This chapter has explicit language. Also, I will not update again until I get at least 10 reviews. This chapter was written by me.
Chapter Three: Conversations of Confusion and Hard LoveHermione stepped into her grandparents' house gleefully. She couldn't believe she had found them nor could she believe that she disobeyed her parents!
"Dear, we haven't seen you since your birth! My, you looked so beautiful. You do take after our side of the family, thank Merlin! Come, come! Follow me into the sitting room while your grandfather takes your trunks," said Hermione's newly found grandmother.
Hermione smiled shyly at the couple and did as requested.
"Oh, I can't believe I'm here! I'm so…nervous but anxious at the same time! I have so many questions!" squeaked Hermione.
"I'm sure. Now, first things first. How did you find us? I was so sure your mother hadn't told you of us."
Hermione's grandfather returned from his trip and nestled down next to his wife.
"Well… she didn't. You see, yesterday morning, my mother suggested I cleaned the attic while her and my father were out. Seeing as I had nothing else to do, I agreed to it. Therefore, I ate breakfast and went to the attic. Since I hadn't been in there for years, I looked around at everything. One of the first things I saw was a dusty trunk. Of course, me being the curious person I am, I opened it. In it I found loads if pictures, letters, and even presents. I was so inquisitive that I ripped all of the letters open, read them all, and discovered that you both were in fact not dead and were trying to contact me. Then my parents came home. I confronted them about it. That started the fight. Which led to me leaving on the Knight Bus and finding you," explained Hermione.
"Oh, dear! Well, it could have been worse. Did your parents ever tell you why we were never allowed to see you?" asked the grandmother.
"To cut a long story short, sort of. I found out that you all were fighting in the letters. However, when I had the fight, I never let them finish. The most I heard was: "It wasn't safe. Your grandparents were well known. They had… And that was it"
"Dear, they were right in some cases. Your grandfather and I are quite well known. It in truth, was not safe. The last thing they were trying to tell you is that, we're archrivals with another family. One that is very close to…you-know-who," explained the woman.
"I see. What family then?" asked a confused Hermione.
"Well, they live not but a few yards away."
"Who grandmother? Who?"
"The Malfoys," said the elderly woman.
Hermione gasped out loud. She couldn't believe it! No wonder why Malfoy hated her! "Wait I don't have the same last name as my grandparents. Malfoy hates me because he thinks I'm a muggle-born witch," thought Hermione.
"Do the Malfoys know that you have a grand-daughter?" pondered Hermione.
"No they don't. Moreover, we would like to keep it that way. If they found out about you, you could be harmed. Now, the older Malfoys, have a grandson I'm told. Do you know him?"
"Unfortunately, I do. He and I aren't exactly friends either," responded Hermione.
"Well, you'll have to disguise you then. Stand up. We'll just give you a nice tan and green eyes," prompted the grandmother.
Hermione let out a yelp of excitement and stood. Her grandfather promptly stood as well, taking out his wand. Her grandfather then pointed his wand at Hermione and said, "Dissimulo facies."
Hermione's appearance quickly changed. Her skin changed into a deep bronze color and her eyes sparkled like emeralds.
"Oh, I want to see!" squealed Hermione.
Hermione's grandparents quickly directed her to the nearest lavatory. Hermione walked slowly in front of the mirror. She was amazed. She felt so…exotic. She became entranced by her own reflection. A few minutes later, her grandparents knocked on the door. Hermione obligingly opened the door instantly.
"Dear, we can fix supper if you'd like. I know you must be exhausted," cooed her grandfather.
"I am quite tired. I think I'll just rest. I'm sorry. Could you show me where I'm sleeping, please?"
"Why, sure," responded the couple together.
Being led by the elderly couple, Hermione followed them up the stairs and down a small hallway. They stopped in front of an oak door and bade Hermione good night. Hermione then cheerfully opened the door to her bedroom. It was beautiful! The walls were a gold shade that sparkled and the carpet was a deep red color. The bed was very large and looked as if it could fit all of Hogwarts on it! The room had windows overlooking the street. It even had its own bathroom fully equipped with a grand bathtub and shower. Hermione was numb it was so stunning. Realizing she was moderately tired, she found her trunk at the end of the bed and changed in silence. She then took the liberty of making a dramatic motion, sinking into the pillows. She was instantly asleep.
Draco woke up before the sun had even risen. He was deathly tired, but dared not to sleep any longer. He grumpily untangled himself from his bed sheets and walked into his grand bathroom to take a shower. He undressed quickly and stepped in the shower, allowing the water to cascade off of his bruised body. His mind was full of worry. He had no idea of how to capture and then kill the Evande heir. He saw the girl yesterday but just barely. The only way he could ever talk to girls was when he was screaming at them. He finished cleansing his body and stepped out the shower, wrapping a towel around himself. He sighed deeply and then said, "I'll just have to seduce her. Merlin, I hope she's not ugly like…Pansy." Then he shuddered at the thought.
Draco left the bathroom sulking. He dressed in comfortable muggle jeans and polo sweater. He then decided to take a book, a rivet of parchment, and a quill outside with him so he could further devise a plan. He then muttered a spell to change his pale body to be tanned and blonde hair to be jet black. Draco rushed out the door hoping his father did not come looking for him.
