A/N I am so terribly, terribly, sorry for being an ass and not updating at
all for at least 3 months. I have an excuse but it probably isn't good at
all. Ahem. I've just started high school and I'm getting used to being in
this "gifted" program/course load. I actually had this part of chapter 30
written a while ago, but I was lazy and didn't want to type it up. UNTIL I
got a lovely email from Rebecca B; so that is why I dedicate this part of
chapter 30 to her.
I'm sorry if there are some errors in this, but since it's the last chapter (half) I don't want to bother my beta's with this. And I think they've been queer and forgot what's happened so far. :S. But I still love you Cortex and Hullabub. So if there are some really big, totally noticeable errors, email me/review and tell me so I can get those fixed up ASAP.
Posting this in honour of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets opening today (in Canada, the US, and in the UK). I came back from seeing it today; it is really good. And Tom Felton is so unbelievably gorgeous.
Dedicated to: Every wonderful person who actually took the time to read through 30 chapters of fiction, to those who reviewed and my marvellous beta readers Cortex and Hullabub! And a very special dedication thank you to Rebecca B. She made me haul my procrastinating ass to the computer and write this. Thanks!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related articles belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros./AOL Time Warner Pictures.
Chapter 30a: Family Ties
Draco got out to the limo once it had passed through the wrought iron gates and onto the stone path, heading towards the Malfoy Manor. The light reflected off the dark windows, hardly saying "Welcome back Draco" but blinking eerily down at him. His large four-story mansion, made entirely of grey-white stone, loomed down at him, the towers looked like they were curving like devils horns with their long steeples.
He walked silently up the rough stone steps and through the magnificently carved oak doors. Instantly, a house elf scurried to relieve Draco of his cloak then bowed away. "You're not forty-five minutes late." A calm voice came from Draco's left.
He slowly turned and saw Narcissa Malfoy standing between the two large doors that led to the dining room. She was wearing light purple sleeveless robes with ruffles around the edges, and her long blonde hair cascading down her back. She wasn't smiling. Narcissa Malfoy rarely smiled unless she had or wanted to. Narcissa Malfoy held the aura of power around those she could command, and very similar to Lucius and Draco. Along with that power there was calm under pressure, and she held both with an iron fist. Draco was often scared of his mother; she reminded him of a vela.
"Yes mother. There was some trouble getting off the train and on the road," he lied smoothly, as he always did; it came with years of practice. He followed Narcissa into the dining room where he sat in front of her in one of the black velvet cushioned dining chairs. Both Malfoy's hair and pale skin stood out brightly in contrast to the dark material.
Her exterior changed at once. She raised her perfectly plucked eyebrows. "On the road? Did the cows break loose of their fences and hold a blockade?" Just like Draco, she knew when and how to use sarcasm. However, she smiled, and showed off her flawless white teeth. "How was the train ride back?"
"Other than the constant noise by all the first years, it was fine." His voice still collected and unwavering.
"That's good. You won't be going back anyway. I heard you were valedictorian. Excellent! I assume you cane out on top.for once." Her tone grew cold.
Inwardly, the words stung, reminding Draco of consecutive years of criticism and shame. She was a good mother, but she could be cruel at times. Not as much as Lucius, but cruel all the same. Outwardly, he was unfazed, "Yes, barely, but first." Of course it was a downright lie, but she didn't need to know that.
"Okay. Come give mummy a huug and kiss and you can get ready for dinner. 6 o'clock as always." She was smiling again.
Draco rose from his chair and walked to the other end of the rectangular table. He bent his back to hug his mother, who remained sitting, and kissed her on the cheek. She kissed him back and let him walk out of the room. Once out of view from the dining room doors, he took out his handkerchief and scrubbed at the red lipstick on his cheek, staining the kerchiefs white material.
He arrived in his room and headed straight to his private bathroom where he dumped the kerchief into the laundry chute. He striped down to his boxers and checked his robe pockets before dumping those into the chute as well. Leaving the bathroom, he put the Crysticall on his bedside table.
'I have half an hour to waste. Might as well make the most of it.' He figured as he propped himself up on the black pillows and on his black duvet. He picked up the crystal ball and spoke clearly into it, "Hermione Granger, Granger residence."
Before her face swirled into view, he head her voice echoing, "Yeah, I love him now."
Her face appeared in front of him. She was dabbing concealer on the mark he gave her. "You love who now?" he asked, startling her.
She gasped, dropping the concealed bottle onto her wooden dressed and out her hands to her heart. She stared at his grinning face for a moment before registering that fact that he was looking at her through her mirror. "Oh my God, you scared me! People usually start conversations by saying hello, not by asking ridiculous questions." She stood the bottle up correctly and tutted at the mess. "And now look. You make me drop my makeup." She searched for something to clear the mess.
Draco snickered, "I'm sorry, I believe I've mistaken you for a witch. Because witches have wands to clean spills." He smirked at her now pink face.
"Shut up." Taking her wand she directed it to the pale mess and it quickly zapped the stain away.
"I suppose you're right," he said airily, "People do not start conversations by asking ridiculous questions. However, that wasn't a ridiculous question. Why were you saying you love me now?"
She was fairly used to his conceitedness, but this ate the cake. "How do you know I was talking about you? I could have been talking about Crookshanks or Ron for all you know." She snapped.
"You've always loved your cat and the Weasel right?" she nodded, "So you couldn't love them now if you always did. Besides, I'm the only new man in your life anyway." He put on a cute, adorable expression.
"Fine, you win." He grinned at her resignation. "And I was talking to my neighbour. She was over her just now and we had nothing better to talk about, so we talked about you." She grinned at him.
He ignored her insult. "Of course you were talking about me, why wouldn't you. And I suppose she told you that I left my mark on you too." He playfully bit his teeth together.
"Yes she did. So now, whenever I see my parents I'll have to cover as not to arouse suspicion."
"I'm offended! You're going to cover my love bite!" he feigned shock, "Very well, I'll have to give you a new one when you come over. Are you telling them tonight?"
"Not today. But I will! I promised I would, and I will. This weekend I will. Promise." She smiled.
He smiled a bit, but it was more of a sad smile than a happy one. "Fine." As an attempt to lighten the mood he resorted to talking about himself. "Your friend, the one you talked all about me to, was she utterly swooned at the mental image you gave her of me?"
"As a matter of fact, yes she was. She was saying hot lucky I was to have a man like you."
"And how lucky are you?"
She chuckled, but it sounded like a giggle. "Very. Look, I have to have dinner now. I'll talk to you later. Bye!"
"Bye."
She blew him a kiss and went downstairs for dinner.
~*~
All of Friday Hermione was pondering how to tell her parents about Draco. She had pondered during the day, during meals, during dinner and any other time she had nothing to think about. The only times her mind was off the upcoming conversation was when she was writing letters and when she was talking to Draco. "Any news from the Boy Who Will Move Out?" Draco asked her on Friday evening.
"Yes I have. He's currently packing but as he doesn't have many belongings he'll be done by tomorrow. The Weasley's were most willing to take him in. she said back, pilling her brush through her thick hair.
"Those Muggles he lives with now," Draco said, "we're glad to get rid of him then?"
"Most certainly. Harry says that they nearly threw him out once he told them." She giggled, "He also told me that his fat lump of a cousin, Dudley, brought home a girlfriend. Surprisingly she's fairly skinny."
"Are you sure he's not a wizard?" he asked. Her face clearly said "Uh, yeah." He chuckled, "Because in order for a 'fat lump' to land a skinny girl he'd really have to have some very powerful love potions. Either that or she's blind, dumb, and crippled."
Hermione was about to tell him that was mean when her mother knocked on the closed door, "Hermione, can I come in?"
"In a second mum." She called, "Go on." She said to Draco.
