Chapter III: A Mother's Love

( A/N: Narcessa Malfoy reveals shocking truths about her past in a desperate attempt to save Draco and Hermione from disaster ... but will her risk bring them closer together, or tear the beginning of their fragile relationship appart? Please Read, Review, and Enjoy!! )

Hermione hovered over her parents cottage on her broom, trying to spot them in the midst of the smoke and flames that now leapt from the burning building. The gray clouds rising into the air stung her eyes and made her cough, but she refused to move until her Mother and Father were safe. Below, men in black hooded robes were standing in a circle which, Hermione now realized, her parents were in the middle. One of the men in the group pulled back his hood, revealing a bald white head and a nose with snake-like nostrals. His red eyes sent shivers of terror through Hermione -- she was in the presence of Lord Voldemort.

Giving a high cold laugh he looked up at her, " Hermione my dear, come and join us. Someone here is dying to see you... "

Glancing around for a way to excape, Hermione held her broom with both her hands in white knuckled terror. Was Draco down there, too? Why hadn't she thought of that fact when it was so obvious -- Draco had Ron, and Voldemort had Harry -- which meant that Draco was a death eater! How would she ever be able to go through with the marriage?

" We are all waiting, my dear. Your destiny awaits... " Voldemort waved a bony hand towards her parents, " If you come I shall not harm them... "

Hermione felt outraged, and without a second thought she went into a dive directly at Voldemort. When he saw her coming, the Dark Lord raised his wand ready to attack, but was suddenly frozen solid from an attack behind him.

" Master Malfoy, what are you doing? " Vincent Lestang reached for his wand, " Are you no longer loyal to our master? "

" Shut up, Lastang! " Draco's aim was fast and he knocked the wand out of Vincent's hand before the dark mage could think of uttering a curse, " Move. Now. "

" W-what? Who do you think you are, betraying the Lord this way? "

" Move! " Draco's wand was now pointed at him, and the other Death Eaters stared at the face-off in shocked silence. No one had ever caused this kind of a desturbance before. " Mr. and Ms. Granger... Take ahold of this chain. It will help you escape. "

Mr. and Ms. Granger did as they were told and instantly vanished. Hermione watched this all from her perch on her broom, not able to believe it was happening. Draco was now slowly lowering his wand, and since his back was turned to Voldemort, he did not see the Dark Lord rise to his full height once again. " Draco, look out! "

Hermione's warning came too late, as the Dark Lord raised his wand, his red eyes blazing inside his demonic head as he spat out the venomous word which would ensure merciless pain, " Cucio! "

Draco's shreiks of agony peiced the evening silence and made Hermione's blood run cold. When would it end? He had saved her parents, only to suffer their fate himself... Thinking of this fact, she could not help feeling sympathy for him. He wasn't a bad guy ... just slightly mislead. But what could be done about his present predicument?

" I'm tired of you, Malfoy. You have been a worthless, sniveling, whiny, selfish peice of rot from the beginning, and I should have seen you were a thorn in my side a long time ago. " Voldemort was circling Draco now, pausing to kick him now and again, and holding his wand out seeming to be deciding what to do next, " I think you need a ... permenant vacation. Aveda Kedevara! "

***

" Draco! " The note of terror present in Hermione's voice when she screamed his name made Draco race down the final flight of stairs and around the corner that lead into the study, " No, no, no... This is a disaster... How could I have made such a terrible error... ? "

" Hermione? " Draco stared at her unmoving body, puzzled as he watched the silent tears flowing from her eyes. What on earth was wrong? " Hermione? "

She still wasn't answering, and that worried him. Was she alright? Reaching forward, he shook her lightly and her eyes opened. He instantly found himself the recipient of a crushing embrace as she wrapped her arms feircely around his neck. Glancing up at him, she slowly let go. It was obvious now that she must have had a nightmare. " Draco... I... "

" You had a nightmare. Perfectly normal, especially with everything that has happened today. It is getting rather late. " Pulling the other large armchair in the room up to the one in which she sat, he liddled with the two arms that were next to eachother for a minute or so and they connected, creating a loveseat. " This is for you. "

As Hermione took the book from him, Draco watched her expression intensely, dying to know what she thought of it. As with all books, she was very careful how she opened it, and when it was open, her surprise about the drawing he had done of the two of them was very evident.

" Did you draw this? " Hermione stared at the picture in awe after seeing Draco nod, " This is amazing! I didn't know you could draw. "

" It's nothing, really... " Draco could feel the heat rising to his cheeks and had a sudden urge to place his hands over them, " I'm glad you like it though. I made the book, and wrote, protographed or drew everything in it. "

The book, inside and out, had certainly been an accomplishment. Bound with dark brown leather and peices of thinly cut saphires and rubies on the spine, it had 'I love you' written in Draco's sprawling handwritting, surrounded by a heart. The pen he used must have been filled with gold plaiting, because although it was clearly made of gold, it did not add extra weight to the overall book. The tips of the pages inside the book were also coated in the same brilliant golden hue.

