Chapter Thirteen

Bad memories

After finishing work, Hermione decided to go to Harry's house to return his cloak. She walked through one of the Ministry's fireplaces and appeared in the small entrance hall of number twelve Grimmauld Place.

"Harry? Ginny? Is anyone home?"

"Over here!" Ginny's voice came from the living room.

Hermione pulled the invisible cloak from her handbag and entered the room. Ginny was standing with her wand in her right hand, biting her bottom lip as she stared at the huge red sofa in front of her.

"I can't make it any more comfortable, but at least this room isn't as spooky as it used to be," she muttered, turning her head to glance at Hermione and smiling at her.

Hermione gave her friend a quick hug and pointed her wand at the sofa.

"Try it now."

Ginny sat down on it and closed her eyes, letting out a long sigh.

"You're going to have to come and help us transfigure the furniture, Hermione."

They both laughed and Hermione sat down next to her, holding out the silver cloak.

"I suppose you know where Harry keeps it. Thank him for giving it to me."

"What did you need it for?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow.

"To sneak into the Department of Mysteries with Draco, he wanted to show me something... and don't ask me, because I can't talk about it. I made a promise."

"Those Unspeakables and their mysteries..." Ginny replied, rolling her eyes.

"Did Harry tell you about Pansy?" Hermione asked.

Ginny tensed, clenching and unclenching her fists several times.

"Yes, he even told me about the writing on the wall. I'm a bit scared, Hermione. It reminded me of... what happened with the Chamber of Secrets."

"That's true, there were several messages on the wall then, too."

"And I wrote them."

Hermione sighed, resting her head on her friend's shoulder.

"You didn't know what you were doing, Ginny. That diary was controlling you."

They were silent for a moment, until Ginny spoke again.

"There's something I've always wanted to know, but I haven't dared to talk to Malfoy about it. Maybe you could ask him for me."

"Of course, Ginny. Anything you like."

Ginny pulled back and squared her shoulders, looking Hermione in the eye.

"Why did his father give me that diary? Did he want to kill me, or kill you and those like you? And did Malfoy know what was going on? Did he know I was going to die that year?"

Hermione gasped at her words and her brown eyes went wide. It took her a while to answer.

"I've never talked to Draco about it, but I'm going to ask him."

"Harry says he probably didn't know anything about it. When they were with him in the Slytherin common room, he had no idea who was opening the chamber... but I have a hard time trusting Malfoy because of that."

"I understand, and I think you two should talk about it."

Ginny blanched and shook her head vigorously.

"I can't, I... I can't do it."

"All right, I'll do it. But I'm quite sure neither he nor his father knew what that diary really was."

Ginny pursed her lips.

"I can put up with Draco because he's nice to you and I like him... but I don't want to see his father ever again."

Hermione nodded. She didn't like Lucius either.

"And, after he attacked us in the Department of Mysteries, I don't know how you can stand to be around him," Ginny added.

Hermione sighed.

"Because he's his father... and he's changing too, trying to be a better person. All three of them deserve another chance, don't you think?"

"I guess you're right."

Ginny leaned her head against the back of the sofa, closing her eyes. Hermione took her hand and said nothing until the roar of flames sounded again. Harry entered the room and stopped when he saw the two of them, but he continued walking towards them shaking his head.

"What are you two doing here?"

Ginny opened one of her brown eyes and glared at Harry.

"Can't your girlfriend come for a visit?"

"Of course you can, you can stay here for all I care."

"My mother would kill me, Harry. And Ron would kill you."

"But you practically live here already," Hermione commented, smiling.

Ginny opened both eyes and looked at her, a smirk on her lips.

"But they don't know that."

The three of them laughed and Harry moved closer, resting a hand on either side of Ginny and bending down so he could kiss her. She plunged one of hers into Harry's dark hair, tousling it even more, and he sighed, leaning in and deepening the kiss.

Hermione looked away, feeling uncomfortable.

"Don't forget I'm here," she commented softly, rolling her eyes.

"I saw you like this with Malfoy yesterday, so don't complain," Harry replied, not moving away from Ginny's lips.

Hermione laughed, standing up.

"I'd better go, you two are busy. See you this weekend."

She turned before walking out of the living room door and saw that Ginny was already lying flat on the sofa, with Harry leaning further over her as he undid the bun holding her long red hair. And they were still kissing as if she wasn't there.

"Wait until I leave!" Hermione complained, speeding away towards the fireplace in the drawing room.

She heard her two friends laugh.

"Did you notice how comfortable the sofa is now, Harry? It's thanks to Hermione."

"I'll thank her after we try it out."

"I said wait!" Hermione shouted, throwing a handful of Floo Powder on the fire.

