A ball
In typical Hermione fashion, she proceeded to conduct as much research as possible over the next week. Each spare moment was spent scouring every news source, history textbook, and crime watch list for information about this Russian group of pureblood fanatics. Their influence had ebbed and flowed over the course of history, just like such groups in other countries. The purebloods in Russia also tended to follow particular dynasties, with one ruling family to lead them. Hermione was not too shocked to find that Karkaroff himself was a member of a family that once ruled nearly a century ago. It explained how he could find himself as headmaster of Durmstrang not long after being arrested for committing heinous acts in the name of Voldemort. These families still controlled everything in Russia, as much as they liked to keep this fact hushed up. Hermione's guess, by the end of all of her research, was that Malfoy had something that either once belonged to one of these families or the Malfoy family, being an old powerful line of purebloods themselves, had something unique they imagined to be useful.
She arrived at his office in London on Friday at precisely eight o'clock, dressed in ball attire. A small, dignified looking house elf dressed in a suit and tie promptly greeted her with a deep bow. "This way, miss," he declared in a proud yet squeaky voice.
She followed the elf down a dimly lit hallway and then up a short flight of stairs. Hermione already knew this wasn't the same room they'd met in previously. Without knocking, the elf entered and stood aside for Hermione to follow. The room was less like an office and more of a den. It lacked a large desk or any sign of paperwork. One wall was lined with books, another with maps, and the most intriguing one - potion bottles and ingredients of all kinds were stored behind a glass pane in the wall.
Malfoy sat facing her on a black leather couch. With a single look at him, Hermione feared for her sanity and ability to get through this entire event unscathed. A vision of ease and confidence that only a unique combination of privilege and experience can create met her gaze in the form of Malfoy in dress robes lounging against the back of the couch, one arm draped over the back, while in the other a near empty glass of whisky sat against his thigh. His right ankle rested on the knee of his left leg and he completely filled the space.
"Miss Hermione Granger has arrived, sir," the elf unnecessarily announced as Malfoy had already her. In his eyes, she read nothing but pure delight and satisfaction as he conducted a once over.
Hermione bristled at his words, but knew it wasn't the elf's fault. Malfoy surely told him that. "It's actually Mrs." she corrected him.
"My apologizes," the elf said sincerely with big eyes before Malfoy cut in.
"That's all Tooby. You may leave and have the evening to yourself."
"Thank you, sir," Tooby replied and quickly exited the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
"Still using house elves?" she queried as she stepped further into the room. Only then did she see an identical black leather couch and what appeared to be, in a split second glance, an identical Malfoy sitting in identical fashion across from him.
But as the man turned to face her straight on, she was taken aback with surprise. Lucius Malfoy, whom she hadn't actually seen in person in at least five years, stared up at her with his usual haughty, cold gaze. The resemblance between Lucius and Draco was uncanny. Harsh was the first word that came to mind in an attempt to distinguish the two men. Both carried raw, masculine power, but where Lucius was all sharp angles and hard lines, Draco had inherited a glimpse of his mother's softness and an ever so subtle air of humor. Something she wouldn't have even picked up on had she not spent more time around him in the past year.
"You needn't worry. They're paid as your measures ensured over a decade ago," Draco replied, calling her attention away from his father.
She didn't like this, not with Lucius here. Draco she could handle, but Lucius - she despised. He'd fallen off the map more or less after the war. On rare occasion he'd be seen around the Ministry doing favors for and with old friends. But as she gained power, as the Ministry took on her ideals, he was seen less and less. The entire family reputation rested on Draco now, and even Scorpius. Which Hermione never considered a bad thing.
"I know. But most people don't use them at work. Why do you?" she asked keeping her tone neutral. She stood before both of them now, uncertain of where she ought to take a seat on either of the couches.
"Because human beings can't be trusted with sensitive information. These elves are loyal to my work and my family above all else. Believe me, your role in this evening is far more secure without any other witch or wizard knowing of it."
"And I take it we can trust you to do right by us on this task?" Lucius drawled, forcing her to fix her eyes on his again.
"I've nothing to prove to you, Mr. Malfoy," she icily returned. "You'll have to live with my word. And that of your son."
Lucius looked away and arched a disbelieving brow at Draco.
"Why don't you take a seat, Granger," Draco suggested.
Hermione eyed the vacant seats - the closest being next to Lucius who's left hand side of the couch was empty. Sitting beside Draco would required stepping over his legs while maneuvering around the coffee table in her long gown. Neither situation was ideal, but she opted for the latter, and stepped across Draco, who reached out a hand to gently take hers as she maneuvered past him and into her seat. As much as she wanted to avoid contact, she appreciated the extra support in trying to balance on her precarious heels in so narrow a space.
He gave a gentle squeeze of what Hermione figured was reassurance before withdrawing it to drape his arm across the back of the couch again. She was more than minutely aware of his fingers brushing against her hair as she refocused her eyes on the unbearable man across from her.
Lucius cast his narrow eyed gaze between the two sitting together on the couch, and Hermione noted he appeared to let out a deep breath, and resign himself to some internal conundrum.
"As much as I disdain this plan because it involves you, I don't doubt my son's logic," he said after a brief silence.
"On what grounds do I cause disdain? My blood?"
"Let's not be petty, Ms Granger," he retorted with boredom and dripping condescension. "I've no qualms with your dirty blood -"
Draco tensed beside her. "Father -"
Lucius held up his hand to silence Draco, and continued addressing Hermione. "I haven't even any qualms with my son's odd friendship with you. Although I do wonder how he can bear your insufferable attitude. What I question is bringing the Minister into this business here."
"I've already told you, I've nothing to prove to you. As far as I'm concerned, being the Minister I could've already had both of you arrested for both harboring illegal objects and making attempts to obstruct thorough investigations of your possessions."
