Ch. 25
"What's the meaning of this?" Lucious asked coldly, irritated at being woken up.
"Lucious," Narcissa whispered as she took his arm and led him out of the living room to give Draco and Hermione some privacy. "You do remember what happened last time she was here?" she asked.
Understanding dawned on his features and he instantly felt guilty for his question. He saw the wild look in her eye she had just a moment before, and remembered how wild she looked the night she was brought in and Bellatrix tried to get some answers from her. "If they sleep in the front room she'll eventually wake up and might be reminded again…" Lucious thought. He pressed on his wife's hand and spoke to her. "Maybe they should move up to Draco's room," he said in a tone that showed he was conflicted.
Narcissa did a double take at her husband and smiled slightly at him. She gave him a loving look and he leaned in to kiss her and draped his hand on the small of her back.
She walked away from him and kept looking back at him as she went into the front room to have a quick word with Draco.
"Draco," she whispered to him and he left his place sitting next to Hermione to come talk to his mother.
Hermione was worried they might ask her to leave but she still wanted to spend time with Draco. She hadn't meant to sleep there but it was the middle of the night now.
"Draco, why don't you and Hermione go up to your room so she doesn't get disturbed by waking up in this room again?"
Draco didn't expect this from his mother but didn't argue. He went to pick Hermione up and carry her towards his bedroom.
"I can walk Draco," she tried to put up a fight but it was no good. Draco wanted to be close to her and wasn't letting go. Plus, she was light and easy for him to carry.
Narcissa looked over and her husband had followed her into the living room, an unreadable expression on his face. "What is it?" she asked.
"I don't much care for this room, all the things that happened here…" he said in a detached voice.
"Hopefully, in time, we can create new memories here," she said with a strong voice. "How is it that she of all people has made me hopeful about the future," she reflected on her son being in a relationship with Hermione. It was something to be in their presence, one couldn't doubt true love.
Lucious gave his wife and odd look, had the girl really made her feel that way?
They stood in silence in the dark room until Narcissa turned and started to walk out. Lucious grabbed her hand and pulled her back and kissed his wife again and led her out of the room.
When Draco had got Hermione into his room he walked over to the bed and lightly laid her down. She instantly sat up in bed and looked around his room. He had a four poster bed with green hangings and the Slytherin colors appeared lightly throughout the room. He had pictures up too, and a few posters of quittich teams. One picture was him with his house quittich team when his father had bought the house team new brooms so Draco could win the house cup. She saw that it was also a little messy. He had clothes and some dishes on the floor as well as books scattered everywhere. But best of all, she could smell his scent lingering in the room. She grabbed his pillow and hugged it. He also had some double doors that led outside, she was guessing onto a patio. It was a comfortable place.
Draco watched her as she looked around, wondering if she liked his room. He didn't remember that he had trashed it over the last week and that it was a complete mess. Hermione didn't mention anything about that though. "What do you think?" he asked.
"I like it, it's very…you," she smiled at him and then picked up one of the books off the floor. "But this is mine…" she said as she started to take in the titles to other books that were on his floor. "These are my favorite books!"
"Yeah, I've been reading them," he answered her questioning look.
Hermione gave him a sweet smile. "Read to me?" she asked.
He laid down next to her in bed and cuddled up with her, "you pick," he said softly.
She grabbed a book from the pile without looking at the title, put it in his hand and snuggled close to him.
As he began reading to her she felt very relaxed and was so in love. Hearing her favorite story read in his voice was an exciting experience for her and made her love the stories even more. After he read for a short while she had drifted back off to sleep.
"I love you Hermione," he said as he laid the book down and joined her, falling quickly asleep.
Neither of them had been sleeping well lately so when they did fall asleep they slept in for quite a long time. At about noon Hermione started to stir and didn't want to wake Draco. She quietly got up and left the room, looking for the bathroom. It felt weird for her to creep down the halls of the house she had once escaped from.
She didn't know her way around and had looked behind her as she walked around the corner and bumped directly into Lucious and fell down.
He had a surprised look on his face, but didn't apologize when they bumped into one another. He also didn't offer to help her up.
Hermione looked at him shocked for a moment and then picked herself up. She also wasn't planning to apologize. The looks of surprise on both of their faces were quickly replaced by glares.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
"looking for a bathroom," she answered coldly.
