TW: Pregnancy/ Miscarriage mention. R*pe mention (Nothing has happened, the subject comes up very briefly at the very last scene of the chapter.)
"What do you mean I can't run this article?" Minister Fudge gave Rita Skeeter a hard look. "I had the staff interviewed and getting these pictures was not that easy!" She pointed a red manicured finger to the pictures she had on Fudge's desk.
He looked down at them, his lips turned into a small frown. "'The Malfoy's Muggleborn throws Tantrum in Five Star Establishment'? It'll hinder my plans for the orphanage they're opening." Despite his words, he continued to read the article in front of him. "You said they skipped out on their bill?"
"After harassing the waitstaff and the Maitre'd." Rita jut her chin forward in her scowl. It was a firm stretch of the truth, but it was more interesting written this way. "The public will eat this up, keep them under your thumb-"
"I told you that you were to come to me first before publishing anything on the Malfoys. The fact that you decided to do all of your dirty work before coming to me is on you."
Rita lifted her leg to stomp it to the ground as she usually did when things did not go her way, but stopped herself, foot still in the air as she thought about how she could change his mind. She walked around Fudge's desk and sat on the article he had in front of him. Slipping off a stiletto, she ran a pantyhosed foot up his shin to rub his inner thigh. "There has to be something I can do for you to change your mind, Minister." With one hand she unhooked her outer robes to reveal her blouse. If she would have thought she needed to convince Fudge to run the article, she would have worn something more revealing. Rita lacked the curvaceous body Narcissa had, but she did have a bigger breast size and glamours to appear just as young as the Malfoy Matron.
Usually, Fudge would have been in the palm of her hand by now, but she had noticed over the past week or so he had been distant with her. Fudge rolled his chair back so her leg fell from his lap to dangle in the air beneath his desk. "Really, we're both married professionals, now. I said no. If you want to spin this article the other way, I may let you publish something."
Rita's mouth dropped open and she blinked several times at Fudge through her horn-rimmed glasses. "The other way?" Her voice was flat and devoid of every emotion but disbelief. In all the time she had been involved with Fudge, he had never rejected a sexual advance- even on his worse days.
"Yes. Something to put them in a positive light. Lucius informed me that the staff at the restaurant had been prejudiced to Hermione- write about that! The laws against Muggleborns were disbanded decades ago and with how progressive the youth are now-a-days, listening to the Weird Sisters and Stevie Nicks, it would look better for The Prophet to take that same stance." He smiled at what he thought to be was a brilliant idea, obviously pleased with himself.
Rita took the rejection in stride though and slid off of the table, causing a few of the sly photos she had acquired to fall to the floor after her. Her whole life, all she had known was to give others what she want, and she prided herself in her success in always getting her way. "Cornelius." She got on all fours and crawled over to the man, placing her head between his knees. "You know I have no shame in pleasing you, or the Ministry, but-" Her voice was a sulky purr and she ran her long red finger nails up Fudge's thighs.
"Then do as I say and write an article that will benefit all of us." She jumped at the serious tone he used with her, and looked up to see not a single micro muscle showed signs of lust in his face. It wasn't often that Rita was spurned and often lashed out by writing a piece about whomever refused to work with her. However, she knew better than anyone that she couldn't write a piece about Fudge and get away with it- he was too big of a fish to fry. Rita learned that early on there was always going to be a bigger fish looming over her, so she used what she had to keep that fish in her net, without it realizing it had been caught until she decided to let it go or pull the net above the surface of water. "Get up."
Rita stood at the command, despite being taken off guard by his harshness. Suddenly, she felt silly that she was in one stiletto and watched Fudge get up to retrieve her robe from his desk. "I think it's time to go. I won't make you write the positive article, but it would place me in a better mood to see it published." He placed her robes over her shoulders and the statement hit her harder than the sudden warmth of her robes. That was his way of saying that he wants the article written. She turned around to see him picking up the dropped pictures from the floor and placing them in a neat stack before handing them to her. "I'll see you at the Gala next weekend."
She had nothing left to say or do at that point. Rita Skeeter fastened the tie on her robes around her neck and slipped on the stiletto heel she had taken off. She was beyond miffed, she was outright confused. The change in Fudge was a quick one, almost too quick- but she didn't notice any signs of the imperius curse or something of the like. She was more than familiar with that type of magic as her debut with The Daily Prophet was during the first war. She remembered the look in Fudge's eyes when she was on all fours in front of him and they were as clear as any other time she looked into them. The door to Fudge's office closed behind her and she jumped at the sound abruptly bringing her out of her thoughts. She wasn't sure if it was the writer or the Ravenclaw in her that told her something wasn't right.
