Chapter 14

It wasn't to be. Draco met her in the Great Hall with a group of his friends – Vincent, Greg, and Pansy – and a sneer.

"Took you long enough," he sniffed. "You could at least be on time. We're sitting with Slytherin."

"Good morning to you too," she sassed, moving past the blond and to her usual space at his table. "Good morning Anthony."

The silent Slytherin nodded in acknowledgement and surprised her by looking her up and down and then in the eyes, the same way Fred and George did to make sure she was alright.

"I just needed a good cry, yesterday," she told him a little too brightly. "'Tears wash away the dust of the every day', you know."

Anthony looked exasperated with her, but his smile showed differently. Breakfast was off to a cheery note.

The room slowly filled with students and food arrived on the table. Hermione scooped some eggs and fruit onto her plate with a bit of toast. She did have a weakness for scrambled eggs, she knew, but it was one of the dishes Hermione liked so much she made it for herself when hungry.

Then, from the entrance, a stately couple glided in as if on a breeze. At the head was a man that could not be mistaken for anyone but Malfoy's father. Blonde hair, aquiline features, grey eyes that seemed to find her even as he walked to the front of the hall. Then a woman of just a great beauty followed.

All conversation stilled and the students turned to stare at the visitors.

"Malfoy …?"

The blonde twit smiled with manic glee. "Told you my father would hear about this. It won't even last two days!"

Hermione could only watch on in dread. She wanted to be free, but she also didn't want to be at the end of the Malfoy father's anger. He did not look happy and her instincts told her that when Malfoy's father wasn't happy, other people suffered.

"Lucius!" Dumbledore rose with arms wide and welcoming. "Narcissa! Wonderful of you to visit Hogwarts today."

"Yes, I wish it was under better circumstances," the man called Lucius said. "You must know why we are here."

"Of course, of course," Professor Dumbledore made his way around the table. "Let's go discuss things in my office, yes?"

Mr Malfoy declined. "Unfortunately, this is traditionally done with an audience."

He turned swiftly to the Slytherin table. "Draco! Attend, and bring your … classmate."

Hermione jumped up even before Draco did, determined not to be dragged across the Hall to the spoiled boy's father and seem reluctant. She even beat Draco up to the front where she promptly bowed her head to the blonde man and offered her hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr Malfoy," Hermione said quickly. "I'm Hermione Granger. I'm sorry our fight brought you all this way."

Surprisingly, the man gave a small smile and took her hand in a brief, formal clasp. No shaking or kissing, but it was enough. He motioned to his wife, who also clasped Hermione's hand.

"Miss Granger," the Malfoy patriarch greeted, "I have come today to offer you my apologies on behalf of my heir."

The sparse murmurs halted and the Great Hall went completely silent. You could have heard a pin as silver as the man's eyes drop to their feet as the whole room quieted.

"Father?"

Malfoy Senior turned to his gobsmacked son and glared. "You will be silent, Draco."

The boy's hanging jaw snapped shut instantly.

The piercing silver eyes landed on her again. "I understand you have been insulted and grievously assaulted by my son. As his letter made clear that he has made no attempts at amends, it falls on me to see to your restitution."

Hermione didn't know what to say. But her mouth never had a problem finding things regardless.

"This sounds very … official," Hermione said, confused. "What do you mean? Restitution?"

Dumbledore came forward then and rested a hand on her, making her cringe a little to the silver-eyed adult's amusement.

"In some circles, if harm is done and there is a clear party at fault, recompense is expected," Headmaster Dumbledore explained. "Mr Malfoy is offering to compensate you, Miss Granger, and doing so publicly is a tradition to ensure fair treatment of both sides."

Hermione's jaw dropped. What? They were going to pay her because she'd been insulted? Or was it because of the stairwell incident? So … strange! Normal people just said sorry, didn't they?

"No, it's okay!" Hermione told Mr Malfoy hurriedly. "No one was hurt. Honestly, sir, I don't need anything like that!"

Lucius Malfoy harrumphed, eyes narrowed. "You were fortunate not to be injured by my son's actions, Miss Granger, and only that fortune saved demands our penance. Since you do not have a specific request, I am glad I already asked Professor Snape what you might enjoy in advance.

"I understand you have a kitsune familiar," he continued. "And I have also heard you have a love of literature that propelled you forward in years?"

"Yes, sir," Hermione blushed.

