Draco got on The Hogsmeade Express again to go off to see Hermione. When he
arrived, he noticed every one gave him odd looks. It was probably from what
Hermione yelled earlier, yet he wasn't aware of that. Or perhaps they could
have stared at him for what he was wearing. A blue turtleneck and some tan
pants. No cape, but a large scarlet jacket. He walked up to The Head Desk
and coughed to get the secretary's attention.
"Hello...." he looked at Kathy's name tag. "Kathryn Bordon. I'm Draco Malfoy." He held out his hand, but Kathy didn't shake it. "I'm sorry I was so rude the other day, I was having a hard time at the moment."
"Indeed...." Kathy replied. "Come to see Hermione Granger?" Draco nodded and Kathy led him to her office again.
"Come in," Hermione sighed while pacing the room. Draco entered, but Hermione didn't recognize him until she saw his face.
"Hello, Draco," a large smile spread across her apple cheeked face. Draco smirked and handed Hermione another thornless rose. Hermione's smile grew broader this time as she looked at the silky cream petals of the flower.
"Why no thorns?" she asked. Draco's eyes fluttered, he looked quite surprised to hear such a question.
"You want thorns?" he chuckled and Hermione giggled. "It's because you are a rose with no thorns. Perfect." Tears filled Hermione's eyes, but she quickly rubbed them away. No one ever said anything so romantic. In fifth year when she was dating Harry Potter, he compared her to a game of Quidditch, not a rose. Ron Weasley compared her to sweets, not a flawless bloom.
Typical boys.
"Thank you," she stuttered. Draco smiled and shuffled his feet.
"I've come to ask if you will have lunch at The Manor with me today," he blushed. Hermione's cheeks almost turned as red as her newest rose.
"I would love to!" And so they both left The Daily Prophet office and back to The Malfoy Mansion. Draco lived in the lush country near Hogsmeade. It was always so peaceful and quiet, but at night the mournful cry of the lone wolf could easily sooth a tired mind. Hermione always found something to look at in the courtyard. Statues towered over them and a maze as large as The Tri Wizard Tournament's stood tall next to them. But when the entered, there was much more to gaze at. Portraits of The Malfoy family were all down the corridors. From royalty to the present Malfoy family. Hermione noticed something terribly strange as she looked at the paintings.
"Draco? Why are there only two men and one women in every painting?" she asked. Draco looked at his Great Grandfather and wife smiling at them.
"It has always been tradition that the wife gives birth to a boy."
"But what if they have a girl?" Draco looked at her with frightening steel eyes.
"Then the woman and child would be murdered, then the man would get a new wife." Hermione laughed at first, but then realised Draco wasn't joking.
"Draco! Darling!" Narcissa tried to go as fast as her heels could without tripping towards Hermione and her son. She smeared another red mark of a mother's kiss on his pale face. Draco tried to rub it off as Hermione chuckled. Narcissa held out her hand and Hermione shook it.
"Narcissa Wilkins," she introduced. She then leaned forward and examined Hermione. "Have we met?" Hermione looked confused but then remembered.
"Yes! At The Quidditch World Cup seven years ago. Ireland won, remember?"
"Oh yes!" Narcissa smiled and patted Hermione's hand. "I do remember. You went with The Weasley's, right?" Hermione was a bit embarrassed. She wasn't sure if The Weasley's were a good topic to bring up.
"Yes," she replied.
"Yes," Narcissa chirped. "Lovely family they are. It's to bad Arthur and Lucius don't get along to well."
"A shame," Hermione added. Narcissa clutched her arm motherly and led them into the dinning room. Hermione had indeed liked Narcissa. You'd think being married to a creep like Lucius Malfoy, she'd be an old hag. But on the contrary, she was very sweet. Draco and Hermione sat together while having some soup and chatting to Draco's mother about the news. After tea, Narcissa brought up an excellent idea.
"How about some fencing?" she asked while clapping her hands together.
"That would be great, Mum!" Draco smiled. Hermione had never fenced in her whole life before. She wasn't sure if being sliced up like salami was a great idea, but she didn't object. They all went into a court room. It was outside, but a stone floor and marble pillars made it look more indoors.
"Ready?" Narcissa asked while tossing Draco two swords. Hermione had just finished putting on as much padding as she could. But she started laughing when she looked at The Malfoy's who wore tank tops and sweat pants.
"Experienced, are we?" Hermione remarked. Draco and Narcissa exchanged looks.
"Not even close to a swords men as Lucius. He's a champion, you know," Narcissa informed Hermione while motioning to large trophies along the walls. Hermione gaped at them. She'd hate to get into a duel with him.
"We'll show you how it's done," Draco interrupted her thoughts. He drew a large, steely blade, much bigger than a regular fencing sword. Hermione's eyes widened as she watched the flashing blades clash against each other. But they stopped when a red liquid hit the floor. Draco had a large, bloody gash on his shoulder now. Narcissa dropped her sword and began apologizing profusely while kissing her son.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked while sprinting over.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Draco replied, trying to keep a brave face while tears fell from his pale eyes. Narcissa was sobbing about hurting her child.
