A/N: Thank you, everyone, for your continued interest in this story! I'm always so excited to see new readers, followers, and commenters.
A fan, Thank you! As always, I appreciate your support 😊
shadowfax00, Haha hopefully you don't think their meeting is too awkward 😉 We get to see it in this chapter! Thanks for being such a loyal follower of this story!
Ardentlyadmired, Haha, yes there will be some awkwardness this chapter. At least Hermione stuck around for us to see it. Thank you for giving this story love!
delia cerrano, Thank you! I'm so glad to hear your thoughts on what you want to see next because all of that is coming up 😊 We will see Narcissa again in this chapter, and the trial will start soon as well as some more scenes with Ron. I'm so happy you're excited for all of that!
When Draco entered the meeting room the next day, Hermione barely glanced up from her papers, but she immediately began talking a mile a minute.
"Harry's agreed to testify, which is very good news." Her quill scratched furiously on parchment. "He'll be sharing his memories and giving a statement. Besides him and Luna, I'll also be putting your mother on the stand to talk about your childhood. Also, I think it will help everyone remember what she did for Harry. The Prosecution has Katie Bell testifying against you. Ron, however, is not and—"
"Do you always talk this much when you're nervous?" Draco couldn't help but smirk as he sat down.
"I'm not nervous," she hissed, then swore as the quill she had been writing with snapped in her grip.
"Could've fooled me." He laughed. All morning, he had been anxiously wondering if Hermione was going to show up and what he would say to her if she did. Clearly, he needn't have worried so much. She was going to be awkward enough for both of them.
Draco cleared his throat. "I do want to apologize for my behavior yesterday. It was way out of line. Honestly, I'm surprised to see you today—I thought you'd have washed your hands of me. But if you're still willing to represent me, I promise nothing like that will happen again."
"It's fine." Hermione sighed, procuring a new quill from her bag. "We were both emotional and confused. I'm not angry, it was just . . . a mistake."
"Right." He nodded. A mistake. He was sure it had been that way for her. Probably the first one she's made in her life.
But for him? He'd made more than his fair share of mistakes. Enough to know that, whatever it was, kissing Hermione Granger had certainly not felt like a mistake.
Hermione was genuinely surprised at Draco's sincere apology. She'd expected him to ignore the incident. Or if he were being like the old Draco, maybe taunt her about it. Instead, he seemed genuinely concerned that she was upset. And to her relief, he seemed as determined to move past it as she was.
Before Hermione could stop herself, more words flowed from her mouth. "I, uh, want to thank you for what you did for me at the Manor . . . I had no idea—"
"Don't," Draco said.
"Don't what?" She was confused by the anger in his tone.
"Don't act like I'm some sort of hero. Because I'm not. And you shouldn't have even seen that."
"Why not? Because you don't want me knowing you're a decent person?" Hermione felt her frustration rising. "Because it's a break in the selfish façade you portray to the world? You did a good thing—why can't I acknowledge it?"
"Please," he scoffed, "you think Potter would have let Bellatrix lay a finger on you if he'd been standing where I was? Or even Weasley, for that matter? No, they would have happily gotten killed trying to protect you. I barely did anything . . . and not nearly soon enough." He pointed a finger in her face. "So don't you dare act like you should be grateful to me! That's the last thing you should feel toward me. I don't even know why I did it."
"It's natural to want to help someone who's being hurt," Hermione said, still perplexed by his reaction. "And you're right, Harry and Ron would have done something rash to try to save me and probably gotten us all killed in the process. You were smart—you helped me without escalating the situation."
She reached across the table to place her hand over his. "You are a good person, Draco . . . whether you want to admit it or not. You were just never given the opportunity to explore that goodness."
He pulled his hand away, not meeting her gaze, instead looking off to the side.
"Can we talk about something else?" His voice sounded strained.
"Of course," Hermione said softly.
Hermione was working in her office that afternoon when a sharp knock sounded on her door.
"Come in," she said.
Narcissa Malfoy entered. "Miss Granger, I received your owl saying you wanted to see me."
"Yes. Thank you for coming." Hermione laid down her quill. "Have a seat."
"I'm assuming you'd like to talk to me about Draco's case."
"Yes." Hermione pulled out Draco's file. "Harry Potter has agreed to testify on his behalf—"
"That's wonderful!" Narcissa exclaimed, showing far more emotion than Hermione had ever seen from her before.
