I'm going back to Malfoy Manor. Those words rang in Hermione's head as she finished packing her trunk. She was in the middle of the common room floor, where Ginny was curled up in an armchair with Crookshanks, and Draco and Zacharias were lounging on the couch discussing the last Quidditch match of the semester, which was between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Both were delighted that Ginny had won, but were evidently worried about losing to her again next semester, as they analyzed all the Gryffindor strategies and tactics.
"Don't worry, you two. I'll go easier on your teams next semester. I promise." Ginny teased, earning her scowls from both boys. "Well, Heather and Hermione won't like you any less if you lose." she retorted.
"I don't know…" Draco drawled. "Heather's already abandoned Zach for the holidays."
"That's because she's ON VACATION with her parents in Mexico! They're taking a 'cruise,' or whatever it's called. Her mother's a Muggle, and she says that her parents will meet me during Easter. It's not like she'll never come back."
"If you say so." Draco yawned, smirking at Zacharias's clenched fists. The Head Boy still didn't know when someone was teasing him or being serious. Draco and Ginny never forgot to use that to their advantage. Just now at dinner, Ginny had been inviting Draco, Hermione, and Zacharias to the Burrow for a New Year's Eve party, and Zacharias had thought Ginny was joking and replied haughtily that he would rather spend the last day of the year with his own family. When Draco and Hermione explained to him that Ginny was being serious, he had turned a brilliant shade of pink, and apologized excessively, which amused Ginny to no end.
Hermione closed the lid of her trunk, and yawned as well. Getting up off her knees, she stretched, and then flicked her wand lazily. "Locomotor trunk." The trunk levitated over to the western wall, right next to Draco's. Hermione walked over and took the other armchair. "Be nice, Draco." she chided gently.
"Sorry, love." Draco replied, giving Zacharias a patronizing smile. "Couldn't help myself."
Ginny was the third to yawn. "Well, I'm going to turning in now, seeing as I'm leaving bright and early tomorrow morning. See you three on New Year's Eve, hopefully."
"We'll be there." said Draco confidently. "Hermione wouldn't miss it for the world."
"I don't think I have a choice." Zacharias said sadly. "Seeing as I'll be hexed into oblivion if I don't go. See you all there, then."
Ginny and Zacharias soon Apparated back to their respective dormitories after bidding Lady Montecino a merry Christmas and saying farewell to their friends, and Hermione could tell that they were both looking forward to tomorrow. Ginny would get to see Harry soon, who would arrive at the Burrow in two days with Ron, and Zacharias would get to see his mother again, who had been minimally ill after catching the Vanishing Sickness at the beginning of the school year, but was now finally completely recovered. Hermione was glad for the break too, but then, the thought hit her again. I'm going back to Malfoy Manor.
"Are you alright, Mione?" Draco asked. They had curled up together on the couch after Ginny and Zacharias had left. "Nervous for tomorrow?" he asked shrewdly.
"Are you a Legilimens?" Hermione asked back, avoiding answering the question. "You always seem to know exactly how I'm feeling!"
"Is it my parents? Or what happened last-"
"I look forward to meeting your parents." Hermione said very seriously. "From what you've told me, they've both moved on from the past, and I'm ready to start over with them, as I did with you. I'm not worried at all."
"What about… you know…"
"I'll just try to avoid that room during this visit." Hermione answered quietly. "It's alr-"
"No, it isn't." Draco whispered with anguish. "I'll never be able to forgive myself for that night. How I watched that wretched aunt of mine nearly torture you to death. And how I stood there and watched, not being able to lift a finger. I should've done something, I should've tried to help you escape, I could've fought-"
"Draco." Hermione said quietly, putting a finger to his mouth to stop his lamenting. "I forgive you, so you don't need to feel that way. What happened then doesn't matter; we're both alive and here right now. Draco Malfoy, I trust you completely. I know that you'll protect me and love me no matter what, and that's all that matters. You're one of the bravest people I know. Maybe you weren't so in the past, but everything's changed now. It's time to look to the future."
Draco didn't say anything, just gazed lovingly at her face as if she were a baby. "I love you." he whispered, kissing her fingertips gently.
The next morning, at a quarter to noon, Hermione and Draco were standing in the common room, fully dressed and ready to go. Hermione had Crookshanks's cage handle held in one hand and the handle on her trunk in the other. Draco held his wand and trunk handle in one hand while his other arm was wrapped around Hermione's waist firmly.
"Ready?" Draco breathed into her ear.
"As I'll ever be."
A moment later, the couple was standing in the snow in front of the gates of Malfoy Manor. The house seemed less imposing and sinister to Hermione in the bright sunshine and white snow, and she started to feel slightly less nervous. Draco let go of her waist and cast a levitation charm on all of their luggage before grasping her hand. Hermione involuntarily shuddered, for their hands were bare in spite of the frigid weather, and Draco's warm hand electrified her cold one. "You'll be fine." he whispered as he led her to the gates, their trunks and Crookshanks following behind them. Bubble had simply flown to Malfoy Manor the day Hermione had agreed to come with Draco to visit his parents, bearing a letter from Draco about his bringing a guest, and had stayed there since.
He waved his wand carelessly before they collided with the wrought-iron gates, and Hermione closed her eyes as she stepped through them. When she opened them, she was already halfway across the snowy driveway, and she could see the blond hair of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy at the entrance of the large house. She looked around frantically, trying to avoid staring at these intimidating people. She spotted a large white peacock strutting on top of the yew hedge, blending in perfectly with the snow, and felt a little calmer at seeing the beautiful creature.
"Bubble hates them." Draco whispered into her hair. They were walking very close together, and Draco could just feel the tension Hermione was generating all around her. "And I don't really like them, either."