Narcissa gave the girl a pleasant smile. "Would you mind having a house-elf bring your familiar here? It has been a while since I've seen a kitsune."

"Certainly," the Headmaster answered for her, sending a house-elf off and having it return in moments with a squirming familiar. "There we are."

"Daedalus, come here," Hermione opened her arms and received the ball of fluff and mischief in her arms. "Mr and Mrs Malfoy, this is Daedalus."

Narcissa pet the creature sweetly and produced some berries for it, earning licks of affection from his scraping tongue. "Aw, such a darling. How old?"

"He's just three years old," Hermione grinned happily, but warily. Draco was still scowling on the edge of her sight. "Why did you want to see him?"

"Oh, I love kitsune," Narcissa said. "They are such magical creatures and so misunderstood. And I wanted to see the little thing I'm giving a gift to."

She turned her eye to the house-elf. "Elf! There is a small crate being delivered to your kitchens currently containing two dozen emperor geese, gifts for this precious little creature. Do not feed them to him all at once; we don't want him getting too fat. Variety is a necessity in diet."

The elf nodded furiously. "Yes, Missus. I wills make sure."

Being dismissed, the elf left and took Daedalus with him.

"Thank you," Hermione said shyly. "That was a very nice present."

"Think nothing of it," Narcissa smiled. "It's not your only gift."

Lucius Malfoy then took from his pocket a small wooden box, and it grew, grew, grew. It was a chest, like the one Hermione's mum and dad had at the end of their big beg that held all the extra blankets and pillows and sheets. Only this one was so … beautiful. It had multiple tones stained onto the sturdy wood and a lavish fastening that reminded her of old fashion keys.

"Oh," she gasped. "It's beautiful."

The parents looked at each other with sardonic mirth. "This is simply the container, Miss Granger. We have placed within a collection of books about subjects either absent or sadly lacking within Hogwarts; magical theory, spell creation, languages, alchemy, magical law, and some further subjects necessary for your inclusion in this world."

The Headmaster stepped forward then, his eyes wary but his smile kind. "Of course, we'll need to search it to ensure nothing … restricted for her age has made its way in."

Lucius sniffed and raised his nose haughtily. "Your Potions Master has already done so. Do you doubt him?"

Eyes turned to Professor Snape at the Head Table, calmly sipping at his tea. He made no move to get involved, but apparently the Headmaster as satisfied by … his tea drinking? Dumbledore relented then, giving a nod of approval.

"Good. Your hand then, please, Miss Granger."

Hermione proffered it again and was promptly pricked by the latch on the box.

"There. It will only open for you," Narcissa Malfoy leaned closer. "Don't open it now, though; see, the chest isn't just filled with books. You'll want to keep it a secret, understand because it has a ladder to take you down to a small sitting room. A hiding place, if you have such a need."

Do all rich people apologize like this? Hermione couldn't believe this. "Are you sure, Mr and Mrs Malfoy? It's too much!"

"No, it is not," the elder Malfoy said, his cane banging on the stone floor. "We have brought up our son to be a gentleman. That he has abandoned all those lessons upon entering school is a shame on our family and must be rectified."

Lucius looked around a moment and then nodded at the Gryffindor table. "Mr Longbottom, Mr Potter, would you also accept our apology?"

Both boys looked shocked but nodded their heads vigorously.

"I have already sent an assortment of sweets up to your rooms," Mr Malfoy said. "Enjoy."

He turned to Headmaster Dumbledore. "I should like to speak to my son in your office now, Headmaster. If you could release the spell..?"

The Headmaster extended his hands out in a portrayal of sadness. "It is not me, but Hogwarts that must release them. It will end when the school says."

Lucius nodded. "I had heard, but had rather hoped … Then let's adjourn together."

A house-elf was called to move Hermione's new transportable library to her dorm room and the group left the Great Hall to whispers, with Lucius and Narcissa happily noting they were speculative for the most part. Their show of contrition seemed to have done its part in restoring their reputation amongst the children.

Lucius turned to the Headmaster when they reached the man's towering office. "What are the terms for releasing the bond?"

"He must feel truly sorry for his actions," the Headmaster said sadly.

Hermione shivered as Lucius Malfoy's eyes sharpened to daggers as he glared at his son. "He will be sorry, I assure you."

Seeing Malfoy shrink a little before putting on a defiant pose, Hermione realized something; that shrinking, it was the same as Harry's. She didn't know what it was, but it made her want to protect him.

