'I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward.'

– Charlotte Brontë

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The Tower Window

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29. The Reckoning

Slowly, and without undue haste or anger, Hermione slid herself off Draco's lap. She pulled snug the dressing gown that had fallen open and tightened the belt.

"Draco – what's the meaning of this?" she asked.

Draco looked toward Hermione and then Astoria. He was caught between two unhappy witches.

"Yes Astoria – what is the meaning of this? We are no longer married – you gave that up when you deserted me."

"You are mistaken Draco – about a great number of things. But I'll answer your questions when you get this trollop out of my house."

"You'll watch your tongue Astoria or it may be you escorted from the premises. Miss Granger here has been a great help to the cause while you have been on permanent holiday. "

"Yes, I can see her contribution to the cause from here."

"Well, regardless of what you think you see, I can assure you our marriage is no longer valid. You gave that up when you abandoned me."

Astoria let out a vindictive laugh. "You turned our home into an operations center for the war. It was no longer a fitting place to live. It was not desertion Draco – I always meant to return and sent you many Owls on this matter."

"Well, it's of no matter now," he injected.

"It is of every matter Draco. You're under the assumption we are still governed by the laws of the Wizengamot. You of all wizards should know better. When the Wizards Council assumed power we fell under the old charter. And under the laws of the Wizards Council it takes willing consent from both parties to end a marriage."

"This is preposterous!" objected Malfoy. "You won't get by with it Astoria."

"I'm not getting by with anything Draco – it's the law. And according to the laws of the old charter you've committed adultery with this woman. I might remind you that's a serious offense under the old charter."

"Are you threatening me Astoria."

"Just reminding you Draco," she went on. "I have lived by my marriage vows and have returned to my husband. Now what do you intend to do?"

Hermione stood there silent and listening to every word. She looked down at the almond size engagement ring. Already it's light had dimmed and the luster had faded.

"I better go Draco," she said and looked to him for any word or instruction.

He could only reflect the hopelessness of the situation. He tried to speak but the words never came.


Hermione already had the carpetbag packed when Draco came to her door. The engagement ring was sitting lonely on the table.

"What are you doing Hermione?"

"Going home Draco. What else can I do?" she replied, gathering a few last minute items.

"Hermione please – just give me a little time to get this straightened out," he pleaded.

"Draco – are you mental – did you hear what she said? If she brings this before the Wizards Council they will be forced to act. This might be bad for the both of us."

"You know I'd never let any of this harm you," he tried to reassure.

"Draco, what are you talking about – you already have – and in so many ways."

"I'll make it up to you – I promise."

"Draco your promises are cheap."

"Just give me a chance then," he insisted.

"That's what I have been doing, but I can't trust you. If only you would have explained some of this earlier, we could have worked around it."

He tried to put his arms around the angry witch, but she repulsed his efforts.

"You'd have never stayed a minute if I'd told you of this. What could I have done then. Look Hermione – she left me – you stayed. That's what was important to me."

"Yes Draco, but you forgot to consider what was important to everyone else."

Draco pulled an awful face.

"You're right Hermione – as usual you're right. But you can't doubt my love for you. If you could give this some time. I'm sure Astoria has come back for money. This matter can be settled, I promise."

Hermione paused in the door and took one long look at he tower room.

"I hope you can Draco – but for now it's over for us. Goodbye."

With that, the witch walked out of Draco's life.

...ooo0O0ooo...

Hermione looked to find normalcy in a shattered existence. Her first thought was to get back to work and as quickly as possible. That was the only way to rid herself of troubling thoughts. She saw her life now as a horrible joke. Every memory of Malfoy Manor haunted her. The over-the-top dinner gowns. What a joke she now thought. The parties, the do's, and finally her engagement, all seemed ridiculous in hind-sight.

The word of Astoria's return was everywhere, and it made her look and feel like a fool. Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins all knew of her disaster. Of the few friends she had only Ginny, Harry, and Pansy would speak to her.

