Chapter 7: Civility Is The First Step

3 DAYS LATER; THE SHRIEKING SHACK

It was the only place they felt safe now. Since Voldemort and the Death Eaters knew that 12 GRIMMAULD PLACE was their official headquarters,they immediatley moved to their second location,but they only used it as a temporary place. It was a cold night. The moon was overhead in the star-filled sky,very clear and very bright. A figure in a black cloak was walking up the front pathway to the door of the shack. The figure trembled slightly from the freezing wind that was blowing. It stopped at the landing and knocked twice,stopped,then another three times as if in code. The door swung open to let the woman in.

"Vance, youll catch your cold out there, come in, sit down by the fire,everybody else is already here." Another woman had opened the door. She was a pink-cheeked witch with short black hair,her expression of utmost relief. The woman who had just arrived took off her cloak to reveal a witch with blonde hair and horn-rimmed glasses,and looking rather matter-of-factly. "No, no dont fuss over me, Hestia, Im just glad I made it here without-" She broke off as a faint clunk-clunk sound echoed through the halls announcing the arrival of another Order member coming into the hall. "Emmeline, were you followed?" Mad-Eye Moody asked without delay,his voice sharp and brisk. "As I was just about to tell Hestia, I wasnt followed." Before she could explain more,Mad-Eye cut her off again. "Do you have the note?" his voice this time commanding. Emmeline Vance looked a little annoyed at Moody,but nevertheless replied in her same calm tone,"Yes, have it right here in my pocket" taking it out and showing it to Moody and Hestia Jones. When Moody saw the piece of parchment with both his magical and normal eye,he snatched it immediatley from Emmeline and holding it in his hand,clunked away from them towards the drawing room,with Hestia and Emmeline following,saying together in unison, "Honestly".

The entire drawing room was dark except the parts where the weak fire was reaching. It crackled every few seconds,and illuminated faces of people of different ages spread all over the room. Mad-Eye Moody,Emmeline and Hestia walked in and as they did so,one of the figures stood up and walked rapidly towards Emmeline. "Are you alright? Did you have any trouble getting back? When will he arrive?" McGonagell was talking in rapid tones to her,and Emmeline raised her hands up and said,"Calm down Minerva. Im fine, I wasnt followed. As for when he is coming,it is all in the letter." Moody showed everybody the letter and Hestia,McGonagell and Emmeline all took a seat on the couch by the fire. Moody opened up the scroll of partially crumpled parchment and read:

I have recieved word that all of you made it there perfectly safe,and am pleased by this good news, Unfortunatley,the reasons on why we are here today are both grave and serious. Even though the prophecy has been fufilled in one way that Voldemort will now die in 1 year, thanks to the spell caused by Harry Potter, we now have another threat. Almost exactly a week in-a half ago, we found out that Voldemort has other plans, concerning the fufillment of another prophecy. The prophecy in question, Voldemort has but I was lucky enough before going off to Hogwarts for the Final Battle to be told from my spy that is regurlary bringing information for me, that the prophecy says that yes Voldemort will die but he will have an heir. A joint-blood child from a pureblood and muggleborn vessel. The complications for the conception of this child is an in-depth process, including Voldemort possessing during the night of consumation the pureblood vessels body. Also, coincidently, the baby must be born while Voldemort is still alive so he can transfer his powers to him before he dies. As Voldemort now only has a year to accomplish this feat, he has wasted no time in carrying it out. As you are all aware, Voldemort has kidnapped Miss Hermione Granger, on the same day we found out about the prophecy. As you have no doubt have deducted, he has picked her to be the Muggleborn vessel. What you dont know, is that he has also already picked his pureblood vessel. Draco Malfoy, has been chosen. My spy has also informed me, that they were wed three days ago, and have already consumated the marriage. This is very bad news for us. I will explain more when I arrive shortly. I am also bringing a guest.

-Dumbledore

After Moody read the letter, there was silence then, "Whoss this guy that Dumbledores bringin?" Mundungus Fletcher said rather sloppily into the silence. "No clue, doesnt say does it?" Moody said, placing the letter on a near small table, and taking a swig from his hip flask before adding,"If I had to guess, Id say it was this spy that he keeps talking about in the letter. Funny, how he doesnt mention a name..." he swiftly added, before taking another swig. "Guess he thought, if Emmeline had been tailed coming back,at least Voldemort wouldnt know who the spy is,if he got his hands on the letter,"said a wheezy-voiced wizard,named Elphias Doge. He was sitting in the back smoking a long pipe. Mundungus Fletcher and a little wizard named Dedalus Diggle was sitting on either side of him.

Moodys magical eye was swivelling around until it settled itself in the back of Moodys socket,only revealing the white of the eye. Moody,with his eye still looking through the back of his head,took another drink from his hip flask before continuing to speak. " How long will Dumbledore take,I mean weve been here for at least a couple o hours, what could be taking so long?" At that precise moment there was a knock that echoed through the wallls of the house. The sounding of banging resonated twice then stopped and almost as abruptly as it began, the knocker rapped on the door yet again three more times. "Thatd be him, I presume." said McGonagell while getting up and walking rather swiftly to the main corrider leading to the door.

