Disclaimer: All characters except Linda, Landon and Sophia Dupre, Bru and Tracy all belong to Mrs. Rowlings and her many publishers. Linda and the rest of the characters are figments of my imagination.
Thank you's: Elenya Thank you for your 2 reviews, Blue Lady, Cham, Angel-Hiragizawa32 (for your question about Hermione's name, Linda calls her Hermione because she is her niece, the mysterious lady does not refer to her as Hermia for personal reasons, you'll find out why in much later on in the story. Are you still confused? I promise that it will all make sense when we find out who the mysterious lady is. She plays a big role in this story even though she only shows up a few times.)
A/N: Many people were commenting on how I made Draco and Hermione friends quickly, many things happened in their summer that made them close. I might put some stuff about what happened to them in the chapters. Draco may seem OOC in my story because the things that happened to him made him change his opinion about the Dark Lord; the Death Eater ceremony is a reason for his change of character. Would you still talk about the person that killed your mother with such reverence? There will be another dream sequence in the end. This is before Darien dies. Also there may be some "bad" words in this chapter, I am sorry if you're offended, but I tried my best to keep them out of my story. Okay I think that is all I have to say, well, on with the story.
Chapter 5: Their meeting
Draco's first reaction was to say no to the girl. He realized she was a Weasleyafter seeing her second hand clothes and her auburn-red hair. However, something else came out of his mouth.
"Fine, sit over there," He said gesturing to the seat across from where he was previously sitting. He pulled her trunk inside the compartment. After he looked out the door, he closed it. When he saw her staring at him their eyes lock and she turned away. Draco felt a burning sensation around his wrist where he was wearing the locket as a bracelet. He covered the locket with his sleeve.
"Do I have something on my face?" He asked her. For some reason, the girl blushed.
"Um. No, no you don't," She answered.
"Then why were you staring at me?"
"I wasn't."
"Really?" Draco asked and he smirked his trademark smirk.
"Fine, I was staring at you. You look different," Ginny answered blushing profoundly.
"Really. How so?" Draco was enjoying making this Weasley girl nervous. Draco promised Hermione that he will be kind to any girl he meets just in case they turned out to be Gwenivere, but he was enjoying this to much.
"I don't know, um, you grew taller," She said. When she said that Draco walked towards her and sat dangerously close.
"Really? Is that all?" He whispered in her ear. Ginny moved away from him a little. Then he held out a hand and ran is fingers through her hair.
"Malfoy if you know what is good for you, you will keep your hands to yourself," Ginny told him. Draco didn't appear to be listening.
"You're a Weasley right?" He asked knowing the answer. Ginny finally moved to the other seat.
"Yes I am," she answered.
"What is your name, I've heard it before but I never paid close attention."
"Why would you want to know my name?" Ginny asked.
"Well if I'm talking to someone about you, I wouldn't want to call you Weasley. People might think I'm talking about one of your many brothers," Draco said.
"Ginny."
"I'm sorry I didn't catch that. You need to speak louder."
"I said my name is Ginny."
"Ginny. Is that really your real name?"
"My real name is Virginia, but everybody calls me Ginny."
"I'll call you Ginny, Virginia sounds like virgin," Draco commented.
Ginny took that as an insult. She was starting to regret sitting with Malfoy. Just then, the train jerked and Draco and Ginny were thrown to the floor. Ginny ended up on top of Draco, she tried to get up but Draco held her back.
"Why Ginny, if you wanted me you should have said so, you really shouldn't resort to actions," Draco teased her. Ginny struggled and finally got up, but Draco grabbed her wrist, and she touched the locket. Draco suddenly had a flashback.
"Lord Darien please let go, I have to leave," Gwenivere pleaded with him.
Darien looked at her and saw that she was afraid; he let go of her wrist, and watched her run from him.
Draco looked at her in shock. It couldn't be, he thought. She couldn't be Gwenivere. Ginny also looked at Draco questionably; she felt a shock when he grabbed her.
