Disclaimer: I wish I could say that since three days ago I suddenly created and own HP and his universe, but if I did say that you would all think I was insane anyway...so as per usual...I DO NOT OWN A THING. :)
Warning******** O.C. Alert! I know I hate original characters as much as the next gal, but unfortunately that is the way the plot (huh plot?) crumbles mates.
ALSO**** As you have seen, Draco seems a bit ooc at this point, what some call insane I prefer to call sleep deprived, but that could very well be considered personal choice. ;)
Dedicated to Steph, for no reason other than it makes her laugh! AND I said I would. ;)
On to the story.....
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Chapter 2-continued, Part 2 Draco's Inheritance(s)
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Ginny stood on one side of the bed and I stood on the other, looking down at our sleeping charge. He was still fully dressed, but we had placed a blanket over him. Professional or not there was no way Ginny was going to undress Draco Malfoy! (Don't look at me I hadn't taken any oaths!)
"Ginny, I really need to talk to him." She looked up at me, I could see she was struggling to maintain her professionalism.
Her MediWitch training finally won over. When she answered, her voice was very businesslike and crisp. "He needs his sleep Hermione."
"Ginny, this is DRACO MALFOY." I stated firmly.
"Ok, fine. Talk to him." She put her hands up and shrugged.
"How do you propose I do that, become Professor Trelawney and talk to him mind to mind? Don't you have something you can give to him to just keep him awake for a minute or two?"
"Hermione, you realize that that goes against everything I have been...Ok...but, if it were anyone else but Draco Malfoy I wouldn't do this...." She opened her bag, pulling out a small glass bottle, held it up to the candle light and twisted off the lid. Using a dropper she placed a small bead of tincture on Draco's lower lip. It soaked into his skin in moments.
He yawned, and opened his eyes, just like sleeping beauty, albeit a tall, thin, hollow eyed version.
"Granger? What am I doing here?" He looked around.
"Weasley." He nodded at Ginny, who busied herself with her medical bag atop a low dressing table, and didn't look in his direction.
He yawned again. "Merlin, but I am tired. Hmmm." He screwed his eyes shut tight and rubbed them. Yawning, he looked as though he was about to give into sleep again.
"Malfoy!" His eyes snapped open.
"Blast, Granger do you have to yell?" He was glaring at me like a grumpy child.
"I need to talk to you before you go off to sleep again."
"What is it Granger?" He sighed and his eyes lids slowly started to slide closed.
"Really Malfoy, we have to talk now....then you can sleep." I looked at Ginny, she was trying to make herself as small as possible, I think in hopes that I wouldn't notice her. It didn't work. I wanted to talk to him alone!
"You have three minutes." She glared and turned to leave the room.
"Ahhhh, Weasley I didn't know you cared." I could see Ginny's back stiffen at Draco's words. I glared at him. Evil man was smirking.
The door shut with a resounding bang.
"So, what do you want Granger?" He laid his head back against the heavily carved headboard of his bed. As stupid as it sounds, I hadn't really thought about being IN his bedroom. I looked around, the room was dark, that's the only way to describe it. From the heavy mahogany furniture to the tapestries on the wall everything was done in deep shades of green, with black accents. Not exactly a welcoming room, perfect for the man I knew Malfoy to be.
"What do you think I want Malfoy?" My eyes went back to the figure in the bed.
"How should I know?"
"Malfoy, are you really as insane as you're acting? What do you mean you don't know? You forced me to come here, and called in my favor, now you want to settle down to beddy byes...well I want answers first!" Why was he grinning, and why were his eyes closed?
"MALFOY!! Are you listening?"
"Hermione, I very much doubt there is anyone who isn't listening....for Merlin's sake, stop yelling." He didn't open his eyes.
"So, why am I here?" Even though he wasn't looking I was glaring daggers at him.
"You were always the Know-It-All Granger, why don't YOU tell me." I wanted to put my hands around his neck and PUSH! I knew there would be little impressions of my nails in the palms of my hands. I had tightened my hands into fists, to stop from hurling myself onto him, and throttling him with in an inch of his life.
"Malfoy, I am tired, you are tired." (not to mention an annoying GIT.) "Just tell me what, who, and where are the charges I am supposed to be babysitting. AND SO help me Malfoy if its you, I will..." I trailed off as his silver eyes opened and he stared at me quite sternly.