He had recently devised a way of not being able to see Hermione but he could still hear everything that went on her room. It was quite simple actually. He simply put the Crysticall facing another mirror. That way, Hermione could still see herself in the mirror and nobody would think any less of it.
"Getting ready for bed now?" Marie Granger said, seeing Hermione dressed in her pyjamas.
"Yeah. Mum, have you and dad talked about me going to David's?" she asked anxiously.
Marie signalled her daughter to sit with her on the bed. "We have, we're still not sure. We hardly know anything about him. He does seem very charming and polite."
Hermione started to tell her mother about Draco's personality. Excluding his father - of course. As she didn't know much about his mother, she couldn't touch on that subject. Her mother would occasionally nod and ask questions about his schoolwork and his interests. All the questions were easily answered. "How does he treat you?" her mother asked unexpectedly.
Hermione blinked. She certainly wasn't expecting a question like this. But she didn't have to think about the answer. "He treats me like I'm the most important person in the world and he really understands me. He isn't mean to me, but we have our rows and insults; but who doesn't? He listens to me and he's like another brother, like Ron and Harry." She smiled brightly.
Her mother smiled at her and said, "well, I'll talk to daddy again. We'll get back to you on it. Oh and before I forget, we'll be having guests over for the weekend. You remember the Columbus', right?"
Hermione tried to remember anyone whose surname was Columbus, but failed. She shook her head. "They used to live across the street and moved after you went to Hogwarts. Do you remember their son Alex?"
She remembered a boy who would follow Hermione around once in a while, shared his sweets and was an overall sweet boy. He was also two years older. "Oh! Now I remember. But why are they coming here?"
"They're in town for Alex's football [A/N aka soccer] tournament. So we invited them to stay here for the weekend. They'll be here tomorrow afternoon, so make them feel welcome. Okay Hermione?" Marie asked, smoothing down her blouse.
"I will mum. G'night." She smiled as Mrs Granger left the room.
Once the door audibly closed, Draco's face became back into view. "You were right." He said.
"She turned to face him and went back to the dressed. "Right about what?"
"We argue and call each other names, of course Granger." He drawled.
She opened her mouth to retort, but he interrupted, "Actually, you are the most important person to me. Wait, on second thought, you're the second most important person to me; second only to myself." He smirked.
"Stuff it Malfoy." She smiled. "But thank you. I will tell my parents about you tomorrow morning, before the Columbus' arrive."
"As long as you tell them." After some consideration, he asked, "Who's this Alex chap?"
She wondered if he was asking out of jealousy, but answered anyway, "A boy I used to know. He's a year older than us. Really smart too. At least, he was back then. We lost touch after he moved south."
"What's he look like?" he was curious.
She raised her eyebrows, "Jealous are we?" after seeing his calm expression, she said slowly, trying to remember what he looked like, "Blond hair that's slightly curly, slim and not very tall. He was only about my height when I was nine. He had really nice green eyes too; they could change from green to blue in the light. This was all when he was around eleven, mind you." She said thoughtfully.
Draco's face was set, and his grey eyes darkened. "Well, as long as he doesn't try and start anything. He's still older than you."
"Age has nothing to do with being friends," she said tersely. "I'm very good friends with all the older Weasley's and they're at least two years older than us."
"At least some of the older Weasley's went to school with us, and you've known them longer. They haven't moved and come back for some rubbish Muggle sport. If it really is a sport." He sneered.
"It is so a sport, Draco. It's like Quidditch, but you're not in the air and use only your feet. I'm glad you're defending the Weasley's too."
He immediately put up his defences, "I am not defending them. I'm merely saying that you've known them longer to be friends with them," he stated, but then hissed, "Football; what rubbish. Only your feet! You'd think that they didn't have any arms. Some sort of sport for amputees then is it? How boring is that too? Just watching people run around from one end of a field to the other."
She laughed and grinned, "Football is not boring; it may not be as exciting as Quidditch but it isn't boring. And think what you want Draco. I'm off to bed. Goodnight." She then blew him a kiss.
"'Nite, and don't let the Flobberworms bite." He smirked.
"They don't have teeth you nit!" she laughed and climbed into bed. She saw his head swirl away before turning off her bedside lamp.
~*~
Draco was calmly eating his breakfast the next morning while his mother watched him scrutinizingly over the top of her Daily Prophet. He got fed up after she ruffled the paper one too many times. He just dropped his knife and fork onto the tabletop. Narcissa looked at him, "Yes? Something wrong Draco?"
"You! You keep looking at me! D'you have something to say or will you just watch me eating my sausages?" he said angrily.
In her blasted calm manner, she folded the paper neatly and set it to the side. "Who is she?" she folded her hands in her lap.
"Who is who?"
"The girl." She said softly.
"Oh Dammit just come out and say it!" he banged his fist onto the table, rattling the silverware.
Narcissa sighed, "You should really control that temper. It'll get the best of you one day. You act as if a troll just knocked you around the head a few times. Another thing, watch your mouth; I won't tolerate your cursing in my presence. You sound like a very uncivilized Muggle. Perhaps even an ogre at that. Haven't you learned nothing during those etiquette lessons you went to when you were young?"
Before she could continue, he interrupted, "I will bloody well curse whenever and wherever I bloody well like." He raised his voice.
"Finally," she ignored him and continued, "Tippy heard you talking to a girl when she popped in to get your dirty laundry. She told me and I sent Charles to check. He saw you talking to a girl in a Crysticall."
'Going to give that elf a good kick up the rear' he thought bitterly, 'Too bad you can't kil ghosts. Should get a basilisk from Knockturn one day though.' "So what? I was talking to a girl. Is this some plot to homo- fy me?"
Narcissa laughed her high-pitched, bell-like laugh. "Hardly!" when her laughter subsided, she said, still smiling, "Just want to know who she is."
He slumped in his seat, "Hermione Granger. She was Head Girl."
"Sit up straight." She commanded and he complied. She daintily picked up her glass of wine and held it out in front of her, as if inspecting its deep redness, "Blood?"
He muttered quietly, "Muggleborn."
*CRASH*
Narcissa broke the crystal glass, causing the wine to run down her arm in rivulets, staining the newspaper beside her. Blood ran down her hand, intermingling unnoticeably with the red wine. Blood and wine stained her pristine light blue robes. Glass scattered her end of the long table, shining in the morning sun. She cursed, ('Hypocrite' thought Draco, sneeringly) dropped the remains of the glass, and - using her napkin - cleaned her arm. She waved her wand over her robes, not caring about the glass on the table. She stood up in one flowing movement, smoothing her robes, leering at her son, arms crossed, "What was that?" she said in obvious forced calmness.
He rose smoothly as well. His defiant face challenged the anger in his mother's icy blue eyes. "Muggleborn, Mother." He said 'Mother' scathingly.
She waved he wand and one of the china vases near the dining room entrance flew and smashed into the back of Draco's dining chair, spreading water and scattering flora on the wooden floor. "A Muggleborn witch!" she shrieked, "Why on earth would you - a pureblooded wizard - be talking to her!"
He was seething, "'Cause I'm dating her!" he yelled back. The snow globe on the fireplace mantel to her left exploded, sending glass shards flying onto the Nundu pelt rug beneath it.
"They're below us! You dare tarnish our name by dating her!" she screamed at him.
"She's at the top of our year at Hogwarts! And our name is already tarnished thanks to the bastard you married." He hollered. He knew he shouldn't have mentioned Lucius to his mother, but he was just horribly blinded by rage now.
Narcissa gasped. "H-how dare you sat that about your father!" by the end of her exclamation she choked and her angered demeanour crashed before her anguish. She collapsed onto her chair and cried.