"I have to go," Draco said and he left her alone.
Draco ran through the corridor looking for the room Hermione was in. He finally found the room and opened the door. When he opened it he saw Potter and the three Weasleys look at him. When they recognized him they jumped from their seats and pointed their wands at him.
"What are you doing here Malfoy, get out," Ron told him.
"Where's your bodyguards Malfoy, did they finally leave you?" Harry said.
"I'm not here to pick a fight Potter," Draco told him, "Granger, we have a Prefect's meeting."
"You're a Prefect, you have got to be kidding me. What did your father do? Pay of the board of directors?" Ron said.
Draco got mad at the mention of his father, but he kept his patience, "My father is dead Weasley, you should have known that if you read the papers. Of course, you don't know how to read do you? Parents probably could afford to teach you."
At that, Ron jumped up and was about to attack Draco but Hermione held him back.
"Ron calm down, go Malfoy I'll see you outside," Hermione said.
"Hermione you can't go out there with Malfoy, how do you know that he is telling the truth about being a Prefect?" Ron asked.
"He was telling the truth, when I got my Hogwarts letter telling me I was a Prefect it had a list of the other people also selected, and Draco Malfoy was on the list. Don't worry Ron I can take care of myself, I have my wand, I probably know more hexes than that git," Hermione told him. Ron looked doubtful but finally agreed. Hermione did something she never did before, she hugged Ron and left.
"Ron saying that thing about his father was low, even if he is Malfoy," George told him.
"Wait a minute," Harry said, "Is Malfoy's father really dead?" Harry had to stay with the Dursleys the entire summer as a safety precaution. All three Weasley boys nodded.
"Even I felt sorry for the git when we read the Daily Prophet. Both his parents died because of a Death Eater attack, Malfoy went missing," Fred explained.
"That can't be, Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater. I saw him when Voldemort was reborn."
Harry wasn't surprised to see them flinch at Voldemort's name.
"Even so, they still killed him. Dad was there; he saw Lucius Malfoy's body. He even said that Malfoy was orphaned before the papers came out."
"Where did Malfoy go?" Harry asked.
"Dad didn't want to say, he said it was safer that nobody knew," Fred said. After he said that nobody talked about Draco anymore.
_*_*_*_*_*_
When Hermione finally came outside, Draco grabbed her hand and started walking.
"Malfoy let go of me, I can walk by myself," Hermione said, when he didn't do anything Hermione said that he was hurting her. Draco loosened his grip around her hand. When he finally saw the room he was looking for, he opened the door and practically pushed Hermione inside. When he got in the room he locked the door and put a silencing spell around the room. When Hermione looked around the room, she recognized it as the bathroom.
"What wrong with you Draco?" Hermione asked, "What was so important that you couldn't wait until you could owl me?"
Draco took the locket off his wrist and pushed it in Hermione's hand.
"There, open it," He ordered her. Hermione looked at him questionably, but followed his order. When she opened the locket, she looked shocked and dropped it. Draco quickly picked it up from the floor and examined it to make sure it wasn't damaged.
"What is wrong with you?" Draco asked, "Do you know how old this thing is? You could have broken it."
"I can't believe it. What happened? How did you find her?" Hermione asked, "You didn't do anything to ruin your chances with her did you?"
"I take it that its Weasley isn't it?" Draco asked.
Hermione nodded. Draco opened the locket and the picture that used to be blurry was replaced. The picture was now of a lady with auburn hair, she looked very much like Ginny Weasley.
"I can't believe it, who would have thought that the little Weasel would be Gwenivere," Draco said, he closed the toilet seat and sat on it, "It's impossible, I can't make her fall for me, I hate her, she hates me."
"What do you mean? You didn't do anything to her did you?"
"No. I don't think I did anything."
