Chapter 2~A New Home and New neighbors

The Marinetta Mansion was nest door to the Malfoy Manor.

'Bollocks for me,' thought Hermione sourly, 'I get to live next door to Malfoy, too. As if my life wasn't screwed up enough as it is.'

Waling around the mansion, though, Hermione changed her mind about living there. The mansion was as large as, if not larger, than Hogwarts, and most certainly, more homely. Heirloom antiques adorned the rooms, and it seemed as though once she saw a wonder, there was another right next to it that was even better than the ones she had just seen.

There were house elves at Marinetta Mansion, but Hermione had long ago given up on S.P.E.W. But she had informed them that from now on, if they ever needed anything, to ask her and she would assist them to the best of her ability.

Now came the part she had been dreading. It was customary for the new neighbor to greet the old. Since there was a forest on one side of the mansion, and there was only the one other residence for miles around, she was stuck. It was required, it was the etiquette. Hermione would go before the Malfoys.

Stepping up to the front door, Hermione tried to still her queasiness. 'You're no longer a mudblood, Hermione. So he can't reach you with his taunts.'

Hermione raised her right hand, and grasped the doorknocker. It was a snake, no surprise there, and the tail was caught in it's owner's mouth, winding itself into a circle.

A house elf opened the door and bowed her inside. She asked to speak to the master of the house. The house elf turned and left. Hermione wrung her hands nervously, feeling she couldn't get out of this place soon enough.

"Master will see you in his study. This way please," said the house elf upon its return.

Hermione followed him into a very masculine room. The paneling was a dark cherry wood, there were rows upon rows of bookshelves and an impressive oaken desk. She sat in one of the leather chairs before the desk, and waited, anxiously, studying a picture on the opposite wall from the door as she did so.

Before long, she heard footsteps echo along the corridor. Her back to the door, the man who arrived couldn't see just who she was at the moment. No matter.

"So," he drawled, "someone finally bought that old place." He sauntered over to the desk and sat down. He could now see her profile (side of her face, for those that didn't know), and she was studying the painting of the two dragons. It had captivated her and monopolized her interest for the moment.

Slowly she turned to face him, and both recoiled at the sight in front of them.

'Draco Malfoy, sitting behind a desk!' thought Hermione.

'Since when has a mudblood like Granger been able to afford that place?' thought Draco.

"I daresay the house elf bungled the message," she stated. "I asked to speak to the master of the house, not the baby."

"I say they didn't. My father is incapacitated at the moment, and as such during these times, I am the head of this household. Now, Granger, don't tell me that you're the new neighbor?"

"If you don't want me to say that I am your new neighbor, then I shan't say it. But you should know by now, being the avid newspaper reader that you are, that my name no longer is Granger. It's Hermione Olivia Leigha Nathalia Marinetta. I am the last of the Marinetta line."

"Really, Granger? The day that you're a Marinetta will be the day hell chooses to freeze over and Voldemort turns to the light side." His words were sardonic, but Hermione knew just the response to them.

"Well, if that is true, then you can skate outside your manor, for it is hell, and you'll go into Diagon Alley to find Voldemort and Dumbledore shaking hands. Because I am a Marinetta. Deal with it." Hermione snapped as she stood. She stalked to the door, and was so angry she didn't notice Draco was blocking her exit.

"Move aside, Malfoy."

"And what are you going to do when I refuse? May I remind you, there is no Dumbledore here for you to hide behind!"

"Fine." Hermione plunged a hand into her robes and came up with her wand. "Avantra mia dissendia!" Hermione waked straight through Malfoy as though she was a ghost. "Finite incanteum," she murmured, further away. Finally making it out of their manor, she hightailed it for her new home. And the comfort and rest she found there among the relics of her true family.

'Family.' Hermione smiled as she snuggled down in between the comforter and the bed. 'Goodnight, world. Goodnight, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Lupin, Hooch, Pomfrey, Sprout, Hagrid, and.Snape. And most of all, goodnight mum and dad. You will always be, in my eyes, my real parents.' Hermione drifted into sleep, now finished saying what she needed to.