Hello all! So, there were some mixed feelings about the last chapter. All I want to say now is that I hope you all stay with the story. I appreciate everyone's' comments, and I thank those who have chosen to follow and favorite the story.
Also, I need my readers' help. I have two paths forming in my mind how this story could go. Either way, I'll achieve the ending I am going for, but I need some feedback on how to get there. That's why I am asking for your input. If you could PM me, I would appreciate it so that others won't see how you responded, and I can keep some element of surprise to the plot. My question is this:
What do you think of Draco in Gryffindor? I have tried researching other stories where Draco is in Gryffindor, there weren't that many, and there were mixed reviews. Think more like a parallel to Sirius Black in some respects. Again, PM your thoughts. For those who are Guests I am not sure you can PM me, so if you can only put your feedback in the comments, that's fine. No negative, unhelpful comments please. I need some good, valid points one way or the other, solid pros and cons. If someone merely puts, "Draco in Gryffindor is stupid" or "I will quit reading your story if Draco is put in Gryffindor", your comment will not be weighted in my final decision. Like I said, my decision hasn't been made, and the story will all work out one way or the other. Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Happy reading!
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Severus, Hermione, and Draco were all sitting awkwardly around the table in the kitchen. Part of the punishment for them had been to think of what they had done that had gotten a Muggle boy injured, and what they could have done instead that would have prevented all of that from happening. Severus had been patient, letting the children eat their lunch. He noticed that Hermione had her left arm up around her plate again, afraid for some reason that someone was going to take her food, probably because she thought she was going to get in trouble. He put that away from his mind, flagging it for now to talk to her about that behavior later.
Now that both children were done eating, he cleared his throat as he stared at Draco and said in a low voice, "Since it was your idea to attempt a spell, perhaps you can begin by telling all of us what you could have done differently?"
Draco stared down at his plate, as he said down to the table, "I suppose I shouldn't have –"
"Look at me, Draco," Severus demanded quietly.
"I suppose I shouldn't have used magic at all," Draco finished his sentence, looking his godfather in the eyes.
"You 'suppose' you shouldn't have?" Severus repeated, his voice dangerous.
"All right, fine I shouldn't have," Draco settled, crossing his arms, and slumping back into his chair with a humph.
"You are absolutely right that you shouldn't have," Severus said with a hint of venom. "You put your life in danger, Miss Granger's life in danger, and you risked the exposure of our world!"
"Those filthy Muggles wouldn't have hurt us," Draco shot back, the arrogance he had had when he first arrived slowly returning, "and if they had my father would have heard about it and taken care of them!"
"Miss Granger took care of them for you," Severus pointed out, staring unblinkingly at Draco. "Which puts her directly in the path of your dunderheaded mistake, and I will have to tell her guardian."
At this, Hermione shot him a curious glance. He ignored her for the time being. He was going to tell Albus and Minerva, not to get Hermione in trouble, but to tell them of her magical capabilities.
"I'm glad Hermione hurt those Muggles," Draco confessed, "they're only Muggles after all."
"That's a terrible thing to say," Hermione interjected, frowning. "Those Muggles wouldn't have done anything to us if you hadn't almost amputated the one guy's leg!"
"They're Muggles, Hermione," Draco drawled. "I don't understand your defending them and Mudbloods all the time."
Before Hermione could state her equal confusion as to why Draco felt the need to attack Muggles and "Mudbloods" all the time, Severus had abruptly stood, his palms flat on the table, looming over a scared looking Draco as he whispered in his lowest tone yet, "My room…now…."
Looking as though he was about to faint, Draco quickly ran from the kitchen and upstairs. Severus slowly sat back down, eyes still glaring at the door through which his godson had just left through, when he heard a tiny voice ask, "Daddy?"
Severus looked over to see Hermione staring at him with a frightened look. Severus heaved a heavy sigh as he reassured her, "I am all right. I just do not appreciate that word being spoken in my house."
Hermione shuffled her feet for a moment before she asked cautiously, "You don't like the word 'Mudblood'? What is that any way?"
Severus closed his eyes for a moment. He loved his godson with all his heart, but there were times when he was certain that the boy would be the death of him if Hermione didn't beat him to the punch. He wished many times that he could raise Draco, purely so that he would not be negatively influenced as he had been as a young man. When he opened his eyes, Hermione was staring at him, patiently waiting for him to answer her question.
Severus sighed as he sadly explained, "A 'Mudblood' is a foul name used in the magical world to describe someone whose isn't of pure-blood, someone with no magical parents, someone –"
"Like me," Hermione finished quietly.
"Yes," Severus confirmed. "It is a term that many find offensive, including myself. It is a word that is meant to oppress a wonderful group of people who are just as talented as anyone else."
Hermione only nodded. She had to agree with her father that it was an ugly word when someone really thought about it. The thought of mud only brought negative images to mind. Hermione thought about how mud was dirty, messy, it stained your appearance, and it tracked into places where it was unwanted. It was a substance that was to be avoided at all costs if it could be helped. Was this her lot in life? To always be avoided? A stain on an otherwise perfect family or perfect world? Her parents had said that she ruined their perfect family, and now there were wizards in society who felt her kind ruined a perfectly good magical world by being begot by Muggles. Would she ruin this family too?
She was brought out of her thoughts when she saw her father kneel beside her. He cupped her chin, and made her look at him as he whispered, "No bad thoughts, Hermione. You are a wonderful person, and I am so proud that you're my daughter, even if I can't shout it from the rooftops now."
She nodded her head gloomily. She needed some time to herself to think. Giving her father a sad smile, she got up and said barely above a whisper, "I'm going to go to the library. I need some time to think."
