AN: Sorry I am late. Lost internet yesterday; my rabbit ate the chord. I added augary Info to the last world building section. Sorry I forgot. World building this section is more people centered.
Draco had learned to take great joy in his new master of the house abilities, much to Hermione's chagrin. He always managed to beat her awake and as soon as her eyes opened he would summon them a large feast, served in bed. After finally rousing for the day he would walk her around the grounds showing her snippets of his childhood. There was the lawn where his miniature quidditch set used to be. Over here is the stable where he had his first kiss with Pansy Parkinson at eight. He hadn't seen what all the fuss was about. (She made sure to remind him.) All in all it was a great holiday, but as it was winding down her thoughts geared up, the ghost of near misses chilled her to the bone. He had a life here, one he was expected to return to. Just as she would return to the shadows, hiding from the past and present alike. He had already nearly died once, twice if you count that first trip that started it all. Whatever they were, she could never walk beside him, not like he wanted. Every attempt to address… whatever they were was pushed to the side quickly, neither of them really wanting to ruin anything before they had to.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked from the grass next to her. She had found that lazing about in the sun was one of his favorite hobbies despite his pale skin. She wondered if there was some sort of permanent sun lotion charm or if it was something genetic. Perhaps-
"Granger?" He questioned again pushing up onto his elbows. His eyes glinted with curiosity and just the barest sense of concern. "I can see you rambling in there. Spit it out before you break something."
"Shouldn't you be nicer to me?" She questioned teasingly. It wasn't that she was avoiding the topic, per say. It was more so that she didn't want to break the fragile mirage they were living in.
"I have never been nice." He scoffed. "You've known that for years."
"Hmmm, Maybe I'll exchange you then." She mused tapping a finger to her lip. "I bet there's a newer model that comes with a doting upgrade."
"Ah, but you have the limited edition, Master of an ancient and very large house package." He pushed up to give her a soft almost teasing kiss that in all left her breathless and even more melancholy than she was. He fell back onto the grass looking smug. "Plus, I can do that. Now what has got you all worked up?"
"You aren't going to like it." His closed eyes scrunched at that, his face pulling into a weak scowl.
"There are a lot of things I don't like. Not telling me just ensures I really won't like it later."
He had a point. "It's about Harry."
"Ah, my least favorite topic. I agree, let's not talk about it."
"Fickle boy." She swiped the hair into his face playfully, watching the elegant way he pushed it back, his fingers trailing through it as if trailing through water. "I think I need to leave London."
He froze halfway through the movement, his hand still tangled at the back of his head. The muscles in his face twitched but his eyes remained closed.
"I think I should go somewhere else for a little while. It's not like I technically need to be here for work or anything. It would just put some distance between Harry and I. You know, let things calm down." She hated how unsure she sounded, like she was asking for permission. She wasn't sure what reaction to expect, she swore his moods were as mercurial as his eyes sometimes. She did know that he would not let her get away with leaving a note and disappearing into the night.
"How long?"
"I have no idea. I haven't really planned it all out yet." She murmured, pulling up her knees and wrapping her arms around them. She watched in silence as a nearby male peacock unfolded his tail, trying to catch the attention of one of the hens. He was rejected as she turned and strutted away.
Malfoy finally opened his eyes, but they revealed absolutely nothing. She wasn't necessarily expecting tears. But possibly some anger, shouting, or at the very least resignation. He stared at her for a long measure, sorting something out in his head. With a deep sigh he shook his head.
"Fine." Hermione's heart ached, not that she wasn't expecting it. After all, she had never really clarified what this week had been and he had not volunteered it. Still, she had expected… something more. Even if… whatever this was… meant nothing she would like to think he would at least miss her as a friend. He lolled his head to this side, watching her face. "Where are we going?"
"What?" She questioned dumbly as he turned to focus on the fluffy clouds packing tightly together overhead. It was likely to rain again soon. Not that that was atypical of spring.
"Well I will need time to set up the floo. International connections can be difficult if you want it to be untraceable but I do have a contact for that. Blaise is already taking care of the company right now so the transition should be pretty painless. I will have to pop back to London at least once a week for meetings, possibly twice during new releases and holidays…"
"Oh… I- uh… Oh."
"What?" He questioned, a hard edge to his voice. A muscle in his jaw clenched as he stared at the sky. "You didn't actually think you were leaving without me did you?"
