Chapter 16: Now We Both Know Why
Time was beginning to lose all meaning for them in this world. It seemed that the slow pace of medieval life attuned itself to their very heartbeats. They lived only for the comforting daze of fresh mornings and sweet evenings, and measured time by the size of the blooms on the rose-bushes.
Initially, Hermione had been very shy with Draco. She had never had a boyfriend before and didn't really know what to do sometimes. On his part, Draco had also been shy with Hermione. Although they had attended the same school for the last seven years, they really didn't know each other that well at all, having been on opposite sides of the blood dispute for years. Both didn't quite know what the other expected of them, the only thing they did know, was that they were desperate to spend almost every spare moment in each other's company.
Draco was surprised at the change that had come over him. He was used to being, as Hermione had so glibly put it: egotistical, pompous and infuriating but here, in this time and with Hermione, he felt at peace. He supposed most of his previous unhappiness arose from the responsibility of living up to the name of being a Death Eater's Son and heir to one of the largest Pureblood fortunes around.
Beacause of that, he had always felt desperate to prove himself at Hogwarts which, in retrospect, had made him an egotistical little twit. The very thought of the Weasley Is Our King song made him cringe. Lucius would be disgusted with me now, he thought as he presented Hermione with an enormous rose he had stolen from the manor gardens, probably blame it on Narcissa's side of the family.
Hermione put it in her hair where it continued to give off a wonderful scent.
"How did you know roses are my favourite flower?" she asked.
"Krum used to send them to you each Valentine's," Draco said. "I also saw you by the rose-bushes in Hogwarts- it was your other favourite place to do your homework besides the library."
"So I was right, you were watching me all the time in Hogwarts!"
"Well, now we both know why," he said, swinging her round to face him. Hermione smiled. This was wonderful. Everything was perfect and wonderful.
He was deliciously aware of Hermione pressing herself against him. He rested his chin on her mass of auburn curls, shut his eyes, and breathed in the scent of the rose in her hair.
"After the our fight in Flinders Wood, I dreamt I gave you roses as an apology and you looked so happy," he said quietly. "But the dream faded when you reached for them."
He felt Hermione give a little start in his arms. "Oh! It really was you!"
"What?" he said, puzzled.
"The roses on my bed!"
"On your bed?"
Hermione's eyes were bright. "When I woke up the next day, my bed was covered with roses! I thought it might be you, you know, there's no way anyone else could have gotten into my room and left them…except by magic."
Draco was beginning to understand. "Magic? You mean…wandless magic?"
"Yes…of course. Like when Harry blew up his aunt in third year because he was so angry with her…or like when Ron turned himself literally green with jealousy when I went on a date with Neville Longbottom in sixth year."
"You went on a date with Neville Longbottom?"
Hermione reddened. "It was a favour – Trevor, his toad, had just died and he was so upset that I told him I'd take him out on Valentine's Day and buy him an ice cream."
Draco was highly amused. "How did it go?"
"Not too well…his ice-cream had a strawberry charm on it and he's allergic so he started growing strawberries out of his ears. We had to go back to the hospital wing early."
"Aside from that being the funniest thing I've ever heard...Let me say that it's a relief to know we are still magic."
Hermione nodded, "But we can only work magic while we are extremely emotional, and then it's rather unpredictable."
"Still, it's better than nothing," Draco said, pulling her close again.
"Draco Malfoy" Hermione said quietly.
"What?"
She shook her head and pulled back from his embrace. "Nothing, I was just reminding myself that it's Draco Malfoy holding me. Whatever will they say when we get back to the future?"
Draco ran his fingers through her hair. "Potter and Weasley will probably have ten fits. My father might die of shock imagining a muggle-born being Lady of Malfoy Manor- directing Malfoy house-elves, riding Malfoy horses…"
"…eating off Malfoy silver…"
"…hosting Malfoy parties…"
"Are you asking me to be Lady of the Manor? D'you know what that means" said Hermione, cheekily.
"It means whatever you want it to mean" Draco kissed the top of her head.
"Wouldn't you like to know!"
"Yes I would" he said innocently.
"Well, you'll have to work to find out" she said, pushing a blonde lock of hair back behind his ear.
"As you wish" he said, lowering his lips to hers. "M'Lady"
She could stand here kissing him forever, she thought. Draco certainly knew how to kiss. He kissed not only with his mouth, but with his whole body. He wrapped her into himself and made her feel faint with desire.
"How was that?" he said, a pleased, Slytherin-like look on his face. Hermione was breathing heavily.
"It'll do" she managed to gasp.
"I've been practicing quite a lot lately" he said, smugly.
She touched his face gently. "I know."
The manor appeared around a bend before them.
"When does your father return?" asked Draco in concern.