As Rita walked down the hall to the Ministy's lift, she sent her patronus to her assistant with a message to write up a draft of what Minister Fudge wanted. Usually she liked to know the glory of a good piece was done all by herself, but she planned on locking herself in her office, reflecting back on her last few encounters with Fudge in her pensive. He hated the Malfoys, and I know he wants to use the orphanage as a cover for something... Maybe that was it. Her gut turned and told her that it wasn't as simple as that.
When she got to the main floor of the Ministry, she caught her reflection in a freshly polished marble wall. She stopped and took a step closer to it before pressing a hand to her cheek. She willed herself to see past her own glamours to look at a face she regularly avoided looking at. She hated seeing the truth, she always had as she always found it to be overwhelming or underwhelming- so she often made her own truth to present to herself and the world. Rita Skeeter hadn't aged well. She was starting to have parentheses form on her face and even when keeping her face neutral, there were permanent crows feet. She was more than aware of the wrinkles that formed when she arched her eyebrows and she looked away from her reflection, not being able to stand it anymore.
What's changed?
Back in his office, Fudge swirled his glass of wine before taking a sip. He loved being a wizard. Loved having the title of being the most powerful wizard- even if it was just in the political sense and everyday before he went home, he shared a drink with his thoughts, reveling in how good his life was. With this habit of drinking everyday though, he ran out of liquor fast. It was only a matter of time before he opened up the bottle of wine Narcissa brought him when he forgot to restock.
Fudge had opened the bottle of sparkly blue bubbly only ten days ago after completely forgetting about it, but it was heaven sent. He knew Narcissa said she had the bottle in her cellar, but wondered where exactly she got it from. The wine lasted way longer than any other he had drank before and he noticed his mood had improved- along with him becoming more focused. He had been wanting to sever the too close relationship with Rita Skeeter for months, and yet he was only able to do it tonight.
He took another deep drink, thankful he didn't throw out the bottle when he first realized that there was a change within him after he started drinking Narcissa's gift. He was suspicious that she may have tampered with it, but not only did he have it checked to verify that no magic was done by wand to it, he didn't see why Narcissa would tamper with something to make his life better without telling him.
The Malfoys are good people and Hermione is a pleasant child that should not be harmed. Fudge heard the whisper in his consciousness but didn't think twice about how the thought wasn't in the same voice like his thoughts usually were.
He let a finger lazily trace the rim of his glass, deep in his happy thoughts. He found himself looking forward to the gala as he knew it would be a night that everyone would be talking about for a very long time.
"Never too early to start campaigning for another term, Cornelius." He gave a boyish giggle before hiding the wine bottle again in a false bottom in one of his drawers. "Things will only be getting sweeter from here."
"A guest asks you about your opinions on the fifty-percent law on wands, what do you reply with?"
Hermione opened her mouth to ask what the law was, but like most of the questions Narcissa asked, Draco gave an answer before she could. "I'd say something along the lines of 'That's an interesting topic you have brought up and would love to hear your opinions on it.' Knowing our guests, they would feel important for being given the floor to speak when I really just deflected the question to stay neutral. I'd leave their table shortly before their rant ended to greet the other guests."
"And if they were more persistent to hear your side?" Narcissa tapped the parchment that she was holding to her shoulder, listening to Draco's reply with a raised brow.
"I'd say that both sides have strong points with well grounded sources and deflect the question to a different topic that was still somewhat related."
"Good enough I suppose." Narcissa looked at the parchment again, that was basically a checklist of things she wanted to go over for the day.
"What is the fifty-percent law on wands?" Hermione piped up. She understood that it wasn't wise to bring up religion or politics at large events like these- although politics were almost always brought up at these events- but anything that may have affected her use of her weapon was something that she wanted to be aware of.
"Oh, you mean there's something you don't know?" Draco quipped.
Hermione threw him a look out of the side of her eye. "Don't get used to it, you-"
"I thought making the both of you eat by yourself the past two nights would have allowed you to call down and get over your disagreement. Do I need to make you two have tea together?" Narcissa glared at both Hermione and Draco. Both vigorously shook their heads in fear of her question and Narcissa let her features fall back into a neutral mask. "Then you ought to play nice- and get over it before the Gala next Friday. Nothing can go awry, it's too important and Lucius has worked very hard on making sure everything goes smoothly."
"I thought you had planned the galas." Draco had never heard of his father plan anything out. While Draco wasn't raised to be sexist- he was actually raised to be the opposite- there were roles he knew every Malfoy followed.