When the book was opened, the first peice of thick cream coloured parchment was enscribed with the message " To my darling Hermione, with love from Draco. ". Draco felt a slight tug of disappointment when Hermione closed the book, but tried not to show it. Since it was nearly 1 a.m., he couldn't really blame her. She hadn't slept in nearly two days!

" I'm so tired... " her head was now resting on his shoulder, which made Draco feel tempted to fall asleep right where he was. But she definately needed a good rest, so it was out of the question. Gently lefting her head off him, Draco stood up and then lifted her into his arms. She did not realize what he was doing until they werre halfway back to her suite, and had she not noticed, she might have ended up sleeping in his room instead. " Where are we going? "

" You need sleep. I'm taking you to your room. " Draco opened the door to the room as he said this, and gently set her on the bed. Looking down at her, he felt a desperate urge to stay. Pushing this burning desire aside, he leaned down, pressed his lips against hers and for the first time noticed a quick and willing responce. Forcing himself to break the kiss, he once again stood to his full height. " Good night, Hermione. See you in the morning. "

" Good night, Draco. "

He left the room while her words were still being said, wanting to ensure that his passion would not have the time to cloud his judgement. He could not help wondering: would she have let him stay? Doubtful, considering that they had not really 'known' eachother very long really. He wanted the time he spent with Hermione to precious to both of them. A meaningful relationship that was enjoyed by both of them. Anyone under the empression that Draco wanted Hermione for his own gratification was very off target in his opinion.

" Draco, what are you doing up at this hour? "

Jumping in surprise at hearing his mother's voice, Draco turned toward her, " Can't sleep. Then again, I could ask the same toward you. "

" Let's take a walk. " Narcessa's tone was gentle, and Draco felt a great deal of relief in this reassurance that she did not suspect what was keeping him awake, " You've picked quite a lovely bride. Your father is very pleased. "

" And you ... ? " Draco looked into his mother's eyes, but no clues to her underlying feelings were being shown. Now that he thought of it, they really never showed. She had always had a talent for keeping her emotions in check, aside from a quiet, loving disposition which she always used towards Draco and Lucius. For the first time Draco wondered if this outlook on life was really one of her own choosing.

" She is a lovely girl, and she will make a lovely wife. " Narcessa's tone stayed flat and factual as the walked down the winding stairs, " She is very noble, making such a sacrifice for her friend. I respect her. "

" Why do I get the feeling that you mean something other then what you say? "

" I should not say anything. Lucius would be upset if he heard me talking to you about this. Your marriage plan is between you, him, and the Dark Lord. "

Draco noticed his mother's tone turned bitter when she spoke of Voldemort and couldn't help wondering what she would do if she had the opportunity to betray him and escape any consequences, " You told me that father saved you, and that is why you married. I am trying to save Hermione... "

" Save her from what, Draco? What danger is Hermione in? " Narcessa's voice became sharp for a second, then returned to its usual quiet lull.

" When I was in school, Hermione and her two best friends outwitted Lord Voldemort on several occassions. He now has one of those friends in his possesion, and the other is the boy I am using to bribe Hermione. "

" That explains nothing. You still haven't explained what danger Hermione is in. Does the Lord want her dead? "

" Goodness, no! Hermione Granger is the smartest student in the history of Hogwarts since Lord Voldemort himself! But she has loyalties to the Ministry of Magic, and her friends. Therefore... "

" He is trying to use your interest in her to get her to join his cause. "

" In the end, that is the goal. "

" Draco, that's evil! " Narcessa faced her son, her blue eyes gazing at him with more scorn then he had ever seen in them during his entire life, " I won't let you do that to her! "

" I don't have a choice, mum! Hermione is in no danger of being killed now... But the Lord won't wait forever. " Draco held the door open for her and they made their way into the garden.

" Would you let him kill her? " Narcessa stopped walking and waited for an answer, but none came. " Draco Lucius Malfoy, would you let him? "

" What could I really do about it? " turning and placing his face inches away from hers, Draco was so frustrated with the whole situation that he didn't realize he was screaming. This was the problem he had not told Hermione about, because he didn't want her to die. What was worse was the fact that he knew, deep down, that she would really rather die then work with Voldemort, no matter how much she ever came to care about their couplehood.

" You know how I told you about how your father and I met... " Narcessa began, guiding Draco to the sunroom in the garden. Sitting down she took his hands in hers, " The Dark Lord played a big role in our union as well... "

" He did? You never told me that... "

" I am about to tell you a secret that no one knows about my ancestors, the Narche's. ...my father had an affair, and a baby girl was born. "

" So? Was she you? "

" No... Her name was Jessica, and she was my sister, and most treasured childhood playmate. Compared to her, I am a mere shadow. She was brave and noble and kind... And it was that kindness which I grew to envy as I got older. "

" Please get on with it. This isn't all that exciting. "

" Give it a minute. " Narcessa clamped one of her long slender hands firmly on Draco's shoulder, " Jessica's mother was a muggle, and therefore she was kept a secret. Of course the Dark Lord would have accepted her, since she was a halfling, but she was a stain on the Narshe's perfect record. What made it all worse was that she became an Auror. "

" No way... " Draco was beginning to feel nervous, since parts of this story felt all too familiar.

