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Hermione stared at the girl for a moment. "Why, hello there!" she finally replied.

Everyone watched as the girl toddled over to Hermione, smiling. Hermione knelt down to be on the same level. The little girl came very close to Hermione, examing her.

"I'm Hermione Granger, I'm Draco's, erm, friend, you must be."

"Hello, I'm Lillian Gwace Malfoy!" She smiled proudly, happy to have remembered her full name.

"Well, how do you do, Lillian Grace Malfoy?"

"Hungwy," she said resolutely.

Everyone's laughter soon broke the tension in the room. Hermione stood up, and walked over to the bed. She looked at Draco. His lips were quite blue, but she could faintly detect the rise and fall of his chest. Hermione looked up at Dumbledore.

Seeing the questioning look on Hermione's face, Mrs. Wealsey said, "Lily, how about you come with Aunt Molly down to the kitchens? We can go try to find some food for your tummy!"

"Ooh, goody! Will thewe be house elfies? They'we so funny!"

Mrs. Wealsey laughed, and took Lily's hand. "Well, we shall see!" They walked out through the door.

When they heard the latch click, Hermione looked up at Dumbledore, "So?"

"He's very ill," Dumbledore began, "He lost an incredible amount of blood. Any more, and, well. It could've been much worse. But he'll require something sort of like a Muggle blood transfusion. The only way to get it, however,"

"Is from Lily," Hermione cut off.

Dumbledore nodded. "Now, it's usually a complicated but safe process. But, considering Lily is only five, it may be more difficult."

Hermione frowned, "When will the procedure take place?"

"Well, thankfully, we've recently acquired the plant needed for the procedure."

"Augmen serpentis," Hermione stated.

"Indeed, Miss Granger," Snape said, "the plant will take approxomately two weeks to mature, with one more week for the potion to be ready."

"Until then, Draco will stay here. We will all keep up the collective front that Draco has gone home to see his mother. It's most imperative that no one finds out, I must remind you again. Voldemort still has many young allies in the Slytherin House." Dumbledore looked at Hermione, who nodded her head. "Now," he continued, "I think we can leave you up here with Mister Malfoy for a while, while we adults join Lily and 'Aunt Molly' for some dinner."

"Yes, sir."

As they were leaving, Sirius stopped over to Hermione, "Don't let Harry make you feel guilty, I know he'll understand in the end. I'll have him and Ron bring me your text books, I'll say you're lending them to me. Oh, and Hogwarts: A History, of course."

Hermione smiled, and turned back towards Draco. She heard the door close behind her. She began rubbing her temples, her eyes shut, when she felt some one sit on the bed next to her. She looked up, startled, and saw Mrs. Malfoy sitting there.

"You know, Hermione," she quickly began, "I don't even know how to thank you. I know the things Draco's said to you, but please don't think I ever tolerated any of that in my presence." Hermione knew she should remain silent as Mrs. Malfoy continued. "You know, I was actually just like you when I was here. Top grades, prefect, Gryffindor."

Hermione turned suddenly and gasped, "You were in Gryffindor?"

Mrs. Malfoy let out a bitter chuckle, "Up until my sixth year, when I started to see Lucius. He didn't like the idea of me being in Gryffindor, so his father, Niccolo, had me switched. It was what I always thought I wanted. Ever since my first year, he was just there, he was Lucius Malfoy, famous, attractive, great Quidditch player, funny. We first started being friends in my fifth year. And then, then he kissed me," she laughed, "I remember thinking 'So this is what it's like to kiss Lucius Malfoy.' But how could I not have been happy, you know? It was what I'd always wanted. But then the fights between he and James started. That's when I started to feel like I was only there for show, like he was one-upping James by 'having' me. I could never see my best friend, I was always with the Slytherins. By graduation, Lucius was already a Death Eater, and there was nothing I could do. He'd kill me or worse if I left. And then we got married. He told me he'd never loved me, but I was 'good breeding' and I'd produce him an heir. He controlled my every move, I couldn't even go to my best friend's wedding." She paused, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I don't know why I'm telling you this, forgive me."

"No, no, it's fine, please, continue." Hermione could sense that it was something the woman had wanted to get off of her chest for a long time.

"Well, then I had Draco," she grasped her son's hand, "and I was just so happy. My best friend was having a baby, too, I just wanted them to be friends. But of course, he wouldn't allow it. Draco was going to be raised the way 'a Malfoy should be.' Voldemort held my baby before his own father did. I was just so devastated, Lucius had just crushed me. I knew if I did anything wrong, not only would he harm me, but he'd harm Draco. You can't imagine, Hermione, how it ached to watch my son grow up to hate. The he came to Hogwarts. I was hoping against all hope that he'd be in Gryffindor, anything but Slytherin. But, no, so he's been surrounded by those people for six years already. When Draco was in his thrid year I became pregnant again. I was so sad, I didn't want to bring another child into this sad excuse for a family. But my best friend had always wanted a girl, so when I found out I was having one, I decided to name my baby after her, Lily."

Hermione gasped yet again, gazing wide-eyed at Mrs. Malfoy.

Narcissa continued still, "Yes, Lily Evans-Potter was my best friend in the wide world. I stood by while Lucius and his pals LAUGHED because my best friend was dead. Naturally, Lucius would never let Draco know that, and Harry doesn't know either, I was too ashamed to let Dumbledore or Sirius tell him."

Narcissa Malfoy sat almost motionless, staring at her son. She rubbed the pad of her thumb across the back of Draco's hand.

Without warning, she broke down, sobbing over her son. "This is all my fault! Do you see? Maybe if I had just stood up to him! Oh, God, Draco, what have I done to you?"

Hermione felt very awkward and confused. Nonetheless, she bent down to Mrs. Malfoy and helped her back on to the bed.

"Listen, Mrs. Malfoy, this is not your fault! Draco IS a good person. The damn fool tries to hide it, and does a good job, but he is. I may never have his respect, and I don't hold that against him, but he has mine. You have done a good job, you did all you could. Now Lucius is gone, and you have to rebuild yourself! You must, you owe it to Draco, and to Lily, both Lilys." Hermione looked Narcissa straight in the eye.

The older woman nodded, and breathed deeply, "I think it's time for me to join the other adults. Thank you, dear." She got up, and walked towards the door. "Oh, and Hermione? Draco respects you very much, please believe me on that." She quietly left and shut the door behind her.

Hermione turned to look at Draco. "Holy shit." was the only thing that came to her mind.

A/N: GUESS WHAT???? I have a new beta reader! Everyone say hi to Annie! So, thank you all for the reviews! Once again, I can't believe that you guys like this story! But, I'm certainly not complaining! Oh, and I've said this before, but this fic is gonna be a long mofo. Soooo, since sometimes I get confused reading long fics, do you guys think I should do, like, a synopsis before each chapter starts? "Previously on Never is a Promise.."? Oh, and I might need to change the title. I have no clue where to fit the song in, lol, I was listening to it when I started to write, so that's why it's called that. (It's by Fiona Apple, and I suggest you download it!) And, don't worry, Harry won't be an asshole for much loooonger!! PPPPLLLLEEEAAASSEEEE review, I love you all!!!!! 15 reviews till Chapter 9, in which we'll learn some things about Miss Granger and meet up with precious Ron again! ( I love Ron, just not w/ Hermione) ta ta!