AN: This is for all the readers especially the ones that commented, Thank you for inspiring me to continuing to writing. I hope that it was worth the wait and that you leave a review ;)
Blaise landed them right outside the front entrance of the Manor. Although it was a bright sunny day the building exuded darkness which was not solely due to the black bricks. The building rose into the sky for four levels peaking into towers. Hermione's feet crunched the white pebbles under her feet as she turned to look at the green hedges that led back to the gate. No escape
As the building began to rise up over her and the hedges began leaning in she was frozen in place. Her heart began to race and she began gasping for breath.
"Hermione!"
She was snapped back to the sunny pebbled laneway by Blaise shaking her shoulder. The Manor and hedges weren't leaning in on her, Blaise had moved in to stare at her face and blocked out the sun.
"Breathe Hermione. You're fine." He stroked her cheek and moved some hair from her face.
It was hard not the recede back into the nightmarish memories when she was so close to the source of it. This place personified the terror that had haunted Harry and his friends. To stand before it and smell the ash from the fireplaces and the damp wood from the forest was like dropping into a pensieve of that night.
"Sorry Blaise. Just give me a moment to adjust"
He held her hand companionably while she took a few breaths and prepared herself. She drew comfort from the familiar pool of magic in her stomach and the memories of her previous strength in battle. She was not weak and knew that once she conquered her fear she would be stronger for it.
"Let's go." She walked up to pretentiously large black door and banged on it with all her anger. Stupid Malfoy making her come here. I'll show him that I'm not going to put up with his attitude
The door swung open slowly as a small house elf with a robust figure stood proudly in the space made.
"Yes?" He asked in a small voice
"Hello. I am here to talk to Draco Malfoy. Is he here?" She asked politely, but not without strength. Blaise stood to her left quietly.
The elf turned to him, "Mister Zabini, how lovely to see you again. The Malfoy's are in the den." The elf passed a glance to Hermione, "Your guest may join you"
Hermione sniffed at the obvious diminishment of her importance. I'm definitely going to bring it to Malfoy's attention.
When the elf stepped out of the way to allow for them to enter, Hermione nearly tripped over her surprise at the interior. The dark bricks were still prominent but it was obvious that an attempt to lighten the overall effect had been made. The columns where now a white marble and the same white marble was interspersed through the black and grey brick walls. The ceiling still had the intricate stone detailing she remembered but it was now white. The large black marble fireplace had a fire burning which with the large ornate chandelier added a gentle glow to the room. The mantel was so ornate that Hermione took a step in its direction to quickly admire the carved columns of magical creatures and human faces.
"Hermione?" Blasie and the elf had paused across the room at one of its exits, which looked to lead into a high arched hallway.
Opps. She walked quickly over to them. They started on their way before she reached them, she was thankful because she was able to continue her admiration in silence. She was surprised that the Manor smelt so welcoming. Not in the traditional baked chocolate chip cookies, but in the clean musty library smell. They all walked in silence, the only sound accompanying them was their muffled footsteps echoing off the walls and grumbling Malfoy ancestors in the paintings. The long green carpet they were following was trimmed in curving gold ivy interlaced with an M every 20 ft reminding Hermione exactly where she was. Hermione moved her gaze from the unsettling carpet to the walls. Every few feet there would be a portrait of a Malfoy ancestor, some sat stoically while others moved to another frame when she passed. She chose to ignore those frames and admire the picturesque scenes of meadows, seascapes, or notable cities. She was intrigued that the Malfoy's would extend their décor from the dark and scary to such pedestrian styles.
Just as Hermione began to get annoyed with how long it was taking to get to the Malfoy's they slowed at a set of towering black doors, the round metal handles were in the middle of the doors which were well above Hermione's head. There were multiple reflective inlays that surrounded a large pane in the middle. The effect was quite striking and achieving the goal of expensive elegance.
The short elf used his magic to open the doors for his followers then zapped it closed once they entered.
Hermione had no doubt that this room was well used and was the center of Malfoy planning, scheming and business meetings. The overall effect was extravagance with a touch of dominance and condescension. It personified all Hermione knew about the Malfoy's.
Once the door closed Blaise walked to the left side of the room where two identical tall black leather chairs were in front of a large white marble fireplace. His footsteps were muffled by the large green, brown and cream rug that lay over the shiny dark wood floor. Directly in front of Hermione and the double doors was a long dark alder desk which was in front of beautiful floor to ceiling bookcases. Hanging above the desk was a spotlighted Malfoy family portrait of Lucius and Narcissa standing behind a young seated Draco.
"Ah Blaise. How nice of you to track the dirt in."
