A/N: Usually I wouldn't warn y'all of any angst coming up, but I know some people are stressed out with the pandemic, so this is my fair warning that this is a bit of an angsty chapter.
Hermione woke to the sound of the curtain rings scraping against the metal rod they hung from. The warm light that slapped across her face caused her to involuntarily flinch before reaching for her wand to aim it in the direction the sound came from before she was fully aware of what was happening. "Time to get..." Narcissa froze in place seeing Hermione trying to blink the sleep from her eyes while keeping her wand aimed at the curtains Narcissa was still standing in front of. "Up." Recognizing Narcissa's voice, Hermione dropped her arm and released a breath she had been holding in. She allowed her head to flop against the pillow, still struggling with the remainder of dreamless draught in her system. "I didn't think I would startle you." Hermione mumbled something about forgiveness into the pillow, but was already starting to drift back into a deep sleep again. Narcissa smiled and went around the bed to gently shake Hermione awake, not worrying about Hermione pointing her wand at her again as the sleeping teenager's back was to her. "Come now, we talked about this last night. I need you up."
When Hermione stirred awake this time, she tried harder to hold on to the consciousness. To help resist the temptation of sleep, she forced herself to sit up. "Ma'am, what time is it?"
"Time for you to get up." Narcissa disappeared into Hermione's closet and came back out holding an outfit for Hermione to change into. "Come on, Draco is already downstairs and eating." Narcissa pulled the thick covers off of Hermione, encouraging the young lady to get up. When Hermione did, she stretched before looking at the clothes Narcissa picked out. The button down creme colored shirt had a wine colored collar that had a kaleidoscope of crystals magicked on to it. The skirt Narcissa picked out had perfectly matched the collar and Hermione briefly thought about how her parents would have reacted to her wearing a bold color it.
"I hope you don't find the red to be garish, I thought it would have matched perfectly with your earrings." Hermione looked up at Narcissa and gave a smile. Her parents may have found the color red gaudy, but it was her house color.
"I love it. That's very kind of you."
Narcissa returned the smile with one of her own before clapping her hands together as she remembered something. "Ah! I wanted to ask you, did John Steinbeck write any other books about George? Or Lennie before he was killed?"
Hermione shook her head, stiffing a yawn with the back of her hand. "No, ma'am. Although I'm sure he did write other books. Did you like it?" Hermione's smile grew with anticipation, waiting to hear Narcissa's reply.
Narcissa's bright smile morphed into a bashful one before she glanced at the door to reassure herself no one was there. "I enjoyed it very much. The description and details in the book were well done. It was almost a step under a pensive, honestly." Hermione beamed at Narcissa's words, excited she had someone to talk about muggle work and art with at the manor. "Would you mind if I held on to it a bit longer? I like reading books several times to make sure I catch everything."
"Oh! Of course! Maybe we can discuss it further over tea before Draco and I head back to Hogwarts?"
Narcissa's smile widened again hearing Hermione use Draco's first name. "I would love that. Now, hurry up before we're late."
Draco and Hermione sat side by side in the salon chairs, turned away from the mirrors as the wizard hairdressers cut and styled their hair. Narcissa and Lucius sat to the side in the salon watching, as they spoke in hushed whispers.
"The muggle gardener was an old man with a lame leg who was bound to die soon, love." Narcissa wanted to reach out to her husband and touch him as a comfort, but would never in public. Public displays of affection was something they never took part in as they were both taught that it was improper. "I don't see why you're concerned about it."
"It's not the fact that he died, it was how he died, Cissy." She gave him a sharp look about using her nickname in public but he disregarded it. "There were no signs of forced entry and the muggle authorities said the autopsy report was 'inconclusive.' They specifically noted that he died with a look of horror on his face. If that doesn't sound like a wizard broke into the Riddle house and cast la malédiction verte, I don't know what does." La malédiction verte translated to the green curse. It was a code for Avada Kedavra that Lucius came up with in the event he ever needed to talk about the forbidden curse in public. Narcissa wasn't fond of talking about an illegal curse in the open, even when using Lucius' code for it, but didn't try to stop her husband from speaking freely about what was on his mind. "I knew I should have sold the house-"
"Tom would have been displeased if he ever came back to find his family home was sold off- even if it's from his disowned family's side." Narcissa muttered immediately. She was discontented with whatever it meant for a wizard to be in Voldemort's father's home and hoped it was just a coincidence. "How will you be looking into it?"
"First, I want to question Nott and the rest of the free Mangemorts gratuits-" his code for 'Death Eaters', "Had nothing to do with it. I hope to write it off as a prank or a young wizard trying to make a tribute to Tom, but was scared by the gardener."
"And if it wasn't?"
"Then I'll track down whomever did it." Lucius' voice had been caught somewhere between concerned and annoyed. He hoped he could write it off as a prank, and was irritated that someone broke into a property in his name, but understood that there was the tiniest chance their worst fear may have returned. "This isn't something I am willing to let go of without an answer."
