Malfoy Manor, that's where Pansy's port-key had brought them. Thankfully not outside the gates. "Really, Pans? Why my place? You know that my father might be upset that I'm not in school, right?" He glared in her direction with his brows knitted. Pansy shrugged with her mouth dramatically parted, rolling her eyes.
"What did you expect, Draco! Despite how dark your place looks on the outside, it's welcoming in the inside. It's comforting, so I just thought it to be a safe place." She explained, returning the glare in his own direction.
They didn't stay outside for long. Draco was shaking in his own britches, worried for his girl- worried for Granger. Someone else's Hermione Granger. Her breathing was shallow, he couldn't even imagine how many times she had been hit with the Bludger, he could see the arm was holding was dislocated, perhaps even broke. He could not see any other injuries, thankfully his mother could – well, would know what to do about it.
The Malfoy Manor was in fact more lively looking on the inside. It felt like warm waves washing over you, but the kind to hold you up instead of the kind that would violently drown you. The atmosphere was gentle, like a caress two lovers would have when taken to bed for sweet, love making. This Manor was entirely indescribable at best. Instead of things being black, dark and the feeling of being swallowed. There was dark gray marble for flooring and emerald green furniture. Silver along the walls in ways that looked nicely with the antiques, pictured frames and what not.
"Mother! Father!" Draco called while Pansy and him brought Hermione over towards one of the velvet emerald loveseat, laying her down and started to remove the leather suit with their wands. Thankfully she still had her school clothes on, minus her robes.
After laying her down in as much of a comfortable position that he could, he stood by her but more towards the fireplace. Draco held the emotions locked down tightly so he wasn't a raging crybaby over everything. Everything was so messed up beyond repair, and not only that but his worries about how his father would feel about them being back and not in school worried him,
Lucius came out into the foyer, his brow furrowed in concern and mild anger. He wore deep green robes, trimmed in silver, and carried his signature wand-cane with him. "Draco," He growled softly.
The moment he heard his father speak out into a low growl, the anxiety crept up inside his throat and was almost close to feeling like he was being choked. Pansy stood off to the side of him, her robes were falling off one side of her shoulder while her arms were crossed over her chest. How was he going to even explain this to his father, or even mother?
"What on earth are you doing home? Have you any idea what-" His eyes widened as he saw Hermione laying on the loveseat, bruised and broken as she was. "By Merlin. Narcissa," He shouted over his shoulder, "Find Dobby! If any can make light work of healing, it will be an elf." He reassured Draco, laying a hand on his shoulder and giving a squeeze.
Mother, Father, Hermione used wand magic and made the Weaselbee shit his breeches. This isn't my witch though; this isn't the Hermione that you guys know and love. She's from an entirely different reality.Bellatrix, Draco's aunt, shoved past Lucius, falling to her knees by the sofa. Her frizzy black hair was pulled back in as good a ponytail as could contain it. Hermione had always been her favorite. "Who did this?" She demanded, her voice barely above a whisper as she looked back at Draco. "I'll have their heads, never mind their wands!"
The elder wizard held out a calming hand. "Patience, Bellatrix. The children have only just arrived home." His brow bunched in curiosity as he looked back to Draco and Pansy. "And... just how did you arrive home? It was my understanding that Dumbledore had forbade apparating to and from the castle. At least, to all but his pet lions."
No, she said never to speak of it to no one. He would wait for her consent to do just that. When he heard Lucius yell for Narcissa to find Dobby, his tensed muscles seemed to relax by a hair, but the bulge of anxiety remained intact in his throat. It felt as though it'd cave, especially when he felt his father's hand upon his shoulder. Everyone was flooding their way in, just for her. It was overwhelming to say the least. He needed to keep his breathing in check, otherwise a panic attack would burst out at the seam's soon.
Pansy noticed the shape Draco was in, so she took a step forward to stand at his side to speak for him, "Me, sir. I got us here-" She answered, openly pulled the necklace port-key from under her robes to show, "-I have a port-key. I had it in case of emergencies." She explained, slipping it back into her jumper.