"Well…" Him coming along had never really been part of the plan. He had a life, an image. He still had so much to stay for, especially with Blaise fixed up. They could take London by storm with no dark cloud floating around them. He probably wanted a life, a family; someone who could go to a horridly boring gala with him without running away screaming...
"Honestly." He sighed deeply, schooling himself as he glared at her. He kept his tone bland and level. "While I appreciate having more than a spare scrap of parchment as notice before you run off into some half cocked scheme, you don't get to run from me. I am not half as incompetent as those idiots you dodged last time and no matter where you run I will find you anyway. Then I will yell and you will cry and we will both feel terrible so let's just skip the whole damn thing, and have some lunch."
Utilizing whatever magical control he had even on the lawn a picnic basket appeared beside them, a variety of tea sandwiches filling it to the brim. He took out a cucumber one and sliced off the crust with his wand, handing it to her gently.
"Draco-"
"Don't argue with me Hermione." He responded by pulling out his own selection. "I always get what I want and doing so will just result in no more crust-less sandwiches for you."
She laughed lightly taking a bite of her meal and trying to force down the warm feeling blooming in her chest. She needed to leave, she knew that. At least if she wanted to avoid being noticed. She watched the man across from her, staring out at the gardens, his jaw clenched with the nearly hidden hint of worry under the sheen of confidence. Whether she liked it or not they were attached, in a different way than everyone else she had left, the very idea made her heart hurt. If she left, it may destroy him... Honestly it may destroy her as well. Could she do it? Could she take him with her and start a new life with him? It seemed preposterous and yet...
"Promise me." He demanded, his shoulders set ridgedly. When he turned to face her his eyes were clear and unguarded and all but sparking, an unholy mixture of worry, fear and pain. " Promise me you won't leave me behind. I won't force myself upon you like Potter has but you have to promise not to just disappear again. You have to tell me."
Hermione thought about it. She really did. It would be for the best if she just vanished. Despite what he thought she was pretty sure he had no chance to find her; she was an expert at this point. And yet, when she imagined her life elsewhere somehow he was always in it. His scathing remarks teasing her for a mistake, his gentle but sure touch preparing some ingredient, especially his watchful gaze, looking at her as if she was the most important thing in the world. She wasn't sure when they had become important to each other, maybe it was this week, maybe it started when he wandered into her shop in Delhi, the subtle emotions working behind the scenes. Regardless, she found she was not ready to give that up, maybe she would never be.
"I promise." She put her whole heart into the words, hoping that every ounce of sincerity leaked into them. A world without Draco Malfoy was not one she wanted to live in, as strange as that sounded.
He stared at her for a long moment, peacocks crying in the background as the wind began to pick up. The absurdity of her current presence on one of the riches most 'pure' estates in the UK was not lost on her. Any yet, his clear acceptance of her was more than enough to make her feel perfectly at home.
"Good." His voice was steady and casual but Hermione could hear the slight waver in pitch, a sign of unabashed relief, or at the least closest he ever got to it. They would have to work on that. She wrapped herself around him, pressing lazy kisses against his neck in the last of the sunlight. At this moment things were perfect and she would take that for what it was worth.
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"I'll be back once I get some tail feathers. I promise to be gentle!"
As soon as she had closed the door behind her he chuckled to himself. If she thought those birds would be gentle back she had another thing coming. It would no doubt keep her busy for a minimum of an hour. He listened to her footsteps fade as she wandered towards the manor proper. When he could no longer hear her he stretched out his magic, feeling for her. Deciding she was far enough away he rose and sauntered over to the floo, in a flare of powder he was back home for only a moment before porting to his office.
He was greeted by a minor explosion of paper and a fair amount of swearing. Blaise grumbled behind the desk floating the stack of papers back into a semi organized pile. Theo was flat on the floor sipping on the freshly saved hot chocolate that his assistant had dropped.
"Drizzella. You haven't seen me." He commented lightly, a chair floating forward from the side wall. The receptionist nodded as he sat at the rather unfamiliar position in front of his desk, Blaise eyeing him oddly.
"Mr. Malfoy is still on vacation. Would you like to leave a message?" She responded automatically. "I believe I will send Marie to lunch early." The witch inclined her head and spun on her heel before walking out and shutting the door behind her.
"Has it been two weeks already?" Theo questioned pulling himself up on unsteady legs.
"You know it hasn't." Blaise responded suspiciously, vanishing the papers. "You still have a few days. What do you want?"