He nodded that he understood and continued walking down the hall.
"Really!" she half shouted, irritated by his behavior. He couldn't even point her in the right direction. She continued walking and after looking briefly found what she was looking for. She hadn't packed any extra clothes because she hadn't planned to stay longer than to tell Draco off, let alone the night.
When she made it back to check on Draco he was still asleep so Hermione did some spells to clean up his room and decided to take the dishes down to the kitchen. She headed down the stairs and on her way to the kitchen she passed Lucious and Narcissa in the dining room.
She glared again at Lucious as she passed.
When she got into the kitchen she went to set the dishes in the sink and Narcissa came in after her.
"Thanks Hermione, Draco still sleeping?" she had the same friendly tone as she did last night.
"Yeah," Hermione added, she felt weird having stayed the night, especially without asking. "Sorry about dinner, I hadn't intended on staying the night."
"Why don't you join us for Lunch, I'm sure you're hungry," she offered. "Come sit down," she said in a tone that showed she wasn't taking no for an answer.
Lunch with Lucious Malfoy didn't sound like her idea of a good time. She walked out of the kitchen and took a seat as Narcissa announced that Hermione would be joining them. Hermione didn't smile or glare, but just sat there with an unreadable expression on her face.
Lucious looked up at his wife with a look that said he was in pain, but she ignored him as she went in and made something to eat, leaving the two of them alone.
They sat in silence until Narcissa returned, a few times Hermione looked up to glare at Lucious. He was reading his paper and completely ignoring her. He was reminding her of Draco when they were enemies. So arrogant and condescending.
Narcissa sat food down in front of her and sat down next to Lucious, taking the paper out of his hands despite his putting up a fight. Hermione pretended not to notice.
"Did you sleep well," she asked Hermione, trying to start conversation.
"Yes, I'm sorry for last night," she said blushing as she averted their eyes. She was mortified that they had seen her waking up from a nightmare like that.
"Does that happen often?" Narcissa asked in a concerned tone.
Hermione considered the question for a moment, "from time to time," she shrugged as she ate her toast and eggs. "This is good, thank you," she offered. She looked over her shoulder and hoped Draco would wake up soon and join her.
"Draco is usually up by now," Narcissa answered her look. "He hasn't been sleeping well so I suppose he's catching up."
Hermione nodded, not sure what else to talk to them about. She didn't have anything particular she wanted to talk to his mom about. She felt that it would take a long time before she trusted her and wanted to stick to conversation that was light.
"I've got some things that might fit you if you needed a change of clothes," she let Hermione know. Hermione wasn't sure exactly why Narcissa was being so nice to her.
"I was thinking of heading home a little later today," Hermione started to explain when Narcissa cut her off.
"Oh, what's the rush. I'm sure Draco would enjoy it if you stayed for a little while longer." She knew if Hermione left, her son would be leaving too. What her husband said about rarely getting visitors was true and she appreciated the company, especially that of her son who she got to see so rarely as it was.
"What?" Lucious said to his wife. He was hoping Hermione wouldn't stay through the meal she was eating. His wife began to glare at him.
"That's okay, I feel like I've imposed on you. Thank you for being so gracious," Hermione said.
Lucious felt like impose was the correct word. When his wife looked at him imploringly to say something he felt like he had no choice. "We insist," he said, without any trace of rudeness in his voice.
"If you're sure, I would really like to stay with Draco." She added, mostly to herself and then looked at each of them in the eyes, trying to gauge if they were genuine. Lucious nodded at Hermione as if to show his agreement.
Hermione smiled at both of them and took another bite of toast. As she was finishing up Draco had come into the dining room and was surprised to see Hermione eating breakfast with his family on her own. The sight of all the people he loved at one table made him extremely happy.
"Morning," he said to his parents. Hermione turned around to face him. "And morning," Draco said as he bent down to kiss her. She felt weird that he would kiss her in front of his parents.
"I'll grab you something Draco," his mother began, as she got up from the table.
He sat down next to Hermione and laced his fingers in hers. His father was watching him, looking back and forth between his son and his paper.
Draco kept looking up at Hermione and she started to blush. "Why are you blushing?" he pointed out.