"What do you mean you don't think?" Hermione was beginning to get angry with him; "If you ruin your chances with her I don't know what I'll do to you. Do you know how hard…"
"Shut Up!" Draco said, Hermione looked hurt. Ever since their summer, Draco was never rude to her. Draco saw her hurt look, "Look, I'm sorry, but you're not being fair. Do you know how hard this is for me?"
Hermione didn't answer.
"Do you think that this is easy? Our families have been at each other's throat for centuries. You don't expect her and me to fall suddenly in love do you. I have said so many things to her family and her that I regret. I teased them about their money problems even before Hogwarts, do you think that she will suddenly forget how I've treated her?"
"No, but you never really paid attention to her. You mostly just teased Harry and us," Hermione said.
"How much do you want to bet that her brothers and parents warned her to stay away from me? Their parents probably told her that Malfoy is a synonym for evil bast*rd."
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't thin…"Hermione said but was not able to finish because Draco interrupted her.
"You're right you didn't think," Draco said angrily.
"Oh come on, I said I was sorry," Hermione said. Hermione went over to him and hugged him. Since he was sitting and she was standing, his head was on her stomach. Hermione looked down on him and stroked his hair, Draco didn't move.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think, it's just that this is so important to my aunt. I don't want to let her down," Hermione told him.
Draco leaned back to look at her eye to eye and he saw that this was also important to her. Hermione has done so many good things for him despite all the things he has done to her in the past years. She was his first real friend.
"Okay, I promise you that I will try to win Ginny's heart, but I can't guarantee any results," Draco told her and he got up from his seat. Hermione smiled and hugged him again.
"Oh thank you Draco, this means so much to me," She said.
"I know," Draco said.
After he said that, she said she had to go. If Ron and Harry went to look for her and couldn't find her, they would immediately start to worry for her. They said their good byes and she left him. Draco just stood there for a while. He finally left the bathroom and walked back to his compartment. When he tried to push the door he couldn't, it was locked. He remembered that he would be "nice" to the Weasley girl. He knocked on the door.
"Ginny open the door!" He practically yelled. He heard a shuffling inside.
"Wait a moment. I'm changing into my school robes," Ginny said. After a minute she finally opened the door, and when she did that he walked pass her.
"Could you please get out?" Draco asked her.
"Why should I?" Ginny asked staying on her ground.
"I also need to change. Unless you want to stare at me again," Draco answered. Ginny didn't say anything; she just left the room not wanting to fight with him.
When Ginny closed the door. Draco went to his trunk and took out his school robes, white button up shirt and his green/silver Slytherin tie. He didn't need to change his pants so he just took off his shirt. He saw his Dark Mark. It was still pale; he could clearly see the "X" over it.
"You did not force him did you?" Voldemort paused. "Kill the mother."
"NO" Draco then ran and pushed his way to his mother, but was blocked. He could not get there in time.
AVADA KEDAVRA
Draco watched helplessly as his mother slumped to the ground, lifeless.
He traced the Dark Mark with his finger.
"I'm sorry mother," He said to no one. He put on his shirt, but before he could do the buttons Ginny walked in and closed the door behind her. When she saw him she blushed, but she didn't look away. Draco saw that she was examining him. He crossed his arms and smirked.
"Enjoy what you're seeing Virginia?" Draco asked saying her name seductively.
When Ginny saw that he was smirking at her, she blushed a deeper shade of red.
"I'm sorry Malfoy. Pansy Parkinson and some other Slytherins were walking by, I didn't want to have an encounter with them," Ginny tried to explain without stuttering.
Draco didn't say anything, he walked towards her and cornered her against the door by putting his hands on each side of her. She was stuck between him and the door. He was so close to her that she could smell his cologne. She tried to think of something to say but was unsuccessful. His bare chest exposed to her didn't help her a bit.
"First of all Ginny, do you hate me?" Draco asked.
"No," Ginny answered quickly, "No, I don't hate you Malfoy."
"And second, don't call me Malfoy, if you want me to call you Ginny don't call me Malfoy."