"Can't a man just visit his dearest friends?" Draco questioned, waving away his bar set that came floating toward him like a lonely puppy. That had awkward implications.
"Sure he can." Blaise responded with his eyebrow raised. "I mean you never have, but go ahead. Let's see it."
Draco sat in silence for a moment, Theo's tea cup tinkling against the plate repetitively as he joined them. "Okay, I have a problem."
"Of course you do." Theo responded tiredly.
"Go on then." Blaise drawled as he pulled down another missive, running his eyes across it.
"She wants to leave."
"Who?"
"Granger." He focused on keeping most of the emotion out of her voice. "Potter has spooked her and she now has grand visions of sneaking off to Prague and smoking cigarettes with some slimy Czech."
"Good for her. Tell her I'll send a housewarming gift." Blaise responded, waving his hand dismissively.
"We should get her one of those muggle mixers. I hear every kitchen needs one." Theo replied, though his humor did not erase the dullness of his eyes. He sipped weakly at his cup, spilling the occasional drop onto the matching plate.
"That can't happen." Both males looked up at him, the steel in his voice clearly conveyed despite his best efforts.
"Why do you care?" Blaise responded carefully, watching his every move. He didn't answer, not sure how exactly to formulate a response or even if he knew why. The clattering from Theo's cup had risen to a near racket and he couldn't focus.
"Fucking Christ, Theo. You are going break my tea set." Theo flinched and vanished the cup.
"Sorry. I am a bit handicapped at the moment." He responded softly, tucking his shaking hands into his lap. "I have a meeting at the ministry later."
"Don't avoid the question." Blaise growled, his patience shorter than usual. Draco took in his overworked friends with a stab of guilt. He would have to hire some extra help. He was more than aware he had pushed off a good amount of responsibility on them lately and he was no longer expecting it to be a temporary sort of thing.
"Draco?" Theo questioned, a hint of characteristic understanding leaking into his voice.
"What?"
"You love her don't you." The words hung in the office air, twisting around with the dust motes.
"Of course I do." He sighed softly, not finding the energy to fight against it anymore. It had snuck up on him while he was distracted and latched on like a leech, sucking more and more of him away every time he stepped into that shabby, knockdown workshop she called home. By the time he realized what was going on he was already too far gone. He could see it in her smile and hear it in the way she laughed. He could feel it when she pulled on his arm desperately trying to convince him to go to some twice damn hostile environment to fetch a useless herb for an equally worthless potion and every time he said yes. Every moment spent with her felt like it was stolen directly from whatever God cursed him to exist on this planet. It should be painful, he should feel abused, he should hate her. But all he could think about was that no matter the outcome, it had all been worth it.
Blaise didn't respond, he just sighed. Theo meanwhile had a small but private smile slip on his face as he stared out the window. The whole situation was so out of place in their usual relationship it almost felt like he was talking to two different people.
"How long?" Theo questioned.
"Just now? Since Christmas? Forever? The hell if I know." He answered honestly. Theo simply nodded staring at his hands that still fidgeted in his lap. Maybe he would just sell the whole damn company and pull out of London all together. He couldn't keep asking his friends to run at this level forever and what was even the point? He had more than enough to support whatever future Hermione wanted, even if she wanted to buy her way to being the Queen of Sheba.
"Is there any chance I can talk you out of it?" Blaise finally asked, breaking the silence as he rubbed his forehead.
"I would not suggest trying." Draco responded coldly, meeting his friend's gaze. After a moment the other wizard nodded as if confirming something before leaning back in his chair.
"Have you told her yet?" He questioned, his eyes half lidded as he watched Draco from across the desk.
"Not in so many words."
"Then how is she supposed to know?" Theo prompted.
"Shouldn't she just… know?" After all he had never... That is to say... Well he wasn't like that around anyone but her. It brought out the worst in him, making him an emotionally driven mess of possession, awkward words and softness. He became a bumbling idiot around her, frequently losing control of his actions while at the same time feeling blessed she even deigned to share the same air with him. Other times he was tempted to throttle her for doing something dangerous or not taking proper care of herself when on a research lead. But the most important to him were the little quiet daily moments, just brewing next to her while she read some dead wizard's diary. If that wasn't love then what was?
"You're asking the wrong people, mate." Blaise commented to the desk. "We are not exactly the pinnacle of healthy relationships here."
"If you won't tell her then show her." Theo added, rubbing the back of his hand.
"How do you suggest I go about that?"