Draco just glared and continued to seethe. It slowly passed once he fully took in the sight of his mother crying because of things he had just said. He sighed and walked to where he mother sat weeping, facing the empty fireplace. He kneeled in front of her, blocking her view of the grate. Grasping her shoulders he allowed her to cry onto his own like a child would.
Once in a while he would pat her back and smooth the blonde hair he had inherited. Her sobs ceased and she looked at him. "Sorry mum. I shouldn't have said that." He said, holding out his monogrammed handkerchief.
She smiled weakly and took it, dabbing it at the corners of her eyes. "You're forgiven. I don't mind you dating this girl - Hermione was it? My you've grown up so much." She touched his cheek, "Your outlook on Muggleborns and Muggles has completely changed. I'm so proud of you Draco." She cooed.
"Muggleborns and Muggles are two completely different things mother. But thanks, I suppose. Is it alright if she comes over for a few weeks in around.August?"
Her face brightened immediately. "Of course! Of it'll be marvellous to have another woman in the house. I've been so lonely when you were at school. Madame Parkinson is such a bore now; all she talks about are her beloved Crups, Kneazles and how gorgeous Pansy is -" Draco smirked and thought slyly, 'Pansy fits into the Crup and Kneazle category actually.' Narcissa continued, "She can come whenever she wants. She can have the Skylight Room." She rambled on and on about plans to accommodate Hermione.
One of the rooms had a large Skylight dome in the ceiling; hence the name the Skylight Room. It was one of the nicer rooms in the house. Draco often went there at night to think or get away from Lucius. The room was like a sanctuary. It had a fabulous view of the night sky through the dome. It was one of the few rooms in the Manor that had two levels: a lounge and parlour on the bottom and a staircase that went up to the bedroom. Luckily for Hermione, there was a small side entrance to the Malfoy Library from the parlour.
"I think I'm done saying nothing in this conversation." Draco stood up from his kneeling position. "If you need me, I'll be taking a swim." He brushed the glass bits off of his trousers and strode gracefully out of the dining room, leaving Narcissa to finish reading her Daily Prophet.
Back at his room, the house elves had already unpacked all his belongings from his Hogwarts trunks and he was rifling through his dresser for his swim trunks. Upon finding his black and silver trunks (which happened to glow in dark water or at night) amongst his boxers, he flung one of his several posh monogrammed towels over his bare shoulders. Before heading to swim he snatched up the Crysticall in case me wanted to call Hermione.
~*~
At the Granger residence, Hermione was walking inside for lunch after watering her yard. She washed her hands to clean off all the grime from the task. Her hands still wet, she rubbed her neck to get rid of any knots in it. "Damn begonias." She said under her breath.
"Mum, there's something I need to tell you." She said, mentally prepping herself for the 'big conversation'.
Marie nodded in acknowledgment as Hermione slid into the seat next to her.
Hermione cleared her throat. "It has to do with David." Both of her parents looked up at her, staring intently. She was getting a bit unnerved, 'You've made loads of speeches before. You're only talking to your parents. Relax.' She told herself. "I haven't really told you the whole truth about him. It's nothing bad, I assure you!" she added hastily, seeing her fathers face.
Marie looked at Hermione then her eyes widened, "Hermione Granger, what is that horrid thing on your neck?" she said loudly, pointing.
Hermione gasped, dropped her fork and her left hand flew to her neck. Her face had gone scarlet. Her father asked to see it so she slowly turned her head to show him from across the table. She mentally slapped herself when she realized it must've been the water that washed off the concealer. 'Bugger, bugger, bugger.'
"Did David do that? Are you two dating?" Jonathan Granger asked.
Hermione nodded, her face still blushing furiously, "It's not just that that I haven't told you." She exhaled deeply. "His name isn't David Mallory. It's Draco Malfoy and he's in Slytherin; not in Hufflepuff. He was Head Boy with me and we've been dating since around the start of school." She said quickly and dropped her gaze to her sandwich.
Marie tutted, "This is the same boy who we saw a few years back in that wizard book store, right? The blond boy who's father attacked Ron's father?"
"Ron's dad fought back too!" she blurted. "But yes, the same boy."
"The same boy who you said called you names?" Jonathan questioned.
Hermione nodded.
"Why didn't you just tell the truth? It's just a boy, nothing serious.unless." Jonathan said slowly. "Hermione, are you pregnant?"
Hermione choked on water and sputtered. "Am I what?!" she said indignantly.
"Are you pregnant with this boy's child?" Mr Granger asked slowly but sternly.
Hermione blushed again, "Of course not! Why would I be p-pregnant? We haven't.haven't done.that." Her face was burning with embarrassment.
Marie chuckled, "Relax Jon, our Hermione wouldn't have sex at seventeen. But Hermione, why didn't you tell us the truth?"
The colour was receding from her face when she said, "I thought you might not approve because of his.colourful background."
"Well, you've told us the truth now at least." Marie said, "You can go to his house."
Hermione's jaw dropped. "I-I can? Even after I lied to you about him?" They nodded, "Not that I'm objecting, but, why?"
"We knew you two were dating. We were just waiting for you to tell us before you knew you could go." Her father grinned. "And just because you're going doesn't mean that you can." he was searching for words, "engage in certain activities."
Hermione giggled, "Like have rampant sex on the ground in broad daylight?"
"Hermione!" Marie shrieked.
She started to laugh. "I'm joking! I won't! I love you so much." She smiled at her parents.
Soon after lunch ended the doorbell rang and Hermione went to answer it. She opened the door and saw three people standing on the front porch: two men and a woman. The woman spoke, "Is that you Hermione? Pf my goodness you're so beautiful! Are your parents home?"
She - Hermione - assumed that this was the Columbus family. "Yeah they are. Come on in. Nice to see you Mr and Mrs Columbus." She greeted them kindly.
The next several hours were spent exchanging greetings and making small talk. Once they started talking about Hermione, she took it as her cut to leave. So she used up her time by getting the guest rooms ready. As she was dusting a cabinet she heard a deep voice from the doorway, "It seems like yesterday that you were prancing around in only your bathing suit in front of me Hermione." It was Alex. He approached her and looked her up and down. "Care to do it again?"
Hermione took his dirty innuendo as a hormonal joke. "Not really, no." she continued to dust.
Alex put his hand over the one that was dusting and kissed it. She looked at him. His dark blond hair was spiked and he was looking at her over the top of her hand with his green eyes. His eyes weren't nearly as stunning and gorgeous as Harry's but they were still nice. "Charmed Alex." She pulled her hand out of his grasp. "Is there something you wanted?"
"Nothing. Just seeing how you were doing. It's been what? Six years since we have last seen each other?" He sat on the bed and motioned for her to join him.
"Seven years." She corrected and sat next to him; a considerable yet friendly distance away.
He grinned. "You've been keeping track then." He tried to hold her hand again but she folded hers in her lap, still clutching the duster.
"Hardly." She looked at him, "Alex, when people want to know how others are doing, they start by saying 'Hello, how are you doing?' Not, 'Strip down to your underwear in front of me.'"
"Those weren't the words I used but very well." He shrugged and leaned back, supporting his weight on his hands. "Find then, hello, how are you doing, Hermione?"
"Fine, thank you." She said with forced patience.
"D'you have a boyfriend?" he was now leaning on the bed, his head propped up on his hand, turned to face her. His other hand was starting to go up the back of her shirt.
Once she felt his wandering fingers touch her skin she jumped off the bed and turned to face him, brandishing the duster. He smirked and raised his eyebrows suggestively. 'His smirk is nowhere near as charming as Draco's. What a prat.' She thought coldly. "As a matter of fact I do. What's wrong with you? You were so nice when we were kids. Now.now you're being an arse."
