Disclaimer: I do not own or have any rights to Harry Potter and company. I
just like to twist them up in my imagination.
A/N: I can't believe how much feedback I am getting with this story. I can't thank you all enough for all of the great reviews. Keep up the reviewing and I will be keeping up the writing.
Chapter Thirteen: Home for the Holidays
Hermione ran for the living room and skidded to a stop when she saw Draco and a tall boy with shoulder length black hair and piercing emerald eyes. "Harry." She whispered hoarsely unable to believe the changes in him. She stood in the doorway hesitantly not sure of how to greet him. She wanted to run over to him and throw herself in his arms, but she was worried at what Harry's reaction would be. He had never been one to show affection in front of other people and she didn't want to embarrass him.
Harry could see the indecision in Hermione's eyes and decided to make the decision for her. He strode swiftly across the room and wrapped his arms gently around her and pulled her softly into him. "Merlin I missed you Mione." Harry whispered into her hair. Her took a deep breath taking in her unique scent. She had always smelled of vanilla and lilac, a strange combination but addicting all the same. He would never forget how she smelled. He could hold her like this all day if she would let him. Harry would never get tired of feeling her in his arms. "You look beautiful." He said simply his heart meaning every word.
All of Hermione's doubts and fears seemed to melt away as she sunk into Harry's warm embrace. With Harry here everything would be ok. She would be ok. Both of them had seemed to forget that they where still standing in a room with other people in it until Draco started snickering. Hermione glanced up in time to see Harry smile and roll his eyes at Draco's subtlety. "I missed you too." She said softly into Harry's robes.
Harry tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and leaned in and kissed her forehead. He really had missed her and he had a feeling that he had been driving Draco up the wall every time that he had gotten a letter from Hermione. But he couldn't feel bad when he was holding her in his arms. Although he was now pretty sure that he wasn't going to want to go back to school after the holiday's where up.
Narcissa took it upon her self to break the awkward silence. "Hermione why don't you go and show Harry to his room?" she then turned to Draco and smiled. "And you my darling son, why don't you show your uncle Sev and Remus to their rooms. Dinner will be ready at six."
Draco glared at his mothers retreating form and then turned to glare at his godfather. "Come on Uncle Sevie, lets not get my darling mother all pissy at me. She is liable to hex all of my robes into some god awful color if I don't do what she wants." Draco said as he started out into the hall.
"Language my dear godson or I'll just accidentally let it slip to your 'darling mother' who you have been sneaking off to the astronomy tower with." Severus said smirking at the horror dawning on Draco's face.
Harry laughed at the look of pure terror on Draco's face. "Well my dear Lady, would you be so kind as to show a tired traveler as myself to my room so that I can rest my weary bones?" Harry smiled teasingly.
Hermione smiled as she slid her arm through Harry's, "Of course kind sir. Let me guide your way."
Remus glanced at Severus and saw that he had had the same thought. Hermione would pull through this with Harry at her side. He knew that Harry would be very important in her continued recovery. He just hoped that along the way they would realize their feelings for one another.
"Has Lucius talked to you about Hermione's mother coming for Christmas?" Remus asked Severus as the where walking to their rooms with Draco lagging behind.
Severus smiled, "I never thought I would see the day when Lucius Malfoy would invite a Muggle to his home with out the intent of harm." He said chuckling lightly. "I think that Harry had said something about going with Hermione when she goes to pick her mother up."
Remus looked over at the pale man. "Yes he had mentioned the same thing to me. From what Harry has told me Hermione and her mother have been in constant contact since she had been brought here to the Manor." He said and then turned to look at the sulking Draco. "Draco, you don't have to follow us we do know where we are going." Remus said smiling at the blonde boy.
Severus shook his head at his godson. "Go and find Harry and Hermione, I know that you are dieing to talk to her as much as what Harry was. So go."
Draco sighed a sigh of relief and took off at a jog toward Harry's room. "See you two at dinner." He shouted behind him as he jogged down the hall.
Remus turned back to Severus. "Do you know if Hermione has told her mother why she is here and not at Hogwarts?" he had asked Lucius a couple of days ago and all that he had known was that she had told her mother that she was no longer safe at the school.
Severus looked at Remus grimly. She told her the last time that she talked to her mother. That was what had precipitated her mother coming here for Christmas." He said as he stopped outside his room. "That and Harry had said that Hermione hadn't wanted her mother to be at home alone."
Remus was slightly puzzled at that comment, "Why would she be alone what about Hermione's father. Wouldn't he be wanting to spend the holidays with his wife?"