"Ah, but that would also put Mr. Potter in trouble and you wouldn't dare do that," Lucius countered.
"Trust me, I could find ways around that. The two of you, with your history, are still and always will be walking on egg shells. Don't try to put me in a position of servitude where I need to prove my worth because you're about to make yourself vulnerable by sharing some private matter with someone outside your family line. I see you. I see what you're doing." Her breathing quickened as she spoke and a heat flushed against her chest and cheeks.
"This is really what you want?" Lucius demanded of his son.
"Yes."
Lucius narrowed his hard eyes at her. "You're smart, Ms. Granger." Hermione inwardly rolled her eyes. Both of them utterly refused to acknowledge her connection with Ron. "Smart and ambitious and far too cunning. My son is trusting you with sensitive information and if I catch wind you've used it to your advantage I am not above using whatever means necessary to watch you fall. You're right, we do not have the power in society we once had, but that means I've nothing to lose. Do not test me."
He stood then and he was every bit the man she remembered. Tall, sturdy and domineering, looking down on her with disdain as he clutched that wretched walking stick in hand. The classic family heirloom. She wondered vaguely if Draco would one day make that his own and if she'd find it so abhorrent in his hands.
"I'll leave you to explain all of the details," Lucius said to Draco in a much pleasanter tone. "You have everything you need from me?"
"I have. I'll see you tomorrow," Draco said, also standing.
Lucius apparated without a word of goodbye to Hermione and Draco turned to her with a smile. "My father hates you," he observed.
"And here I thought we were becoming fast friends," she sarcastically rejoined.
"But he respects you. Those compliments are not given lightly."
Hermione scoffed. What did it matter to have the respect of a bigot, no matter however powerful and intelligent a wizard he may be?
"You don't care to have his respect?"
"It neither adds nor detracts from my sense of self worth or my day to day life in any way," Hermione replied evenly.
Draco nodded. "Fair enough. He'd rather I have nothing to do with you, but he learned long ago to relinquish his hold on my doings."
Draco turned away then and walked over to the wall filled with potions. With a wave of his wand, the glass disappeared and a vial on the third shelf from the top floated down to him. He caught it and the glass reappeared once more.
Hermione stood as he turned back to face her.
"You may as well sit back down," he said. "We've plenty to discuss before leaving."
She acquiesced, resuming her seat just before he took his former seat right next to her. He sat near the end and shifted his body to face her full on, and out of courtesy, she did the same, all while trying to ignore the hammering of her heart at being so close.
"This event we're going to is in Moscow," he started. "It will be the first step in figuring out exactly who has been trying to break into the Manor. There is a party for all Russian purebloods of significance, as well as key families from other countries. We've liked to maintain close ties over the centuries even across borders."
"So are we crashing as someone in particular? I'd naturally think you'd go for a vial of polyjuice but I can see that's not it."
"There's no need for any elaborate scheme. My family had long standing ties to many of the families we'll see tonight. It was my father who received this invitation, and has for all his adult life."
"Why isn't he going then? Sounds like exactly the kind of people he'd prefer to be around," she observed with derision.
He cast her a disparaging gaze. "I'm well aware of your opinions of my father and I don't fully blame you. But he's learned his lesson. Not just once, but twice over."
As much as she wanted to persist with questions about how his father now spent his time, and point out that he can't be so different if he referred to her blood as dirty, she refrained. More important matters were at hand than Lucius Malfoy's quiet attempts at redemption. "He has another engagement tonight with my mother. It's related to this issue but I decided that I would attend this event because it is sure to be the more dangerous one. On my next birthday I'll be fully inheriting the Manor and all the responsibility that comes with that. It is my turn to take on these tasks of preserving family safety and legacy."
Hermione could hardly believe the antiquated way of thinking, but she knew nothing would come of testing it. While Lucius would surely age gracefully, as powerful a wizard he was, it wasn't completely unreasonable that Draco would at this point in his life carry the weight of the family on his shoulders.
"What is your father doing?"
Draco smirked. "You're on a strict need to know basis, Granger."
"I could -"
"And don't even pull the Minister card with me."
She shut her mouth and couldn't help the sheepish grin that crept on her face.
"I know you too well, Granger," he pointed out. "Now, I've never been to one of these Moscow gatherings, but my father informed me that there are secret meetings that take place in hidden rooms of the palace later into the night. Only people of significance are invited to be part of these and it's during these conversations that real decisions and policy is decided."
"Has he been invited to those as well?"
"Certainly not," Draco replied with a shake of his head. "Only in the days of Voldemort's first reign was he invited. But we'll need to find our way into one of those meetings. Or at least be in a position to overhear."
"Won't they be wary of you if neither you nor your father have attended these gatherings in years? We aren't just going to be invited to secret meetings."
"Of course not. But we'll catch hints of who's involved and watch for movement. And you will be key in this process."
"How is that exactly?" she asked as he pulled the stopper from the vial.
A black wisp drifted over the lip and disappeared around his fingers. "Obviously you can't go as yourself. Bad press for the Minister, I'm sure. Also they'd never let you in on account of your blood. So you'll be taking this potion," he explained, dangling the potion before her. "It won't physically change your appearance. But with the use of black passion flower, procured from the Manor gardens by my father, this will create a powerful glamour over you. When anyone sees you, they see what they deem most beautiful. Your general persona will be the same - dark hair, dark eyes, fair skin - but the details will change from person to person. And on top of that, you'll attract so much attention that we'll be in a perfect position to overhear anything of interest."
"Hmm...no one will recognize me?" she asked as she took the potion into her own hands.
"Not a chance. This particular potion was created by my grandfather and he used it successfully plenty of times."
"I'm sure he's rolling over in his grave at the thought of me using his own creation."
Draco smirked. "I rather hope so."
