Chapter 10 - The Malfoy Residence.
The stage coach clattered over the courtyard and pulled up level with a vast manor house. Hermione leaned out the window and gawped up towards the turrets.
"What a wonderful building! It looks just like the works of Gaddius Spearpike, the famous gothic architect who was on the shortlist to build Hogwarts!" She turned to Draco and added "I read it in Hogwarts, A History."
Draco rolled his eyes. In the time they had spent tied together he must have heard her mention that bloody book a thousand times. Even worse, he felt he was digesting it and often recited little Hogwarts facts in his head whenever he saw something Hermione had explained to him about.
Servants hurried towards the coach and pulled their trunks from the carry- all on the back, other came to the sides and opened the doors and extended the foot ladders. "Welcome home Young Master Malfoy" they said. As he stepped out from the carriage the servants saw Hermione and turned their noses up. "Welcome, Miss." They said, in a tone Hermione didn't take as very welcoming.
"Well. This is my home." Draco turned to Hermione and sighed. Hermione looked spellbound. She had never seen such a grand home. It never occurred to her how rich the Malfoy family where. When she thought about it they are a prestigious and well respected bloodline. Pity the Lord of the Manor was a horrible man like Lucius Malfoy. As the servants took their luggage around the back (presumably to the servant's entrance) Draco and Hermione climbed the stone steps towards the main entrance. As the got closer it creaked open and a tall woman with sleek, silver blonde hair emerged. She took one look at Draco then descended the steps towards him, embracing him in a mother hug and peppering him with kisses. Hermione saw Draco redden considerably, probably mortified his mother was so soft in front of Hermione.
"Draco! My Darling sweet boy! Did you get all my packages? Where those cakes alright? Mephistophiles didn't eat them on the way did she? How good to see you again, you look such a mess!" She chirped, all the while straightening his clothes, picking imaginary fluff (and lake weed) from his shoulder and smoothing his hair. She looked behind her son to see Hermione standing there, looking just as scruffy and bedraggled. "Oh, is this the little friend the School wrote to us about?"
"The school wrote to you?" Draco asked, fixing the mess his mother has done to his hair.
"Why yes. They explained a magical accident, and a young lady would probably be staying here. I believe they wrote to your parents too my dear." The woman said, looking at Hermione.
"What a relief." Hermione said. Although she knew Dumbledor would have taken care of it.
"I am Mrs Narcissa Malfoy, you may call me Mrs Malfoy." She extended her thin and pail hand towards Hermione. Hermione took it.
"Hermione Granger Ma'am. It's very nice to meet you." She said politely. At the mention of her name Narcissa suddenly withdrew her hand and her expression hardened.
"Granger? I'm not aware of any Wizarding families by that name." She said bluntly.
"No. My family reside in the Muggle world." Hermione explained, feeling very uneasy.
Narcissia's manner changed very suddenly, from a fussy mother to a cold woman. She narrowed her eyes at Hermione, then turned to her son. "I see. I guess our son hasn't quite listened to what we have told him about whom he should be socialising with."
"Mother." Draco looked to his feet. His Mother had warned him many times not to talk with 'filthy mudbloods'.
"We will talk later." Narcissa snapped, and she marched into the manor. Draco and Hermione followed, and as they entered the main hall there was no sign of Narcissa. She must have left them to settle in alone. Draco felt awful, all year his Mother had sent him wonderful packages of food and sweets and on his return he disappoints her bitterly by brining a muggle born girl into the house.
Hermione looked about the main hall. It was massive! The floor was decorated with a faded family crest, statues fashioned in black marble stood 'en gaurde' about the perimeter of the circular room, they reminded Hermione of Greek Statues of beautiful women and goddesses. As she looked up she was greeted by a vast black dome above, enchanted so it appeared to writhe, like the ceiling was alive with snakes. Before her a grand dark wood staircase, flanked by two Medusa style statues, wound upwards, adjoining many floors, each so lavishly decorated with paintings, statues and suits of armour. Now and again an owl, black in colour, would streak overhead, on an errand Hermione assumed. She was speechless. "This sure beats my house." She marvelled.