Draco couldn't even bunch out any words, his jaw was clenched and the muscles there twitched with just intensity one could only bare. His silver eyes blankly glared down at the unconscious Hermione Granger. A storm started to brew in his icy hues.
Narcissa heard her son call out the minute that he had walked in. A blank expression plastered her face, and her brows knitted in confusion when Lucius called for her to find Dobby, which she did just that.
When she abrupted from the hallways into the living room area where everyone was, Dobby trudge along with his long fingers wringing and holding the other hand. "What happened, my dragon?" She asked with concern and worry, but as her eyes averted from him, to Lucius across to Pansy she followed their eyes as they fell to Bellatrix, which was next to Granger. She gasped, rounding the loveseat but not necessarily crowding the girl by any means.
"Dobby." Was all that Narcissa got out, which the little house elf nodded his head, "Dobby will get right to work for Master Malfoy. Dobby will fix misses wounds." He bowed his head, large bulging eyes glistened when they turned to the unconscious Granger laying on the loveseat before the fireplace. Getting to work on the process of healing.
Lucius chin lifted, seeing that Draco was in a sorry state of affairs. "Bellatrix, would you be so kind as to escort Draco from the room? Perhaps fetch him something to settle his nerves." His voice was even, measured, but no uncaring. Whomever did this to his family – and he certainly hoped that one day the Granger girl would be family, brutish though she was – would pay dearly.
Upon hearing his father's voice, his gaze snapped up towards him and for a second it looked like he was pleading for him to stay, perhaps staying wasn't the best thin in mind since his anger was as close to being let off like a volcanic rupture. Like he'd slip back to Hogwarts and murder the bloody Weaselbee with his own snakeish hands. Just to watch his life flutter from his eyes. Certainly then, there'd be a cell with his name on it in Azkaban.
The dark-haired older witch lifted her dark orbs towards Lucius, standing to her feet with a curt nod, "Course. Come along, Draco," She purred, taking his arm and guiding him towards the kitchen. "How's a nice hot toddy sound, hmm? Maybe a bit more brandy than some'd put it; our little secret?"
When his aunt Bellatrix curved her arm through his to pull him along, his brow arched at the sound of a warm toddy. It did sound quite nice. A smirk rose to his lips, "Certainly." He nodded.
Draco's father shook his head, permitting Bellatrix to pamper the boy in this instance. His steely gaze fell on Pansy. "Miss Parkinson, I'll overlook why you have a port-key directly to my Manor, foolish and dangerous though that might be, in the hopes that perhaps you can tell me what happened?" He held a hand out, gesturing to Hermione. "It looks as though this poor girl was set upon by an angry troll!"
Hermione groaned weakly as Dobby worked his magic. A sharp but dim cry of pain came suddenly as her arm popped into its socket, then her eyes flew open as her leg did the same. Despite that, they rolled up from the sheer agony of it all, and she collapsed back to the sofa. "Ron..." she gasped, her head falling softly to the side.
Lucius brow furrowed. "Ron?" He looked back to his son's friend. "Surely she doesn't mean that Weasely brute?" Lucius had no fondness for the Weasley's, least of all their father, Arthur. A dour man obsessed with muggle artifacts and technology, who tasked Lucius for hours on end scouring the most menial of trinkets in a desire to weaponize them.
His mother moved so pristine around the loveseat; her hands clasped together in front of her abdomen. Her black hair was pinned back and splayed out against her back to the middle of her shoulder blades, the blonde strands were brought forward in a curled manner in an elegant way. Despite the color of their home, she wore a simple black royal looking gown. With a silver neckline.
The dark-haired brunette; Pansy looked up when as Draco was taken out of the room with Bellatrix, then to Narcissa who was looking down at Hermione with concern. She couldn't even read any of the Malfoy's face, despite how long she had been around them, and growing up with Draco. Only person she could read was, well, in fact Draco Malfoy.