Hermione heard the comment from her left where Blaise was standing. The familiar deep resonance informed Hermione that the comment came from the older of the Malfoy's who had risen to shake Blaise's hand and pierce her with his gaze.
Blaise gestured for Hermione to come stand next to him.
"Oh really Mr. Malfoy is that necessary?" Blaise commented. He reached out to take her hand and squeezed it sympathetically.
What did you expect Hermione? A giant hug with a... "Oh please marry Draco and enter into the Malfoy family". Be real Hermione.
"It's lovely to meet you again Mr. Malfoy. I see the end of the war is treating you well. Is the new leadership to your liking?" She allowed her distain to enter her voice and didn't bother offering her hand for a shake. Although she was curious to see if he's manners would overcome his distaste.
His mouth barely lifted into a smirk but it was there.
Draco's voice drifted over her from his reclined position in his chair.
"We both approve highly of the new direction the Minister of Magic is taking the Wizarding world. Even if some of their policy's are short sighted. May I commend you on your quick response to the Ministry's letter"
His intense gaze which had locked with hers made her cheeks heat up and when that gaze drifted over her body and locked on the entwined hands. She had the strongest urge to let go. His scorching silver gaze made the heat on her cheeks travel down her neck.
Hermione nodded to Draco, "I felt that resolving the issue quickly was the best choice"
Draco's smirk widened, "Oh really. Come on Granger we both know that you could stand to be apart from me"
Hermione was so shocked her mouth dropped open.
Blaise moved their hands up to admire her nails and enjoyed the scowl that replaced Draco's smug look. "Yes that must have been what was occupying her thoughts 10 minutes ago"
Hermione snapped her mouth shut in shock and shifted her weight in unconscious discomfort.
Lucius' delicately cleared his throat to bring the attention of everyone to him, "I believe Mrs. Granger and Draco have some unfinished business. Mr. Zabini, would you care to join me for lunch?"
Hermione appreciated Mr. Malfoy's diffusion of the tensing situation and felt embarrassed at Blaise's parting kiss on the back of her hand. She enjoyed his attentions greatly but in the presence of Draco she felt they were out of place and more about staking his claim.
Once the large wooden doors closed behind the two figures, Hermione's stomach began to flutter at being alone with Malfoy. Stop it!
Draco scowled at Hermione but gentlemanly gestured to Lucius' vacant seat.
The glow of the fireplace shone golden streaks into Malfoy's hair and highlighted his beautiful bone structure. He looked regal and composed and sexy. When his eyes locked with hers the draw she felt earlier today was stronger. The desire to be close to him was nothing like what she experienced with Blaise. Draco's light appearance was contrary to the darkness she felt inside him, he was dangerous, whereas Blaise was dark on the outside and safe on the inside.
Hermione's thoughts and reflections kept her from noticing that Malfoy was also examining her.
They had only been apart for 2 hrs, but to Draco, the person before him was a completely different person. His mind was tumbling between memories which he desperately wanted to hold onto: The skinny, bushy haired, buck toothed know-it-all and one third of the Golden Trio verse the radiant beauty before him.
How had he not noticed the long curly chocolate brown locks that were tumbling down her back and brushing her cheeks? Had he been blind to not see the curves hiding under her tight sweater and encased in tight jeans. His eyes traveled up over her blossoming chest and smooth creamy neck, he paused at the lip captured in her teeth. He wanted to grab her to himself and replace her teeth with his. What would it taste like? And how hard would he be able to bite it? Oh to run his tongue over it...He scowled at the loss of control over his thoughts and moved his eyes quickly to hers about to snap something sinister to dampen the desire raging through him but found her nervous and uncertain gaze disarming.
He remembered the memories he'd experienced of how she felt whenever he taunted and called her names. Never before had he been concerned with the effect of his words, and it was all her fault.
"You are never to touch me. I will not allow you to use magic on me again, do you understand?"
Her eyes widened with what appeared to be surprise but he was not going to be fooled.
"If you're attempting to sway my thoughts of you, and drawing me into considering you... you're intelligence is greatly exaggerated"
Her eyebrows drew together in a scowl. "I think your drink has altered your brain because I'd rather go to Azkaban than marry you, you arrogant inbred albino!"
She huffed and crossed her legs forcefully, turning her head away from the source of her annoyance. She noticed the windowed alcove on the other side of the room with two beige couches and a small table that had an ornate tea set resting on it.
Draco drew back his shoulders. "You ignorant muggle-born, you have no understanding of the power that runs in my blood, the lineage. It's an insult to our ancestors to marry below our standing. It's more than keeping us untainted; it keeps the magic undiluted."