"Presents?" Blaise suggested. "All women like stuff."
"She's not like that. I can't just buy her."
"You aren't trying to buy her, you grand idiot." Theo shot testily. Draco felt a flare of anger only for it to be overwrought by guilt as his friend dropped his head into his hands, clearly trying to nurse a headache into something manageable. Patience. It was something else he had learned from her. "You are trying to show her you care. Of course it would just be easier to tell her."
"He's right." Blaise added. "Get her something only she would like. Something she would never get herself no matter how desperately she wanted it."
Draco thought about it for a moment. The obvious answer was a rare ingredient of some kind, or perhaps a special cauldron.
"And not something work based." Blaise growled, knocking out most of his options. "Merlin, you are predictable."
Draco leaned back, folding his hands in front of him as he thought. A new kitten would probably be unappreciated by Crookshanks so that was out. She had no interest in clothes or trinkets. Jewelry was always a safe bet but she never really wore-
He caught sight of the watch on his wrist as the face glinted in the sun. The small scratch near the six o'clock mark a distinct marker. He wondered.
"Blaise, I need you to look into something."
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Hermione woke ridiculously tender and thoroughly entangled with long pale limbs that, even in sleep, clung desperately to her. She sighed lightly, relishing the way all her muscles ached with the soreness of being overworked and the way his skin brushed against hers. After a quick moment of fighting for the right to stand up she freed herself from the protective arm locked around her rib cage. As usual her clothes were gone so she threw on her newly laundered robe before wandering into the kitchen. She had every intention of making a thank you breakfast. Yesterday Draco had provided her with a library catalog of all the books in the mansion, withdrawing any that she requested with a wave of his hand. There were first editions of books she never thought to even see copies of. Some were original potions manuals containing hand written personal notes from their author for Merlin's sake! Greedily she set about duplicating as many as she could until he coerced her to bed that night with absolutely evil promises that he did most definitely deliver on. It was something she could get very used to.
The sounds of cooking echoed in the house, something that may have frightened her if burglars broke into your home to make cupcakes. Draco's house elf was directing the beginning of breakfast while humming softly. If whatever she was making could qualify as breakfast. Hermione saw no less than twelve bowls and three bottles of alcohol wheezing around. She had stumbled upon the source of their usual in-bed feast. She cleared her throat, startling the poor elf.
"Lady!" The elf breathed, scandalized. "You should not be out of bed, no you should not."
Before Hermione could so much as respond the elf summoned a plush looking rocking chair into the kitchen. She quickly ushered Hermione into it while covering her in a mound of blankets.
"My name is Hermione. You can call me that." Hermione murmured ruefully through her small air hole. The house elf squealed in pain or delight, Hermione was unsure.
"Lady Hermione. A very nice name indeed." Apparently satisfied to see Hermione thoroughly suffocated, the house elf stepped back to the kitchen working on breakfast. "The Lady should not be out of bed, Daisy told Filly so. The Lady and Master should be resting and saving their energy for house matters."
"I am pleasantly rested." Hermione sighed working her way through the blankets so that they fell in her lap. "You don't need to make us breakfast Filly. I was going to make something for Draco."
"Nonsense." Filly drifted over a tea cup which Hermione took gratefully. She grimaced slightly at the scent of green tea, really preferring black or Earl Grey or black in the morning for the caffeine. She eyed the pot of coffee on the stove enviously. "Filly lives to serve the family."
"I'm not family and you should only serve if you want to. Not because you have to." Hermione countered sipping the drink nonetheless. In spite of the low energy level the tea was excellently made and she could taste just the lightest breath of spring in warm floral notes.
"I am most pleased to serve the family, Lady Hermione." The elf dismissed bidding over a rather bland looking breakfast of plain yogurt, bran toast and some scrambled eggs. She grimaced lightly, she hadn't eaten scrambled eggs since she was seven. She examined the stack of smoked salmon and fried eggs in the corner clearly planned for Draco's plate. Surely he didn't need that much.
"I'm not a Lady. Just Hermione." She tried picking at the pale breakfast. Perhaps it was left over from the blood purity views of the last generation bleeding into the new one. She would have to ask Draco to politely have a discussion with the elf. It wasn't that she was horrid, she seemed quite nice. Hermione just didn't want to subsist on peasant food if the creature insisted on cooking for them again.
"Hermione is not a lady." The elf agreed as if insulted by the very idea. "Hermione is The Lady. The Lady brought The Master back to the home. It is a good thing."