Hermione smiled with some surprise at that response, but still had questions. "There's no media or photographs at these events?"
"Are you kidding me? These gatherings are completely secret. The media outlets wish they could be privy to even a hint of these events and who's involved. If there are two things about purebloods," he said, holding up two respective fingers on his right hand. "We enjoy each other's company because there is power in numbers, and we covet secrecy."
"Except about your superiority. You all like to shout loud and clear about that."
He smirked. "Now don't go lumping me in with all them, Granger. We're on the same team now, remember."
"I don't know," she said mockingly. "You're the one receiving invitations to pureblood parties all the way in Moscow..."
Not deigning to respond to that, he carried on. "There's one more thing. These places have wards that will incapacitate muggleborns, or at the very least bar them from entry."
"So how exactly is this plan going to work?" she asked, unaware of any potion, charm, or spell that could hide the very blood in her veins.
"I have a solution to that. As you're well aware, most of the family artifacts that pertain to muggleborns aren't for safety purposes, to put it mildly. But there was one ancestor long, long ago who had a dalliance with a muggleborn outside of his marriage."
"You're joking," Hermione burst out.
"Hardly. So he gave this to her," Draco said as he pulled a bright silver chain from his pocket. At the end was a rounded piece with the Malfoy crest etched into the center. She reached out and held the pendant in her hand, reading the family crest. "If ever in the presence of purebloods who would potentially question or check her blood status, as it was all far harsher centuries ago, she wore this - a family heirloom he tampered with to hide true bloodlines. Anyone wearing this will pass as a pureblood, no matter the wards or tests."
He stood then and indicated for her to do the same.
"Turn around and I'll put it on for you," he said, taking a step closer. As Hermione turned, she set the potion vial on the table and then her eyes met a mirror opposite her taking up half the opposing wall.
"Your family is hiding all sorts of interesting secrets," Hermione murmured as she kept her eyes trained on his in the mirror. She could hardly believe such a man existed anywhere in the Malfoy family line.
"We are," he replied as he draped the pendant against her chest, bringing the ends of the clasp around her neck.
She shivered, unsure of whether it was from his fingers grazing the skin of her neck or at the image that formed in her mind from centuries past. She could just imagine this pompous pureblood of old times marking his property with a bold statement. Sanctimonia Vincent Semper - Purity Will Always Conquer - as the motto on the crest read. He'd conquered the mudblood and made it clear with this token.
"I can see you have some unsavory notion rolling around in there," Draco said with soft amusement. "Out with it."
She furrowed her brow and spoke to him through the mirror. "Purity conquers all? Was this some kind of joke? The pureblood gets the mudblood and then marks her with this crest of power in purity."
"Read the back," he instructed. If her words offended, he didn't show it. The necklace had been clasped by now, but he still stood close behind her, his eyes trained on her face in the mirror, a challenge for her to comply.
She turned the piece over in her hand to find more latin: sed amor vincit omnia, et nos cedamus amori...but love conquers all things, so we too shall yield to love.
Virgil. A muggle.
But more importantly, this trinket wasn't a sick power play. Her heart sped up and she gasped at the meaning behind this gift. There was a Malfoy who'd fallen in love with a muggleborn. Enough to claim that love to be above his own purity.
And then she looked up again and met Draco's eyes as if by magnetism. The weight of the pendant increased against her chest for nothing else but the weight and depth of feeling in his stare. Again, in a flash, she heard his words from previous interactions - Physical attraction. Is that all there is? And her true answer: No. Still no. Always no. Something more. So much more that it weighed her down hard in her chest, but she wanted it. She'd take the weight of this pendant and all the confusing emotion if it meant he'd always look at her like that.
"That was his own addition. In those words the charm was sealed...so this will keep you safe," he said, voice barely a whisper.
She nodded. "Is there anything else?"
A tick of silence and he appeared to sway before stepping a full foot back.
"You should take this now so we can be going. And before we get there, I trust your judgment, but let me lead. I know how these functions work and what these people are like. So I need you to trust me and what I'm doing."
"I do and I will," she promised and she downed the potion.
"How long does it take for this to kick in."
"It's instantaneous and we have eight hours. So I'd advise not returning straight home after this ordeal."
She nodded. She'd told Ron it would be a late work night on confidential trade plans with the United States that couldn't be pushed back. The last thing she wanted was to arrive home and have to explain why her work required a potion to change her appearance.
"Do I look any different? Can you tell if it's working?" she asked.
He smiled at that, amused by the question. "You don't feel any different? It's not going to work properly if you don't feel anything."
"There's a tingling up my spine. Not uncomfortable. Does it last?"
"Only a few minutes. That's how you know it's worked. So shall we?" he asked, offering his arm like a complete gentleman.
"We shall. And my name?"
"Luciana del Monte"
"Oh how dignified," she replied in pompous tones as she drew herself up, doing her best impersonation of an uptight pureblood bitch.
"Just when I thought you couldn't become more agitating."
"I'm just being one of you," she said through her nose. "Now lead on. I didn't get dressed for your eyes alone this evening," she continued in reference to her elegant off the shoulder black gown.
"Wench," he dismissed her and then walked to a table by the door which held a glass figurine.
"Well I never!"
"We're going by portkey. Get over here and shut it," he ordered, but not without a hint of amusement in his eyes.
She laughed. "Okay. Let's go."
They landed at the end of a very long drive covered in a dusting of snow. Hermione shivered against the cold air and marveled at how even this early in winter she could see her breath and felt chilled to the bone.
"Merlin, how do they suffer this weather?" she muttered as they began walking up the path to the palace that glittered with lights in the distance.
"I hope you'll have something more interesting to say when we get there," Draco drawled as he looped his arm through hers.
"Don't be a git. I'm a politician now. I know how to handle these people."
"Hmm," he let out dubiously.
