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Narcissa didn't have a chance to respond as there was a knock on the door and Draco went to answer it. Before he made it beyond the table with the tea service, Hermione waved her hand toward the table and the tea service, along with the three cups vanished. The bit of silent and wandless magic wasn't lost on the on the other witch. In a voice so low Hermione almost missed it, Narcissa murmured, "Powerful indeed."
With both witches ready for the reporter, Draco took a deep breath and opened the door. Standing in all his imposing glory, the Hogwarts Deputy Headmaster and resident Potions Master, Severus Snape stood next to a smaller man Draco knew to be a reporter in the pocket of Lucius, "Please come in."
Both of the men entered the room and the reporter appeared confused on where to sit. Without acknowledging the reporter, Draco returned to his place on the couch and the only available seat was a chair next to a low table. "Sit Mr. Jones. I'll be in the back, merely an observer on behalf of the school."
The man sat in the offered chair before pulling his notebook and quill from his cloak, "I don't use a quick quill, but this is self-inking so I won't have to stop in my notes. To start, thank you for the interview, but I admit I'm a bit confused on why I'm here." The trio held no discussions on who would take the lead in this interview, unsurprisingly they fell into an easy pattern.
"Hello Dominic, I appreciate your time. Before we get too far along, let me quickly introduce everyone. As you know, my son Draco is on the far end of the couch and this lovely young woman is Hermione Granger. She's the head girl to my Draco's head boy. They've been working all year to help bring students together. They saw the problems with the house system and have been a shining example to others for over two years." Narcissa's soft expression turned toward her son. "That's right, isn't it? Or were you friends before fifth year?"
"You're quite correct Mother, it was our fifth year. We were paired for a project and found it easy to work with the other. It was something I hadn't been able to find before. Miss Granger, Hermione if you will, is not only incredibly intelligent, —" He turned and gave Hermione a quick smile, "— she is very powerful as well. Working with her is as simple as breathing most days." Draco gave the man a bland smile before returning his attention to his mother.
"Yes, I thought that was the case. After that initial project, the pair began to discuss many topics across the wizarding world. Hermione had questions on how things are done and, more importantly to her, why they were done that way." Narcissa gave Hermione an approving look and nod which Hermione took as her cue to speak.
"As a muggleborn, I wasn't raised in our world so there many things completely normal to Draco or Harry, Ron and Neville that seem odd to me. Foreign. It was wonderful to get another resource in my desire to understand my role in helping to bring our society to a better place." Dominic, writing very quickly, made sure to get the quotes just right before asking the next question.
"Miss Granger you mentioned a Harry, Ron and Neville. Who are they?" Hermione let out a soft laugh and smiled at the names. A twinkle seemed to appear as she thought about her friends.
"Please call me Hermione. They are my first and best friends in the magical world. I met Neville Longbottom almost immediately after the Express pulled out of Kings Cross our first year. It wasn't long after I met Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. I sat with the pair of them for a good portion of the journey and we all, all four of us that is, were sorted into Gryffindor that same evening. I'm not sure how I would have survived without them those first weeks."
"Those boys are all from well known families and now you are associated with the Malfoys. How did a muggleborn witch get so many powerful, male friends?" After Rita learned about the surprise interview and it being assigned to someone else, she caught Dominic on his way out. She wasn't pleased on the assignment going to him initially. Only after realizing her luck with not having to deal with the vow, she reminded her coworker of what she'd discovered a few years earlier and what new information she found that very morning.
The slight tsk coming from Narcissa drew everyone's attention to her. "Now Dominic, you aren't casting any aspirations on Hermione are you? The articles the Prophet printed about her were horrific and I remember how upset I was reading them. Who prints baseless rumors like that about a child no less? Let's not forget she was a child, barely fifteen when they started. She was targeted because she did not have an advocate at her immediate disposal."
Narcissa watched as Dominic tried to swallow his nerves. Hermione noticed the action as well and allowed herself to smirk into her hand. "Would anyone like tea?" At everyone's, including Dominic's, nod Hermione stood and as she stepped to the table she cast a quick glance to her potions professor who shook his head quickly. With that, the complete tea service appeared, only this time with four cups. Hermione began preparing a drink for the individuals taking part in the interview. Her poise, evident to all, caused Dominic to think if he didn't know better, he would swear the girl was from the most traditional of families.
Narcissa took a sip of her perfectly made drink before beginning again. "I believe it was Miss Skeeter who wrote that drivel. Was she not quickly on sabbatical not long there after? I believe she was gone over a year before she returned." Dominic's uncomfortable feeling only increased as the woman calmly reminded the man of his coworker's mysterious disappearance. Maybe not so mysterious if the rumors around the office and the stories of Narcissa Malfoy's vengeance were believed.