"In another two weeks" she said gloomily. "I won't be able to sneak out so much then. But don't worry, it's only another seven weeks to Samhain."
"The herbs are nearly ready" Draco said, waving in the direction of the herb garden. "I obsess over them every day. They're doing fine."
"Don't worry, everything will be all right. In less than two months, we'll be home again." Hermione said confidently.
Draco looked sheepish, "I'm actually going to miss this place" he said. "The work's hard, but simple enough so it really gives me lots of time to think. I feel so peaceful here… And there's you, of course."
"I'll be there when we get back you know," Hermione said.
"Yes, but I kind of like you in these clothes and with this hair. I can hardly remember what you used to look like back in Hogwarts. For that matter, I can hardly remember what we all used to wear."
Hermione laughed, "It's just the Thyme Eliminus side-effects. You'll remember once we return."
"Then again, I hope that when we return, we won't forget all this. I really don't want to forget these few months. Life in the other world seems crazy compared to this, and when we go back, I might get all tense and nasty again."
"Oh Draco, it'll be all right. I don't think people actually change. I think Nice Draco was always somewhere inside you, it just needed this…jolt…to bring it out. And sometimes, to be honest, I found Bad Draco exciting."
"Did you, Miss Granger? What would your little Gryffindor pals have to say about that. I can still be as bad as you want, after all, I am Draco Malfoy…" he growled.
She squealed as he gently bit down on her neck.
He could feel her shiver and felt excited that he could give her so much pleasure. Maybe one day…he ran his hands roughly down her back and held her tiny waist. She sighed and pressed herself against him. Yes certainly, he thought, as he felt himself start to respond to her…
Hermione drew back and gave him a final peck on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow…" she said and began to walk away, turning round to smile at him.
Draco gathered his scattered wits. "Hey, Hermione…"
"Yes?"
"Don't forget to ask your priest about the whole mysterious childhood thing. You've put it off long enough, and I'm dead curious."
She nodded, "I was waiting for the right moment. I'll do it tomorrow and let you know."
"Good night, Hermione"
"Good night"
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The next morning, Hermione was determined to find out about the mystery of her childhood. She had delayed too long, being too preoccupied with spending time with Draco. But now, even Draco grew impatient at finding out more. Somehow, they felt it was connected with them being brought back to the past together.
"Father Lorenzo?"
"Yes, my child?"
Hermione sat up straighter. "When were you appointed Chapelmaster here at Granger Mansion?"
Father Lorenzo leaned back in his chair, "When you were born, child. I baptized you a month after you came into this world."
"Who was Chapelmaster before you?"
"Well now, let's see…that would have been Father Gresham. Why all these questions, mistress Hermione? We should turn our attention back to the gospel of St John."
"Please, father, I just want to get to know you better."
The old man looked surprised. "You have strange notions," he said, "I am only an old Italian priest, what could you want to know?"
"Why did you come here from Italy?"
He smiled, "I belong to a wandering order, not a monastic one. It is our duty to go around the world spreading the good news and doing charity. I traveled to France in 1460 from Italy when I was a young man. I set sail for England in 1465…." The old priest was enjoying himself. He had a faraway look in his eyes. "The things I saw during my travels! I wandered around England for three years before coming to Suffolk and the town of Mildenstowe. Your father offered me a night's stay, and as Father Gresham was old and retiring soon, he offered me the position of Chapelmaster. I didn't want to take it, I belong to a wandering order, but Lord Granger was most kind and I saw I had important work here to do."
"What important work?"
Father Lorenzo sighed and gave her a fatherly look.
"Lord Granger's wife, Lady Katherine Granger, had just had their first child- a girl. The child was very sickly…it was you, mistress. Some say it was a miracle you lived…And there were also some other…problems. Lord Granger trusted me to give Lady Granger comfort, and the rest of the manor and Mildenstowe as well. Your…condition…was delicate. But-" the priest suddenly became businesslike, "-all was well in the end. I tutored you when you were younger in Latin, Penmanship and Scripture, and I am pleased to observe that you have emerged a source of pride and joy to your parents."
"Father, you mentioned some other problems…what were they?"
The old priest gave her a searching look, "Lord Granger has forbidden anyone from mentioning the past. I was against it, I told him that you should be told one day, but my lord wished differently. As I am his servant, I will honour his wishes."
"But Father…"
"I suggest, dear child, that you ask your parents yourself. Your eighteenth birthday approaches and it is the custom then for the daughter of the house to assume partial rights of duty in the running of the household in which she lives. I always said you should have a right to know, after all, God knows the secrets of our hearts."
"But Father, please…"
The old priest picked up his book and flipped the pages. "And that is a good passage to learn…1 John 3: 19-20 in hoc cognoscimus quoniam ex veritate sumus et in conspectu eius suadeamus corda nostra. Quoniam si reprehenderit nos cor maior est Deus corde nostro et novit omnia. Please turn to that passage."
