The next day, Draco took extra care to look his absolute best. The robes he'd chosen were elegant, but understated. His penchant for black aside, he'd decided to add a splash of color to his normal ensemble. Black trousers, and black dragonhide shoes polished to perfection. His dress shirt was a soft light grey that matched his eyes and his tie was Slytherin green. His cravat was a darker grey and his outer robes were black. Putting in his Malfoy cufflinks, he nodded to himself.
He wanted to make a good impression and knowing that they'd be in public for the first time together, he felt it would be important to look his very best.
As he made his way towards the floo room, several of his family portraits nodded to him, and then one called his name, causing his gait to halt.
"You look quite dapper, Grandson. Off to court a witch, yes?"
"Yes, Sir." He nodded at the portrait of his Great-Great-Great Grandfather, whom through his machinations, had bound him into this position. Macrinus grinned at his descendent with a feral gleam in his eye.
"Ah! You're not well pleased by this turn of events, young Draco?"
"Not exactly, Grandfather. I was hoping to court another, but now I'm relegated to this reality."
The portrait scoffed. "It's a Malfoy Heir's duty to assure the strength of the line! I know of this witch you would've bound yourself to. The young Astoria Greengrass, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then it is fortuitous that the Alphonse witch was born this generation."
"Why?" His steely gaze narrowed.
Macrinus eyed him with such intensity, he had to physically repress the shiver of dread that shot down his spine at that look.
"What do you know of the maledictus blood curse, Grandson?"
That question was not what he'd been expecting.
"There are several forms of the curse. One version of the curse, can force a witch or wizard into the body of another form, usually an animal of some kind. This is usually a one time curse, not inherited and it's unclear why it happens. Then, there's the maledictus curse which is meted out as payment or in retribution of an unpaid Life Debt. That curse is hereditary and will affect certain members of the family in perpetuity indefinitely."
"Correct. The Greengrass line suffers from such an affliction. Witches in their line, fall victim to the curse every few generations. The last one was Viola Greengrass, and she was to be my wife...but my Father discovered before the betrothal contracts were signed of the maledictus curse, and refused to allow the marriage to go forward. She died from the curse at the age of 23."
He paled in horror. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because there is a good chance that the Greengrass curse could very well activate this generation. It has been nearly two hundred years, Grandson. Did you not know of this truth when you decided to make your overtures to the witch in question?"
"No I didn't, and I'm fairly certain Father didn't know either. Why didn't you speak of it before now?"
"Because, Grandson, there were more pressing issues recently to be dealt with. You weren't of marriageable age and now there is the blood contract with the Alphonse witch to consider. I only bring this up now, so you might understand that while your feelings for the Greengrass witch are understandable, you can never act upon them. Even if Miss Alphonse deigns to take a consort and you have that option as well...if what I suspect is true—"
"Then Astoria likely knows, or suspects she might become afflicted?"
"Yes."
"Why would she not have told me?"
"That is a question you'll need to ask her directly, Grandson. But for now, you have a witch awaiting your arrival, yes?"
Casting a tempus, he noted the time and realized it was already a few minutes past ten.
"I have to go."
He didn't wait to hear his ancestor's parting words as he dashed for the floo, making it through with a minute to spare.
Removing the soot from his robes, he looked up into the amber gaze of his intended.
"Sorry, I'm late."
"I didn't think you were coming." Hermione's voice was hardened, causing him to sigh in resignation.
"I got...detained..."
Her eyes moved over his expression and body and he had no doubt she could see the tension there. He hadn't had time to shut down his emotions properly behind his Occlumency walls.
"What happened?"
"It's nothing."
"Draco? Don't lie to me. I understand we barely know each other...not really, right?"
He nodded.
"But I'd like to at least try, if you're agreeable."
"So I should just share all my secrets with you?" He sneered.
"No! I'm not saying that! You just looked...you know what?" She shook her head in frustration, "Never mind!"