His mother came back in with something to eat for Draco and sat the plate down in front of him. Her reappearance took the pressure off of Hermione to answer.
"Thanks," he said as he took up his utensils.
"I'm going to change and get ready for the day," Hermione told him as she started to get up. He was still holding her hand and pulled her back into her seat.
"Why?" he asked.
"I slept in my clothes!" She smiled at him.
"You're beautiful," he said as he kissed her again.
"Draco," Hermione tried to whisper low enough so his parents wouldn't hear. She made a tense face and opened her eyes wide and moved her eyes to his parents, signaling him to look their direction.
"What, my parents?" Draco said without tact, they both looked up. Hermione was still blushing. "Is that why you're blushing, you're embarrassed?" He asked.
Hermione let go of his hand and he still had a pretty good grip so she tried to shake his hand off. He let go and as soon as he did she shot up out of her chair and out of sight. He sighed as she left.
"It might take her some time to get used to us Draco." His mom mentioned. Lucious ignored her and continued reading his paper.
He thought about going after her but remembered what happened last time he walked in on her while changing. "Yeah, but how often is she likely to stay over again?" he asked out loud and then regretted it instantly. He didn't want to put the spotlight on his parents.
"Hermione spoke with us and agreed to stay a little while longer." Narcissa added.
Draco looked at his parents, a little mystified. "You asked her to stay?"
His father folded the paper down to looked at Draco. "Yes, we did," his tone was unenthusiastic.
"And she said yes?" he sounded skeptical.
"Oh, I hadn't laid any clothes out for her, I'll be right back." Narcissa said as she got up from the table.
"She actually agreed?" Draco asked his father again when he hadn't replied.
"Clearly Draco," he said as he sat down his paper and looked at his son who was now smiling.
"What?" Draco took a bite of toast while looking back at his dad.
Lucious sighed.
Narcissa went to her room and collected a few things that might fit Hermione. She didn't know how well some things would match others but she kept a limited supply of muggle clothes in case she ever needed to use the flu network and wanted something she could get dirty. There were a couple tops and a skirt and a pair of shorts. She gathered those up and headed over to Draco's room and knocked on the door before entering.
When she opened the door Hermione had a few of Draco's muggle shirts laid out on the bed, trying to choose between which to wear. Narcissa smiled and handed her the clothes she found. "These might be more comfortable?" She suggested. "Feel free to change them how you would like to," she said before starting to leave.
"Narcissa?" Hermione asked and she turned back around from the doorway. "Does it feel too weird to have me here?" She didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable in her own home.
"No, I'm glad to see Draco happy," she thought for a minute. "He's waited a long time for someone like you," she added before leaving.
Hermione was taken aback by her answer and started going through the clothes she left. She decided to keep on her black pants that she was wearing and took out her wand to tailor one of the shirts she had brought up. She cut the sleeves and neck to be a little more feminine and made the shirt more form fitting. She repined her hair and left part of it up and the rest fell down against her back. She kept one of his muggle shirts on his bed so she could use it as a night gown later. When she was done she headed back downstairs to visit with Draco and his parents.
She sat back down at the table next to Draco and he took in the sight of her. He always thought she got prettier and prettier. They were done eating and normally the family would go their separate ways for a few hours, but they didn't this morning. The family was in uncharted territory.
Narcissa wanted to make herself available so that she was being a good hostess, and Lucious stayed out of curiosity. Ever since this girl had come yesterday and banished his house guest, things had been different. He had seen a change not only in Draco, but in his wife as well.
Draco didn't seem to notice anyone but Hermione, and Hermione felt the same, but was still aware of his parent's hanging quietly in the background. She realized no one was going to break the silence.
"So, what do you guys do for fun?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" Lucious asked.
"What do you usually do together, as a family?" Hermione asked the question nicely but gave him an odd look. She didn't know how to spell it out any clearer.
"We eat together, but not much beyond that…" Draco added and his parents were quiet again.
"Oh," Hermione said with a sad tone. She was expecting a little more. Her family did a lot of activities together.
"What does your family usually do?" Narcissa asked.