He sighed and stood up. "Sorry Hermione. It's just when I saw you at the door you looked gorgeous. You're stunning." She was still mad and inwardly scoffed at his lousy attempts to compliment her. "And I like you. When I saw you I knew I did. Can we just start from scratch?" he looked like he was telling the truth.
"Fine. We can. But if doesn't mean that I like you either; I have a boyfriend and I'm not about to go behind his back and start seeing a boy who I haven't seen for seven years. Get it?" she pointed the duster at him.
"Yeah. Got it." He smiled and said, "Let's go the park and catch up." He walked to the door. "Coming?"
She thought about it for a moment, 'It'll be alright, he just wants to talk.' "Yeah, I am."
~*~
Draco had just hauled his half naked self out of his extremely large outdoor swimming pool. The weather was perfect; a slight breeze and a hot day were great conditions for a swim. He was finished swimming several lengths and had gotten bored. Sitting in the shade of a tree, he considered calling Hermione. "Hermione Granger, Granger residence."
The Crysticall pulsed red for a very long time; longer than usual. 'Must not be home.' Then Mrs Granger's face swirled into view. "Good afternoon Draco. What can I do for you?" she said happily.
'Good, she told them.' He thought as Mrs Granger called him Draco and not David. "Good afternoon Mrs Granger. Is Hermione there?"
"No I'm afraid you just missed her." She shook her head. "She just left to the park with a friend who's visiting."
Draco nodded in understanding. "Is this friend the Alex character that's visiting?" Marie nodded, surprised that he knew of Alex. "Hermione told me you were having guests this weekend."
"Well then, yes, she did go with him. I think you'd be happy to know that Hermione may come to see you this summer."
He grinned, "Excellent. I'll send a car to pick her up at whenever she would like to come and she can take it back whenever she'd like to come back home. Is this okay with you?"
Marie nodded and smiled politely, "Yes it's fine. I'll tell Hermione you called. Bye Draco."
"Bye Mrs Granger." And she swirled away.
Draco walked back inside with an odd curiosity swelling in his chest. 'Off to the park with some smarmy ponce.' He suddenly envisioned a scene from a wizard's theatrical performance that his mother had dragged him to see when he was ten. Passion in the Park was what it was called. 'Should have been Park Nonsense starring S. Ponce.' The final scene in the play featured a young woman with long red hair wearing a flowery white sundress, being pushed on a wooden swing by a dark haired bloke. Draco gagged at the thought.
Grabbing his afternoon mail, he subconsciously climbed up the several staircases and walked through countless hallways to the library. On the way he magically incinerated the odd junk mail and the not quite odd fan letter from girls in Wales and Surrey who saw his face in Witch Weekly; most likely from the latest "Top 20 Gorgeous Graduates" edition (he saw Narcissa reading it at the dinner table while getting the mail). Once most of the mail was trailed behind him as smouldering ash, he was left with two letters. One from the Apparation Commission containing the reading material (reduced to a convenient matchbox-sized tome; he'd need it for his test 'Bugger'.) and the second, an odd grey envelope stamped at the back with a black waxy 'M' and on the front was an even stranger marking. What was strange wasn't his name that was written neatly in the center of the envelope, but a small stamped 'A' in the upper-right hand corner.
"Azkaban."
~*~
"You're such a prat!" Hermione laughed as she and Alex walked back from the park.
He laughed as well. "It's not my fault that you decided to save my dignity by intercepting a flying kidney pie, okay Hermione!"
"That's rich coming from you. The person who thought it would be fun to raid that slumber party with your mates and mooning the poor girls." She pointed an accusing finger at the beaming boy.
"Oh, like this." He put his hands at the base of his trousers and grinned when Hermione ducked her head.
She moved to turn around when he caught her by her forearm and spin her around to face him again. He put his lips upon hers in a soft kiss. Hermione froze in shock before she lightly pushed Alex's shoulders backwards. "No Alex." She said firmly.
"Why ever not?"
"Are you daft?" she raised her arms for emphasis. "You know I have a boyfriend - I told you barely two hours ago!"
He exhaled loudly. "Haven't you ever heard of a summer fling Hermione?"
She was itching to slap him across his lightly freckled face but refrained. "Apart from being thought of as a fling, I have a boyfriend. Flings are for little girls who are stupid and go chasing after equally stupid idiots." She sighed exasperatedly. "I'm sorry Alex, but don't expect me to cheat on Draco for you. There are plenty of other girls who would love to go out with you; but I'm not one of them." She turned on the heel and walked back to her house, arms crossed and head bowed.
She heard him walking behind her, kicking at the occasional rock on the ground and his trainers crunching on the loose pavement of the sidewalk. 'Alex is a handsome bloke who could have plenty of girls. So is Draco. He wouldn't want to have a fling. Of course not. After Blaise and Pansy, he knows better than that, right? Right.' She told herself firmly and stamped the doubt from her mind.
"Hermione, where are you going?" she heard Alex behind her.
"What?" she snapped, looking behind her.
Alex was standing in front of the path to her doorway. She had completely overshot her house and was in front of Katie's driveway.
As she walked by Alex, she muttered a small, but audible, "Sorry." ~ Hermione's weekend passed uneventfully. She spent her days writing to Harry and Ron at the Burrow, talking to Draco in the mirror and trying to still remain friendly with Alex. However, it was completely unfair that his curfew was much later than her midnight one. He was only two years older than her and he had at least an extra two hours of nightlife; not that she really had one herself though. Also, he was nearly a tourist here in his old town.
She unfortunately found out exactly what he did during his hours of freedom.
She was putting some finishing touches to her Aurors application before she went to bed when her door creaked open. In swaggered Alex; his pupils were dilated. She was stunned to see him so obviously drunk. "Alex, you're drunk, you're not allowed to drink. Go lie down."
He either ignored her or was too drunk to understand her. "C'mon Hermione. Let's go out and paint the town green." He slurred.
"No." she stood up, going to usher him out. "Go to bed before you pass out." She was waving her arms like trying to fan away smoke or flies; or in this case, Alex.
With the speed of someone who was only slightly, or not even, drunk (which was pretty fast as Alex was fairly hammered), he grabbed one of Hermione's waving arms. He pulled her towards him and firmly pressed his lips on hers. Hermione gasped and he easily picked her struggling form and carried her shakily to the foot of her bed.
She was trying to push his body off her but he was too heavy. His hand held her head firmly so she couldn't pull her mouth away from his. Alex's tongue darted into her mouth. Out of other options, she bit down hard on his tongue.
He yelped and swore angrily and incoherently. Drunken fury overwhelmed whatever trace of soberness and sense he might have had. He backhanded Hermione sharply, causing her to cry out. Before he could do anything else, Hermione kicked him in the stomach and he got the wind knocked out of him.
As Alex wheezed and sputtered Hermione quickly grabbed her wand off her desk and barked, "Stupefy!" The beam of red light hit Alex in the chest and he immediately hit the ground with a thud.
Hermione walked over to him. 'I could modify his memory and he wouldn't know what happened. But I'd know. Oh well, as long as he doesn't repeat that again, it's fine.' She resolved. "Obliviate!" she muttered and the white beam hit Alex. Still stunned, Hermione couldn't tell if it had worked or not. Assuming it did, she levitated him to his own bed.
Before retiring to bed, she touched the red half of her face; courtesy of Alex. She just wanted to lie down and cry, but refrained from doing so. She wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing. Instead, she directed her wand to her cheek and instantly removed and healed the red welt. Returning to her own bed, she put her wand on her nightstand, within reach and turned off the light. Once she lay on her mattress, sleep overtook her and she drifted to dreamless slumber.
~ End of Chapter 30a ~
A/N: I really want to get this out now, so I'll save all the replies to reviews for the next half of the chapter or when I find more time right now to add them all. Then I'll repost the chapter.