Narcissa nodded, her light eyebrows together in thought. Tom. The Dark Lord. Voldemort. Narcissa struggled for years with the guilt of being happy that he was gone. She was free to resume the life she was supposed to have with Lucius- the family she was supposed to have with Lucius. Narcissa looked up at Draco then, watching the hair dresser make the smallest corrections to his hair. They didn't go to Madam Diamandia's again this year- and Narcissa would keep refusing to go back. If Hermione wasn't allowed to be a customer then they wouldn't Malfoys and the Blacks were families who practiced self preservation in all aspects of their lives and wanted only the best for themselves, but even above that, they put their family first. Narcissa's eyes flicked to Hermione and sprang to her feet when she saw the hair stylist starting to prep a straightening iron.
The hairdresser jumped when Narcissa seemed to appear out of thin air by her side. Being this close, Narcissa could see that the woman appeared not to have been out of Hogwarts for more than a year or two. "Hermione, did you ask this young lady to have your hair straightened?"
"No, ma'am." Hermione squirmed at the fierce tone Narcissa adopted. "She offered to surprise me with a different look since it was the first time in a wizard salon."
Narcissa settled her gaze on the hair dresser who was slightly shaking at being approached. It wasn't uncommon for people to have this reaction when her or Lucius were displeased as they were a known family who did not come off as approachable in the slightest. "If you straighten one curl on her head, I promise I will place a blood curse so strong on your family, it will last for the next twenty generations. At least."
When the hair dresser turned her eyes to the floor and apologized, Narcissa returned to her seat by her husband.
"Now, was that really necessary?" Lucius asked with the tiniest amused smile.
"Don't patronize me, Lucius." Her tone was joking even as she was reminded of a memory when Bellatrix had wanted to straighten her hair. Bellatrix had thrown tantrum after tantrum for weeks one summer, without her, Narcissa or Andromeda ever receiving a proper explanation from their parents on why it should not be done. Naturally, the girls came together and came up with a plan to straighten Bellatrix's hair. It didn't take long for them to see why their parents had forbidden it. "You know how I get about hair, blood, and everything of the like."
"Of course I do." Lucius was going to say more, but Draco had approached them, which silently prompted Lucius to say for the hair cut.
Hermione's stylist took longer to finish as her hands shook. She struggled on what to do instead of straightening the hair before settling on face framing bangs and a trim to help Hermione maintain her curls better. Hermione turned her head left, then right looking it over. "I love it!" The stylist breathed a sigh of relief before looking over at Narcissa and Lucius for approval.
Narcissa gave the stylist a small, polite smile. "It's very nice."
All nervousness left the hair dressers' body as she gave the tiniest bow, "Thank you, ma'am."
Lucius paid for the service while Hermione slipped the stylist two extra galleons as a tip. The stylist was flustered once more and gave another small bow. "Thank you, miss." Hermione rejoined the Malfoys at the shop doors, where they waited for her to finish talking to the hairstylist.
Hermione and the Malfoys had went to diagon alley to complete their school shopping with the salon being their last stop before they met Theo and his father for dinner. Hermione ran a hand through her bangs that didn't curl like the rest of her hair, enjoying how silky it felt. "If I had asked her to straighten my hair, would you have been upset with me?"
The question was unexpected, but not surprising with how how little slipped past Hermione. "I wouldn't have stopped you if that is what you wanted. I would have warned you how it would ruin your hair though."
Hermione didn't miss the round about wording that was used. "That didn't answer the question." She said it low to herself as she ran a hand through her bangs again before forcing herself to stop in an attempt to preserve the neatness of her freshly styled hair.
"It was, if you read between the lines." Hermione narrowed her eyes at Draco, who was pretending as if he had not said anything, but the slight twitch of his lips betrayed him.
"Git." She hissed and his lips broke out into a smirk.
"Children, please." Lucius glanced behind him to look at Hermione and Draco, a warning in his eyes. "I will not have this nonsense in public, especially when we get to the restaurant."
"Yes, father."
"Yes, sir."
When Lucius turned around, Draco stuck his tongue out at Hermione at the same time she mouthed 'grow up.' They both tried to hide their laughter, causing an exasperated Lucius to stop and turn around. "Honestly-"
"Draco!" They all turned to see Theo waving at them from across the brick road, waving an arm with a lazy smile on his face. Theo and his father, Theodore Nott, Sr., walked over to them. Lucius, Narcissa, and Nott, Sr. exchanged pleasantries before Lucius put a hand out as if to clap Hermione on her shoulder blade, but thought better of it, allowing his hand to float an inch from her as he introduced her to Theo's father.
"Theodore, I don't believe you've met Hermione, she's the newest addition to our humble abode." Hermione gave a tight smile. More careful wording, how clever to introduce me as an ornament to the manor rather than a person. Hermione made a note to avoid Lucius as much as she could at the gala if that was how she was going to be introduced the entire night.
"Pleasure to meet you, sir." Hermione stuck her hand out and was relieved that Theodore opted to shake her hand instead of kiss it like she had read wizards often did in the etiquette books. She understood it was a polite gesture, but the thought still made her uncomfortable. Theodore she noticed, like Lucius, was a handsome man in his forties with black hair and black beady eyes. Unlike Lucius and Draco though, who could have been mistaken for identical twins if they shared the same age, the hair and the eyes were the only features the Notts shared. Theo had a diamond shaped face with curly hair that was almost long enough to be placed in a proper ponytail, and Nott, Sr.'s hair was short and straight. Theo had a a very sharp jawline with a smooth chin while his father had a square face accented with a deep cleft chin.