Her eyes didn't hold awe, but rather skepticism, "That's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard! Do you even know how to think for yourself daddy's boy? Do research instead of ingesting propaganda. If it was so wonderful then why are we in the predicament that we are. You know as well as I that inbreed "purebloods" produce less than extraordinary magical offspring, if they produce a magical child at all! What you preach is bullocks!" Hermione asked in a calm condescending tone.
Draco calmly pulled on the cuffs of his shirt and re-crossed his legs. Hermione signaled her counter stubbornness with a firm crossing of her arms.
"You're definitely seeking above your stature with Blaise, not to mention your current predicament," Draco pronounced in a condescending tone.
"Oh shove off Malfoy."
Silence engulfed them.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl, their breathing and the crackling of the fire was the only sounds that filled the room. Hermione watched the ornate metal clock move silently then began reading the book titles on the bookshelves. She began to feel restless and embarrassed about their behaviour. They were adults, what was it about this man that made her act so childish? They only had to get through this week. What did it matter if Malfoy hadn't changed? Did it make a difference to her if he continued to believe his purity nonsense?
Hermione had never spent any time in Malfoy's presence and she found his calm assurance unsettling. He sat without moving, which made her adjustments even more noticeable, calmly looking at her as if she was a puzzle that had him stumped. The first 5 minutes he glared back at her, but the following minutes gradually shifted to boredom, then annoyance, into this puzzled expression.
He tilted his head to the side for the third time, which snapped Hermione's patience.
"WHAT?!"
A tiny smile seemed to flash on his face, but she had never seen him smile so she was sure she was mistaken.
"The air shimmers when you're annoyed," He said plainly
"You lie," Hermione rolled her eyes, bouncing her leg and focused her eyes over his shoulder.
"Sure," Draco said keeping his eye fixated on her
Silence descended again. Hermione tried not to pay attention to him but she could see his expression out of the corner of her eye.
She snapped her head to him, "Stop it."
His mask was still in place but his eyes gleamed with humor. He always seemed to enjoy getting her all worked up.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I just want to clarify that I did not use magic"
Draco stayed silent.
"I've never experienced anything like that. What did you feel?" She asked
Draco watched her look casually at her fingers, as if she didn't care, but he knew better. She could barely contain her excitement. He didn't want to talk to her, her presence made him feel warm inside and tingly with excitement. It was nothing but disconcerting. He'd rather she left so he could have his calm normal life back.
"What did you feel?" He asked instead of answering
Her forehead furrowed in concentration. She raised her eyes to look at him
"Your feelings"
He smirked and scoffed, "Oh really Granger. You felt my feelings. Were you overwhelmed by my disgust?"
His laughter annoyed her. "As if you have the capacity for feeling more than that you cockroach. What did you get?"
"Memories," Adding an edge of seduction to the word, as if he had gotten something dirty from her. Her face became noticeably redder.
Well well. What kind of dirty memories does she have hiding in there? Has anyone brought her to that height? What if she's been like that with Blaise? Blech
He had meant to throw her off balance but instead he was feeling uncomfortable at the thought of her being intimate. He wondered what she might be like and didn't like the reactions his body was having. His fogged mind drifted back to Hermione mid comment.
"... but I would hope you'd let me know what you saw. Was it vivid or shadowy? I wonder what caused it?"
"Granger your voice is grating stop talking so much!"
Her mouth snapped shut and she glared at him.
He sighed. "They were like Legimenus memories, and they were accompanied by your feelings at that time. Very annoying, you're such a bleeding heart"
Hermione rolled her eyes and stood up. "Hrumph. Why did you get memories?" she said to no one in particular as she crossed her arms and began wandering around the edge of the room looking at pictures, book whatever caught her eye. Draco eyes helplessly followed, skimming over her form, locking onto her round ass. He snapped his eyes away and got up in frustration
He had always had a healthy sexual appetite. And he was young, attractive and wealthy so he'd never been without female companionship. However, the draw that he was feeling wasn't his usual male appreciation, no this attraction seemed to pull from his very center. He began slowly following her as she moved. The glow from the wall sconces caressed her porcelain skin and highlighted how lovely her features were. He had an eye for beautiful things and reluctantly he admitted she was not ugly.
She looked over her shoulder from the book shelf she was examining and took a step away when she noticed how close he was. He enjoyed how expressive her face was. It always helped him to find the perfect insult to crush her while they were in school. Presently, he simply enjoyed that he could tell she wasn't completely put off by him standing close to her.
"It's so weird being here. I use to imagine what your Manor looked like when we were at Hogwarts"
Draco was uncomfortable with the ease they were having. They hadn't seen or talked to each other in years and just hours ago he understood how he should feel and think, but now it seemed less concrete. What the hell is going on?
"Oh really. Are we gal pals now Granger? Why are you telling me this?"