"Stop looking for ways to be mean. You wouldn't have chosen me if you thought I wouldn't be good at this."
"Father is right, you are insufferable," he said through a smirk.
She flashed him a cheeky grin. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"Only person I know who finds delight in being contrary, I swear."
"Really? Because you are the king of contrary."
He stopped short for a moment and she looked up at him, perplexed. Keeping his arm within her own, he turned her slightly to face him.
"We'll have to be the opposite of that tonight. No contrary, no bickering."
"You already told me I'm your date. I understand what that entails. Although I am trusting you to keep it reasonable," she said.
"Slight touching, no more than this, I promise."
"And I'll play my part well. It shouldn't be too hard," she replied and then bit her lip.
While smirking he resumed their walk up to the palace. "Oh? Why is that?"
"No reason," she said, unable to keep the heat from her cheeks.
They rounded a cluster of trees and right in view was a medieval looking black gate. Before it stood a guard, large and menacing in thick black robes.
Lucky for her, Malfoy found it necessary to drop the entire conversation as they approached the gate.
It was time to start the act.
"Name?" the burly gatekeeper demanded in gruff tones.
"Malfoy."
He scanned the list in hand. "Lucius?"
"Draco. His son. And my guest. Luciana del Monte."
"Wife?"
"Not yet," he said with a wink.
The guard didn't bat an eye, only checked the names off the list and then waved his wand.
"You may enter," he informed them as the gate opened.
A carriage immediately pulled up, wheels crunching over the snow and she was reminded of the ride up to Hogwarts each year. She was glad for the coverage once they'd reached the gate as snow had started falling again and she didn't need it freezing her through more than she already was. Draco cast a warming spell on the interior of the carriage, warming it up so her teeth would stop chattering.
"It's like Hogwarts," she said.
He smiled. "Very much so. Except for you sitting here."
"Which makes it all even better, I'm sure."
"Cheeky wench," he responded as he leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"They've ways of listening in on even the most private of conversations. I guarantee you each carriage is bugged."
She nodded and they continued the ride up to the palace in silence. She was glad for it, still embarrassed about her slip moments ago. For all her internal arguing and her external indifference, she liked that she'd have an excuse to "pretend" to be at ease with him for the evening.
When they finally disembarked at the foot of grand stairs of the palace, Malfoy pulled her arm through his again and led the way up to the grand hall. Delicate strings of a small orchestra drifted into the night air mixed with the hum of countless voices.
As the magnificent doors opened before them, the sight of the most beautiful foyer she'd ever seen met her eyes. In her time as Minister, she'd been invited to countless estates of foreign dignitaries. But nothing compared with this. The hall before her didn't appear to be the lair of an evil family consumed by dark magic. Rather despite it's grandeur it was also soothing in it's shades of white, golds, and accents of pastel hues set in patterns on chairs, flowers, and an ornate mural that fanned out over the ceiling, from which hung a beautifully wrought gold chandelier.
"Oh my word," she sighed.
"Stunning, I know. Don't let that fool you. These halls have a darker history than anywhere else in Moscow," Draco said continuing to lead her forward.
"How do they cover it up so well. Typically something lingers. That fear, that hatred - it doesn't just leave."
"I don't know. We have to greet our hosts first. It's customary in the first hour of arrival. "
Hermione then noted a couple standing at the top of the grand marble staircase. What the decor lacked in darkness their hosts made up for in spades. An involuntary chill ran down Hermione's spine as she locked in on the faces of two of the most hauntingly beautiful people she'd ever seen. Tall, full dark hair, and dark eyes that held not an ounce of kindness or humanity. Those eyes only appeared more chilling against their hospitable smiles in greeting to the guests.
Hermione and Draco stepped into line behind the others greeting their hosts before they could walk into the party happening behind the closed doors at the second landing.
Draco whispered against her ear. "Alexi Rejshiv and Anna Rejshiv. Siblings. Their parents unexpectedly died last year and they control this property together. Alexi is married, that is his wife Yulia behind."
Yulia held herself in the typical haughty pureblood manner, but even if she had not been set back from her husband and sister-in-law, she would've fallen away from everyone's notice at their side.
"Ah, I know a Malfoy when I see one," Anna professed in a sultry tone as she kissed Draco on the cheek. "So handsome. But you must be Draco, as I know Lucius to be much older than the man I see before me."
Draco smiled and pleasantly replied, "My father is fine and aging well, so there may be some truth to those rumors. But he had another engagement this evening that couldn't be avoided so I came in his place. It's been so long."
"It's wonderful to finally see your family return to the fold. We have great plans for England," Anna gushed as she took his hands in her own.
"I am happy to find my way back. It took some time, but we feel we can return to our old ways without attracting attention again."
"Regained some friends in high places?"
He nodded with a wink. "Most high. Malfoy is becoming a name of power again."
"Oh, I'm so pleased," Anna revealed. "Alexi is too I'm sure."
All during this time Alexi showed no sign of hearing or caring about the Malfoy name or reputation. Alexi had his eyes trained on Hermione and she did everything not to wither under his predatory gaze. Everything inside her screamed to flee this place because even under the guise of being pureblood, he would still be a danger.
"And who are you?" Anna asked, all seduction gone from her voice as she cast a withering stare at Hermione.
"Luciana del Monte."
"Beautiful name," Alexi finally spoke, in a tone that matched his sister's previously deep, seductive voice. He took her hand and placed a kiss against her fingertips while maintaining eye contact. Hermione willed herself to smile in return. But she also didn't miss the way Anna's eyes spewed fire at her brother. An angry, jealous fire.
"Your home is lovely and I'm honored to be here."
"I hope you enjoy yourself this evening and I will be sure to catch up with both of you later. Draco we will have much to discuss," Alexi said finally turning his eyes to Draco.