"The pleasure is mine, miss Granger." Hermione would have thought that Theo's father was an occulemens himself if she had not lived with the Malfoys and knew what it actually was like to have a constant mental or emotional wall up. Since she knew better, she was surprised with the aloof air he presented and how cold he was when speaking with her. He quickly turned to Draco after letting go of Hermione's hand and slowly broke into a wide grin. "Ah, Draco, how have you been?" Hermione was surprised to see Nott, Sr. grab both of Draco's shoulders and give a small shake while looking the blonde over. A very warm greeting after an immensely cold one, but she wrote it off as him not being familiar with her. "You've grown so much already." She glanced at Theo who gave her an indifferent nod in greeting, as if he had not spent all of the winter holiday at the manor.
"Yes, sir, I have." Draco gave a small chuckle after being released, drinking in the attention he got from Theo's father.
"What time is it, Lucius? I would hate for us to be late for our reservations." Narcissa's question was a subtle prod that brought everyone back to the hunger they felt in their bellies. Soon they were walking again, this time with Theodore and Lucius leading. Draco and Theo descended into a light conversation about the the gala and Hermione listened intently, wondering if she will finally learn who Draco would dress up as. When they had raced back to the manor from the greenhouse he asked his parents not to tell her. Playing along, they refused to say anything to Hermione about what Draco's costume was.
"So what are you going to be, Theo?" Draco asked as they turned a corner.
"Dionysus. Greek god of wine, winemaking, and so on." Theo's usually stoic tone shifted into one that was slightly amused. He glanced over at Hermione who saw a mischievous glint in his eye. Catching her staring at him, a smile appeared on his face, revealing white teeth with the slightest bit of crowding. "I'd ask what you're going to be Draco, but I know you want to keep it a secret.
Draco followed Theo's gaze and Hermione rolled her eyes at them to hide her disappointment as the boys laughed.
The sun was setting and Hermione couldn't help but appreciate how different Diagon Alley looked in the twilight versus how it looked in the day. It had an almost eerie atmosphere under the orange and pink sky, but it didn't creep her out. She felt like she was walking in a regular neighborhood for once instead of the busy, bustling street that was too loud for an introvert's comfort. Some shops had already closed for the evening and she could see the lights above the stores as proof that the shop keepers were already having dinner themselves.
When Hermione was passing the alley that she, Harry and Ron had snuck out of by the Magical Menagerie last summer, she saw three homeless wizards trying to start a fire with matches as they huddled around an empty oil barrel. It struck her as odd to see a wizard homeless as she had never seen any bums in Diagon Alley before. Nevertheless, she didn't question it as she dug into her left skirt pocket and gave a handful of galleons to the homeless witch who had been sitting closest to the alley's mouth. The witch let out a cry of delight as if Hermione had offered her a warm bed to sleep in for the night. The witch had reached out and grabbed Hermione's hand with both of hers after the witch passed the gold to the wizard next to her. "May you never go to bed hungry, child."
Hermione nodded her head in thanks for the blessing and gently pulled her hand back before pointing to the matches the third wizard was holding in his hands. "Do you need help?" He vigorously nodded his head, thrusting the matches towards her. She took it and lit the match for the bin before handing it back to him. He immediately lit the bin and threw his hands up in a silent cheer. "I hope you all stay safe tonight."
They smiled as they looked at her as if she had been heaven sent and Hermione realized that the wizards probably only had each other to talk to as the rest of the wizards walked passed them, pretending they didn't exist. Pity started to fill her and she started to turn away. "Blessed be, child."
Hermione stopped and faced the witch once more to bow her head, recognizing the parting salutation. "Blessed be."
When Hermione turned back around, she saw everyone waiting for her with Draco and Theo glancing between her and a displeased Lucius. When she had rejoined the group he held out his hand with his wand poised over it, expecting her to hand him something. She didn't move, unsure of what he wanted until he spoke through gritted teeth. "Your hands." Hermione held up her hands palm side up, and he took one into his hand. Lucius turned it over and scourgifyied between her fingers as he spoke. "I understand you may be on a generous streak, but you shouldn't have given her anything. Her lot will probably just use it for drugs or something useless."
As he worked on her other hand, Hermione tried to bite her tongue to not say anything slick, but she couldn't help not speaking up for others who were less fortunate than she was. "What they choose to do with their money is a judgment on their character, but watching those who are needy and doing nothing about it is a judgment on mine." She said it low so she would not come off as defiant, but everyone still heard her. Lucius grunted before turning on his heel, causing his cape to hit her leg, and Hermione thought she heard Theo's father call her something along the lines of 'mouthy.'
Hermione tried to catch Narcissa's eye, but the woman had joined Lucius and Theo in the lead. Hermione, Draco, and Theo walked silently behind the adults until they reached the restaurant, Circe's Colander. The restaurant wasn't a long walk from the alley and Hermione found the restaurant to blend in perfectly with the rest of Diagon Alley until she stepped past the doors the two doormen held open for the group. Once in side, Hermione was in awe of how quickly the atmosphere changed.
