Chapter 2: Welcome Home Hermione
Hermione love the feel of the car on the smooth highway road. She put her sun glasses on and put down the car's sun visor. The top was down and the wind blew through her brown curly hair. 'I'm going to have a hell of a time brushing this out later but who cares!' she thought to her self.
"Mom could you put in a CD?"
"Sure thing Hun." Mrs. Granger pulled out a CD case from the glove box. She flipped through the collection of CD's. She pulled out a burned CD and put in the player.
The sounds of rock music blasted out form the stereo. Hermione sang along to the songs. Draco was amazed at how good her voice was.
About twenty minutes later a mansion came in to view.
Hermione rounded a circle in front of the house. The car skidded to a stop.
"Hermione be careful!" Her father yelled from the back seat.
"Now daddy no back seat driving."
Stilled and Hermione put the top back up, then stepped out of the car.
A line of servants stood out side the mansion. Hermione hugged and chatted with each. She joked with an elderly looking man who came to collect their trunks. Then she turned to Draco. "Everyone we well be having a guest for the next little while. Come Draco let me show you to your room." Hermione walked in the mansion. The heels of her pumps clicked on the freshly polished floor. They went through two long corridors and up a long flight of stairs. Once at the top she led him to the first door on the right. When she opened the door he saw the room had been done in the two colors of syltherin. Draco lifted and eyebrow at Hermione.
"This room was decorated before I ever even got my letter. Beside I thought you would like it. My room is across the hall." Hermione was about to turn, she stopped and looked back at Draco." My parents are having a welcome home party. You can come if you want" He nodded. "Great! I'll be back in two hours. If you need any thing just pull this rope." She said and pointed at a black rope that hung by the door. "Oh and Draco it's formal." She then walked over to her room.
Draco's trunk was delivered a short time later. He went about unpacking and getting used to his new surroundings. He had a large closet that his cloths fit very nicely in. He then walked into his bathroom, undressed and hopped into the shower.
Hermione sat in a large tub, her maid molly scrubbing her hair. It felt so nice to be pampered again. Molly was more a friend then a maid; she was five years older then Hermione. Molly helped Hermione out of the tub. She handed Hermione her bath robe. Hermione went and sat in front of her vanity.(it's palace with mirror and all her makeup and stuff.) Molly picked up a brush and went teary eyed at being able to brush her little miss's beautiful.
"Miss Hermione who is that young man you brought home with you?"
"Draco Malfoy."
"I know that, what I meant was what is he to you?"
"Umm...a friend. I think."
"Is this the same Draco that used to make fun of you be of muggle descendent?"
"Yes, but he's changed he is no longer that fourteen year old jerk. He's matured." Hermione whispered
"You like him!" Molly said shock was written allover her voice.
"No!...What makes you think that?"
"Oh come off it Hermione you forget who your talking to."
Hermione blushed.
"Yah I guess I do, but it's not like I'll ever have a chance."
"How come?"
"He doesn't like me at all."
"You sure?"
"Huh?"
"Never mind. I'm so glad your home Miss Hermione."
Draco couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Hermione. No longer did she look like a ragamuffin, but like a lady. She wore a pale gown that covered her feet and left her shoulders bare. Along it's bodice were red rosettes. She wore long white gloves that came up just above her elbows. A thin choker encircled her neck and little star earrings accented her ears. Her hair had been pulled up tight then the curls fell freely down her neck. She wore only a tiny bit of make-up.
Hermione felt really weirded out by the way Draco was staring at her. "What!? Do I have something in my teeth?"
"Huh?... oh no. Hermione you look great!" they hooked elbows and she lead him to the great hall. A slight blush graced Hermione's cheeks.
Guest had been arriving for at least fifth teen minutes before Draco and Hermione had come down. The hall was filled with elegant ladies and handsome gentlemen. The thing that got to Draco was that a lot of the Guest were prominent wizards and witches. A lot of which he recognized.
"Hermione, how come there are wizards and witches here?"
"Mostly friends of the family, some relatives."
"Oh… wait relatives? I thought that you were…"
"A mudblood? Sorry to disappoint you Draco but magic goes far back in my family. It just skipped a few generations." She said with a shrug.
"Then why did you never correct me when a called you a mudblood."
"It never bothered me. I knew that I was a witch for a long proud family of magic."
"You…you…arg!"
"Hahahahaha." Her laughter rang clear through the room.
Draco and Hermione walked around the room talking to people. Both were congratulated on graduating from Hogwarts. Draco and Hermione were talking to a group of wizards when a voice called out from the crowd. Hermione turned to see who was calling her, then quickly turned back.
Draco sent her a puzzled look.
"Hermione!" A young man came up and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.
Hermione was standing stiffly.
"Hello, Tom." She groaned and forced his arms off her.
"Miss me darling?"
"Nope."
"Oh come on now Hermione you know you did."
"No Tom, I didn't."
"Excuse us gentlemen but I need to speak to Hermione in private." Tom said as He pulled Hermione out of the room and in to the garden
For some reason Draco didn't like the way this Tom fellow was handling his Hermione. He made some excuse about needing a new drink and fallowed the two out of the room.
"You know Mia I'd almost think you didn't love me any more."
"I never loved you. I tolerate you for the sake of our parent's friendship."
He pulled her tightly against him. "You are mine miss witch!"
"You're hurting me!" 'I really wish I had on wand on me.'
"Excuse me but would you kindly remove your self from Hermione." Draco said, wand pointed.
"Go way Sir. This is between Hermione and me."
"I'm giving you ten seconds ten…nine…eight…seven."
"Draco…Tom let go!"
Tom tightened his grip causing Hermione to squeak, this pushed Draco over the edge.
"Expelliarmus!" He shouted.
Tom went flying and Hermione was shoved the floor thus knocking her out. Tom had hit an old oak tree, and now lay at its base.
Draco went over to Hermione and picked her up.
"What the hell is going on out here?"
Draco turned to see a bunch of the other guest had gathered at the entrance to the garden.
"His "man" was hurting Hermione. I dealt with it and now it's late so I'm going to take her to her room." With that he apparated to her bedroom. He carefully laid her on the bed.