"I look forward to it," Draco replied sounding as genuine as ever.
Hermione and Draco stepped around them then, and only when they'd stepped through the double doors, did Hermione feel she was free of Alexi's heavy eyes.
The ballroom was full of tables, staff offering hors d'oeuvres, dancing couples, and many standing around chatting. Draco and Hermione found their way to a moderately more private corner.
"Anna and Alexi...they don't have a typical sibling relationship do they?" Hermione immediately asked.
Draco smirked. "Nothing gets by you, does it?"
"So I'm right?" Another chill went down her spine. This wasn't right. Nothing in this place or these people.
"Before you start getting the wrong idea, this is not common among purebloods in present times. It was learned long ago that would lead to weaknesses in offspring that weren't worth maintaining the purity of blood. Those two make even the staunchest purebloods uncomfortable, but there's nothing to be said or done. They are in control now. They have money and power that far exceeds all others and they're a force to be reckoned with."
"Do you think they're behind the break in?"
"No, fortunately not. It's surely someone they associate with but they've no need for anything my family has. Any of my father's dealings with them were strictly monetary and investment related. They wanted to see him installed at higher ranks in the ministry, as Alexi is very close with the current Minister here in Russia. I'm sure he'd want the same for me."
Hermione laughed. "Little does he know..."
Draco smiled. "This potion clearly worked. He couldn't keep his eyes off you."
Hermione nodded, serious again. "He's disarming."
"Disarming how?"
"He's predatory. Dangerous."
Draco nodded. "If you find yourself alone with him, you get away as quickly as you can. Granted I've no intention of leaving your side all night."
As much as Hermione knew she could handle herself this gave her some comfort. They'd be stronger together no matter the issue.
"Let's get drinks and mingle. I need to look like I'm trying to find my way back into the fold."
Hermione nodded and let him lead her off.
After an hour and a half of schmoozing, Hermione was desperate for a respite. She didn't show it, and played the part of Draco Malfoy's doting date perfectly, all while maintaining a facade of interest in the advancement of pureblood affairs. But she couldn't stand any of these people. She found herself thinking of all the people whose presence she'd rather suffer. Even Lucius Malfoy made the list, for at least he was familiar and she knew how to handle his arrogance. She cursed him for not attending this event himself. Most of the conversation was pure drivel - asking after family members, discussions on family business, and stories from previous gatherings such as this one. Hermione knew that nothing of particular interest would be said until later, in those quiet secret meetings behind closed doors hidden in the depths of the palace. She only needed to bide her time.
Her worst fear of the evening came true close to midnight when she suddenly found Alexi and Anna standing at Draco's elbow.
"So I've seen some press recently about you rubbing elbows with that horrid minister of your country. What's her name?" Alexi asked in simple curiosity.
"Granger," Draco replied with a look of disgust.
"I can only imagine your father's thoughts."
"And I'm sure what you're imagining is accurate. He hates her, to put it lightly."
"I'm surprised you'd work so closely with her. I read about your work in France in the papers," Alexi persisted.
"Well, you know my own investments stand to gain from strong ties with France. My interactions with her are in fact far and few in-between," Draco explained and it wasn't a lie at this point. She almost never saw him anymore and Hermione knew his bank account surely profited from her dealings with France. But in this case, what was good for Malfoy was also good for England.
"Of course. I'm just relieved to see the the mudblood Minister hasn't changed your views."
"Hardly. She's an insufferable swot. I've known her since school."
"Oh yes, I remember you telling me about her. The mudblood know it all who's so desperate to prove her worth to our world since she knows deep down she is and always will be nothing. I sure wish you could've come to Durmstrang with me. None of that filth walked the halls. Did you go to school at Hogwarts as well?" Alexi asked, turning to Hermione.
"I didn't, but I finished a few years before Draco."
"Ah, robbing the cradle are you? How did you two meet?"
"Mutual business interests," Hermione replied.
"We were at a conference for marketing new potion brands in Venice," Draco joined.
"It's unexpected you'd be with anyone outside the sacred twenty-eight, Draco," Anna remarked, still spewing hatred at Hermione from her eyes.
Hermione bristled at this convincingly. "I can assure you my blood is no less pure than your own. My mother, an only child, married a del Monte of a long line of purebloods from Italy. She is a relative of the Prewett line."
"Prewetts are connected to the Weasley blood traitors are they not?" Alexi queried, but with a mild curiosity.
"My family doesn't speak of Molly or any of those filthy traitors she bore," Hermione sniffed.
"I don't mean to put you on the spot," Alexi said in softer tones. "Only checking on Draco a bit here as we can't be too sure, with all the madness happening in England since the fall of Voldemort. Draco knows, the freak wasn't my cup of tea, but his ideals weren't wrong. There seems to be an ever increasing lack of tradition in the Ministry of late."
Hermione and Draco nodded. "There has been," Draco agreed.
"I hope you can be counted on to use your friendship with the Minister to our advantage."
"As best as I possibly can, Alexi," Draco assured him.
"I also hope that you might accept a dance with me?" Alexi said then holding his hand out to Hermione.
Her initial reaction was to recoil. But to turn down the host's offer would be bad manners, she knew. It wouldn't bode well for herself, or Draco, or any hope they had of finding those secret meetings later. So she unclasped her arm from Draco and took Alexi's hand. "I'd be delighted."
Anna then took Draco's arm. "Draco?" she purred through her dark lips while sneaking a glare at Hermione. Trying to contain her amusement, Hermione only smiled serenely at the jealous woman and let Alexi lead her to the floor.
Alexi swept her across the floor in a formal dance with ease and grace. They fell into the pace and rhythm of the dance silently for a few moments before he finally pierced his gaze with his vacant eyes. They startled her to no end in their calculating coldness.
