It was late, everyone was asleep minus three people. Darkness had consumed the home, and the many acres of land. Midnight skies crossed over, with the faintest flickers of stars above. The moon was bright, and casted it's soft glow upon the garden, and shone through the many windows of the Manor itself.
Lucius was furious, though it came through as a calm coldness. "Something must be done, Narcissa." He was at her side, his cane tapping softly but firmly as he set the point down. "This cannot stand. She could have been killed, and still that long-bearded fool would have turned an uncaring eye!"
He laid a hand on her shoulder, the fire in his grey eyes burning hot for his family. "Speak to your sister, if you would. She always responded well to your wishes and advice. Tom must know how badly things have gotten, rally the Silver Serpents so that we might return this attack." An ancient order, founded by Salazar Slytherin himself, Tom Riddle had worked hard to revive the order after his failed assault on Dumbledore's top lieutenants; The Potters. Now the Serpents were their greatest hope.
The elder witch remained in the room where Hermione was laid, eyeing up the spot where she had been all while listening to Lucius. Narcissa's face was blank, soon filled with concern. What if that had been her son? She had remembered all the times that they have attended to him, almost lost him twice. Her husband was right, something needed to be done. She wasn't going to allow her son, Pansy or Hermione to go back until something was in order.
"If you say something must be done, then I shall see to it that it is handled. It is unfair that the Slytherin students are treated so poorly, but Harry Potter and his... whatever you wish to call them attacking a woman. It's preposterous, unacceptable." Narcissa agreed, raising her chin with a tilt to look up at Lucius when his hand rested at her shoulder.
She nodded once, "I will speak with her, don't you worry my dear." She turned to face him, "You wouldn't suggest that they go back to school, would you? Draco will get into trouble, especially Miss Parkinson for using their wands, and helping a student escape the Bludger Room." She dropped her head with a worried look, "We can't let anything happen to them."
Lucius shook his head. "Absolutely not. They will not return to that castle now, nor in the future until this storm has passed us. Whatever possessions they had can easily be replaced. I will send an owl to the Grangers, inform them of this turn of events."
Narcissa's frown had turned into a warm smile as the sinking feeling she felt in her chest just disappeared when he reassured her that they'd not be going back. She was right, if they were to go back it was a death sentence for sure. "You aren't at all worried about Draco's schooling, and exams to come? I thought you perhaps might have been, I assumed wrong, I see. It's certainly nice to see we're on the same page about all of this. Their safety comes first, and that school is, and will not be safe for them." She exhaled a breath after speaking.
A wry smirk came to Lucious lips. He glanced around before returning his attention to his wife. "His schooling? Exams? Propaganda, I'm sure you mean, my dear. I say very little on that for the delicate nature of my employment. Yet with these turns of events, and the storm gathering, all such petty concerns pale before fighting for our lives." He sighed heavily, "On second thought, I believe I will join you in speaking with Bellatrix. Heavens know I, myself could use a good stiff drink."
Bellatrix looked up as Lucius and Narcissa came into the kitchen. Her jovial nature was gone again, and she was pouring herself a glass of rum. "You see that Granger girl? Somethin' off about her. I ain't ever heard her use such words before." She capped the rum, setting the bottle aside. The black-haired witch picked up her glass, taking a drink before gesturing with it. "And she's so...clean. Don't get me wrong, I love the little brat like family. But her hair's never been so brushed, nor her shirts pressed."
"She did seem a little odd upon waking up. I could see the high risen anxieties within her own eyes, and the way she looked at me. So, revolting. Maybe it's just the circumstance of prior events that has her like this. Sure, it's nothing." She looked from Lucius and her sister as she explained some of her own concerns, but just proceeded to brush it off in a reassuring manner. "If anything was wrong, Draco would certainly come to us about it." She hoped, anyways.
The elder witch picked her feet up, raised her chin and stretched the short distance with a glass in hand, setting it down on the table and twisted the cap off to fill it up. When she was finished, she capped it and set it down, picking hers up. A warm smile spread over her lips, "Could you see anything odd about Miss Granger, darling?"
Lucius sighed, looking at the half-empty bottle of brandy. "They will drink me out of house and home. The Wutherforth, Bellatrix? That is one hundred-year-old Goblin brandy, and you're using it for mixed drinks?" His sister-in-law shrugged innocently, taking a taunting sip from her rum. He poured himself a small glass. "Of course, I noticed her rather odd behavior. She spoke like me, not like our dear Bellatrix here. I doubt very much she is an imposter, but one cannot rule out that she is not herself."
"So, what do we do about it?" Bellatrix asked, shooting a dark look to Lucius. "I might not be the brightest silver, but even I can tell 'something's amiss'." She taunted Lucius high accent.