"Don't be ridiculous Granger. Your "charges" as you call them, are in the Nursery of course, where else would children be housed?" Nursery here? At Malfoy's? Domesticated Draco, that brought a smile to my lips. House broken and obedient, ok those were going a bit far.
"Fine, I will take care of them and you get some sleep. We will talk more when you awake." Children? What did I know about children? Nothing, that answer was nothing. I had no desire to go to the nursery, but knew I must. I sighed.
"Hermione, be careful." I whipped around at his words.
"What do you mean Malfoy?" But he was asleep.
"Malfoy?" He didn't stir.
"Draco!" Blast what had he meant by that? I stood looking at him.
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"Time is up Hermione." Ginny poked her head in the door.
I opened the door wide and saw that Morio the house elf was standing at the corner and looking at us all, he always seemed to be around when I needed him. I suppose that is the mark of a good house elf. I loathed saying that, since I didn't think house elves should be in service in the first place.
"Morio, I need to go to the Nursery." His eyes got bigger in his face, and he backed up slowly.
"No, Miss Hermione, Miss...Morio will show you the library, or the gardens." He tried to smile.
"Morio, I want you to show me the nursery." I stated firmly, and looked at Ginny. She shrugged and walked to the bed to check on the sleeping Draco.
Morio didn't say anything more, only started down a passageway and motioned for me to follow him. His large ears drooped and he kept looking over his shoulder at me. His trepidation was not helping my nerves! I felt like one of the heroines in some Muggle horror movie. (yes I have seen Muggle movies, what do you think I did every school holiday? Study? Oh yeah, good point, but I still have seen a movie or two!)
The people in the portraits along the wall were following me along from picture to picture and I was starting to feel like some Pied Piper of Portrait People or something. By the time I got to the end of the hall there were at least a dozen Malfoys and others crowded into a picture large enough to comfortably fit two or three. I looked at them, and they struck poses pretending to look elsewhere. Great, just great. I had a house elf with wilting ears, and now all the painted Malfoys in the house were crammed into a picture frame, intent upon watching me.
Morio suddenly stopped and I almost walked over him, he looked up at me and pointed to a door at the end of the corridor. It was painted with rose bushes and trailing ivy vines. Small colorful birds sat on the painted limbs, and butterflies fluttered amongst the blossoms. It was charming. The very sort of door that any little girl would have dreamed of having. I couldn't wait to see what the rest of the nursery looked like. I suddenly lost all fear in the face of that brightly painted door.
I had reached the door without even realizing I was walking toward it. Looking over my shoulder, I noticed that Morio had backed up and was standing in an entryway a few yards away. I motioned him to come with me, but he looked furtively around and shook his head, then banged it on the door jamb in self punishment.
"It's ok, I will go alone!" At my words his head banging stopped.
I reached my hand out and the door fell open at my touch.
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A/N THE END...LOL OK or not!
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As lovely as the enchanted door was it in no way prepared me for the interior of the nursery. I had walked into a meadow. A meadow of yellow flowers and humming bees. A meadow with a water fall, and big fluffy clouds in the sky.
I stood for moments talking it all in. Enchantments like this cost a fortune! Not that Draco couldn't afford it, but he had never struck me as the children's room decorator type before. The place was truly amazing and I stood breathing in the scent of the warm summer's day.
There was a large "tree" in the corner. I moved closer. Three beds were enchanted to look as though they were a part of a big willow tree. The limbs trailed down forming a canopy over each bed. Asleep on each bed was a child. Pale blond flyaway hair marked them as Malfoys. But instead of the sneers I was used to seeing, there were cherubic serene looks. So these were the "demons" that Draco had talked about. Why they were not more than 11 years old, and they looked lovely. Maybe Draco just didn't have that special touch with children, I could remember how he was as a child. He never really had a childhood, Lucius Malfoy wouldn't have allowed that. Poor Draco. I sighed and shook my head.
In my enchantment with the room and the children I forgot that Draco had said he had TRIED professionals. I forgot everything but the daydream of myself sitting in the "grass" like mother earth passing out hugs and goodies alike. The three golden children dancing around me like little fawns. The sun dappled flowers scenting the air with lovely fragrance, naturally the children would love me, and just as naturally I would love them. Everything was definitely looking up.
I was sure I could show Malfoy a thing or two about child rearing. Despite my obvious lack of experience, I was feeling pretty confident. I would just go and buy a few books, study up. How hard could it be?
