Chapter Seventeen:
(A/N. You guys I REALLY have to study for a Math test. I just wrote this in the time my mom went to the Supermarket but if she catches me on the comp. She will ground me and no more updates for a long time so be patient with me please! Sillyroses, I really wish I were j.K Rowling Jr.!!!! Dani, I don't mind the long chap and I said before that these two have special permission to perform magic. Slim-Shady's-Modeling-Baby, I'm glad it was sentimental enough! Same to Miss Dance Pants. Okay this is an angsty chapter but they will be making amends soon! Okay READ AND REVIEW! I love the positive feedback!)
They arrived in London and a limousine was waiting for them outside of the wizarding airport. The chauffer loaded their luggage into the back and Draco and Hermione got inside. Hermione took out her discman and put her headphones on to avoid talking to Draco. She was filled with a pain she could not describe. She hated the fact that he had been able to hurt her so much but she refused to cry in front of him. She sighed and closed her eyes. The ride was long and uneventful. Hermione fell asleep half an hour into it and awoke and hour later. The limousine turned and drove up a long driveway that had towering trees on either side forming a green tunnel. Up ahead was a large silver gate with the Malfoy crest between the two doors. As the car approached the gates swung open and the limousine drove pat. Hermione stretched lazily but froze mid-stretch. A huge fountain was in front of them and behind it was the most beautiful house Hermione had ever seen. The car slowed and Hermione and Draco got out, Hermione looking around in awe. There were two large mahogany doors. As they swung open Hermione saw that the floor was decorated in black marble. The walls were all silver with a black bottom and all the fabric in the huge entry way was a dark emerald green. Suddenly a house elf appeared before them. Hermione had resigned herself long ago to the fact that house elves simply did not want to be liberated no matter how ahrd she tried.
"Welcome home, Master Malfoy." The house elf said bowing to Draco. Hermione turned away expecting some cruel remark aimed at the poor creature.
"Thank you, Serby." Draco said softly. Hermione stiffened. What was it that Sirius had said all those years ago? 'If you want to know what a man is like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.' She sighed in confusion and frustration.
"Miss Granger? Serby will take you to your room now." The male house elf said softly. Hermione nodded. She was led to a room adorned in blue and black. It was quite pleasant albeit somewhat dark. She sat down on the large four post bed to think. She needed to talk to Draco, if not to make amends than to find out why he had kissed her. She stood up and stepped out of her room. Only then did she notice she had no idea where she was going. He could be anywhere. She wandered around for a while when suddenly she heard muffled voices up ahead. They were coming from a door which ajar. Hermione went closer to it.
"You have disgraced the family name, Draco! What did you think you were doing fighting with that filthy girl? I've allowed you to bicker with the girl thus far because it amuses me, but you were caught! Now you've brought a disgusting mudblood into our house!" A cold voice was shouting. Suddenly she heard a whipcrack and she felt her stomach drop.
"Father, please! I'm sorry! She just makes me loss my temper…" It was the wrong thing to say. She heard a dull thud and Draco's harsh coughing. Lucius had kicked his son in the stomach.
"A Malfoy has no feelings! No anger!" Lucius cried. Hermione carefully pushed the door open and peered inside. Lucius was hovering over the crumpled form of his son. Draco was bloodied and bruised all over his handsome face. "Remove your shirt, son. You're punishment will be fifty strokes. You will count. If you miss a count, I will repeat it until you give the correct count." Lucius snapped. Draco removed his shirt his hands shaking.
"One." Draco said as the whip cracked down. Hermione couldn't believe that a father would do this to his son. "Two." Now she saw why Draco didn't stand up to Lucius, anyone would to preserve their life. "Three." Draco continued counting; Hermione felt silent tears pouring down her face. Soon it was over. Draco hadn't missed a single count.
"Get up you worthless brat." Lucius spat kicking his son. Draco got up shaking visibly. Lucius tossed Draco his shirt. Draco couldn't catch it. Lucius laughed and walked away. Draco fell to the floor and let out a heart-wrenching sob. Hermione stepped into the room. Draco looked up fear in his silver eyes. They turned icy when he saw who she was.
"Are you happy Hermione? Think this is what I deserve? Huh? I'm exactly like my father aren't I?" He growled pulling himself to his feet. Hermione shook her head.
"No Draco. Please, I want to help." She whispered. He stared at her and once again she felt lost in his silver orbs.
"Forget it. No one can help me." He snarled and stumbled away, leaving Hermione to stare after him. Now she understood why he had been so mad when she called him his father's mirror. She turned and went back to her room, feeling a strange pang in her heart as she thought of the lonely days that awaited her in the cold, lifeless Malfoy Manor.