The elder Malfoy swirled his drink in thought. "It is possible that she is under the Imperius Curse. I would not put it past those wretched classmates of hers. A such she won't be forthcoming in telling us the truth, or, more importantly whomever put her under. In any case she seemed quite intent on keeping secret, and playing along with Draco's lead. Which, of course, means that he is in danger as well."
Bellatrix shook her head. "Right. Well... How's about we take a peek at her mind? Cissy, you were always the better at Legilimency. And she's just tied a fair big one on – there's your fancy Goblin brandy, Lucius – so it's not like to hurt the poor girl." She scowled, shaking her head. "Poor Granger's been through enough from those filthy lions..."
Narcissa took a few moments in silence for herself while she listened to Lucius and Bellatrix convers about Granger. Knowing that Lucius himself had even noticed something different was well beyond her.
"What if Draco does know about whatever it may be that's going on with her, but asked that he respected her not to tell a single soul? If a secret is dark enough, you'll only tell one person, a person you feel you can trust with anything. Our son – her wizard afterall. Shall we see if Draco knows?"
Upon hearing her sister bring up using Legilimency, her hand brought forth her cup to take a sip, savoring it for a couple of moments before she would reply. She could use Legilimency. What if they found nothing, and it is their Hermione Granger? She would feel robbed of her own mind. Narcissa brought the glass down with her head raised, and eyes landing on Bellatrix, before reverting to Lucius.
"If I do that, do we do it while she sleeps? What if we see something we won't like? What if we see nothing, then she'll feel she can't trust us?"
Bellatrix shook her head. "Cissy of course we're going to see somethin' we don't like. Whole world's gone mad, there's gonna be more we don't like 'round every corner." She downed the rest of her rum, grimacing a little. "But we've gotta know. You know I love Granger as much as you two, but if she's a threat to you, or Lucius, or Draco? We find out, so we can counter-curse her if need be. And if it is her," She shrugged, "well then, no harm, she put away half the whole damn bottle; I'm sure she won't even notice."
Lucius set aside his empty glass, nodding with a small sigh. "I'm afraid I must agree with your sister, my dear. The children are welcome here, of course, and we will defend them as best as we can. But we must know everything, including what they are not telling us, if we are to properly defend against it." He took Narcissa's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "I know you can do this, Narcissa, and for our family, you must."
"Of course, we are. I perhaps just might not like what I'll see, that's all." She admitted, lifting her glass to take another sip, or two to calm her nerves. If they are right about this, will they have to tell Draco? Or, perhaps Draco already knows and is covering up for her. Narcissa looked up from her glass after pulling it away to set on top the table when Lucious spoke up agreeing with her sister, her eyes met his briefly and her hand that let go of the glass fell to the center of her chest, her fingertips pressing firmly there as if to contain the swirling emotions.
When her hand was taken up into Lucius's and reassured her, she nodded her head with a sheepish inward smile, "Alright dear. I am assuming she went to bed with Draco?" She questioned, turning her head to let her eyes make contact with her sisters, a brow arching, "I'll be back then." She finished before leaning in to place a gentle kiss to Lucious cheek.
The elder witch made her way out the kitchen. Through the corridors and up the stairs to Draco's bedroom. When she walked in, she was half expecting him to be in bed with his witch. Perhaps with how much Granger had drank, he didn't feel comfortable with it. She sure did raise her son right, thankfully.
Narcissa crossed over to her son first, pressing a gentle hand to his cheek and allowed her other hand to pull up his blanket to cover him more. She faintly smiled, which soon faded when she rounded the corner of his bed to stand at the edge in pitch darkness, only light that shined was some of the glow from the corridors light. Though, the moon was bright tonight and entered his bedroom window at an angle. The witch pulled her wand from her sleeve, pointed it directly to Grangers head and took a deep breath in.
'Legilimens.'
She exhaled, a muffled yet very quiet casting and she was in.
Hermione gave the faintest of whimpers, barely aware of Narcissa's intrusion. Her fingers bunched up in the blankets, her face burying in a pillow that smelled of Draco...
Immediate in her mind were jumbled dreams of Draco, brought on from the scent of his bedding. They whirled and dove in on themselves, at times hot with passion and guarded desire, other times rage and fear, blood mixed with muddy water. Then they would return again, wound and writhing naked together in the earthen mixture, panting and clawing...
Narcissa was thrust deeper into Hermione's mind. An expanding tent. Angry words. An unspeakable evil bound in a locket. She chased a figure through dark mist and whispering grass. "Ron!" She shouted, her voice echoing through the memory. "Where are you going!?"