"I know I never saw a reason printed for her sudden absence, but always wondered if her departure really was personal or if someone got to the editors and forced their hand. Of course, had it been me,—" A dangerous look flashed in her eyes, "— I would have required the paper print a retraction, apologize and admit the stories were written by someone with a vendetta against an underaged witch." Dominic took the hint and promptly forgot anything Rita told him.
"I was hoping to take a chance to clear the air for Hermione. I was also disheartened at what was printed. I've unfortunately not had the opportunity to champion her yet. What I've heard about her outside of certain individuals and seen today shows Miss Granger is nothing as she was portrayed." Narcissa nodded and made a note to remind Dominic the story would be on Lucius's desk for his review and approval before dinner.
"I think we would all appreciate your championing of Hermione. She has some truly unique and groundbreaking ideas, ones I plan on fully assisting her in implementing. That's actually the reason we've called you here today. It's an announcement of sorts." Narcissa's gaze flitted to Draco and then returned to the reporter.
"Thank you Mother. As many of your readers know, in June of last year I assumed the lordship for the House of Black. My mother, a Black by birth, gave me the right to this role and I've found myself wanting to follow in her footsteps, as much as I am able." Narcissa ducked her head in faux embarrassment, before waving Draco on.
"Mum is responsible for helping many organizations obtain the critical funding needed to continue their vitally important work. When speaking with Hermione last year she asked about other services provided by these groups. That is, how else are the organizations helping people? I didn't know and spent quite a bit of time with Mum over the summer learning about all the ways people need help."
Hermione smiled at Draco and heard a camera click when her dimple appeared. Apparently Dominic set his camera to take shots throughout and she wondered how many had been taken without her realizing. Her smile didn't falter when Draco looked to her with a grin of his own.
"So I started looking at other ways beyond the traditional. Today I'm pleased to announce the establishment of the House of Black Trust. The purpose of the trust is to support the additions of therapies, training, more support staff and other needed resources for all of the organizations with Mum as their patron. Right now, those few are the only ones where we know the need. I hope other patrons and families take this as a challenge and begin to really dig into their pockets to support this sort of expansion for every group they support. I hope they are willing to help me. Help Mother. Help Hermione. Help us to pull our society to a new level. We are powerful and there shouldn't be anyone who feels otherwise."
Draco finished his statement with a little nod to his mother. "I think Draco covered it quite well, but I will be available at the Manor later if you have any questions. The children of course have lessons and we were quite lucky to find a bit of open time in their schedules today. I do look forward to reading the piece this evening, as I known Lucius is." Dominic took that as the end of the interview.
"Of course Narcissa, as always, you almost make it too easy and write my story for me. Would it be possible to get a few more shots? I have candids we will add in the body, but a nice shot for the front page is always best." Narcissa stood while Hermione again vanished the tea service with a simple wave of her hand. Dominic did not miss the impressive piece of magic. This witch would make something of herself, regardless of her birth.
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After too many staged shots, Dominic Jones was escorted from the building by Severus and the trio returned to their pre-designated seats. "I believe that went as we expected Draco, Hermione. I will admit I'm surprised at how well you handled all this and you have made me curious about a few things." The younger witch smiled and waved her hand. "Yes, that's one, let's start with it."
"I was reading third year and saw a reference about silently casting spells, I asked Harry's mum and she said we'd learn during our NEWT years. That wasn't good enough, so I found the textbooks used for those classes and taught myself. As for the wandless, that is almost second nature for me. I didn't have a wand until a few weeks before first year. I was almost twelve at that point. My wand is nice and I love it, but sometimes it feels like a bit of a crutch."
Narcissa looked quite impressed at both talents. It was uncommon for someone so young to do either with such ease. It was something else for Narcissa to think on later. Instead she focused on a different part of Hermione's answer. "Harry's mum?"
"Harry Potter, his mum Lily is a muggleborn. I use her sometimes to explain things that might need a bit more knowledge of muggle culture. She's not the best at it to be totally honest, but it's good enough to give me an idea of what I need to know."
Draco chuckled, "Her son seems a bit lost on some of the finer points in our world as well." Narcissa and Hermione both gave Draco the same look and the boy sighed again. "It's the truth, I don't know who taught him to dance, they should be barred from the profession."