"When I'm home I help my mom cook or bake and I watch the sports games with my dad. Draco did that last time we were back and learned a lot about football." She began and then noticed the lack of understanding on Narcissa's face. "Football is a kind of quittich for muggles but played with only the end goals and no brooms," she added. "Also, we play games together almost every night after dinner…"
"Sounds nice," Narcissa added genuinely. "We should do more activities together as a family." When Lucious rolled his eyes Narcissa began again. "No, I'm serious Lucious!"
Draco stood up and grabbed Hermione's hand. "We're going to take a walk and I'll see you at dinner," Draco added, pulling Hemione to come along with him. He pulled her all the way outside so they could walk in the garden.
"What was that about?" Hermione started to ask Draco.
He pulled her close to him. "I just needed to be alone with you. You blush too much when I kiss you in front of my parents so I had to get away." He said in a soft voice. She laid her body up against the trunk of a tree in the garden and put her arms around Draco's neck and pulled him down to kiss her. They walked around the garden for over an hour, where he showed her different plants that they had at the manor and the rest of the grounds. She thought it was beautiful.
Later they headed up to his bedroom. He grabbed a few books and both of them were snuggling and reading in bed when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in" Draco answered and his father came into the room.
The sight of the two of them in bed was a little much for him. He wasn't sure if his issue was with his son growing up or with him dating her. "Your mom wanted to know if both of you could help with dinner in an hour?"
This was due to Hermione's suggestion and she couldn't help even smiling at Lucious. She looked up at Draco for his answer.
"Yes, we'd love to help, right Hermione?" he looked down and saw she was already starting up at him.
Lucious turned and walked out of the room before she could answer. It was clear that his wife had sent him to ask.
"Don't worry about him," Draco said to her. "He's just set in his ways," he began. "Not the old ways!" he corrected himself. "He's actually come a long way just being able to be so talkative with you."
"Talkative? When?" She asked.
"Just now, he was talking to both of us…" he pointed out.
"Yeah, but he doesn't waste one word on me if he doesn't have to," she replied.
"He can be like that most of the time. He wouldn't talk to you at all if he didn't want to." Draco closed his book.
Hermione thought about what he said and remembered the morning, when Lucious had barely spoken to her. She laid her head back down on Draco's shoulder and kissed his cheek. He opened his book back up and started reading.
After the hour had passed both of them got up and headed down to the kitchen to help Narcissa with dinner. Narcissa knew how to cook too like Mrs. Weasley did, using magic to produce what she needed from her recipes. While Hermione could cook muggle food, she hadn't dedicated much time to learning how to prepare actual meals, she had always been too focused on studying to care very much. It was clear that Draco had taken the time to learn because he jumped right in and knew the spells to help his mom.
Hermione wanted to be useful so she grabbed a bowl and started stirring the contents. After a minute both Draco and Narcissa were staring at her.
"What are you doing Hermione?" Draco snickered.
"I'm mixing these together," she explained.
"What about the spell, why are you doing it…like…"
"Like a muggle?" She offered.
"No, I was going to say that," Draco lied. Hermione eyed him as she kept stirring.
"Hermione? Do you know how to do any cooking with magic?" Narcissa asked.
"I don't actually, but I'm a quick learner if you show me the spells," she began.
"Hmm, well what we're doing tonight will require the spells and skills. Draco can do those parts because I only needed one of you for that, and the second is making another dish by magic. Would you mind sitting this one out tonight and I can teach you more about magical cooking in the morning?" She was so polite that Hermione didn't think it was possible to refuse. She left the kitchen to go sit with Lucious Malfoy in the dining room.
"Great, now I get to sit here with him," she thought as she sat down.
He hadn't expected to see her. "Not helping afterall?" he asked.
Hermione thought about ignoring him like he had ignored her, then she considered what Draco said about his father being talkative and decided to make a game out of keeping him talking as long as possible.
"I only know how to cook like a muggle. There wasn't much I could offer," she said a little bitterly.
He didn't add anything but just nodded.
"And you?" She asked.
"What about me?" He looked at her with a cold look.
"Why aren't you helping?" She smiled, knowing she was getting him to talk.
"I don't have to explain myself," he responded.
"I never said you did, it was just a question." Hermione pretended to let the conversation go.
He considered her for a moment and then he went back to ignoring her.
She started again. "It's just that your wife and son are having fun spending time together and you'd rather be out here?"
He sighed, she was getting under his skin.
"Just seems odd to me is all I'm saying."