He walked along to the same bench he was at yesterday when the Evande heir came. He then took out parchment and quill he had stuffed in his pocket and began to write.
Dear father,
Another day passes. The anger planted by you grows hotter. I'm writing you another letter, though you'll never read it. I will never let all of the vile comments that have crossed my mind get into your hands. Those same hands that have gotten attached to my face everyday. How do you even call yourself a father? You've never taught me a thing except hate and how much a hit to my face bleeds. You made me isolate myself. I can show no emotion, or I'm disowned. I don't blame mother though. She won't harm you at all. She still loves you. You sick bastard, what did I do to deserve this? Even though I blame you more than Mum for the miseries of my growing up, I don't hate you as I wish I did. Maybe that's because hate is such a strong emotion, and you don't really call up any feeling in me but anger, not hate. I still question why I was and still am beat by you. Is it because Mum and I don't fit into your selfish preferred lifestyle? I know in your sophisticated, murky world people think you're a big deal. I thought so too until I was four. I have lost all respect for you.
Your egotistically named son,
Draco Lucius Malfoy
Draco finished his letter and pocketed it. The sun was rising as he picked up his book and started reading; he was waiting for the Evande heir.
Hermione was awakened by the rising sun. Her body felt warm and relaxed. Deciding she would explore the neighbor, she rose to shower and dress.
After dressing into jeans and a nicely fitting sweater, Hermione trekked softly down the stairs into the clean marble kitchen. She wanted to cook for her grandparents, but she didn't know where anything was in the unfamiliar kitchen. Instead, she grabbed an apple and a glass of orange juice and headed out the door. To her surprise, there was a boy around her age sitting on the bench outside. She saw he was deeply engrossed in his book, so she crept silently over and sat next to him. The boy still didn't acknowledge her so she studied his face and body. Hermione thought the boy was very handsome, but she noticed he seemed…familiar in some way. It was like the aura around him was bizarrely recognizable but she couldn't place a name to him. She was determined to find out who he was. To solve her mystery, she stared at him. Finally, the boy sensed someone watching him and looked around. Seeing the girl next to him made him yelp a little. Hermione giggled.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing? Why are you laughing?" asked the boy.
"Because you squealed when you saw me. I've never met a boy who could do that. Well, except for this one time," explained the girl.
Draco put his book down and studied the girl carefully. He noticed that that the girl was quite…sexy. Her body was amazing, but her aura was…familiar. She reminded Draco of a sexy librarian. He decided that this girl must have been the Evande heir. "Time to put the moves on her. Wait, what if those old bags told her who I was? I must use another name. Wait, why isn't she at Hogwarts? Or is she?" thoughtDraco.
"Sorry, you just…startled me. I live in this neighborhood. Why haven't I seen you before?" asked Draco in husky tone.
"Well, I'm just here visiting my gr… great friends. Friends of the family. I'm… Emma. Yes, I'm Emma. So who are you then?" prompted Hermione.
"Oh, I'm… Tom. So sexy, do you go to Hogwarts? I do. I'm in the best house. Slytherin," said Draco in a tempting voice.
Hermione sneered at him after the comment.
"Sexy? Are you kidding me? I don't even know you and you're already trying…trying to seduce me you creep!" fumed Hermione.
"Oh please, don't deny it baby. You must be a Gryffindor. It's okay. It's about time we had house unity. I'll let this one slide," cooed Draco.
"You are unbelievable! Oh, did your father teach you those sleazy pick-up lines? I bet he gave you that bruise too! What's wrong? Daddy got your tongue?" Draco then stood as well as Hermione; his thrashing was not over yet. Draco's face burned red with embarrassment. He had forgotten to cover his bruise.
"Don't you point your finger at me!" yelled Hermione.
Draco knew that the girl had him cornered. He flopped onto the bench again.
"Merlin, are you bipolar or something?" said the girl.
Draco ran his hands through his hair and then straightened it again. He stood yet again, the anger in him rising.
"Where do you get off saying that! My father does not lay his hands on me! He did not teach me anything like that! I'm not the one strutting around here, staring at innocent people and then screaming at them! Are you some confidential scarlet woman? First one's always free right! Oh, please do me! Merlin, you're pathetic!" said Draco sarcastically.
Hermione was awestruck.
"Well then! At least I'm not some fucking narcissist bipolar depressant! I bet it's not your father that beats you, it's your mum because all of the pompous and arrogant things that fall out of your mouth! You ostentatious blubbering idiot. Talking to women like that because mummy and daddy didn't pay you any attention or love you. Poor Tom," sneered Hermione.
"You wouldn't know now would you. You're little Miss Perfect. You have no idea how hard my life is. My father may not love me like other peoples' dads, but he in fact does love me. Yes, it's hard love, but it's love all the same. For the love that heals our lives is mostly hard love," said Draco, his voice in singsong.
Both of them sank onto the bench. Draco was defeated and wanted to hide under a rock somewhere. Hermione leaned over and hugged the boy and said, "You can't let him do this to you. I'm sorry."
Draco felt heat rise in his body, warming all of his frozen interior. He felt happy and somewhat safe. The two finally stopped hugging.
"Um…yeah. I ha..have to ggo," stammered Draco.
"Me too," whispered Hermione.
The two blushed furiously and ran off in opposite directions making sure not to look back.