But news from the other side began to trickle in. Because of this mess, Draco had been pulled from the ballot for Minister for Magic. Richard Fawley took his place and won hands down. But Fawley was a moderate. Some considered him little different than a Gryffindor at heart, and many of the Hard-liners were furious about it.

With Hermione's background, it was almost assured that at some time in the future she would land a Ministry job. Unfortunately the Ministry was still trying to recover and the process of re-staffing was very slow. She had hoped in the interim she could find work at Flourish and Blotts but they too were currently unable to hire. She had almost given up hope when Obscurus Books offered her a position.

It didn't pay very well and the hours were long, but at least it kept her mind away from dark things that troubled her. And it was just in the nick of time as her savings were nearly exhausted. After the first week of work, Hermione decided to celebrate with a bottle of wine and a meal of fresh meat and vegetables. She'd been eating out of a tin for weeks and was dying for fresh food. She had a scuttle full of coal and a good book to read. It was would be a good weekend, she told herself.

She was a well into the book and the hour was getting late when she heard a rapping at the door. For a moment she cringed at who it might be. Her list of friends were so short she had a one in three chance of guessing. With her wand in hand she cracked the door. It wasn't a friend on her list.

"Draco! What are you doing here?"

Afraid she might slam the door, he raised his hand to plead for a moments time.

"I've brought a friend Hermione."

"A friend?"

With that, Draco looked left and right and then pulled open the long Greatcoat. Standing waist high to the wizard was Daisy.

"Daisy!"

Unfamiliar with matters of protocol, the little house-elf came running up to give Hermione a hug.

"Her-Hermione," stammered Draco. "Can I come in for a minute?"

Hermione finished the hug before she replied.

"For just a minute Draco – you shouldn't be here."

Draco grimaced but nodded.

"I was thinking you could use Daisy a day or two out of the week," he offered.

"Oh Draco, that would be great but you know I can't afford a house-elf."

"Oh, you wouldn't need to worry about that. She's got her own money and all."

Hermione saw this as an attempt on Draco's part to stay in touch. She wasn't sure how best to answer.

"I would ask how things are going," she said. "But it's plastered all over the Daily Prophet."

"Yeah, it's been difficult. She won't budge and now the happiness is gone from Malfoy Manor. All the elves want you back."

"Draco, let's don't go there – please. You have a life now – with your wife. If she finds out you've been here she could still go to the Wizards Council. You could be ruined yet."

"I'm already ruined Granger. And it get's worse every day. Some of us are working to re-establish the Wizengamot. With any luck..."

"It could take years Draco. No, you have to find a way to move forward with the life you have – we all do."

"It might be just a matter of months Hermione," he urged.

Hermione pulled Daisy to her side and looked away. Draco saw this as his cue to depart.

"After all the fighting in the war – this is what I get."

"Yes, it's a raw deal, but it's best we get on with our lives Draco – please don't come back."

Unable to hide the pain in his eyes the wizard disapparated.

...ooo0O0ooo...

The days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months. Sometimes, Daisy would inadvertently let news slip from the Manor, but Hermione never encouraged her to tell it, unless it concerned the other house-elves. Griselda had, in a fit of anger, nearly beaten to death another young elf, and healers had to be called in to save the poor soul.

Hermione knew from the gossip columns in the Daily Prophet that nothing had really changed. Astoria had even hosted a do, probably to remind the community that she was the one true Lady of the house. With clever use of euphemisms, the author pretty much described the party as a flop.

Daisy said she and Draco didn't get along and slept in separate rooms and that the other elves disliked her as well. Daisy also admitted that she had been seeing a bit of Alfred but that when Hermione left her movements became restricted to the non-living quarters of the house. When this happened, she explained, the two had fallen out of touch.

So things looked pretty miserable at Malfoy Manor. Life for Hermione slogged on. She had spent some time with Ginny and it seemed that any damages to their friendship during the split had been repaired. Ron was seeing others now, and strangely this didn't seem to bother Hermione at all. This had to be telling her something but she didn't know what exactly it was.