"What am I supposed to call you?" Ginny asked.
"Try my first name Virginia," Draco told her.
"Draco?"
"Very good Virginia, you're not as slow as your stupid git of a brother," Draco said. When he said this he made Ginny mad. She punched him hard on the stomach. Draco being caught off guard was pushed back a little, but was not hurt by the punch. Ginny on the other hand was nursing her hand.
"You're a fiery one aren't you?"
"Don't insult my brother," Ginny told him.
"I think you hurt yourself more than you hurt me," Draco commented.
Draco walked over to her and took her hand. She tried to pull away, but he held her and kissed her hand. Ginny stared at him in shock.
"What?" Draco asked seeing her shocked expression, "Did your mother ever kiss a wound of yours saying it'll get better?"
"You're not my mother," Ginny told him.
"You're right. I guess I'm not your mother." Draco went to his seat and buttoned up his shirt. Ginny stood where she was just staring at him. What did he just do, she asked herself. Then when he put on his robe she saw a Prefect's badge.
"You're a Prefect?"
"Why, yes I am, see this Prefect badge. It means…" He started but was not able to finish.
"I know what a Prefect badge symbolizes. It's just that…"Ginny started, trying to think of what to say next.
"What?"
"You must have worked hard to get that position," Ginny answered.
"Thank you!" Draco exclaimed, "At least someone on this train figured out that I didn't pay my way to get this position. I actually worked hard to become a Prefect."
"What do you mean?"
"Forget it," Draco told her. Ginny went to her seat and sat down. They didn't say anything to each other until the lady with the lunch cart came around.
"Would you kids want anything from the cart?" She asked.
Draco stood up, went to the cart, and looked at the selections.
"Do you want anything Ginny?" He asked her.
She was surprised when he said this. Why was he being nice to me, she thought.
"Ginny, do you want anything?" he asked again.
"No thank you," Ginny answered politely.
"Can I have two of everything," He told the lady. After he paid her, he brought all his purchases to his seat across from Ginny. Draco took a pumpkin pasty and took a bite. After he swallowed, he asked Ginny a question.
"Are you sure you don't want anything? I bought some things in case you change your mind."
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Ginny asked him.
"Why do you ask?"
"Why am I asking? This is not you Draco," She answered him.
"How would you know what I'm like, we never talked before. I never did anything to you. Why, this is actually the first time we're together," He told her.
"My brothers say that you are not a nice person," She said.
"Are you quoting them?" Draco asked.
"Well… yes, but that's not the point," she said.
"What is your point Ginny?" He asked her, "Are you trying to say that I'm supposed to be the evil Slytherin that all brothers tell their sisters to stay away from? Am I the person that is always supposed to be the bad guy?" Draco's voice was starting to get louder. He was starting to get annoyed with the girl.
"Yes. Wait a minute, no." Ginny answered.
Draco clenched his fist; he was losing his temper. Don't do anything irrational he told himself. Be nice to the girl.
"Is it so bad to try to do something good for someone once in a while?" He asked her trying to keep his voice down.
Just then, the train stopped moving. They reached the station. Draco didn't wait for her to answer; he left the compartment without looking back. Ginny was left alone. She looked at the food that he left. Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut she asked herself. Malfoy was actually trying to do a good thing, but it was too good to be real so she questioned it. She looked at the food again; she got a bag and put the food in it. She decided to owl the food to him and write an apology letter. She couldn't believe it; she was actually asking forgiveness from a Malfoy. If her brothers find out… no they couldn't find out, she decided to keep what happened to herself. She was sure that Draco was not going to tell anybody either. Did she just call him Draco? What is the world coming to, she thought. She left the compartment and ran outside to catch a carriage.
*-*-*-*
Through out the entire sorting ceremony Ginny couldn't stop thinking about Draco. She looked towards the Slytherin table and saw the back of his head.