She quickly flipped something in a pan, the sweet scent of sugar and chocolate wafting over. Hermione tried to focus past her salivating and planning how to swipe Draco's breakfast before it got to him. Bunching up her courage she decided on the straight forward tactic, pointing at the salmon with clear desire. "Filly. Could I have some of that?"
"Of co-" Filly looked up, snapping to attention immediately. Hermione had already started reaching for the salmon when the elf let out a sharp bark. "Absolutely not!"
"What?" Hermione's spirits fell as the plate completely disappeared from the counter, the elf physically blocking her from any of the good food with wide frightened eyes. "Why not?!"
"Daisy said no fish. Daisy said that breakfast will help. It is made of calming foods it is!" Filly eyed her carefully, cutting off the remaining cooking with a snap of her fingers.
"Why doesn't Daisy want me to have fish?" Hermione questioned only vaguely aware of the sounds of footsteps in the hallway.
"It's not good for the Young Master, he is most important. You shall wait. Daisy said." Hermione eyed her suspiciously bland breakfast with trepidation.
"There is more than enough food for both of us." She shot back. "Draco won't mind."
"It is not safe for the Young Master. The Lady must wait until after he comes. Then Lady Hermione can have all the fish and drink she desires. Daisy said so." Hermione's eyes widened in horror as she caught the implication. Filly continuing with her cooking as if nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Suddenly the elf flinched as a distinct chill bled into the air.
"Filly." Hermione felt the magic in the room rush to greet him in a swirl of anger. The air all but crackled, tickling across her skin. "That won't be necessary."
"But Daisy said-" Clearly unaccustomed to the usual house elf relationship Filly spoke out of turn. She was cut off quickly.
"Leave." He growled, enticing Hermione to look at the doorway where he loomed. It was clear why the Malfoy family had survived at the top of Britain's hierarchy for so long, they were beautifully powerful even in their ruthlessness. His eyes flared dangerously and every movement felt elegant and slow while promising action. She was somewhat terrified by the idea she had no idea what he was capable of.
"Filly is sorry sir." Filly immediately fell on the floor, her long ears dropped and quivering. " Filly is still learning-"
"Draco. Don't-" Hermione interrupted, reaching out as if to stay his hand. His eyes flashed in fear and disappointment for only a moment before settling into a guarded state. Hermione continued, pulling her arm into her lap. "She just misunderstood is all."
He regarded her slowly, his clenched fist forcibly glued to his side as he examined her closely. She forced herself to breath as if completely unbothered by the whole situation. The thousand thoughts running through her head slowed to a crawl. Finally he scowled, stalking over to the plates filled with suddenly forbidden breakfast items.
"Filly go." The small elf yipped before disappearing in a near silent crack. The magic still roiled around him, drifting past her like an electric breeze. It was almost suffocating to be here when it was like this.
"Draco-." She started.
"You didn't actually think I was going to hurt her did you?" He ground out piling assorted foodstuffs onto his plate. A cup of coffee floated over to the pot, filling quickly with deep brown liquid. "I am not a monster."
"No I didn't think that at all." Hermione lied immediately. While many thoughts crossed her mind at that point, the foremost was the fact that she should stop making judgments based off of half heard information that was years old. "But she didn't deserve to be fired for trying to do her job. It's not like she had proper training."
He winced, both his hands spread out gripping the counter. The bath robe did little to hide his muscles as they roiled with tension. He sighed deeply, letting his head roll back and body relax. "This thing is… Harder than I imagined."
"They say it gets easier." She mused watching the way hair drifted against his neck. "As time goes on."
"Do you believe that?" He questioned, glancing over his shoulder. She just shrugged. He swept over to the table, food in hand and cup of coffee trailing behind him. It was only as he pulled out his chair he caught sight of Hermione's breakfast. He froze, starting as her sorry amalgamation of food groups.
"You don't actually want to eat that do you?" He questioned scowling at the plate. Hermione considered keeping silent if only to push away the discussion however the growling of her stomach made it fairly impossible to lie.
"I could go for some Earl Gray too." She mumbled as he placed his plate in front of her before wandering back over to the counter, lightly cursing. She eyed the raw egg yolk and smoked fish in front of her, a sharp stab of fear shooting through her, suddenly killing her appetite.