Severus glanced sharply at Remus. "I had forgotten that you really haven't had a chance to talk to Harry about all of his letters to and from Hermione." He took a deep breath and sat down in a chair in front of the fireplace. Remus took the one opposite of him. "It is to my understanding that earlier in the year Hermione's mother found out that her husband had been seeing someone else and decided to file for divorce. Last week the divorce papers where final." Severus said.
"Then I think that it was a good idea to have her come here. Although I don't think that Narcissa is going to let her go back home after the holidays are over." Remus said smiling at how stubborn Narcissa could be when it came to her wanting something. Remus was still coming to terms with all of his memories; they still seemed to be just a jumble in his mind. He had just wished that they would find something solid to link them to the whereabouts of Athena and their daughter. He wouldn't loose hope he knew that one day he would find them and when that day came he would finally be complete. And then, Dumbledore will pay for all that he has done. Remus would make sure of that.
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Draco had finally come up to Harry's door and stood hesitantly at it. It was closed. Her was unsure of exactly what Hermione's reaction of him would be. She knew that he and Harry where friends but they never really had been given the chance to talk. He had been awful to her in the previous years and it would be asking a lot if she had forgiven him for it. Then again knowing his mother she had probably brought out all of the embarrassing pictures and told her all of the cute and reputation destroying stories behind them. Stealing his nerves he knocked on the door softly.
"It's open." Harry's voice came through the door.
Draco opened it slowly and stepped into the room. He was greeted by shy smile from Hermione and a broad mischievous grin from Harry. Maybe there was hope after all.
Hermione watched as Draco walked slowly into the room. She noticed that he had definitely grown up in the past six months. It was really the first time that she had a chance to look at him since the end of last year's term. His hair was down to his shoulders, much like Harry's. She wondered it is was Harry that had finally talked him into forgoing the hair gel.
"It's about time you got here. We have been waiting for you." Harry said to Draco when he finally said in the chair across from them. "Are you going to come with us when we go and pick up Hermione's mum?"
Draco glanced at Hermione out of the side of his eyes "Yeah, if that's ok with you." He had took a chance and looked up at Hermione. She was smiling.
"I would like it if you went with us." Hermione said seeing Draco's unsure glance and was happy to see relief in them after she had answered him. Hermione watched the light bantering between Harry and Draco and smiled slightly. She still couldn't believe everything that had happened. It still made her head spin to think of the lengths that Dumbledore had gone through to get what he wanted. She had been heart broken when she was told of everything that Harry and been put through. It still was hard for her to grasp the concept that the Dark Lord was on their side and he had been more so of a victim by Dumbledore than the others. It had been through Dumbledore's manipulations that his wife had been taken away from him, he had killed his only daughter and had continually tried to kill his grandson over the years.
She couldn't even imagine what Professor Lupin was going through; at least Severus and the Dark Lord still had Harry. But Professor Lupin had lost his wife and daughter. Narcissa had told her many things about Athena Malfoy, what she had been like at school and how much she had Lucius wrapped around his little finger. Hermione thought about how Lucius was feeling. Athena had been his only sister and he had adored her. Narcissa had told her that Lucius had been upset with Athena when she had been supposedly killed and had never forgiven himself for not trying to contact her. They had stopped talking to each other when Athena had told her brother that she had just gotten married and was going into hiding from the Ministry. That had been the last time that he had talked to his sister. He hadn't known that it was Remus that she had married or that the reason for hiding from the Ministry was that the laws at the time had made it illegal for Werewolves to marry or have children.
It was almost two years later that Dumbledore had came to Lucius and told him that Athena had been accidentally killed in an Auror raid gone wrong. She just hoped that Remus would find his family someday. Hermione was snapped out of her thoughts when Harry started waving his hand in front of her face.
"Earth to Mione, hello is anyone in there?" Harry said teasingly as he saw Hermione snap out of her daze and turned to face him. "I've been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes."
Hermione blinked again, "Sorry, just a little lost in thought. What did you say?"
Harry shook his head and Draco just grinned. "I said, its almost time for dinner, are you ready to go downstairs of do you want to go and change or wash up or do whatever it is that you women decide to do to keep us men waiting." He smiled cheekily.
Hermione smacked him playfully upside his head and giggled. Merlin it had been a long time since she had giggled. It felt good. "I'm just going to change into a fresh set of robes and I'll join you two downstairs." She said as she stood and walked to the door. "I'll see you guys in a bit." She shouted over her shoulder as she made her way down the hall to her room.
