Merry Christmas! For your guys present you get two chapters! Even though I'm certainly not in the holiday mood. Just cuz my love life sux right now there's no reason why I should you ppl down 2 so enjoy

Chapter 12 Starlight

My life
You electrify my life
Let's conspire to ignite
All the souls that would die just to feel alive

X-Muse

The new couple had slept peacefully through the night but were woken up in the morning by someone ripping the covers off of them. It was Narcissa and she didn't look happy at all.

"Leave filth. I want to talk some sense into my sister."

"Her name is Hermione," Bella corrected.

Narcissa ignored her. Hermione's heart fluttered that Bella was defending her and she didn't want to leave. Bella still wasn't strong enough if the two sisters started to fight and Hermione wanted to stay to regulate them if necessary. She felt a gentle squeeze and saw that Bella's eyes were ushering her to the door. As much as Hermione didn't want to leave she wanted to show Bella that she trusted in her decision even if it was to talk to her sister alone. Hermione collected her things and left ignoring the angry stare she was getting from Narcissa. She waited by the door straining her ears hoping to catch a sentence or two of their conversation. All she heard was muffled sounds that made her thinking of two snakes hissing at each other; the talk did not seem to be going well.

"They started without me," Andy said startling Hermione. The young witch tried not to show her embarrassment at eaves dropping but Andy showed no signs of any disdain. The middle sister only gave a reassuring smile and winked at Hermione before opening the door. Inside both sisters stopped talking to see who opened the door. Hermione tried to catch a glimpse of Bella but Narcissa was standing over her probably trying to intimidate the other. The young witch gave a frustrated sigh trying to hear the three of them. At first the conversation seemed to being going calm till the mention of tainted blood and parents then it became loud again. The lights started to flicker, which only meant that these witches were becoming so triggered that their magic was getting out of control.

"Bloody mad women don't you think?" Draco chuckled. For the second time of the day Hermione jumped at being caught. "Let's take a walk while they finish their little chat shall we?"

He had his hands behind his back like he still didn't want to even touch Hermione because she was a mudblood but something about him appeared to have changed. His eyes sparkled and he flashed a genuine smile before Hermione decided it was best to leave the sisters alone.

Draco gave a tour around Malfoy Manor including the history, starting with who built it and the lineage of Malfoys that had owned it from generation to generation. Even though it sounded like many people had lived in the Manor it didn't feel like any type of home she wanted to be in. It seemed like being in a museum, lots of interesting things to see but never to touch nor possess. All the colors were dark and gloomy and the only warmth came from the fireplace. It was fit for All Hollow's eve or a funeral. She remembered her old house and how she loved to see all the color and decorations her mother used to put up especially during the holidays. She snapped out of her thoughts when she noticed they were walking down a hall. The main Hall had many paintings and portraits that were moving and welcoming Draco. Some portraits were not too friendly to Hermione.

"Leave Filth!"

"You don't belong here!"

"Well I never thought I'd see the day when this house was invested with a rodent!"

Hermione tried to pretend the words and insults didn't matter and that they were just portraits but she couldn't help but turn beet red from anger.

"Don't listen to them," Draco said. "They don't understand and never will."

Hermione couldn't believe that Draco; the boy who bullied Harry till the war, was comforting her. She saw the recent family portrait. It was evident that it was taken when Voldemort was alive by the way the family all looked intimated and unhappy except for Bellatrix who kept her head high in an arrogant pose. Another picture however caught her eyes. It showed a dragon flying in the sky. Its majestic wings spread out and scales that seemed to reflect the sunlight and it's intense gaze set on her. It was wild and free like someone she knew. Without warning an armored knight came and shot out a spell that instantly killed the wonderful creature.

"Sorry you had to see that but many wizards in the dark ages killed dragons for sport," Draco explained. They went down the hall to a door that led them outside behind the manor where there was a garden. She didn't stray too far from Draco out of being courteous and hoping she didn't run into anything that might kill her. One particular batch of flowers was beautiful and had many dark colors that indicated it only lived in the wizarding world. The petals seemed to glisten in the sunlight and Hermione was tempted to touch it but she knew better than to let her curiosity lead her way. Upon closer inspection she saw the petals glistened because they looked hard and sharp like a hunting knife. The flowers leaned into her presence as if it was inspecting her as well. She could hear a quiet whisper but couldn't understand what the flowers were saying.

"Porageous Litherum. Beautiful to look at but a drop of their venom would kill fifteen men."

Hermione slowly backed away making Draco laugh. She knew a plant like this would fall under Dark Arts botany and possibly have XXX in its danger level.

"Why grow such a dangerous creature?"

"It's only dangerous to the fool who doesn't know how to handle it properly," he said a matter-of-factly. He stroked the stem starting from the bottom to the top. He was careful not to touch the petals and see if any of the other flowers were nearby. Then with a flick of his wand he cut it off. "Those that do grow it know it makes one of the best teas."

He offered it to the brunette but she was reluctant to hold it.

"Look I'm not going to hurt you," there was hurt coming from his voice. "I know what I did at Hogwarts was horrible and there are things that still keep me up at night but I've changed, honest."

"I believe you Draco it was just I didn't know how to hold the flower."

"Oh," Draco muttered. There was an awkward silence in the kitchen as the water was brewing for the tea. "I never got to thank you for giving me a second chance. I saw your signature when I was given a trial for being a Death Eater."

"Think nothing of it." She noticed that he seemed more calm and happy since the war was over.