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I walked over to the beds. On closer inspection I could see that there was one girl and two boys, they looked very nearly identical. The girl having longer hair than the boys, seemed to be the only difference I could see in their looks. They were even dressed alike in short tunics and tight leggings printed with light green snakes. I shook the girl and tried to awaken her. There was no response. I then turned to each boy. None of them responded.
I tried calling out to them, slapping them gently on the cheeks, lifting them into sitting positions. But nothing would rouse the children.
It seemed that Draco had enchanted them to sleep! This was tantamount to child abuse! Its like the Muggle parents who would put cold medicine in their child's bottle. This went beyond the laws of propriety! I felt myself get furious, my cheeks flushed, I was breathing heavily.
Draco Malfoy was lucky I didn't turn him in. OK, yes, I knew very well I couldn't turn him in. He owned me, I hated to admit it, but until he deemed my favor paid, he owned me. I cursed out loud. He and I hadn't talked about the parameters of my service. For all I knew I could be in this house until the children, before me, reached their majority! I felt the sweat prick my upper lip. This is not good Hermione Granger...not good at all. My mother earth fantasies were fading away in the cold reality of what I had done. I seemed to be making mistakes all over the place these days. I used to be so careful.
"Hermione?" I heard Ginny calling me.
Ginny! Oh no, she couldn't see them.
I got up to rush to the door, but she beat me to it. Her face took on a look that I hadn't seen on it since she was a young girl. It was the same look she had worn when watching Harry play Quidditch for the first time. She was in love. I didn't blame her, neither of us had had anything resembling a room like this, I loved the Barrow, but it wasn't like this.
"Oh...my....goodness...do you think Malfoy would adopt me?" She laughed as she came into the room.
"Hermione, what is a room like THIS doing in Malfoy's house?" She was touching the enchanted "flowers" growing in patches across the "grass" of the floor.
It was too late to hide the children from her, and I would need her help anyway, if they had been enchanted . I motioned to them.
A questioning look replaced her smile.
"Who are they?"
I shrugged, I really didn't know.
She touched the first child on the cheek. Then took out her wand, and did that muttering thing she had done to Draco in his office earlier. The same aura appeared then dissipated. A very stern look appeared on Ginny's face.
"They have been be-spelled. Did Malfoy do this?"
Once again I shook my head. I didn't know.
"Hermione, who's children are they? Do you think Malfoy kidnapped them? I have heard things....Hermione, people have been talking about Malfoy lately. They say he has become unhinged! If he did this, I am inclined to agree!" She looked to me.
"Ginny, I don't know Draco just said to watch them until he wakes up." I shrugged.
"Draco?" Ginny questioned.
"Malfoy, I meant Malfoy, Ginny." I laughed in a self conscious way, which wasn't like me. I knew the second I did it that Ginny would pick up on it.
"Hermione, what are you really doing here? Your break up with Ron....wasn't because of..." She let her words trail off.
"WHAT? NO! Are you out of your mind? Malfoy? Ginny? How could you think that Malfoy and I? Ewww."
"Sorry, sorry, but why are you here then?"
"Ginny, I can't really tell you, lets just say I owe Malfoy a favor and leave it at that. I promise to tell you everything as soon as I can. I promise Ginny." I crossed my fingers that she would accept it.
"A favor? What? HOW?" She wasn't going to accept it.
I kept my mouth closed and looked at her.
"OK fine, I am going to give the children a waking serum. It will take a couple of hours to take affect. If there are any problems, you will contact me Hermione, immediately. Malfoy should sleep for at least 24 hours. I really wish you would tell me why you are here Hermione." She leaned in close and put her hand on my arm.
"Sorry Gin. Please, please trust that if I didn't have to be here I wouldn't be." Was that reassuring? Probably not.
Ginny looked around the room.
"Hermione, are you in trouble? Do you need help?" She whispered the words to me.
"Honestly Ginny, I don't know. I really don't. But it doesn't really matter. I made a promise to Malfoy and I have to keep it! I will be fine." I hoped.
Ginny gave me another pointed look then went to administer the potion to the children.
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I had pulled a "toadstool" over to the beds and was reading a potion book I had found in Draco's office, to help me pass the time until the 'baby Malfoy's' woke up. I looked over at them. It was surprising that they could turn out like Draco or Lucius when they started out this cute.
"Miss Hermione, Miss, I have a letter for you Miss." Was that Morio's voice? I turned toward the door. He was standing about two feet outside in the hallway, a look of utter terror on his face.
"Come in Morio." He shook his head, then hit it against the door jamb as he had earlier.