Pansy too would occasionally Owl and stop by the bookstore. Like Daisy, it seemed she had never completely given up on Hermione's return. But Hermione had hardened her heart and consoled herself to believe the whole experience was long behind her now.

Richard Fawley would occasionally stop by the bookstore. He would order a book or two and look at her as if to say is this really the same girl?. And she couldn't blame him – Hermione looked nothing like the girl he asked out for coffee before the war's end. Now wearing simple work frocks she barely resembled the bold and daring young girl who strolled the corridors of Malfoy Manor half-naked.

The parties at the Manor had a been like a dream where common civil realities barely applied. People were giddy and drunk with the promise of achieving a life far beyond the ordinary. And the sights of girls in diaphanous gowns were not offensive but part of the flirting promise of better times. Hermione had been one of those girls. The girl who wore sheer evening gowns with the daring decolletage; the girl who had been the apple of Draco Malfoy's eye.

As hard as he tried Fawley could never hide the trace of regret that showed in his eye. She thought a time or two that he might ask her to tea or coffee, but he never did. But those days, before the war ended, felt like such a long time ago, and what would the new Minister for Magic see in a girl like her?

She had been bold enough once to ask him if he knew of any new positions coming available in the Ministry. He explained that every resource available was being applied to rebuilding the Wizengamot. She thanked him for the explanation, knowing it might somehow affect Draco's situation.

When it did happen it was splashed across the front page of the Prophet:

New Wizengamot Adopted

Original Charter of Rights Reinstated

The news of this change was so ironic. Now that Draco had the law of the magical community on his side, Astoria was tucked away safely behind the walls of the Manor with no intention of breaking them.

As the weeks went by, there was never any news to indicate the slightest change to their marital status from the new laws. Somehow, Hermione never thought there would be. At last, it seemed, the book had finally closed on the story of Hermione Granger and the adventures of Malfoy Manor. It was time to find a new story. It was time to find a new life.

Finally she got a letter from Flourish and Blotts. It was for an offer of the job she had originally wanted. It wasn't a Ministry position but the pay was a little better and the hours weren't so long. She wouldn't know what to do with the free time, but she thought she might go back to the Muggle health spa. She had lost much weight and energy since leaving the Manor.

For some reason, her visits from Daisy became less frequent. At first it was twice a week, then once a week, and now once every two weeks, if that. Hermione guessed Daisy was gradually giving up on Hermione's return. Either that or Hermione's life in the small flat was so depressing that Daisy wanted no part of it.

Early one morning, before work, an Owl arrived. It was from Pansy. She had tried to look Hermione up at Obscurus Books but couldn't find her. Hermione Owled her back news of the new job and the two witches quickly arranged a lunch at the Leaky Cauldron. There had been a sense of urgency in Pansy's note but whatever the news she had left it for lunch.

Hermione put on her best dress for the occasion. A simple kit, it would probably resemble a sack in Pansy's eyes. A bit late for her lunch appointment, Hermione almost walked right by the huge bold headlines in the morning's Daily Prophet. When she paused at the newsstand and saw it she knew in an instant the reason for Pansy's urgency:


Malfoy Manor Destroyed by Fire

The prize of Wiltshire, Malfoy Manor, was consumed by fire today in the early morning hours.

The fire broke out today, well before morning light to destroy much of the famous Manor

before help could arrive. While no wizarding life was lost there were serious injuries and

several house-elves were taken by the blaze. It seems that…..


Hermione stood there aghast, and totally taken back at the news. She trotted, almost running, to find Pansy at the Leaky Cauldron. When the two witches met, each knew the others thoughts, and instant realizations swept across their faces. Showing much emotion, Pansy grabbed Hermione and the two witches hugged and the tears swelled.

"What happened," began Hermione. "Have you heard?"

"Let's find a seat," Pansy instructed and they grabbed the nearest available.

"Who was hurt?"

"It was Draco," answered Pansy and Hermione was struck with a horrid visage.

"Is is bad?"