"If I didn't see you standing right here in front of me, I'd think you couldn't possibly be real," he whispered, eyes dancing over her face.
"I'm not sure I know what you mean," Hermione replied.
"Your beauty is staggering."
"You flatter me," Hermione rejoined as he spun her around, only to pull her in closer than before on the return.
"It's the truth. You've captured the attention of everyone here. To the delight and torture of every man, and the envy of every woman."
"Your sister being one of them," Hermione said, taking a chance on boldness.
He smirked. "Astute," he remarked and he seemed to like this as she suspected. "Our relationship seems to make most uncomfortable. And here you state it forthright. What do you make of it?"
She met his eyes indifferently. "It's your place to do as you wish," she said even as her skin crawled at the very thought.
"And how does it make you feel?" he asked, his voice dropped to a seductive whisper.
"Feel?" she asked, herself whispering in an attempt to seem uncertain.
"You know what I'm saying," he said, bringing his lips closer to her ear and she nearly clawed at him in defense. "My sister may be jealous but she also sees your beauty and we share everything...perhaps you are like me and enjoy the taste of the forbidden..."
Hermione's step almost faltered in the dance. She wanted to find out what was going on with this group with regards to Draco, but this would be too far. "I'm with Draco," she replied.
"I know, but I'm curious. What if you weren't? What if I'd been lucky enough to stumble across a beauty such as yourself first?"
"That's not something I'm personally comfortable with," she said with seriousness, making sure to look sternly into his eyes so he'd get the message loud and clear.
Alexi let out a sigh, but smiled then, although it still didn't reach his eyes. She wondered if it were even possible. "Figures as much. The Malfoy's have always been conservative. Traditional. I admire it in them. It makes sense you would be as well."
She nodded and Alexi stepped away. "I must excuse myself now," he said with a slight bow. "I hope you'll enjoy the rest of your evening."
It was then Hermione noticed Anna and Draco already standing at the periphery looking quite uncomfortable.
"Thank you for the dance, Alexi," Hermione said to show their conversation hadn't disturbed her yet again, and he looked on her with approval.
"The pleasure was mine. Come, Anna," Alexi said with force and they parted their way through the rest of the party.
"Well that was uncomfortable," Draco breathed as he followed Anna and Alexi with his eyes, ensuring they weren't returning and out of earshot. "But this potion worked. Anna was so jealous of Alexi's attention to you she let slip in her annoyed rant that they all meet in the west wing. It will probably be soon."
"Anna hates me for attracting the attention of her brother but also seems quite keen on you. Did you two ever..." she left the question hanging, hoping her annoyance didn't shine through. She knew he was married, she knew he'd been with others before and after his marriage, but this woman was different. She was sick.
Draco looked as if he might wretch. "Never. There was talk when I was younger, my father wanted to form an alliance. But it was clear even in youth that she was deranged."
"They both are. If he didn't respect you he wouldn't have hesitate to drag me off the floor, of that I'm certain."
Draco scowled. "He would've regretted that indeed."
"He tried to involve me in some sort of menage-a-trois with his sister," Hermione admitted. She felt stomach twist at the thought.
"That snake. I hope you see now my family is far from the worst of this lot."
"Being the best of a bad lot is hardly something to brag about," she rejoined with a knowing smile.
"I hope your opinion isn't still so low of me," he said softly and she knew he needed a genuine answer. She wondered then if coming to this event was in fact quite difficult for him. Perhaps he'd changed even more than she knew.
"Never. You know that," she said as she put her arm through his own, where it seemed to belong. The act of pretending to be with him made it easier to be affectionate.
"Thank you," he said as he played with a tendril of her hair. Her heart sped up and she knew this might be crossing a line. It came from a genuine place, not part of the act and the right thing to do would be to step away. But she felt rooted on the spot.
"I know the last time we danced I made you angry. Perhaps I might try again?"
She smiled. "You might be worthy of a second shot."
Now, dancing with Draco, she truly felt at ease. She was relieved for the break from conversing with people she couldn't respect. With him, in their own world on the dance floor, she could be herself.
"This is better," he said, vocalizing her own same thoughts.
"Much," she agreed. "Can we just do this the rest of the night? Until we see something noteworthy?"
"I like the sound of that," he whispered and brought her in closer by just a fraction. But that fraction was enough to set her heart hammering.
"I didn't tell you earlier," he said softly and then brought his lips closer to her ear. Her breath hitched, she couldn't help it. "You're beautiful."
"That's the potion," she corrected.
"No...no," he said firmly. The look in his eyes told her he wanted to say more but his jaw was rigidly set.
He took a step closer, placing one hand at the small of her back. With the low cut back of her dress, she could feel his thumb directly on her skin and she sighed. He'd never touched her there, not with such direct skin to skin contact, even if just the pad of his thumb. She tightened her own hold on him, looking for balance because she felt drunk with lust.
"Hermione, I -"
She shook her head, but didn't pull away. "Don't. Just don't say anything," she said and rested her head against his chest, breathing in the fresh masculine scent of him. If he spoke it would be ruined. If he said anything more she'd have to pull away. And all she wanted was just this, one song - just two more minutes to be with him and feel him while everything else but the music melted away.
As the song closed, Draco tensed. "We need to follow someone," he whispered under the chiming of the clock striking midnight. "Don't look. But off to my right Ivan is disappearing down a hallway I know leads to the west wing." Ivan Nabikov. Someone high up in the Russian Ministry they'd spoken to earlier about maintaining and promoting power of the oldest lines of purebloods. He held much sway in Russia and with certain politicians around the world.
"It's starting then."
"I can get past their guard," he said. "But I need you to find a back way."
"Near the women's restroom, I know I can sneak off. I'll find you."
He gripped her tight and looked down at her then. So caught up in the moment and their act as a couple, she both expected and wanted him to kiss her. He looked as if he might, but only held her tighter. "Be careful."
