"It's so big," She gasped.

"Of course," He said, as calm as a summer's day, "It's the Malfoy manor."

"I didn't think it'd be so-"

He cut in, offering words, "Magnificent, splendid, beautiful, breath taking, fascinating?"

"Large," She finished, though everything Malfoy had said was true. She just wasn't going to give him the satisfactory if knowing she thought so.

He cast her a look that would stop pigeons in mid air, but said nothing. After a few quiet moments of gawking at everything, Hermione asked awkwardly, "Malfoy? You know, they way Harry's gone a bit," Hermione couldn't finish her sentence.

Again, Malfoy was as useful as an Oxford dictionary, "Evil? Crazy? Demonic? Just like me?"

"Er, yes. How did it happen?"

Malfoy turned to her and his face was totally serious. When he spoke, it was in a low tone. "Granger, Harry's had a lot of low blows in his life. His parents are dead, and he's had to be raised by people that live like social bound gorillas. He's always had a bit of a dark side you didn't know about. The sorting hat wanted to put him in Slytherin. But then when Sirius died, it was just too much for him."

"So he just decided to join the Dark side?" Hermione cried, eyes spilling.

"If you can't beat them, join them," Malfoy smiled, back to his usual self.

"What's it like to be an evil bastard, incapable of love?" She screamed, losing it.

"I wouldn't know," He said calmly, shrugging.

She shot daggers at his back as he strode ahead of her and called out, "Mother!"

Narissca Malfoy slowly came down the stairs. Hermione watched her with wide eyes, not knowing quite what to expect.

"Oh, darling, you should have told me we had guests. I would have got myself decent," Narissca Malfoy said. Hermione thought she looked magnificent. A long mane of blonde hair tumbled down the woman's back, her skin was perfect, flawless, absent of blemishes or wrinkles.

"Hello, dear," Narissca said, offering a hand to Hermione with utmost politeness.

"Hello, Mrs Malfoy," Hermione said automatically, "How are you?"

"I'm just fine, dear. Draco, do you know where your father is? I haven't seen him at all today."

"No, mother, and I do not think he will be back anytime soon."

Hermione watched as Malfoy and his mother exchanged secretive smiles. She came to the conclusion that they did not like Lucius Malfoy very much.

"How long will our guest be staying?" Narcissa asked.

"Oh, I do not know," Malfoy answered. He smiled over at her, and said, "But do not fear. She will be here for a long time."

Hermione had to restrain herself from slapping him in the face, right in front of his mother.

The first thing Hermione discovered was that Narcissa was a very lonely woman. She did not have any friends, hardly any hobbies and she had read every book in the Malfoy library that Lucius had permitted her too. Her life was controlled y her husband. She was the perfect trophy wife, beautiful and accustomed to staying in the shadows.

Malfoy, once his mother had left, dropped his polite manner and scowled at her. "Granger, I expect you to look decent now. Forget your muggle clothes and get dressed into some proper wizarding robes."

Hermione gawked at him, "Excuse me?"

"I will not be present for the next couple of days, but I expect you to care for my mother and be as polite as possible. If you are not, I shall give you to Goyle and Crabbe. Are we clear?"

"Why did you want me and not Ron?"

"Because you're pretty. You're everything I require at the moment. A pretty girl to accompany me to balls. Oh yes, Granger, balls. As the new Dark Lord, I shall be invited to many balls and parties and I will need you there. I feel Pansy will not be suitable."

"Yeah," she added, "Because her face looks like it's been hit with a saucepan."

He smirked and said, "I also need to you to take care of my mother while I am gone."

"Aww, what a sweet little son," she said sardonically.

"I also dislike Weasley's red hair very much."

"Oh, so that explains it all," she said crossly, "I'm got we got that cleared up. I feel so much better now."

"Oh, and it pissed Harry off."

"But I'm Muggleborn," she insisted.

"I am aware of that, Granger."

He didn't speak for the next few minutes so Hermione decided to continue with her questions.

"You know when Harry said he loved me? Was he serious?"

"You really haven't realised that? In the last five years, you didn't know how he felt about you?"

"No."

"Maybe you're not as smart as you think you are, Granger."

"Yet I'm still smarter than you."

"I don't see you being the new Dark Lord."

"Yes," she said calmly, "But you needed Harry for that. You couldn't do it on your own. You couldn't even kill Voldemort on your own. You needed Dumbledore for that. You're pathetic."

"I'd watch myself if I were you," Malfoy said.

"Luckily enough, Malfoy, you're not me. You're you. A loser. A pathetic spoilt ugly loser," She told him in a pleasant yet angry voice.

Malfoy whipped out his wand, smiling menacingly. "I really hoped you'd say that," he said furiously.

"You hoped I'd call you a pathetic spoilt ugly loser?" She asked innocently.

He hissed at her, "Cruc-"

"DRACO!!!!!"

Malfoy turned to face his mother. She was flushed with anger, and Hermione felt herself let out a breath she had held without realising.

"HOW DARE YOU!!!! IN MY HOUSE!" Narcissa yelled.

"This isn't your house. This is my house. I am the new Dark Lord now, mother, and I can do what I want to Granger."

"The new Dark lord?" she shrieked, "The new Dark lord!" Her eyes filled with tears and she cast him a dark disgusted look before running away.

"You're going to be a lot of trouble, Granger. You're lucky you're hot or I would have killed you a long time ago. There's a ball coming up soon. I'll keep you informed." He walked off leaving Hermione staring after him, raging.