Another update today, and I have the next one on the way already. This one will break the sad mood of the last two chapters, finally. I hope you like it!

Just mentioning I don't own Harry Potter:)

Chapter 15

One wild train ride later during which there had been many games and even a small duel between Ginny and Blaise. Hermione had a lot of fun, forgetting all about Pansy and their conversation before the journey. When they neared King's Cross station the girls ushered the boys out of the compartment so they could change.

"I'll miss you all" Hannah said, putting on a dark green jacket. "It's so much fun being together."

"Hey, we're going home for two weeks" Ginny said. "We'll see each other again and I'll get to try my Bat-Bogey hex on Zabini."

Hermione shook her head at the redhead's antics and put on her brown coat.

"Let's go, the train's slowing down."

Everyone was eager to see their families, or in Hermione's case her friends' families. She felt a small pang of sadness when she saw Hannah running to her family, Susan shaking hands with Theo's parents and pointing to her own, Ron and Ginny being hugged by Mrs Weasley. She even saw Harry making his way towards his Aunt who had come to meet him, and she smiled. At least things were working out with his family, Harry deserved it. The brunette suddenly felt a set of arms pull her into a loving embrace.

"Mia, how have you been?"

"Andy!" Hermione turned around to give the woman a proper hug, smiling widely.

"Yes, it's me. You seemed a little lost over here. Come along, Cissy and Draco are waiting for us."

The two brunettes made their way through the crowd to the archway to the Muggle world. When the guard gave them permission to pass Hermione stepped forward and passed through, looking around. She saw Narcissa and Draco standing to the side of the station, talking quietly together. She walked over to them and the blonde woman beamed at her, hugging her tightly.

"Mia! How nice to see you."

Hermione hugged her back and pulled back smiling.

"You too, Cissy. Thanks for having me over for the holidays."

"No problem really, darling" Andy chimed in. "We're glad you chose to came."

"Not like she had much more choices" Draco muttered. Hermione shoved him.

"Pardon?" Narcissa raised an eyebrow. "Not many but surely Molly Weasley invited you to the Burrow?"

"No," Hermione mumbled, avoiding everyone's eyes, "she didn't."

"She didn't invite you?" Andy said outraged.

"And I was wondering why I saw Mr Potter leave with his Aunt" her sister mused coldly. "So why has that woman grown so cold towards you two?"

Hermione noticed her rigid posture and Andromeda's restless one, and knew this wasn't a discussion they should have in the middle of a crowded train station.

"I'll tell you in the Manor. I'm craving a cup of tea and I'd really like to see your new home."

Narcissa contemplated her for a moment then snapped at her sister.

"There is no need for you to jump around like that, we're not going to make a scene in the middle of King's Cross."

"She didn't invite her to her home after everything-"

"I know. But this is not the time. I've had enough of cleaning after Bella, I'm not doing it again for you."

With that she took Andromeda's hand, pressed Hermione to her side, and took hold of Draco's shoulder with her free hand, Dissaparating to Black Manor.

Hermione felt dizzy when they arrived but Narcissa steadied her and let go only when she was sure Hermione would not lose her balance.

"You could've warned, Mother" the brunette heard Draco grumble, but she didn't pay attention to the woman's answer. Her eyes had fallen upon the house that stood proud in front of them. It was more like a castle from the Middle Ages. Hermione could count four floors plus an attic chamber, and she was sure the Manor had a basement, too. Its beautifully painted black walls and large balconies were no doubt magnificent, but still screamed Black. A shiver passed over her. This was an evil building and Hermione didn't have to see the inside to confirm it. The young woman suddenly felt an arm over her shoulders and looked to her left.

"The house is still stuffed with our parents' sinister possessions" Andromeda said. "Their magic is all over the place, it's natural for you to feel intimidated."

"We tried to clean the whole place but couldn't, so we focused on one room which we rid of all bad powers and warded with our own magic" Narcissa explained. "That's where you'll sleep."

"You shouldn't have done that" Hermione protested. "What about you? Won't the magic affect you too?"

Andy smiled kindly.

"We're Blacks, dear. The Manor knows us. Draco will be safe too, he's Pureblood."

"In that case... thanks, I guess."

"Come on, Mia, let's go, I'll show you your room. We have a little time before dinner."

She nodded and the two of them levitated their trunks and left the two women, walking up to the front doors. Draco opened them for her and she walked in. Immediately, Hermione felt as if something washed over her and she couldn't suppress a shudder. Whatever it was, it didn't sit good with her, she felt it like a dome over her, trapping her inside. Her trunk dropped closer to the ground and she stared at it confusedly.

"It's the house" Draco explained, putting a hand on her shoulder and guiding her through the foyer and up a beautiful polished wooden staircase towards the West wing. "It can make you weaker where the Dark magic still lurks, but it's mostly safe. Your room most of all."

Hermione smiled gratefully at him, then frowned as her brain worked.

"You and your mother both used the word 'safe'," she said slowly, "but what do you mean? Surely, the magic is too old to be able to hurt anyone seriously."