She huffed and whipped her hand up in exasperation, "Really Malfoy. Could you be civil? Where are your impeccable manners? Aren't you the prized pureblood? Geez. I'm trying to make this week easier. It's not as if we can do anything about it. Obviously you're not going to pick me and I'd never pick you..."
It stung his pride a little that she wasn't even going to try and convince him. He was a great catch. He reflected on what his father said about "considering" her. As appalling as it would be to marry the mudblood, she did have some value. Not to mention it would surely upset Potter and Weasley. His face formed his typical smirk.
"And why wouldn't you pick me Granger? Not freckled, pale, and red haired enough for you? Or did you set your sights to the scarred, black haired, four-eyed variety? Either way your choices have slimmed considerably. "
She growled in frustration, pointed a finger in his face and took a step closer. "You are the most arrogant, self absorbed, spoiled little Daddy's boy ever. I know my situation, which happens to be the same as yours. We aren't kids anymore Malfoy. The war is done. You lost and you are no better than me!" She ended in a shout and a small push to his chest.
She stood almost nose to nose with him. She was breathing heavily and shimmering with magic. Draco smiled in pleasure and acknowledged in the far reaches of his mind that she was attractive all riled up.
Suddenly she snapped to calm and her mouth dropped open, "Hey. Nothing happened." She looked at him puzzled and then down to her hands.
He followed her thoughts quickly. Why didn't anything happen?
"Ugh. This is so confusing. I'm definitely going to look this all up when I have time" Her typical thinking face fell into place. Draco simply nodded
"You really are a freak Granger"
She rolled her eyes and walked over to the tea set and lounge area. "This is really nice"
Draco looked away from the family portrait to the maple and glass table she was looking at, and raised an eyebrow at her but she responded before he could.
"But of course it is. I'm sure it's expensive and rare, and most likely old." She said matter-of-factly and in mock condescension.
He crossed his arms casually and walked over, "But of course"
She smiled genuinely and began to laugh softly. He found that it was much more enjoyable than when she was upset or cried, which he had more experience with. Her happiness brought back memories of her and Potter sitting at their table joking, while he suffered the strategic friends his father approved of. The shift in his mood appeared to be felt by her because she reined in her joy quickly. She sighed, looked out the window and sat on the plush window seat.
She stroked the gold and silver upholstery and ran her hand up the green silk pillows as she gazed at the family garden that was outside. This had always been one of Draco's favorite places in the Manor. He recalled when his father would sit at the desk doing ministry work, his mother embroidering in front of the fire and him playing with his wizard figurines on the ledge she was reclined against. As he got older it became more accustom for him to use this area to practice spells and study while his father spoke of duty, honour, and purity.
This was an odd experience. A few weeks ago he never would have thought Hermione would be in his house of her own free will, not that this was completely free. He admired her inner calm and confidence in a combative environment. If he was allowed himself the tiniest bit of honesty he'd admit that she had all the qualities he admired in himself and a future wife, if it wasn't for her lack of breeding...
"What are you thinking?" His eyes were captured by hers again
He cleared his throat elegantly and sat on the sofa across from her. He motioned towards the tea set and she nodded. He began occupying his hands with making each of them a cup of tea.
"Just that this is a very odd situation" He handed her the cup with cream and sugar in it. He ignored her raised eyebrow. So he knew what she took in her tea, so what. He noticed how gracefully she held the cup and took a sip.
"Should we talk about how we're going to get through this week?" She asked exasperatedly.
Draco recalled his father's newest position that perhaps they should use Hermione to their advantage, but he was queasy at the undertaking. Would trying to convince her that he was interested be so difficult? The thought of such a challenge and diversion made him giddy with excitement.
His gaze roamed over her and with an appraising eye catalogued her attributes. Instead of writing off his appreciation with disgust he tried to ignore his revulsions. He accepted her shining curls draped along her pale creamy skin, and her pink lips pinched between her teeth and her breasts rising with her breath, then the curve of her waist and the length of her legs crossed … oh yes he could find some appeal in her.
His eyes retraced up her body and to her eyes past her now dark pink cheeks. To her slightly opened mouth and large hazel eyes.
"A few ideas have entered my mind" He replied with a wink
*Tap Tap Tap*
Draco slowly turned his head to the owl perched on the window ledge by his shoulder. He unlatched the window, grabbed the letter, and snapped in shut again.
The Ministry stamp was clear on the front of the envelope, so he ripped it open quickly.
Dear Applicants,
Thank you for your continuing co-operation. You have met your allotted time for today
Mrs. Trenton
AN: Thank you all again and please feel free to leave any constructive criticisms, comments, and praise (hehe)