" She had, in her mind, good intentions. But that was not what mattered. Regardless of whether she was right or wrong, I knew Jessica would be too kind-hearted to kill Voldemort. So, when she came to tell me she was going to try, I locked her in a closet, told your father where I had put her, and unknown to him... "

Draco shivered, having a strong feeling in his gut what was coming. This was like a crazy dream. How could his mother have ... ?

" I took her place. " Narcessa's eyes meet Draco's in a steely gaze which demanded that he pay attention, and she continued, " I went to where the Death Eaters were gathering in the bushes. This was the night that Lucius had intended to introduce me to his Lord, so I knew that there would be no other opportunity. When Lucius brought Voldemort aside to introduce us, I did my worst. "

" How can you still be living? Are you saying he wasn't mad? "

" The Dark Lord was livid, but Lucius begged that my life be spared and told him where Jessica was... " Narcessa clenched her free hand into a tight fist and bit down on her bottom lip. Draco felt numb as he watched his mother blinking back tears. Hadn't she mourned her sister? " It was a sad day for the Aurors, that was for sure. Jessica ... gentle soul that she was ... suffered greatly, although I had done all the evil. Lucius felt bad but he tried to convince me that the Dark Lord would let it slide after getting all of this new information. He was wrong. "

" But how did you survive, then? "

" Your father challenged the Dark Lord to a duel, with my life as the trophey. The old adage that 'Lucius Malfoy never loses a duel' has some fact behind it. He won, and here I am, telling you my tale. But I made a promise to myself that I would keep my silence, in Jessica's name, and I have ... until your friend arrived. "

" Hermione reminds you of Jessica, doesn't she? "

" Yes, she does... Except I think your fiancee would actually have the stomach to send Voldemort to his grave. Now, would you let Voldemort kill her? "

" Your story is touching, mother, but I cannot disobey the Lord. The subject is closed. "

" Then I am ashamed to call you my son. " Narcessa arose from the bench and walked calmly out of the sunroom, her head held high with resolve as she made her way back to the castle. Draco stared at the empty seat beside him, shaking his head. Why couldn't she understand?

***

Hermione sat up in surprise as a pair of hands shook her firmly. It was still dark outside and when she tried to push the hands away, she nearly bumped heads with Narcessa Malfoy. A feeling of dread made its way through her stomach as she pondered what the woman could possibly want while her body finished waking up, " What's the matter...? "

" Quiet, Hermione. I'm going to help you escape. "

" Escape? I'm not being held here in any manner that makes me need to escape. I'm here to save Ron. "

" Do you love my son? "

" Well ... uh .... This is the first I've seen him in two years. Its going to take some time ... What I mean to say is .... "

" No. " Narcessa said that word softly, " And I don't blame you. Right now I don't know if I love him, or ever will again. "

" Nonsense, Draco is your son! Don't let me get in the way of that kind of love. "

" You're not in the way, Hermione. On the contrary, I really like you. That is why I am going to help you avoid making the biggest mistake of your life. "

" You think marrying Draco would be that bad? "

" If you don't love him. "

" We haven't set a date yet, Narcessa. Right now I'm doing my best to get to know him. After all that he has told me, it may be my only hope of saving Harry ... and Ron. "

" You love Ron, don't you? "

" Yes, I do. "

" Then you have no business marrying my son! "

" You don't understand what I mean -- "

" Do what you want. You are young and impatient ... But if you hurt my Draco, be prepared to pay the consequences. You never know how a mother might respond to such a thing. "

" I'll do my best, Narcessa. All I know is that I have to save Ron. "

***

End Notes:

1) Special thank you's go to: Lady Guinevere of Northqalis, Daya, Purity, Jenna, Free-Spirit-Angel, Draco's Silver tabby cat girl, silver079, Suga Lips, Tigre, Penut Butter Cup. Chrissy, The Charmed One, Sugar Plums, Fire Goddess, Icy Stormz, pLt, Nuttyginger and RiddleStar for their reviews of chapter II!!! Keep the reviews coming, I love hearing your opinions, idea, guesses, basically anything. They also help get rid of any cursed writer's block, from my experience. Thanks again!

2) What kind of "love" does Hermione feel for Ron? How does Lucius Malfoy feel about his son's engagement? How is Ginny coping in Malfoy Manor? Is Hermione's dream a prophecy of what lies ahead...? Prepare for these any many other questions to be answered (and asked!) soon!