Itching with frustration, Hermione did as the old priest said. She clearly would have nothing new to tell Draco till her parents returned.
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It was very late and even the stubborn summer sun had begun to wane.
"My Lord, how splendid to have you back early" Audley bowed low as Lord and Lady Granger stepped out of their carriage.
"Greetings, Audley" said Lady Granger pleasantly as her husband nodded to the steward.
"How are my affairs?" Lord Granger asked immediately.
"No need for worry there," said Fanhope, also bowing. "Everything is running as smooth as clockwork, although I cannot say how glad we are to have you back a week before expectation."
"Excellent. Oh and will you see to it that the horses are saddled up? Call the under-servants to do it- it appears that Hibbings and the other boys have left for the evening."
"Yes, my Lord" Fanhope said, and went to call the under-servants from the quarters where they slept.
"Gareth, I tire. I wish to retire soon." Said Lady Granger to her husband.
"I thought you said you wanted to tell Hermione the good news as soon as you set foot in our compound?" Lord Granger affectionately patted his wife's back.
Lady Katherine Granger smiled and yawned. "Oh yes, I mean- I intend to retire after doing just that! I have been saving up this happy news to tell her in person."
"We have good news for the manor" said Lord Granger turning to Audley, who overheard the Granger's exchange with curiousity.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Lady Granger is with child again."
"Praise be to God, congratulations m'lord. Congratulations m'lady" Audley beamed at his master and mistress.
"Thank you, Audley. We would have sent word, but the mail is so unreliable. Of course, this was partly the reason for our early return," said Lady Granger.
"Of course, m'lady. You will receive the best care at home. I will see to it that all things are ready for the happy arrival."
"You are a great help, Audley," said Lord Granger, as the three turned towards the gate of the inner compound. Fanhope had returned with a group of servants to saddle the horses. Lord Granger nodded to him and he nodded back.
"We will announce it at the manor tomorrow, after chapel" said Lord Granger. "Of course, you may tell Fanhope first if you wish." Audley nodded. The steward and bailiff were great friends.
"Hermione will be thrilled, I know she will be" said Lady Granger as she walked up the stairs to the manor entrance. "Be it brother or sister, she will love the child."
Lord Granger put his arm around his wife. "I am sure she will. She is turning out a fine girl - Audley has sent me letters informing me of her great help in running the manor during our absence and Father Lorenzo has also sent good reports."
"And she will be pleased to hear that Baron Burnel of Lancashire has expressed keen interest in asking for her hand. Of all the suitors we have visited, his estates are the largest- quite five times the size of Lord Camvile's. More than that, he appears smitten with her." Lady Granger was very excited at telling all this news to her daughter. "Oh, and Senor Vittorio has sent word that the gowns will be sent up from London next week- there is so much to tell our daughter!"
Lord Granger laughed, his wife had always had an excellent relationship with their daughter. She had been only fourteen when Hermione had been born, and the two were more like sisters than mother and daughter. If only this time Hermione would see sense and agree to the match with Baron Burnel of Lancashire…The visit had been most fruitful, from Lord Granger's point of view.
Baron Burnel had invited them to learn more of their estates and their daughter. A portrait of Hermione had been produced and Baron Burnel had pronounced it even more beautiful than the reports he had heard from various sources of her beauty. He fully intended to visit them next month- the only thing he couldn't understand was why Lord Granger did not promise him his daughter's hand.
"You let her choose?" Burnel was incredulous, "Never have I heard of such a thing."
"She is a very special girl, Baron," said Lady Granger, "And she is our only daughter. Call us foolish if you will, but we only want her happiness."
"I suppose that's fair," said Burnel. He puffed out his chest, "And anyway, I am sure that I can put on a good showing for Lady Hermione next month. Already I can think of some splendid jewels to offer your lovely daughter."
Lord Granger's reminiscences were interrupted by his wife's voice. "Here we are" Lady Granger paused outside Hermione's door. "Do you want to come in for 'lady talk' as it were?"
Lord Granger shook his head. "You go ahead, sweeting. I am eager to get back to my accounts before I sleep. I just want a quick look at the books."
Lady Granger nodded and waited for her husband to turn and go.
"I will join you shortly," she said.
At the sound of Lord Granger's retreating footsteps, Lady Granger knocked on Hermione's door. She would probably be asleep and sure enough, there was no answer.
Smiling, Lady Granger pushed open the door and let herself in. She had often done this when Hermione was a child. The girl didn't know her mother used to frequently walk into her bedroom at night just to check that she was all right. After all, Lady Granger never forgot how she had nearly lost Hermione at birth.
She pulled back the curtains on the bed, expecting to see the sleeping form of her daughter under the bed clothes.
She gasped.
The bed was empty.