"All right, sweetheart," Severus allowed, stepping out of her way to let her pass him. Before she left the kitchen, he said, "Hermione? Never forget that you're with me, always."
"Always," Hermione said with a little more of a cheerful smile before she left.
Severus heaved one more sigh before he put all his energy into his mental defenses. He would need a lot of mental power and stability as he talked to Draco.
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Hermione smiled as she reached up on a library shelf to retrieve one of the books she wasn't meant to have. She had found another copy of "Animagus Training 101: A Beginner's Guide" that had been a few books down from the copy she had gotten confiscated earlier. Even though both her father and grandfather had forbidden her to practice becoming an Animagus until she was fifteen, she had to do something constructive to get her mind off the whole Mudblood topic. She needed to channel her sorrow and angst into something that would help her overall, and show everyone that she wasn't just some helpless and useless Muggleborn who wasn't worthy of the magic that flowed through her. She would show everyone that she was smart, that she was more than capable, and that put up against anyone, pure- or half-blood, she could hold her own.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she opened the book to the first chapter. Before she began, she knew she would need another book that she was pretending to read in case her father came to find her. If he found her with this book, after directly telling her to never let him catch her with a book about Animagi magic again, she feared that he would always accompany her into the library to monitor her book selection. She still wasn't completely used to having someone care about her well-being, so she tended to discount their attempts to protect her.
Shaking her head, she put her cover book next to her on the floor, and then began reading the beginning chapters of the Animagus book. Once she got passed the history, art, and technicality of Animagi, she read that she would need to meditate to clear her mind and try to focus on her inner animal. She let out an exasperated sigh. There was a lot that she would need to clear from her mind. Closing her eyes and getting into a somewhat comfortable position, she began her meditation exercises.
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Severus didn't bother to knock as he burst into his bedroom. It was his bedroom after all. When he entered, he caught Draco staring at a hand-drawn picture hanging on his wall. Severus paled slightly as he realized that it was the picture that Hermione had given him of the two of them holding hands. Draco spun around, surprised at the sudden entrance of his godfather. Gathering his courage, he asked, "Is that you and Hermione…holding hands?"
Lying quickly and smoothly he replied casually, "It was a peace offering of sorts when she first met me. She drew one for Minerva as well."
Draco nodded, but then narrowed his eyes at the picture. Severus waited for him to say something more about the picture, but when the boy remained silent, Severus said, "We need to talk about your choice of language while you are under my roof."
"My father says 'Mudblood' all the time," Draco said defensively. "He never takes offense when I say it."
"He may not," Severus stated, "but I do, and currently you are with me, not your father."
"Are you mad because I said it in front of Hermione?" Draco asked incredulously. "She doesn't even know what it is! She was just as confused at the table as she was when I said it to her earlier."
"It doesn't matter if Miss Granger doesn't know what it is," Severus countered, reminding himself to reel his anger back to a reasonable level. "I know what it is, and I do not allow people to say that word in my presence."
Draco surveyed Severus with as much scrutiny as a ten-year-old could as he asked, "Do you support…Muggleborns, Uncle Severus?"
Not allowing himself to express any emotion, Severus stared at Draco as he answered, "I will be honest with you, Draco. I support all witches and wizards until they prove themselves otherwise to me. Some of the most incompetent fools I have ever met have been pure-blood wizards, riding on their blood status, money, or whatever else to get them through life." Here Severus was thinking of James Potter.
"Then how come you act as though you agree with my father on the status of blood?" Draco asked, arching his eyebrow that was very much like Malfoy senior.
"One, I would rather not argue with your father," Severus answered, somewhat truthfully. "Second, I would be most displeased if he were to become so cross with me over the subject that he forbade me to see you."
"Really?" Draco asked, his voice high with hope. "You would miss me?"
"Of course," Severus said, placing his large hand on the boy's shoulder. "I will again be honest with you when I say that I do not agree with your father on all of his views. However, that does not mean that I dislike your father or your family. I also do not want to tell you that you should go against your father, but I would appreciate if you respected my rules while in my house. That means you will not say 'Mudblood'. If you must refer to Muggleborns, you will call them Muggleborns. Am I understood?"
Draco nodded before he asked with genuine concern, "Do you disprove of my father's views?"
Severus frowned at him. He was trying to decide how much more honest he wanted to be with Draco about his feelings towards his father. He had already said more against Lucius Malfoy in five minutes than in all the years he had known the man. However, he had more at stake here with the safety of his own family, and his family did include Draco. But shouldn't that make him want to kiss up to the elder Malfoy more? Now that he had a daughter who was Draco's age though, he realized how impressionable the boy was, and if Severus was going to make a lasting, positive change in Draco, he had to do it fast as he was running out of time. Soon, Draco and Hermione would be teenagers thinking they know everything, and Severus' words may be ignored. Severus had to start taking some risks if he was going to save his godson.
"It is not my place to disprove of your father, he is a grown man," Severus answered carefully. "However, I do not share many of your father's views. As you grow older, I would implore you to form your own opinions of the world. You may find some of those opinions align closer to your father, or you may find that they do not. Do not be afraid to be yourself, no matter how unpopular."
Draco frowned at him, shuffling his feet while he thought over his godfather's words. After a while, Severus thought that maybe Draco was uncomfortable talking to him now that he had expressed that his feelings varied vastly from Lucius' when Draco suddenly asked, now staring down at the ground, "Would you still support me? Would you still miss me?"
"If what?" Severus asked, gently squeezing Draco's shoulder.