In a matter of seconds,McGonagell could be heard coming back towards the room,a man in a blue traveling cloak on her heels. Dumbledore follwed McGonagell inside the room,and behind him was..."Snape" said Ginny Weasley. She was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace. Fred Weasley,looking tired and slightly pale had been against the wall in the back of the room,away from the fire. But the abrupt arrival of Dumbledore and Snape made him walk into the light.

Dumbledore surveyed the room, as if making sure everyone was present. A frown appeared across his aged face. "Wheres Hagrid and Maxime? I thought I made it perectly clear that tonight is a very important meeting...the information that will be discussed here today is very conidential and I would rather not repeat it,therefore where is Hagrid and Madame Maxime?" Dumbledore looked stern and slightly intimidating. His voice wasnt vociferous,but it was commanding. Tonks,who had been sitting in a chair next to Fred, spoke up. "They were here earlier but they said that they had to pick up something that they thought would be useful to us and so they left." Dumbledore looked at Tonks with a soft expression,then he turned to McGonagell as if confirming this information. "Yes," she said almost at once when he looked to her,"They said they would be back in an hour even though they never mentioned anything about where they were off to." she finished briskly.

At this news Dumbledore scratched his chin through his massive beard knowingly. His eyes squinted as if in deep thought. All his colleagues were now either looking at him to commence,or to Snape who had remained behind Dumbledore not saying a word. His hair had grown more with each year, turning it more greasy and spiky-looking with it. Fred and Ginny on the other hand,had not even looked at Dumlbledore once. Both of their gazes on Snape. "Whats this traitor doing here?" said Ginny,standing up in front of the fire,her hands held together in balls of fists by her sides. She looked positively fuming. She wasnt the only one. Fred and Tonks walked over to Ginny,both standing on either side of her.Tonks twitched her fingers towards her left pocket,ready to pull out her wand when the time came.Fred on the other hand, wasted no time to act. He already had his wand out,eye level with him,with his arm jutting out in front of him,aiming directly at Severus Snape.

"Put that wand down boy before some eyes accidently go flying",said Moody, whose magical eye was swivelling cosmically fast in his socket,yet again. Fred didnt flinch as Moody stepped closer to him,his wand now up,in case he needed to use it. Freds eyes never left Snapes form,which remained stationary like a statue behind Dumbledore. "No, if it wasnt for Snape,Hermione would still be here." He was trembling now but his voice was steady.Tonkss eyes seeemed to be darting at every inch of Snapes body,as if to decide which part to jinx first.

Dumbledore turned his gaze over to Fred. His eyes were twinkling behind his glasses,and he looked absolutley calm as he spoke. "Why do you suppose Severus is the reason for this? Hermione has been chosen because that was her destiny." Dumbledore stepped toward Fred,but Fred made not one notion that he had seen him. His eyes were burning still on Snape,as well as his wand was. Ginny on the other hand looked up at Dumbledore curiously. "What do you mean ' her destiny ' ? I dont think Hermione wanted to be kidnapped!" Her voice was very high,and clearly said in total anger and disbelief. But Dumbledore remained calm as he said,"It does not matter whether she wanted to be or not,in the end it was going to happen because she has always been the muggleborn vessel that the prophecy speaks of. It has been her destiny before she was born, as it was Draco Malfoys to be the pureblood vessel and as it was Harrys to die."

"Dont you talk about Harrys death like that!" Ginny looked like she was on the breaking point. Her fists were as red as her face from outrage,and her hair looked like it was about flare up in fire any minute. Tonks looked absolutley appalled at Dumbledores words and Freds right eye was twitching. The rest of the room was fidgeting uncomfortably and their was a very cold silence following Ginnys words. All eyes were on Dumbledore,who was the only one who still looked spookingly calm. "I did not say that to disrespect Harry, Ginevra, I merely said it because it is the truth and I cannot deny in saying that her kidnapping is just something that Voldemort has done to make our lives even more depressing,even though it undeniably has had that effect on all of us." He stopped looked around at the room,and then continued. "The only thing we can do now is make sure that the rest of the prophecy does not happen." He now turned around and looked at Snape,who straightened himself up importantly." Severus here can help. He is my spy for Voldemort and he will keep us informed on the fragile situation that Hermione is now in."

Dumbledore turned around again and now spoke directly to Fred. "So if you please lower your wand. We wouldnt want any accidents." His voice this time was slightly commanding but non-threatning. Fred noticed this slight change,and with one last glare towards Snape, he lowered his wand and retreated rather huffily toward the left side of the fireplace. "How bad is the situation over there at Malfoy Manor, Albus?" McGonagell spoke up. "Is she treated...you know cruelly?" she added rather regretfully. Dumbledore sighed than looked towards Snape as if in asking him the same question.Snape cleared his throat tersely before speaking. "Not that I am aware of and I know alot. She was treated rather badly while she was unconscious. She was chained to the floor in a cellar, and abused rather badly by some of the younger Death Eaters,Crabbe and Goyle included. But now, she is apparently fine. She is not underfed and she has a room now. The worst so far I could imagine is Luciuss beatings,or so I have heard." Snape inclined his head and looked at Ginny briefly before continuing. "Well I didnt expect anything different,what with living with Lucius and all. I suppose he would have killed her by now if it wasnt for the Dark Lords uses with her."

