Chapter Seven: The Tapestry
Thank you for all of the reviews!
For those who thought Severus was a complete ass last time, know that not is all that it seems.
Hermione walked solemnly to her "guest" quarters. The irony that Pansey was happily walking her to a room she had requested was not lost on her. Unfortunately, Pansey was not aware of this fact and walked like a woman about to leave her worst enemy in the bowls of a dungeon, despite them walking to the best view of the home.
"I believe this is the room, Mrs. Malfoy," she said with a sickeningly sweet smile. "I haven't been down this way in so long I nearly forgot."
Turning to give Pansey a small smile and nod before running into her room, the Slytherin interrupted her escape. "Also, I deeply apologize if the room is a touch musty, I may have forgotten to have it cleaned since your last stay. Young boys are so difficult to keep up with; it simply left my mind." Eyes gleaming, Pansey narrowed her gaze in a challenge to Hermione.
She rose to it.
"Surely, a woman with your stature and breeding would not forget such a basic courtesy for... a guest? Besides, you own... two dozen house elves? I am sure they would have picked up for you." Hermione replied kindly.
Pansey, not to outdone, replied. "Oh, Hermione, I hardly think you could understand, comprehend even, the joys of having children. Such work and effort they require. They run mostly on love, a gift to those who have the most to give."
Hermione's smile died on her mouth, a thin line replaced the careful lipstick she had put on only this morning, in another home, in her other life. She was willing to put up with a lot of things in this new home. She and Severus had discussed the best arrangement weeks ago. She was prepared to use every ounce of her courage to survive living with this arrogant, sarcastic, manipulative bitch.
There is a line, a threshold for everyone, and at this moment, five fucking hours after Hermoine arrived, Pansey had crossed it. Contemplating her options, Hermione decided that she would not give this... little girl, the satisfaction of seeing her break out of her new pureblood image. She would not allow her to run back to Severus and announce the Griffindor had performed a typical tantrum.
She squared her shoulders and replied, "certainly, your children are a fine example of that. Severus has much love to give, and his children obviously return it tenfold."
Pansey's face began to turn red, a bright burning red, and she began to shake with the kind of uncontrollable rage that comes with being beaten by your own game by a mudblood.
The slap hit Hermione squarely in the left cheek, leaving an instantly burning sensation. The discomfort, however, was worth it. Pansey had shown quite a handful of cards in such a short exchange. Laughing softly to herself, she raised her face to the Lady of the house again. She knew how to end this discussion in a way that would have Narcissa rolling with a mixture of pride and laughter.
"Pansey, how kind of you to think of me in this difficult time."
Through her panting, Pansey looking confused, shocked even.
Hermione continued, "We loved these rooms, Draco and I. The view, the decor, it always felt like a home away from home to us."
Pansey's anger was dissipated enough to see her slight was not a slight at all. She moved to speak again, but Hermoine cut her off.
"He must have taken me over every surface in there. He was always so relaxed when we arrived to visit; he would always sleep the first two days from exhausting himself," She said with a whimsical sigh.
"You whore, you lie!" Pansey screamed, "He always got ill after apparating, always."
"Yes, that was before I worked with your husband on a small antidote; I am ashamed to say that he stuck to the lie to... recharge. We were trying for children, after all." Hermione realized too late that she had revealed slightly more than she meant to.
Pansey finally calmed, smoothed out the panels of her gown. When she looked at Hermione again, it was with the clear sign of self-approved victory. " Yes, and how did that work out for you? As I said, only those, who have love. I did mean children, not books, you see."
Turning down the hallway, Snape's wife called over her shoulder, "I do hope you don't require that servant of yours... Silly? Silve?... Severus and I are planning on adding to the brood, and we will be desperate for help."
Before she turned the corner to her own wing, she called, "good night, sloppy seconds."
Moments later, behind the safety of her doors, Hermione shrank to the floor. She was exhausted from her ridiculous exchange from Pansey, but mostly from the day's events.
Rolling her head to her right, she reviewed the rooms that she had come to love.
They were small, but purposefully so, cozy with elegance. The Dark stained four-poster laid within view, covered with gold etchings and carved vines, remained unchanged. The cream coloured sheets brought back memories of Draco, arguing that they were too close to Griffindor gold.
She continued her evaluations with a smile; two large upholstered chairs sat at the foot of the bed, facing the oversized fireplace. A desk sat underneath the large windows overlooking the gardens, where Hermione had written many a journal article. Yes, this was perhaps the last safe place for her, a womb where she could hide until she could be born again.
As Hermione made to get up, she noticed something curious behind the bed that had not been there before. Certainly, it had never been in the house before, as she had gazed up at it this very morning, as she had every other morning since a warm July night in her second year as Draco's wife.
The tapestry was Draco's most prized possession, the olive green and black shield protected by two dragons laid in stark contrast compared to the silver fabric that held the stitching. It was not made with humility in mind; it must have been three by four meters and took up the whole gap from the two columns on either side of the bed. She shook her head, confused. I specifically did not bring this here, she thought.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her reverie.
"Ma'am?" Came a familiar voice.
"Silvy!" Exclaimed Hermione, embracing her friend with affection. Releasing the maid from her hold, Hermione held her at arm's length to survey her.
"How was your ride, Silvy? Do you like your rooms? We can certainly switch if you are not comfortable or too close to the slippery eel there."
With a laugh, the maid replied, "surely not, ma'am! My rooms is twice the size and nearly next to yours," She gestured to the left of Hermione's rooms, though further down the hall.
"How did ya do, with 'er? Was she a righ' trollop?" Silvy asked?
With a laugh, Hermione rolled her eyes, "no different than usual." Each woman took a moment to breathe in the other's company. Hermione was the first to break the silence. "Silvy, how did Draco's tapestry arrive here?"
With a giggle, Silvy began jumping up and down until she clutched Hermione's hands in hers. "Isn' it wonderful, ma'am? Master Snape wrote to me more 'an two weeks ago, asking if I would be kind 'nough to bring it to ya, 'ere!"
With a joyful laugh, Hermione beamed up at her, "Severus? Severus asked you to bring this here?"
" 'Course, ma'am. He was 'ver so firm on it. ' We must ensure the Lady is as comfortable in this new home as in your old. She will surely wish to keep her routine rooms, see to it...' on 'n on he went, ma'am." Finishing her words with a blustering breath, Silvy spun with cheer. " He insisted that I com 'n
Finally, Hermione sighed with contentment gazing up at the tapestry. She had left it in her room as she left. Feeling unworthy of it, undeserving of it. Now that she saw it, though, she realized that she would feel incomplete without it.
Tiredly, she hugged Silvy and bid her goodnight. Alone again, she walked to the right side of the bed, where Draco had slept in many a morning. She sank down into the bed, and sleep took her right there on the comforter.