Narcissa glanced down at her parchment, being caught off guard by the observation. "Lucius wanted to try something different to keep him occupied before he tried working with others again." An uncomfortable silence hung in the air for a second before Narcissa looked up, placing the parchment face down on the table she had them sit at in the Library. "Which brings up another reason why the gala is important. Lucius is planning on using the night to re-establish a new business network."
Draco nodded his head, accepting his mother's words before he turned to Hermione. "Hear that, Granger? No running off, and picking fights."
Hermione sat up then, pointing her palm to the middle of her chest. "When do I ever pick a fight? You're the one who has been provoking me, you self-absorbed-"
"That's it!" Narcissa stood as she drew her wand and flicked it. Immediately both Hermione's and Draco's chairs moved from being on one side of the table facing Narcissa to the ends of the ornate cherry wood table so they were facing each other. The action was so sudden that Hermione picked her feet up from the floor in fright as she gripped the arms of the chair. When they stopped moving, Narcissa held out her hands, palm up to them. "Give me your hands."
Hermione and Draco both shared a look of regret before reaching out for Narcissa. "It's time for a lunch break anyway. While I prepare some food, I want you both to hash out your feelings and when I get back, I want you both to be the best of friends." Narcissa looked at Draco. "Stop attacking her and you-" Narcissa looked at Hermione whose face was a slight grimace. "Stop falling for his bait. You know he only wants a rise out of you." Narcissa glanced between them once more. "Now, neither of you are to get up until you've gotten over your little row from Monday."
"Yes, ma'am" Draco and Hermione said in unison.
Hermione was sure she saw it this time- there was a black ring that expanded from Narcissa's pupil over the rest of her eyes as she silently cast the spell. Narcissa picked up her parchment and started to leave before turning around to cast another spell before leaving. Hermione didn't need to try to move again to know that a sticking charm had been placed on the chairs she and Draco sat in.
Narcissa didn't look back a second time as she walked out from the library. She didn't feel guilty at all for punishing them, as all day yesterday Hermione and Draco were bickering to the point that they had not finished her lessons until dinner time. Narcissa learned that both were too big on holding grudges to ignore the events from Monday and both were too proud to make up for it without being pushed.
When Narcissa opened the kitchen door, she was surprised to see Lucius drinking tea at the kitchen island as he read The Daily Prophet. "Why are you reading that trash?"
Lucius looked up from blowing on his tea, a smile on his face as he treated the appearance of his wife as a pleasant surprise. "I've been keeping an eye out to see if Skeeter had caught wind of what happened at Circe's." He paused as he took a small sip of the tea before he resumed blowing on it. "She did."
"How?" Narcissa walked up to Lucius to look over his shoulder at the paper. "I would've spotted her there in a heartbeat." Her eyebrows came together as she read the header before looking down at the photo of Hermione, running out of view, before reading the header: New Restaurant Discriminates Against The Newest Malfoy.
"You know she has her ways. I've never been able to figure anything out with her." He scowled at the paper before laying it flat on the island counter. "Where are the children?"
Narcissa pursed her lips as she finished reading the article. "They're grounded."
Lucius sipped his tea and let out a satisfied sound. "Grounded? As in they're forced to talk their issues out or you sent them to their rooms?"
"I'm making them talk. All they've done for the past day and a half is bicker and it is driving me mad." Narcissa angrily marched to the inside of the island where the counter tops and fridge was to start pulling ingredients out for a steak and kidney pie.
Crewe, being the spectacular house elf he was, apparated into the kitchen sensing someone rummaging through the fridge. "Is there anything I can make for you, ma'am?" The house elf took a step towards Narcissa, smiling as he looked up with his large eyes. Narcissa was a mistress he did not mind serving as she merely had moments of being unpleasant, nothing more than being demanding and short-tempered, but she was no where near as cruel as Lucius.
"No, Crewe. I think it would do me good to relieve my stress by cooking this myself." Narcissa removed butter, liver and kidney from the fridge.
Crewe held up a finger and opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Lucius. "I believe Narcissa said she didn't need your help." Crewe bowed to Lucius, ready to apologize for what would have been interpreted by his master as talking back, but Lucius didn't want to hear it. "You may leave now." Without straightening up, the house elf disappeared with a pop. Narcissa continued to rummage through the kitchen drawers for a cutting board and knife. After washing her hands, she had started to dice the liver when Lucius decided to speak again. "Preparing food the muggle way?"
Narcissa glanced up but did not stop chopping the organ. "You know I cook or garden without magic when I'm upset." She pushed the bits of liver she had and cut off another section to dice. "Can you find me a bowl? I forgot to grab one."
Lucius got up and searched the cabinets for a bowl. "I just think they've got you really riled up is all." After the fourth cabinet he finally found one and placed it next to the cutting board Narcissa had began scooping the organs off of. "I think you like it though."