"IT'S ok Morio...you don't have to come in." I got up and went to the door. He was holding a letter in his hand. He gave it to me and scampered down the passageway.
I recognized the handwriting, I should have known that Ginny wouldn't keep her mouth shut!
Hermione,
Do you need me to come over there? Is Malfoy holding you hostage? If he is and you can't say then send the old sign, and we will come rescue you! Luna has heard that Malfoy has been acting strange lately. In fact her father is doing a story on it in his paper. She has it on good authority that he has been seen walking the streets muttering to himself. (among other things)
Please, Please be Careful! Remember we will come get you if you need us too!
Harry & Luna
P.S. This is Luna, watch for the signs of mental decay...if he runs around starkers or begins drooling uncontrollably let me know. Daddy won't pay of course, but he will give you credit as a source!
I rolled my eyes. Since Harry had married Luna it seemed as though he had decided on the "if you can't beat them join them" tack. Sometimes I couldn't even stand to go to dinner and listen to two hours worth of Wizard Conspiracy Theories. I knew I better get a letter to them fast or they would have called in the cavalry, and would be knocking down the door in minutes. Friends like that are great, but not if you are trying to maintain the status quo.
I started to call Morio, but before I could he was there and handing another letter to me.
"Morio, will you get my some paper and a quill I need to reply to these." He nodded and was off.
'Mione,
If Malfoy so much as looks at you cross eyed I will come over and knock his bloody block off! The conniving GIT! Let me know!
Ron
Oh yeah by the way the Canons have a big game tonight. Keep your fingers crossed we win. George and Fred want to know if you want to place a wager?
How like Ron, now that I wasn't living with him I found his inability to stay on task charming. I smiled and laughed.
Morio returned with paper and a quill and I wrote two identical letters. Stating that in no uncertain terms was anyone to do anything and that I had everything under control. I crossed my fingers. Now it doesn't do anyone any good to mention that I didn't have the slightest idea what I was supposed to do, with the children, when they awoke. Until then I would just sit and wait.
I went back to my seat, by the beds, and resumed my reading.
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"Who are you?" A little voice asked. I turned to my left and met the gray eyes of a child. She sat up in her bed.
"Yes who are you?" A second child asked.
The third child just looked at me with big eyes and didn't say a thing.
"I am Hermione. I am going to look after you for a while." I gave what I hope was an encouraging smile.
They got off their beds as one and came to crowd around me touching my hair and clothing.
"We like you Hermione." The girl spoke first again.
"Yes we like you!" The second boy smiled at his sister. And then they all smiled at me in unison.
The hair on the back of my neck was standing on end again, and a phrase ran through my mind.....
"They always hunt in packs"
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A/N to be continued
This is a bit longer than usual, but I didn't want anyone saying I was prevaricating and holding back anything. Do you all prefer 1)longer chapters, but longer between posting? OR 2) shorter chapters, more cliff hangers, but sooner posting?
Thanks everyone for the reviews. :) I do appreciate them.
Fashion Diva...you are cracking me up my friend! I laughed for about ten minutes after reading your review. I HOPE you know by now that Draco was of course speaking figuratively...they are just "ordinary" children...Ok they are Malfoys in the making not so very ordinary but not demon possessed.
Mouse, I read your review, at Arbitrary's story, where you stated you had read Arbitrary's at mine...and uh yeah...that's right. And I agree, we don't need any SUBPLOTS! We just need Arbitrary to update a lot! :)
Arbitrary...HEY MATE Don't pressure me, I wouldn't pressure you, I merely suggest that you should update...a lot! ;)
Brit*ney...hope things have cleared up for you a bit.
Tanika...hope this keeps up with what you wanted to see.
Kit...I love Ginny too. I hear a lot of Ginny bashing on the sites but I quite like her! Do you really see Draco being embarrassed about anything? ;)
Luna...wouldn't we all like to know why Draco is psycho...have to talk to his therapist about that, probably something to do with his child hood. LOL Ok I think in this case it really is just sleep deprivation...but then again you never know.
Spaced out...:) I think my friend will be so proud to hear that I have been Aussie-isming away over here...reckon...fair enough...etc.
ToastSnatcher, hope you have your answer to your question.
Chipmonk..I hurried...;)
OK I think that's everyone. Have a splendid day ya'll.
ONE more thing...when I stated that I would "put in lots of COMAS" in my A/N for last chapter, I really meant COMMAS...now you see when I said I need someone to spell and grammar check me I was not kidding. (The shame)