"Mephy!" Draco cried, as a small black own fluttered down and landed on his free arm. Hermione was impressed at how smart the owl looked, and was pure black in colour save its eyes, which shone a brilliant and magical purple. "This is my owl, Mephistophiles." Draco said proudly. He stroked her affectionately and said "She's my best friend."
"She's lovely." Hermione said. Mephistophiles hooted softly, nibbled Draco's finger affectionately and took flight through a small hole in the wall. Hermione looked at the hole with interest and prodded Draco. "Where does that lead to?"
"Our house has an owl-hole system. It's like a network of tunnels leading to almost every room in the manor. It's very handy because we and the servants use owls to send messages to each other."
"This house is amazing."
"Huh." Draco lead the way towards the staircase and they climbed upwards. "It's a nice looking house, but I wouldn't exactly call it a dream home." He said bitterly. At least one thing had put his mind at ease. Dumbledor (as much as he thought the man was a fool) had written to his parents. This means he knows Hermione is here, thus meaning his Father knows Dumbledor knows Hermione is here (confused yet?). His father wouldn't do anything to Hermione whilst Dumbledor was keeping vigilance on the Manor. As they climbed higher Draco turned off down a long passageway. It was lit by candles which flickered a ghostly green in wall holders. As they wound their was along an owl fluttered out of an almost hidden owl hole on one side of the wall and disappeared into another on the opposite wall. Hermione jumped, and Draco chuckled. "You'll get used to that. Anyway, here's my room." Draco came to a small door and pushed it open. Before they had a chance to go inside Lucius Malfoy's booming voice echoed through the house.
"Draco! Get yourself down here immediately!"
"Oh no!" Draco banged his fist on the door and shut it. "We had better go."
**
Lucius Malfoy's study was impressive to say the least. The dark wood panel walls, the red carpet with gold trim, the roaring fire in a massive grate. It was easy to feel intimidated in this room. Draco and Hermione stood before a large oak desk, behind it sat Lucius Malfoy. His elbows on the desk and his fingers steepled below his chin.
"So," He said, picking up a dagger letter opener and pressing the point to his fingertip "You where unable to break the curse."
"No Father." Draco said softly.
"No matter my son. No matter." He smiled, his calm attitude terrified Draco. "I don't think it would be wise to have the girl in your bedchambers, and as you know many rooms are out of bounds to you now. Things are often best left unseen."
"Yes Sir."
Mr Malfoy turned to Hermione, his cold grey eyes burned with a hatred. "You! You shall remain silent in this Manor. Muggle girls are seen and not heard. A pity that this week my son is confined to your company. Rest assure he shall break this curse, I haven't raised my son to be unable to break a muggle born curse." He glared at Draco now. Draco gulped. "We have access to magic frowned upon at your school. Perfectly legal of course." He grinned at Hermione. "Now get out."
"Yes Sir!" Draco hurried, tugging Hermione with him. As the door closed behind them he leaned against it and signed with relief. "Father is different today. It's because Dumbledor knows you're here I think."
"He wouldn't harm me if Dumbledor is keeping watch." Hermione smiled reassuringly. Draco grinned weakly back. Sure he probably wouldn't harm her, but he's perfectly within his rights to hurt his own son. Draco groaned, desperate to get this string off. "Look, Father said its time to try different magic. I have a work room where I have to study my extra curricular magic. Let's go there shall we?"
"Sure!" Hermione said, wondering what he meant by 'extra curricular' magic. Draco went to the wall and rang a small bell beside an Owl hole. Before long a fluffy grey owl poked it head out and hooted inquisitively at Draco.
"Go to the owl chamber, tell Mephistophiles we need her in vault seven." He said. The owl blinked its wide yellow eyes, made a funny hooty sound and shot off back down the tunnel. Right, let's get ourselves down to the vaults. Time to try some real magic on this string!"