"The healers aren't sure to the extent of the injury but it's serious – and they were attacked. This was no accidental fire."

"Attacked!? By who?"

"Do you remember a wizard named Thortlean? He had a sidekick called Pengrove."

Hermione appeared stymied for only a moment.

"The names are familiar – I think they wandered in for some business one day not long after I arrived."

"They were trouble. They fought for the Ministry but were a couple of undesirables for sure. Apparently Draco had some problems with them," said Pansy – half stating – half asking.

"Yes," agreed Hermione as if she knew.

"Well – Draco made an attempt to get rid of them."

"He told me they died fighting the Order."

Pansy shook her head.

"No – here's were it gets a little tricky. Draco gave them up – apparently he and Potter had some kind of agreement, and they used it to moderate the war."

"Agreement," gasped Hermione. "He never said anything about that to me."

"Only Goyle and Nott were made aware of it," said Pansy. "You must know that Muggle killings gradually decreased and finally stopped as the war went on."

"Well yes, but I thought they'd simply had their fill of blood-lust."

"Perhaps. But it turns out the undesirables on both sides were betrayed. You see Thortlean and Pengrove were given an assignment in Knockturn Alley. Potter was well-warned ahead of time. Thortlean and Pengrove were to be killed that day. It would have happened like casualties war of course, but in reality they were betrayed and targeted."

"I would have never imagined Harry would have been involved in something like that – or Draco for that matter."

"It gets worse," warned Pansy. "Thortlean and Pengrove were not killed but turned into Werewolves."

Hermione threw her hands to her mouth.

"You knew of this?" asked Pansy.

"Yes – I ran into them one night and we saw tracks for a long time. But how in the world..."

Pansy threw up her hands. "I couldn't say. It was a cock up of some kind. But they survived only to come back to the Manor seeking revenge."

"This is an incredible story," Hermione said. "Was it just the two of them, the attackers?"

"No, there were more – probably Hard-liners with a grudge to bear."

"And the house-elves that were killed?" Hermione asked, hesitantly.

Pansy had to squint to recall the names. "Alfred and Griselda – I'm fairly sure of – and maybe Dinkins."

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief that Daisy had been spared. "And Draco's injuries – you didn't tell me..."

Pansy shook her head. "It's not good Granger."

"What?"

"It's his eyes – he can't see," she replied and covered her face with her hands.

"Will he recover," Hermione asked, hoping for hope.

"It's too early for the Healers to say."

"This is simply awful," lamented Hermione.

"There's one other thing of note."

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

"Astoria. She's packed her bags. It looks like it may be for good this time."

Hermione nodded silently.

"I wish I could help."

"You can – but not right away."

...ooo0O0ooo...

The weeks passed by without another word from Pansy. Hermione wondered why the witch had failed to reach out. She tried not to be suspicious but it hardly mattered. She had been away for so long, she certainly had no claims on Draco Malfoy. Perhaps Pansy was taking advantage of this situation to improve her own chances with Draco. Hermione quickly scolded herself for dwelling on this.

The bitter winter had at last thawed. Piles of snow, shoveled from walkways, had gradually melted and the early spring flowers were beginning to bloom. The smell of freshly mown grass had gradually replaced the wet decay of winter.

She was shelving books when a voice called out her by name.

"Hello Granger."

She spun around to see Gregory Goyle.

"Greg – long time no see." Goyle nodded and smiled.

"Can we talk a minute," he asked.

Hermione studied the wizard for any clue as to the nature of his call but found none.

"Sure – we can talk. We have a break-room in back. Is that okay?"

Goyle smiled his approval and followed Hermione to the break-room table.

"I haven't seen you since the accident," he began.

"I heard it was no accident."

"No, it wasn't. But that hardly matters now. I sorta figured you for the type to visit Draco – but you haven't."

"But what about the wife? Is she out of the picture now?"

"Entirely – she left Draco after the Manor burned. She sent some Owls but never returned. Draco's barristers sought a divorce on grounds of repeated desertions and got one."