Hermione shook her head in exasperation. "He didn't have formal lessons, he was taught with the rest of us by Professor McGonagall about a week before the Yule Ball. So not entirely his fault, but he does have two left feet." Hermione didn't mention the discussions the girls in the Tower had about how they pity whoever he marries, that first dance is going to be painful.
"You can discuss Mr. Potter's short comings after I leave. I need to get home to review that story with your father. But I do have one final question. How did you know about the tea?" Hermione wasn't exactly sure on the question, but she took it personally. Much to her later regret and surprise.
"I'm British Narcissa, just like you and Draco. We drink tea, take it the same various ways as wizards and have formal services as well. Is that what you wanted to hear?" Narcissa, somehow forgot the witch wasn't raised in the magical world, paused.
"No, Hermione, no it wasn't, I apologize if that came across crass." Narcissa truly wanted to learn more about this girl, she was special in an unexpected way, "What I wanted to ask was how did you know how to make my tea. You didn't ask, didn't give any silent signals, you just made it. I see how intelligent and powerful you are, but reading my mind for my tea preference seemed a bit too drastic." Hermione's face flushed red, the day had been going so well and then she'd ruined it by making an assumption with absolutely no supporting evidence.
"I am so sorry at jumping to that conclusion Narcissa. Draco told me how you took it this morning." Hermione nodded to the witch and quickly left the room before she gave herself the opportunity to embarrass herself again. She needed a few moments on her own to berate herself and then deal with the fallout once Mrs Malfoy was gone. "Dammit Hermione, think, you need to be stronger if you are going to survive this."
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Narcissa watched the girl's quick departure and sighed. "I am going to have to teach her a few things. She is quite impressive. Please let her know she didn't do anything wrong, truly. We are all going to make snap judgements because of our preconceived beliefs. She isn't alone in that. It's going to be a struggle for everyone."
"Mum?"
"Your father and I are going to need to talk, she is far too powerful and has too much potential to let slip away. If Severus is to be believed, she already started to direct the future curriculum here and I suspect she isn't done on that front. I don't believe her focus is necessarily on the downtrodden witches and wizards, but maybe magical creatures?" Draco nodded slowly.
"Well, that is going to take time and we might be able to make some inroads once you are all out of school. If I may make a recommendation son?" Draco watched his mother warily, not sure what he wanted to hear. "It's two things actually, one make friends with her friends. At least, don't be enemies with them." Narcissa sighed and ran her fingers down his cheek.
"If she is who you want, truly who you want Draco, come speak with us. It isn't something to be discussed here and not without great thought on your part. But under no circumstances are you to have fling or do what some of our less mannered friends do with their muggleborn girls. I told your father the same thing, I will end your chance to have children if you try to keep her or any other woman on the side." Narcissa gently set her hand on Draco's cheek. The pair stood in silence for a few moments before she gave the cheek a pat and returned to her seat.
It wasn't a conversation Draco was prepared to hear and hadn't formulated a response by the time Severus returned for Narcissa. She intended to floo home as it was dark and she hated how far the apparition boundary was. Before leaving, Narcissa leaned in and brushed her lips across his cheek. "I love you son and only want what is best for you." Draco nodded dumbly and watched his mother sweep out of the room.
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"Tell me the truth Severus, did you know how they felt about each other?" Narcissa didn't know how to take what she learned. Her Dragon, the little boy who kept his stuffed dragon and ratty blanket hidden under his pillow until he was ten. The boy who would try and sneak out to fly instead of dance lessons. The boy she'd pinned all her hopes on, was close to choosing the option her sister had more than twenty years earlier.
"I didn't know, but suspect it's a recent development and one neither of them yet realizes." The silence remained between the pair until they entered Severus's quarters. "Narcissa?" The ever put together woman seemed lost when she looked toward her friend. "This doesn't have to end like it did with Andromeda. You don't have to remove him from your life. It's a choice you do not have to make. Those values are dying out quickly. Your own family no longer exists … the Black name is dead and will only be revived by a Malfoy."
Narcissa nodded, not sure why.
"One other thing Narcissa, if you or Lucius disown him it won't be from House Black, it will only be the Malfoy name and he is the only Malfoy to carry it on. Remember that. I promise if you choose to take that path, you will end up like Druella and die without reconciling. Draco won't come around and forgive you for sacrificing him."
This Narcissa did know. She nodded once before calling out her home and spinning away. "I hope you choose wisely because Draco's happiness depends on it."
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Hermione pulled her dress off and got into her pajamas, there was no way she was leaving her room, let alone the dorm tonight. She was about ready to start tearing out the braid when she was interrupted with a knock on her door. "I don't want to talk about it Draco." Hermione only heard her door click and watched Draco step into her room through her mirror.