McGonagell was breathing in short,brief spasms and Hestia sighed audibly. "Is there nothing we can do?" she asked. Snape shook his head while talking,as if to add emphasis to the fact. "No,it is to dangerous. Not only for us,but for her." "I dont believe that for a minute." Ginny spoke quietly but somehow her words seemed to carry out to every section of the room. " I dont care how dangerous it is. Voldemort knows he cant harm her because he needs her. I wont just sit back and let my friends life become ruined because youre to afraid of youre precious Lord. Harrys has ensured that hell die in 1 year. And in that year Hermione could become pregnant and have that stupid demonic child. I wont let it happen. Even if it means I die and take you all down with me I dont care." The room was deafly silent once again. Everybody was looking at Ginny. She had never spoken like that..ever. Dumbledore made to reach forward and touch her shoulder,but she quickly jerked away from his outstretched hand.

"You know that you cannot do that,Ginevra. Even though we all wish to help Hermione as much as we can,we cannot. We risk everything. The only thing that we can do is to make sure that, that bay never comes forth. Severus is going to help us there." Snape stuck his nose up in the air, but said nothing. Ginnys eyes met Tonkss briefly,but then averted her gaze towards Dumbledores. " How exactly can he help?" she spat back coldly. "Hasnt he done enough?" she added while folding her arms.

"Snape is a master at potion-making as everyone knows. He has informed me that he knows a potion that will stop Hermione from having children. He will disguise it in a drink of hers,when he goes to visit the Malfoys in a two days time. The reason why we must do this,is of why the baby is to be born. Voldemort needs the baby to transfer his powers to,before he dies and the Prophecy says that the baby must be born before Voldemort dies. Therefore, no baby, no way for Voldemorts legacy to continue."

Ginny,as she looked at Dumbledore, had a look of comprehension and building anger upon her face. "You mean you want to make Hermione infertile? Especially making her infertile without her knowing it!" Hestia shook her head blankly at Dumbledore. Tonks looked at him as if seeing him for the first time and Mundungus choked horribly on his pipe at Ginnys words. Dumbledore sighed again and turned his back away from Ginnys accusing face. With eyes closed he muttered, "Yes. I know it sounds horrible and I myself had a few doubts about this plan." He opened his eyes again and turned back around,and as if pleading to her said," But I know that this plan will work. It must be done. There is no other way." After he spoke there was another knock on the door. This time,in loud booming knocks that shook even the floor.

The knocks continued in the same code that was done by Emmeline and Dumbledore. McGonagell stood up and went to the door. A few moments later,she came back with Hagrid and Madame Maxime bringing up the rear. " Srry, got held up. Didn think it would take tha long." He moved towards the fireplace,making Snape, Dumbledore,Tonks and Ginny step out of the way. "And where exactly were you?" Moody said accusingly. Madame Maxime had bustled over towards the fire as well. Theyre huge bodies blocking out the fires view from everybody entirely. Hagrid stood up at once with a huge grin upon his face. "Well, I herd the plan about Hermione from Dumbledore a while ago,and I also herd that Snape here couldn find an important item for the solution, sos I went off and.." He stuck his large hand into his moleskin overcoat and pulled out a huge gooey egg the size of a pineapple. It was cement gray mixed with a yellowish color except for the green ooze that seemed to be coming out of, even though the egg was not cracked or broken at all in appearance. Snapes eyes widened hungrily as he looked at it. Dumbledore simply stared at it,speculating if it was real or not.

"Eh..Eh! Int beautiful? Cost a pretty penny too. Thank Merlin though tha Olympe knew the righ place to get it." He gave Madame Maxime a sheepish grin,who turned red and turned her gaze back towards the fire. "What the hell is that exactly?" Fred said stepping away from the egg and towards Tonks. Hagrid beamed at the egg apraisingly,as he held it in his hand. "Tha is the key for our plan ter work. Tha righ dere is a egg of a snake hybrid." A lot of faces in the room lit up as if in understanding.

Fred was the only one who was looking at it as if he didnt understand how a snake hybrids egg could be so important, but Ginny looked at with a most loathing and fearful look. "A snake hybrids egg? Doesnt the poison in the ooze of the egg kill anything that can grow...or anything that has the potential to reproduce?" "Not exactly," Snape said as he moved towards the egg,never taking his eyes off of it. "If we feed it to a human,it will not kill them but simply kill off the organs inside that has the ability to reproduce,making them unable to concieve." Snape had his hands outstretched towards the egg,but Dumbledore was quicker. "Come,first we must make sure this truly is what we need." He walked out of the room with Snape scurrying behind him. McGonagell,Moody,Hagrid and Madam Maxime followed them as well.