"That's news," Hermione said, a bit perplexed. "I would have thought Pansy would have..."

Goyle shook his head. "I wouldn't count on Pansy."

"No – of course not. She has a life of her own after all. I suppose she'll be making a play for Draco?"

"I don't think Draco wants anything to do with her – you should go to him."

"His vision – is it better?"

"You should go to him Granger."

...ooo0O0ooo...

Hermione finished her day efficaciously, but the echo of Goyle's advice never left her mind over the course of it. She would leave directly from Flourish and Blotts. Making ready with such haste, she wouldn't have time to change out of her work clothes. From an alley behind Flourish and Blotts she disapparated to the very gates of Malfoy Manor.

But the gates were not there. It had not been enough to destroy the house, the vindictiveness of the attackers had included the gates as well. The gravel path was strewn with boulders and rocks blasted from the gates and the house itself. The remains of the house stood like the skeleton of some prehistoric beast. What had not been totally blown away the fire had consumed. It was little wonder Astoria had gone packing.

Strangely and as if by some miracle, the magically enhanced Northeast wing stood intact and looked as majestic as it ever had. Standing tall and surreal over the grounds, the tower that had been her home was now the tallest point of the remaining structure.

The original route to this wing was buried by a thick layer of ruble and stone. Circumnavigating the remaining structure, there was a door at the very end of the mansion farthest from the fire. Hermione performed the Alohomora and opened the latch. There was a long and dimly lit corridor along the ground floor of which she had never visited. The light of day was about to give out and candles along the corridor walls provided scant illumination.

She proceeded tenderly along until she could hear the pitter-patter of elf feet. Dinky who had come running down the corridor stopped, frozen in his tracks, when he saw her. Stunned, he didn't know what quite to make of Hermione. At last he timidly ventured up.

"Dinky."

"Miss Hermione – is that you?"

"Yes Dinky, it is."

"It's a wonderful day Miss Hermione – it's a wonderful day that you've returned."

"Dinky, is Daisy about."

"Yes Miss. She's somewhere around."

"Can you fetch her?"

Dinky nodded obsequiously and disappeared as fast as elf feet would carry him. At the end of the corridor, that ran the length of the Northeast wing, there appeared to be a large room of some kind. It might be a sitting room or a study of some kind. It had been a warm day and there was no fire to light it. A few candles seemed to flicker in the distance.

Daisy came immediately to Hermione's request. She was delighted beyond words to see her old mistress. They hugged tightly for some time.

"Daisy how are things?" asked Hermione after some time.

"Oh Miss, they has been very bad for some time now. Even before the fire things was very bad. Mister Draco and Miss Astoria, they fought all the time."

"That's terrible Daisy – is Draco down there?" she asked and pointed to the room in question.

Daisy paused but nodded. "Yes Miss he is – but he don't see visitors no more."

"He doesn't?"

"Oh no Miss. Mister Draco – he has visions – Daisy is afraid his mind is going bad. He wants us to bring candles in the dark, but all us house-elves knows he is blind. We is terribly frightened Miss Hermione."

"Daisy, you mean to say the healers don't come by to see him?"

"No Mam. Miss Pansy – sometimes she comes but he don't talk to her no more. He just talks to these walls. We is all afraid. Very afraid."

Dinky, carrying a tray with a glass of water, entered the corridor and turned toward the room.

"Dinky?"

"Yes Miss?"

"Can I carry that in?"

Dinky twitched his large ears and looked to Daisy inquisitively. She signaled her approval in a way only elves could recognize. Taking the tray from Dinky, Hermione proceeded down the long corridor toward the dimly lit sitting room. The flickering candle appeared brighter as darkness had completely fallen on the Manor and grounds.

As Hermione entered the lonely sitting room there was a leather covered Chesterfield facing a window with no light. Draco, with bandaged eyes, sat there as if expecting to see something appear in the window. There was a small table by the chair, and on it a single candle stood bravely against the darkness.

As Hermione moved into the room her footsteps were decidedly different than those of an elf. Draco picked up on the difference in an instant.