"If I supported my father's views?" the boy asked. "Or if I formed my own?"
"If your views turn out to be that of your father's," Severus began in a low rumble, "then I would disagree with you. Also, I will always miss you when you are not here, regardless of your opinions. However, if your opinions turn out to be your own, then depending on what opinions you form, I will support you as long as they do not oppose my worldviews."
"What if my views were like yours?" Draco asked hopefully.
"I will not lie, it would be easier to support you if we had agreeing beliefs," Severus answered.
"I don't know if I can choose between you or my father though," Draco said with a slight whine.
Severus winced slightly at his whining as he clarified to the distraught child, "Draco, I am not asking that you choose between me or your father. That is not fair to you. All I am saying is that it is all right to explore the world, and form your own opinions of it. I would support you in that endeavor. Through your experiences, you will mold your own feelings and ideas, and they may change many times as you mature. Do not be afraid to be your own man."
"Were you your own man, Uncle Severus?" Draco asked innocently.
Severus' black eyes stared into Draco's grey ones as he said painfully, "No, and to this day it is one of my biggest regrets. I hope you are the better and stronger man in the end than I was. I was easily swayed and it cost me dearly."
Suddenly, Severus felt a small pair of arms hug him. Severus knew that Lucius was not as affectionate towards Draco as Narcissa was, so Draco's displays of affection towards him made him realize how safe Draco felt with him. He may have overlooked this action if he hadn't been given affection by Hermione who showed her trust in people by hugging them as well. Severus patted the top of Draco's head as he said, "You are a good boy, Draco. I do not know how often your parents tell you this. I look forward to seeing the young man you grow into."
Severus was pleased to see the large smile that Draco bestowed upon him at his praise. Few people got to see a genuine Draco smile. The corners of Severus' mouth quirked up slightly as he rumbled, "I am glad we had this chat. We should probably go and find Miss Granger."
"Uncle Severus?" Draco asked suddenly, "Do you think it would be all right if Hermione spent the night?"
"Do you like Hermione?" Severus asked, testing Draco's reaction when he said her first name instead of her surname.
Draco didn't seem to notice as he said hurriedly, while turning a few shades of pink, "Well, ya, I mean, she's all right…for a girl."
Severus snorted at his godson's comment, gently pushing the boy out of his room as he said, "Well, you will have to ask her. If she wants to, then I will have to inform Minerva to see if it is all right with her. If Minerva gives her consent, then I have no issues with two brats destroying my home."
"Hey!" Draco protested half-heartedly, shaking his head at his godfather's jab. "We haven't destroyed your home yet!"
"Key word being 'yet'," Severus sneered.
Rolling his eyes up at Severus, Draco ran ahead of him and down the stairs as Severus yelled after him to stop running in the house.
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Hermione was completely frustrated. She couldn't calm down enough to focus on anything, especially when she tried to focus on nothing! The book made it clear that she had to clear her mind because only then would the incantation work that would enable her to see her inner animal. If her mind wasn't clear, then the animal would be distorted. If the animal was distorted, then whatever she tried to change into would be distorted. The book had made it clear that that was how young – and even older wizards – had transfigured into something that was a mixture of man and animal, and they had had to be hospitalized to slowly transfigure themselves back into a man.
Her issue was that every time she closed her eyes, and tried to focus on calmness and emptiness, her mind would almost always drift back to how she wasn't good enough, and therefore, wouldn't be able to become an Animagus. If she failed at this, then she was doomed to fail all future endeavors. If she failed, would her family still want her? Or would she be deemed unworthy to practice magic?
Her eyes snapped open, and she let out an aggravated sigh. Deciding that she couldn't meditate any longer, she quickly hid the Animagus book amongst the shelves, so that hopefully only she would be able to find it again. She threw herself down on the sofa, disappointed that she couldn't even fulfill the first step in becoming an Animagus, and it didn't even involve magic!
Just as she opened the book she had been using as a cover, thinking that she may as well try and read it, the door to the library opened. Hermione peered over the back of the sofa just in time to see Draco running towards her, and flung himself down next to her.
"Uncle Severus said you could stay the night if you wanted!" Draco blurted, panting as he stared at her expectantly.
Hermione grinned as she said, "OK, I wouldn't mind staying!"
Just then Severus walked into the library as well, albeit more calmly than Draco had. He had arrived in time to hear Hermione's answer, and said, "Then we will need to inform your guardian."
As she had earlier at the lunch table, Hermione gave him a puzzled look. He jerked his head back as a sign to follow him as he led her into the living room, Draco following closely on her heels. She followed her father to the fireplace, and stopped abruptly as Severus spun on his heel, the pot of Floo powder outstretched towards her.
"Please Floo to McGonagall Manor and tell your guardian the situation," Severus drawled, slightly emphasizing the destination to discreetly assist her in getting to where she needed to go.
Hermione nodded, grabbed a handful of powder, and stepped into the grate. "McGonagall Manor!" she cried and threw the powder down and was gone in a whirl of green.
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Minerva was in the kitchen getting herself a cup of tea. She preferred to do much of her own cooking and cleaning while she was home on holidays, much to her house elves dismay. At times, she liked doing tasks the Muggle way. Growing up with a Muggle father and a mother that pretended to be a Muggle for years, made Minerva just as capable using Muggle methods to get jobs done as she was capable using magic to do those same jobs. She had just put the kettle on the stove when she heard the fire roar to life. Realizing someone had come through the Floo, Minerva quickly entered the living room to find Hermione stepping out of the grate.