"And you've said quite enough already," he said, clearly irritated by her.
"Doesn't seem like I've said very much at all!" she returned.
He glared at her and she didn't return the look no matter how hard it was. After a moment she tried again.
"What do you think they're making?" Her voice seemed so loud because of the silence in the dining room.
"Do you always talk this much?" he asked, irritation still in his tone.
"No. Normally I meet people who are polite enough to carry a simple conversation." She shifted in her chair. As she said it she felt like maybe she went a little too far.
She looked back over at him, but instead of glaring like Hermione fully expected, Lucious actually had a faint smile on his lips. Hermione wasn't smiling back. She didn't know whether to take it to mean that he thought she was funny or that he was warning her. His smile reminded her of Draco's and she wanted to believe there was kindness behind it like his son had.
"Very well, Ms. Granger," Lucious began. "I do not know what they are making." He scooted up in his chair a little as he added, "and I'm out here because I do not enjoy cooking as Narcissa does."
Hermione was surprised at getting an answer. "Does that mean that you do know how to cook then?"
"Of course I do, every wizard knows how to do simple cooking spells," he answered her sarcastically, "but apparently not every witch does," he said while making a mocking sad face at her. He was trying to get under her skin now.
Hermione realized what he was trying to do. She knew this kind of banter all too well in getting acquainted with Draco to take any of it personally. Plus, Draco knew far more about her and the things he often said before they became friends were far more mean spirited. She laughed at Lucious's comment and the smirk he was wearing melted from his face.
"I guess you're right," she added another laugh for effect. "After being on the run for a little over a year and a half I probably should have found the time to make it a priority." She was sarcastic right back.
He gave her an odd look and she noticed an unmistakable smile on his lips this time. She had never seen him smile and it made his face look warm. It made her angry that he seemed amused with her retort. He was a big part of the reason that she had to hide during the war. Suddenly she didn't feel much like talking anymore.
She stood up and, clearly irritated and began to walk out of the room.
Lucious wasn't expecting her reaction, after all he hadn't even replied to her comment. "Where are you going? I thought you wanted to talk?"
Hermione turned around and saw his look was genuinely confused. She slowly walked back and sat in the chair, giving him an angry stare again.
He watched her expression, puzzled about why she might have gotten angry. He waited for her to talk and when she didn't, he began. "You're…angry?"
She just looked back over at him and glared to answer his question and then she sighed.
She could tell by his look that he really hadn't tried to upset her.
She decided if she was going to talk to him of all people she couldn't wear her heart on her sleeve, it would be the first thing he would use against her. She was the one who brought up the past, she wouldn't be able to do that with him again and maintain her composure. She wished Draco would hurry up and get done.
"Just impatient," she answered as she relaxed her features on her face and stopped glaring. "I'm hungry," she lied.
"Hmmm, I've never calculated you as an impatient person, quite the opposite actually." He said coolly.
They had fought against one another on a few occasions, it was true. She wasn't impatient. She was careful and considerate about the moves she made.
"But you've been impatient…" she said, remembering his strategy at the hall of prophecy, the one where the prophecy wound up broken and he was punished severely by Voldemort.
He knew what she was referring to and his eyes became wide and then a lot sharper. "The hall of prophecy?" he asked quietly.
She nodded.
"Maybe I didn't want to have more blood on my hands than necessary, Ms. Granger." He seemed to be being honest. "But I paid dearly for that choice, and so did Draco." He added bitterly.
She wanted to ask him a real question now, and wasn't sure if she really should. "But you're glad he's gone?" she whispered, unsure about his response.
He gave her an incredulous look. "How could you ask that?"
She wasn't sure if she had done something wrong or not and just continued to look at him, her mouth slightly open, lost for words.
"Certainly, I am," he said as he rubbed his dark mark over his shirt. Again, his face was convincing.
She wondered if he would have felt the same if the war had gone the other way and Voldemort killed Harry. She knew he could be slippery at times, convincing the minister of magic of his innocence in the past; it hadn't been by mistake that he could be so persuasive. She wasn't buying it. She didn't humor Lucious by giving him any sign of emotion.