She raised her gaze slowly up to Lucius, and raised her hand up to fix the robes that had fallen off her shoulder, "Mr. Malfoy..." She called, "It was all because of magic use. I mean-" For a Slytherin, she wasn't ever someone to get nervous, or anxious. But when standing in the presence of Lucius Malfoy, it was almost hard not to. Her blue eyes faltered to the ground. "Draco has quite the temper, as you both may know." She proceeded, raising her gaze up to mee Lucius's eyes, her chin lifted with confidence, she exhaled.
"Weasley came over and wrapped his arms over both Draco and Hermione's shoulders. Proceeded on about how she fancied Weasley. I don't know if it's a silly assumption he made, or to antagonize Draco... but Draco blew up, and then Hermione used magic, making him...well, fill his britches to the brim." She explained, moving her gaze to Narcissa with a smug smirk over her lips.
Which Narcissa met her gaze, "Weasley, Potter and Finnigan caught them when they got to the Slytherin common rooms. Pushed Draco to the ground when he tried to stop it. Weasley backhanded Hermione, Finnigan- I believe? Kicked Hermione in the stomach then carried her to the..." She held gulped, holding and choking back the sobs that were waiting to be unleashed, "Bludger Room." She breathed out in a harsh gasp.
A sigh from somewhere in the room, most likely belonging to Narcissa as she stood and paced towards Pansy, bringing a gentle hand up to the younger witches back, and gently rubbed along in a way to bring some kind of comfort. Then allowed her gaze to shift to Lucius with her chin raised. Such a traumatizing act of punishment.
Dobby continued with the healings. Adjusting her leg and arm that were injured. Seeing if there were any other internal injuries that may have needed attended to, but not seeing anything else then the wounds she received which he fixed up. "Dobby has finished. Dobby healed misses' wounds. Dobby fixed misses dislocated limbs. Misses only needs lots of rest now." Dobby bowed.
"The Bludger-" Lucius exhaled sharply through his nose, his grip tightening on his cane. "Barbaric! That fool Cornelius is too far in Dumbledore's pocket for us to ever dream of challenging him as we are." His lips set into a firm line; he wouldn't bother the girl with such worries. "Miss Parkinson, please do feel free to join Draco for a drink. We will ensure Miss Granger rests well." He nodded in thanks as well to Dobby, commending his work.
Pansy stood there with the Malfoy's, anxious of all sorts since they were so formal. Yet they had this intimidating look about them. Mostly Lucius Malfoy. Other than that, they were completely sweet. She had remembered all the times that her and Hermione would come there on their holidays to attend to the galas, or other events the Malfoy's held. Including those being Draco's birthdays, even his friends would celebrate their birthdays here because he would ask his parents if it was okay. The Malfoy's were more welcoming than her own family it seemed, but she was thankful for them. That's why she had a portkey specifically for the Manor. This was her safe place.
She nodded her head, and made her way down the corridors to the room where Draco and Bellatrix were having a drink. The Manor was huge, with lots of rooms. Anyone who was new to the Manor would surely get lost amongst the different hallways, the many stories the home held and so on. It was a maze. Thankfully, since she's been coming here since she was just a little girl, she knew the way around. She also knew which side of the house was off limits. Which mainly were Lucius and Narcissa's bedroom, along with Lucius office.
The dark-haired brunette allowed her feet to carry her through the corridors. Rounding corners, at least two of them before she came upon the two of them in the kitchen. They were indeed indulging themselves in a drink. Draco seemed in better spirits, perhaps he might've had two, maybe three drinks? His cheeks were flushed, but he was still lucid enough.
She brought her hands up to her face in order to remove the tears that slipped their way down her cheeks and to her chin, just enough to make it look like she hadn't been crying. Approaching them with a grin.
Hermione's brow furrowed. She felt sore and worn. But why wouldn't she? They had been on the run from Death Eaters for weeks now, harried at every turn. She groaned softly, bringing a hand to her eyes as she opened them slowly. Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy immediately filled her sight. Her eyes flew open and she gasped in terror, before her eyes fell down a little.