Narcissa paused with her hands mid-air and gave Lucius an incredulous look. "Have you gone daft? You think I like having two petty, adolescent children fighting all day to the point I can hardly get through what I need to with them?"
Without a beat he gave her a charming smile. "Actually, I think you love it." Narcissa scoffed and rolled her eyes as she dumped the liver into the ceramic bowl. "It brings life to the manor, you know. It's not so... quiet."
Narcissa glanced at her husband out of the corner of her eye and this time her chopping slowed. She had shared her thoughts with filling the manor with children many times with him. However, it was almost always on her terms the topic be brought up as it never ended well when Lucius tried to talk about children himself. "Lucius, I have a knife in my hand."
His smile didn't falter in the slightest at the threat, but it did change to become more warm. He gently pried the knife from her grip and set it on the cutting board to pick up her animal blood soaked hands. He barely minded as it had been over a decade since he became desensitized to any blood, human or creature. "I was just thinking, if you wanted to try again we could." He raked his eyes over her body as he smirked. "Right now even." Narcissa pulled her hands away and stared up at her husband. A million thoughts were going through her head at once. They had never talked about trying to give Draco a sibling... They simply stopped. They were over the moon to have Draco and assumed their luck had ended there. With Narcissa's lack of response, he started to second guess himself- one of the many affects that only she had on him. "I know that may be asking a lot with how many times we tried in the past, but if you were up to it and wanted another-"
"Help me get this pie in the oven first." Narcissa turned back to the liver and cutting board, chopping with a new eagerness.
Lucius could help but let a barking laugh escape him. "That's what I just said."
Narcissa slapped his arm in response to his cheekiness, but was smiling like a school girl. "Find some onion and garlic cloves and start mincing them for me." Lucius drew out his wand, summoning the needed ingredients and an additional cutting board. He primarily worked in silence beside her, silently following her every command as they got the steak and kidney pie prepared in record time.
Neither Draco nor Hermione said anything until the Library door had closed and Narcissa's footfalls could no longer be heard. Hermione crossed her arms, with no intentions of speaking to him. If he couldn't say anything nice, she wouldn't talk to him at all.
"Cover your ears." Draco demanded. His tone only earned him a scowl from Hermione though. When she didn't move, he spoke again. "I said cover your ears, Princess."
"Why should I do anything you say?! You've been nothing but a jerk since we got back to the manor on Monday night!" Hermione had leaned forward over the table arms still crossed as she yelled at him.
"Because I'm going to call Crewe and I rather not deal with your one of your panic attacks if I can help it."
"Oh, because I'm a burden? Issat right, then?" Hermione's face grew red from anger and Draco looked at her like she was speaking in tongues. "Go ahead and call the house elf to do your dirty work. Don't bloody worry about me now." She leaned back and looked away to the shelves opposite of the entrance.
"Wha-," He shook his head from the shock of her words and leaned forward. "Who said you were a burden?"
Hermione was slightly taken off guard that he chose not to address her jab at , but didn't let go of her anger. "All of wizarding London hates me, even Theo's dad! Why shouldn't you or your parents consider me to be a-a-" She stuttered as she tried to control her accent from getting any thicker than it had.
"Stop, stop, STOP!" Draco tried to push himself from the table, determined to walk away with the chair stuck to him, but it only confirmed Hermione's theory to be true that the chairs were stuck to the floor. He did, however, successfully push the table into Hermione's arms that were crossed over her chest. Surprise that was quickly followed by guilt crossed over his face. "I-" Hermione was too upset to listen though and shoved the table back at him. Draco barely caught the table, softening the blow to his torso. "Stop! Hermione, I didn't do it on purpose!"
He pushed the table back into the middle only for Hermione to push it back at him. "Sure, you didn't!"
Draco held the table in mild shock again at her attempt to try and hit him again until he decided to push the table off to the side so she could no longer use it as a weapon. "You want to know why I'm bloody pissed with you? It's because of this! After you threw a scene at the restaurant, you tried to hit me! I'm not Potter or Weasley and if I told you not to hit me, DON'T! No one in this manor gives a damn about your blood status anymore so stop with the bloody pity party!" Draco's chest heaved with how heavy he was breathing from yelling at Hermione. Draco hadn't realized the last sentence to be completely true until he said it. Lucius in his own way, had accepted Hermione. It was clear now that he said it out loud.