"I'll go get some potion and my wand," she said and began running out of the room as quickly as she could. Hermione sat Draco down and tugged at the ragged cloth to look at his wound. He flinched slightly, then allowed her to look. It was a rather large cut, but he'd be okay. Draco looked into Hermione's sapphire eyes as she examined him. He was about to lean in for a kiss, but Lucius walked in.
"Beaten by a woman, how humiliating," Lucius remarked. Hermione glared pure venom at Mister Malfoy. Why wouldn't he comfort him? Lucius sat down on Draco's other side and looked at the cut. "You'll live," he said plainly.
"Father, am I allowed to have some potion for it?"
"Your mother will be here soon with it." Lucius then looked at Draco's tear stained cheeks.
"Don't cry, you stupid boy! Do you ever see your father cry like a twelve year old girl?" He handed Draco a frilly handkerchief. Hermione could have sworn she saw more tears welling up in Draco's eyes.
"I got the potion, dear!" Narcissa cried while running in again.
"He doesn't need it," Lucius told her.
"Yes he does!" Hermione blurted out. Lucius' head swivelled toward her and he stared at her icily.
"Are you telling me how to raise my own children?"
"No," she blushed. "But he does need it or else he'll lose lots of blood." Lucius' eyes narrowed.
"Get out," he growled quietly.
"Pardon?"
"GET OUT!" Lucius pulled out his wand. Hermione fell off the bench and tried to get up, but was to afraid.
"LUCIUS MALFOY!" Narcissa shouted. The room was dead silent. Even the birds stopped chirping. "You apologize to Miss Granger and then you can leave!" Lucius had never seen his wife like this. She brandished her sword at him and then he said he was sorry. She helped Hermione up and glared at Lucius.
"Stupid women," he muttered as he stalked off. Narcissa began dusting Hermione off.
"Are you alright?"she asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," she was a bit shaken about seeing Narcissa in such a manner. Draco was able to rub some purple goo on his wound then Hermione had to go back to work.
"You'll stop by tomorrow?" Draco asked hopefully. Hermione smiled and looked at his feet.
"How about I take you out for lunch. My treat." Draco also smiled. He tried to kiss her, but Hermione's head turned to the side and only got it on her cheek. "I'm sorry, Draco. It's me. I'm just not used to you being so...nice." He raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"I can be very mean," he chuckled. "See you later." they waved as Hermione walked past the Gryffin statues at the front gate. Draco shook his head slightly while she was out of sight and slid down the wall and sighed lovingly.
"Hello...." he looked at Kathy's name tag. "Kathryn Bordon. I'm Draco Malfoy." He held out his hand, but Kathy didn't shake it. "I'm sorry I was so rude the other day, I was having a hard time at the moment."
"Indeed...." Kathy replied. "Come to see Hermione Granger?" Draco nodded and Kathy led him to her office again.
"Come in," Hermione sighed while pacing the room. Draco entered, but Hermione didn't recognize him until she saw his face.
"Hello, Draco," a large smile spread across her apple cheeked face. Draco smirked and handed Hermione another thornless rose. Hermione's smile grew broader this time as she looked at the silky cream petals of the flower.
"Why no thorns?" she asked. Draco's eyes fluttered, he looked quite surprised to hear such a question.
"You want thorns?" he chuckled and Hermione giggled. "It's because you are a rose with no thorns. Perfect." Tears filled Hermione's eyes, but she quickly rubbed them away. No one ever said anything so romantic. In fifth year when she was dating Harry Potter, he compared her to a game of Quidditch, not a rose. Ron Weasley compared her to sweets, not a flawless bloom.
Typical boys.
"Thank you," she stuttered. Draco smiled and shuffled his feet.
"I've come to ask if you will have lunch at The Manor with me today," he blushed. Hermione's cheeks almost turned as red as her newest rose.
"I would love to!" And so they both left The Daily Prophet office and back to The Malfoy Mansion. Draco lived in the lush country near Hogsmeade. It was always so peaceful and quiet, but at night the mournful cry of the lone wolf could easily sooth a tired mind. Hermione always found something to look at in the courtyard. Statues towered over them and a maze as large as The Tri Wizard Tournament's stood tall next to them. But when the entered, there was much more to gaze at. Portraits of The Malfoy family were all down the corridors. From royalty to the present Malfoy family. Hermione noticed something terribly strange as she looked at the paintings.
"Draco? Why are there only two men and one women in every painting?" she asked. Draco looked at his Great Grandfather and wife smiling at them.
"It has always been tradition that the wife gives birth to a boy."
"But what if they have a girl?" Draco looked at her with frightening steel eyes.
"Then the woman and child would be murdered, then the man would get a new wife." Hermione laughed at first, but then realised Draco wasn't joking.