The restaurant had low lighting, and held a welcoming feel due to the gradient blue and green lights that were cast across the walls. Hermione could also see a faint twinkling around the ceiling line, only to realize it was fairies that were flying around. "Your name, sir?" The host who greeted Nott, Sr. was wearing traditional white tie attire- complete with tailcoat and gloves.
"Theodore Nott. There should be a table for six." The host didn't move to seat them though as he had spotted Hermione and seemed to be confused. Everyone stood there for a few seconds before Nott, Sr. spoke again, clearly irate the host was not moving fast enough. "Lost the plot, have you? I said there are six of us."
The host looked up at Nott, Sr., and bowed. "My apologize, sir. Please come this way." The host walked past several tables, packed with families that looked as moneyed as the Malfoys. She herself wondered if she was under dressed, but doubted Narcissa would have picked anything to make her feel left out. Looking at Narcissa, she noticed for the first time all day that the woman had picked a rose colored dress that complemented Hermione's outfit in the most subtle way. Hermione felt the nervous knot in her stomach loosen, but only temporarily.
"Theodore- I hope you don't mind me asking- but did you happen to check how friendly this establishment is before setting a reservation?" Narcissa looked around to see that as they passed, the other customers glanced up at them.
Theo's father glanced at Hermione with his cold, dark eyes again. "I did." Narcissa accepted the answer, assuming that they would not have any issues with Hermione's blood status and that their only issue should be how hesitant the host was to seat them.
After they were guided to a large circular table that was draped in a tea colored cloth, their waiter seemed to materialize in the host's place, ready to take their drink orders. "Welcome to Circe's Colander," The waiter's bright eyes and mustached smile swept around the table, making eye contact with everyone. "Shall we start with the drinks? Perhaps a bottle of the chef's pick for the night..." The adults settled on different wines while Hermione, Draco, and Theo chose Pumpkin Juice. The waiter left to retrieve their drinks, and Hermione thought he hesitated behind her chair before continuing his trek to the kitchens, causing her stomach to tighten again with unease. She dismissed the thought seeing that he had kept walking when she looked over her shoulder and returned to admiring the room around her. It was very different from the three broomsticks and she couldn't help, but admire the statues that decorated the place. Some talked, some danced, and others simply lazed about. The fairies would sometimes interact with the statues, but were mostly found to be tossing small berries at each other if they were not gliding around the restaurant's perimeter, or splashing around the fountain that was in the back corner of the room.
Draco watched Hermione take everything in as she looked around and found himself fond of the look of wonder on her face.. It was always easy to pick out a muggleborn in a magical setting they were not used to. "Newbie." Draco whispered and Hermione looked at him. He had lifted the menu so the adults couldn't see past his eyes as he pretended to skim the menu.
"It's just different to be surrounded by magic everywhere I go." Hermione was slightly disgruntled after being caught looking around like an idiot and Draco frowned in thought at what she said.
He hadn't thought about how often he had to go somewhere where magic wasn't always there and realized the only event that came to mind were Hermione's parent's funeral. A slew of questions popped into his mind on how a muggle deals with living such an ordinalry life, but he refused to ask anything in public- or in front of his parents. Draco started to actually read the menu when Theo's dad spoke again.
"So, Miss Granger," Hermione looked up from the chicken selection to meet Nott, Sr.'s eyes. "My son tells me that you're taking more classes than the average student at Hogwarts."
"I was. I dropped two classes so I will be taking the same amount as Theo." She kept her tone as just as neutral as his, not wanting to over step any boundaries when he seemed as if he wanted to maintain distance between them. "You can call me, Hermione, Mr. Nott."
At that moment, the Maitre d' came to their table and greeted them all to make sure the restaurant's guests were comfortable. "Are you enjoying your evening tonight? Are there any accommodations I can make for you?" His eyes landed on Hermione with a disdainful look.
"You could take our orders and get our drinks." Narcissa said at once, bringing the attention back to her with how short she was being.
"Yes, of course!" The balding man snapped out of his glare to wandlessly summon a notepad and quill. He asked for Narcissa's order first, then went around the table clockwise. He asked for Lucius' order, then the Notts orders, skipped Hermione, and asked for Draco's order. Hermione pressed her lips together as the Maitre d' flipped his notepad closed and with a wave of his wand, the menus disappeared.
"You forgot someone's order." Lucius' voice was almost deadly and Narcissa's face looked pinched.
The Maitre d' didn't look at anyone as he made a show of pulling his notepad back out and counting the number of dishes that he had written down. "Oh, it seems I have." His voice was devoid of the cheerfulness he had a moment ago as he wrote down what Hermione wanted.
Draco watched Hermione bunch the fabric of her skirt into balls in her lap as she gave her order for a Beef Wellington. Draco could see she was frustrated as she was caught between her pride and not making a scene. She was humiliated and even though he knew he, Pansy and other Slytherins had made her feel that way before, it upset him to see her this way now. He glanced at his parents who were sharing a withering look, no doubt deciding that they would be complaining to the owner about Hermione's treatment.