"Dobby!?" Her brow furrowed in confusion. Why was he back with the Malfoy's, and why was he wearing actual clothing? Then it all came flooding back; the Time Turner breaking. Telling Draco about it all. Ron torturing her... Tears gathered in her eyes, and her lip began to tremble.
The house elf shrieked just a bit and just about stumbled backwards when Hermione yelled his name. "Misses...Dobby is glad to see that Dobby did good." He bowed again, then troddled away, "Anything for Master." He gave a brief smile before disappearing.
The elder wizard sighed. "Narcissa my love, see to it Miss Granger is well. I will... see to our supply of brandy, I suppose. Best make sure Bellatrix has not wasted it all on Draco alone." He offered a tight smile to Hermione, mildly confused at her look of revulsion. "Do feel free to join your friends. As ever, our home is yours."
Narcissa gave a faint smile, with a nod as she neared closer to Hermione. Her hand slowly raised to the brunettes face to place, before turning her back hand to her cheek to brush the small strands of hair behind her ears, "Would you like a minute, Darling? I can tell Draco that you have awoken. He would have been here when you woke up, and I would have seen him to it. It's just... Draco has a big temper, as I am sure you already know this."
The brunette froze, her eyes wide as Draco's mother caressed her cheek. Keep it together Granger,' She thought to herself, 'Remember who you are here.' Swallowing her revulsion and anxiety, Hermione nodded stiffly.
The woman's hand dropped from her face, and fell to her side, "So, he had to be excused. We couldn't have him making any...irrational decisions." She explained, her voice dropped to a lower, yet gentle tone, almost a hushed whisper.
"Yes, thank you. I'm sorry Mrs. Malfoy, I'm... quite shaken by this whole event." Of course, what shook her more was Ron. Not-Ron, who had almost killed her. Just thinking about that made her stomach twist. She forced a smile to Narcissa. "Actually, I should be able to manage on my own. Where is Draco?"
A slow downward frown crept to Narcissa's lips when she noticed the quick reactions from Hermione. One thing she could notice that something was off, perhaps it was just the way things were handled at school. Curse such a school that they allow their students to be put into any kind of punishment in the Bludger Room. No student should ever have to endure the trauma like that from such a thing. The amounts of times she has had to attend to Draco's wounds around holiday time wasn't something any parent should have to deal, nor go through.
The elder witch cleared her throat when standing to her feet, bringing her hands down the front of her dress and forced a smile, "Kitchen."
Bellatrix grinned, leaning on the table, as Pansy came in. "Well, 'Ello Pansy Wansy." She teased. "Did dear old Lucius let you join us? Cissy must be doin' something right, to get his knickers sorted." She brought her mug up to her dark-burgundy lips, taking a sip of what was more warmed brandy than toddy.
The dark-haired brunette crossed her arms over her chest with her chin raised and head cocked, "Good to see you again, 'Tixy-Wixy." Pansy cooed, grabbing a glass of her own from the table, pouring herself a drink, taking a couple sips soon after. "Hermio-"
Not long after Pansy arrived, Hermione swept into the kitchen, having been directed there by Narcissa. She snatched up the bottle of brandy, flicked the lid off, and took a very heavy swig from the bottle.
Before Pansy could even say anything else, Hermione thrusted her way into the kitchen, shouldering Pansy before grabbing the bottle so fast from in front of Pansy just to down it, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped, "Oh."
Completely unliked herself, but the times called for it. Bellatrix made an amused and impressed look at Hermione, tilting her head as she looked to Draco. "She always been like this?"
The pale blonde adjusted himself in his seat, even managed to have his robe taken off somewhere while they were working on Hermione. His cheeks were a tint red, his hair sprawled along his forehead all messed up. When Bellatrix tilted her head his way, his eyes briefly met hers before setting back onto Hermione, "Imagine going through what she did." His words were stammered somewhat, but he managed them and sent an icy once-over glare towards his aunt.