She smiled as he released her and sauntered away.
Sneaking away from the women's room in the direction opposite the party had been easy. But now she needed to ensure she didn't lose herself in the maze of hallways making up the west wing, which happened to be much darker than the section of the palace she'd just left. She made mental notes and selected points of reference so she'd find her way back to the main part of the palace.
After a few minutes of wandering she nearly rounded a corner into a more open expanse of hallway that led off to one other hallway and held many doors. Fortunately timing was on her side because she saw Ivan step from the darkeness of the oppossing hallway just in time for her to slink back into the shadows before he'd see her. She watched carefully his movements down the hall and to a door far on the other end. Hermione waited patiently and in total silence to see if any others would come. When after many minutes there was no sign of another, she crept to the same door Ivan had entered. A light shone from the gap between door and floor, and muffled voices could be heard through the wall.
Crouching down, she placed her eye at the keyhole. The voices were muffled, but she could hear someone speaking.
"Ivan is right. Europe is falling in line. Pureblood allies are stepping forward and conservative, traditional policies are taking shape rapidly. The tide is in our favor again it seems," an unknown voice spoke.
"If we can only get England to join the fold again. But all the pureblood families have weakened since Voldemort's fall. All are too afraid and I see no hope."
"You're right, except for Draco Malfoy. But we must wait and see how his standing in England unfolds awhile longer." Hermione recognized Alexi's voice.
"There could be one here in his place, if you'd only allow it."
Hermione furrowed her brow. Someone here who could speak for England? Speak for Malfoy? Take Malfoy's place? She tried to creep closer to the door silently. Her ear was nearly flush against the door and she prayed no one would walk by at this time.
"What have I told you Anton?" Even on the other side of the door, Hermione felt the warning in Alexi's tone. She prayed Anton would be foolish enough to push further.
"But he has a claim. And if we help him, we could have someone right inside England who-" Anton rushed out before Hermione heard a large crash which ushered in a deafening silence.
"I don't care about him!" Alexi hissed into the eerie silence of the room. "You tell him to stop this plan of his and if he doesn't he'll be dealing with me. His claim on their land is weak and ill-founded. He's from a line of cast offs and has utterly lost the Malfoy name. The Malfoy's have always been allies and we all know that there are times we must lay low to survive. I'll hear nothing more of this plan." Silence ensued. Hermione was certain Alexi bore a look just daring Anton to speak again. When he didn't after a few moments, she heard Alexi's voice again, much pleasanter. "Now, Signor Castan, I'd love to hear about your trade with the Americas."
Shocked, Hermione stood from the door, knowing anything further would be of no use to her and realizing that if Draco still wasn't here, he may be in trouble somewhere. Going in the direction she saw Ivan arrive from, she followed the dark hallways until she heard another conversation happening in the distance.
"Who are you?" That was Draco and Hermione knew he was angry. She peeked around the corner to find some stranger with his back to her and Draco with his wand drawn. She couldn't understand why he was standing there being interrogated without taking control of the situation.
"Ah, so you discovered his little coin," the guard replied, ignoring Draco's question. "We knew you'd try to find your way back here."
"I said, who are you?"
"I don't think that's any of your concern. Oh, he will be so pleased when I deliver him to you myself. Or perhaps I should run back and tell Alexi you wanted to sneak up on his private meetings. Let him have a go at you first."
"Again, Alexi gave me that coin himself so I could be admitted."
"No he didn't. These are all custom made, and this bears a mark I know is not yours."
"Whose is it then?"
The man laughed and Hermione had enough. She'd heard enough from her own snooping to know who this man was referring to. Stepping out of the shadows, she disarmed the man and silenced his ensuing shout. Before he could run she bound him and knocked him to the ground where he squirmed around noisily until she placed her foot firmly against his chest.
She looked down on him with an expression filled with nothing but disgust before looking up at Draco.
"That's better. Merlin, Draco, you must be going soft if you hadn't already done that."
But Draco shook his head. "I'm stuck. He tripped some kind of intruder alert and I cannot move from this spot unless he says the word."
"Oh. Well then, this should be fun," she said.
"Be careful," he said as she readied her wand for her next move against the man at her feet.
"Malfoy, I deal with idiots like this on a regular basis. I know what I'm doing."
Hermione turned to the man on the floor, still struggling against his bounds. She dug her heel in more firmly, satisfied with the wince he made in response. "Now, I'm going to be giving you some directions. If you follow them, I won't hurt you. If you don't, well, you'll see."
Draco let out a startled sound from behind her. It was as though she'd become someone completely different right before his eyes. And truly, she hadn't been in this exact position in quite some time. But she knew when dealing with these fanatics that there was no playing nice. She still had the mudblood scar in her arm to prove it. And her time as Minister taught her first hand when to play dirty. So dirty she'd be.
She cast a sound muffling spell around them before removing the silencing spell over her captive's voice. She didn't need him shouting to tip anyone nearby off.
"You bitch."
"Charming," she replied and then pursed her lips as she surveyed him from head to toe. "I know who you're talking about. Another Malfoy heir. This coin is his," she said reaching down for the coin still clutched in his hands. He tried to tighten his fist around it at first. "Ah, don't forget who's in control here," she cautioned, readying her wand.
He relented. A true coward, as she predicted. He'd be putty in her hands. "This belongs to some other Malfoy heir, one whom Alexi has no interest in. So why have you? You must have something to gain if he can get his way. But I don't care about you. What I care about is Draco here, who you're going to let go."
"Fuck you. He'll stay there til Alexi finds him."
