Chapter Nine:
Black Roses
Draco remained on the couch. Hermione wasn't awake yet, but it was still very early. Poseidon had been rapping on his window at three in the morning. Bothered and sleepy, Draco had let the owl in. One glance at what the owl was carrying, and his heart stopped. He was on his way to wake up Hermione when his legs wouldn't support him any longer. He collapsed onto the couch, still grasping what Poseidon had delivered. The sun began to come through the windows, and Draco glared at it. He was in no mood for a sunshiny day. Hermione entered the common room, but he barely heard her.
"Good morning, Draco. What's wrong?" She asked suddenly. Then she saw them. "Oh no." She whispered, sinking onto the couch next to Draco. "Come here." She pulled Draco into a hug and he wasted no time in beginning to sob on her shoulder. After crying until his eyes started to burn, Draco pulled away from her and sighed.
"I'm going to go clean up." He muttered, heading for the bathroom. Hermione picked up the parchment left on the couch.
Dear Draco Lucius Malfoy,
We are regretful to inform you that Narcissa Malfoy passed away late last night. Her funeral will be held next Saturday, if you would like to attend. In addition, the reading of her last will and testament will follow the funeral. We are very sorry for your loss.
Hermione felt tears coming to her eyes. Poor Draco. She glanced at the black roses. It was customary to send black roses with death notices. She couldn't even imagine how horrible it would be to receive one. Draco returned from the bathroom and sat back down on the couch.
"I'll have to go and speak with Dumbledore. Tell him that I'll be leaving for the weekend." His voice was dull and weak. Hermione didn't know what to do. Didn't know what she could do. Finally she came up with an idea.
"I'll go with you."
"What?"
"I'll go to the funeral with you."
"No, I couldn't ask you to do that."
"You don't have to. I want to come, Draco." Hermione took his hand, comfortingly. He glanced up into her eyes and sighed.
"All right...if you really want to."
"I do." She replied confidently. "Let's go talk to Dumbledore." As she was standing, Draco pulled her back down.
"It's five o'clock in the morning. You think he's going to be awake?" He offered her a small smile, which made Hermione feel better.
"Of course he will be. Let's go." She pulled Draco to his feet and they left the common room, heading for the Headmaster's office. Outside the gargoyle statue, Hermione paused.
"What's the password?" She whispered, more to herself than Draco. The gargoyle stirred and stared at Hermione suspiciously.
"Why are you up here at this ungodly hour?"
"We need to speak with Professor Dumbledore. It's very important."
"Not without the password."
"Oh, pish posh." Hermione groaned. The gargoyle leapt aside, letting a very surprised Hermione and Draco pass.
"Nice guess, Hermione." Draco commented as they climbed the spiral staircase leading to Dumbledore's office.
"Thanks, it was nothing." She replied, entering the office. It was empty. The only movements came from Fawkes, who was stretching out its wings. He eyed them skeptically as Hermione approached him.
"Hello Fawkes...do you know where Professor Dumbledore is?" She whispered to the Phoenix. Draco sighed.
"Hermione, do you really think that a bird is going to tell us where Dumbledore is?" Just then, Fawkes spread his wings and flew out of the window. Hermione frowned and looked around.
"It was worth a shot." She shrugged and headed back towards the door. Draco was about to follow when there came a soft pop.
"Hermione? Draco? What are you doing up this early on a Sunday?" Professor Dumbledore asked, shocking Draco. Fawkes flew back in the window and rested on his perch, giving Draco a smug glance.
"Draco got a letter, sir." Hermione replied, nudging Draco gently. Draco gave the letter to Dumbledore and stared at the floor as he read it.
"Oh dear. I'm very sorry, Draco. If you are asking for permission to leave next weekend, then it is granted. I shall arrange transportation immediately."
"Thank you, sir." Dumbledore's gaze shifted to Hermione.
"I suppose you will be going as well?"
"How did you-" Hermione began, but Dumbledore silenced her with a finger and a soft chuckle.
"Did you think that this would go by unnoticed by me? Most of the staff knows as well. Did you begin to wonder why Professor Snape has been pairing you both up together in Potions?" Hermione was surprised to hear that more people knew about her and Draco than she had imagined. Draco seemed bewildered as well. Dumbledore chuckled again.
"You surprised us all, I'll tell you that. Even Professor Trelawney couldn't see this. Only one teacher seemed to know it was bound to happen."
"Who, professor?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Professor Vector, your Arithmancy professor." Hermione was floored.
"Professor Vector?"
"Yes. She had proposed the idea in your fourth year. Everyone laughed at her for it, too. I supposed she is the one laughing now." It suddenly clicked to Hermione when she thought about Arithmancy. Vector had always partnered them up for assignments and reports. Dumbledore smiled at them both.
"It is a pleasant turn of events, I must admit. Anyway, I shall speak with you both when travel arrangements have been made. You will stay for the whole weekend, I presume?" Draco nodded in response. "Very well, then. You two might want to go get some sleep. You haven't been looking well Hermione. Might I suggest not watching Slytherin Quidditch practices under the bleachers in blizzard conditions?" Hermione didn't say anything. Her mouth just hung open in surprise. Dumbledore winked and disappeared with a pop. They remained stationary and in silence for awhile.