A/N: I can't believe how much feedback I am getting with this story. I can't thank you all enough for all of the great reviews. Keep up the reviewing and I will be keeping up the writing.
Chapter Thirteen: Home for the Holidays
Hermione ran for the living room and skidded to a stop when she saw Draco and a tall boy with shoulder length black hair and piercing emerald eyes. "Harry." She whispered hoarsely unable to believe the changes in him. She stood in the doorway hesitantly not sure of how to greet him. She wanted to run over to him and throw herself in his arms, but she was worried at what Harry's reaction would be. He had never been one to show affection in front of other people and she didn't want to embarrass him.
Harry could see the indecision in Hermione's eyes and decided to make the decision for her. He strode swiftly across the room and wrapped his arms gently around her and pulled her softly into him. "Merlin I missed you Mione." Harry whispered into her hair. Her took a deep breath taking in her unique scent. She had always smelled of vanilla and lilac, a strange combination but addicting all the same. He would never forget how she smelled. He could hold her like this all day if she would let him. Harry would never get tired of feeling her in his arms. "You look beautiful." He said simply his heart meaning every word.
All of Hermione's doubts and fears seemed to melt away as she sunk into Harry's warm embrace. With Harry here everything would be ok. She would be ok. Both of them had seemed to forget that they where still standing in a room with other people in it until Draco started snickering. Hermione glanced up in time to see Harry smile and roll his eyes at Draco's subtlety. "I missed you too." She said softly into Harry's robes.
Harry tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and leaned in and kissed her forehead. He really had missed her and he had a feeling that he had been driving Draco up the wall every time that he had gotten a letter from Hermione. But he couldn't feel bad when he was holding her in his arms. Although he was now pretty sure that he wasn't going to want to go back to school after the holiday's where up.
Narcissa took it upon her self to break the awkward silence. "Hermione why don't you go and show Harry to his room?" she then turned to Draco and smiled. "And you my darling son, why don't you show your uncle Sev and Remus to their rooms. Dinner will be ready at six."
Draco glared at his mothers retreating form and then turned to glare at his godfather. "Come on Uncle Sevie, lets not get my darling mother all pissy at me. She is liable to hex all of my robes into some god awful color if I don't do what she wants." Draco said as he started out into the hall.
"Language my dear godson or I'll just accidentally let it slip to your 'darling mother' who you have been sneaking off to the astronomy tower with." Severus said smirking at the horror dawning on Draco's face.
Harry laughed at the look of pure terror on Draco's face. "Well my dear Lady, would you be so kind as to show a tired traveler as myself to my room so that I can rest my weary bones?" Harry smiled teasingly.
Hermione smiled as she slid her arm through Harry's, "Of course kind sir. Let me guide your way."
Remus glanced at Severus and saw that he had had the same thought. Hermione would pull through this with Harry at her side. He knew that Harry would be very important in her continued recovery. He just hoped that along the way they would realize their feelings for one another.
"Has Lucius talked to you about Hermione's mother coming for Christmas?" Remus asked Severus as the where walking to their rooms with Draco lagging behind.
Severus smiled, "I never thought I would see the day when Lucius Malfoy would invite a Muggle to his home with out the intent of harm." He said chuckling lightly. "I think that Harry had said something about going with Hermione when she goes to pick her mother up."
Remus looked over at the pale man. "Yes he had mentioned the same thing to me. From what Harry has told me Hermione and her mother have been in constant contact since she had been brought here to the Manor." He said and then turned to look at the sulking Draco. "Draco, you don't have to follow us we do know where we are going." Remus said smiling at the blonde boy.
Severus shook his head at his godson. "Go and find Harry and Hermione, I know that you are dieing to talk to her as much as what Harry was. So go."
Draco sighed a sigh of relief and took off at a jog toward Harry's room. "See you two at dinner." He shouted behind him as he jogged down the hall.
Remus turned back to Severus. "Do you know if Hermione has told her mother why she is here and not at Hogwarts?" he had asked Lucius a couple of days ago and all that he had known was that she had told her mother that she was no longer safe at the school.
Severus looked at Remus grimly. She told her the last time that she talked to her mother. That was what had precipitated her mother coming here for Christmas." He said as he stopped outside his room. "That and Harry had said that Hermione hadn't wanted her mother to be at home alone."
Remus was slightly puzzled at that comment, "Why would she be alone what about Hermione's father. Wouldn't he be wanting to spend the holidays with his wife?"