He was suddenly before her, both hands firmly grasping her wrists. His breath was fetid, foul."Better get used to that, luv." Ron shoved Hermione away, and she fell, screaming, through dark waters. Down, sinking ever down.
An object spun around her, and she reached for it like a Seeker after the Snitch. A Time Turner. It shattered, and the waters around Hermione exploded outward. She spun away, reality twisting and warping around her.
The dream then turned to straight and recent memory. Surrounded by fog, muffled in speech, but still clear enough. Running into Draco. A flood of rapid but lasting memories of the hell he put her through. Hatred and revulsion. Then the dining hall. Rushing to hug Ron, only to be thrown back. She flew back along the hallways. Cleaning Not-Hers room up. Her conversation with Draco. Telling him the truth. Then dinner, rebellion, and being dragged to the Bludger Room.
"Keep sqwawkin', and I'll strip you bloody naked." Only now she was naked. Soft and bared to the world. She tried to cover her shame, but the doors opened. Two Bludgers, looking like black eyes, raced towards her with a thick 'WHACK' and the dream ended abruptly, hurling Narcissa back to her own mind as Hermione woke with a start.
Hermione gasped, tears already streaming from her eyes. "No!" She shrieked; her hands held up as though to ward off the enchanted ball of iron. Hermione sobbed, taking in shuddered breaths, before her eyes dropped and she sank back to the bed, barely conscious and quickly falling back asleep. When she had invaded Grangers mind, at first it was what she had expected of the brunette, to take a liking to her son. It wasn't something that she had wanted to see but it was at that moment reassuring to see that. Then the further she went it sucked her in, pulled her through the memories from her other reality and was tossed down a rabbit hole which seemed so unsuspected.
Narcissa took a couple steps back, a trembling breath with her hand pressed firmly to her chest again. Who was this girl? Was she a threat to Draco, and the rest of them? Her eyes slowly turned to peak over her sleeping dragon.
She took a few steps closer to him with her hand upon his shoulder, "My dragon, wake up. Your father and I would like to speak with you. Get dressed, and come downstairs. It shouldn't take long." She whispered delicately in his ear which stirred him awake. The elder witch nodded her head with one quick glance to Granger before heading back downstairs.
"It is what you had expected." She confirmed it with a grave nod, and let her eyes shift from both Lucius and Bellatrix, "Draco knows. I told him to come downstairs, that we needed to speak with him." The woman informed, picking up her glass with shaky hands and brought it to her lips.
Bellatrix gave a horrified look. "Wotchu mean it's as we expected!?" She hissed. "The Imperious Curse? Draco's in on it?" Lucius grip on his can tightened again. Not from anger toward Draco or Graner, but those who had taken her captive.
About a couple of minutes had gone by, maybe... three minutes to be exact since Narcissa had come back down to inform them, Draco came into the kitchen with a concerned, yet scowl on his face.
"What is the meaning of this? Waking me up while I'm to get my beauty rest." He hissed, "Well?" His eyes wandered from his father, to his mother. Of course, he was going to be snappy. Imagine being woken up from a nice slumber, to have it interrupted just because a talk was absolutely bloody needed right now.
Bellatrix looked up sharply as Draco came in. Ever prepared and on edge, she was clutching her wand tightly. Lucius simply watched the event unfold, his hand on his wand cane, ready should anything happen. Bellatrix looked frantically to her sister. "Cissy- what do we do?" She didn't know if Draco was under the curse as well, and would attack them.
Narcissa looked at Draco when he entered the room with her brow raised, "We let him talk. We let him speak his side of the story. Afterward, I will find out if he's telling the truth." She drawled, nearing closer to Lucius as her hand came to rest at his forearm in a way of hoping to relax his nerves. The elder witch didn't think that he was under the Imperious Curse, something in her gut was reassuring her of that.
"What in the bloody hell are you talking about? Let me speak my side of what story to be exact here?" He questioned through gritted teeth, his brows knitted tightly together and his face contorted into a scornful expression.
"Who is that woman in your bed? That is not the Hermione Granger we know. You need to spill, Draco Lucious Malfoy!" Whenever Narcissa wasn't having it, or infuriated she'd use her sons full name to show that she was being serious. Since that seemed to be the only way to get through to him.
The blonde gasped, brows quickly furrowed faster than a downfall of rain, in this case he was in his own downfall. Having his mother use his full name scared the living shite right out of him. Usually, she's gentle and caring, but when she knows something and he's messing around, that's when it's real. Only thing he was worried about, was betraying Hermione's trust. She'd had said she would jinx him if he told anyone, his tongue was tied, but when it came to his family... he couldn't not hold it in. HIs mother was excellent with Legilimency.
His eye's widened more, "You... that's why you've asked me to tell you." He breathed out.