The stage coach clattered over the courtyard and pulled up level with a vast manor house. Hermione leaned out the window and gawped up towards the turrets.
"What a wonderful building! It looks just like the works of Gaddius Spearpike, the famous gothic architect who was on the shortlist to build Hogwarts!" She turned to Draco and added "I read it in Hogwarts, A History."
Draco rolled his eyes. In the time they had spent tied together he must have heard her mention that bloody book a thousand times. Even worse, he felt he was digesting it and often recited little Hogwarts facts in his head whenever he saw something Hermione had explained to him about.
Servants hurried towards the coach and pulled their trunks from the carry- all on the back, other came to the sides and opened the doors and extended the foot ladders. "Welcome home Young Master Malfoy" they said. As he stepped out from the carriage the servants saw Hermione and turned their noses up. "Welcome, Miss." They said, in a tone Hermione didn't take as very welcoming.
"Well. This is my home." Draco turned to Hermione and sighed. Hermione looked spellbound. She had never seen such a grand home. It never occurred to her how rich the Malfoy family where. When she thought about it they are a prestigious and well respected bloodline. Pity the Lord of the Manor was a horrible man like Lucius Malfoy. As the servants took their luggage around the back (presumably to the servant's entrance) Draco and Hermione climbed the stone steps towards the main entrance. As the got closer it creaked open and a tall woman with sleek, silver blonde hair emerged. She took one look at Draco then descended the steps towards him, embracing him in a mother hug and peppering him with kisses. Hermione saw Draco redden considerably, probably mortified his mother was so soft in front of Hermione.
"Draco! My Darling sweet boy! Did you get all my packages? Where those cakes alright? Mephistophiles didn't eat them on the way did she? How good to see you again, you look such a mess!" She chirped, all the while straightening his clothes, picking imaginary fluff (and lake weed) from his shoulder and smoothing his hair. She looked behind her son to see Hermione standing there, looking just as scruffy and bedraggled. "Oh, is this the little friend the School wrote to us about?"
"The school wrote to you?" Draco asked, fixing the mess his mother has done to his hair.
"Why yes. They explained a magical accident, and a young lady would probably be staying here. I believe they wrote to your parents too my dear." The woman said, looking at Hermione.
"What a relief." Hermione said. Although she knew Dumbledor would have taken care of it.
"I am Mrs Narcissa Malfoy, you may call me Mrs Malfoy." She extended her thin and pail hand towards Hermione. Hermione took it.
"Hermione Granger Ma'am. It's very nice to meet you." She said politely. At the mention of her name Narcissa suddenly withdrew her hand and her expression hardened.
"Granger? I'm not aware of any Wizarding families by that name." She said bluntly.
"No. My family reside in the Muggle world." Hermione explained, feeling very uneasy.
Narcissia's manner changed very suddenly, from a fussy mother to a cold woman. She narrowed her eyes at Hermione, then turned to her son. "I see. I guess our son hasn't quite listened to what we have told him about whom he should be socialising with."
"Mother." Draco looked to his feet. His Mother had warned him many times not to talk with 'filthy mudbloods'.
"We will talk later." Narcissa snapped, and she marched into the manor. Draco and Hermione followed, and as they entered the main hall there was no sign of Narcissa. She must have left them to settle in alone. Draco felt awful, all year his Mother had sent him wonderful packages of food and sweets and on his return he disappoints her bitterly by brining a muggle born girl into the house.
Hermione looked about the main hall. It was massive! The floor was decorated with a faded family crest, statues fashioned in black marble stood 'en gaurde' about the perimeter of the circular room, they reminded Hermione of Greek Statues of beautiful women and goddesses. As she looked up she was greeted by a vast black dome above, enchanted so it appeared to writhe, like the ceiling was alive with snakes. Before her a grand dark wood staircase, flanked by two Medusa style statues, wound upwards, adjoining many floors, each so lavishly decorated with paintings, statues and suits of armour. Now and again an owl, black in colour, would streak overhead, on an errand Hermione assumed. She was speechless. "This sure beats my house." She marvelled.