"Interesting for the Maitre d' to start waiting on us- is this one of the perks of being a Malfoy?" Everyone at the table laughed at the joke- even Hermione, although her laugh was a polite one. It broke off some of the tention the Malfoys felt looming over their table. "It's about time that the children start looking into what they want to do in the future. Theo is going to be following in my footsteps in taking over the business, of course," Hermione couldn't help but glance as Theo when his dad said this. Theo's only acknowledgment that he was aware of being the topic of conversation was the shift in his posture so he sat more straight. Hermione wondered if it was something Theo even relatively wanted as she was reminded that she had to live up to the same expectations.
"As will Draco. He's going to be starting a bit of a shadowing project this year, actually." Lucius drawled, his nostrils were still flared, but he wasn't going to ignore an attempt at conversation. Nott, Sr. nodded his head and opened his mouth to speak, but Lucius continued. "Hermione will be doing the same."
Draco and Hermione both looked at Lucius in surprise. Draco was being taught to take over the family business since he was a tot and knew that he would soon need to start putting his teachings into practice, but Hermione didn't grow up with Draco. Draco didn't doubt that her parents may have taught her the ins and outs of the dentistry between the extracurricular activities they coerced her through, but his family's company was not something to be handed over to anyone, especially without the vigorous lessons he was taught.
Nott, Sr. was also surprised to hear this too. "You're going to have her compete with Draco for head of the company?"
Draco felt his anxiety rise within him. He was supposed to take over, not her. Was he wrong to let Hermione console him yesterday after he partially confessed that he feared she was preferred by his parents over him? Was he right?
"No." Lucius looked at Nott, Sr. as if he grew an extra head at the idea. Lucius eyes drifted over to Hermione and she immediately started to prepare herself for the lecture she had been waiting for since she got to Malfoy Manor. It was the perfect opportunity for him to tear into her and say that she was less than everyone else who was sitting at the table, that muggle teachings left her stupid and incompetent. She thought that he would talk about how he would never trust a mudblood with anything his family built. He wouldn't want me to soil anything they found precious, she thought bitterly and bit her tongue to fight back the scathing retorts that were already preparing to fly out of her mouth.
Instead of any of that happening, Lucius said something that was the closest thing to a compliment she thought she could ever get from him. "Hermione has a different skill set than Draco that could be put to use. Perhaps she could prepare or manage a fundraiser."
Hermione couldn't help but glance around the table before speaking again. "Do you... Do you think I couldn't handle it?" Her voice was slightly squeaky when she asked and she fidgeted with the end of her skirt. It wasn't often she felt insecure, but she wondered if it was something that her parents saw in her when they left Dr. Dixon with the business. Hermione knew it may have been illogical, but she felt a heavy guilt that it was gone.
That was when Lucius caught her off guard, yet again. "You probably could, but Draco has been preparing to take over the company for a very long time now. There is no reason for us to teach you about the company when he and I are in perfect health, especially when you are years behind what he has been taught." Hermione felt some relief, but hated herself for finding comfort in the validation Lucius provided her. His answer proved that he had thought about her and she told herself she needed to give him more of a chance.
The table fell silent for a moment after both the waiter and Maitre d' came back, this time with their food floating through the air with their drinks. The silver platters were covered by a cloche and they twirled slowly as they floated to the table top in front of their respective owners. The cloches lifted into the air before vanishing and the table's tention multiplied tenfold when they saw what had been placed in front of Hermione.
Two dog bowls. One was filled with water instead of pumpkin juice while the other was filled with something that resembled a smashed, uncooked, Beef Wellington.
Hermione didn't look up at anyone else as she reached out with a lightly smoking hand to pinch the edge of the food bowl and turned around before doing the same to the water bowl. Focusing on the simple task allowed her just enough time to regain control of her magic and she looked up at the smug matre'd. "It's a shame that restaurant with this high of a caliber didn't bother to etch 'Fiddo' into the side of the bowls." She smiled sweetly at the Matre'd whose face held unconcealed hatred.
"Why would I waste my time etching something into a bowl when you should feel lucky to be sitting at a table instead of at someone's feet, mudblood."
Hermione's smile only grew into a grin. She refused to let him see how much being treated like she was lesser than had actually bothered her. "And yet, it is you who waits on me."
The Maitre d' face completely fell into anger at that. "Get out."
"Gladly." Hermione pushed herself away from the table to see Narcissa and Lucius were already standing. Narcissa's pupils retracted into the smallest dots and Lucius had turned red, his hand twitching over his steak knife. Hermione briefly locked eyes with Nott, Sr. Who was sipping on the wine he ordered, his face pulled into a half smile.
"Theodore- I hope you don't mind me asking- but did you happen to check how friendly this establishment is?"
Theo's father glanced at Hermione with his cold, dark eyes again. "I did."
Hermione let out a huff from through the anger that had her skin burning beneath her clothes. She turned and quickly walked out of the restaurant, her hands starting to smoke again as she started to process what happened and what it meant. As she strode towards the front doors, she saw everyone watching her and realized that there were some wizards who were close enough to the table to laugh at everything they overheard. The sneers and whispers caused her to walk even faster, even when she heard Narcissa and Draco calling out for her, she continued to walk.