She turned to grab her beaded bag and felt a warm hand on her forearm halting her progress.
"Forgive me, Hermione. I've just received some fairly upsetting news, and I haven't quite figured out how to process it, or what I'm going to do with the information."
"Can I ask whom it involves?"
He looked away and straightened his shoulders carefully, as he considered exactly how he wanted to go about this. After a moment he re-directed his attention back to the witch in front of him and inquired, "What do you know of maledictus curses?"
Hermione's eyes widened, as she gazed up at him in open curiosity. "Where is this coming from?"
"I spoke with my ancestors portrait before I came here. Macrinus Malfoy..."
"The one who signed the blood contract with my ancestor—Louis Alphonse?"
"The very same."
"What does our contract have to do with a maledictus curse, Draco?"
Sighing again heavily, he took Hermione's hand and led her to the only love seat in the room, settling her in before taking the spot next to hers.
"If you would? I'd like you to humor me for a few moments, if that's alright?"
She nodded reluctantly, but her expression was expectant as she considered him—waiting...
"What do you know of maledictus curses?"
He listened whilst Hermione reiterated almost verbatim, what his response to Macrinus had been. After she was done, he bowed his head in agreement.
"That was my recollection as well. First off, I believe my ancestors portrait brought it up for two reasons. The first, is fairly straightforward. The second, is far more complicated."
"And why you're so upset?"
"Yes."
"Okay. So if I had to take a guess? The first point is due to the fact that our blood contract, which works much like the magic of a Life Debt, could possibly activate a maledictus curse if we refuse the contract and don't marry. This means we will likely subject ourselves or our future children to this curse, correct?"
He quirked an appreciative eyebrow at how intelligent Hermione was.
It was staggering, if he was being completely honest.
"Yes."
He watched, as something shifted in her gaze, her eyes becoming a bit unfocused and she bit her lip. He could almost hear the cogs in her prodigious mind whirring over the possibilities.
"Does someone you know have this curse already present, in their family line?"
His sharp intake of breath had Hermione's face falling in sudden understanding.
"It's Astoria, isn't it?"
His face fell completely, and he tilted his head down to try and get more control over his emotions. His breathing became labored and he was shocked to feel Hermione's hand squeezing his arm gently, offering him comfort.
"Is she sick?" Her voice was quiet, and he shook his head.
"I don't know. She never told me this curse ran in her family, so I have no idea if she even knows or if she just chose not to tell me."
Hermione took in Draco's body language, and she could feel the distress rolling off him in waves as a pit settled in her stomach.
"Do you love her?"
Draco's head lifted sharply in surprise, and his mouth pursed in thought before he shrugged. "I care for Tori. Quite a bit actually. We grew up together and I've always adored her. I'm fairly certain however, that it wasn't love. At least not yet." He finished quietly, his eyes darting between Granger's as she silently observed him, her own expression filled with sympathy.
"And you don't want this fate for her."
It was phrased as a statement, which he appreciated. Obviously, he didn't have much positive history with Granger, but she seemed to be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in this one instance.
"No. Part of me wants to confront her and find out if she knew, but another part of me is worried..."
"That she may not even be aware of it?" She finished for him.
"Yes, that's it exactly."
"I'm so sorry, Draco. I can't even imagine how difficult this must be for you. I didn't know Daphne all that well at Hogwarts and knew of Astoria even less, but she must be a wonderful witch."
"Why do you say that?"
"Just because you think so highly of her. I'm not blind, you know. I know how much you love your mother, and what you did in the war—was to protect her. I suppose if Astoria has earned your loyalty..."
"You really mean that, don't you?" He stared at her in surprise.
"I do. I'm not unfeeling."
"No, Hermione. I think it's fairly safe to say that no matter our history—you were one of the kindest witches at Hogwarts. Even with all the taunts being hurled your way, you never were downright mean nor hateful. Even to me, except when I provoked you, which in itself is rather surprising."