"Mephy!" Draco cried, as a small black own fluttered down and landed on his free arm. Hermione was impressed at how smart the owl looked, and was pure black in colour save its eyes, which shone a brilliant and magical purple. "This is my owl, Mephistophiles." Draco said proudly. He stroked her affectionately and said "She's my best friend."
"She's lovely." Hermione said. Mephistophiles hooted softly, nibbled Draco's finger affectionately and took flight through a small hole in the wall. Hermione looked at the hole with interest and prodded Draco. "Where does that lead to?"
"Our house has an owl-hole system. It's like a network of tunnels leading to almost every room in the manor. It's very handy because we and the servants use owls to send messages to each other."
"This house is amazing."
"Huh." Draco lead the way towards the staircase and they climbed upwards. "It's a nice looking house, but I wouldn't exactly call it a dream home." He said bitterly. At least one thing had put his mind at ease. Dumbledor (as much as he thought the man was a fool) had written to his parents. This means he knows Hermione is here, thus meaning his Father knows Dumbledor knows Hermione is here (confused yet?). His father wouldn't do anything to Hermione whilst Dumbledor was keeping vigilance on the Manor. As they climbed higher Draco turned off down a long passageway. It was lit by candles which flickered a ghostly green in wall holders. As they wound their was along an owl fluttered out of an almost hidden owl hole on one side of the wall and disappeared into another on the opposite wall. Hermione jumped, and Draco chuckled. "You'll get used to that. Anyway, here's my room." Draco came to a small door and pushed it open. Before they had a chance to go inside Lucius Malfoy's booming voice echoed through the house.
"Draco! Get yourself down here immediately!"
"Oh no!" Draco banged his fist on the door and shut it. "We had better go."
**
Lucius Malfoy's study was impressive to say the least. The dark wood panel walls, the red carpet with gold trim, the roaring fire in a massive grate. It was easy to feel intimidated in this room. Draco and Hermione stood before a large oak desk, behind it sat Lucius Malfoy. His elbows on the desk and his fingers steepled below his chin.
"So," He said, picking up a dagger letter opener and pressing the point to his fingertip "You where unable to break the curse."
"No Father." Draco said softly.
"No matter my son. No matter." He smiled, his calm attitude terrified Draco. "I don't think it would be wise to have the girl in your bedchambers, and as you know many rooms are out of bounds to you now. Things are often best left unseen."
"Yes Sir."
Mr Malfoy turned to Hermione, his cold grey eyes burned with a hatred. "You! You shall remain silent in this Manor. Muggle girls are seen and not heard. A pity that this week my son is confined to your company. Rest assure he shall break this curse, I haven't raised my son to be unable to break a muggle born curse." He glared at Draco now. Draco gulped. "We have access to magic frowned upon at your school. Perfectly legal of course." He grinned at Hermione. "Now get out."
"Yes Sir!" Draco hurried, tugging Hermione with him. As the door closed behind them he leaned against it and signed with relief. "Father is different today. It's because Dumbledor knows you're here I think."
"He wouldn't harm me if Dumbledor is keeping watch." Hermione smiled reassuringly. Draco grinned weakly back. Sure he probably wouldn't harm her, but he's perfectly within his rights to hurt his own son. Draco groaned, desperate to get this string off. "Look, Father said its time to try different magic. I have a work room where I have to study my extra curricular magic. Let's go there shall we?"
"Sure!" Hermione said, wondering what he meant by 'extra curricular' magic. Draco went to the wall and rang a small bell beside an Owl hole. Before long a fluffy grey owl poked it head out and hooted inquisitively at Draco.
"Go to the owl chamber, tell Mephistophiles we need her in vault seven." He said. The owl blinked its wide yellow eyes, made a funny hooty sound and shot off back down the tunnel. Right, let's get ourselves down to the vaults. Time to try some real magic on this string!"