A/N: Sorry it's been a long time, I won't even try to explain why ill just ask for your opinions…

Chapter 5: Malfoy Manor

Draco had decided on using floo powder being that there were two of them and they could go to his room directly, apparition would be more complex sneaking threw the school so this way was simpler. They floo-ed directly to Draco's room, while Hermione looked at the sheer size of the place Draco walked to his desk and wrote a letter to his father.

Hermione was looking out at the grounds as the last rays of light struggled to climb over the hills and reach in to the air. The red sun had just begun to accept its defeat and descend in to the distance as the moon rose and claimed the night as its own. Hermione was lost in thoughts all by herself, she worried about Draco, what was he going to find in his mothers room? She was lost in her musings when Draco interrupted her train of thought

'Ready?'

"Yes" she whispered allowed.

"Ok im going to call of my elf, and don't look at me that way, im nice to her!"

"Ok, fine, I just don't believe you have your own elf!" she smiled at him gently after saying this as to ensure he knew she was not mad at the fact being that he treated her well.

"Pinkie" Draco called

... Crack…

"Master called Pinkie, Master is home early, Pinkie was not expecting you so soon, what can I get for you sir"

"I don't want my father to know I am her Pinkie, so I need to know where he is and what he is doing"

"Mr Malfoy is not home sir, he has been out or 2days, we elves are not expecting him back for 5more days" Pinkie talked pretty fast and had a high voice but Hermione noticed did not seem to fear Draco, however there was a noticeable quiver in her voice as she mentioned Lucius.

"Right, well if for any reason he comes back, I need you to tell him that there is a letter from me in his study, here it is place it there before you tell him of course. Now, where is my mothers… where is…" He could not bring himself to say body, it sounded wrong.

"Mrs Malfoy is in her room Master Draco, she will be pleased to see you, she is not being allowed visitors at all."

"What?" Both Draco and Hermione had said this at once

'She's alive' Draco's heart was beating faster and faster, he could not keep the smile from his face.

'Come on, ill show you her room'

"Pinkie, that's all, no one must know im here, thank you" Draco departed quickly from his room

They walked the halls silently Hermione was afraid of the generally feel of the manor and Draco could tell he reassured her with thoughts of its ok, he isn't here and we will be leaving soon, as well as the general thought that he was safe in his house while his father want here and telling her to relax because he wasn't going to let anything happen to her while he still had breath in him.

They came to a room which had a lighter feel to it than many of the ones they had passed; the door was white and had many carvings which were ornate and decorative in a light pleasant way rather than the serpents and the other less appealing things they passed in the other halls. These had a more female feel to them; Hermione assumed they must have been Draco's mothers design.

'It's beautiful'

'It reflects my mother, everything that is not dark and horrible in this house is hers, or has been touched by her… That's what you're like you know; you touch something and make it beautiful.'

They entered the room, Hermione following Draco slowly, He went over to the white bed, his mother appeared to be sleeping, he looked at her beautiful face, slightly pale but beautifully poised. Hermione came a little closer, afraid of what she would say if she woke up.

Draco gently touched his mothers shoulder, she opened her eyes and immediately a smile was brought to her lips, however it was quickly followed by the presence of fear in her eyes.

"Draco" She croaked, her voice had the unused sound that you get if you haven't spoken in days, only it seemed more like weeks she hadn't used it in.

"What are you doing here? Your father, you must leave, my son do not risk yourself, I am dying Draco and by being here you have granted my wish, my one wish that I should get to see you one more time. One last time…" Her voice trailed away in to nothing.

Draco opened his mouth to speak but she looked at him and began again

"Draco, you can not be here, I know he told you I was gone, I am sorry my son, but I would not do what he wished, and so my punishment was never to see you again. You have shown your courage by coming here and also your adolescence, Draco; you know what he will do if he sees you or knows you have been." She shivered as if struck by a sudden chill.

In this moment it appears she had noticed Hermione, "My son has not brought you home for no reason, what is your purpose here?" Her voice was not loud or scary in Hermione's opinion but she had a demanding tone to it.

"We thought, that is to say… Draco told me what happened, or what he was told, and he wanted to see you, he wanted closure, and I didn't want him to have to be alone" Hermione finished trying not to sound too loud or intrusive

Draco spoke next, feeling the need to ask questions become too great "what's going on? Why tell me you're dead? What's happened?"

"Too much to tell you now I am afraid, Draco you must leave…" Looking at the pained look on her sons face and seeing that he was about to protest she added "I am sorry but I fear too much has happened that can not be changed and you are in danger!"

"Mother, I am not leaving without you! Please do not ask me to say goodbye knowing that if I do it will be the last time!" Draco was on his knees next to his mother's bed begging her not to make him leave her.

"I love you my child, but you must leave, take your friend and go, if you do not hear from Lucius in the coming weeks then you will no that I am alive, he tells me he will write you when I am gone… really"

Just then Pinkie appeared in the room "Master Draco, your father returns early and he is not happy… I believe you should leave this room he is heading this way." She was clearly distressed and worried about Draco.

'Draco we can go, I think we should come back with a plan to remove your mother and I will do it with you but we have to leave'

Draco kissed his mother and told her this wasn't goodbye and walked over to the fireplace grabbing the floo powder and Hermione's hand he lead them back to Hogwarts.

"Things are getting confusing now aren't they?" He looked at her as she sank on to the sofa mind reeling, giving both of them headache trying to figure out what was going on.

Neither of them spoke for the remainder of the evening and when Hermione rose to go to bed she was more exhausted than she remembered feeling in a long time, her head seemed to be filling up, a thing she had never thought possible, she did not know what to do or what to say to Draco but, as it turned out he didn't need her to say anything, as she rose and wandered past him he suddenly cried out In his mind 'Don't leave me'

She turned and looked back over her shoulder, walking across to the other sofa she reached out her hand, which he took looking confused as she pulled him in to a standing position next to her. She walked him silently to her room and removed her jumper, she ad a t-shirt and jeans on, she removed his jumper and his shirt, pulling off his trousers and removing hers she said nothing, Draco by this point was very confused… 'What?'

'We need sleep, but I don't think we should be alone, I just want to feel you next to me… is that ok?'

'Thank you' was all he could say as he pulled back her sheets and she took off her t-shirt leaving them both scantly clad in only their underwear.

As they got in to bed Draco pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her waist, taking in her comforting sent and enjoying the feeling that she wanted him to be there, he made her feel better, and knowing that she made him feel exactly the same way they drifted off in to a peaceful sleep.

A.N: I don't really like this chapter but it was important to find out that Draco's mother is still alive and that she is ill, very weak but not dead.

Review with kindness please, if you don't like it then say so and tell me how you think I can improve, don't just review with abuse please.