A/N: OMG! 45 total reviews! That's 3 more reviews than I got for my other fic, and that one is 6 chaps with 27000-something words! Wheee so happieeeeeee!!! :D:D THANK YOU ALL! ~ hugs and kisses ~
Some quick messages first:
tom4eva: thanks so much, and no, I'll spill it out now, Hermione is not Voldemort's daughter! Even if they were related, he'd be more of a grandfather I think…well to me, at least…but you'll find out why he's interested in her soon enough! :D
Poppy, alexandergranger, Kerri, DracoLover788, affisia, becky293, Esperanza, dc: I will, and thank you!
Cecelia: you are just bursting with ideas! Love it! Yeah, I want Draco to stay in character as long as possible. No, I don't think they'll get attracted to each other by the time they get married, and Ron and Harry will find out eventually, of course. I still have yet to figure out what to do about their honeymoon, but I'll definitely take your idea into consideration! Thanks a lot for your input! :D
Vix: thanks for coming back and liking this, Voldemort will crack even more I tell you
'div: you'll find out why Ginny's called Red in this chap (so read on!), and yes, she'll play somewhat of a role in the rebel alliance along with Hermione. And yes, they both do have that in common hahah, well spotted! Oh, and by the way, no, I am NOT planning to abandon my other fic, I'm glad you liked it too…just waiting for my beta, but if she doesn't reply by Friday, then I'll just edit it myself and post chap 7 up anyway…I've been dying to post for ages!
Melanie: thanks for loving my story! (and me, in a non-sexual way :P) keep reading it!
Kiya Kideackiy, Princess of the Apocalypse: thanks, I'm completely experimenting with this new type of plot!
bloody raven: right on! Now read on for further details!
Oliver's gurl: I think all the blond baddies have a way with black! They could even be distant cousins…hehehe…but right, now that you mention it, they do dress alike!
Yuki Kitsu: hey again! Update your story! Hahaha u want Hermione to sleep under the sky for real? Hehe, well she sort of does, considering that her room's ceiling is enchanted to show the sky…and what would a D/Hr fic be without falling in lurve? Thanks so much for supporting me, I really appreciate it, you rock!
Crystalline Lily: I didn't think the cliffhanger would be that horrible…wait til you see this one then! Yeah, I agree, it was dry…now I fear that this chap is even drier…yikes! Well bear with me, things will get better soon! And from GoF, I deduced that Hermione and Ginny had to be friends since Ginny knew that Hermione was going to the ball with Krum while her own roommates (Pavarti and Lavender) didn't…
Silver Dragon Goddess: that line was funny to write too…the irony of it, yeah, haha. The answer to why he wants them married should unravel shortly…and everyone will go mad! I'm glad you liked Draco's nastiness…you'll see more of it, I assure you!
Phoenix Flight: I'm glad you like my insanity! Hahaha :P
Jen: I think I'm getting better at picking titles! And I take crazy as a compliment, so thank you, thank you, as well as you liking my sense of humor! ~ beams ~ No, you've got it right- they won't warm up anytime soon, and between Lucius and Snape, I like Snape more so you can guess how that part of the story will turn out…hehe…thanks for your feedback!
DracoJAE: you should update it anyway I think…no, you didn't mention last time that you thought the "I'm a slave" part was hilarious…but yeah, as I said to Silver Dragon Goddess it was funny writing it out haha…and don't hate Draco! He gets nicer as we go along- to Hermione at least, though it'll be awhile…like after their marriage or something…well, thanks and keep reading this!
hyper_shark: ch.2 made you depressed??? That's a first! Oh no…well, I hope this one doesn't depress you too much, yeah? And wait out for the next one too, should be lighter and funnier than this one…
not exactly clandestine: I am seriously so flattered by your review…thank you so much, and I hope the humor will continue to flow through my hands! :P If I start getting any flaws though, be sure to tell me, k? thanks so much :D :D
buGspooky: you flatter me as well, I'm so happy you like my writing style! More will definitely come, thank you!
Ok, that's it, I think I give away so much in my message to you guys! I don't know if I'll always be able to write one to everyone who reviews in the future, but even if I don't, I still love your reviews just the same. As I promised, the more reviews, the quicker I update, so here is the third chap for you!
**
Chapter 3: Under the Malfoy Roof
"Ginny?!" Hermione asked, completely incredulous and in shock.
The redheaded witch threw all that she was carrying onto the bed and ran to her old friend, crushing her into a tight embrace.
"Hermione! I can't believe it's true! It's really you! This is the best thing ever!" exclaimed Ginny in complete ecstasy.
Seamus stood back, watching the two and grinning broadly.