Hermione could feel her lower lip tremble and hot tears sting her eyes. She wanted to badly to leave and hole herself in her room again, but trying to leave was useless. "You think I'm throwing a pity party? Issat it?" Hermione hated how thick her accent became when she was overwhelmed with emotion. Hermione sniffled and straightened up in her seat. She came to terms by now that she was a crier, but if she was going to cry, she would do it with what little dignity she could. "You think I'm throwing a pity party? Do you know what it's like to be a muggleborn? To never been given a break because you're 'lesser than?'" She made air quotes when she said 'lesser than.' "When my parents went to Diagon Alley last summer, there were Wizards who spat at them, did you know that?" Draco tried to keep his face fixed on the angry expression he already had, but Hermione could see his jaw clench. "You wouldn't would you? You're at the top of the wizard social pyramid! You wouldn't know what it's like to be discriminated against."
Draco could pin point the exact moment where he snapped in her rant. "You don't know anything!" He had never been more mad before, not even Crabbe or Ron had made him this angry. "Yes, I'm a pureblood, but if you don't think the Malfoy name hasn't come with a few negative preconceptions then you're more daft than I thought." The insult made her wince, but he kept going without missing a beat. "Do you remember when we first met? You were looking for Neville's bloody toad on the Hogwart's Express? Well before you started walking around, I did. I met Potter and tried to be friendly, but because I was a Malfoy and my family were Death Eaters Weasley cut in so Potter would want nothing to do with me." Hermione's face fell and she looked away, trying to keep herself together. "But my namesake didn't just stop me from making friends. Adults treat me differently, all because my father had been on trial for something that happened before I was born. Teachers who are supposed to be our guardians at Hogwarts, look at me as if I'm an infestation in the castle. So yes, I have been discriminated against and while it may not have been as bad as what you go through-"
"Then why do you act like a prat? Why not prove them wrong?" Hermione looked at him with new tears running down her cheeks, her eyes alive with a new argument.
He leveled his gaze with hers as he leaned back in his seat, one hand propping his chin up, intensifying his stare. "I did at first, but then I quickly realized that people will always think what they want of me. I was taught how to pick my battles and I chose not to fight a losing one." Draco still struggled with this of course, but he was more than aware that knowing where to expel his energy in life was important to achieve whatever goals he hoped to accomplish. Even now, Draco was questioning if putting in the extra effort with Hermione had been a mistake as he found her to be a bigger brat than he was.
Hermione looked down at the floor as she thought about how wrong she was to assume anything about Draco- which was the same thing other people were doing to them. She was completely to blame for the fact they were arguing now and she knew it. She was the one who was being unfair- not him. She found him sharing more than what he owed her and she wasn't treating him like a friend.
Neither of them spoke again for almost ten minutes. Draco had settled back into seething quietly and Hermione was unsure how to make things right. When she realized how she may be able to patch up their argument, she spoke, despite her voice croaking. "Draco."
"I don't want to hear any a word from you, Granger."
His voice had a coldness he usually only reserved for Harry and Ron, but she decided to keep talking, despite thinking she deserved the sting that came with her surname. "In first year when Harry, Ron and I were trapped with the three-headed dog, we played music to soothe him to sleep so we could get under the trap door he was guarding." Draco's eyes flicked back to her as he tried to hide his interest in what she was saying. "The trap door led to a pit of Devil's Snare which we barely got out of. After that room, we ended up finding broomsticks which is how we ended up escaping." Hermione didn't dare elaborate that it was only her and Ron who flew out since Harry was left with Professor Quirrell who was Voldemort's proxy at the time.
They sat in silence for a moment, Hermione waiting for a response and Draco wondering if he should respond. When she opened her mouth to talk about how she helped Buckbeak escape, he cut her off. "What was being guarded?"
"Dumbledore made us promise not to tell..." Draco snorted and rolled his eyes. She stared at him for a moment before making the decision to continue. "But it's destroyed now so I suppose it would be all right if I told you... You must promise not to tell anyone-"
Draco raised an eyebrow as he raised up his pinky. "You already had me promise, remember?"
Hermione nodded as a new guilt coiled in her stomach as if she had swallowed Devil's Snare herself. She didn't recall breaking a promise before, but if she had to choose between losing a friend for being too proud or keeping an unimportant promise to Dumbledore, she knew which one she would choose every time. "It was the Sorcerer's Stone. It was destroyed though." Draco had never heard of it before and made a soft grunting noise before falling back into silence. He didn't think she would lie to him about it now but he wasn't so quick to forgive her for pushing him over the edge. Hermione tried to get up again and found that she still couldn't. She sighed as she rubbed her temples. "Draco, can I trust you?"
He scoffed. "The question should be if I can trust you."
"Now you're just saying things." He narrowed his eyes at her, ready to fabricate reasons for his logic, but she held up her hands. "I haven't given you a reason not to trust me, I've just been unpleasant."