Do they all see me like that? She had just reached the doors where the Host was and they made eye contact before he turned his nose up at her. She pushed open the door, accidentally shoving the doorman to the side since he did not open it fast enough. "Sorry!" The doorman simply grunted as she ran off, trying to out race the shame and embarrassment she felt. It wasn't my fault. I did nothing, but exist! But even reason did not make her feel any less of an outcast. Hermione felt like the rug had been pulled from under her and she was fighting with whatever force had tried to take it from her. It was a losing battle and she could feel her depression and doubts start to fill her again until it seemed to choke her.
Theodore Nott, Sr.'s smiling face popped in her head again. They all must see me like that. Nothing better than a dog. She thought of Narcissa and began to cry at the thought of how she may be seen through the woman's eyes. Hermione tried to reason with herself, and say Narcissa saw her as a human, but her floodgates had already been opened and her heart started to ache.
She didn't see where she was going, but kept walking, wanting to put a considerable amount of distance between her and the restaurant before she turned back to find the Malfoys. Hermione didn't stop until she bumped into something- or rather someone- and that was because the person had grabbed her instead of letting her brush past.
"You're the girl from earlier." Hermione looked up to see one of the homeless men from earlier looking down at her. She had nearly passed the alleyway she first found them in. The fire was still lit, but there was only the other man sitting with it, the witch was no where in sight. "Why are you crying? Where'd your lot go? Sit with us."
Hermione stepped back, and he let go of her, but stayed close. "N-nothing happened."
"Don't give me that." The man chuckled and Hermione saw that past his dirty appearance, the wizard was on the younger side. "At least tell up what happened before you go. Keep me and Marty some company before you run off again?" Hermione looked back at the man by the fire who gave a vigorous wave at his name being mentioned. Hermione looked up at the homeless man she bumped into. "Reckon it'll make you feel better to talk 'bout it. We won't bite- mostly because I'm almost out of teeth and Marty lost his tongue along with all his teeth!" The younger man laughed at Hermione's surprised face, but she felt herself starting to feel better. She felt a twinge of longing to see Dr. Augsen again, but squashed it as she checked the time, telling herself that a she could have a few minutes to herself before turning back.
Draco tried to follow Hermione out of the restaurant, but she was too quick and twice he had to stop as he was intercepted by the wait staff. "Hermione!" He tried not to call out too loud and knew he didn't need to in the restaurant, she kept walking. Draco's anger flared at being ignored, causing him to nearly knock over a third waiter who cut in front of him with drinks for a table.
He could hear the commotion his parents were raising behind him, but he was charged with finding Hermione by Lucius- which even if he wasn't, Draco would have offered to look for her anyway. When he got outside he looked left and right, but saw nothing. He walked back to the front of the restaurant and spoke to the doorman on his left. "There was a young witch who left the restaurant just now, do you know which way she went?"
The doorman's face darkened for a moment. "Red skirt with a bird's nest for hair?"
"It's not a bird's nest." Draco snapped as he grew impatient. While Hermione's hair had been more tamed recently, it didn't surprise him that her hair would still sometimes react to her emotions like her hands did.
"She slammed the door into me on the way out before heading that way." The door attendant pointed towards the direction that they had came from. Draco took off in a brisk walk, not bothering to reply to the doorman. If the doorman hadn't insulted Hermione, Draco would have tipped him after hearing she hit him with the door instead of thinking he deserved it.
Draco kept his eyes sweeping over both sides of the street, looking for any sign of Hermione. He was about to start calling out for her when a gloved hand grabbed his shoulder. Before spinning around to face whoever had his hand on him, he grabbed the person's wrist to shove it to the side, but instead dropped the hand completely while taking a step back seeing it was Lucius had grabbed him. "Where's mother?"
"We split up. Did you see Hermione come this way." Lucius readjusted his glove with a frown, but said nothing about Draco's reaction, knowing it was his fault that Draco reacted to him like that.
"No, the doorman said she ran this way. I haven't seen her, though." Draco grew uneasy and wondered if she might have ran into any trouble. "She could be anywhere."
"She does have a habit of letting her emotions rule her actions..." Lucius wasn't completely convinced that he could blame her for it. "We should keep looking. She couldn't have gone too far."
Draco silently followed his father. Draco agreed that Hermione could not have gone too far, but she was no where to be found. Anything could have happened to someone who was petite like her, especially when their thoughts were clouded with rampant emotions.
When they were nearing the Magical Managerie, they started to hear an untuned guitar playing. Draco assumed it was coming from the homeless wizards and didn't think anything of it as he kept walking towards the mouth of the alley, his mind only on Hermione until he was stopped again by Lucius. "Draco, she's not here. Let's head back to Narcissa."
Draco's concern overrode his apprehention of rebelling against his father long enough for what was on his mind to slip out. "But what if she needs help or something? We should at least ask those wizards she helped earlier if-"
"I didn't ask what we should do, Draco. I said we needed to regroup with your mother." Lucius watched his son closely. Draco had gotten too stressed and was letting his occulemency walls fall. In the distance, there was a female voice that was singing off-key in French with the guitar. "Your mother and I said we would regroup after fifteen minutes of searching and we've gone over that. Have you even thought that maybe Hermione is waiting with your mother and she didn't actually come this way?"