"Ginny, Ginny are you all right?" someone asked her. When she looked, she saw that the speaker was Hermione.
"Oh, I'm fine Hermione. I was just thinking about something," Ginny said.
"Really?" Hermione asked. Harry laughed when she said this.
"Ginny, did you know that Hermione was trying to get your attention for about five minutes?" Harry told her.
"Oh, I'm sorry Hermione. It's just that…" Ginny started, but stopped to clap as a girl got sorted in the Gryffindor house.
"Did something happen on the train Ginny?" Hermione asked. Ginny looked at her questionably, she couldn't know, could she?
"No, nothing happened Hermione," Ginny answered.
"Are you sure Ginny, because if something happened you could trust me," Hermione said. When Ginny looked at her, Hermione looked like she was pleading for her to tell her what happened.
"Hermione, nothing happened to me. Don't worry to much, stress is bad for you," Ginny said.
"I'm just worried about you Ginny, you're like a sister to me," Hermione said. Hermione was not lying when she said this. Ever since the summer she spent at the Burrow, she became a good friend with Ginny. Ginny was touched when Hermione said that.
"Thank you Hermione," Ginny said.
"Ginny if you need someone to talk to I'm here," Hermione said.
Dumbledore stood up to say his announcements.
"Good evening students, welcome to another year here at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. I would like to welcome all the new students we received today. I would like to say that due to recent events the security around the castle has been tighter. On a more better note I would like to congratulate the students that have made Prefect this year if I call your name please stand up: From the Gryffindor House Hermione Granger (all the Gryffindors including some people in the other houses except for Slytherin clapped for her. Angela Johnson patted Hermione on the back 'way to go Hermione you deserved it.' Dumbledore signaled to students to be quiet.) For the Ravenclaw house, Padma Patil, (Padma got the same treatment as Hermione, Pavarti was one of the people clapping the loudest.) From the Hufflepuff house, Justin Finch-Fletchley (Most of his claps came from the Hufflepuff house.) Finally from the Slytherin House, Draco Malfoy. (at this everybody started whispering 'is that Draco Malfoy?' 'Did you hear what happened this summer' the first person to start clapping was Pansy Parkinson, then Crabbe and Goyle started clapping, only half to the Slytherins clapped for him and about one or two people from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, but none from Gryffindor. Ginny heard her brothers talking 'so the git wasn't lying when he said he was a Prefect,' she remembered what he said. "Thank you!" Draco exclaimed, "At least someone on this train figured out that I didn't pay my way to get this position. I actually worked to become a Prefect." Ginny finally figured out that her brothers said something to him about being a Prefect. She felt sorry for Draco, he worked hard to become a Prefect and nobody realizes that. She stood up and started clapping, when she did this everybody turned to look at her including Draco. Ginny didn't care about the people staring at her, she tried to catch Draco's eye and when she did, she mouthed 'I'm sorry to him,' he looked confused then nodded at her, then he sat down.) That is all I have to say. Let's eat!" Dumbledore said.
When Ginny sat down Ron asked her why she clapped for Malfoy.
"Ron, when someone gets the position of Prefect it usually means that academically they are overachievers, it's only right to clap for their outstanding work," Ginny said casually, "Hermione could you please pass the chicken?"
Hermione smiled inside as she passed it to Ginny, but at the same time wondered what happened at the train.
"Thank you Hermione," Ginny said.
"This is Malfoy we're talking about Ginny," Ron said.
"So?" Ginny said.
"So? So? Ginny did you hear a thing I said. Malfoy, stinky Slytherin. Ring a bell," Ron said.
"Ron, I don't want to talk about it right now," Ginny told him.
"Fine Ginny, I'm just worried about you, just take care of yourself around Malfoy," Ron told her. Ginny looked at her brother, he really cares about me she thought. She went over to Ron and hugged him. Across from the room Draco watched the scene with interest. He saw Hermione look at him. He raised a cup to her and was about drink when suddenly his eyes widened and he dropped the cup. Hermione turned to look at what he was looking at, she eyes widened at what she saw.