Draco threw both his hands through his blonde tousled strands and pushed them back, but instead of just doing that his hands remained in his hair with a tight grip, sighing.
"As I'm sure you've seen from invading the privacy of her mind. No, she is not from our reality. She is in a different version, much more... evil." He began, "Instead of her being a Slytherin, she's a Gryffindor. Best friends with Potter and Weasley." He sighed out, dropping his gaze to the floor. "Professor Dumbledore is dead in her reality but he wasn't mad with power. Something with The Dark Lord, he gives us – well our other versions the Dark Mark, we in that reality are his Death Eaters." He raised his eyes to meet his mother's and father's. "I don't know what else."
Draco threw his hands in the air, "Apparently the me in that version of her world is terrible to her. He bullies her for some reason I cannot remember." He finished, "There, happy? If you don't believe me, feel free to invade my mind as well mother." He hissed.
Bellatrix's thin, nervous laughter broke the silence that hung over the kitchen. "So, what, she's 'Evil Hermione'? Did some 'wibbly wobbly toney winey space stuff'?" Her eyes darted between the vacant stares that she was given. "From that muggle show? No? Sticks in the mud..."
Lucius shook his head at his sister-in-law, before his calm yet admittedly shaken attention to his son. "Now Draco," he reassured, "surely you can understand our need for caution. Had Miss Granger been under control of the Gryffindors, our home would have been at risk. It could not be left to chance and trust. Not anymore. As well the differences between her now, and before as we knew her... well, the difference is Night and Day."
His gaze turned to Narcissa. "Does what he said confirm what you saw, my dear? This... alternate reality?" It was madness to think; that in some other reality, his family was evil, and in service to some 'Dark Lord'. It was almost unthinkable.
"Tom's gonna love this," Bellatrix said with a small smirk. "He's always on about his Z-men or what have you, doppelgangers and evil twins." Being a Half-Blood in this reality as well, Tom Riddle embraced muggle culture, particularly their proclivity for fantasy and science fiction. To which Bellatrix tried to keep up, but often fell behind in amused confusion.
"Absolutely not." Lucius tapped his cane firmly on the ground. "We have our confirmation and assurance that our home is safe, and under no immediate threat. Miss Granger's secret will not leave this house." Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "Not yet, at least. Should we find a way to help the poor girl and right these wrongs, our allies will know only as they need to."
Hermione sat at the top of the stairs, her arms around her knees. Of course, why hadn't she thought about Legilimency sooner? It would have been the simplest way to confirm to others that she wasn't mad, that she was telling the truth. Not that Draco hadn't believed her, thankfully.
It was incredibly odd to hear the Malfoy's - and Bellatrix – speaking about her as though they cared. As well, that this Bellatrix seemed a little nerdy. And who was this 'Tom' She was talking about? The only person she knew Bellatrix of having an infatuation with was... "Oh, you've got to be joking..." she muttered to herself. Hopefully in this reality, Voldemort didn't look like a nose-less git.
All Draco could do was just look at Bellatrix with a blank stare, his head partially cocked with an eyebrow raised. It looked as if he were giving her a look of 'really?' He straightened his posture, rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over on another across his chest. "She isn't evil. She's actually far from evil. Only thing different about her, she's got a... temper." A smirk could be heard within the way he spoke, but it faltered quickly when he realized what he was doing, he shook his head, "It's called a Time Turner. She was going to fix it, but her wand got broke when she got put in the Bludger Room." He sighed.
When Lucius spoke up, his head lifted and turned to meet his father's look. No matter how much he hated to admit it, they were right. It could've been gone about a different way instead of invading the privacy of her mind. That's like, a secret diary to someone.
The elder witch was watching her son as she spoke, her lips fell into a thin line all while he spoke. She couldn't shake her view of him, to think and to be able to see the things she did. To see that they were 'bad' witches and wizards over there. One thing that caught her mind, but was something less important than what Draco had shared. Was that this Hermione Granger still felt something for him, but why if she was constantly bullied by another look-alike.
Hearing Lucius's voice snapped her back to his attention after getting lost amongst her own thoughts of all that she's seen. "It does confirm what I saw. Oh, Lucius, it's so bad over there. If she was my kid, I wouldn't allow her to go back." She shakingly admitted, tears swelled along her bottom lid.
Both Narcissa and Draco both felt the anxiety and tension leave their bodies immediately when Lucius said that this will be getting out to no one.
"Yeah well, it wasn't even our business to be in, in the first place. So, my only hope is that it really doesn't get out." Draco glared, with a dark look shot towards his aunt, with a couple of steps closer, "I also hope you can keep this from Tom, since you feel the need to tell him everything. This isn't our business to tell." He spat, looking over his shoulder towards his parents, "I will be taking Granger to get a new wand so we can figure this mess out. We don't need her wand-less in this reality." He informed them.