"Draco?" She questioned shakily poking at the yolk with her fork, the liquid golden trails bleeding into the white, perfect for mixing with the fish. In spite of the hollow feeling in her stomach she wanted nothing to do with the meal.
"I'm sorry about that. Daisy had an intuitive way of going about things…" He trailed off as he sent her tea over with a flick of his wrist. "Without anyone here she must have been imparting whatever should could on Filly, just without practical context."
"Right." She was silent as he joined her, the steaming tea slowly cooling in front of her. There was no way, it was impossible that she could know. But then again magic is frequently impossible. And couldn't animals tell when a storm was coming and take shelter? She was pretty sure Muggles had started to train dogs to sense medical issues like seizures and heart conditions. Would it really be that far out of an idea that a sentient magical creature could do the same? The thought sent a new wave of panic careening over her. "Draco?"
"Yes?" He questioned with a flinch, still clearly avoiding the tension as he stared down at his eggs. It was strange seeing him unsure. After months of overconfident swaggering she couldn't help but find it somewhat endearing even under the circumstances. He looked like a favored child who had just been caught stealing a sweet before dinner- something she bet he had done plenty of times as a kid. Did his mother scold him, or simply pat the top of his head and laugh? What would she do in Narcissa's place? The same or- Her vision blurred at the edges and she took a deep breath to center herself. Seeing not much else to do she just asked.
"Would she… would she know?"
"Know?" Draco looked up at her in thinly veiled confusion. She flicked her eyes towards the discarded breakfast then down at her stomach meaningfully. Suddenly his eyes shot wide, his cutlery forgotten as he held up his hands in defense. "Oh Merlin no! No she doesn't… You're not… I mean it's not to say… I… fucking- shite. This is not how I ever expected to address this conversation."
"Oh, thank God." She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding at his reaction, her muscles going slack and her stomach awakening with a new fevor in it's relief. She even found the room to chuckle at his groan as he buried his face in his hands.
"It was just a guess. Or I suppose an instruction since we've been..." He pulled his hands away and glanced up at her eating before his face flushed red again and he looked away. For once he actually looked like a bumbling teenager, it was refreshing. "This is mortifying."
The relief was intoxicating to Hermione who was wholly unprepared for that life. Or any life that didn't involve the next week's inventory list… at least right now. It also helped that breakfast, when she was not being served food known to bore the stomach, was amazing. "In hindsight I am sure it will be quite funny."
"I'm glad someone sees the humor in it." He grumbled just starting on his breakfast. He picked at the eggs silently for a few minutes until ever clink of his fork against the China drove her closer to madness.
"Spit it out, Malfoy." She sighed, sipping on her tea.
"Would..." He paused to flick his eyes upward, head still bent over the table. "Ehm... Would that really be so awful?"
"Would what- Oh..." The question hung in the air, her breakfast lying half eaten and forgotten. The icy fear returned to her sending her heart skittering down to her stomach. Hermione's mind was a flurry of activity. She was unable to parse a single thought from the mess as ideas flickered had both cast contraceptive charms every time, on the off chance one would fail, the second certainly wouldn't. But the idea of a family was never one she had allowed herself before, let alone with Draco Malfoy of all people.
"I am an idiot. I shouldn't have said anything." He growled crossing his arms and folding into himself. He cursed under his breath, she thought she heard something about Theo in the jumble of words but it was gone. Finally he drew a hand through his hair and sighed. "It's just. This is so new and... I don't know... Basically what I am trying to say is that this is important to me. I guess I just wanted you to know that."
"It's important to me too." She responded with a warm smile. He glanced up, a small crooked smile flashed on his face. It looked so hopeful, something that sent fear coursing through her. Suddenly exhausted by the morning activities she felt the distinct need for some alone time, a rarity in her usual life. Although she supposed this was 'her usual life' now.
"I'm going for a wander." She stated transfiguring her bathrobe into a proper treaking robe and one of the blankets wrapped around her into a knee length tea dress. Draco stood, his hand outstretched as if he wanted to say something.
"Right." He nodded pulling his arm close to his chest, she was grateful for the space. "I'll talk to her while you're out." She must have pulled a face since he rolled his eyes at her before sitting to resume his breakfast. "Don't worry. I won't fire her. Although what an abandoned mansion needs with a house elf is beyond me… I will call Pinky over to give her some proper training."