"Kitten!" Minerva cried as she hurried over to Hermione, wandlessly banishing the soot from the girl's clothes. "Is everything all right?"
"Mimi!" Hermione said happily, giving the elder lady a big hug. "Yes, everything is fine. I just needed to come over for a bit to keep our cover."
"Ah," Minerva said, pushing Hermione towards the kitchen when she heard the kettle begin to whistle. "Come with me and tell me how the visit is going. How's your father handling everything? How are you handling it?"
"It was a rocky start," Hermione confessed, taking the chair opposite the stove so she could watch her grandmother, "but we're both handling it all right I suppose. At first Draco was super annoying, but then he taught me how to fly a broom!"
Minerva chuckled despite herself as she walked to the cupboard to get another tea cup for Hermione. "Draco Malfoy taught you to fly? Had you ever been on a broom before? How did you like it?"
"It was actually pretty fun once I got over my fear of heights," Hermione recounted excitedly. "It was my first time flying, and when he asked if I had ever flown at Dad's house, I was confused by what he meant. He had me confused pretty much all morning with another term he was using. I don't think Dad likes that word though."
"Oh? And what word is that?" Minerva asked pouring the hot water into their cups.
"Draco kept talking about 'Mudbloods'," Hermione told her.
Minerva placed the kettle back on the stove with a sigh. If she could protect her kitten from the prejudices of the magical world, she would. She knew Hermione would come across the term eventually, she just didn't think it would be this soon. Putting a tea bag in each of their cups, and turning towards the table, Minerva asked, "Did your father explain to you what that term meant?"
"Yes, he explained it to me," Hermione reassured her quietly, allowing Minerva to set the full tea cup in front of her.
Minerva grasped the young girl's hand as she said in a no-nonsense tone, "Don't let the pure-bloods get you down. You are just as capable of magic as they are."
Hermione nodded as she said quietly, "I think Draco saw that earlier."
"What do you mean?"
Hermione quickly glanced at her grandmother who was peering at her over her square spectacles. After a moment of silence, Minerva said, "I'm waiting, Hermione."
"We were attacked by a group of teenage Muggles earlier because Draco wanted to use magic," Hermione explained hurriedly under her grandmother's scrutiny.
Minerva's eyes went wide as she cried, "Good heavens! Are you all right?! Did they hurt you?"
"No, they –"
"Is someone hurt?" A deep voice said from the living room. A moment later, Albus walked through the kitchen door.
"Granddad!" Hermione squealed running to hug her grandfather.
"Hello, kitten!" Albus gushed, accepting her hug and returning one of his own.
"Is it after one o'clock already?" Minerva asked looking at her wrist watch. "I thought your meeting with the school governors would have lasted longer than this."
"You must be mad! Are you wishing me to an early grave, Tabby?" Albus asked, looking at her disbelievingly at the thought of the governor's meeting lasting a second longer than it did.
"No, you old drama king," Minerva explained, "I am merely stating that I am pleasantly surprised to have my husband home earlier than I thought I would have him."
Albus smiled at Hermione as he made himself a cup of tea, and sat at the table with his two favorite girls. "Now, what did I hear about someone being hurt?"
"No one was hurt," Hermione clarified, "well, I wasn't hurt. I was just telling Mimi about how Draco's visit is going."
"Ah, yes!" Albus said. "And, how is it?"
"It's been educational," Hermione said cryptically, causing Albus to look to Minerva for clarification.
"Hermione has learned the term 'Mudblood' from young Mr. Malfoy," Minerva said, not trying to disguise her disgust at the word. "And she was telling me that she and Draco were having issues with a group of Muggle teenagers when Draco tried to use magic."
Hermione noticed that Albus paled. He shot her a look before angrily asking, "What happened? Were you hurt, Hermione?"
"No," Hermione insisted, shrinking back at his sudden anger. "Draco accidentally hurt one of the Muggles, and then I may have accidentally hurt the rest of them…."
Albus and Minerva stared at her. Suddenly Albus barked, "Explain."
"Draco told Dad that he was trying to use the Severing Charm as we were exploring the woods. There was a lot of underbrush, and we couldn't get through it easily. When Draco couldn't get the spell to work, he got angry, and he accidentally cut a boy's leg as he and his friends were walking down the rode. It was bleeding badly. We tried to run, but two of the Muggle kids caught us, and drug us over the wall at the edge of the property, and out of Dad's wards. He came to us just in time to see me accidentally use magic. They were circling us, demanding we fix their friend's leg, but we didn't know how. I yelled at them to leave us alone, and they were all thrown backwards. I think I may have knocked them unconscious. Dad fixed the boy's leg, did another spell over all of them, and then he took us back up to the house. I've never seen him so angry."
Albus was examining Hermione over the tops of his half-moon spectacles, his blue eyes seeming to have gone a shade darker. Minerva was gripping her cup tighter than was necessary, her lips pursed into a thin line. It seemed like an eternity before Albus said, sounding ancient, "That could have ended far worse than it did. I do not have to remind you that Muggles are just as capable of hurting us as we are of hurting them."
Hermione quickly nodded. She understood completely.
"How was Draco even able to use a Severing charm?" Minerva asked her husband. Albus looked pointedly at Hermione to answer Minerva's question.
"He said he took it from his house. I guess it's a spare wand he has been practicing with," Hermione answered.
Albus abruptly stood from the table and went to look out the kitchen window. Looking worriedly at her husband, Minerva said, "Hermione, let's move to the living room for a minute."
Hermione immediately obeyed, not even bothering to say anything to her grandfather as they left. Minerva ushered her out, and over to the fireplace before she quietly asked the girl, "What did your father send you for? You mentioned something about keeping our cover?"