Hermione set the bottle down, coughing briefly. "Not quite," she curtly replied. The sight of Bellatrix whatever-her-last-name-was-here was still quite jarring to her. The last she had seen of this particular witch; she had blown up the barrow. Her brown eyes snapped to Bellatrix, who was a bit taken back, and sat up straighter. "In fact, I feel like a whole new woman. Like a Phoenix." She was being daft, of course. Hermione didn't even know if the Order of the Phoenix existed here.
Draco chuckled, lolling his head back towards Hermione, "A Phoenix hm? Why that?" He questioned.
Bellatrix looked a little stunned at her change in behavior particularly her vocabulary, and cast a heavy look to Draco. "How hard did those Bludgers whallop her?"
Pansy threw back the rest of her drink, matching up with Hermione. Bringing the back of her hand to wipe across her mouth, she pressed her elbows onto the island counter, leaning her upper body forward with her palm curved around her jaw. Blue eyes blooming in on the bushy-haired brunette, "I think she's fierce. The Slytherin's are permitted from using wands unless in front of professors, but she took a stand for her wizard, maybe more-so to the Weasel." She shrugged, "Still bad-ass. Even more so now than ever." She purred.
Hermione shook her head, but nearly immediately halted that motion as it nearly sent her reeling. "Nothing," she dismissed, "Just a... well, of course it's an apt metaphor. A Phoenix dies and is reborn anew. Didn't they cover this in Care for Magical Creatures?"
Both Draco and Pansy blankly stared at Hermione like they had no idea what she was talking about. If they had learned about the Phoenix it may have been in their earlier years. A lot had changed though so it was stranger for her to bring it up, then again, Draco knew that she wasn't from this reality, almost had completely forgot. Didn't help that he was two drinks in, on his third one now.
The curly-raven-haired witch looked stunned; she had never heard Draco's girlfriend say things like 'apt metaphor' or prattle on about trivia as though it was common knowledge. "Think I'm gonna find meself a Bludger Room. Take a few minutes." She teased, to which Hermione cast a deathly glare. Bellatrix's eyes flared as she lifted her cup, muttering sheepishly into it. "Alright, just having a laugh is all."
Pansy couldn't hold back from the small giggle that slipped her lips which was something highly rare coming from her, and Draco blanched from at that. His own best friend had never giggled until now, was it the drinks? "You never fail to make me laugh, Trixy." A smirk rose over her lips, and picked up her drink.
Hermione shook her head again, not the best of ideas, and was about to seek out something to nibble on when Pansy's praises caught her attention. A faint blush rose to her cheeks with the compliments, as well as the very oddy way Pansy was looking at her.
Bellatrix grinned, leaning close to Draco and whispering to him. "Looks like you've got a bit of competition, hmm Lucy?" Her grin widened, knowing the nickname on his middle name bothered him.
The blonde cocked his head, "A competition you say? Malfoy's never have to compete against anything, out of all people, I think you would know that, Auntie." He shot her a quick once-over glare before shifting his gaze to Pansy, "Plus, Pansy don't like women. She's shagging it with Zabini." He added.
Pansy heard the last bit of what Draco was saying. Set her drink down and strutted her way over to him, hips seductively swaying from side to side. With an elbow pressed to his shoulder where she dug it in, "How in the bloody hell would you know what I like? I could snog your girlfriend right in front of you, you wouldn't do shite." She taunted, glancing a batting eye to Hermione, pulling her lower lip in with her upper teeth, Draco glared.
"But don't worry. I won't. That's your witch. If you are right about one thing, I do have myself a wizard. I'm not no tosser like Weasely." She made her way back to the kitchen island, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
Hermione blushed deeply as Pansy teased her, her eyes widening as she only just now understood what they were talking about. "What!? Me, with... with a girl?" The prospect wasn't entirely horrid, only unexpected. And besides, it's not like Ron – her Ron – would ever know about it. She was unable to say anything, her lips parting in fascinated shock at the look Pansy gave her, biting her lip seductively... Perhaps this was her chance to experiment a little, purely academic, as none of it would matter one- stop it, Hermione! She scolded herself, her brow furrowing. What was getting into her?