"Leave your hair up, it looks really nice and if you notice, none of the curls escaped. Seems like you've found your look." Draco glanced around her room and found it surprisingly bare. "Mum wanted me to tell you it's ok."
Hermione made a noise that told him she didn't believe him, but she dropped her hands to the side. Looking at her like this, she looked so small and delicate. Like if you blew too hard she'd topple over. Surprised she showed him this side of herself, Draco found a bit of pleasure in realizing she trusted him enough and it drove him to walk farther into the room.
Grabbing her hand he pulled her toward the bed and the pair of them sat next to each other on the edge. "So she said a bunch of things I'm still processing, but she said we are all going to say things without thinking." Hermione huffed, almost as if the comment was intended to be a platitude, "Hermione, listen, she admitted she needed to re-evaluate her beliefs. You did that in two hours."
Hermione looked at him, really looked at him and paused. Suddenly she began to question exactly what he was to her. Was he a friend? Something more? Not wanting to think on that at the moment, she only sighed. "I'm sure I'm not the only reason. She's seen a lot in this world and one young muggleborn isn't going to tip that scale."
"While you are correct in the thought she's seen a lot, you are wrong about how you see yourself. You aren't some young muggleborn. You are a woman who just went toe to toe with Narcissa Malfoy and won. You made her ask to use your given name. You shocked her with your answers and how you spun them to match the narrative we wanted to deliver all the while you never lied. You did that. She saw you for you and not because of some perceived status."
"Thanks Draco, I think I'm going to turn in early tonight. I have my work for tomorrow done and I think I need a bit of a mental break." Draco nodded, standing to leave the room, turned to look back at Hermione.
"I'll have the elves send something up because you still need to eat, but I'll ask them to make it something light." Draco smiled and began to close her door when there was a knock at their main door. "Who on earth could that be?" Hermione shrugged and followed Draco from the room.
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Harry Potter noticed when Hermione wasn't in History of Magic, she never missed classes. Even when she had that muggle flu, she still showed up with a bubble head charm to keep her germs to herself. So her not being in class, and not telling him why made him nervous. When no one heard a thing from her since lunch, he grew more concerned.
But, what tipped Harry Potter over the edge was hearing Pansy Parkinson gloat about the story Skeeter was going to report in the next morning's paper. All Harry heard before he took off toward the head dorms was how Hermione's place as a harlot would be confirmed and Draco Malfoy would have to distance himself from Hermione in response.
"I'll take the witch out myself if I have to." Harry wasn't clear if he was talking about Parkinson or Skeeter or maybe both of them. But at the end of the day, he wasn't going to let either woman besmirch his friend's name again. He was in such a state he didn't realize he'd made it to the head student's dorm until he was knocking on the door.
"Potter, what can I do for you?" Harry looked and saw the boy who had been his nemesis, assuming a teenager had an archenemy, for seven years who now didn't look like that same boy. In fact he appeared to have a pleasant expression on his face.
"Is Hermione here? She wasn't in class and that isn't like her and then I heard Parkinson and I think we need to do something quickly." Draco heard Hermione sigh, but when he turned the girl's back was straight and she no longer had that worrisome delicate stance. She was a fierce warrior again.
"It's ok Draco, I should probably tell him anyway. Come on in Harry." Hermione motioned for Harry to take the seat recently used by the reporter and she sat on the couch. "Draco, it's best if you help me explain it all to Harry. I don't always frame it in a way someone raised in the magical world would understand." Pleased to be included, Draco settled in his same spot, this time sitting a bit closer to the head girl.
"The short story is on the train ride up Parkinson threatened me about my friendship with Draco. He also told me she was the one who told Skeeter those lies in fourth year and would probably try something like that again. Only this time tying me to him, I'm sure in her mind Draco's parents would make some statement about how their son wouldn't sully himself with a dirty muggleborn."
Harry jumped to defend his friend against what Malfoy's parents would do. It sounded exactly like what Lucius Malfoy would say. The article last year didn't surprise the Potters. "Sit down Harry, I'm not done." Draco watched in amusement as Harry immediately did as commanded and nodded at the witch to continue. "Draco and I have been working on a few projects this year and one of them would have been scuttled long before it got off the ground if Pansy's plan worked. So instead Draco made a preemptive strike and sent a note to his mum."
Hermione waved for Draco to take over. "My parents have been fending off Pansy's for years. They've been trying to get her betrothed to me since we were kids. My parents hate them and the only reason they are tolerated is because of their name. So Mum happily worked out a plan for us to jump in before Pansy's imagined scandal broke."
