Chapter 11
"Why isn't she back?! I know you're behind this, sending her off for your own personal gain," Harry steamed.
"You're one to talk Potter, Hermione has wasted all of her life doing stuff for you," Draco rebutted.
"Now, now, boys. Why don't we settle this like gentlemen?" Lucius voiced as he walked into the room. Both of the men turned to face Lucius. "Did you ever consider the option that maybe Miss Granger isn't completely miserable spending her time in the past?"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked Lucius. Did he know something that Harry didn't?
"Oh well…" Lucius tapped his fingers on his staff, "maybe she met some people there that she enjoyed spending time with."
Harry thought back to the year Hermione had traveled to. He knew that his parents were just newly married in that year. Is there a chance that Hermione might have met them? Certainly, they would help her. "Did she meet my parents?" Harry voiced aloud.
"I would certainly hope not, they would be no use to her." Draco remarked, "how could they help with a situation involving the Blacks?"
"Sirius could certainly be of good use," Harry shared.
"So could my mother," Draco argued.
"I'm sure whoever she is with is helping her tremendously," Lucius interrupted.
"Then she would be back sooner," Harry commented. Lucius glared at Harry and spun to leave the room, but before he did, he looked back to Harry and Draco and said with a sneer, "Have fun worrying about Miss Granger,"
Lucius' more recent comments only suggested he knew further details about Hermione then he let on. Harry was determined to get the truth from Lucius, because unlike Draco, he wasn't afraid of Lucius.
"Your father knows more about Hermione than he is letting on," Harry surmised.
"For once in my life, I agree with you Potter," Draco admitted. "All Malfoy men keep secrets, and there's no exception for my father."
"If you care about Hermione as much as I do, you won't have any problem talking to your father with me." Harry proposed. Draco narrowed his eyes and looked in the direction Lucius had previously left the room.
"Fine. Follow me," Draco instructed. The two walked down the halls of the Malfoy Manor to the dining hall.
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The dining hall was dazzling with light and expensive furniture. Chandeliers reflected light onto the white granite floors. Dozens of tables and chairs filled the large room all suited in lace tablecloths and silverware. A great deal of instruments filled a section of the room, most likely for a live band to play.
Hermione gazed at the room in awe of its beauty. She had only been to a few events as elegant as this, which included the Yule Ball and Fleur and Bill's wedding. She wondered if this night would end in disaster as both of those did...
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Draco led Harry to the dining hall. It was hard to distinguish a figure sitting at the table through the dim light that only came from a small crack in a high window. The dining hall looked like it hadn't been used in years, which made Harry wonder why Lucius would choose to come here.
"Yes, Draco?" Harry heard Lucius say in the silence of the room. Draco turned his head to face Harry and then back to his father again.
"We know that you know more about Hermione than you let on," Draco stammered in a quick breath.
Harry saw the figure stand up from his seat. "You weren't telling us the full truth earlier," Harry added on.
"You think so?" Lucius queried, "is that what you think Draco?"
Harry could sense Draco tense up at the mention of his name.
"Yes," Draco mumbled.
"Hmmm," Lucius sat back down in his seat, "you've grown some courage, Draco."
"Well what are you keeping from us?" Harry asked impatiently.
"I know so much because I was the person who helped Miss Granger, or should I say Penny?" Lucius grinned.
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"Pretty Penny," Lucius breathed as Penny walked through the door in her outfit for the gala. She was dressed in a dark blue evening gown that clutched her body and had a low-hanging belt in the middle. Her long sleeves drooped as she reached up to fix her low bun. Lucius thought it was a wonder that all her hair was able to be gathered up in a way that looked presentable. He watched as Penny scanned the room looking for him.
Only a few crowds of people had arrived by then, but they had already started to fill the area. Lucius had waited much too long for Penny to get ready, he had already engaged in too many meaningless conversations. Lucius was amused as he watched Penny try to find him in the crowd. He purposely avoided her eye as he maneuvered through the crowd to make it to the hallway. Making his way silently down the halls, Lucius appeared behind Penny without her noticing.
"Penny," Lucius whispered in her ear. Penny let out a small gasp as she turned around to face him. Her wand was held to his neck. He could see a bit of relief that it was only him and not anyone else, but that look quickly vanished. She now crossed her arms and furrowed her brow.
"Are you done acting like an imbecile now?" Penny inquired. Lucius simply rolled his eyes in response. With no other response from Lucius, Penny took his arm and led him into the packed dining hall.