A/N: We're still in the summer between fifth and sixth year.

Fun fact: When I pre-planned this story I figured it would be 8 or 9 chapters depending on whether or not I would include an epilogue. I looks like it's going to be about three times as long. Oopsie… I hope you're not complaining. :)

As you might know I don't like to spoil things, however it is time for another warning. Some of the things discussed in the explanation Narcissa and Draco are giving in this chapter can be triggering. It's nothing graphic but there is violence mentioned. So be careful if this triggers you. Also for the observant reader there is rape mentioned.

EDIT: I made some edits to the library scene in order to make it clearer who is speaking.

Chapter 20

The next day Minerva and Hermione are nervous about the coming visitors and it's getting on Ginny's nerves so much she eventually snaps

"Would you two please talk to each other about what is bothering you. I think history has shown it is better for your relationship that way." Both look at Ginny in shock and it is Minerva who recovers fastest.

"I'm sorry Ginny. Hermione, I want you to know that no matter what happens today I'll choose you. I made the mistake of not choosing you once and I'll never make that mistake again."

"You do know I understand the choice you made back then right? And I now believe it was the right choice."

"Thank you dear."

"No thank you, it is comforting to know. I was worried what would happen if things between Narcissa and or Draco and I wouldn't go well today. Please know I'll do everything I can to make tonight a success." Just then there is a knock on the front door. Minerva opens the door to reveal Narcissa and Draco. Narcissa steps in and gives Minerva a kiss on her cheek.

"Good evening Min. Hello Hermione nice to officially meet you." She holds out her hand to Hermione who takes it and answers.

"It's nice to meet you to miss Black."

"Please call me Narcissa, dear."

"Narcissa, may I introduce you to my girlfriend Ginny." Narcissa shakes Ginny's offered hand.

"Nice to meet you Ginny. You're a daughter of Arthur Weasley right?" Ginny tenses. She knows her father and Lucius Malfoy have budded heads on several occasions.

"Yes."

"I've always loved how he is able to rile up my ex-husband. Your father has made my day on more than one occasion." Ginny looks surprised, but before she can react Narcissa continues.

"I'd like to introduce my son, Draco. Draco meet Minerva my partner, her daughter Hermione and Hermione's girlfriend Ginny. Though I think you already know all of them from school." Draco shakes hands with all three the women and looks around nervously while saying.

"Pleasure to meet you."

"I think we're all a little nervous. How about we get that conversation over with before dinner. That way we can all hopefully relax a little. Min, do you have a place where we can sit?"

"Yes, you can use the library. Hermione asked if Ginny could accompany her, is that okay?"

"Of course it is."

"Hermione please take our guests to the library. I'll be in the kitchen to check on dinner. Just come and find me when you're finished."

There is an uncomfortable silence when the four of them have gathered in the library. It is finally Narcissa who breaks it.

"Draco, would you like me to start or do you want to start yourself?" Draco takes a minute before speaking up.

"I'll start. Hermione I'd like to apologize for both my past and future behaviour."

Ginny interrupts Draco."Why would you apologize for future behaviour? Isn't that something you can control?"

Draco looks at his mother for help."I think it's best if I give you a little more information. I do however need a promise that you'll keep this from Min."

"I can't promise to keep things from my mom Narcissa. There have been to many secrets between us in the past."

"Mother, maybe you can explain to Hermione and Ginny why we don't want professor Mcgonagall to know?"

"That's actually a good idea son. Min as a professor of Hogwarts is by law forced to report certain things to the authorities. What we have to tell is something Min has to report in her capacity as a teacher."

"My mother and I don't agree on keeping this from the professor. Mother wants to be honest and believes professor Mcgonagall wouldn't break our trust. I however don't want to bring her in a position where she has to choose between her duties as a teacher and her desire to keep her partners secrets. Besides if we were to tell her and she'd choose her duties as a teacher, which I wouldn't blame her for by the way, I would end up having a hard time in slytherin."

Again it is Ginny who speaks up. "So you want us to keep it a secret that you want to keep on bullying Hermione because you're afraid of getting bullied yourself?"

"Gin, stop. Narcissa, Draco, I think I understand what you're saying and I apreciate it very much Draco that you don't want to put mom in a possibly uncomfortable position. However I won't lie to my mother. I can live with telling her part of the truth. For instance we can tell her you apologized for your behaviour and explained that you might have to pick on me again in the future because otherwise the rest of slytherin will pick on you. That way I don't have to lie to my mom. If she asks questions I won't lie so she might figure certain things out. I'd suggest not telling me more if you're afraid of that." Narcissa and Draco look at each other for a while before Draco turns to Hermione.

"Alright we'll tell you, but please promise me that when she finds out you make sure she puts her duties as a teacher first. I don't want this to ruin her." Draco pleads

"I can do that."

