will discuss later."

I roll my tongue in my mouth, afraid that if I bite it I would taste blood. I want to retort, I was use to being able to retort, I should retort. I don't though, because I know it will only lead to me getting angrier at Narcissa for no reason and still not getting the answer I want.

So we lapse into silence again, this time however Narcissa kept her eyes down and Blaise was watching me. I had finished eating by then, not as hungry as I thought, and was staring right back at Blaise. The Zabini's were holding something back from me, and I wasn't ok with that. I was suppose to have already known everything, it was part of the deal in my mind. Tell me everything at once so I can wrap my head around it all and move on. Of course, I wasn't suppose to 'just move on' because Harry said so. Stop in the moment and work all of this into my life, making a new life, that's what I had gotten from the talk I had with Harry. Easier said than done, and easier if I knew everything I was dealing with.

Blaise doesn't break eye contact with me. I narrow my eyes at him to let him know I know he is withholding information from me. He glances to Draco and then back to me. I do as he does and see Draco is staring at the both of us too, eyes narrowed at Blaise too. Blaise sighs and puts down his utensils. He rubs his face in anxiety and doesn't look back to meet our gaze. Draco glances at me, one eyebrow raised because something is up and it concerns us both.

"So," Felix says, once again trying to start a conversation. "How was your day, Hermione?"

"Amazing," I smile widely at the thought. "Everything was so wonderful."

"Who were you with?" Circe asks gently. I smile at her, in too good of a mood to clam up.

"Just wait till you meet him," I grin.

"Him?" Felix asks, in shock.

"You met a stranger?" Narcissa asks, sounding hopeful but worried.

"Oh, he's not a stranger, we've met before." I smile at her despite the frown forming on her face. "He's a gentleman, very cute, smart, witty, and so much more." I close my eyes for a second and think of Phillip.

"She's in love, Felix," Circe says exasperated. I open my eyes, my smile slowly fading

"Oh no," Blaise moans.

"This is terrible," Narcissa exclaims.

I stare at her wide-eyed. "Why?" I ask, trying to keep up a polite tone. Nothing about my relationship with Phillip was terrible. "After all I am twenty and live on my own."

"It's not about your age, sweetie," Circe turns towards me, taking my hand in her shaky one. "You're already betrothed."

"Betrothed," I gasp, standing up and yanking my hand from her hold.

"Since the day Lucius agreed to help hide you," Narcissa says.

"But. . . that's impossible," I say, trying to tell myself that more than the others. Apparently it wasn't. "Who. . ." Then I think over what she said. Why she would be here. What Lucius would have asked for in return, because he would ask for something in return.

"To Draco, dear." Narcissa smiles, but it too fades.

"What!" Draco also stands up and while my hands are being held to cover my mouth, his slam against the table. "You knew about this?!" He screams at Blaise, who, I just realized, looks very guilty.

"Yes."

"No," I manage to say, holding my stomach. Those who say you feel everything in your heart are wrong. It's your brain, heart and stomach, and right now it felt like there are bricks in my stomach doing tap dance. "But I can't, I love him. I promised to meet him. . . he's coming -"

"I'm sorry, Hermione, but you can never see that young man again," Narcissa says, obviously trying to be as gentle as possible.

Tears fall from my eyes, falling around me as I shake my head and back up till I hit the wall. "Oh no," I gasp out, aware of everyone standing up and staring at me. "No," Draco sinks into his chair and places his head in his hands, his hair becoming messed up. Blaise walks around the table towards me. "No, I can't believe... No," the tears turn to sobs. All I could think about was Phillip, my Phillip. I could barely live without him for a week, never seeing him again was unthinkable.

Blaise was standing next to me now, he was speaking to me in soft voices but I couldn't hear him. All around me people were talking, or yelling, maybe they were yelling, I couldn't hear any of it either way, it was all white noise to my ears. There was a lot of movement in the room except for Blaise, Draco, and I. I couldn't see any solid object except for us three. Tears were falling uncontrollably down my face and I couldn't catch my breath. My eyes were blurring over until I couldn't see anything except for fog in my eyes now, is this a seizure or something? Blaise has my hands in his but mine were shaking enough that his were too, maybe he was shaking anyways. A minute ago I had thousands of thoughts running through my head, happy memories of Phillip and I, moments that we had discussed our future together and the house we wanted to magically add to the store; the loving look he gave me before disapparating just an hour ago. Now my mind was blank. I couldn't see anything with my blurred vision, the white noise was turning into an annoying ringing and I could barely feel Blaise gripping my hands. My body was going into panic mode. I was falling into panic mode really quickly.