"He scares me when he's like that." Draco finally spoke. Hermione laughed and nodded in agreement. They started down the stairs to return to their common room.
"Do you think- never mind." Hermione stopped, dismissing the idea.
"What?"
"Never mind. It was a stretch."
"Tell me anyway."
"Do you think that somehow..."?
"Evelyn is connected to this?" Draco finished her thought. She nodded, regretting bringing it up. Draco sighed.
"I'm sorry, Draco. I know you don't want to think about this."
"No, it crossed my mind as well. But I don't think it would be possible for her to murder my mother." His voice hardened as he progressed through his statements. Almost to their dormitory, they bumped into Professor Snape.
"Malfoy and Granger...what are you two doing out of bed so early?" He glanced between them. Hermione bit back a smile as she remembered Snape's matchmaking attempts in Potions.
"We needed to see Professor Dumbledore." Draco explained in a tired voice. Snape eyed them both suspiciously, but continued on his way without another word.
"You should try to get some rest, Draco." Hermione suggested quietly when they had entered the common room. Draco sighed. He couldn't sleep. Even if he tried. Hermione seemed to understand this, and she grasped his hand. Draco's eyes shifted down to her face. Her eyes held comfort and solace, the two things he needed the most. He felt like he had the night he had been contemplating suicide on the North Tower. Swaying in and out of a sane mind. He felt like he wanted to crash to the floor and stay there forever. But a deeper look into Hermione's eyes, and he knew he couldn't leave her. He wouldn't allow himself to give up on her when she had given him a reason to live so many weeks ago. She would still be the only thing standing between him and death. With nothing else to do, Hermione stepped closer to Draco and wrapped her arms around him. And Draco, who wanted nothing else at the moment, hugged her as tightly as he could without crushing her fragile body. Feeling warm and comforted for the first time that morning, Draco came to the realization that he could not live without her. Deciding that now was not the time to profess his undying love, he remained silent, hanging on to his lifeline, his love.
The days crept slowly by. But as slow as they seem to have gone, Hermione felt like Friday had came quickly. Faster than she liked. It pained her to see Draco so completely devastated. He wouldn't be much better at the funeral. He had also asked that she be present at the reading of his mother's will. She couldn't refuse. Draco had been on the verge of tears every time he looked at her. When she asked him why, he pulled her close and held her for a moment.
"You remind me so much of my mother." He had whispered in her ear. Ever since he had uttered those words, Hermione felt like if she wasn't around, then Draco wouldn't be reminded of his mother. But another part of her screamed out that Draco needed her now more than ever, regardless of what she reminded him of. Dumbledore was waiting for them after dinner Friday night.
"I have provided you with a carriage. If you gather your things and leave by nine o'clock, you should arrive around midnight." Dumbledore spoke to Draco, who nodded somberly. Packing in the dormitory was silent. Hermione wasn't sure if Draco wanted to talk or not. She decided it was best for silence to remain, just incase. Draco wished that he could go back in time and stop everything from happening. He wished with all his being that he could stop Evelyn from happening. That he could have seen sooner what a beautiful person Hermione really was. That he could have been with his mother, and possibly stop her death from occurring. But everything had already been done. Etched in stone. Permanently.
"Have a safe trip. And Draco, I am truly sorry." Dumbledore murmured sadly to Draco. He felt tears welling up in his eyes, but he fought them back and climbed into the carriage after Hermione. The carriage was more spacious than it looked from the outside. The seats were really beds equipped with pillows and blankets. Hermione touched Draco's hand gently.
"Try to sleep, Draco." She whispered. Although Draco wanted to tell her that he wouldn't be able to sleep at all, he nodded and settled himself. She sat on her bed and watched him carefully. He noticed her eyes closing for short periods of time, then opening quickly as though she had been shocked. He thought it was really nice how she stayed up to make sure he was all right, but Dumbledore had been right. She didn't look well.
"You need to sleep too, Hermione." He offered her a weak smile. She returned it and reluctantly slipped under the blankets. It only took a moment for her to slip away.
Draco woke up when the carriage shuddered to a halt. Peering out the window, he saw the towering mansion that was his home. Like an old fashioned castle, a murky moat surrounded the building. It was more of a swamp; home to mysterious magical creatures that Draco used to capture when he was younger. Before the horrors of his father's rage. Glancing over at the sleeping angel across from him, his darkened thoughts dissipated. He touched her arm gently, and she stirred.
"Are we there yet?" She whispered, groggily. Draco smiled weakly.
"Yeah. Let's get inside." He clambered out of the carriage, into the bleak winter night. The large clock tower showed midnight exactly. Hermione had retrieved their luggage, but Draco wouldn't allow her to carry his bag to the house. Draco opened the massive oak door and stepped inside. Fire jumped onto the torches that surround the entrance hall. The house was cold and silent. And empty. Just as it had always been. Leading the way, Draco ascended the stairs and approached his room. Though there were plenty of spare rooms, all of the doors were locked, and Draco didn't have the keys.