"Because of you I'm able to get married soon to Astoria," he spoke with pride. She felt genuinely happy for him and how he was able to turn his life around. "Even though my father and best friends died in the process I know that I'm blessed with a lot of things. I always hoped that Harry would prevail against my old master." He pulled up his sleeve to show that the tattoo was just a dull scar that didn't hold its malicious look anymore. Hermione took the opportunity to pull back her sleeve and see the scar she now carried too.

"I'm sorry for letting my Aunt do that to you but she scared the shit out of me."

"She's different now." Hermione looked past the kitchen and saw that not far away was where she received the scar. She recalled her own screams and how Bella had threatened to stab her to death over information about the sword. Two enemies fighting on opposite sides and an interrogation that could have gone so much worse but thankfully didn't. A stray tear appeared and Draco gently wiped it off. He showed no disgust or arrogance touching her knowing very well she was a mudblood. His light gray eyes understood that no matter how much someone tried to forget a traumatizing experience, it somehow would creep back into their lives.

"Hermione you have a big heart to not only forgive her but to open your heart to her. You're helping everyone in this family in more ways than you think."

A whistle announced the water was hot enough and Draco got up and started to cut the stem of the plants.

"Ever since our elf was freed we had to do things ourselves. I really didn't mind because I feel useful for once." He poured the hot water into two mugs that made fizzling sounds. He gave her one and started to sip on his own.

She could see that the water was tinted purple and it smelled spicy like cinnamon. She took a small sip trying to be careful not to burn herself. It had a mint taste and the warmth spread all over her body like fire whiskey without the burn of alcohol. The surprise though, was that it left her lips tingling.

"It's the venom," he explained.

"It's really good." She took another sip and felt so much better.

"Do you hear that?" he gestured his hand to his ear to emphasize whatever he was hearing. She stood very still listening for anything that sounded out of the ordinary. What on earth was he talking about there was just silence that appeared to be a part of the atmosphere of the manor?

"I don't hear anything," she finally said.

"Exactly." He gave one of his rare smiles. "They have either killed each other or are done with their chat."

Hermione tried to laugh at the joke but felt her throat was suddenly dry and took another sip of the tea nervously.

"Very funny Draco now go make your aunts and me some tea like a good boy," Narcissa said entering the kitchen. He grumbled something about being a man but did as he was told. Andromeda then entered at the smell and winked at Hermione signaling to her that everything went well. Hermione offered to bring Bella's tea herself, which Narcissa looked at Hermione like it was the first time ever seeing the girl. She appeared to be making mental notes and critiquing the way Hermione dressed like a cross between a child and an old person but at least she was acknowledging her. Baby steps were better than nothing.

Bella's face lit up when she saw who had brought her tea in. Her smirk had turned into a full on smile that made Hermione's heart start pounding hard. Bella explained to her, what the conversation was about and how old wounds were opened again for them to heal properly. But it finally appeared that the sisters were now on good terms with one another.

"Now that we're done lets go join my sisters and Draco by the fireplace."

"But you shouldn't be moving."

"I shouldn't but I am. I'm tired of resting and being chained to a bed I'm getting up. Now are you going to help me or leave me alone and perhaps let me injure myself more?"

Hermione gave a sigh not believing how stubborn Bella was being but she saw the determination in those black eyes and knew this was one argument she wasn't going to win. She tucked her arm around Bella's body and hoisted her up. Bella tried to mask her pain but Hermione could see right through her. She knew anyone in their right mind would know not to move but Bella was the exception.

They were waiting in the living room and mocked Bellatrix for taking her time. Apparently they all had a mischievous time when they attended Hogwarts. They all were taking turns turning on one another in trying to bring up some pretty funny stories. Andromeda and Narcissa told a funny one of when Bella was a child and how she would hate wearing dresses so one day her father put a spell that she couldn't undress so Bella just cut off most of it which infuriated their father. She also sounded pretty wild to be with at parties. Draco also was enjoying hearing that his mother was not an angel and a proper woman as she claimed to be. It was the first time Hermione felt like she was a part of a family since erasing her parents' memory. This was what was missing in the manor. A complete family that enjoyed each other's company and filled the halls with laughter and smiles.

The days came and went at the Malfoy Manor while Bella was healing. Hermione learned so much about Bella now that she was staring to open up to her. She saw albums and saw how each one told a different story. When her father was present her face was strained and her eyes were cold and hard like stones. He didn't like to see his children smile too much. It was a wonder why Bella decided to change her last name back to Black after hearing what an arse her father was. The ones that were taken at Hogwarts were Hermione's favorites. Bella looked happy and free as if she was exploring life for the first time.

"Ugh Bella," Narcissa said catching her sister in a passionate kiss with Hermione.

"You're not in Hogwarts anymore."

"I know exactlywhere I am, Cissy. Thank you for informing me of the obvious," Bella shot back. Narcissa scoffed and left the pair alone.

"Bella…wait s-stop," Hermione moaned. As much as Hermione wanted this to continue she had something to say. However, it was becoming difficult to think when Bella was hitting a weak spot on her neck.

"What is it my pet?" Hermione secretly loved the new nickname Bella had picked out for her but liked to make a face just to see Bella smile.

"I have to go to the Burrow."

"Whatever for? I thought you chose to be with me?"

"I do. I just haven't told my friends where I've been and I'm sure they are worried."

"Just send them a letter."

"But then I won't be able to collect my things and maybe…" she turned bright red, "move in with you?"

R&R

BTW I'd like to thanx Thanatos Angelos Girl for catching the mistake on Draco's eye color.