"It is good news . . . but it might not be enough. I would like to put you on the stand. Have you explain Draco's upbringing, and perhaps share some of your memories. Similar to the ones you showed me, but specifically anything related to Lucius's glorification of Voldemort and the Death Eaters."
"Of course. I'll help in any way I can."
"Good. Would you be free to come in tomorrow at this time, so we could get started on your testimony?"
"Yes, that would be agreeable." Narcissa paused. "I take it you viewed the memories I shared with you, then?"
"I did . . . all except the last one. Although I think I saw what you wanted me to see in Draco's memory." Hermione's face flushed slightly as she remembered her and Draco's heated kiss.
"So you know that he helped you?"
"Yes." And I know you didn't want him to, Hermione thought but held back from saying it.
Narcissa pursed her lips. "I suppose you think poorly of me."
Hermione stared at her. Had Narcissa read her mind?
Before she could reply, Narcissa went on. "Tell me, Miss Granger, have you ever been in love?"
"I . . ." Hermione was unsure how to answer the strange question. Her love life wasn't exactly something she thought she'd ever discuss with Narcissa Malfoy. The porcelain woman seemed unfazed, blinking slowly as she waited for an answer. "Yes," Hermione said finally, thinking of Ron. "I was once . . . but it ended. It wasn't a very healthy relationship."
"Sometimes love isn't." Narcissa smiled wryly. "Perhaps we have more in common than I thought . . . I loved Draco's father dearly. We were very young when we met. We had an arranged marriage like most pureblood families did at the time. But I was quite taken with Lucius—he was confidant, strong, handsome, and came from a powerful and wealthy family."
Narcissa took a deep breath. "We were married, and I thought myself very lucky. For a while, we were happy together. I stood by Lucius faithfully—even when he did things I didn't agree with. It was expected of me and . . . I didn't want to disappoint him."
Narcissa gave a sad smile. "When Draco was young, he wanted so much to be like his father. At first, that made me proud. After all, I loved them both and it seemed only natural. But as time went on, I started to notice that in many ways, Draco was not like his father. He was kinder . . . warmer. He craved affection and approval. Of course, his father saw that as weakness, but I didn't."
Hermione nodded, realizing she had seen those characteristics in Draco herself, even though he tried to hide them. "Did Lucius love you and Draco?" Hermione wasn't sure if she was asking for Narcissa's sake or Draco's. She felt a fresh wave of anger toward Lucius Malfoy for his treatment of his wife and son.
"Oh, yes, he did . . . in his own way." Narcissa folded her hands. "But he loved his ambition more. As time went on, I began to question the direction Lucius had taken our family. But it was too late then. So all my energy turned toward Draco—to keeping him safe." She lifted her chin. "I suppose it was wrong of me, but I didn't care what else happened in the process. He was all that mattered."
"I see," Hermione said, pondering Narcissa's story. She realized now why Narcissa's demeanor seemed so cold and indifferent. For years, she had cared for only one person. Everything else in her life was a shadow compared to her love for her son. No wonder she had betrayed Voldemort, saving Harry's life in the process. If Draco had been dead that day like Narcissa feared, she would have had nothing left to lose.
Finally, Hermione met the blonde woman's eyes. "I think I understand . . . Draco's very lucky to have you."
Narcissa nodded, seemingly satisfied, and got up to leave.
Hermione had already turned back to her notes when Narcissa paused in the doorway.
"I never understood why he acted the way he did about you," Narcissa said. "It was strange . . . But I think I do now."
"Excuse me?" Hermione looked up to find Narcissa staring at her.
"You'll see," the confusing woman said before sweeping out the door, leaving a very perplexed Hermione behind.
A/N: The trial begins next chapter! Who's excited? As always, you can catch a sneak peek on one of my social media channels (links in my profile or find me on Facebook: CeceLouiseAuthor, Twitter: CeceLAuthor, Pinterest: CeceLouiseAuthor).
Desperate Forest ebook is on sale this week for $0.99 on Amazon! If you've been thinking of checking it out, now's a great time. As always, Kindle Unlimited members can read it for free. Just search "Desperate Forest" or "Cece Louise" on Amazon.
Synopsis: Running for her life, Princess Roselynn must take her chances in a treacherous forest—all to be reunited with the man she loves. Along the way, she encounters a group of outlaws, each with their own secrets and purpose. But who can she trust? The lines between ally and enemy are blurred, causing her to question what she knows and where her heart lies. Can she find the courage to save her kingdom and herself, or will she lose everything to the dark forest?