"Why?" Hermione asked, thankful that he was trying to distract her.
"I tried to pet one when I was little, before I got Bubble. I thought he could be a pet, since I'd never had one. Unfortunately, they're very proud creatures, and I got a particularly nasty bite from the bloke."
"Poor Draco. You must've sobbed for days." Hermione giggled, imagining Draco as a young boy of perhaps four or five, bawling that the bird had bitten his finger off, in a fashion not unlike the time he complained after Buckbeak had scratched his arm.
They were steps away from Draco's parents now, and he cleared his throat to warn her. Hermione shyly looked forward, but didn't raise her eyes until they'd stopped in front of the elder couple, who were arm in arm.
Hermione was shocked to see that Narcissa was smiling kindly at her, reminding her of the way her mother had smiled at her when she was younger. Even Lucius, who had terrified her ever since she was twelve, although she did not show it, looked serenely amiable. "Hello, Mother. Hello, Father." Draco said quietly. "This is Hermione Granger, my girlfriend."
Narcissa's smile became even warmer. "Draco, darling! I've missed you so." She stepped forward and embraced Draco, who hugged his mother back just as fiercely, although never letting go of Hermione's hand. When the blond witch stepped back, she turned to Hermione, and without any hesitation whatsoever, hugged her as well.
"I'm so glad that the girl my son loves is here." she said as she drew back, her hands on Hermione's arms. Narcissa's words were genuine, and Hermione could feel the happiness radiating off of Draco from his mother's sweetness.
"I'm so glad that you've let me come." Hermione replied brightly, feeling at ease with Narcissa's apparent joy. Mrs. Malfoy's words were genuine, and Hermione knew that she would get along with her during her stay.
"Come, Lucius." Narcissa let go of Hermione and stepped back, motioning for her husband to step forward. Hermione was momentarily frightened, wondering if she would be hugged by this man who had once tried very hard to kill her. Instead, Lucius extended a pale hand, and said politely, "Welcome to our home, Ms. Granger."
"Ah-ah-ah." Narcissa sang as Hermione shook Lucius's cool hand gingerly. His touch was not repulsing, as she had feared, but gentle and cordial. They shook once, and then let go. Hermione was uncertain if Lucius really liked her or not until he gave her a small smile that showed that he was just as shy and awkward as she was about this initial meeting.
"Really, we can't go about calling our little boy's girlfriend something as formal as 'Ms. Granger' while she's here, Lucius. She's practically family now!"
Hermione's eyes widened, and Draco grinned. His father chuckled gently at his wife, and looked at Hermione amusedly. "Well, what would you like to be called then, young lady?"
"Hermione." she replied thoughtfully. "And what should I call you, Mr. and Mrs. Draco's Parents?"
Both Narcissa and Lucius laughed at this, and Draco as well. "You can call us what Draco calls us: 'Mother' and 'Father,' if you want." Narcissa said, wiping a tear daintily from her clear blue eyes. Suddenly, she was tense. "Of course, you don't have to-"
"Mother." said Draco sharply. He looked anxiously at Hermione, who was momentarily frozen at the subtle implication of her now deceased parents. Of course, Draco must have already told them in his letter. she thought. She pushed the sad thoughts of her parents out of her mind, and sweetly replied, "Of course, that sounds fine. Thank you for being so accepting."
Draco breathed a sigh of relief, and Narcissa, seeing her son's signal, moved on hastily. "It's no problem, Hermione, dear! But hurry in, it's quite cold outside, and we have a sumptuous lunch prepared for you two!"
An hour later, a very full and content Hermione was being shown up to her room by a young elf named Miffi. Lunch had been an enjoyable affair, for Lucius talked about the newest developments at the Ministry, and Narcissa shared some funny stories about the most interesting people she had met while working at Madam Malkin's. To Draco's delight, his parents had announced that they wouldn't be working at all during the holidays, as they wanted to spend as much time with him as possible as well as get to know Hermione thoroughly.
Hermione was happy, too, not only for Draco, but that she knew she was going to have a wonderful time here. It's like having a family again. she thought, as she headed up the staircase behind the little elf, her trunk and Crookshanks's cage floating in front of them. She could hear footsteps coming up behind her, and no sooner, Draco's arm was around her shoulders as he walked by her side and smiled widely.
"Doing alright so far, Princess?" he asked, kissing her ear, to which she giggled. "Sorry if the house is so big that you get lost. You know, women and their sense of direction."
Hermione glared at him. "Very funny, Draco, but I think I'll manage just fine. And even if I do get lost, didn't your mother say Miffi will take care of me?"
"Yes, young Mistress! Miffi will take very good care of young Mistress!" the little elf squeaked.
"What happened to your 'spew' business?" Draco teased, earning himself another scowl from Hermione. "Aren't you supposed to be adamant about not having elves serving us wizards?"
Hermione thought for a moment on how the elves here had been treated so far. During the meals, a couple of elves had cleared dishes and refilled drinks for them, but Narcissa and Lucius had asked kindly every time, and had personally handed the plates and goblets to the short elves. Draco had complimented Kiri, the head cook, for the wonderful meal repeatedly when Lucius and Narcissa had presented her to Hermione when she had asked for the mastermind of the delicious food. They seem so happy here, and I can't deny that they're treated well. She bit her lip.
"It's still technically slavery if they don't get paid…" Hermione said doubtfully, to which Draco smirked.
"Then you have nothing to worry about, Miney. For Christmas every year, we give each elf a Knut, so they're getting some form of payment, aren't they?"
"It doesn't count if it's a gift." Hermione snorted. "And a Knut a year is shameful for the elves serving the noble House of Malfoy, don't you think?"
"Fine, we'll make it a Galleon a year." Draco replied playfully. "Happy now?"