"And I can't believe it's you!" Hermione replied, still hugging her friend. She had never been as close to Ginny as she was to Harry or Ron, of course, but during the Hogwarts days, Ginny was by far her closest female friend. "What are you doing here? And why are you called 'Red'?"
"Well, isn't it obvious? I'm slaving away the last days of my youth. The Malfoys bought me right after the War ended- just after they did Seamus. Lucius thought it'd give everyone a laugh to have Arthur Weasley's only daughter as his slave," Ginny replied bitterly, finally pulling away from Hermione. "I'm actually Lady Narcissa's personal maid. But about the Red thing, well that was just outright stupid."
Seamus chuckled, eyes amused and stepped in. "Yes it was. You see, Narcissa Malfoy had a friend named Gina and couldn't bare to call a slave a name so close to her friend's. So then they were going to call her Weasley, but then Malfoy complained that it reminded him to much of 'the Weasel Ronald'. 'What if I hex her one day thinking it was him?' the twit said. Pure bull, I tell you. He was just out to make life hard for our dear Gins here."
Ginny shook her head with clear irritation. "I know, I mean what the hell was the big deal anyway? So then Lucius decided on calling me Virginia, but then, Malfoy, being the complete brain-impaired half-wit that he is, couldn't stop teasing me about it. Kept calling me the Virginia Virgin. And then it was just Virgin."
Seamus was now howling with laughter.
"Shut up Seamus!" Ginny threatened. Hermione couldn't help but be amused as well. For powerful dark wizards, the Malfoys were pathetically silly.
"In the end I got lucky. Lucius got annoyed with Malfoy calling me that all the time and so he began calling me Redhead. After awhile, it became just Red. Stupid, really, all of this," Ginny finished.
But just as she did, a shadow emerged in Hermione's open doorway. The three friends looked up to find the scowling face of Lucius Malfoy upon them.
"Oh, a reunion, how charming," he leered sarcastically. "Well, Finnigan, I told you to show her to her room, not to fraternize with her. Get back downstairs. And Red, I expect Miss Granger downstairs in the parlor in thirty minutes. So get a move on it," ordered their master.
Seamus and Ginny bowed and nodded their heads submissively, while Hermione glared at Lucius, unflinching.
He left them, and was followed by Seamus. Alone, Ginny began her assigned task and started to help Hermione undress.
"It's alright, Gin, I can clean myself up," said Hermione, feeling too awkward that her old friend was now her maid. Well sort of hers, anyway.
"Nevermind, Hermione, I want to help. I'm still so excited that you're here."
The whole irony of the situation began to dawn on Hermione. As it seems, the only two other people apart from Voldemort and Pettigrew who were actually happy about her engagement to Malfoy were her two old Gryffindor friends!
"How is it that I'm the only one not?" Hermione expressed, tearing off her already torn robes, and making her way towards the bathroom. When was the last time she took a bath? Ah, right before she handed Millicent her face cream…
Ginny followed her. "I don't know if Seamus said anything to you yet, but the Rebel Alliance is getting stronger. They're going to need all the inside information they can get."
Hermione turned back to face Ginny curiously. "How do you know all of this?"
"From snippets of conversations, really. Some of the benefits of working for the Malfoys. You hear things. Apparently, Voldemort has a few of his Eaters trailing the rebels, but he's too overconfident that they'll never take him down. So his defenses are quite lax now, as he's focusing on gaining more power and territory," Ginny reported. "Lucius seems to think the Rebels are getting stronger- did you know there was a sighting of Harry about a month ago? In Egypt? It's unconfirmed, and the Dark Lord brushed it off, thinking that Harry had to be in America. But Lucius believes otherwise."
Hermione was stunned. For a whole year she had been deprived of any news concerning the rebel factions and her best friends, but now she felt a new surge of hope rushing through her. Perhaps living with the Malfoys wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.
"So you see why you being Malfoy's wife would benefit us. He can tell you things. I seriously think Voldemort has just given Harry and all of us a big birthday present by making you marry Malfoy," Ginny added, smiling.
Hermione sighed. She had to let everything sink in first. "Perhaps. We'll talk more about this later. Just leave the robes on the bed, Ginny, I'll be done shortly. You can go do other things, in case any of the bastards start blaming you for me being late," she told her younger friend as she closed the door to the bathroom.
"Sure thing." As she was leaving Hermione's room, Ginny called out, "They're really not that bad you know, once you know their tricks."
But her voice was already drowned by Hermione's running water.