Elphias Doge simply shrugged his shoulders as he and Dedalus Diggle walked out behind Emmeline Vance who was well followed the party out of the room. All who were left was Ginny,Fred,Tonks Mundungus Fletcher and Hestia Jones. "I cant believe this. Dumbledore cannot do this to an innocent person. I mean shes barely 17, shes only a child." Hestia spoke,tears in her eyes. Tonks walked forward and patted Hestia on the shoulder. "I know,thats why were going to do somehting." Ginny said,angry once more. She looked over at her brother. He nodded is head in agreement. "Yes,but what?" he asked her quietley. "I dont know. But one thing is for sure is that Im not gonnna let Dumbledore ruin Hermiones life. Prophecy or not,shes my friend and I wont let him do this." Hestia looked up at Ginny frightfully. "No we cant. Theres no way. You heard Dumbledore hes forbidden us to try anything." Ginny ignored her and pressed onward. "Were gonna save her from the Malfoys. I dont care what it takes but were gonna do it." Tonks stood up from where she was with Hestia. "Im with you. I dont like Dumbledores plan anymore than you do. But like Fred said, how? We dont even know where the Malfoys live." At this, theyre was a coughing noise from the back of the room. Mundungus Fletcher stood up, pipe in his hand and simply stated, "That will be no problem I know where the Malfoys live. Im in." And he sat back down and put his pipe back in his mouth.

"See? With Dungs help this could actually work." Fred said. Ginny nodded her head,and turned her head towards Hestia. "Well, are you in or out?" Hestia looked scared butdetermined to help. She stood up and nodded her head. "When?" she asked. Ginny turned her stare towards the fire. "Tomorrow."

SAME DAY,MALFOY MANOR

It had been three days since the wedding night incident. In those three days,Hermione had been getting used to,slowly, the feeling of living with the Malfoys. She got used to spending most of her time with Narcissa during the day,and the feeling of her new room at night. At first, she thought that she would just stay in Dracos bedroom,but apparently not. The next day after Dracos confession she was taken to a master bedroom on an upper floor. The large and lavishly decorated bedroom had the bed in the center of the room and to the right of it,like her previous bedroom,had a step-in closet with a private vanity at the very back of it. To the left of the bed there were scarlet curtains that slightly hid the screen double-doors that lead to a balcony that was as wide and large as a veranda. It had several reclining lawn chairs and a spectacular view of the sun both rising and setting. To the left of the doors to the room there was a fireplace and a black oak mantlepiece. There was also a couch in front of the fireplace and two armchairs to the left and right of the couch. A coffee table in front of the pieces of furniture gave the room a feeling of peace and comfort.

On the right wall of the room,was one door leading to a private bathroom that was exactly like Hermiones bathroom in her old room. On the left wall of the room,was two doors. The left one lead to another chamber room much like Narcissas. It was decorated in the style of a private living room. And the door to the right of that one,which was always locked,Hermione could only guess was Dracos private study. The first night of Hermione knowing the truth was restless. She was glad that she slept alone,but in this huge room,which at first she was rather intimidated of,she couldnt sleep. At first she thought it was because she had just found out the shocking truth of her wedding night,but upon further inspection of her surrounding and feelings she realized that she felt like she was being watched. She quickly shrugged off those feelings immediatley,and spent the rest of the night having nightmares of things that she didnt remember in the morning.

The next day,she had spent a quiet morning with Narcissa in her room. Then Narcissa had to go out and she informed Hermione that now that she was a Malfoy,(Hermione shuddered a bit when Narcissa had said this, but Narcissa seemed to not have noticed,) that she could peruse the house as she wished but was forbidden to go down to the basement. Narcissa said this line both gravely and threatingly. Clearly somehting was down there that Hermiones eyes must never look upon. But Hermione didnt care. There was still 2 floors above the one where her bedroom was and 2 below her that she could still explore. In hours she found many rooms,some of them clearly still being used by the Malfoy family and some of them not. Hermione was enraptured by every room that she found. Especially when she found both the trophy room and next to it the library. The trophy room was lined in many corriders,leading to a different room of trophies fro each Malfoy. She noticed and she slightly frowned at the injustice of it,that theyre was not one room dedicated to a female Malfoy that did anything. She was shocked at this. Surely there was at least one room dedicated to a Malfoy that was not a man. But search as hard as she might,there was no such room.

The library was far more interesting to her than any room in the house. The was 2 floors dedicated to the Malfoy Library,and there were a set of stars that just escalated upward to reach the second level. She fell in love with this room immediatley and she knew that in her heart that this where she would spend her most waking hours here,just reading and reading until she fell asleep on one of the many comfortable couches and chairs that were spread all over this room in different places.After she had walked around the library and promising to return to the library as soon as she finished her search of the house,she stepped outside of the door to see a house-elf take a tray of an empty bown and tea kettle behind a tapestry of a younger Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Hermiones curiosity got the better of her and she pulled back the pictured-tapestry and found a regular wooden door behind it. She opened it and stepped inside. There were at least 20 house-elves bustling about,some with trays adding or taking food off of them and some with broom and other cleaning utensils,busy cleaning this and that.' Its the kitchen,and probably throught that door there is the laundry and who knows what else ' Hermione thought to herself as amazingly through all the clamor the house-elves didnt notice her entrance until a small female house-elf who had just entered the kitchen with freshly laundered clothes in her arms,squeeled and all her clothes flew to the floor. "Mistress in here, Mistress in here!" She immediately flung herself onto the floor in such a low bow that all her face was touching the floor. All the rest of the house-elves abandoned what they were doing,and followed suit.