"Not physically" Draco agreed. "But I suppose it can hurt you emotionally – torment you, to be more specific."

This made Hermione quiet for a moment before she grinned.

"What a family you Blacks are."

"I'm glad I haven't come around here much. This is the Blackest house of them all."

"You're a good person, Draco. It's good you've been spared more emotional torment" she said sympathetically.

"Good person... yes" the blonde muttered. He was silent for a moment then spoke up again. "We're here."

Draco opened a black door with a silver handle and Hermione's jaw fell. The room was spacious and a big door next to the large windows told her it had a balcony. The furniture was dark, but not repulsive. The large bed had scarlet covers which clashed weirdly with the rest of the room's colours. There was a nightstand next to it and a wardrobe, as well as a desk in front of one of the windows.

"Wow" she managed to say.

"Blacks may be evil but they do have a style" Draco grinned. "I'm glad you like it. I'll leave you to settle in. When you're ready we'll be in the dining room. First floor, second door on your right in the East wing."

The boy left, closing the door behind himself, leaving her still staring around in awe. The brunette walked over to the bed and sat down, realizing for the first time that she felt better while she was in the room. Silently praising the Black sisters' warding abilities, Hermione changed into comfortable wizard robes and moved her clothes to the wardrobe with a flick of her wand. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and approved of her appearance. She smiled at herself and walked to the door, taking a deep breath. When she stepped out she felt the Dark magic of the Manor washing over her again but this time she felt prepared and it didn't affect her that much. The young woman tried to walk back the way Draco had shown her and managed to get to the foyer. She walked towards the East wing then opened the second door on her right. Hermione entered a large dining room and the first thing she saw was Cissa putting a platter of steak and mashed potatoes on the table. She couldn't suppress a chuckle.

"Oh, hello there, Mia" the blonde greeted pleasantly then narrowed her eyes suspiciously upon hearing her chuckle. "What?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing, nothing" Hermione said quickly. "I just hadn't pictured her Majesty the Ice Queen Narcissa Malfoy in slacks and a sweater, cooking."

"I'm full of surprises, am I not?" Cissa smirked.

"Do I smell steak?" Draco's voice came from the corridor and a second later he was by Hermione's side. "You've outdone yourself, Mother" he praised, watching his mother put a bowl of salad on the table.

"And the finishing touch" Andy came in as well, bringing two bottles of mead in one hand and holding Teddy with the other. "Now we can have fun" she declared, putting them on the table and pouring generous amounts of the drinks in four glasses. Hermione hugged the toddler who smiled at her, recognizing her immediately, then nudged Draco and the two of them set the table quickly before sitting down with the other three.

"Well, cheers everyone and welcome back to you two" Narcissa raised her glass and looked towards Hermione and Draco.

"Cheers."

After dinner they moved to a living room further in the East wing and the three women persuaded Draco to participate in another game of Truth or Dare. After Teddy had been put to bed the game started and Hermione found herself surrounded by laughter and people who cared about her again. Their evening ended quite late when Andy heard Teddy crying upstairs. Hermione offered to help Narcissa clean up(one dare had included throwing food in the air) but the blonde shook her head and told her to go get some rest. The brunette wished her goodnight and walked up to her room, finding her way even quicker this time. She opened the black door and almost shrieked when Draco jumped out of nowhere in front of her.

"Malfoy!" she hissed angrily when she closed the door and regained her ability to speak. "I could've woken Teddy up!"

"A good thing you didn't then" he grinned.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she asked, sitting down on the bed.

"Well, like a good host I have to check on my guest, see if she had fun" he sat down next to her.

"I'm not that familiar with proper etiquette but I think a good host doesn't scare his guests to death" Hermione countered.

"Where's the fun in that?" Draco grinned. "I'll leave you to your rest now, I just wanted to say..."

He paused, looking serious, and Hermione looked at him curiously, wondering what he wanted to tell her.

"... I'm glad I saw you come back to your old self, Mia. I'm really relieved you're looking happier than you did at school, and..." he paused again, as if wondering whether to say what he thought out loud.

"And?" Hermione prodded gently.

"And not wearing Glamours" Draco looked her in the eyes while saying that and she wished they didn't widen. "I want you to know I'm your friend and you can share everything with me. Goodnight."

And he left the room, leaving Hermione alone with her thoughts. She gazed, transfixed, at the door and let his words sink in. So he had seen her Glamour. But he didn't imply anything about Pansy so Hermione could only hope he didn't know. There was another problem, however – she hadn't thought about it but now when she did she supposed she would have to tell her friends she was a lesbian. Draco was bound to ask what had bothered her when she had tried to hide from him and she would be lying to herself if she said that the thought of sharing the news with someone wasn't tempting. Even if she wouldn't tell him the whole truth. And yet Hermione doubted if she would be able to do it. She barely understood it herself, let alone to tell other people. Shaking her head to clear it from the confusing and overwhelming thoughts she changed into her pyjamas and went to bed thinking of the tour of the Manor Andy had promised her at dinner.