I close my eyes, tears still managing to get through my eyelids. I want to be in my room. I didn't want to be surrounded by people who want to force me to leave Phillip. I want to be in my room.

I open my eyes and saw I was now on the floor of the dinning room, crouched in a ball against the wall. I was still whispering no, and Blaise was still in front of me, but he was standing and talking to people around him. I still couldn't hear anyone, but my vision was clearing. Blaise wasn't holding my hands anymore. He couldn't stop me.

So I stood up and ran. I ran as fast as my legs could manage in this state of mind. I was vaguely aware of shouts behind me, but I couldn't make out any words. I could have run to my room with my eyes close really, it was a pathway I took almost three times a day for the past week. I went up the stairs in a blur and slammed my door with a resounding boom echoing down the hall. I cast spells that I hadn't used since the war, spells that would take hours to take down if you weren't the caster. They came out easily and my wand was practically moving my hand for me to form the perfect strokes, at least that's what it felt like. I wasn't aware of concentrating on the charms, but I knew when I was finished because I collapse on my bed exhausted and sobs still going through my body.


I stood up from my chair as Hermione hits the wall behind her, so does everyone else. She was staring at all of us, but looking through us like we were ghosts. "No," she repeats, then continues to whisper the word. As Draco sinks into his seat quietly, I hurry around the table and stand in front of my sister, taking her hands to help keep her standing. There are tears falling down her face and sparks appearing around her arms, all of them breaking my heart slowly. I hate to see her this distressed. I try to ignore all of that and talk to her to keep her from passing out.

"I'm so sorry Hermione," I whisper. Around me my father is yelling at Narcissa and mother is trying to get a response from Draco because his mother, wisely, won't go near him. "I wanted to tell you and Draco, but it was too soon, this was too soon to tell you. We wanted to wait till you were closer to us, till you considered us family. We hadn't even told Narcissa we had found you, even though it could have been dangerous to you if we kept it from you for much longer." I pause as Hermione's eyes rolled back into her head and then closed. "Hermione! Open your eyes Hermione, you need to stay awake ok? Hermione? Aurora?" I help sit her down on the floor as she begins to sink. "Padre!" I shout at Felix who turns away from Narcissa to look at me, "Non so cosa fare." I say helplessly. I look back down to Hermione's passed out form to see her eyes open. I'm about to crouch down in front of her when she jumps up and runs out of the dinning room

"Hermione!" "Aurora!"

Circe and I both run after Hermione, but her magic was making her go faster than she would normally be able to and by the time we reach her door there are already spells keeping us outside, but we can still hear her cries though.

I turn to my mother and she pulls me towards her, tears falling too. She holds me close to her as I try to tell her it will be okay, but I don't know that. I wasn't sure if Hermione was going to accept us before she knew about this, now the contract might be the only thing that can keep her here. After a few minutes she pulls away and walks down the stairs without a word, walking towards her and my father's room. Hermione got not showing her feelings more than necessary from our mother. I'm about to go into my room also when a figure walks up the steps.

"Draco," I say, stepping towards him. He wasn't crying, he didn't look angry, he looked careless. He had his expressionless mask on again. Until he saw me of course, then it turned into a glare. "I -"

"Save it," Draco barks, walking past me towards his room. "I don't want to hear your excuses."

"I don't want this either!" I shout, matching strides with his. "We can't do anything about the contract it was -"

"Shut up, Blaise!" Draco spins around and punches me in the jaw. His father had taught him how to hit at a young age. After third year at least. "I know what marriage contracts hold, I've seen my fair share. What I want to know is how my best friend, my only fucking friend, didn't tell me I had one, to his sister non the less!" He lowers his voice and stares me down, making me freeze from his cold glare. His fist are clenched tightly at his side now and I could feel a bruise forming. "You knew, and you didn't tell either of us. Hermione has a life outside of us, and so do I, you've ruined us both." He steps back. "She disappeared for a year and refused to let us know where she was, you couldn't help but ruin any relationship she was planning to make. You could have told me, you could have told me before I made a life for myself, before I even decided that I wanted to keep my life, the life that I perfected and actually love is now ruined because you didn't tell me. But hell, I should have expected it to fall apart right? People closest to me always betray or leave me." He leaves me standing in the empty hallway, listening to him pace angrily in his room and Hermione cry in hers.


Please, please, please critic and review.

this was so hard. SOOOO hard to write, and I am still considering just throwing it out and rewriting it again. I need suggestions!

Also, I am working on the next chapter, but I'll work harder if you help me with editing this chapter.