Hermione didnt know what to think as all the trembling house-elves were acting this way to her. Her face flushed from embarrassment as she told them to get up off the floor,which they immediatley obeyed making Hermione turn even more scarlet. "Oh please you dont have to do that. Here let me help you." she said to the small house-elf that had started the commotion. She bent over and grabbed the clothes that were laying on the floor and held them out to the house-elf. The house-elf took them from her shaking,"Oh missus please dont hurts Li-Li Is didnt means to dirty the clothes,Ill rewash them and slam Li-Lis fingers in the door for this I swears." Her entire small body was trembling with fright and her huge eyes the size of tennis balls were looking imploringly at Hermione. Hermione was surprised by her comment and then added quickly,"What? No, you dont have to punish yourself, please it was actually my fault for scaring you like that. I guess alot of the Malfoys dont come in here often." The house-elf to Hermiones relief stopped shaking and nodded. "Only to scold or punish us,for workin to slowly. Buts its mostly Master Malfoy who does this to Li-Li and my family." Her eyes were narrowed in anger as she said ' Master Malfoy' and then her eyes widened in fear as she realized at what she just said. "Li-Lis a bad house-elf. Li-Li should not have spoken ill of her family,maam." She set the clothes on a table and grabbed a soup spoon that a house-elf was just using to laddle a soup into a bowl with just minutes before. She kept knocking the spoon into her head until Hermione,looking horrified, had to wrestle it out of her hands and command her never to punish herself again.

Panting a little after the squabble with house-elf Hermione sat down at a chair that was adjoining the table. The house-elf looked slightly dizzy as she placed the clothes back into her arms once more. "Sorry Mistress. Li-Li only had to do what is expected of Li-Li and it is not expected to say ill things of her family. No matter who they are and what they do to Li-Lis own family." Hermione looked up at the house-elf whose entire body trembling once more,but from the weight of the clothes. Something that this house-elf called Li-Li said made Hermione curious. "Youre own family? You mean..." she looked around to meet the gazes of many apprehensive looking house-elves. Some taller than others,but only just. Some of them their ears poke out at the top of their head and some of them their ears poke out at the sides of their heads. Some were females and some were men, but they all shared one commen trait. Their large tennis-ball sized green eyes that made Hermione remind her forcibly of...

"Dobby...Dobby worked here right? He was part of youre family. All these house-elves are youre relatives." She told Li-Li, who jumped up and down with excitement making some of the clothes to topple to the floor,but Li-Li didnt notice. "Yes Mistress. These are Li-Lis family. But Mistress how do you know Li-Lis brother Dobby? Li-Li and Li-Lis other brothers and sisters have not heard of Dobby in a long long time. Rumors are that he is a free house-elf." She asked with her eyes wide again. Hermione laughed and spoke with a small smile on her face," Yeah, hes free. And he loves it. He gets paid for his work and he even has vacations." Li-Lis big eyes widened,if that were even possible, even more. "Dobby free and Dobby gets paid? That is somethin that Li-Li has trouble believeing Mistress." Hermione giggled warmly to her and said,"No its the truth Li-Li. Harry Potter set him free, and ever since then he has been working for Dumbledore at Hogwarts and getting paid for it too." Hermione stopped smiling and tried to forget anything that had to do with Hogwarts and Dumbledore. It was too painful to remember the past,which held many happy memories.

Li-Li didnt speak but merely looked at Hermione in awe. Hermione found that she rathe rliked this house-elf and found her very good company and hoped that she could see her again. "Li-Li who are youre other brothers and sisters?" she found herself asking her. Li-Li,smiled warmly to Hermione as if nobody had ever asked her this question and said," Mofty and Cece my sisters who are older than me and Dobby, and Boxey my brother who is older than me,Dobby and Cece but not Mofty. And finally Gimpy my brother who is younger than everybody." She smiled an even wider smile. "Dobby was before me,and he was my favorite brother. He always took care of me from things." Hermione knew clearly that by things she meant Lucius Malfoys beatings. Suddenly, Li-Lis warm smile vanished and her whole body began to shake anew.

"Sharing family secrets are we?" the voice of Draco Malfoy echoed throughout the room from behind Hermione. She turned around from her chair,to notice Draco not looking or talking to her but at Li-Li. "You dropped some clothes. Pick them up and get back to work." he said cruelly. Li-Li nodded her head,and quivering madly picked up the fallen clothing and disappeared through another door.

Hermione looked at Draco with anger in her eyes. "You didnt have to treat her like that you know." She stood up,which hardly made a difference considering that Draco was taller than her. He turned his gaze upon her and Hermione was shocked that his expression changed dramatically from anger to both pity and frustration. "We need to talk" he simply said. He turned on his heel and left the room,leaving a slightly worried Hermione behind him. She followed him out and followed him down the hall beind him,silent until he lead her to their room. When they got there he sat down on the couch and watched the floor for awhile. Meanwhile, Hermione took a seat on the opposite side of the couch putting distance between them. They just sat in silence like that until Hermione,become slightly annoyed spoke up. "Well, you said we had to talk." He finally looked at her. His eyes were skeptical, and his face looked as if he were contemplating whether or not to tell her what he needed to tell her. "My father knows that I told you about what happened two nights ago." Hermiones expression changed from annoyance to slight fear. "And?" she said, "Is that bad? Did he...hurt you or anything?" and for some unknown reason she realized that she actually cared if he did hurt Draco.