Bellatrix smirked to Draco. "Course I can keep a secret. When it matters, and this matters. Top won't be bothered by it just yet." Bella was many things, but above all she was loyal to her family. "Give a shout if you need anything. And, I mean that: anything."
Lucius nodded once to Bellatrix before she apparated back to her home, the empty rum glass rocking slightly from her exit. He let out a small sigh, nodding again in approval to Draco's plan. "Of course, and however much the cost, we can well afford it. It is a pity the girl's wand was lost; replacements can be a fickle to find, but Ollivander is a good man. He'll have her sorted shortly." His brow creased with worry. "Only do be careful Draco. They are sure to notice you missing from the school, especially if Potter and his cronies are intent on revenge."
Draco nodded to his father slowly, agreeing to his last words. "If you excuse me, I'd like to go back to bed." He nodded again, shifted on his feet, "Goodnight." He left the kitchen, leaving the conversation as it was.
Hermione was still on the steps when Draco left the kitchen. She had been listening, of course, and was more than grateful at the outcome. She didn't even mind the legilimency, honestly. After all, she had done far worse to survive. She wiped her eyes with her palm, sniffling a little. "Your parents are... quite lovely people." She said, feeling odd regret at the way she had behaved when first she arrived.
Perhaps it was a trauma response, or perhaps she had a concussion of sorts. But she was even able to see Draco in a kinder light. The way he had stood up for her privacy was uncharacteristically chivalrous, and if she was being honest, likely more than Ron would have even done. Ron was sweet, but dull despite her constant efforts to improve him. Draco had always been clever and witty, despite his cruelty, though this Draco lacked that Dark Mark...
Narcissa turned her head to watch her son leave. Somewhere she could understand the reasoning behind his temper with them all. They did intrude on someone else's mind without consent, and she hoped in the end that her doing this will not drive her son away. Surely, he had to know that their family and the protection of all of them comes first. If she were to be under the Imperious Curse it wouldn't be as good of an outcome as this was.
She shifted, taking up her drink in hand to finish the rest of what was in there, "What do you suggest about getting her a new wand? Do you think we should be the ones to go, I feel if we did that; perhaps they'd find her old wand broken in the Bludger Room then ask Ollivander if Miss Granger and Draco if they've come in recently," She continued, putting the glass next to the sink, "If we went, they'd know where the kids were." She lifted her eyes to meet his.
Lucius shook his head. "It must be her, to ensure the wand is a match. Indeed, to make matters worse if we accompany them, it will only make for a larger target. Perhaps Bellatrix can brew them Polyjuice potion." He poured himself a second small glass of brandy. "That, or I can send a message to Ollivander. Warn him of what may happen, or even see if he can make a house call."
He reached over, placing his hand comfortingly on hers. "In any case, Narcissa, I am certain our children will be safe. Something tells me this Hermione Granger is cleverer and more prepared for whatever challenges await than we know."
A faint, inward smile approached her lips. "Yes, we will keep the children safe. It is our duty as parents to do as so."
Of course, how silly of her to forget that it would need to be her in order for the wand to choose. Narcissa hadn't needed a wand in such a long time, and anything Draco had problems with his wands. Lucius was the one who'd go in with him in order to get a new one. She slowly nodded her head, "Perhaps the Polyjuice potion will be better, unless Ollivander himself felt comfortable with making a house call. Whichever could work." She agreed, letting her eyes wander up to his.
"When would you think a good time for them to do this?" She asked, her thumb gentle caresses his thumb knuckle when he placed his hand above hers.
Lucius gave a comforting smile. "Tomorrow I will confer with Ollivander. If he cannot come to us, we will wait a day or two for things at Hogwarts to settle." It was a sound plan, he thought. His only fear was not knowing how relentless or angry Draco's classmates were.
Why was she crying? Draco hurried the rest of the way up the stairs and grabbed her wrist with a gentle grasp, pulling her up and before she or he'd even know, his arms were wrapped around her. Like a secure blanket, an embrace that acted out to be one that could protect one from any and all evils of the world.
His arm curved around her waist, and pulled her into him flat against his chest. A wave of warmth from such a kind gesture washed over her quicker than any waves of an ocean, or lands of seas. His temperature colliding with hers, in hopes to warm her up. He took in a deep breath as a rush of serotonin filled the gaps.
"I am lucky to have them as my own. Just as much as I am lucky to not be like the Malfoy you know." He whispered, and he slowly pulled away with his hands making there way up to her cheeks. She may have the thought that he was going to kiss her, but instead the pads of his thumbs pressed gently under her eyes to wipe the tears away from there. "Do you need anything?"