He could read her reaction and knew she didn't believe him. It didn't matter to him what she believed but thought he would explain something. "To those that he knew he had persuasion like one wouldn't believe. He was terrifying, and at the same time, the strongest wizard I have ever known. If everyone else was scared of him it was nothing to how those in the inner circle felt about him. He could even read your thoughts, nothing was free from him." He shuddered involuntarily and for a fleeting moment had the same worried and scared look that Draco had in his eyes on occasion. He seemed to get lost in his thoughts for a moment.
She didn't doubt his feelings when he explained it like that. It was the part of Draco she saw in him that made her believe. "I believe you," she said in a soft, reassuring voice.
Her voice interrupted his internal dialogue and he looked back at her for a moment and regained his composure.
He wasn't sure what to say and he had gotten uncomfortable with their conversation. Hermione felt the same way too.
They sat in awkward silence for a moment when Hermione spoke up, "I better go check in on them," she said in a quiet voice as she pointed towards the kitchen.
"Yeah," Lucious said in a dry voice as he readjusted himself.
She walked up to the kitchen and peered inside. She saw Draco and his mom smiling while talking and she wasn't in view as she overheard a part of their conversation.
"She's the one," he said to his mother.
"Draco, are you sure?" she had excitement in her voice.
"Yeah, I've known for quite a while. I'm going to ask her…" at this point Hermione thought this was a conversation she shouldn't have been listening to and instead of walking into the kitchen she walked back to the dining room quietly. She debated leaving again.
Lucious looked up and after seeing it was Hermione, made a disappointed face and looked down. She knew the feeling, that's how she felt about spending time with him also. She decided to start a change of subject since Lucious couldn't be counted on to do so.
"What kinds of things can you cook?" she asked.
"Do you only think about food? This is about the third question you've asked me that relates to it," he pointed out.
She sighed and was going to reply when he spoke again.
"I can make whatever I want really…" he shrugged.
"Show me," she insisted.
"It doesn't work that way. You have to start with a part that already exists, or at least all the ingredients."
"Gamp's law of elemental transfiguration," she whispered out loud, mostly to herself.
"You are a transfiguration teacher…" he pointed out sarcastically.
"Yes, but that doesn't have bearing on one's skill to cook." She said a little rudely. "I understand the magical law and how it applies in relation to transfiguring objects…if I cook like a muggle then multiply, that's one way." She stopped for a moment "But that's not truly how it should be done…" She knew people didn't conjure their food out of thin air, but Molly was so good that it honestly appeared that way. Being at the castle or back with her parents she didn't have to worry about food that much. She hadn't learned when Harry, Ron or her were on the run because neither of them knew how to cook with Magic either.
Just then Draco came back into the dining room and saw her pacing around. "Everything okay?" he asked her and looked between her and his father.
"Just discussing transfiguration laws…" Lucious said while looking at his son and back to Hermione.
Hermione just smiled at Draco, glad he was finally done while he gave his father a skeptical look and looked seriously over at Hermione.
"Had they managed to have a conversation?" He thought.
"When are you going to teach me how to cook?" she pressed.
Draco laughed. "I figured that irritated you, that I know how to do something you don't. Did it feel like potions class all over again?" he teased her.
She made a sour face. "I did great in potions class thank you very much, we can't all be teacher's pet Draco…" she replied.
Lucious snickered and stopped as the two of them looked at him.
Draco looked back at Hermione and grabbed her hand. "Can I ask you to do something for me?" he said in a soft tone.
"What" she asked, matching his quiet voice.
"Spend a couple more days here?"
Up until this point Lucious had been looking away and ignoring them, but he looked at the pair of them again in disbelief. He kept his comments to himself.
"Uh…" Hermione began as she looked over at Lucious. They locked eyes and then he got up and left the room to join his wife in the kitchen, most likely to complain, she thought.
"Please Hermione?" He put his hand under her chin and lightly lifted it up so she was looking him in the eyes. "Please?"
She nodded her head yes to answer his look.
He leaned in to kiss her, still lightly holding her chin as he guided her lips to his. She slowly wrapped her arms up on his neck and when they broke apart she looked into his eyes, wondering if she was ready to make the kind of commitment that she thought she heard him talking about.
He was going to ask her about the look she was giving him when she kissed him again. After a minute Lucious and Narcissa came out to the dining room and they broke apart again. He grabbed her hand as he led her to the table.