Draco simply shook his head, still watching her. He got up from the couch and moved towards the fireplace. His back to her as he spoke. "He reckons that you were bound to find out anyway. He also said that now that you know, he says that we should sleep with each other every night until you get pregnant." He turned back around,and Hermione was surprised that his face was not angry or flustered or anything but rather hard and determined to geth through to her. "And I agree." he added. Hermione didnt know what to say. She didnt even want to look at Draco. She stood up and walked away from him,this time her back to him as she stared at the bed. She realized there was no way out of this. Her reason and destiny in this whole matter depended upon this baby that she had to concieve with Draco. She sighed, her back still to him as she spoke. "Is Voldemort going to disguise himself again?" she asked,almost dreading the answer. ' Maybe I can get through this easily if he didnt ' she thought to herself.

She felt rather than heard Draco stir behind her. "No,he only had to do that on the wedding night. It would just be me from now on." his voice was slightly starined as he spoke this time. Hermione could almost feel the tension in the air as they spoke. She sighed again. It was inevitable and if it meant that he wouldnt touch her while she was pregnant with the baby and after,she felt that it was worth a couple of nights with him. Her husband. " I guess I have no choice in the matter anyways." she said,speaking finally.

Later that evening while Hermione was in her nightgown in front of her vanity brushing her hair,she heard the door of her bedroom creak open. Next,followed by footsteps and the opening of her closet door. She looked up into the mirror of her vanity,and saw her husband. He was panting slightly and was wearing dark green nightrobes. She sighed and put down her brush and stood up. She closed her eyes,as she turned around and walked out of the closet, Draco behind her...

That was yesterday,and Hermione sighed while she thought about. She was outside on a bench in the backyard grounds with a book in her hands. As the wind passed through her hair, she couldnt help but rememebr yesterday night. He was so gentle with her. The way his hands moved,and the way he handled her clearly spoke volumes to Hermione. "He wanted to be there with me" she said to herself. "But why?" she said again. She was confused. She thought he would just get it over and done with. Get his desire fufilled and leave. But he didnt. Afterwards,he stayed with her in the bed. Hermione found herself wondering if he would stay again with her tonight,and a small part of her was hoping that he was." Why are you thinking these things? He doesnt want to be with you. He was just probably tired so he stayed with me last night. Or maybe it was pity from the last time. But surely not because he wanted to." But even as Hermione again out loud expressed her feelings,she couldnt shake an unknown feeling that she didnt comprehend at all,and irritated with herself she closed the book she was trying to read and went back inside the house and retreated to her room.But unfortunaltey,there was another person waiting for her there.

It was still morning and the suns rays were streaming in through the windows,illuminating the person that was seconds before sitting on her couch,before she enetered. Hermione jumped back in surprise at the sight of him. She recovered herself quickly. "Im sorry if I startled you. I was just in here with Draco and he told me to wait here while he went to fetch something,"Blaise Zabini said stepping towards Hermione. She blinked twice to take in his appearance. He looked like he had been on the recieving end of a few bad hexes,mostly aimed at his face. Then Hermione realized where she was the last time she had been this close to him. He was pleading with the Dark Lord to let him be the pureblood vessel not Hermione,thus being her husband and being her counterpart.

He smiled towards her as he walked towards her. "Please come,youre better company then youre husband anyday." He closed the door behind Hermione and lead her to the couch. Hermiones face blushed tremendously when he said this as she took a seat,Blaise sitting immensley close by. "So...How have you been,Zabini?" she asked nervously. She was trembling slightly but not enough that he could have noticed. He smiled sheepishly and said,"Well,other than the fact that I got my ass kicked by Voldemort a few days ago Im swell. Apparently my little ' mishap ' as he calls it, didnt warrant me a death curse being blown my way. I just got a warning." His smile was gone as he looked at her in a way that Hermione never saw any man look at her before. She was uncomfortable by it. Plus he had said ' Voldemort ' instead of the Dark Lord as most Death Eaters do,and that puzzled her greatly. "You didnt say the Dark Lord? You called him by his true name. Youre not scared of him?" she asked letting her curiousity speak for her.

He smiled again at her as he shifted his weight a little closer towards her. "He doesnt scare me a bit. Why would you think that? Especially after my little stunt that I pulled just to be with you,the other night." He said this in a whisper. He was much to close. Hermiones instincts kicked in,yelling and screaming. 'Youre married! This isnt right.' But then wasnt this a forced marriage? It wasnt as if she would feel guilty if this man who she hardly knew kissed her,right? Or would she? But before she could think anymore on the matter she heard a rude cough coming from the inside of the room,and she looked up. Draco was standing behind the couch looking down upon the pair of them. She instinctivley put her hand to Zabinis chest and pushed him away from her. She stood up,said excuse me and walked out of the room, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and in the pit of her stomach,guilt was rising slowly up.