She shrugged helplessly. "I don't have that kind of hate and anger in me. Well, at least not unless I'm provoked to a certain point, as I'm sure both Skeeter and Umbridge can attest to." They both chuckled before she forged on. "Even during our sixth year, Draco—I could see you were struggling and it saddened me. Harry was convinced you'd taken the Dark Mark, but I wasn't as sure. I think in my naïveté, I didn't want to believe that Voldemort would brand someone so young."
"You were wrong though." His smirk was tinged with regret, "Although to be fair, I don't imagine that happens very often."
Her laughter made his heart lift a bit and he actually smiled. "I think that was an actual compliment? Careful, Draco. I'm not sure I can handle such consideration from you, especially twice in one week?"
He watched amused as Hermione faux-shuddered and he chuckled deeply at how playful and different she was from what he'd remembered from school.
When he said as much, she just shook her head.
"We didn't really get the chance to see the best of each other, did we? I'm sure the Draco Malfoy, within the walls of Slytherin House, was a bit different than he was out in the corridors of Hogwarts?"
"Yes and no. My Mother mentioned to me last night that I needed to try and let you see the side of me that wasn't the one I was bound to play."
"And what did you tell her?"
"I might've asked her if they weren't one and the same."
"And are they?"
Her breath caught at the nearly haunted look on Malfoy's face.
"Honestly? I don't know. Some days, I'm not sure who I am anymore."
The pit in her stomach now felt like a weighted lead ballon, as she carefully considered Draco's words.
Had his life truly been as bereft of choices as hers had been?
At least her Father had allowed her some concessions once she'd started Hogwarts, but many of those had been hard fought followed by tears, pleas and in one instance—threats.
"I'm sure having your choice of spouse taken away, didn't help matters either?"
"Not really. But then I've always known that my choice of a wife would be constrained to a degree."
"Due to your parents expectations?"
"Yes. Luckily, or so I'd thought—Astoria ticked all the proper boxes."
Hermione's silent shaking in mirth, had Draco's brow furrowing in confusion.
"How is that funny?" He drawled, with a tinge of irritation.
"Sorry, it's just somewhat predictable is all. I believe I used those exact same words to Harry when he asked me what I thought you saw in Astoria. Granted, this was based on what I knew of you—not of her."
"In what context?"
"About what expectations you'd have for a wife."
"Nice." He sneered.
"It's honest," She bit back, "or would you rather I lie to you?"
"No! No...I don't suppose pretending does either of us any credit."
"I agree." Looking up at the time, she stood and held out her hand for Malfoy, which he took. As he drew himself to his full height, he cocked his head and gave her a penetrative look.
"I only ask that you don't share this with anyone, including Potter."
She bristled instinctively at the haughty tone of his voice, and was going to respond scathingly when she concluded somewhat reluctantly that Draco was making a valid point.
If they were going to build a foundation, trust had to start somewhere, and this was as good a place as any.
"I can promise you that."
"Thank you." He offered his arm, and she took it with a small smile. "So, Paris?"
"Yes. I won't ask if you've been."
"It's been a few years but yes, I have."
She quirked an eyebrow and then said, "Quelle est votre partie préférée du Paris magique?"
Draco tilted his head with a tinge of shock, at her perfect pronunciation of French. He shouldn't have been surprised by it, and he really wasn't...he was actually very pleased.
"J'adore l'Enchantée de Rammelle le long de la place du cachee."
"Ses chocolats à la lavande sont mes préférés."
He grinned. "Then we will have to pick some up for you before we return home, yes?"
"I'd like that."
He nodded and escorted her through the floo, feeling himself actually looking forward to this excursion more than he'd ever expected to be.
It was a strange feeling.
But not unwelcome...his inner voice purred with satisfaction.
french translations:
"What part of magical Paris do you prefer?"
"I adore Rammelle's Enchanted on the place du cachee."
"The lavender chocolates are my favorite."