Hermione stiffened as Draco grabbed her wrist, pulling her up. It was purely an instinctive reaction, having knowing her version of Draco longer than a day. Still... as his arm slid around her waist she melted, slumping forward a bit into his embrace. It, felt... nice. Her own arms came up, pressed tentatively to his back as her cheek was on his shoulder. She tried to think of him as Ron, her Ron, but all she saw was his furious face, threatening to strip her naked and let the Bludgers at her.
This Draco had saved her.
The feeling of her body stiffening from the way he grabbed her wrist, or even just to wrap his arms around her waist made him frown just the slightest. Oh, how he wished he could have words with his other self in her reality. Sure, he was still a prat, and quite mean at times but he'd never go out of his way to actually allow himself to hurt another. Of course, he's bullied a few students from his school, but they were just nosy gits.
At his question, Hermione shook her head a little. What these Malfoy's had given her was already so much, and what more they planned to purchase her a new wand. Her eyes stared blankly at the wall, a thousand thoughts running through her mind. "Did you love her?" She asked softly. "The... other me?"
Despite her head being on his shoulder, he could still feel the shake of her head even with her cheek to his shoulder. What took him by surprise was Hermione asking if he loved her, the other Hermione Granger, of course. Which hearing such, made him slowly pull away, eyes narrowed away from her.
"It's funny really. I had a huge crush on her when we first came to the bloody school. I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts about her being in another house, that when she was put into Slytherin it didn't phase me. I couldn't believe it was real, didn't think she'd ever notice me." He explained, lifting his head up to look at her.
"I had to thank Pansy, they became friends and I was already best friends with Pansy to begin with. We grew up together." He waved a hand, "Anyways, she introduced me. Then... she eventually gained some sort of feelings and I got what I wanted in the end. Wouldn't say she fancied me for quite a while though." He flashed a smirk, "She's my- well, was my witch. We got into a fight before you came, so when you attacked me, I was taken of my feet because I didn't think I upset her that much." He continued with a sigh, shrugging it off.
"Sometimes it's hard to look at you, and not see her. There are times where I've wanted to kiss you, but told myself that you are not mine, you are some other wizards and I don't have the consent to do so." He admitted truthfully, brows furrowed slowly, "She was more messy, I'd always try to help her organize but she'd get mad at me."
Hermione put her hands on her hips, an eyebrow raising in mild perturbances. "I am no one's witch, Draco Malfoy. Not even Ron's. My Ron, that is certainly not this reality monstrous brute. The only person's consent you need to worry about is mine and, well... well we only just met today."
Draco rolled his eyes when he heard Hermione snap, he could almost picture with the back of his head to her that she had her hands upon her hips with what she said. He scoffed, "I think anyone would feel proud to have you as their witch on their arm, or their wizard. It's better than girlfriend or boyfriend, in my opinion anyways." He shrugged peaking over his shoulder in her direction just to see that he was right about the hands upon her hips.
The blonde gestured her back to his room down the hallway as he followed along behind.
His head turned back, "Besides... I'm sure you're liking me better than the Malfoy you know." His pride was for sure going to get the best of him one day.
She followed along her hands clasped in front of her waist. "Mind you, it has certainly been an eventful day. And you have been rather kind to me, while I've been fairly horrid. And," she blushed, "you did... save my life after all. But don't think that rewards you a kiss just for the sake of it! I am grateful, only..."
Draco halted; slanting his body just partially as his head turned and eyes glaring daggers, "What! I never said I expected you to give me a kiss as a reward. That's silly! Just because you're my witch's doppelganger doesn't mean I want to kiss you. Don't get your knickers in a twist, princess." He hissed, crossing his arms over his chest, "I may feel tempted at times, don't mean I'll act on it." He finished upon entering his room, and closing the door behind them.
Not wanting to be in the room during an argument, so instead he decides to change the subject. Needing to calm himself down, otherwise he'd most likely say something he'd regret or she'd get angry because of her being overly... sensitive in the moment.
"Granger..." He whispered, "Do you think when you go back, you'd even see Weasley and Potter the same with the way they treated you here?"
She stopped in her tracks at his next question, worrying her lip. Would she see them the same? "I'm... well, I'm not certain. I would imagine that what I've seen here follows some manner of how they can be, and that thought certainly worries me. Though I cannot believe I have it in me to be sloppy. As well, I wonder how I will see..." See my Draco, she meant to finish. Only a blush on her cheeks showed before she cleared her throat, pressing on to his room. She felt a fidgeting unease, a heated sort of anxiety, but swept it swiftly aside. Given his restraint, perhaps it wasn't such a terrible allowance...