Hermione felt Hogwarts' magic between them and implored the castle to help her, offering a silent prayer to Heavenly Father as well. The warmth from her heart and from her magic seeped into her body and she stepped in front of Draco.

"Sir!" Hermione spoke up, earning a rare mean look from Mr Malfoy. "I know it sounds really bad, but yesterday really was an accident. It wasn't nice, but he wasn't trying to kill me or anything."

"Shut up!" Malfoy hissed. "Stay out of this, mud-"

"Finish that word, Draco, and I will take you over my knee in front of the whole school." It was Narcissa who spoke then, her face tight and sad. "I did not raise you this way, Dragon."

The younger Malfoy seemed even paler when surrounded by the colourful furnishings of the Headmaster's office so Hermione could have been wrong in thinking he looked sick from his mother's words. But Hermione herself felt nothing but sympathy for him because those words hurt even her heart. She thought of her own mother, what she'd be proud of or disappointed for.

Lucius Malfoy's face went between her and his son, assessing. "You are not fond of my son, are you, Miss Granger?"

She shook her head. "No, sir."

"And yet you defend him?"

"Yes, sir."

A raised brow, and then the eyes of the elder went to his pale, angry junior. "Draco, do you see this? It seems you are the recipient of some of the virtuous attributes of Gryffindor House. Unfailing honour and bravery.

"The actions of a proper lady in the making," Lucius nodded deferentially to her before turning to his son sharply. "And how do you treat a lady, Draco?"

"With respect."

Lucius looked down at his son. "Do we shove and push ladies, causing then to nearly plummet to their deaths? Do we try and harm ladies by ramming them with broomsticks you were forbidden from riding?"

Draco grit his teeth. "It wasn't her business to butt in!"

"As your classmate, it is her duty to butt in!" The man hissed. "When you act like an ill-bred imbecile in front of an entire class then I would hope someone would step up to put an end to it! Such fits of temper do not become us."

Malfoy sneered up at his father. "It was Potter! Oh, he's such a big man here, always surrounded by his Gryffindors, making all the poor, unfortunate mudbloods–"

A flick of her wand and Narcissa had filled her son's mouth with bubbles. The boy spat and gagged, but at least the bubbled didn't multiply. Hermione looked on in horror.

"Headmaster, may we speak with our son – and I suppose Miss Granger – alone?" The Lady Malfoy was unerringly polite despite the sheer force of correction she'd just doled out on her son. "Of course, they may be late to their morning lessons, but –"

Dumbledore raised his hands genially. "Of course, my dear. However, I must remind you that you cannot discipline Miss Granger, though, even if you should feel it necessary. You understand."

"Of course, Headmaster," Narcissa gave a thin smile, and the Headmaster left the tower. When the door closed, the woman cast a few spells and then turned to the children. "Now, why don't we have a seat then and let Draco cool his temper before we continue, hmm?"

Hermione was seated in the armchair while the Malfoys all went to the couch, parents flanking their son but not looking at him. It made her feel sad, but she didn't know why.

"We should smile," Hermione announced after a moment of silence. They looked at her like she was mad, but she persevered in optimism, "Smiling when we don't feel like it is still smiling, and our brains know that. It makes us at least a little bit happier."

Silence, and then the blonde matriarch shook a little with a suppressed giggle. "Oh, the mind of a child. Thank you, Miss Granger."

"Stupid –"

"It seems we need to have a talk, young man," Lucius turned to his son, eyes grave. "What makes you think this behaviour is acceptable? Even after I have told you otherwise?"

The boy sneered at her, making Hermione want to lean away. It was just like the bullies in elementary school.

"You can drop the act, Father, there's no one else here."

"It is no act," Lucius said. "Your behaviour is reprehensible."

Malfoy just looked confused then. "But, you – you just said that because there were so many people around!"

His father leaned forward on his cane. "You spouted off those words in front of your classmates, it was proper to right it in front of them. It was not a matter of social pressure but of the Malfoy name. And you haven't answered; why do you think this behaviour is acceptable?"

"Why do you care? She's not important."

Steeling herself to the words was never easy. Any criticism pierced Hermione's heart, weighing it down for days at a time. She was too sensitive, her parents told her, too emotional. But she couldn't help it even if she tried and it made her even more sad that she couldn't stop herself from being that way. It was the same thing with her hand-waving, with her need to offer her testimony or answer questions right away. It never seemed like something she could stop.