"Pansy – is that you?"

When Pansy did not answer Draco rattled on.

"Pansy, I know that's you. I wish you wouldn't come. I've asked you not to come."

Still, the phantom progressed unannounced. Hermione sat the tray on the small table.

"Ah, you've brought food or water. I require neither – so you've wasted your time."

"You need to drink," said the phantom.

"What – who is it?", he asked the dark room. "This is a cruel joke. I cannot see but I have visions nonetheless – and all just as real as life. But this one is a cruel joke."

"It's no joke Draco."

"Yes it is," he said calmly. "The is some cursed affliction from the spell that took my eyes, these visions. Just after my Avada Kedavra scorched his foul hide, his curse took my eyes. I cannot see but these visions never stop."

"Is this a vision Draco?" she asked and stroked back his blonde forelocks that had fallen into useless eyes.

"Granger! Is it really you!?"

"Yes, it's Granger. In voice and in touch."

"How can this be. I've prayed for it but I never believed..."

"I am come back Draco."

"If this is real and not a specter of my cursed imagination, then for how long?"

"For as long as you want me."

At this Draco bowed his head. His whole body shook with giant sobs.

"Don't fret Draco," she said, still rubbing his head. "Your sight will return, as with everything else. We will build the manor back. You'll see. Everything bad is behind us now. You'll see."

Draco continued to sob upon hearing these words.

"Give me your hand Granger, and tell me these words again."

Hermione knelt in front of the blind wizard and held his hand. She repeated her promise.

"But there is a problem Granger. If I could be so bold."

"What is that Draco?"

"Have you come to me to pity - to lend a helping hand. I'll need more from you than that?"

"I'll be whatever you want me to be."

"You'll be my wife then?"

"Yes, of course."

"But Hermione – could you stand being married to a man as impaired as I am."

"I don't particularly see you as impaired. And besides, I think I like this Draco Malfoy better than the old arrogant version."

Draco smiled a crusty smile. "Then we will be married immediately."

"Now that we've got that out of the way – I'm hungry, and I've been all day without rest. Will you take something to eat with me?"

"This is a wonderful day. Of course I will. But I'm afraid the food is not what it was. The kitchen is gone and we lost Dinkins."

"It'll be fine. From now on out we'll never complain and it will all be fine. We'll rebuild the Manor, and we'll rebuild the kitchen. We can't replace poor Dinkins but we can train others to cook just as well. In time, things will be as they were – you'll see. And you'll see with your own eyes with vision that has returned as well."

With that Draco reached into the pocket of his waistcoat and produced a ring. Even in the dim candlelight the diamond had regained the light it lost and sparkled brightly.

"I've carried it every day. I don't know why – I never figured on being so blessed ever again."

With that, Draco slipped the huge diamond on Hermione's finger.

"I never really thought they would – but my prayers have been answered. I love you Granger."

"And I love you Draco Malfoy."

The End

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A/N: There will be at least one more installment in the form of an epilogue. I do see a future for these two guys and it's not at all bad. I said in the beginning that this story didn't have to invalidate the 9 ¾ epilogue scene of 19 years later – and while I suppose that's still true, why would anyone prefer it.? :)

I think this story will read better at one sitting after it's finished. I apologize to those that stuck around for a long time and waited for each chapter – if it didn't turn out the way you wanted it to. I sensed that some wanted a longer and more drawn out story of Draco and Hermione while this one, sticking to rules of story structure, ends rather climatically.

As always a special thanks to all who ever commented and reviewed. I studied over all of them and replied to quite a few. To recent reviewers: keishasalder, KellyCakerMaker, mega700201, hoshiakari7, negupta88, Kats02980416 – I want to say thanks again and apologize for not getting back to any of you, but I have been very busy on a Dramione Holiday one shot: A Merry Christmas Twist. It's generous in length and something hopefully you can curl up in front of the fire with. Should be out early next week!

Finally, and last but not least, thanks to all who read, followed, or faved. Until next time – Happy Holidays. D.Q.