She laughed and then looked at him like the pathetic fool he was. "You see, Alexi really likes me, as I'm sure you can see why," she said sensually. "All I'd have to do is tell him that I was coming to find him to take him up on an earlier offer he made to me. Not so hard to believe is it? Knowing who and what he is. And Draco here only tried to come back on my behalf because I was intimidated and didn't know the way. Draco only wanted to say he'd be willing to share me, as a way of showing trust and his true desire to return to the fold. And you would tell your silly story about Draco sneaking with a coin that isn't his. And Draco and I can tell the truth of where he found that coin. The truth being that it was in his home after someone had broken in. Someone who could've only entered with Malfoy blood, if I'm not mistaken," she said, looking to Draco then who only stared and nodded, dumbfounded. "And do you know how Alexi will take that?" she queried of her prisoner.
The fool gulped. Oh yes, he knew his true boss would be most displeased.
"So here's what you will do, you will release Draco from this bond and you will do so because, if you don't, I will go straight to Alexi and tell him how you and some friend of yours have been defying his orders to either steal from, or possibly kill, Draco and his family in some inane attempt to usurp the true Malfoy line," she told him as she leaned down closer to his face, staring deep into his eyes to communicate the seriousness of her threat. "And when Alexi is done with you, I'll be sure to find you and have my way," she added for good measure.
He muttered something under his breath and a second later, Draco kicked the man in the ribs.
"Draco, is that really necessary?" Hermione asked as the guard curled inwards on himself.
"It bloody well is," Draco fumed. "Now what's this about some other Malfoy heir?" he asked as he grabbed the man by his shirt front.
"I'm not saying a word. He'll come after you for this. Alexi might not hear of this but he will and he will make sure you pay."
"Who is this bloody he?" Draco yelled in the man's face.
"We won't get that out of him short of torture," Hermione observed.
"Is that a viable option?" Draco fumed.
"I can't abide it," Hermione said, now back to herself. "But we do need to modify his memory," she pointed out, ignoring the now rising pleas of the bound man below them.
He furrowed his brow. "Okay, but then we need to leave quickly," he said, preparing to do the spell, but she stopped him.
"I'll do it. I've done this before. With far something far more complex," she said thinking of her parents and how she'd created an entire separate life history in their minds.
She raised her wand to his temple, ignoring the man's pleas and sobs. She knew these charms were dangerous. Something goes wrong and their entire mind is ruined.
So she focused all her energy on accomplishing the task at hand. It wasn't the first time and her magic had only strengthened and matured since the last time she did this. When the spell was complete, she knocked him out and unbound him. He'd come round in about an hour with a headache, but would all in all think he'd had too much to drink before coming to his guard duty.
She stepped back from where he slumped against the wall and looked to Draco. Deep in his mind, he was calculating, trying to piece things together.
"There's another Malfoy?" he whispered.
"I heard someone in Alexi's meeting discussing it. But Alexi will hear nothing of it. Said he's of a line of cast offs. I'm assuming he means your ancestors, because he doesn't even bear the name anymore. He favors you and your father, but someone named Anton has been trying to get him to come around to the idea of usurping your family to get the lands in the mystery man's possession."
"This is why father needed to go to France. Said he found something alarming deep in the family records. I need to see if he discovered anything," Draco explained urgently.
"Let's get out of here," she said, holding out her hand. He took it and they covertly made their way back into the party, only to make their exit as swiftly as possible without seeming suspicious. A carriage pulled up to take them to the edge of the property, back to the iron gate. They couldn't speak. Not yet. Not in carriages that might have ears.
Hermione still didn't let go of Draco's hand, not through the entire carriage ride. And she was glad he didn't pull away either. Only held onto hers and even placed his other free hand over top, tracing delicate patterns against her skin. They'd made it out, got information and would be safely home in a few short minutes. But she needed his constancy. Worst of all, the charade would fall away once they stepped foot on familiar ground. She'd have to return to indifference. She'd have to go back to avoidance.
The carriage door opened at the gate and the yawned before them. Once of the grounds, she apparated them back to her own office this time.
Back in safety, she took in a deep breath let out a deep sigh of relief. Mixed within it was even a small dose of joy. She couldn't deny enjoying the excitement of the last half hour. The rush and the thrill was something she'd only ever experienced with Harry on their adventures growing up and this time last year.
Draco's eyes were bright and eager. "You were brilliant, Granger. I couldn't have gained the information I needed without you. The way you handled both Alexi and that guard. It was brilliant," he repeated.
"We made a pretty good team didn't we," she said, unable to keep back a smile.
But he didn't smile back. Only now did she realize she still hadn't let go of his hand as his eyes took on a strange pained expression. Hermione felt a stab of fear.
"Why have you avoided me for the past two months?" he whispered as if the words were being dragged out of him against his volition.
"I have to," she breathed, the words pained her to speak.
"Why?" he asked, still quiet but voice hard.
"You know why."
"Maybe. But I want to hear you say it."
"Because of what's here. I'm married and I need you to respect that."
"It's not easy for me."
"To acknowledge my marriage?"
"To ignore you. To avoid you and pretend I don't want to see you all the fucking time," he ground out and finally pulled his hand from her grasp. He turned on the spot but then turned back, his eyes a challenge.
"It isn't for me either," she whispered.
He gave a dry laugh. "Not difficult enough it seems. I could never come first in your eyes could I?"
"Draco..." his eyes brightened at her use of his name, but she knew that with her next words the light would dim and all their happiness of the moments before would be ruined. "I can't give you what you want."
"So that's it?"
"I can't, Draco," she repeated.
He nodded. "Thanks for the help. I'll inform Harry of the progress I've made in the search and tell him to keep you abreast of any changes."
He apparated before she could get a word in and Hermione stood, stalk still, for what felt like endless moments replaying the entire conversation, his every look and every movement in her mind. And then something clicked and with a single sob, she slouched into the couch, crumpled inward on herself.
For the first time in decades, Hermione's heart broke.