"Draco is staying the night," Hermione explained, "and he had asked Dad if I could stay over too. Dad sent me here to get your 'permission'. Dad is fine with it if I want to stay. I am fine with staying. Despite the bad start, I think Draco and I could become good friends."
Minerva made some sort of noise that was between a snort and a groan. Looking over her shoulder back at the door to the kitchen Minerva said, "I believe it would be best to stay at your house while I try to discover what is wrong with your grandfather. You'll need this though to make a sleepover more believable."
Minerva grabbed six pillows from around the living room. She transfigured one pillow into a duffle bag, and the others she transfigured into clothes. Once she was finished, she hugged Hermione to her and pleaded, "Please try to stay out of trouble? For your sake as well as your family's?"
Hermione smiled up at her grandmother as she honestly replied, "I'll try."
"Have fun, and tell your father I said hello," Minerva said before holding out the pot of Floo powder. "Your destination is Prince Manor."
Hermione nodded, grabbed a handful of Floo powder, and yelled, "Prince Manor!"
Once Minerva was sure she was gone, she marched back into the kitchen to find Albus still staring out the window. She crossed her arms, her lips a thin line as she asked him, "Care to elaborate on your sudden change of personality, Mr. Hyde?"
She saw Albus visibly slump, refusing to face her as he answered in a weary voice, "I told you about Ariana, and the Muggles who had tormented her because she had exhibited magic. It ruined her life. It tore our family apart. For one horrible moment, I saw that same thing happening to Hermione."
Minerva felt sorry for Albus. His life had never been the same after the attack on his sister. She knew it was an incident that still haunted him. Not even she knew all the details surrounding his upbringing and Ariana's eventual death. She knew it caused Albus great anguish to think or talk about his sister as she had had to comfort him late into the night many times after he had woken from terrible nightmares, and he utterly refused to discuss their content.
Minerva wrapped her arms around Albus from behind, offering her strength for him to lean on. They stood that way for a couple of minutes before Albus turned to face her, wrapping her in a hug as well, the couple drawing comfort from each other.
"I'm sorry, Tabby," Albus said hoarsely.
"You needn't apologize to me, Albus," Minerva said gently. "I understand why you are upset, but Hermione does not. You need to focus on the fact that she is safe."
Albus sighed through his nose then said, "I will explain it to her at a later time."
"Well, if you aren't going to give her some sort of explanation," Minerva said exasperated, "then you at least need to let her know that you weren't mad at her."
"I will when Draco returns home," Albus appeased her. "I worry that my annoyance with his father may accidentally transfer to him if I see him. I have a feeling that his father will be a great thorn in my side when his son attends Hogwarts."
"Oh?" Minerva asked, raising an eyebrow.
Albus reached for the tea cups, wandlessly reheating them as he said, "Let us talk in the living room as we'll need a comfortable place to chat, and soft material to bang our heads against."
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After her awkward, brief visit at her grandparent's home, Hermione proceeded to have a wonderful evening. Since she had returned from McGonagall Manor, she and Draco had been busy exploring the house and grounds, but only after receiving a threatening lecture from her father to not leave the grounds again. She had been glad when he had allowed her and Draco to fly until an hour before dinner, while he supervised from the back porch. He had only had a slight heart attack when Hermione had suddenly dropped out of the sky a few feet before catching herself. She and Draco had laughed about it. Severus, on the other hand, had summoned a calming draught from his personal stores.
They had had an enjoyable dinner, Draco and Hermione arguing and laughing as though they were kindred spirits. Severus was pleased to see that since his talk with the boy earlier that he had respected the rules, and hadn't even bothered to mention Muggleborns at all. Draco also seemed more relaxed as though the talk with his godfather had finally allowed him to drop the charade he had been forced to play by his parents. Hermione had also noticed the change in Draco's demeanor. She was relieved that he had stopped talking about "Mudbloods", and he seemed to be more at ease. She noticed that even her father was calmer now than he had been all day. She had no idea that his calmness was medically induced.
After dinner, Severus had taken them down to his lab. Hermione had never been down to this part of the house since her father had told her under no uncertain terms that she was not to be in the lab without him. Draco seemed to be bored. Hermione watched and listened to her father as he prepared ingredients, combined, and simmered the ingredients in the cauldron, and listened as he explained the properties of the potion. It was a simple Pepper-Up potion that he was brewing for the Infirmary, so he allowed Hermione to assist him. Draco wasn't paying any attention to what Severus was saying, so he didn't notice the father and daughter relationship that was growing mere feet from him.
Before the children knew it, it was time for bed. Severus had snuck upstairs before making the children get ready for bed, and spelled Hermione's room to make it look comfortable, but not as though she lived at Prince Manor full time. He shrunk some of Hermione's belongings and hid them, and concealed her drawings of her family. Before he concealed them, he examined each picture. The corners of his mouth quirked up as he looked at the picture of him, of Minerva and Albus together, of Minerva as a cat, of Hermione by herself, and of him and her holding hands, the duplicate of which was hanging in his room. He paused as he looked back at the picture Hermione had drawn of herself. He noticed that the more he looked at it, the less it seemed to accurately portray his little girl. She had drawn herself stick thin, with crazy hair, and large front teeth. She was a smaller figure than any of the other figures in her other drawings. He thought that maybe that was because she was depicting herself as a child until he noticed that the drawing of Minerva as a cat was bigger than she was. The caricature of her seemed to be shrinking away if that was possible. He put this on his mental list of things to discuss with her along with her safeguarding her food.