She hid herself in the library for what felt like hours,trying very hard not to think of what just happened,or at least what could have happened if Draco didnt come in. The worst part was the look on his face. It was a look of both mingled fury and shame. She had never seen that look on his face..ever. It was downright..painful to even remember it. She tried to focus once again on reading a book,any book but to no avail she kept on revisiting that terrible look that Draco had on his face. A house-elf found her,and brought her lunch,which Hermione ate alone in the library. A few more hours later,Hermione saw Narcissa enter the library,a look of pity on her face. Hermione,who had been sitting with her legs on the chair,quickly situated herself in a more presentable fashion as Narcissa took a seat opposite her,and the table which her half-eaten lunch lay.

Narcissa smiled weakly at her, and stretched out her hand to Hermiones. "Its alright dear. Youre not the only one sulking. Draco has been in the backyard grounds for hours,merely pacing and jinxing anything that gets in his path." Hermione let down her book as she focused her entire attention to what Narcissa was saying. "I know what happened wasnt your fault. Things happen,and Ive known Blaise Zabini since he was merely a toddler playing Draco. Hes very strong-willed and doesnt think twice about his actions. If he sees something he wants he goes for it,and doesnt care what stands in his way or what the consequences are." Hermione shuddered at this. Zabini wanted her? She didnt have enough time to dwell on this as Narcissa pressed forward."Hes alot like Draco in that way,but nothing like my son in others," her eyes twinkled mischieviously at this and then suddenly her expression turned rather serious."Tell me from your side,what exactly happened?" Hermione breathed deeply and told her everything,her uncomfortableness and her uneasiness towards him,and she even told Narcissa about her thoughts while she was on that couch with him and about the feelings she had afterwards,especially the guilt she had while looking upon her sons face.

After she was finished, Narcissa grabbed ahold of Hermiones other hand with her other hand firmly. "Promise me Hermione,promise me that you will never be alone in a room with Blaise Zabini again." Her words were as firm as her grip and Hermione was slightly frightened at this. "Narcissa, I dont ever want to be alone with him again,neither see or hear of him again. What makes you think that I would do this then?" Narcissa looked at her daughter-in-law with pity. "Because,no matter how hard you try you will see Blaise Zabini again,both because he works for the Dark Lord and he has important business with our family. And the second because he has marked you down as a target." Hermiones eyes widened. Narcissa spoke again,"Let me explain further.He has marked you down,not as a target in the sense of the word that he wants to hurt or kill you,but in the sense that he physically wants you,do you understand?" Hermione noticed that Narcissas hands were suddenly cold and her voice was also very stern and commanding. She nodded her head in understanding and promised to never be alone with him again.

Narcissa smiled warmly. "Now all you have to do is talk to Draco." she said, as if this was the most easiest thing in the world. Hermione looked away from her mother-in-law. She sat up straighter in her chair,as she withdrew her hands from Narcissas. "I dont think that I can do that right now." she said softly,avoiding Naricissas gaze. Narcissa simply tutted and said in her bossily fashion,"And why not? He is youre husband and has the right to know the truth!" Hermione looked at Narcissa and noticed she was sitting as straight as a board,how she had ever accomplished getting her back so straight Hermione could never understand. She seemed as graceful as a swan yet as sharp-tongued and hot-tempered as a bull,even though she had a better control on her temper then her husband and son. Hermione finally expressed her fear towards Narcissa."Because he might not want to see me,or even beleive me for that matter." Hermione looked almost appalled. How could she say this? Didnt she, Hermione Granger, suffered 7 years in school with this boy? This boy that always taunted her for what she was and who she befriended? And now...Now she was married to him,have slept with him twice,and suddenly care what he thinks of her.

Narcissa,as if reading her very thoughts,once again took her hands in hers as she spoke with an air of innumerable knowledge," I know that you two never did get along in school. But things have changed. You two have grown in these past years,and as well in these past days. You,my dear,have suffered immensely. Suffered more than what could be deemed possible,and perhaps more. But I see the way he acts around you. I know these signs. I know that he cares for you,possibly more than you know. Possibly even more than he knows. But I know. I also know that the reason why you are scared to approach him is because you also care for him." Hermione looked up at her. Narcissa had a large smile on her face. Hermione said nothing,simply sat there and thought. "But how can I have these feelings for him?" Hermione found herself saying,without even realizing it. "I mean, a part of me wants to hate him for what he has done to me and my friends, but another part..." she looked away toward the floor. Narcissa never took her eyes off of her as she spoke. "A part of you wants to love him." At these words Hermione looked up at her and spat back," No,I dont love him." she said coldly,but realizing that she was talking to the subject at hands mother,she became embarrassed and quickly said,"Sorry,I didnt mean to say it like that..I mean, Im sorry."