Draco couldn't argue with that, especially when he thought that Narcissa may have found Hermione before they did. Draco started to walk back to the restaurant with his father when he heard the singing break off and the group of people laughing. He stopped when he heard Hermione's laughter and looked over his shoulder to the opposing wall in the alley where the bright flames had cast a familiar silhouette. Draco turned on his heel, without saying a word to his father to find Hermione standing across from the homeless wizards.
Hermione jumped when Draco came into view. She hadn't heard him walking down the street, but she assumed that was due to the laughter she had shared with the homeless wizards and witch- who had came back shortly after Hermione vented about her encounter in the restaurant, holding a paper bag filled to the brim with food. "You know we've been looking for you this whole time?" Draco couldn't help, but raise his voice despite the feeling of relief that had washed through him. He felt his father join his side as he stared at the scene in front of them.
Hermione looked at her watch and saw that she had been gone for over twenty minutes. "Oh!" She looked at the three wizards apologetically. "I am so sorry, I have to go-"
"No worries, child!" The woman gave a laugh that was half wheezing and half squeaky. "Thank you, for the entertainment- We've been looking for a equally bad singer for our equally bad player here." They all laughed at that and Draco flushed with anger feeling as if Hermione was not taking how him nor his parents felt seriously. "and the food of course!"
"Anytime-" Lucius cleared his throat, cutting Hermione off and she felt her shoulders droop, having to return to her normal life. "Goodbye, and blessed be." Hermione looked at the ground as the three wizards mumbled their blessings back to her.
When she fully rejoined Lucius and Draco, Lucius didn't say another word as he turned around to start walking back to the restaurant. She didn't need to speak to know that both of them were livid, but she felt the need to apologize anyway.
"Lucius, I promise I didn't mean to loose track of the time." Lucius acted as if he did not hear her and continued walking in silence. Hermione fidgeted with the red and gold ring she always wore, as her anxiety grew worse. "I didn't mean to make anyone worry."
"Then you shouldn't of had ran off!" She expected Lucius to snap at her, and was completely off guard when it was Draco who did. "You heard me call out for you, and you still kept going. What if something would have happened to you?"
"Nothing would have happened to me! I have my wand!" Hermione found her words after overcoming the momentary shock of being spoken to like a child by Draco. "I didn't-"
"Think?" He finished for her. Draco's face was so red she thought he was angry enough to hit something. "Obviously. Did your parents never teach you how about stra-"
Several things happened at once before Draco could finish the sentence.
Lucius turned around to chastise Draco, but instead caught Hermione's fist before it could reach Draco's face. He bent over and pulled her in close so she was forced to look him in the face. "You do not ever lay your hands on anyone. Draco or anyone else. That is not your right- even if you think you can get away with it because you're a female or muggleborn." Lucius straightened up to be at Draco's height and pulled Draco in by robes. "And I shouldn't have to remind you about the consequences of having a loose tongue." He let go of Draco who had took an extra step back to regain his balance. "Both of you will stop this foolishness right now as Narcissa and I will not entertain it. Do you understand me?" Draco shoved his hands in his pockets while Hermione bit the inside of her lower lip, both of them refusing to look at anything but the ground. "I believe I asked a question," Lucius voice dropped even lower and Hermione thought she could feel his anger from where she stood. For the first time since she had met Lucius Malfoy, she was intimidated."Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal, sir."
"Yes, father."
Lucius looked at Hermione, thinking that she was trying to sass him at first. When she didn't look up at him and he saw how furiously she played with her ring, he gave her the benefit of the doubt in deciding that it was a muggle saying that meant his words were heard. "Very good."
Lucius barely straightened up to his full height before Narcissa rejoined them, upset she was kept waiting for so long that she decided to look for them instead. Lucius then made hersour mood worse and informed her of every detail as to what had happened since they separated to look for Hermione. If Draco was livid and Lucius was pissed, Narcissa was completely beside herself.
Hermione's parents had both been yellers when they were upset. Narcissa however, was not. In fact her voice became even more calm the more upset she seemed to get and Hermione found herself preferring being yelled at. Hermione's anxiety bubbled and wormed in her stomach and through her chest as she listened to Narcissa. When she finally found an opening to politely interrupt in an attempt to try and explain herself, her voice trembled.
"I didn't mean to make anyone worry-"
"I know that was not your intention, but I need you to be more aware of your actions over your emotions. I understand you may have felt overwhelmed, but you need to remain within our whelm of protection. The restaurant should have been an example that people will hurt you simply for existing and if we can not see you, we can not protect you- let alone that there are wizards who will kidnap you or Draco in a heartbeat to hold you for ransom." Narcissa took a deep breath and Hermione found herself wishing she hadn't said anything at all. "Tomorrow morning, I am going to start preparing you both for the gala. We will meet for breakfast at nine AM sharp and continue from there. Hermione," Narcissa held a hand out in front of her as she spoke. "I am going to contact Dr. Augsen-"
"Ma'am- Please-"
"AND-" Narcissa still had not raised her voice, but Hermione stopped because of sharp it sounded. "You will resume treatment with her. It was premature for you to stop seeing her as there are still issues she can still help you with- like occulemency." Hermione had fat tears falling down her cheeks at that point. She wanted to scream she hated Narcissa in front of all of them, but knew it would do nothing. On top of that she found that she didn't mean it, even as she thought it. Who she really hated was herself. Everything that happened tonight was her fault and her logic screamed at her that Narcissa was right to contact her therapist again.