As a nice gesture he turned her bed down for her. As he stepped around to the other side of her bed, he heard one of the floorboards squeak. Examining the board, he noticed that it looked slightly out of place. Waving his wand to pry the board up, he saw a small stash pile of food. He waved his wand, summoning the food to him which consisted of three pieces of fruit. This was the third item on his mental list.
Shrinking the fruit and putting it in his pocket, he headed downstairs to the living room to gather two rowdy children, and shuttle them off to bed. Both moaned and pleaded with him to allow them to stay awake longer, but he would not budge. He wasn't known to be a pushover at Hogwarts, and he wouldn't be a pushover to his children in his own home.
"Bed…now…," he said in a deadly whisper that had both rascals fleeing.
A second later, Hermione returned and asked him quietly, "Where am I sleeping?"
"In your room," Severus answered. "I have charmed it so that it looks slightly different. I have also shrunk some of your possessions, but they are secured in my pocket. I will return them to you once Draco returns home."
"All right," Hermione agreed easily. "Are you coming up to say goodnight?"
"Yes, sweetheart, I am," Severus told her.
Hermione beamed at him, grabbed the duffle bag from the corner of the room that her Mimi had given her earlier, and then ran up to her room to get ready for bed.
Ten minutes later, Severus walked upstairs to Draco's room first which was the bedroom beside his that Hermione had been sent to earlier. Draco was already in bed, bedside lamp on, staring up at the ceiling. Severus sat on the edge of his bed, and asked, "Aside from earlier, did you enjoy your time here today?"
"Yes!" Draco said without hesitation. "It's nice to hang out with someone that Mum and Dad didn't choose. She has different ideas than I do, but I still think she's cool."
Severus' mouth quirked up. He hoped that Hermione's amazing ability to change peoples' minds and hearts positively affected Draco in a way he never could.
"I'm pleased," Severus told him, bringing the covers up around him. "Good night, Draco. Sleep well. Also, I am proud of you. I noticed that you took our talk to heart. Thank you."
Draco beamed as he rolled over, and said sleepily, "Thanks, Uncle Severus. Good night."
Severus stood, and left Draco's room, softly closing the door. Next, he headed to Hermione's room. His eyes softened as he saw her sitting up, holding the new storybook they had started. As he closed her door and locked it, he put up a Silencing Charm as well. He climbed onto the bed, lying up next to her. He put his arm around her as he asked, "How has your day been, sweetheart?"
"Great!" Hermione beamed up at him, like how Draco had a few minutes ago. "I especially liked brewing potions with you. Can we do that again soon? Also, can Draco come over again? Oh, can he come to the zoo with us?!"
Severus snorted. "As the Potion's Master of Hogwarts, it is inevitable that I will be brewing potions again this summer holiday. Depending on what potion I am working on, you are more than welcome to assist me. As for Draco coming over again, that is dependent on how his parents feel. I am fine with it. Also, if Draco goes to the zoo, Mimi and Granddad will be unable to accompany us."
"Oh, ya," Hermione remembered. With a sudden excitement, she asked, "Can we go twice? Once with Draco, and again with Mimi and Granddad?"
"Once," Severus said firmly. "Before long Mimi, Granddad, and myself will have to start preparing for the new school year."
"OK, fine," Hermione said, pouting slightly, turning her puppy-dog eyes up at him.
Trying to resist, he said, "Let's not have any of that, please? Would you like me to read a chapter or no?"
"Yes, please!" Hermione perked up. Before he could start though she asked, "What if I have a nightmare? I don't want Draco to know I have nightmares."
"Excellent point," Severus said. "I wish for that to remain between us as well; however, I want to know if you do have one tonight."
Severus reached into his robe and pulled out his wand. Waving it over Hermione, he muttered something under his breath, and then put his wand away. Giving him a questioning look, she asked, "What was that?"
"An alert," Severus explained, "much like the alert I put on you when you were in the hospital. It will alert me, and me alone, if you are specifically having a nightmare."
"All right," Hermione said, and she cuddled into Severus' side as he began reading.
It took him fifteen minutes to finish the chapter, and when he had, he noticed Hermione was asleep. Gently rising from her side, he tucked her in, and kissed the top of her head. "Good night, Hermione. Sleep well. I love you."
With that, he turned out the lights and walked out of the room.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Severus wearily laid down in his bed, ready to get a good night's rest. Again, he was feeling a lot older than thirty, but he figured that being a father would undoubtedly age him. He would just have to accept his fate. After a few minutes, he had fallen into a deep sleep.
However, his neighbor next door hadn't. Draco had gone to sleep for a little bit, but now he was wide awake for some reason. He wondered if Hermione was asleep. Silently, he snuck out of his room, and crept down the hall towards Hermione's.
He softly knocked on the door, and whispered just loud enough for the occupant of the room to hear, "Hermione? Hermione? Granger, are you awake?"
After a moment of not hearing anything, he dejectedly turned back to his room, and then he heard her bedroom door open. "Draco? Is everything OK?"
"Great you're awake!" Draco exclaimed, sliding past her into her room.
"Well, I am now," Hermione said grumpily. "What do you want?"
"I can't sleep," Draco explained.
"OK," Hermione said slowly, "and how can I help you?"
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to do something?" he asked hopefully. "Like go down to Uncle Severus' lab and make a potion?"
"Are you insane?" Hermione asked him sharply. "I am more than certain that he has put wards up around his lab. We would barely get down the stairs before he was onto us and possibly killing us! They'd never find us because our bodies would be used as potion ingredients!"