**
An hour and thirty minutes later, Hermione sauntered her way down to the Malfoy Manor parlor, clean and clad in expensive peach-colored silk robes. She had to admit, it did fit her nicely. Her hair was only half tied up, and the rest that wasn't was gracefully framing her shoulders. A tight knot formed in her stomach as she neared the parlor; apart from another yelling match she knew awaited her there, she also really did not want to see Malfoy.
When she entered, she saw that the whole Malfoy family was there looking less than pleased.
"I told you thirty minutes," Lucius addressed darkly.
Hermione gave a careless shrug, which she knew would annoy him. "A woman has to look nice, doesn't she?" she said, then strolled across the room casually, as if she owned the place. Hermione had realized in the shower that she did hold some power over the Malfoys- if she was there on Voldemort's orders, it wasn't likely that she would be harmed. So why not have fun in tormenting them?
Narcissa glared at her and Draco refused to even look at her. He simply crossed his arms and stared out the window.
Lucius cleared his throat after Hermione had taken a seat. "I don't know who you think you are Granger, but nobody keeps the Malfoys waiting. When I say thirty minutes, I mean thirty minutes, you hear? Or you'll be terribly sorry," he threatened.
Hermione snorted. "Or you'll do what?"
Lucius's lips moved to reveal an evil grin. "That, you don't want to know."
Hearing his father, Draco couldn't help but smirk.
"Anyway, now that we are all here, let's get some things straight. You-" he said, pointing at Hermione, "will live here for as long as you are married to my son. And that won't be very long, if I can do anything about it. But while you are here, you will follow the Malfoy family code of rules. You are still not to be trusted, so you are not to leave the Manor grounds, nor will you be allowed to owl anybody. Don't worry, special wards are set up specifically to guard you within the premises. So no heroic ideas there." Lucius noted with satisfaction Hermione's slightly fallen face.
He continued, "In addition, I expect you to learn from my wife how to be a high-class witch. You will learn the ways in which we aristocrats handle things whether you like it or not. Lastly, you and Draco will be married in two weeks. From now until then, I want to see you as least as possible. You are to be present, however, at meal times in the dining room with no excuses. My wing of the Manor is off-limits to you. And if you dare lose me any one of my servants- humans and house-elves included- for whatever reason, or if you try any tricks, then don't think I won't kill you myself. Is that understood?"
"Clearly," Hermione spat with bitterness.
"Good. Now get the hell out of my face and do whatever you want. You will be called when needed." Lucius gestured for Hermione to leave the room, and she got up willingly.
Before she could leave, however, Lucius reached for a silver bell which was lying about near him and rang it. Hermione was surprised by how loud the ringing sounds were- she supposed the bell had the Sonorous charm placed on it, for the whole Manor seemed to be echoing the ring.
"Oh, Sevvv-ver-russs," Lucius Malfoy chimed.
Within two seconds, Severus Snape sulkily appeared in front of the doorway.
"Ah, Severus, my good man. Talking with and seeing Miss Granger's face has given me a hearty headache. I want you to go down to the cellars and brew me a potion. No tricks now, since you will be the one to test it in front of me."
Snape nodded curtly, and Hermione looked away. Even though she disliked Snape, she couldn't bear to see her former Professor in such an undignified stance.
"And after you're done, I want you to hand-polish my leather loafers. Blinky will set them out for you in your quarters."
"But polishing shoes is a house-elf's job! Easily done with magic!" Snape protested furiously. He knew Lucius was just trying to tick him off by giving him such menial tasks, but this was getting too much.
Draco sniggered and Narcissa smiled mirthlessly.
"You will learn not to talk back to me in such a manner, Severus. Tsk tsk. I am very disappointed with you," Lucius spoke, shaking his head. Then in a flash, he drew out his wand, pointed it at Snape, and shouted a curse.
Hermione gasped as Snape's legs wobbled and gave way, causing him to tumble down.
The elder Malfoy burst out laughing. "Jelly legs for first offense," he announced. "But don't think I won't hesitate to use something else next time. You are as well aware as I am that the Unforgivable Curses are not so unforgivable anymore."
Snape grunted and tried to get up, but couldn't.
Draco and Lucius laughed even harder.
Defeated, Snape had no choice but to slowly crawl away until the curse wore off. As he crawled past Hermione, he made sure not to look up and face her.
**
Hermione stormed out of the parlor indignantly. She couldn't believe how bad the Malfoys were mentally tormenting Snape.
Oh, they'll pay, when I get to them.
Back in the foyer, Hermione realized she didn't really know where to go. There was nothing to do in her room- but she didn't know where anything else was. She wasn't even sure how to summon up Ginny and Seamus- they didn't seem to be visibly around. Sighing, she decided just to explore the place on her own, and proceeded to climb up the grand stair case.