"I want both of you to go to your rooms and think about your actions tonight- Both of you." Narcissa turned her hard look to Draco who still refused to look at Hermione. After Lucius had scolded them in the street, she tried several times to catch her eyes so she could see she regretted trying to hit him, but he ignored her completely. It was worse than being bullied by him she realized. "I'll have Crewe bring your dinner." Narcissa placed a hand on her hip before turning to talk to Lucius.
Hermione and Draco walked up the stairs, neither of them saying anything. She thought about trying to apologize to him then, she even reached a hand out as they walked up the stairs, but the air between then radiated the emotional turmoil he was dealing with and she let her hand fall to her side.
Narcissa watched the two teens walk off before placing a hand on her head. She turned around to face Lucius who already had a glass of whiskey waiting for her. She took the glass and sipped from it, hating the taste of it as it washed down. "Oh, that's foul."
"I know. That's why I let you take a sip of my drink." He held a hand out for it and she chuckled as she passed it back to him before releasing another sigh. "No, you weren't." When Lucius took a drink, he took a long, deep gulp that Narcissa wrinkled her nose at, wondering how he could handle the disgusting taste.
"No, I wasn't, what?"
"You weren't too hard on them. I know you were about to ask, you always feel bad after disciplining, Draco and this time you had to be hard on Hermione, too."
Narcissa pursed her lips, wondering why she was surprised that her husband knew her so well. "I've been hard on her before."
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "I am a delight to have tea with, she should be lucky." He drank the rest of the liquor before vanishing it and taking his wife's hand. "It'll be fine, Narcissa. Go start dinner while I start writing the howlers and the letter to Andromeda."
Narcissa's eyes narrowed and her grip tightened in her husband's hand. "Will you send one to Nott? He knew how that restaurant would feel about muggleborns and they served everything on iron-"
"Do you think that's the best thing before the Quidditch Match?" Lucius' voice was soft, and not at all condescending. He pulled her in by her hand so she was standing inches from him. He knew she was thinking about it and was having an inner battle between what she wanted to do and what she should do. He placed both hands on her neck and kissed her forehead before moving his hands to massage the back of her head. "Perhaps we can talk about this over dinner since it will be just the two of us? You're too angry right now and we shouldn't make any brash decisions."
Narcissa sighed and Lucius placed a kiss on her jawline, causing her to give a small giggle. "You think you're clever, don't you, Mr. Malfoy? I know what you're trying to start here."
Lucius smiled down at his wife, his eyes full of love, and happiness to see that she wasn't completely torn up about the events of the last few hours. "I know I am. The sorting hat told me so."
Narcissa laughed at his joke. "Oh, so you were sorted into Ravenclaw? Then who was the Slytherin prefect I dated and married?"
Lucius shrugged, the gesture weird and unfamiliar in his proud shoulders. "Drugged him, killed him, used polyjuice ever since to keep you from suspecting a thing."
"Ah," Narcissa kissed Lucius now and when she pulled back, she her usual sly smile back on her face. "That's how I know you're full of shite, the person has to be alive for you to use their hair in a polyjuice potion." Narcissa pulled back and sighed, resetting her system one more time. "Go write you letters, and meet me in the kitchen for dinner. The island will be fine for just the two of us."
Lucius watched her disappear before he left to walk to his study. A thought struck him as he walked and he called for Crewe.
The elf apparated with a loud pop and a tremble as he did every time he was summoned by Lucius. "Yes, Master?"
"I need you to find what 'Fiddo' means to muggles, then report back to me. I have a feeling Hermione said something funny today and I would like to understand the joke."
The house elf quietly floated by his master, waiting for another order for his master to give another order. "Sir, will that be all?"
Lucius looked at the house elf before placing a hand on the door to his study. "Do you want there to be more, Crewe?"
His only answer from his elf was the satisfying pop of disapperation, a promise that he would be receiving an answer soon.
A/N:
InsideTheFridge: Thank you, I agree! Sometimes I look back at older chapters and I'm like "Yeahhhh, this is SO getting a revision."
Erythra-Selena: Thank you, I like writing Lucius' changed, but I have to pace myself more... He's got more layers than a freaking onion xD.
Guest: Thank you! And I feel that, writing Lucius and Draco interactions are for sure bringing up some memories that I am not too fond of myself, haha.
Alice Helena: HELLO THERE, I WAS WONDERING ABOUT YOU LAST CHAPTER LOL. I HOPE ALL IS WELL!
I am so happy you loved the fluff! Up until the last few chapters, I realized I hadn't written fluff in a while and was scared it wasn't well done, so I appreciate that! The nuns not liking left handed people was true- my mom was sent to live at a catholic boarding school at one point in her youth lol.
CharmedMistletoe: Thank you! I had wrote fluff into the last chapter for that exact reason so I am happy it helped! Sorry this one does not contain fluff.