"Don't be so dramatic, Granger," Malfoy said, slightly deflated at her outright opposition to his plan. "Look, I'm not sleepy, and I don't really want to go to sleep."
"How come?" Hermione asked.
"Because the sooner I go to sleep, the sooner morning comes," Draco began, shuffling a bit, "and the sooner morning comes, the sooner I have to go home."
Hermione stared at him for a moment before she asked, "Do you not have a good home life?"
"It's all right," Draco said, and that was all he offered on the subject.
Taking a chance, Hermione asked him, "Do you sometimes just wish you could run away from all of it? Be able to escape, and run free?"
Draco narrowed his eyes at her as he considered her questions. Finally, he said, "Sometimes I wish I could leave for a bit, have some time to myself. Why?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him too before she beckoned him to sit on her bed with her. She whispered to him just in case her father was in the hallway for some odd reason, "I have been practicing becoming an Animagus."
Draco blinked at her as he said, "And you got mad at me for wanting to make a potion? That is incredibly advanced magic! Only a few witches and wizards are registered Animagi."
"Says the boy who used a wand to perform a spell!" Hermione said defensively. "I'm not at a stage where I am using magic. First, you must meditate, and clear your mind so that when you perform the incantation, your inner animal is clearly exposed to you. The meditation is hard enough!"
Draco didn't say anything so Hermione asked nervously, "So, do you want to learn to become an Animagus with me? If you don't, please don't tell anyone that I'm learning on my own. I already got in trouble for it earlier by my guardian. She's one of the registered Animagi. She's a cat."
Draco thought about it, and said, "All right, I'm in. This could be fun, and it would be cool to be able to transform into an animal. Also, how hard can meditating be?"
"Well, if you don't completely empty your mind, then when you try to transform into the animal, you'll come out looking pretty gross," Hermione explained, crossing her legs, and preparing herself to do some meditations.
"Oh," Draco said simply, also getting into a comfortable position to meditate.
After a few minutes, Hermione heard him mutter, "Stupid thoughts…quit thinking!"
She smiled. Twenty minutes later, both children were fast asleep on Hermione's bed.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Severus woke fully rested. He stretched, mentally preparing himself for the day. This morning Lucius Malfoy would be here to take Draco home. He knew Hermione would be disappointed, but for her, he would ask for Draco to come and visit again. He was grateful that she and Draco had gotten along so well. He had been afraid that Draco would keep her at arm's length, making her question herself even more than she already did. Since he had had to keep her at a distance while Draco was visiting, he decided he would gently wake her so that he could reassure her some more that he still wanted her to be his daughter, in case there was any doubt.
After he had gotten dressed, he walked past Draco's room, but didn't hear anyone stirring inside, so he assumed Draco was still asleep. He would wake the boy after he had awoken Hermione. Arriving outside his daughter's room, he knocked gently, and then quietly pushed the door open.
Up to this moment, Severus considered himself a man who could hide his true feelings in less than desirable situations and performed well under pressure. He had kept the Dark Lord out of his mind for Merlin's sake! However, at the sight of seeing a boy lying near the foot of his daughter's bed, even if that boy was his godson, and he knew in his heart that nothing had happened, he was sure that he would die of a heart attack. He found himself frozen in the door frame, unable to move or breathe or think. All his mind computed was that there was a boy in his daughter's bed. A BOY IN HIS DAUGHTER'S BED!
Crossing Hermione's room swiftly and silently, he violently shook Draco awake. Startled and frightened at the abrupt and rude awakening, he became wide awake as his eyes met the dark, menacing ones of Severus.
"Uncle Severus!" he exclaimed, his cry waking Hermione up as well.
"Your room…get ready…go down to breakfast…now," Severus said in a low, venomous tone that left no room for disobedience.
After watching Draco scramble from the room, tripping once in his haste to get to the safety of his bedroom, Severus quickly turned to Hermione, his nostrils flared as he waited for her to explain.
"He came to my room last night, we talked, and then we just fell asleep talking!" Hermione said in a rush, partially lying to him. When he didn't respond, Hermione hesitantly asked, "Daddy? Are you all right?"
"How was…why did…did he…" Severus rambled in fragmented thoughts. "Nothing happened?"
"What would have happened?" Hermione asked innocently.
Severus wasn't touching that at all. He knew one day that talk would come, but he couldn't bring himself to have The Talk now. He put his head in his hands as he wearily sank down on her bed. Hermione stared at him wide-eyed, uncertain what to do in this situation. Finally, Severus raised his head to look at her as he asked, "I hope this is not going to be a regular occurrence. I have done many things in my life that most would consider life threatening. I didn't know what life threatening truly was until I saw…that…." Severus couldn't say what he had seen. He knew he was being irrational, but just the idea of a boy being in his daughter's bed was enough to convince his thoughts to turn to dark places.
"Daddy, he just came in here to talk, and we fell asleep talking," Hermione told him. "Honest!"
"I'm afraid that is what you will tell me as you get older," Severus muttered to himself. Sighing he said so that Hermione could hear him, "When I woke this morning, I was rested and feeling good. Now I feel as though I could go back to bed. I need coffee."
Hermione didn't say anything. She didn't understand what the big deal was, it was just Draco. Severus stared at her for a minute before he told her, "You and Draco are lucky that it was Draco in your room. Had it been another boy, he would be dead right now. For my sake and sanity, please no more boys in your bedroom. Anywhere at any time. You can't date until I'm dead anyway, so no more boys. Ever. Period."