"Oh my Goodne…" Hermione started.
"Hermione are you all right?" Ron asked her. Hermione opened and closed her mouth to say something but nothing came out. Ron looked at what she was staring at, and he saw a brown haired lady walking towards Dumbledore and started talking to him. Dumbledore smiled and turned to the students.
"Everybody may I have your attention," Dumbledore said and waited for everybody to look at him before he continued, "I would like to introduce Linda Shaw, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Everybody clapped and then the new teacher sat down next to Professor Snape who scowled.
"Hermione, are you all right? Do you know the new DADA teacher?" Ginny asked her.
"I've seen her somewhere before," Hermione answered. Why didn't her aunt tell her she was going to be the new DADA teacher she asked herself.
They rest of the evening went by with nothing else happening. After everyone finished eating, each of the new Prefects showed the first years the way to their dormitory. After Hermione got the first years to the tower she told Ron and Harry that she had to talk to Professor McGonagall about her schedule and told them not the wait up. Hermione said good night to Ginny who went immediately to her room to write a letter.
When Ginny got to her room she got put a piece of parchment and decided upon what to write in the letter. After she wrote the letter she rolled it up and put it on the table next to her bed. She changed into her pajamas and climbed in her bed. Sleep eventually caught her and she fell asleep and started dreaming.
*-*-*-*-*-*-
Two men were inside a carriage, one with silver-blond hair and the other with hair as dark as night.
"I cannot believe uncle would do this to me," the blond haired man said.
"Darien, this is a chance to finally see the countryside, enjoy it," the black haired man said.
"Enjoy it Henry? Are you out of your mind? If it were any other place I would enjoy, why, I would even enjoy being away from the city, from everything," Darien said, "Do you know where he is sending us?"
"He is just sending us to the manor," Henry answered, "What is wrong with sending us there?"
"What is wrong you ask? Despite the fact that we would be surrounded by dirty-blooded muggles, and peasants at that. Why, I don't see what is wrong," Darien answered looking out the window.
"Beautiful isn't it," Henry said following his gaze, "What is wrong with muggles? We've been around them before."
"You forget my dear friend, that the muggles we've been around, or so you say, are as the same status as you and I. The muggles I am talking about are peasants, practically the same as savages those people," Darien told him.
"Well at least we won't be the only ones with magic," Henry said.
"What do you mean Henry?" Darien asked him.
"Did not your uncle tell you?" Henry asked, when he saw Darien's confused face the continued, "Your cousin will be there. I think it is the fat one, um, Hermia I presume."
"Do not insult my cousin, you are not in any position to do that," Darien said angrily.
"I am sorry, I forgot that she is like a sister to you," Henry said, "But can you not remember how the girl chased us around trying to be part of everything we did. You of course let her. When was the last time you have seen the girl?"
"The same as yourself," Darien answered.
"She couldn't have changed very much, could she?" Henry asked.
"I don't know," Darien replied. They did not talk after that.
******
"Reynold, get your cloak we will be late," Gwenivere told her brother.
"Why do we have to greet them anyway?" Reynold asked his sister, "It is only Lord Salazar's nephew.
"Reynold, listen to yourself. He is Lord Salazar's nephew, he will be in charge of the happenings here," Gwenivere answered him.
"I have found it," Reynold said. Then he grabbed his sister's hand and they walked to the manor house. They saw a woman with bushy brown hair. She had a terrific figure. When the woman saw Gwenivere she waved. The woman walked over to them. Gwenivere and her brother bowed down to her.
"How are you and your family Gwenivere?" She asked them.
"We are fine Lady Hermia," Gwenivere answered.
"Lady Hermia," Reynold started.
"Yes? Reynold isn't it?" Hermia replied.
"Yes my lady, I would like to say you look beautiful today," Reynold said.