"Mom, could you please tell?"

"Okay. My marriage with Lucius was an arranged marriage. When Andromeda ran of with Ted my parents decided to marry Bellatrix and me of to make sure they wouldn't lose more of their prestige. Although Lucius tried to woo me there never was real love between us. After a while Lucius stopped trying and I honestly can't blame him. It must be quite the ego crusher that no matter what you try your wife just isn't into you. You must know not unlike you I've known I prefer my partner to be of the feminine variety since I was a teenager. Lucius was like my sister and parents a follower of Voldemort. I've never believed in the blood-purity nonsense, But it was made very clear by my family and ex-husband that I never was to voice my opinion on the matter. In the beginning I did go against Lucius and his fellow followers, no matter the consequences. However once I produced an heir Lucius anger about my so called disobedience was no longer directed at me but at our son. I couldn't let anything happen to him and I started to pretend to share Lucius believes. I'm not going to apologize for that as I did what I had to do to keep my son safe. Draco has been begging me to get a divorce every change he got for a few years now and last Christmas I finally stumbled across some information that would make the divorce a possibility without having to fear to loose Draco. Lucius has a gambling problem and this makes him in the eyes of the wizengamot unsuitable to get custody over a child. Therefor I was granted full custody over Draco and Lucius got visiting rights every other weekend on the holidays, unfortunately there is nothing to be done about that for now." Narcissa takes a few deep breaths before continuing.

"Ever since Draco was a kid he has tried to fight Lucius and his ideas. Lucius reacts to being defied with violence, I know this because on more than one occasion have I been on the receiving and of said violence. I however never thought he'd do such things to his own son, his heir. He and Draco have been very good at hiding it from me until it stopped, otherwise I would have tried to intervene. When beating Draco up didn't help keeping him in check Lucius used the same tactic he used on me. Whenever Draco would misbehave in Lucius eyes I would get punished. Once Draco found out he started behaving the way his father wants him to. I hoped things would get better when Draco started Hogwarts, this unfortunately wasn't the case. Lucius made it very clear to Draco what would happen to me if he got any indication Draco was anything but the pureblood-supremacy-loving son. He has gone as far as to ask some of his buddies sons in slytherin too spy on Draco."

"But aren't you safe now that you are divorced?" Hermione inquires

"Unfortunately not Hermione. My father knows where mom lives and although the place is warded to keep him out he has enough shifty friends to gain entrance if he wants to. And me defying him will make him want to enter my mom's house." Draco explains

"So you're going to put on a facade for the rest of your life?"

"No I'm not. After I've finished Hogwarts and am of age I gain access to my trust fund. My mother and I will move to a place nobody knows about and it will have a fidelius charm. Than we can think of our next course of action."

"But why not use the fidelius charm now?"

"Lucius has visiting rights and therefor he has to be able to contact me in regards to our son. And before you ask. Yes if Draco and I were to come forward with what he has done to us he would likely be sent to Azkaban. Draco however would not be safe in slytherin because there are too many sons and daughters of Lucius friends there. That's why we haven't and will not press charges."They're all silent for a while. Ginny and Hermione processing everything they just heard. Hermione is the first one to speak up.

"Thank you for sharing this and I accept your apology Draco, I have one condition though. I want us to meet up on occasion. Now, I know nobody can know of this, but if we meet at the room of requirement I think we can pull it of."

"I'd love that. You'll have to explain the room of requirement to me though." The four of them walk down to the kitchen while Hermione explains the room of requirement to Draco. Dinner is a comfortable affair. It turns out Draco has his love of quidditch in common with Ginny and his love to learn new things with Hermione. Giving the three of them enough to talk about while the adults are looking over their children with love in their eyes.

After dinner Minerva takes Ginny and Draco to the library to show them some rare Quidditch books she's collected over the year, leaving Hermione and Narcissa alone. Narcissa senses Hermione want to say something and stops her.

"No need to give me the talk Hermione. I have not told her yet, but I love your mother very much. I'll do anything I can to make sure she doesn't get hurt."

"Good, she's been through enough." Hermione slaps her hand in front of her mouth in shock of what she's let slip.

"Don't worry Hermione she told me what happened in Malfoy Manor. She was brought direct to the cellar therefor I only knew of her presence when the order arrived to free her. Just know that I more than anybody understand what she's been through and I'll do anything I can to help her heal."

"When you say you understand what she's been through, do you mean…"

"Yes, but unlike your mother I'm not ready to talk about that."

"I understand. You're secret's safe with me."

"I thought you said you don't keep secrets from your mother?"

"I'm sure she'll understand I made an exception for this one."

"Thank you. Its getting late. I'm going to get Draco and head home. You have a wonderful date tomorrow." Hermione turns red.

"You know about that?"

"Well your mother had to explain why she needed a place to stay when she has a beautiful Manor."