Pansy dropped her arm to the counter as her eyes fell to Hermione, she noticed the look she had, and the frantic way of a response. She couldn't help but chuckle a bit, "Hermione, are you fantasizing me and you together?" She purred with a brow raised, and clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, she wasn't even trashed and had only a couple of sips.
Bellatrix giggled. "Wasn't such a grand idea to drink that much, eh?" She took the bottle of Brandy, capping it again with a teasing look. "I think that's quite enough treats before bed, children. Lucious didn't stop me from making you a small drink, but I don't think he'd take too kindly to you lot getting sloshed!"
Too late for that. Hermione's head was already swimming. The exertion of being beaten near to death, then immediately having a full drink of straight brandy. She grunted softly, leaning on the counter as her gaze drifted around. Blimey, her tolerance was terrible. She brought a hand up, pushing her auburn curls from her face. It felt hot in here...
Bellatrix raised a brow in concern, setting the alcohol back in the cupboard. "Best get her to bed, then," she told Draco and Pansy, leaving that up for them to sort out. "Quite the night, eh? Guest room's open, as well as your own Draco. Don't fret over anyone from Hogwarts coming after you; this is a safe place."
Pansy was definitely not feeling the way that Hermione was, all that she had done was just tease. "Draco, darlin', you best get your witch to bed." She winked, shifting her eyes towards Bellatrix, "Yes! I, myself am calling it an early night. I'm exhausted. I'll see you lot in the morning." She chirped, flipping her hair over her shoulder and exited the room to one of the guest rooms.
The blonde parted his mouth with brows raised when Pansy, his best mate teasing Hermione. He had to push out the thoughts in his head and remind himself that... the witch is his girlfriend and since his parents don't know about her predicament, they would have to keep up the act. Draco dropped his head to the table, groaning.
Finally, he stood from the kitchen chair and crossed the distance to Hermione, putting his hand flat against the small of her back, "Goodnight, Auntie." He nodded, "Come, let's get you into bed. I'm sure you're exhausted and could use the rest." He murmured, taking her out of the kitchen but not before she had thanked Bellatrix. Leading her down the halls, up the stairs to his own room.
Words that Hermione never though she would ever say. Especially to Bellatrix. She held to Draco's hand and shoulder, stumbling here and there as they walked down the hall. It wasn't entirely from the brandy; despite Dobby's aid, her legs felt like noodles. Pulverized.
She barely had registered what he said as they entered his room. It was neater than she would have thought. Almost like her room back home, only far less... well, sunny.
Once they were in his room, he slipped his hand from her back, and closed the door. "You can have my bed, Granger." He stated while taking off his robes to lay across a chair in one of the corners of his room. Not even bothering to look at her, sure she was probably feeling as though he'd sleep with her but he wouldn't do that to her.
"Oh no..." she muttered, "My wand. My wand got smashed into a thousand splinters!" Her eyes looked to Draco, filled with horror. How was she to do anything now, much less get back home?
Exhaustion and drunken-ness swept over her, and she flopped down onto the bed, out cold almost as soon as she hit the mattress. Her feet hung off the end of the bed, her cheek pressed to the blankets.
Draco registered the words that she replied with, out of everything else she was worried about her wand? Salazar sake! He'd just take her to get a new one with no worries if that was her worries. Until then, he'd be sure to let her use his, even if he hated the idea of someone else using his own wand.
He pulled his jumper vest over his head and set it in the chair by his robe, removing the emerald and silver tie from the collar of his dress shir, including the shirt as well to set aside, he grabbed a pair of simple black trackies before taking off his trousers which he slipped on, then placed the other pants by his clothes. Turning to look over his shoulder at the sleeping brunette, and sighed softly while walking over to her. His hands reached up to untie her shoes, and slipped them off of both of her feet to set beside the bed then proceeded to pull the covers over her.
Spinning on his back heel, slipped off his own shoes and grabbed an extra blanket. Heading to the loveseat in his room and laid down. It took a couple of minutes before he eventually passed out.
We will figure out how to get you back home, Granger. Were his last thoughts before sleep fully consumed him.