About two hours later, Hermione was still not done. Malfoy Manor was huge! She had come across a lot of useless, empty rooms, a ballroom, rooms full of antiques and family heirlooms, an observatory-type of room, and finally the library. The Malfoy Library was indeed grand, as expected, and Hermione had lost track of a lot of time there. She resolved to spend the majority of the rest of her days there. Now, however, Hermione was on the fourth floor, promenading down the carpeted corridor when she passed a huge door with DRACO MALFOY engraved in gold on it.
It was his room.
Letting her curiosity get the better of her, Hermione opened the door and stepped in without a second thought.
Let's see what hidden secrets my fiancé has in there…
Draco's room was very neat and organized. He had a four-poster bed even bigger than hers with green and white silk covers, a large wardrobe and mirror, a couple of trunks beside the bed, and a desk covered with books, parchments, and his personal belongings. Without any hesitation, Hermione marched over to the desk to see what precious treasures she could find.
Busy fumbling through his things, she failed to notice the door open and someone enter the room.
Draco Malfoy had been glad to be rid of Hermione Granger for the day, and had hoped he wouldn't run into her until dinner. That plan proved wrong, however, when he strode into his own room to find her hunched over his desk, probing through his possessions. A fiery anger roared in him as he realized what she was trying to do.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"
At the sound of his voice, Hermione froze and went cold.
Shit.
She had been caught.
Determined to keep her cool, she whirled around and not really knowing what excuse to use to explain her actions, she yelled, "What's it to you?"
"What's it to me? THIS IS MY ROOM!"
Hermione gulped. He had a good point.
"Well I was just taking a tour of my new home, I didn't know there was any harm in that."
He couldn't believe it. This was outrageous! "A tour around my home does not give you the right to enter my bedroom! Or anyone else's for that matter!"
"Funny, I didn't know there was anything wrong with a woman casually taking a peek in her fiancé's bedroom!" It wasn't a very strong argument, but Hermione knew it would piss him off.
"Casually taking a peek? You were spying! And even if you weren't, how dare you touch my things!" With that, he brusquely marched over to her and pushed her roughly away from his desk. "You'll pay for this!"
"No, YOU'll pay for this! For all of this!" With a swift movement, she pounded his chest with her fist and attempted to scramble away from him and out the door.
However, his reflexes were quicker, and Draco was able to grasp her by the arms. Pulling her back, he spun her around to face him, then violently shook her. "You're going to get it now, Granger, Voldemort's orders or not!"
Desperate to struggle free, she spat in his face. This came as a surprise to him, and he let go of her to brush her saliva off of his face in disgust. "YOU BITCH!" he bellowed.
"YOU BASTARD!" she snarled back, and tried to push him out of her way.
Unfortunately, he was stronger and, towering at 6"3 (as opposed to her 5"6), was much bigger. Blocking her way, he grabbed a hold of her again and threw her to the floor.
"You're going to be so sorry you ever did this," he warned menacingly, and reached into his cloak for his wand.
Before he could draw it out, though, Hermione regained herself and kicked him hard in the balls with all her might. "There goes your manhood, Malfoy!"
"AHHHHHHHH!" Malfoy screamed in unearthly pain. Clutching his injured private part, he fell to his knees, gritting his teeth.
Seeing this as her golden opportunity, she hoisted herself off of the floor and darted towards the door. Expecting Malfoy to feel particularly murderous now, she wanted to flee as far away from him as possible. Mentally kicking herself for idiotically giving Malfoy a reason to kill her by trespassing into his room, she sped all the way downstairs, forgetting already where her room was, only wanting to get away fast.
Breathless and flushed, Hermione finally reached the foot of the stairs.
Perhaps I could stake out in the gardens for awhile, she thought.
Feeling home free, she continued racing to the front door, where she opened it and ran right into Voldemort.
**
A/N: Another fun cliffhanger, I suppose? Mwuahhaha…okay, this chapter was so completely dry, I know it. Sorry about that. But anyway, I think Hermione was wrong all the way and poor Draco didn't deserve the kick…well fine, he does deserve it for all the times he was so nasty to her! And poor Snape! Ok, to make you all feel better, I'll leave you with a few teasers for next chap. And I'll try to make it better too, this chap was so bleh. Ok, anyway, I'd still love it if you guys gave me reviews, its what keeps me going so fast these days, so please send them in! Review, review, review! Just one click! The more, the merrier!
Thanks and lots of lurve!
~ smashing sugar ~
P.S. Because I'm so nice, here are the few teasers for the next chap:
the reason why voldie wants D/Hr to get married will begin to unravel…mysteriously… wedding plans commence! Snape gets a bit of his revengethere you go! Hope you're happy and come back for more! :D