He took off his shirt, but left his black trackies on as he neared closer to the loveseat he was sleeping on before his mother oh-so-rudely woke him up, before he sat down he heard her respond to his question, and turned to face her but from the couch.
"Ah. I'd think things would be different when you go back. I feel as though you won't see Weasley the same as you did before you left, especially with the way he's been pretty...aggressive here. Can't imagine how things would change on your, Draco Malfoy's perspective. Then again, I'd probably come to your reality and smack you around to not be with him with how mean he was to you." He assured her through clenched teeth.
Hermione looked over her shoulder as she pushed the door open, her eyes slowly rising to meet his. Ridiculously, her pulse quickened, "Draco? Don't sleep on that ridiculous sofa." Her mind scrambled for a rationalization. Something beyond her own loneliness and fear. "It's quite bad for your back."
Draco's silver hues looked darker amongst the darkness of the room, only light that seemed to shine in was the moonlight from the midnight skies outside his window. Though, his eyes weren't barely noticeable in the dark. Just a sliver. They drifted towards the bed, then up to the brunette with a brow raised, "You... are worried about my back now?" He smirked, doing a one shoulder shrug before making the short distance towards the bed to climb into. "You're right. My bed is certainly comfy. But don't worry, princess. I'll stick to my side."
Her pulse quickened again as she felt the mattress dip and shift as he got into the bed. This is mad, she thought, absolutely mad. Oh, but it's not like you're going to suddenly start snogging Malfoy, or that Ron ever needs to know. But you'll know, won't you Hermione?'
It was stranger to think that he was in bed with a different woman who wasn't his witch but looked like her. Another thing he couldn't stop thinking about was how she may have been feeling about being in bed with him. Seeing as though she had never felt a certain way about the Draco Malfoy in her reality because of his pratty, crude ways.
Hermione was lying on her side, her back to Draco. One arm was under her pillow, the other comfortably in front of her. She briefly glanced over her shoulder before turning back. "Mean doesn't begin to describe it," she whispered, "The things you – he has done. Not to mention said...and even the way he treats his family's house elf – though, Dobby's been free for some time." Hermione bit her lip. She was getting twitchy again. A nervous, needy ache twisting at her gut. Her thoughts spun to his hands at her waist, and a brief hot flash-thought of them pressing lower.
'Get a grip, Granger!' She bit the side of her tongue, her cheeks burning furiously as she did her best to banish such thoughts. Were they even truly hers, or this Other Hermione's? Still, she glanced over her shoulder again, her brow knitted in confusion and certainty. "You're a better man than him, Draco. A good man."
Draco reached his hands down to pull the duvet up, covering them both up. He laid on his back, with his eyes blankly staring up at the ceiling of his own room more so at the odd chandelier. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of hurt inside of him, even anxiety somewhere crept up into his throat. The blonde knew that he wasn't her Draco, but hearing the things that he did, actually hurt him.
He slowly turned his head toward her, eyes wandering to the back of her head. "What did he do to you? Besides treating Dobby wrongly. We don't do anything bad to ours, he's just our butler more-so."
Hermione shook her head. "I can't... I don't want to talk about it. I'm afraid I might become cross with you, even though I know it's not you."
He exhaled a sigh, "Well thank you, Granger." He breathed out into a gentle whisper, "Maybe Draco there acts the way he does because of how he was raised... perhaps?"
She thought on what he said, about how Malfoy was raised. "I suppose, in part... I think he's also a prisoner." Hermione turned around; it wouldn't do to hold a conversation with her back turned to him.
The younger wizard wanted to know about everything in her world. Everything ranging from the good and the bad. How was there school? Was there Dumbledore evil or good? Mad with power? Why did her Draco and his family become Death Eaters? All of it, in due time he'd hoped that she would share the things he's curious about.
"You have to understand, Draco. In my reality – that's so odd to say out loud – Lord Voldemort is frightfully powerful. His control over the Death Eater households is absolute. When we – Harry, Ron and I – saw Malfoy last, he looked... well, he looked terrified. His mother as well. Yet he almost killed Harry in the bathrooms, almost killed Dumbledore twice with poisons and curses, and... well, it doesn't matter."
"My point is," She said, brow furrowing as her eyes met his, "I don't think even my Malfoy is evil. Not like Voldemort. He's just... well, trapped. And afraid." Perhaps if they had just given Draco a chance. Spoken to him, rather than always assumed he was to blame. Even though often, he was. But small kindnesses could go a long way. Hermione bit her lip, a light blush rising on her cheeks again and she wondered...