Hermione wasn't interested in dating. She could honor that request from her father. To hear him talk though, it wouldn't be long before she killed him anyway. She may not have to wait long at all. Feeling her father rise from her bed, she looked at him as he said, "Get ready. Breakfast is downstairs."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Breakfast was a quiet affair. The only sounds that could be heard were the thumps of mugs and glasses on the table, and the clinking of cutlery on plates and bowls. No one made eye contact, no one said a word. Once breakfast was over, and not too soon for everyone's liking, they all settled into the living room quietly, occupying themselves with their own activities. Hermione and Draco would glance at each other and shake their heads or roll their eyes.
After a while, Severus' deep voice rumbled in the silence, "I am going to ask your father if you could return to the Manor a couple more times before school starts."
"You want me to come back, Uncle Severus?" Draco asked in disbelief, sharing an incredulous look with Hermione.
"Of course," Severus said, "you are always welcome here. However, the new rule is that neither of you are to enter the other's room after curfew. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal," both children said at the same time.
Severus nodded, and then asked Draco, "Have you packed your belongings so they are ready when your father comes to retrieve you?"
"I'll run upstairs for my bag," Draco said, glad for the excuse to leave the room.
Severus and Hermione sat in silence a while longer, and suddenly the fireplace glowed green and roared to life. Severus stood immediately, and Hermione followed her father's example. She was instantly intimidated by the man who emerged from the grate.
Draco resembled his father quite a bit. The man's eyes were grey, his hair long and blonde. He stood straight-laced as high society had taught him, and he looked down his nose just as his privilege had allowed him. He carried a cane with the head of a snake as the handle, created from pure silver, its eyes were emeralds. His robes were heavy and dark and finely tailored as they told of his abundant wealth and class.
The man she knew to be Lucius Malfoy banished the soot from his robes with a wave of his hand. He turned to Severus first, greeting him with a silky voice that Hermione would have thought belonged to a snake.
"Severus, how are you?" Lucius asked, his eyes boring into Severus' black ones.
"I am well," Severus answered politely, "and yourself, Lucius?"
"I am excellent as the party last night achieved what I wanted it to," Lucius said with a crooked smile. "The minister is eating out of the palm of my hand."
"Lucius, this is Hermione Granger," Severus quickly introduced her before Lucius divulged any other schemes the party had been a façade for. "She is Minerva McGonagall's ward."
"Charmed," Lucius said as he gently shook Hermione's extended hand. "I am Lucius Malfoy. Draco's father."
"Pleasure to meet you, sir," Hermione stated politely as her father had, inclining her head slightly.
Surveying Hermione, Lucius asked Severus, not taking his eyes off her, "Was Draco's behavior acceptable?"
"Quite," Severus answered, beginning to feel uneasy at the look Lucius was giving his daughter. "As always, his manners were impeccable."
"Excellent," Lucius said, at last turning to look at Severus.
"If it is possible, I would like for Draco to visit again before the school year starts," Severus asked, fulfilling his promise to the children.
"I believe that could be arranged," Lucius agreed. "After all, it is also nice for Draco to have someone his age to converse with."
"Yes," Severus agreed, still uneasy. "They did get along nicely."
Before anymore could be said, Draco entered the living room, his bag in his hand. Draco's demeanor changed instantly from a carefree youth to one whose every move was monitored and critiqued. Lucius held out his hand to his son as he said, "Come, Draco. I need to return to the Manor. However, your godfather has asked that you return for another visit this summer. You will see your friend again."
Hermione and Draco shared a quick glance as Draco said dutifully, "Yes, father. Thank you, Uncle Severus for allowing me to stay. Nice to meet you, Hermione."
Hermione nodded and Severus placed his hand reassuringly on Draco's shoulder before Lucius gently took Draco by the back of the neck, and led him into the grate. Lucius shouted his destination as he threw down Floo powder, and then in a flash they were gone.
Both Severus and Hermione released their breath they hadn't realized they had been holding. They exchanged a worried glance, both concerned with Lucius' behavior before Severus went to Hermione and gave her a strong hug.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After Lucius had left Draco in his mother's care, Lucius excused himself to the Ministry of Magic. As he quickly walked through the halls, witches and wizards moved out of his way, allowing him easy access to the office of the Minister of Magic. He wrapped on the door three times before he was allowed entry. Sitting at the receptionist's desk was Dolores Umbridge.
"Dolores, I am surprised it is you out here at the desk," Lucius said, raising his eyebrows.
"I am merely sitting in while the receptionist is at an early lunch," Dolores simpered as she batted her eyes, daring him to say more.
"I am here to see Fudge," Lucius stated authoritatively.
"He has other appointments now," Dolores said, smiling widely at him.
Glaring at her, he said again, "I am here to see Fudge…now."
Narrowing her eyes, she waved her wand, sending a memo to Fudge's desk. A moment later, a memo flew back to Umbridge. She read it quickly and simpered, "The Minister will see you now."
Lucius bowed his head to her, and marched into Fudge's office. The Minister was behind his desk, scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment. He glanced up when he heard his office door close, and stood as Lucius crossed over to his desk.
"Lucius!" Fudge welcomed him. "Welcome! Have a seat! What can I do for you?"
Lucius seated himself, and said, "I need information on an underage witch."
"Lucius," Fudge spluttered as he reseated himself, "you know that young people are a protected class. Besides what information would the Ministry possibly have on a child?"
"I want to know who this young lady is who is associating with my son," Lucius said smoothly. "Call me a concerned parent, if you will."
"Understandable, understandable," Fudge muttered, opening his desk drawer, and pulling out another blank piece of parchment. Dabbing his quill in his inkwell, he asked, "What is this child's name?"
"Miss Hermione Granger."