But Narcissa simply laughed slightly. "I understand. Youre not there...not yet." Hermiones eyes widened,and she was about to speak but Narcissa cut her off. "You know Hermione, things change. Time changes everything,and youre relationship with Draco just takes time. You two have always been on tenterhooks with each other. Since the day you met each other. And now youre married,and I know not of youre own choosing,but I know deep down you two wish that you could get along,and you knw what? All it it takes is for you to be to be civil to each other." Hermione looked at her in understanding. "Civility is the first step,you mean" Hermione said as she stood up. Narcissa laughed again and said softly,"Exactly." and she inclined her head towards the window behind Hermione. Hermione stepped behind the couch and looked down at the grounds. There he was. Draco was leaning against a tree,with his arms folded to his chest and his expression hostile. Hermione knew what she had to do,and a part of her felt relieved that she was actually going to talk to him.

She looked over at Narcissa,who was still seated,and Narcissa nodded her head in dismissal.Hermione hurried out of the room as politely as she could. Her feet found theyre to the backyard grounds faster than she would have liked but nevertheless she was there,and she was walking towards him. Draco spotted her,and walked out from under the tree to meet her halfway.He looked rather cold towards her,but Hermione didnt care,she was going to get this off her chest as soon as she could. Before he could say anything,she put a finger to his mouth to silence him. "Dont. Youre going to listen to me before we start arguing again." Her expression was determined,while he was mild surprised at Hermiones boldness. "Before you accuse me of anything,I just want you to know that nothing happened or is happening between me and Blaise Zabini. He was in the room when I got there,and he said he was there on business matters. He lead me to the couch and he started saying things that made me uncomfortable." Hermione after saying this lowered her gaze to the grass. Apparently this was going to be just as hard as she imagined it would be.Her cheeks started to flush with embarrassment,but her voice remained hard and firm. "He sort of..." her voice trailed off,but she was determined to get this throught to him. But before she could speak, He grabbed her by the shoulders,making her gaze meet his. "He came on to you,didnt he?" he said rather accussingly. Hermione frowned. "Yes,but if youre thinking what I think youre thinking than youre wrong. I gave him no pretense to think that he could flirt with me,or do whatever he was doing." Draco let go of her shoulders. His silver-grey eyes meeting her chocolate-brown ones.

"I know,but Blaise is getting out of control." He turned his back on Hermione breaking their eye connection. "Hes always wanted you, did you know that? Ever since you became mine" He said turning back around to look at her. Hermione surveyed his facial expressions and realized that he was slightly jealous. She smirked inward,and couldnt help but feel something. She didnt know what it was,but it felt good. His words especially stirred something in her,that was both shock and slight happiness. He had called her his...

"I dont know why youre acting like this,but I promise you that Ill never been seen with Blaise alone again." Hermione said. She had expected him to nod his head in approval or something of that nature,but never this. For he had given a huge smile,that Hermione couldnt read at all. She didnt know why,but she found herself smiling back and before she knew it,she was giggling as well. He walked over to her still smiling and said, "What are you laughing about?" She shrugged her shoulders. " dont know, I mean what we were talking about was serious and I saw you smiling and I just started laughing...and it actually felt good to laugh,seeing as how I havent laughed at all these last couple of days." she finished weakly. He was standing very close in front of her now. Her eyes were locked onto his. She gupled and said," Maybe we should at least become friendly towards one another from now on,what do you think?" Draco looked at her,as if thinking it through,before he said,"You mean forget the past,and let bygones be bygones?" Hermione sighed again,thinking as well before speaking."Well,I dont think one can forget the past,especially one such as complicated and complex as ours,but we can at least live in the now and in these present circumstances dont you think we can at least become acquantainces?" Draco,was still very close to her,and Hermione shifted away from him,but only an inch or so,so that he wouldnt notice. "I think we should live in the now,and I totally agree that we should become friendly towards one another,I mean were husband and wife and as such we should at least get along and become civil." Hermione smiled and nodded her head in agreement.

He walked around her and offered her his arm. Hermione was taken aback,but realized that this must be how he will act from now on towards her,so she kindly but slowly accepted it,and he lead her towards the house.

LATER THAT SAME NIGHT

It was very late and she was tired but glad. He had,surprising her slightly,had stayed with her for the second night in a row,and she guiltingly felt glad about it. As she lay there and listened to his steady breathing,she couldnt help but feel guilty about everything that was going on in her life. She felt like she was betraying not only her friends,or her fellow Order members but also the memory of her dead fiancee. She didnt know what to think or how to feel. Narcissas words were still echoing in her ear. How she had said that Hermione had hidden feelings for Draco,how she cared about what he thought about her,and how glad she felt when he was laying next to her. How could she be doing this? How could she be thinking this? But suddenly a memory came to her through all of her worries. It was the dream she had of Ron telling her that her heart and destiny belonged to another,and she couldnt help but think...maybe that person was Draco? "No" she said out loud, as if to convince herself, "Im merely just his friend,were merely going to act as acquantances towards one another,and theres nothing going on." A loud moan escaped from behind her,and she feared that she had stirred Draco awake, but he didnt make anymore indication of being awake so she simply kept laying there,wide awake,convincing herself that theyre were no feelings whatsoever for her husband. Unbeknowest to her,that right next to her,was her husband,wide awake as well,trying to convince himself of the same thing.

A/N: SORRY TOOK SO LONG TO PUT UP! FINALS WERE LAST WEEK AND I HAD A BIT OF A WRITERS BLOCK THANKFULLY IM OVER IT! ENJOY IT READ AND REVIEW!