She smiled awkwardly, torn between wanting to stay and needing to get out. Her feet finally found the motivation to move just her brain vocalized the thought that she was running away. She was out of the front garden before she could change her mind. She threw up her hood in case someone did see her, in spite of Draco's reassurances otherwise. It wouldn't do much but it would give her time to cast a few glamour charms.
The Malfoy Manor grounds were unfairly beautiful for not having anyone care for them in years. The situation had led her to believe there was only one house elf and as such the gardens and hedges grew wild. Roses, morning glories and lilies flowered under centuries old spells to ensure their seasonality. Thick untrimmed hedges grew upwards instead of out making them all the more breathtaking in their height. Even the perfectly manicured path was free of weeds as side growing flowers ran over the stone walls and spilled just ever so slightly into the walkway. She avoided the entrance to the hedge maze, wandering around the edges until she reached the manor.
When it appeared from what she could have sworn was the back wall of the maze she stumbled over her own feet. The walls looked every bit as imposing as they had been on her first trip here, although the sunny spring day did put a damper on the forbiddingness. As a matter of fact the pale gray stones just felt like stones, the windows like windows, and the decorative spires like spires. It was every bit as normal as any other castle floating around the UK. Her steps took her forward, landing on a thick marble patio. The dais spread in a wide half circle, large enough to host a party for fifty with no one having to step off of it or feel crowded. She rolled her eyes at the idea.
A bit of motion in an upstairs window caught her attention, a curtain wavering slightly before falling still. She threw up her best mental walls, trapping the anxiety inside and any attacks outside. She wandered closer to the french doors leading to the house. Theo had mentioned wards and heavy compulsion charms on them to keep people away but to Hermione they just hummed lightly with Draco's now familiar magic. She reached a hand out tentatively just as another movement deeper within caught her eye. A shadow surely, after all, wasn't Draco's mother in Italy or some such place? Who else would be in the manor? It was probably just Filly dusting.
Just as she turned around and had moved to step away she heard the gentle click of a door unlatch. Carefully, as if not to be noticed by whatever had already seen her she peeked over her shoulder. The french doors had swung open wide, inviting her in. Wall mounted candelabras flickered to life lighting the dark hallway with an almost merry glow. She should head back and tell Draco, this seemed highly unusual. Then again, what if this was his way of letting her in? His way of letting her address her ghost without an audience. An odd comfort considering she had really never felt the need to seek out the room she had been tortured in prior to this moment. Suddenly feeling much more confident in her curiosity she took a tentative step into the doorway. She was honestly expecting immolation or some other equally horrid fate for being a muggleborn who dared to slip into the hallowed halls of 'Wizarding Britain's finest'. She was met only with silence as her shoe stepped lightly on the carpet. Rich Purple walls rose around her into arched ceilings giving the whole place a feel of antiquity and mystery. She had the minor thought that she should be more afraid, considering her history, but waves of calm washed over her pushing it away. She was brave, she could face this.
With careful steps she floated down the hall gazing through open doors briefly before moving on. Some of the rooms were ransacked as if some huge battle had been fought in it. Others were all but untouched, a small sitting parlor looked ready for service. She briefly wondered how she had managed to wander so far into the house without realizing it when a previously shut door creaked open ahead of her. Taking it as much of an invitation as any she nudged the rest of the door open with her shoulder and peered inside.
The room was midnight black, complete in it's darkness. However, just as she set foot into the room a small flicker of silvery blue light wisped into existence. Hermione was taken by the light, so soft and lonely looking. With even, slow steps she wandered forth her hand outstretched.
Just as her fingertips brushed the blue the world swirled and she landed with a hard thunk in an unfamiliar dining room. A huge arched window was closed off by curtain letting just enough light to see clearly in. The walls had been repainted to white recently, she could smell the fresh scent. No, this was not the room, but something else entirely.
World Building with Om
Theo, Blaise, and Draco had not really started as friends. They were certainly cordial in their school days and one could even say they were friendly. But their current closeness started out of necessity. Blaise, because he was grievously injured and had nowhere else to go. Theo, because they all but dragged him out of his misery. One that that he is still intimately familiar with. It is safe to say that there is no one else on the planet Draco trust as much as these two, even if he would never admit it.
Daisy was Draco's old house elf. When all the others were removed she had elected to stay and take care of the abandoned estate. She was old enough that Draco let her, assuming she would want to die in her home rather than a strangers. Unbeknownst to him, she brought in Filly when she knew the end was close, hoping to pass on whatever ancestral knowledge she could to the next generation. In this process, some wires may have been crossed.