"Draco! Darling!" Narcissa tried to go as fast as her heels could without tripping towards Hermione and her son. She smeared another red mark of a mother's kiss on his pale face. Draco tried to rub it off as Hermione chuckled. Narcissa held out her hand and Hermione shook it.
"Narcissa Wilkins," she introduced. She then leaned forward and examined Hermione. "Have we met?" Hermione looked confused but then remembered.
"Yes! At The Quidditch World Cup seven years ago. Ireland won, remember?"
"Oh yes!" Narcissa smiled and patted Hermione's hand. "I do remember. You went with The Weasley's, right?" Hermione was a bit embarrassed. She wasn't sure if The Weasley's were a good topic to bring up.
"Yes," she replied.
"Yes," Narcissa chirped. "Lovely family they are. It's to bad Arthur and Lucius don't get along to well."
"A shame," Hermione added. Narcissa clutched her arm motherly and led them into the dinning room. Hermione had indeed liked Narcissa. You'd think being married to a creep like Lucius Malfoy, she'd be an old hag. But on the contrary, she was very sweet. Draco and Hermione sat together while having some soup and chatting to Draco's mother about the news. After tea, Narcissa brought up an excellent idea.
"How about some fencing?" she asked while clapping her hands together.
"That would be great, Mum!" Draco smiled. Hermione had never fenced in her whole life before. She wasn't sure if being sliced up like salami was a great idea, but she didn't object. They all went into a court room. It was outside, but a stone floor and marble pillars made it look more indoors.
"Ready?" Narcissa asked while tossing Draco two swords. Hermione had just finished putting on as much padding as she could. But she started laughing when she looked at The Malfoy's who wore tank tops and sweat pants.
"Experienced, are we?" Hermione remarked. Draco and Narcissa exchanged looks.
"Not even close to a swords men as Lucius. He's a champion, you know," Narcissa informed Hermione while motioning to large trophies along the walls. Hermione gaped at them. She'd hate to get into a duel with him.
"We'll show you how it's done," Draco interrupted her thoughts. He drew a large, steely blade, much bigger than a regular fencing sword. Hermione's eyes widened as she watched the flashing blades clash against each other. But they stopped when a red liquid hit the floor. Draco had a large, bloody gash on his shoulder now. Narcissa dropped her sword and began apologizing profusely while kissing her son.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked while sprinting over.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Draco replied, trying to keep a brave face while tears fell from his pale eyes. Narcissa was sobbing about hurting her child.
"I'll go get some potion and my wand," she said and began running out of the room as quickly as she could. Hermione sat Draco down and tugged at the ragged cloth to look at his wound. He flinched slightly, then allowed her to look. It was a rather large cut, but he'd be okay. Draco looked into Hermione's sapphire eyes as she examined him. He was about to lean in for a kiss, but Lucius walked in.
"Beaten by a woman, how humiliating," Lucius remarked. Hermione glared pure venom at Mister Malfoy. Why wouldn't he comfort him? Lucius sat down on Draco's other side and looked at the cut. "You'll live," he said plainly.
"Father, am I allowed to have some potion for it?"
"Your mother will be here soon with it." Lucius then looked at Draco's tear stained cheeks.
"Don't cry, you stupid boy! Do you ever see your father cry like a twelve year old girl?" He handed Draco a frilly handkerchief. Hermione could have sworn she saw more tears welling up in Draco's eyes.
"I got the potion, dear!" Narcissa cried while running in again.
"He doesn't need it," Lucius told her.
"Yes he does!" Hermione blurted out. Lucius' head swivelled toward her and he stared at her icily.
"Are you telling me how to raise my own children?"
"No," she blushed. "But he does need it or else he'll lose lots of blood." Lucius' eyes narrowed.
"Get out," he growled quietly.
"Pardon?"
"GET OUT!" Lucius pulled out his wand. Hermione fell off the bench and tried to get up, but was to afraid.
"LUCIUS MALFOY!" Narcissa shouted. The room was dead silent. Even the birds stopped chirping. "You apologize to Miss Granger and then you can leave!" Lucius had never seen his wife like this. She brandished her sword at him and then he said he was sorry. She helped Hermione up and glared at Lucius.
"Stupid women," he muttered as he stalked off. Narcissa began dusting Hermione off.
"Are you alright?"she asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," she was a bit shaken about seeing Narcissa in such a manner. Draco was able to rub some purple goo on his wound then Hermione had to go back to work.
"You'll stop by tomorrow?" Draco asked hopefully. Hermione smiled and looked at his feet.
"How about I take you out for lunch. My treat." Draco also smiled. He tried to kiss her, but Hermione's head turned to the side and only got it on her cheek. "I'm sorry, Draco. It's me. I'm just not used to you being so...nice." He raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"I can be very mean," he chuckled. "See you later." they waved as Hermione walked past the Gryffin statues at the front gate. Draco shook his head slightly while she was out of sight and slid down the wall and sighed lovingly.