Severus glanced sharply at Remus. "I had forgotten that you really haven't had a chance to talk to Harry about all of his letters to and from Hermione." He took a deep breath and sat down in a chair in front of the fireplace. Remus took the one opposite of him. "It is to my understanding that earlier in the year Hermione's mother found out that her husband had been seeing someone else and decided to file for divorce. Last week the divorce papers where final." Severus said.
"Then I think that it was a good idea to have her come here. Although I don't think that Narcissa is going to let her go back home after the holidays are over." Remus said smiling at how stubborn Narcissa could be when it came to her wanting something. Remus was still coming to terms with all of his memories; they still seemed to be just a jumble in his mind. He had just wished that they would find something solid to link them to the whereabouts of Athena and their daughter. He wouldn't loose hope he knew that one day he would find them and when that day came he would finally be complete. And then, Dumbledore will pay for all that he has done. Remus would make sure of that.
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Draco had finally come up to Harry's door and stood hesitantly at it. It was closed. Her was unsure of exactly what Hermione's reaction of him would be. She knew that he and Harry where friends but they never really had been given the chance to talk. He had been awful to her in the previous years and it would be asking a lot if she had forgiven him for it. Then again knowing his mother she had probably brought out all of the embarrassing pictures and told her all of the cute and reputation destroying stories behind them. Stealing his nerves he knocked on the door softly.
"It's open." Harry's voice came through the door.
Draco opened it slowly and stepped into the room. He was greeted by shy smile from Hermione and a broad mischievous grin from Harry. Maybe there was hope after all.
Hermione watched as Draco walked slowly into the room. She noticed that he had definitely grown up in the past six months. It was really the first time that she had a chance to look at him since the end of last year's term. His hair was down to his shoulders, much like Harry's. She wondered it is was Harry that had finally talked him into forgoing the hair gel.
"It's about time you got here. We have been waiting for you." Harry said to Draco when he finally said in the chair across from them. "Are you going to come with us when we go and pick up Hermione's mum?"
Draco glanced at Hermione out of the side of his eyes "Yeah, if that's ok with you." He had took a chance and looked up at Hermione. She was smiling.
"I would like it if you went with us." Hermione said seeing Draco's unsure glance and was happy to see relief in them after she had answered him. Hermione watched the light bantering between Harry and Draco and smiled slightly. She still couldn't believe everything that had happened. It still made her head spin to think of the lengths that Dumbledore had gone through to get what he wanted. She had been heart broken when she was told of everything that Harry and been put through. It still was hard for her to grasp the concept that the Dark Lord was on their side and he had been more so of a victim by Dumbledore than the others. It had been through Dumbledore's manipulations that his wife had been taken away from him, he had killed his only daughter and had continually tried to kill his grandson over the years.
She couldn't even imagine what Professor Lupin was going through; at least Severus and the Dark Lord still had Harry. But Professor Lupin had lost his wife and daughter. Narcissa had told her many things about Athena Malfoy, what she had been like at school and how much she had Lucius wrapped around his little finger. Hermione thought about how Lucius was feeling. Athena had been his only sister and he had adored her. Narcissa had told her that Lucius had been upset with Athena when she had been supposedly killed and had never forgiven himself for not trying to contact her. They had stopped talking to each other when Athena had told her brother that she had just gotten married and was going into hiding from the Ministry. That had been the last time that he had talked to his sister. He hadn't known that it was Remus that she had married or that the reason for hiding from the Ministry was that the laws at the time had made it illegal for Werewolves to marry or have children.
It was almost two years later that Dumbledore had came to Lucius and told him that Athena had been accidentally killed in an Auror raid gone wrong. She just hoped that Remus would find his family someday. Hermione was snapped out of her thoughts when Harry started waving his hand in front of her face.
"Earth to Mione, hello is anyone in there?" Harry said teasingly as he saw Hermione snap out of her daze and turned to face him. "I've been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes."
Hermione blinked again, "Sorry, just a little lost in thought. What did you say?"
Harry shook his head and Draco just grinned. "I said, its almost time for dinner, are you ready to go downstairs of do you want to go and change or wash up or do whatever it is that you women decide to do to keep us men waiting." He smiled cheekily.
Hermione smacked him playfully upside his head and giggled. Merlin it had been a long time since she had giggled. It felt good. "I'm just going to change into a fresh set of robes and I'll join you two downstairs." She said as she stood and walked to the door. "I'll see you guys in a bit." She shouted over her shoulder as she made her way down the hall to her room.