Draco had a sudden thought, "You know Hermione, that reference Dominic made before Mum eviscerated him?" At her nod he continued, "I bet Skeeter caught him and tried to get him to spin the article in the way she wanted. That way she couldn't be blamed and bare your wrath once more." Draco leaned his shoulder into hers, bumping it until she looked up and smiled.
"She's earned another visit to the jar even if that article wasn't published. She wanted to do it and you're right she tried to control the narrative we were writing. Maybe Narcissa and I can work together this time." Hermione's mind wondered off to new vengeance plans while Draco smiled and turned to face Potter in order to finish the story.
"Wait, Hermione told you about the jar?" Harry was gobsmacked, they swore to keep that bit of information between the three of them. Draco shrugged before nodding.
"It's a good thing, Mum finds a well executed plan a reason to befriend someone. I've been told it's a Black thing. Auntie Bella is a different kind of vicious with hers, but Mum isn't a wallflower. Needless to say, when Mum got here and heard the story she started to see Hermione in a very different light." That was the main point in Draco's mind, his Mum was seeing what he saw last year. The person beyond their status and how amazing she is.
"We had an interview with a reporter from the Prophet." Draco looked up at Harry and shrugged, "He's honestly in our pocket. We announced a new aspect to the groups Mum works with that I'm going to finance. We also introduced Hermione and while we didn't outright state it, the story will announce she has been identified as the witch set to manage the programs. She will be tied to our family and have the power to help make the changes she wants."
Draco's slight break to take a breath was cut off due to Hermione's shocked comment, "Wait!" Draco's head swung to her and Harry noticed how the other boy now seemed to pale. Then the expression on Draco's face showed more than a bit fear. The dark haired boy swore he heard the head boy mumble just no birds before Hermione started speaking again. "I'm going to be in charge? When…who…why didn't I know that?"
"I figured you knew, you seemed to understand everything else." When Hermione didn't say anything he started to ramble. "I'm an idiot and thought you'd send those birds at me if I kept explaining everything in detail. You gave me that look and huffed more than a few times, so I took that to mean you knew what I wanted." Draco watched with fearful eyes and in a quiet voice he begged, "Please just not the birds. Birds are terrifying."
The whispered pleas were too much for Harry, "Did Mione threaten you with her canaries?" Harry almost fell out of his chair laughing at the look on the blond boy's face. "Although Ron is still wary when Hermione pulls out her wand around him, I would be worried too." Harry nodded in agreement with himself.
"No, I didn't say it would be the birds. He just asked if when I got mad if I threw things, apparently that's what Narcissa does. I told him he'd seen me mad and he only thought about last year. He seemed to have forgotten third year." It was only then Draco remembered his broken nose.
"Physical violence I can handle, just not birds." The relief in his voice was palpable and made the two Gryffindor's laugh again.
"So back to Parkinson, she's been thwarted?" Hermione sighed.
"Did Ron lend you his thesaurus?" Harry gave her a cheeky grin with no other response, "To your question, I think so. Any salacious rumors she tries to start can easily be written off as we were working on the announcement or plans after school. As for her personal thwarting, nothing confirmed yet. It's in the works." Hermione's expression returned to one of pleasure while plotting what she could do to Parkinson with minimal risk for jail time.
"Malfoy, mate, that there, —" Harry waved toward Hermione, "— is the expression you need to worry if you see it. When she looks like that, something doesn't end well for someone else." Draco leaned around and saw his mother's plotting face.
"I'm familiar with that look Potter, and yes it never bodes well for someone. At least we can hope it's neither of us this time." The two wizards, for the first time ever, agreed on something.
"I'm not going to ask you round to the pub for a pint, but you might not be as bad of a guy as I thought. You do what you can to protect Hermione, and I'll take care of Gryffindor. I guess we are on the same team now." Remembering his mother's words, Draco stood and extended his hand.
"Draco Malfoy, captain of Team Hermione. It's a pleasure to count you and yours in our numbers." Harry reached for Draco's hand, with a smirk of his own.
"Hello Malfoy, I'm Hermione's best friend and original team captain, Harry Potter. Glad to welcome you aboard Lion's Force."
Hermione zoned in to hear their introductions. "You are both idiots and I'm the captain, don't you forget it. Also, there will be no stupid names. I need to write a letter, Draco would you mind if I used your bird?"
Harry nodded and Draco said what they were both thinking. "Of course you are right, it is only proper for us to be your support. And she is available, I've already asked her to deliver any messages you need." He made no comment or promises on the use of team names, there would be a name used to identify their band.
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