Now it's time for a self-plug. If you want to read my blog, the address is: http://icystormz.blogspot.com Don't mind the ever-so-evident adoration for Tom Felton/Draco Malfoy and all things Slytherin.
You have absolutely no idea how fast I will work to get the final half of this out.
I'm sorry if there are some errors in this, but since it's the last chapter (half) I don't want to bother my beta's with this. And I think they've been queer and forgot what's happened so far. :S. But I still love you Cortex and Hullabub. So if there are some really big, totally noticeable errors, email me/review and tell me so I can get those fixed up ASAP.
Posting this in honour of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets opening today (in Canada, the US, and in the UK). I came back from seeing it today; it is really good. And Tom Felton is so unbelievably gorgeous.
Dedicated to: Every wonderful person who actually took the time to read through 30 chapters of fiction, to those who reviewed and my marvellous beta readers Cortex and Hullabub! And a very special dedication thank you to Rebecca B. She made me haul my procrastinating ass to the computer and write this. Thanks!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related articles belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros./AOL Time Warner Pictures.
Chapter 30a: Family Ties
Draco got out to the limo once it had passed through the wrought iron gates and onto the stone path, heading towards the Malfoy Manor. The light reflected off the dark windows, hardly saying "Welcome back Draco" but blinking eerily down at him. His large four-story mansion, made entirely of grey-white stone, loomed down at him, the towers looked like they were curving like devils horns with their long steeples.
He walked silently up the rough stone steps and through the magnificently carved oak doors. Instantly, a house elf scurried to relieve Draco of his cloak then bowed away. "You're not forty-five minutes late." A calm voice came from Draco's left.
He slowly turned and saw Narcissa Malfoy standing between the two large doors that led to the dining room. She was wearing light purple sleeveless robes with ruffles around the edges, and her long blonde hair cascading down her back. She wasn't smiling. Narcissa Malfoy rarely smiled unless she had or wanted to. Narcissa Malfoy held the aura of power around those she could command, and very similar to Lucius and Draco. Along with that power there was calm under pressure, and she held both with an iron fist. Draco was often scared of his mother; she reminded him of a vela.
"Yes mother. There was some trouble getting off the train and on the road," he lied smoothly, as he always did; it came with years of practice. He followed Narcissa into the dining room where he sat in front of her in one of the black velvet cushioned dining chairs. Both Malfoy's hair and pale skin stood out brightly in contrast to the dark material.
Her exterior changed at once. She raised her perfectly plucked eyebrows. "On the road? Did the cows break loose of their fences and hold a blockade?" Just like Draco, she knew when and how to use sarcasm. However, she smiled, and showed off her flawless white teeth. "How was the train ride back?"
"Other than the constant noise by all the first years, it was fine." His voice still collected and unwavering.
"That's good. You won't be going back anyway. I heard you were valedictorian. Excellent! I assume you cane out on top.for once." Her tone grew cold.
Inwardly, the words stung, reminding Draco of consecutive years of criticism and shame. She was a good mother, but she could be cruel at times. Not as much as Lucius, but cruel all the same. Outwardly, he was unfazed, "Yes, barely, but first." Of course it was a downright lie, but she didn't need to know that.
"Okay. Come give mummy a huug and kiss and you can get ready for dinner. 6 o'clock as always." She was smiling again.
Draco rose from his chair and walked to the other end of the rectangular table. He bent his back to hug his mother, who remained sitting, and kissed her on the cheek. She kissed him back and let him walk out of the room. Once out of view from the dining room doors, he took out his handkerchief and scrubbed at the red lipstick on his cheek, staining the kerchiefs white material.
He arrived in his room and headed straight to his private bathroom where he dumped the kerchief into the laundry chute. He striped down to his boxers and checked his robe pockets before dumping those into the chute as well. Leaving the bathroom, he put the Crysticall on his bedside table.
'I have half an hour to waste. Might as well make the most of it.' He figured as he propped himself up on the black pillows and on his black duvet. He picked up the crystal ball and spoke clearly into it, "Hermione Granger, Granger residence."
Before her face swirled into view, he head her voice echoing, "Yeah, I love him now."
Her face appeared in front of him. She was dabbing concealer on the mark he gave her. "You love who now?" he asked, startling her.
She gasped, dropping the concealed bottle onto her wooden dressed and out her hands to her heart. She stared at his grinning face for a moment before registering that fact that he was looking at her through her mirror. "Oh my God, you scared me! People usually start conversations by saying hello, not by asking ridiculous questions." She stood the bottle up correctly and tutted at the mess. "And now look. You make me drop my makeup." She searched for something to clear the mess.
Draco snickered, "I'm sorry, I believe I've mistaken you for a witch. Because witches have wands to clean spills." He smirked at her now pink face.
"Shut up." Taking her wand she directed it to the pale mess and it quickly zapped the stain away.
"I suppose you're right," he said airily, "People do not start conversations by asking ridiculous questions. However, that wasn't a ridiculous question. Why were you saying you love me now?"
She was fairly used to his conceitedness, but this ate the cake. "How do you know I was talking about you? I could have been talking about Crookshanks or Ron for all you know." She snapped.
"You've always loved your cat and the Weasel right?" she nodded, "So you couldn't love them now if you always did. Besides, I'm the only new man in your life anyway." He put on a cute, adorable expression.
"Fine, you win." He grinned at her resignation. "And I was talking to my neighbour. She was over her just now and we had nothing better to talk about, so we talked about you." She grinned at him.
He ignored her insult. "Of course you were talking about me, why wouldn't you. And I suppose she told you that I left my mark on you too." He playfully bit his teeth together.
"Yes she did. So now, whenever I see my parents I'll have to cover as not to arouse suspicion."
"I'm offended! You're going to cover my love bite!" he feigned shock, "Very well, I'll have to give you a new one when you come over. Are you telling them tonight?"
"Not today. But I will! I promised I would, and I will. This weekend I will. Promise." She smiled.
He smiled a bit, but it was more of a sad smile than a happy one. "Fine." As an attempt to lighten the mood he resorted to talking about himself. "Your friend, the one you talked all about me to, was she utterly swooned at the mental image you gave her of me?"
"As a matter of fact, yes she was. She was saying hot lucky I was to have a man like you."
"And how lucky are you?"
She chuckled, but it sounded like a giggle. "Very. Look, I have to have dinner now. I'll talk to you later. Bye!"
"Bye."
She blew him a kiss and went downstairs for dinner.
~*~
All of Friday Hermione was pondering how to tell her parents about Draco. She had pondered during the day, during meals, during dinner and any other time she had nothing to think about. The only times her mind was off the upcoming conversation was when she was writing letters and when she was talking to Draco. "Any news from the Boy Who Will Move Out?" Draco asked her on Friday evening.
"Yes I have. He's currently packing but as he doesn't have many belongings he'll be done by tomorrow. The Weasley's were most willing to take him in. she said back, pilling her brush through her thick hair.
"Those Muggles he lives with now," Draco said, "we're glad to get rid of him then?"
"Most certainly. Harry says that they nearly threw him out once he told them." She giggled, "He also told me that his fat lump of a cousin, Dudley, brought home a girlfriend. Surprisingly she's fairly skinny."
"Are you sure he's not a wizard?" he asked. Her face clearly said "Uh, yeah." He chuckled, "Because in order for a 'fat lump' to land a skinny girl he'd really have to have some very powerful love potions. Either that or she's blind, dumb, and crippled."
Hermione was about to tell him that was mean when her mother knocked on the closed door, "Hermione, can I come in?"
"In a second mum." She called, "Go on." She said to Draco.
He had recently devised a way of not being able to see Hermione but he could still hear everything that went on her room. It was quite simple actually. He simply put the Crysticall facing another mirror. That way, Hermione could still see herself in the mirror and nobody would think any less of it.