The blonde wizard couldn't really see her facial expression, but by the tone of her voice he could assume that it wasn't any good news. In all realities, he didn't even know if he wanted to truly know about the other Malfoy. He didn't want to know, for the fear that what if he did turn into that? Draco bit back his own fears, and Occluded himself from feeling such things like that in such a vulnerable moment when he felt he needed to be there for her. Even if he couldn't comfort her, his words of wisdom were the best he could do for now.
But he continued to listen to her rambling thoughts, the things that scared her. "He does sound terrified. It sounds like he had no choice but I can't really say because I don't know him, nor the whole situation. I hope in the end, he chooses what's right for himself, not something that is 'powerful' would want." He hoped such things for someone he didn't even know. Someone like him, but yet, so much different.
Draco's eyes closed for a moment, "How come no one bothered to help him? Maybe he just needs someone to know that he's cared for, like truly wanted and cared about. To know that he has a choice because I feel he needs to know that." These were rather things he was thinking out loud about, a downward frown slipped over his lips, but since the only light in the room was form the moonlight, it wasn't something that would be noticeable by any means.
"You never answered my question, Malfoy." Before she even knew what, she was doing, before her rational mind could protest, she scooted closer to place a hand on Draco's cheek. "Do you love her?"
This time though however; he bit his lower lip and opened his eyes to look at her, only to notice that she had moved closer to him, then a hand to his face. Draco couldn't catch a breath for a minute, it felt like those minutes were longer. A lump in his throat grew, whether out of anxiety or fear of her question, he'd told the one that he'd loved her... but he'd never heard it back.
"I did love her, but she didn't ever say she loved me." He admitted, taking a deep breath in.
Maybe it was the grief, or the fear and confusion. Maybe she had just been running for so long, and been starved of so many pleasures that she needed to just feel something. It didn't really matter, though, as she pressed her lips softly to his, her eyes slowly closing.
Before he could even exhale. Her lips were against his; for a moment there was a burst of colors inside the grey world that he'd been living in. The tips of his ears warmed, he assumed they had reddened. Her lips melted into his, succumbed his mind and even train of thoughts. Draco's hand slowly came up to rest just beneath her chin, in a way he raised it up more with his head tilted to deepen the kiss but not in a way that meant he was ready to shag right then and there. Though of course, he couldn't stop himself from getting hard.
He even tasted like Absinthe...
The hand that rested under her chin rested with a gentle caress to her jawline with his thumb pad, there was a feeling inside of him that he couldn't even explain, it was those moments where it's indescribable at best. The feelings were overwhelming, and the thoughts weren't anything but jumbled.
Hermione let the softest squeak into their kiss as her hand moved down to press against his chest. She knew it wasn't right, but not even Ron had even kissed her. Not like this. Her heart was racing beneath her breast, and her head tingled with light-headed dizziness.
A soft, yet warm firm press of a hand was felt at his chest which made electricity shoot through him and down to his core.
It was only when she felt, for the second time, the firm press of a bulge that her reason was finally able to scream through the thick fog of lust. She broke the kiss with a sharp gasp, her cheeks burning furiously. A small gasp let out against her lips when he parted his for air, but even before she pulled away, he wasn't going to let this go on further, he would've stopped it.
Had she gone completely mental? She pushed off from his chest as she rolled over. "Goodnight, Draco." She said breathlessly. Though, she didn't move further away from him.
Draco didn't know her, who she was, who the Hermione Granger from a different reality was. If she had hugged Ron here, was that her wizard in the other? Was them kissing, breaking rules? Usually, he wasn't the type to follow rules but there was something with her that made him want to please her. Make her happy, even if it was just for a short while. He let her pull away, even let her turn around with his eyes squinting open slowly.
"Goodnight, Hermione." He mumbled out and pulled his hand back to rest at his side. The blonde didn't want to wrap his arms around her, only because he didn't know what this was? And he didn't want to push any boundaries that hadn't even been... expressed to one another. With further ado, his lids slowly closed and the darkness took a hold there ever more as he drifted off into a deep sleep.
Hermione, on the other hand, did not fall asleep so quickly. While she didn't move away from him, and instead remained fairly close, she stayed facing away so that he would not see her confusion. Her lips remained slightly parted as her eyes wandered a room, she never thought in a hundred years she'd be in, much less in bed with the resident. She tried to turn her thoughts to Ron, but only an angry scowl from both versions, troublingly so, turned her away. Her kiss with Draco hung between them like glue, filling the mere inches between their bodies. A kiss that she, Hermione Granger of all people, had started.
What on earth was she thinking? But it wasn't the kiss that troubled her so much. It was what he had last said, something Draco Malfoy had never said, and only her closest friends had ever done.
He called her 'Hermione.'