Draco stared off to the side, still too annoyed to look at her even though she was giving him the truth he had asked for- even if it was months late. "You've been extremely unpleasant."
She suppressed the urge to huff before she agreed. "Yes. Extremely unpleasant." His eyes flicked to her again, not used to her being compliant or self-abasing. As much as he wanted to be mad at her, he couldn't turn away from the effort she was putting out at the moment. Mostly because his mother made sure of it, but partially because he was interested in where the conversation was headed.
"What do you want?"
Hermione looked down at her lap where she was already fidgeting with the edge of her shirt. Lavender mentioned secrets are an important part of friendship, right? "I want to tell you the full story on what happened with Buckbeak, but you need to promise me that you won't tell anyone about it. Ever." She bit her lip, half hoping he would decline.
Draco didn't miss how apprehensive she was when talking, which only spiked his curiosity even more. He wondered if Hermione knew how binding promises were for him, but pushed the thought away, reasoning there was no reason why she would know. "I promise, I won't tell anyone. I doubt I can reach you to pinky promise though."
Hermione nodded as she eyed the empty space between them. The library desk he pushed to the side was a proper study table, measuring in at seven feet long- unlike the three foot ones found in the Gryffindor common rooms. "Buckbeak was executed." She said the words out loud and it filled the space around her in a weird way, causing her to pause as she broke another promise to Dumbledore.
Draco wasn't sure what she was playing at and raised an eyebrow at her. "He wasn't, you saved him."
Hermione looked up at him with her large eyes and he knew that he was right to think what she had to say would be interesting. "That was after we used the time turner."
Draco blinked several times before her words settled in. Several emotions hit him at once- the strongest being anger and disbelief- as he laced his fingers over his stomach and sat forward once more. "You broke the law to save a Hippogriff?"
"I had Dumbledore's permission!" Hermione immediately jumped to the defensive side before she took a deep breath, slouching in her seat as she exhaled. "Not just a Hippogriff... Sirius Black, too." Draco thought his eyes would pop out their sockets at the words she said. Draco was at a complete loss for words and made a gesture for her to continue speaking. Even if he had the ability to speak, he wouldn't have as he thought speaking prematurely on such a strong statement would result in her not telling him the full story. Or worse, her not trusting him.
So Hermione told him everything. From the time Sirius dragged Ron into the Whomping Willow to when they saw him off from one of the west towers. Hermione only realized afterwards that it had felt good to talk about it with someone who wasn't Harry or Ron. It was liberating, but she was only elated for a short amount of time as she realized that Draco would probably say she was mad- or worse, he would tell someone about it. Hermione's hands shook as she realized she just unloaded a large secret about a falsely accused felon that she had helped escape- something she now found to be a stupid idea.
"Draco-"
"I think I know why you're friends with them." Draco had put his elbows on his knees to digest what she had said. "When you're placed in life or death situations, it's hard not to build a bond with people. Even if you're not compatible." Draco felt his mother's magic release him and he knew that they were now free to walk around, but he didn't move.
Hermione held her breath until she couldn't anymore and when she finally released it, the question tumbled out of her without hesitation. "You won't tell anyone right?"
Draco made eye contact with her to further cement his answer. "No. If I said anything, even to my parents, it would put Black in more danger."
Hermione nodded, but how he answered caused another question. "So you believe me when I say he's innocent?"
"Oh, yes. He was never a Death Eater although Peter Pettigrew was." There was a silence again, but this time it was Draco who was nervous. Idiot.
"How-how do you know for certain that Pettigrew was a Death Eater?" Hermione asked the question slowly as she moved her hand from the hem of her shirt to the necklace of a cross she was wearing.
Draco thought he felt sweat prickle at his hairline and used the first excuse that came to mind. "Well father was under the imperius curse when he was forced to serve the- You-Know-Who." He waved a hand and Hermione nodded, recalling the mention of the Death Eater trials of 1981 in Rita Skeeter's articles. "When under the imperius curse, you're still aware of your surroundings and he recalled Pettigrew being present in the meetings. There was no point to bring up a dead man in his defenses, so you won't read that anywhere." Draco thought his lie to be believable, but could see Hermione thinking about the validity of it. Not wanting to give her the time to dwell on it, he stood up. "Mum should have been back with food by now, don't you think?"
Hermione stood up and was visibly relieved to be free of the chair. She grinned from ear to ear and she hugged Draco without giving him a warning. He hesitated hugging her back before he wrapped his arms around her, realizing he himself was relieved they were no longer on bad terms. "I hate fighting with you."