The last thing she heard before the green flames engulfed her was Harry's laughter.

When Draco appeared in the living room of the Granger house, Hermione was waiting for him seated on the dining table.

He grinned and walked over to her, placing himself between her legs and seeking her lips. She kissed him back, but after a couple of seconds she placed both hands on his chest and pushed him, forcing him to pull away a little.

"We need to talk, Draco."

He arched an eyebrow and searched her face, trying to understand why she was so serious.

"That's what they say in your Muggle films when they're going to break up a relationship... Should I be scared?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head, smiling as she ran her hands up to her blond hair, twisting her fingers through his locks.

"No, but I need you to talk to me about something and be honest."

Draco tensed.

"It's not about the prophecy or anything like that, relax."

He let out a sigh of relief and, after kissing her again, moved away to sit in one of the chairs. Hermione sat down across from him and picked up one of the plates that had the dinner she had prepared. On the table were also two glasses full of Firewhiskey. She held one out to Draco and she lifted hers, taking a large sip.

"Well, it looks like I'm not going to like this conversation," he said, holding his fork and starting to roll the spaghetti.

Hermione had made his favourite meal and they were both drinking whisky. That wasn't a good sign.

"No, you're not going to like it... but we need to talk about this. I'm actually surprised we haven't already."

Draco chewed and took a sip of whisky before answering.

"All right, I'm listening."

"It's about our second year, when the Chamber of Secrets was opened."

Draco swallowed and narrowed his eyes, staring at Hermione. That year was when he started calling her a Mudblood, and also when he wished death on her (and every other Muggle-born at the school), and it was something he'd rather not remember.

"If you want me to apologise to you again, I..."

"It's not that. You don't have to apologise for anything, it's all in the past and it doesn't matter anymore. You love me now, and I know you were just repeating what you've been taught since you were a little boy."

Draco downed the last of his whisky in one gulp and sighed.

"So?"

"I was with Ginny earlier and there's something she wants to know."

He closed his eyes and put a hand to his forehead, cursing under his breath. He already knew what she was going to ask.

"Vol-Voldemort's diary, the one your father gave her... Did you know she had it? And did you know what it was?"

Draco opened his eyes again and dropped the cutlery, setting it down on the table a little too hard.

"My father didn't tell me anything. I had no idea about any of it, or what was happening to your friend."

"And, if you had known, would you have done anything?" Hermione asked, though she could imagine his answer.

"Probably not. I was twelve and stupid, I thought my father was always right."

"What about your father? Did he know what that diary was?"

Draco shook his head.

"Do you think if he'd known that part of the Dark Lord's soul was in there, he would have given it to her? No, he suspected it could open the chamber... and he used Weasley to sneak it into the school."

"I don't like you calling Voldemort that," she muttered, shuddering.

"It's just a habit. I don't like it when you call him by his name either."

Hermione snorted. It was still hard for her, but ever since the Battle of Hogwarts she'd always called him by his name.

"Why didn't he give it to you?"

"What if that was something dangerous? Better to put your friend at risk than his own son."

Hermione frowned.

"Have you talked to him about it?"

"Of course, more than once. We talked about the Dark Lord and you when I came back from Hogwarts last year. We argued for weeks, until I got him to admit he was wrong about a lot of things."

"Do you think... Do you think he regrets it?" she asked quietly.

"I'm sure he does, but Lucius Malfoy will never apologise. Not to you, not to Ginny Weasley, not to anyone. Malfoys don't ask for forgiveness," he replied in a cold voice.

"You did."

"I'm the exception."

"You're probably the best Malfoy that ever lived."

His lips curved upwards.

"Probably. I'm the first to accept that all wizards are equal, regardless of the blood status."

"Well, your mother thinks so too."

"My mother is a Black, don't forget that."

She nodded, remembering Andromeda and that Narcissa wanted to tell Draco that she was now on good terms with her.

"Your aunt is a sweetheart, and she's a Black too. You should come with me and meet her for once."

Draco clenched his fists and snorted, refilling his glass of whisky.

"No."

"Why don't you want to? She'll accept you, Draco. I know her."

He squared his shoulders and stared at Hermione, making her shiver.

"Because I feel guilty! We all turned our backs on her, I can't just show up there now like it's nothing."

Hermione sighed and got up, sitting on his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. She pressed their foreheads together and placed a small kiss on his nose.

"I've told you many times that you deserve a second chance, and your aunt is willing to give it to you. Besides, you have an almost-three-year-old cousin you should meet."

His arms wrapped around his waist and he sighed, but his grey eyes weren't as cold as before.

"I don't think I de..."

Hermione covered his mouth with one hand, shaking her head.