"Thank you," Hermia replied. After that Reynold blushed. Hermia looked at him questionably.
"Well, I have to go. Take care you two," Hermia said and left. After she was far from hearing range Gwenivere started laughing.
"You should stop laughing, Gwenivere. It is not very lady like," Reynold said.
Then Reynold felt a hand on his shoulder. When he turned he saw his brother Charles smiling at him.
"Gwenivere, go ahead laugh, get it out of your system," He told his sister, who was trying to control her laughter. People were beginning to stare.
"You know brother, I saw everything," Charles said. Reynolds ears turned pink, "You aim to high Reynold. I don't want to sound pessimistic, but I am only being realistic. You cannot have her, she is a noble."
Reynold didn't say anything, he sadly watched Hermia talking. They saw a carriage coming. When it stopped two men came outside, one with black hair and the other with blonde. The two men were conversing with each other. When the man with silver hair saw Hermia he smiled. Then Hermia saw the man, and she ran to him.
"Darien!" She said happily. Then she launched herself to him. The man, Darien, spun her around about three times and then he gave her a proper hug. Darien pulled back to look at her. He moved a strand of hair from her face.
"Is that you Hermia?" He asked. She hugged him again.
"You remember me," She said against his chest. She pulled back and looked at Henry.
"You," She said at Henry.
"Me?" Henry said.
"I remember you, you were horrible to me when we were children. Darien, I cannot believe you are friends with this… this person," Hermia said. She didn't let Henry say the last word, because she grabbed Darien's hand and pulled him to the workers.
"Everybody, I would like to introduce Darien Slytherin," Hermia said, "And his companion Henry Gryffindor."
"Good-morning everybody. I would like to say that I am your new master. I practically own everything here. You are working for me, in this manor. What ever I say you will do, you have no other choice, do you hear me?" Darien said. Everybody said yes sir.
"Also you will address me as Lord Darien I will not address you otherwise," Darien said.
Gwenivere was beginning to hate the man. He talked as if he owned them.
"He is just like his uncle," Reynold whispered to Charles.
"You!" Darien said to Reynold, "What was so important you had to interrupt me?"
"Nothing my Lord."
"Nothing? Make sure that it does not happen again," Darien said, "You are all dismissed, you can go back to your homes."
At this all the people turned to leave. Darien turned to Hermia.
"Who was that person?" He asked her.
"That was Reynold, their family has been working here for ages. I did not like your speech very much," Hermia said.
"Why is that?" Darien asked.
"You sounded as if you ran a… a… I don't know," Hermia said.
"Who was that girl next to Reynold?" Henry asked. Hermia looked at him suspiciously.
"That was Gwenivere, the only daughter of Auctor. She is the youngest out of seven and the only girl," Hermia said.
"Auctor Williams?" Darien asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Hermia said.
"He is a muggle is he not?" Darien asked.
"Yes he is. I warn you Darien not to talk of magic around here. Someone might overhear," Hermia warned him.
"She is beautiful. Gwenivere, that is a beautiful name," Henry said.
Darien and Hermia turned to him.
"Yes?" Henry asked them.
"Do not tell me that you just said that some peasant girl was beautiful," Darien said with spite in his voice, "Henry, I warn you. Do not do anything to dirty your blood."
Darien turned and walked towards the manor building with his cloak billowing behind him. Hermia looked at Darien surprised. He has changed so much. How can he talk about muggles like that, she asked herself. Salazar Slytherin was truly a horrid person to change Darien so much.
A/N: So what do you guys think? Was it good, bad, confusing? Well why don't you review to tell me. If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to say them. Also, I'm still not sure who to pair Hermione up with, but most of the people are asking for Harry/Hermione. I'm not sure how to make that pairing. Again, if you have suggestions please make them
(1) The Synonym for Malfoy thing came from wmlaw's fanfic Wildest Dreams IV
Next chapter: Hermione talks to her aunt, and Ginny writes Draco the letter.