Draco realized then that she was worth the effort he had put in and was just frustrated with her earlier when he questioned her. "Yeah, me too. Although I still say you're the bigger brat."
Hermione looked up at him and gave him a look. "Don't ruin the moment." He chuckled and Hermione felt something shift within her as his chest rumbled against her cheek. It was what she had once felt with Ron and Professor Lockhart- a stirring of a crush beginning to form. Oh no. Hermione pulled away immediately and ignored the blush that formed on her cheeks. "Lunch. I'm starting to feel peckish, aren't you?" Hermione didn't wait to hear his reply and started towards the library doors. Draco is the last person you should have a crush on. It doesn't matter how cute, accepting, or considerate he is!
Or trustworthy. You couldn't have trusted Ron or Harry not to tell anyone if the situation was reversed.
Draco quickly caught up to her with how long his legs were compared to hers. He found it odd that she had a blush on her cheeks, but didn't think anything of it other than he liked the color on her, as he walked ahead to hold open the door for Hermione. "You know you would be envied by eighty percent of the school for hexing Snape right?"
Hermione looked stricken before shaking her head. "I'd rather not talk about that. He's going to poison me instead of Neville's toad when we go back to Hogwarts this year."
Draco couldn't help, but chuckle before respecting her privacy on the subject. "Have you started school work assigned for the holiday by any chance?"
Hermione was broken out of her inner monologue and was grateful for it to. "Yes, I'm roughly half was through it."
They had nearly reached the kitchen door now. "Of course you are." He said it with a smirk and she turned to look at him before going into a half-hearted tangent about how he needed to stop bullying her when he opened the door. Perhaps if he hadn't caused Hermione to go into a rant, they would have heard the moans coming from the kitchen before Draco opened the door to witness his mother up on the counter while his father drilled into her.
Draco automatically shoved the door shut before grabbing Hermione's wrist and taking off. He didn't stop running they were in piano room with the door closed behind him. He threw himself onto the bench and worked on repressing the images from his mind. He wasn't sure if Hermione saw what he had, but he was not going to be the one to ask.
Hermione hadn't said a word from the time he grabbed her and ran, until she sat down next to him. Her eyes were just as wide eyes as he was as she was aware of what they had witnessed. "Does that count as a life and death experience if I almost had a heart attack?"
Draco pressed the balls of his hands into his eyes as he threw his head back "Aaaauuuggghhhhh! I'm never eating anything out of that kitchen again!" Hermione couldn't help but collapse into laughter as Draco dramatically vented on how he planned to rid himself of the images of his mother and father soiling the kitchen once he had use of his wand when they went back to Hogwarts.
Draco didn't know if she was relieved or apprehensive when Crewe delivered the Steak and Kidney pie instead of being summoned to eat with Narcissa and Lucius. He nearly let himself starve until dinner and only ate after much lecturing on Hermione's end, saying 'there are children who are starving' and 'you should never waste food if it can be helped.' When they were summoned for dinner, If Narcissa and Lucius knew that they were caught earlier, they didn't say anything about it while both teens refused to look at either of them throughout the five course meal. Draco had never been more relieved to leave the dinner table that night and had even gave Hermione a quick goodnight after walking up the stairs together.
He decided to try sketching the greenhouses from memory to calm himself, when the door to his bedroom opened. Draco looked over his shoulder to see his father had entered his bedroom and quickly put his quill down to provide his full undivided attention.
Lucius walked over to where Draco sat to see what he was doing and raised an eyebrow at what he saw. His son was talented, but he had expectations on where his son's grades should be. "I hope you haven't fallen behind on your school work, Draco."
Draco motioned to the pile of books on his desk. "Just taking a break, father." It was a lie, but a safe lie.
Lucius nodded his approval before sitting on Draco's bed to face his son. "Very good." There was a pause as he considered how to start the conversation he wanted to have. "Earlier today I had an epiphany of sorts, and I realized I had forgotten to talk to you about something, that is- ah- rather important." Lucius pursed his lips as he looked at the floor before looking at the stack of books on Draco's desk. "You've been looking into the Triwizard Tournament, correct?"
Draco slowly let out the breath he was holding, grateful it was not about the his mother and his father christening the kitchen. "Yes. I was curious about it."
Lucius nodded, deep in thought. "Do you have any intention to enter?"
"No, not at all. I was simply curious about it- I figured why stay one step ahead of what everyone else knows why I can be several."
Lucius gave half of a smile- something that Draco recognized as the biggest show of praise he would get from his father. "Good. Your mother and I wouldn't be too pleased if you were to try." Draco knew this was Lucius' way of saying that Draco better not have thought about entering as he would find a way to stop him. "Have you read about the Yule Ball that happens with every tournament?"