"I'll sleep on the couch." Draco offered, moving towards the small, springy couch. Hermione grabbed his arm.
"You need a decent night's sleep. I really don't mind." She spoke confidently, leaving no room for argument. Sighing, Draco collapsed onto his king size bed and sunk under the covers. Hermione slipped in next to him and yawned.
"Good night, Hermione." Draco whispered.
"Good night, Draco." She murmured back. Then in a barely audible whisper, she added, "I love you." For the first time in five days, Draco smiled.
Draco remained in the cemetery hours after the funeral. He stared blankly at the patch of ground that covered his mother's body. It seemed as though there were no tears left for him to cry. The marble was cold when he ran his fingers across the tombstone. A snowflake fell onto his hand and melted. Remembering that Hermione was still with him, he turned around. She was watching him sympathetically, dressed in an elegant black tunic. When their gazes touched, Draco felt a twinge of happiness. Deciding that he had spent enough time at his mother's gravesite, he walked towards the only person he had left to live for. She grasped his hand comfortingly, sending waves of warmth through his body. When they had reached the mansion, a burly man with thin brown hair was waiting in the parlor. He greeted Draco with a strong handshake, and nodded at Hermione.
"Draco Malfoy, I presume?"
"Yes, sir."
"My name is Nigel Tennason. I am here to read you your family's will."
"Isn't it just my mother's will?"
"It would be. If your father was alive. But the family will is something drawn up by both of your parents." Draco stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Odds were good that his father had written the family will all by himself. Lucius often said that Narcissa was incapable of doing everything but being a good wife and mother.
"I see." Draco motioned for Hermione to sit on the couch next to him. "Please proceed." He watched as Nigel broke the Malfoy seal.
"I, Lucius Malfoy, and my wife, Narcissa Malfoy, have these wishes to be fulfilled by our only heir, Draco Malfoy."
"Excuse me, sir, but I am the only living heir?"
"That is correct, Draco. You are the only living Malfoy heir." Floored by the unexpected news, Draco glanced at Hermione to see her reaction. Her eyes were wide and her mouth slightly parted.
"Among other assorted possessions listed below, Draco also is to receive the entire Malfoy fortune and Malfoy Manor." Draco couldn't believe what he was hearing. His parents had left him every bit of their wealth. At eighteen, Draco was the richest wizard in the world. Hermione had gasped when she heard what he would be receiving. She glanced over at Draco, who seemed to think that it was too good to be true. By the time Nigel had finished reading the family will, Draco was in complete shock. He couldn't move.
"You're bloody rich." Hermione muttered, looking around at the room that Draco now owned.
"I'm bloody overwhelmed." He replied, massaging his temples. Feeling suddenly drained of energy, he kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the couch. He rested his head in Hermione's lap and stared up into her eyes.
"Thank you."
"What for?"
"God, where do I begin? For being here. For caring. For comforting me."
"No problem, Draco. I wouldn't rather be anywhere else." The clock above the fireplace struck five, and Draco's stomach grumbled hungrily. Realizing that the chefs were off for the weekend, Draco guided Hermione to the kitchen.
"What should we make for dinner?"
"You can cook?" She stared at him in surprise.
"Can I cook? Of course I can cook! Now give me that white scrapey thing over there. The long thing with the-"
"You mean a spatula?" Hermione asked, holding it up, grinning at him. His face relaxed into a grin as well, and it felt amazingly wonderful.
"Yeah, that. And give me that thing with all the holes."
"A cheese grater?"
"Yeah."
"What are you making?" She asked, passing him the grater. He glanced down at the cookbook on the counter in front of him.
"I have no idea." Hermione laughed and moved around the counter to look in the cookbook. She flipped through it and stopped on pasta primavera.
"This is easy to make. Tell me what we need, I'll get the stuff." Hermione ordered, tying an apron around her waist. Draco read the list out loud and Hermione scurried all over the kitchen, gathering ingredients and cooking supplies. Forgetting for the first time why he was at Malfoy Manor during the school year, Draco laughed with Hermione as they attempted to cook pasta primavera. When they finally finished, they argued over who should take the first bite.
"It was all you, Hermione. You did everything, I just stood here."
"So? It's your house. Your food. You eat it."
"Come on! Just take one bite."
"It's not like I poisoned it, Draco." Hermione winked at him, trying to push a forkful of pasta towards his mouth. He dodged it, falling backwards into a cabinet. A bag of flour knocked over and spilled over Draco, covering him in white powder. Hermione collapsed into a fit of laughter and had to grasp the counter to keep from falling over. Draco shook some of the powder out of his hair and wiped it away from his eyes. He glared at Hermione and tossed some flour in her direction. Her laughing stopped immediately. It was Draco's turn to laugh. When the flour fight had ended and the kitchen was spotless, Draco finally agreed to take the first bite. He chewed for a moment, then his eyes widened. Hermione bit her lip.
"Is it good?" She asked carefully.
"It's awesome! Hermione, you are amazing."
"You helped." Draco rolled his eyes and shoved a forkful of their creation in Hermione's mouth. She grinned.
"You're right. I am amazing." She winked at him, and he grinned.
"Hermione...I wanted to ask you something."