"Getting ready for bed now?" Marie Granger said, seeing Hermione dressed in her pyjamas.
"Yeah. Mum, have you and dad talked about me going to David's?" she asked anxiously.
Marie signalled her daughter to sit with her on the bed. "We have, we're still not sure. We hardly know anything about him. He does seem very charming and polite."
Hermione started to tell her mother about Draco's personality. Excluding his father - of course. As she didn't know much about his mother, she couldn't touch on that subject. Her mother would occasionally nod and ask questions about his schoolwork and his interests. All the questions were easily answered. "How does he treat you?" her mother asked unexpectedly.
Hermione blinked. She certainly wasn't expecting a question like this. But she didn't have to think about the answer. "He treats me like I'm the most important person in the world and he really understands me. He isn't mean to me, but we have our rows and insults; but who doesn't? He listens to me and he's like another brother, like Ron and Harry." She smiled brightly.
Her mother smiled at her and said, "well, I'll talk to daddy again. We'll get back to you on it. Oh and before I forget, we'll be having guests over for the weekend. You remember the Columbus', right?"
Hermione tried to remember anyone whose surname was Columbus, but failed. She shook her head. "They used to live across the street and moved after you went to Hogwarts. Do you remember their son Alex?"
She remembered a boy who would follow Hermione around once in a while, shared his sweets and was an overall sweet boy. He was also two years older. "Oh! Now I remember. But why are they coming here?"
"They're in town for Alex's football [A/N aka soccer] tournament. So we invited them to stay here for the weekend. They'll be here tomorrow afternoon, so make them feel welcome. Okay Hermione?" Marie asked, smoothing down her blouse.
"I will mum. G'night." She smiled as Mrs Granger left the room.
Once the door audibly closed, Draco's face became back into view. "You were right." He said.
"She turned to face him and went back to the dressed. "Right about what?"
"We argue and call each other names, of course Granger." He drawled.
She opened her mouth to retort, but he interrupted, "Actually, you are the most important person to me. Wait, on second thought, you're the second most important person to me; second only to myself." He smirked.
"Stuff it Malfoy." She smiled. "But thank you. I will tell my parents about you tomorrow morning, before the Columbus' arrive."
"As long as you tell them." After some consideration, he asked, "Who's this Alex chap?"
She wondered if he was asking out of jealousy, but answered anyway, "A boy I used to know. He's a year older than us. Really smart too. At least, he was back then. We lost touch after he moved south."
"What's he look like?" he was curious.
She raised her eyebrows, "Jealous are we?" after seeing his calm expression, she said slowly, trying to remember what he looked like, "Blond hair that's slightly curly, slim and not very tall. He was only about my height when I was nine. He had really nice green eyes too; they could change from green to blue in the light. This was all when he was around eleven, mind you." She said thoughtfully.
Draco's face was set, and his grey eyes darkened. "Well, as long as he doesn't try and start anything. He's still older than you."
"Age has nothing to do with being friends," she said tersely. "I'm very good friends with all the older Weasley's and they're at least two years older than us."
"At least some of the older Weasley's went to school with us, and you've known them longer. They haven't moved and come back for some rubbish Muggle sport. If it really is a sport." He sneered.
"It is so a sport, Draco. It's like Quidditch, but you're not in the air and use only your feet. I'm glad you're defending the Weasley's too."
He immediately put up his defences, "I am not defending them. I'm merely saying that you've known them longer to be friends with them," he stated, but then hissed, "Football; what rubbish. Only your feet! You'd think that they didn't have any arms. Some sort of sport for amputees then is it? How boring is that too? Just watching people run around from one end of a field to the other."
She laughed and grinned, "Football is not boring; it may not be as exciting as Quidditch but it isn't boring. And think what you want Draco. I'm off to bed. Goodnight." She then blew him a kiss.
"'Nite, and don't let the Flobberworms bite." He smirked.
"They don't have teeth you nit!" she laughed and climbed into bed. She saw his head swirl away before turning off her bedside lamp.
~*~
Draco was calmly eating his breakfast the next morning while his mother watched him scrutinizingly over the top of her Daily Prophet. He got fed up after she ruffled the paper one too many times. He just dropped his knife and fork onto the tabletop. Narcissa looked at him, "Yes? Something wrong Draco?"
"You! You keep looking at me! D'you have something to say or will you just watch me eating my sausages?" he said angrily.
In her blasted calm manner, she folded the paper neatly and set it to the side. "Who is she?" she folded her hands in her lap.
"Who is who?"
"The girl." She said softly.
"Oh Dammit just come out and say it!" he banged his fist onto the table, rattling the silverware.
Narcissa sighed, "You should really control that temper. It'll get the best of you one day. You act as if a troll just knocked you around the head a few times. Another thing, watch your mouth; I won't tolerate your cursing in my presence. You sound like a very uncivilized Muggle. Perhaps even an ogre at that. Haven't you learned nothing during those etiquette lessons you went to when you were young?"
Before she could continue, he interrupted, "I will bloody well curse whenever and wherever I bloody well like." He raised his voice.
"Finally," she ignored him and continued, "Tippy heard you talking to a girl when she popped in to get your dirty laundry. She told me and I sent Charles to check. He saw you talking to a girl in a Crysticall."
'Going to give that elf a good kick up the rear' he thought bitterly, 'Too bad you can't kil ghosts. Should get a basilisk from Knockturn one day though.' "So what? I was talking to a girl. Is this some plot to homo- fy me?"
Narcissa laughed her high-pitched, bell-like laugh. "Hardly!" when her laughter subsided, she said, still smiling, "Just want to know who she is."
He slumped in his seat, "Hermione Granger. She was Head Girl."
"Sit up straight." She commanded and he complied. She daintily picked up her glass of wine and held it out in front of her, as if inspecting its deep redness, "Blood?"
He muttered quietly, "Muggleborn."
*CRASH*
Narcissa broke the crystal glass, causing the wine to run down her arm in rivulets, staining the newspaper beside her. Blood ran down her hand, intermingling unnoticeably with the red wine. Blood and wine stained her pristine light blue robes. Glass scattered her end of the long table, shining in the morning sun. She cursed, ('Hypocrite' thought Draco, sneeringly) dropped the remains of the glass, and - using her napkin - cleaned her arm. She waved her wand over her robes, not caring about the glass on the table. She stood up in one flowing movement, smoothing her robes, leering at her son, arms crossed, "What was that?" she said in obvious forced calmness.
He rose smoothly as well. His defiant face challenged the anger in his mother's icy blue eyes. "Muggleborn, Mother." He said 'Mother' scathingly.
She waved he wand and one of the china vases near the dining room entrance flew and smashed into the back of Draco's dining chair, spreading water and scattering flora on the wooden floor. "A Muggleborn witch!" she shrieked, "Why on earth would you - a pureblooded wizard - be talking to her!"
He was seething, "'Cause I'm dating her!" he yelled back. The snow globe on the fireplace mantel to her left exploded, sending glass shards flying onto the Nundu pelt rug beneath it.
"They're below us! You dare tarnish our name by dating her!" she screamed at him.
"She's at the top of our year at Hogwarts! And our name is already tarnished thanks to the bastard you married." He hollered. He knew he shouldn't have mentioned Lucius to his mother, but he was just horribly blinded by rage now.
Narcissa gasped. "H-how dare you sat that about your father!" by the end of her exclamation she choked and her angered demeanour crashed before her anguish. She collapsed onto her chair and cried.
Draco just glared and continued to seethe. It slowly passed once he fully took in the sight of his mother crying because of things he had just said. He sighed and walked to where he mother sat weeping, facing the empty fireplace. He kneeled in front of her, blocking her view of the grate. Grasping her shoulders he allowed her to cry onto his own like a child would.