"If you say you don't deserve it again, I'm going to get really mad. Forget all that and give yourself a chance like the rest of us have done."

His eyes widened and his arms tightened their grip around her.

"Are you angry with me?"

"No, not yet," Hermione replied, smiling at the worried look on his face.

She lowered her head and their lips met.

"Promise me that you'll stop thinking that you don't deserve to be happy, Draco."

"I'll promise you anything you want," he whispered, sliding his lips along her jaw until he reached the hollow of her neck, where he caressed her skin with his teeth.

"Promise," she insisted, closing her eyes and nibbling at her bottom lip to bear his kisses.

"I promise, Hermione. I deserve another chance and I deserve to be happy, but I'm only interested if it's with you," he said, tangling one of his hands in the curls that fell down her back as he continued to bite and suck on her collarbone.

She sighed and tilted her head to the side, letting his kisses drift up to her ear.

"You're taking advantage of the fact that you drive me crazy," she whispered, gasping when he caught her earlobe with his teeth.

She heard a small chuckle against her neck.

"You're to blame, I lose my mind when you're so close," he said, attacking her lips again.

They melted into a very passionate kiss and he stood up, heading up the stairs to the bedroom with Hermione giggling in his arms.

Friday came and Hermione apparated again very close to the boundaries of Malfoy Manor, with Draco at her side. It was already November and the first snow had fallen, so they were both wearing coats.

He held her hand and they walked through the metal gate together, as if they were ghosts.

"I can't wait to see the pensieve," she admitted as they walked along the stone pathway towards the front door of the manor.

"You'll have to wait until after dinner," Draco replied in a mocking voice.

As soon as they passed through the wooden doors, Minsy appeared to greet them. She was wearing a green dress and pink socks that day.

"Master! Miss! Welcome, dinner is almost ready."

"How are you, Minsy?" Hermione asked, leaving her coat on one of the racks by the entrance.

"Minsy is very happy to have visitors. This house is too big and there's usually not much to do."

"Did you get the wine your cousins make in France?" Draco asked, bending down to look the little elf in the eye.

Minsy blushed, nodding several times.

"Minsy has it. Six bottles."

"You have to tell me how much it cost so I can give it back to you. I'm not going to let you pay for it."

The elf shook her head, banging her own ears.

"Minsy doesn't care! Minsy never spends the money Masters give her, this is the first time Minsy's ever used it."

Draco arched one of his eyebrows, not taking his eyes off the elf. She pursed her lips and finally sighed.

"Ten galleons."

"Perfect, I'll leave it in your safe. Thank you very much, Minsy," Draco said, getting back to his feet.

Minsy bowed her head slightly and disappeared with a crack.

"Did you ask her to buy it for me? You didn't have to, Draco."

"Don't be self-centred. I like it too," he replied, nudging her gently with his shoulder.

Hermione grimaced but held his hand again when Draco offered it to her. They walked through the main floor of the manor until they reached the dining room in the east wing.

Narcissa was inside, sitting in a small armchair with a glass of wine in her hands.

"Draco! You are here early. Come, I want to talk to you."

The two of them approached her, sitting down on a small two-seater sofa on the other side of the fireplace.

"There's something I need to tell you, son."

Draco tensed, stretching his back and narrowing his eyes. Hermione caught one of his hands in hers, drawing circles with her index finger over his knuckles in an attempt to reassure him.

"I've been visiting my sister lately," Narcissa commented, giving Hermione a sidelong glance.

Draco stopped breathing and also looked at Hermione, who gave his hand an affectionate squeeze.

"And? What happened?" he asked, muttering between his teeth.

Narcissa smiled.

"We've been talking a lot and we've decided to make a fresh start. Teddy's a sweetheart, I've told him about you and he's really looking forward to meeting you.

Draco leaned his back against the sofa and sighed.

"Yes... I suppose I'll be visiting them soon."

Narcissa's blue eyes went wide and she glanced back up at Hermione, who gave her a small smile.

"I'm glad to hear that, Draco. I thought you were going to be angry with me."

"Why would I be angry? If you want to reconnect with our family, that's your right," he said, concentrating on the pleasant tickling Hermione was giving him and trying not to think that neither his mother nor he deserved to be around those people.

Lucius entered the dining room and four plates appeared on the table in an instant.

Narcissa stood up, Draco and Hermione followed her. As always, the two Malfoy's pulled the chairs away from the two women and helped them sit down. And, as always, Hermione blushed at the gesture.

She didn't know if she would ever get used to Draco treating her that way.

"How was your week, son?" Lucius asked.

Draco looked at Hermione out of the corner of his eye and smirked, holding the spoon and starting to eat.