"I've read mention of it and I noticed that Hogwarts wanted us to bring Dress Robes this year." Draco was both interested and annoyed with an idea. Naturally he would be excited to attend such an event, but he already knew the girls at Hogwarts- specifically Pansy- would go wild at the thought of going to a dance.
"I'm glad you're up to speed then." Lucius cleared his throat and Draco was reminded of when his father had spoken to him on winter holiday. He was deep in thought like he was then except this time, he was sitting, which gave Draco the idea that perhaps his father knew what he wanted to say, but was hesitant to say it. "Naturally, when it comes to events like these, you would go with a date... and you are of an age where certain desires may arise. However, there are certain precautions you need to take if you decide to give in to said urges."
Lucius gave his son with a meaningful look as Draco tried not to think about what his father was trying to imply. He can't be serious.
"Sex, Draco. I'm talking about sex."
Merlin! "Ugh, No! We don't have to talk about this-" Draco's face was warm from the heat of his flushed face. He felt as if he were the one caught in the kitchen earlier with how embarrassed he felt. "I haven't- Mum wants me to wait till marriage-" Draco didn't know if he wanted to wait till marriage- like all boys his age he had discovered what masturbation was, but he was willing to say anything to make Lucius stop talking. Draco knew that Lucius' was aware of what Draco had saw and that his epiphany had come from it.
"Draco, all parents want their children to wait till marriage and in a perfect would, that's exactly what would happen." Lucius enjoyed seeing his son flustered as he found it adorable. "Even I want you to wait till marriage, however, I want to have this conversation with you in the event that you decide not to. It would be preferred not to have any bastard heirs running around. Especially before you are of age where you have yet to fully come into your magic-"
"Father-"
"Enough with the interruptions, Draco. We are having this conversation whether you think you are up to it or not." Lucius's tone was final and Draco nearly wanted to cry from the humiliation. "Now what is the first thing you need to establish before having intercourse with a lady?" Draco's face was stuck in a grimace, thinking that he was in hell, not at all intending to answer his father's question. Lucius was slightly peeved at his son's lack of responsibility, as this is a conversation to be taken seriously- but then a thought struck him on why his son was refusing to answer. "Or gentleman...?"
Draco looked up, debating if he should inch himself to check if this was a nightmare. "Ladies. Only ladies."
Lucius put both hands up. Suppressing a smile so he would not lose the seriousness of the conversation. "I wouldn't have minded, I just need to know if I needed to make another heir-"
Draco placed both hands over his face and gave a groan. Lucius tried to bite down a laugh. He was still riding the high that he and Narcissa were attempting to have more children. Young ones really are a gift to the world. When Lucius collected himself, he asked his query again. "What is the first thing you need to establish before you decide to have sex, Draco?"
Draco removed the hands from his face and straightened up, keeping one hand in his hair. "Protection."
"No. Protection is second, but consent is first." While Lucius was talking about how to ask for consent when a partner hasn't said 'yes' or 'no' to the act, Draco couldn't help but think how long the day had been and wondered if Hermione was getting the same talk from his mother.
A/N: I hope you all like this chapter! I think you guys can tell I had a bit of fun with it, lol. I do apologize it took a tad longer than I wanted it to, but I had put it on pause to finish a fluffy one shot I have called 'The Royal Flush.' I also made the executive decision to post ALL of my work on FFN like I had on Ao3 so you will also see 'A Collection of Dramione Drabbles' and a fluffy/smutty one shot called 'Bad Intentions'
Alice Helena: Gahh thank you so much! The restaurant bit is definitely a favorite for me. I'm happy you find their fight to be intimate because I have the hardest time writing arguments! I understand when you say quarantine is draining. It's... frustrating.
MotekElm: Thank you, I always try to aim for at least some growth when an issue comes up.
Guest: Thank you for reading! I also appreciate the feedback you leave.
Jamie-James-Jj: YOU MADE ME CRY OML haha. I try so hard to keep everyone true to themselves while coming together . AND THE STAIRCASE SCENE IS ANOTHER FAV OF MINE lol. Like. I'm honestly surprised I pulled that off because it was low key crackficy, but it still fit really well because there is not a completely sane soul at Malfoy Manor (Well maybe Draco. And Crewe lol) I'm a Hufflepuff myself!
I don't have a set update schedule :( But my average is usually around 10 days. I work two jobs and go to school so I write when I can.
CharmedMistletoe: Thank you for appreciating! It's killing me how this is a slow burn in every way, but I refuse to rush anything if it jeapordizes me doing it right.
ShawnJoell: I know you won't see this for a bit, but welcome and thank you for reading!