Once in a while he would pat her back and smooth the blonde hair he had inherited. Her sobs ceased and she looked at him. "Sorry mum. I shouldn't have said that." He said, holding out his monogrammed handkerchief.
She smiled weakly and took it, dabbing it at the corners of her eyes. "You're forgiven. I don't mind you dating this girl - Hermione was it? My you've grown up so much." She touched his cheek, "Your outlook on Muggleborns and Muggles has completely changed. I'm so proud of you Draco." She cooed.
"Muggleborns and Muggles are two completely different things mother. But thanks, I suppose. Is it alright if she comes over for a few weeks in around.August?"
Her face brightened immediately. "Of course! Of it'll be marvellous to have another woman in the house. I've been so lonely when you were at school. Madame Parkinson is such a bore now; all she talks about are her beloved Crups, Kneazles and how gorgeous Pansy is -" Draco smirked and thought slyly, 'Pansy fits into the Crup and Kneazle category actually.' Narcissa continued, "She can come whenever she wants. She can have the Skylight Room." She rambled on and on about plans to accommodate Hermione.
One of the rooms had a large Skylight dome in the ceiling; hence the name the Skylight Room. It was one of the nicer rooms in the house. Draco often went there at night to think or get away from Lucius. The room was like a sanctuary. It had a fabulous view of the night sky through the dome. It was one of the few rooms in the Manor that had two levels: a lounge and parlour on the bottom and a staircase that went up to the bedroom. Luckily for Hermione, there was a small side entrance to the Malfoy Library from the parlour.
"I think I'm done saying nothing in this conversation." Draco stood up from his kneeling position. "If you need me, I'll be taking a swim." He brushed the glass bits off of his trousers and strode gracefully out of the dining room, leaving Narcissa to finish reading her Daily Prophet.
Back at his room, the house elves had already unpacked all his belongings from his Hogwarts trunks and he was rifling through his dresser for his swim trunks. Upon finding his black and silver trunks (which happened to glow in dark water or at night) amongst his boxers, he flung one of his several posh monogrammed towels over his bare shoulders. Before heading to swim he snatched up the Crysticall in case me wanted to call Hermione.
~*~
At the Granger residence, Hermione was walking inside for lunch after watering her yard. She washed her hands to clean off all the grime from the task. Her hands still wet, she rubbed her neck to get rid of any knots in it. "Damn begonias." She said under her breath.
"Mum, there's something I need to tell you." She said, mentally prepping herself for the 'big conversation'.
Marie nodded in acknowledgment as Hermione slid into the seat next to her.
Hermione cleared her throat. "It has to do with David." Both of her parents looked up at her, staring intently. She was getting a bit unnerved, 'You've made loads of speeches before. You're only talking to your parents. Relax.' She told herself. "I haven't really told you the whole truth about him. It's nothing bad, I assure you!" she added hastily, seeing her fathers face.
Marie looked at Hermione then her eyes widened, "Hermione Granger, what is that horrid thing on your neck?" she said loudly, pointing.
Hermione gasped, dropped her fork and her left hand flew to her neck. Her face had gone scarlet. Her father asked to see it so she slowly turned her head to show him from across the table. She mentally slapped herself when she realized it must've been the water that washed off the concealer. 'Bugger, bugger, bugger.'
"Did David do that? Are you two dating?" Jonathan Granger asked.
Hermione nodded, her face still blushing furiously, "It's not just that that I haven't told you." She exhaled deeply. "His name isn't David Mallory. It's Draco Malfoy and he's in Slytherin; not in Hufflepuff. He was Head Boy with me and we've been dating since around the start of school." She said quickly and dropped her gaze to her sandwich.
Marie tutted, "This is the same boy who we saw a few years back in that wizard book store, right? The blond boy who's father attacked Ron's father?"
"Ron's dad fought back too!" she blurted. "But yes, the same boy."
"The same boy who you said called you names?" Jonathan questioned.
Hermione nodded.
"Why didn't you just tell the truth? It's just a boy, nothing serious.unless." Jonathan said slowly. "Hermione, are you pregnant?"
Hermione choked on water and sputtered. "Am I what?!" she said indignantly.
"Are you pregnant with this boy's child?" Mr Granger asked slowly but sternly.
Hermione blushed again, "Of course not! Why would I be p-pregnant? We haven't.haven't done.that." Her face was burning with embarrassment.
Marie chuckled, "Relax Jon, our Hermione wouldn't have sex at seventeen. But Hermione, why didn't you tell us the truth?"
The colour was receding from her face when she said, "I thought you might not approve because of his.colourful background."
"Well, you've told us the truth now at least." Marie said, "You can go to his house."
Hermione's jaw dropped. "I-I can? Even after I lied to you about him?" They nodded, "Not that I'm objecting, but, why?"
"We knew you two were dating. We were just waiting for you to tell us before you knew you could go." Her father grinned. "And just because you're going doesn't mean that you can." he was searching for words, "engage in certain activities."
Hermione giggled, "Like have rampant sex on the ground in broad daylight?"
"Hermione!" Marie shrieked.
She started to laugh. "I'm joking! I won't! I love you so much." She smiled at her parents.
Soon after lunch ended the doorbell rang and Hermione went to answer it. She opened the door and saw three people standing on the front porch: two men and a woman. The woman spoke, "Is that you Hermione? Pf my goodness you're so beautiful! Are your parents home?"
She - Hermione - assumed that this was the Columbus family. "Yeah they are. Come on in. Nice to see you Mr and Mrs Columbus." She greeted them kindly.
The next several hours were spent exchanging greetings and making small talk. Once they started talking about Hermione, she took it as her cut to leave. So she used up her time by getting the guest rooms ready. As she was dusting a cabinet she heard a deep voice from the doorway, "It seems like yesterday that you were prancing around in only your bathing suit in front of me Hermione." It was Alex. He approached her and looked her up and down. "Care to do it again?"
Hermione took his dirty innuendo as a hormonal joke. "Not really, no." she continued to dust.
Alex put his hand over the one that was dusting and kissed it. She looked at him. His dark blond hair was spiked and he was looking at her over the top of her hand with his green eyes. His eyes weren't nearly as stunning and gorgeous as Harry's but they were still nice. "Charmed Alex." She pulled her hand out of his grasp. "Is there something you wanted?"
"Nothing. Just seeing how you were doing. It's been what? Six years since we have last seen each other?" He sat on the bed and motioned for her to join him.
"Seven years." She corrected and sat next to him; a considerable yet friendly distance away.
He grinned. "You've been keeping track then." He tried to hold her hand again but she folded hers in her lap, still clutching the duster.
"Hardly." She looked at him, "Alex, when people want to know how others are doing, they start by saying 'Hello, how are you doing?' Not, 'Strip down to your underwear in front of me.'"
"Those weren't the words I used but very well." He shrugged and leaned back, supporting his weight on his hands. "Find then, hello, how are you doing, Hermione?"
"Fine, thank you." She said with forced patience.
"D'you have a boyfriend?" he was now leaning on the bed, his head propped up on his hand, turned to face her. His other hand was starting to go up the back of her shirt.
Once she felt his wandering fingers touch her skin she jumped off the bed and turned to face him, brandishing the duster. He smirked and raised his eyebrows suggestively. 'His smirk is nowhere near as charming as Draco's. What a prat.' She thought coldly. "As a matter of fact I do. What's wrong with you? You were so nice when we were kids. Now.now you're being an arse."
He sighed and stood up. "Sorry Hermione. It's just when I saw you at the door you looked gorgeous. You're stunning." She was still mad and inwardly scoffed at his lousy attempts to compliment her. "And I like you. When I saw you I knew I did. Can we just start from scratch?" he looked like he was telling the truth.
"Fine. We can. But if doesn't mean that I like you either; I have a boyfriend and I'm not about to go behind his back and start seeing a boy who I haven't seen for seven years. Get it?" she pointed the duster at him.
"Yeah. Got it." He smiled and said, "Let's go the park and catch up." He walked to the door. "Coming?"
She thought about it for a moment, 'It'll be alright, he just wants to talk.' "Yeah, I am."
~*~
Draco had just hauled his half naked self out of his extremely large outdoor swimming pool. The weather was perfect; a slight breeze and a hot day were great conditions for a swim. He was finished swimming several lengths and had gotten bored. Sitting in the shade of a tree, he considered calling Hermione. "Hermione Granger, Granger residence."
The Crysticall pulsed red for a very long time; longer than usual. 'Must not be home.' Then Mrs Granger's face swirled into view. "Good afternoon Draco. What can I do for you?" she said happily.
'Good, she told them.' He thought as Mrs Granger called him Draco and not David. "Good afternoon Mrs Granger. Is Hermione there?"
"No I'm afraid you just missed her." She shook her head. "She just left to the park with a friend who's visiting."
Draco nodded in understanding. "Is this friend the Alex character that's visiting?" Marie nodded, surprised that he knew of Alex. "Hermione told me you were having guests this weekend."
"Well then, yes, she did go with him. I think you'd be happy to know that Hermione may come to see you this summer."
He grinned, "Excellent. I'll send a car to pick her up at whenever she would like to come and she can take it back whenever she'd like to come back home. Is this okay with you?"
Marie nodded and smiled politely, "Yes it's fine. I'll tell Hermione you called. Bye Draco."
"Bye Mrs Granger." And she swirled away.
Draco walked back inside with an odd curiosity swelling in his chest. 'Off to the park with some smarmy ponce.' He suddenly envisioned a scene from a wizard's theatrical performance that his mother had dragged him to see when he was ten. Passion in the Park was what it was called. 'Should have been Park Nonsense starring S. Ponce.' The final scene in the play featured a young woman with long red hair wearing a flowery white sundress, being pushed on a wooden swing by a dark haired bloke. Draco gagged at the thought.
Grabbing his afternoon mail, he subconsciously climbed up the several staircases and walked through countless hallways to the library. On the way he magically incinerated the odd junk mail and the not quite odd fan letter from girls in Wales and Surrey who saw his face in Witch Weekly; most likely from the latest "Top 20 Gorgeous Graduates" edition (he saw Narcissa reading it at the dinner table while getting the mail). Once most of the mail was trailed behind him as smouldering ash, he was left with two letters. One from the Apparation Commission containing the reading material (reduced to a convenient matchbox-sized tome; he'd need it for his test 'Bugger'.) and the second, an odd grey envelope stamped at the back with a black waxy 'M' and on the front was an even stranger marking. What was strange wasn't his name that was written neatly in the center of the envelope, but a small stamped 'A' in the upper-right hand corner.
"Azkaban."
~*~
"You're such a prat!" Hermione laughed as she and Alex walked back from the park.
He laughed as well. "It's not my fault that you decided to save my dignity by intercepting a flying kidney pie, okay Hermione!"
"That's rich coming from you. The person who thought it would be fun to raid that slumber party with your mates and mooning the poor girls." She pointed an accusing finger at the beaming boy.
"Oh, like this." He put his hands at the base of his trousers and grinned when Hermione ducked her head.
She moved to turn around when he caught her by her forearm and spin her around to face him again. He put his lips upon hers in a soft kiss. Hermione froze in shock before she lightly pushed Alex's shoulders backwards. "No Alex." She said firmly.
"Why ever not?"
"Are you daft?" she raised her arms for emphasis. "You know I have a boyfriend - I told you barely two hours ago!"
He exhaled loudly. "Haven't you ever heard of a summer fling Hermione?"
She was itching to slap him across his lightly freckled face but refrained. "Apart from being thought of as a fling, I have a boyfriend. Flings are for little girls who are stupid and go chasing after equally stupid idiots." She sighed exasperatedly. "I'm sorry Alex, but don't expect me to cheat on Draco for you. There are plenty of other girls who would love to go out with you; but I'm not one of them." She turned on the heel and walked back to her house, arms crossed and head bowed.
She heard him walking behind her, kicking at the occasional rock on the ground and his trainers crunching on the loose pavement of the sidewalk. 'Alex is a handsome bloke who could have plenty of girls. So is Draco. He wouldn't want to have a fling. Of course not. After Blaise and Pansy, he knows better than that, right? Right.' She told herself firmly and stamped the doubt from her mind.
"Hermione, where are you going?" she heard Alex behind her.
"What?" she snapped, looking behind her.
Alex was standing in front of the path to her doorway. She had completely overshot her house and was in front of Katie's driveway.
As she walked by Alex, she muttered a small, but audible, "Sorry." ~ Hermione's weekend passed uneventfully. She spent her days writing to Harry and Ron at the Burrow, talking to Draco in the mirror and trying to still remain friendly with Alex. However, it was completely unfair that his curfew was much later than her midnight one. He was only two years older than her and he had at least an extra two hours of nightlife; not that she really had one herself though. Also, he was nearly a tourist here in his old town.
She unfortunately found out exactly what he did during his hours of freedom.
She was putting some finishing touches to her Aurors application before she went to bed when her door creaked open. In swaggered Alex; his pupils were dilated. She was stunned to see him so obviously drunk. "Alex, you're drunk, you're not allowed to drink. Go lie down."
He either ignored her or was too drunk to understand her. "C'mon Hermione. Let's go out and paint the town green." He slurred.
"No." she stood up, going to usher him out. "Go to bed before you pass out." She was waving her arms like trying to fan away smoke or flies; or in this case, Alex.
With the speed of someone who was only slightly, or not even, drunk (which was pretty fast as Alex was fairly hammered), he grabbed one of Hermione's waving arms. He pulled her towards him and firmly pressed his lips on hers. Hermione gasped and he easily picked her struggling form and carried her shakily to the foot of her bed.
She was trying to push his body off her but he was too heavy. His hand held her head firmly so she couldn't pull her mouth away from his. Alex's tongue darted into her mouth. Out of other options, she bit down hard on his tongue.
He yelped and swore angrily and incoherently. Drunken fury overwhelmed whatever trace of soberness and sense he might have had. He backhanded Hermione sharply, causing her to cry out. Before he could do anything else, Hermione kicked him in the stomach and he got the wind knocked out of him.
As Alex wheezed and sputtered Hermione quickly grabbed her wand off her desk and barked, "Stupefy!" The beam of red light hit Alex in the chest and he immediately hit the ground with a thud.
Hermione walked over to him. 'I could modify his memory and he wouldn't know what happened. But I'd know. Oh well, as long as he doesn't repeat that again, it's fine.' She resolved. "Obliviate!" she muttered and the white beam hit Alex. Still stunned, Hermione couldn't tell if it had worked or not. Assuming it did, she levitated him to his own bed.
Before retiring to bed, she touched the red half of her face; courtesy of Alex. She just wanted to lie down and cry, but refrained from doing so. She wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing. Instead, she directed her wand to her cheek and instantly removed and healed the red welt. Returning to her own bed, she put her wand on her nightstand, within reach and turned off the light. Once she lay on her mattress, sleep overtook her and she drifted to dreamless slumber.
~ End of Chapter 30a ~
A/N: I really want to get this out now, so I'll save all the replies to reviews for the next half of the chapter or when I find more time right now to add them all. Then I'll repost the chapter.
Now it's time for a self-plug. If you want to read my blog, the address is: http://icystormz.blogspot.com Don't mind the ever-so-evident adoration for Tom Felton/Draco Malfoy and all things Slytherin.
You have absolutely no idea how fast I will work to get the final half of this out.