So this phrase, playing on one of her best dreams and biggest fears, made her heart bleed and a couple of tears prick at her eyes.

"Foolish boy!" the elder Malfoy hissed. "You are a few weeks into classes, how do you know who will be important? Everyone around you has the potential to become a vital ally."

"But she's-!"

"Blood status does not matter at Hogwarts," Narcissa told her son, an icy glare chilling the room. "Here, where Dumbledore is Headmaster, do you truly expect any different?"

The youngest Malfoy froze. Hermione could practically hear his brain thinking, but she didn't understand. The words made sense in order but they still didn't make any sense to her.

"She is intelligent, driven, and your Uncle Severus has vouched for her," Lucius said. His hand was tight on his cane. "Miss Granger here could be a brilliant witch one day and as such is an ally to be cultivated."

"More importantly," Narcissa turned to her son full-on now, "I did not raise you to raise voice or hand to a woman. No matter her blood status."

Malfoy looked at Hermione with disgust. "Are you sure she's a girl?"

Another piercing of her heart. Another tear bouncing in her eye.

"Dragon!"

"Draco Lucius Malfoy!"

Both sets of parents looked at him, appalled, as the child seemed to freeze out his parents and sit proudly on the velveteen sofa with a look of selfish pride.

Hermione begged the force that was Hogwarts to let her go. She needed to run away, needed to leave before she cried. Hogwarts touched her magic in comfort but did not relent. Yet the comfort that Hogwarts brought only made her feel vulnerable. She quickly got up and turned to one of the Headmaster's bookshelves – as far as she could really get in the circumstances – before her tears made their treacherous trek down the hills of her cheeks.

Heavenly Father, she prayed, please help. I feel … I don't want to cry.

"Your behaviour is unacceptable!" Hermione heard yelled behind her. "I didn't believe Severus when he told me how bad you've become, but now I see it was no fiction. You think this is acceptable behaviour, do you? You will learn it only makes you a vulgar, rude little boy!"

"Everyone else in Slytherin –!"

"They are not Malfoys and they do not decide what is right in our family!"

The father and son argued more behind her, but Hermione felt a slim female hand clasp her shoulder.

"I apologize again for my son, Miss Granger, but I suspect that's not enough," said the woman gently. Her eyes shone in understanding. "It is difficult when our womanly pride is damaged, isn't it?"

Hermione sniffled, trying to compose herself. "Looks don't matter. I shouldn't worry about them."

"Nonsense." Hermione looked up at the mother who regarded her with a softness she didn't think could exist on such a Malfoy-ish face. "Even boys care about how they look, my dear, and it's because appearances are the first impressions of our value. They show others how much we value ourselves that we take the time to ensure our proper grooming. It's certainly not shameful to want that, so long as you don't over-indulge in your vanity. While virtues are to be cultivated, beauty is nothing to be ashamed of and grooming and pampering only enhances the beauty within for all to see. It is showing others and ourselves how much we value our own care."

Oh. That makes sense, Hermione reasoned. Mum always took a Saturday every month to 'take care of herself' and came back with her hair cut and nails done. Sometimes mum brought her along when she thought Hermione had been biting her nails or needed a haircut. But …

"And in cases like this, it also shows how much someone values you," Mrs Malfoy said with sorrowful eyes. "That's why it hurts so."

"I'm not good at that kind of stuff, I know that," Hermione sniffed. "Tara – my roommate – got me a potion last week for my hair, and it was supposed to work for a month, but by the end of the day, it stopped. She said that my hair sparks when I'm mad, so it makes the potion, er, turn off, I guess."

Narcissa's eyes lit up. "Oh, remarkable! It happens with us sometimes, physical representations of our powers. Oh dear one, it's not something to be worried about. Headmaster Dumbledore is similar; he actually makes the rooms darker when he's angry. The most common display is in the eyes, glowing eyes filled with magic, like Severus – Professor Snape, to you; his eyes glow as if in the light of a fire. It is nothing to be ashamed of.

"In fact," Narcissa grinned, "it gives me an idea for your hair. First off, no more parting it down the middle. One side or the other, please, it simply looks better. Ah –" Narcissa brushed Hermione's hair, well, lifted really because of the curls, to her right side, "– there we are. And would you mind if I sent you a few products? Some of them are magical, but you can be surprised how resistant certain types of potions can be. You wouldn't need to put it in your hair, only drink it, which means outside magic won't affect it as much. It's a potion where you add a single hair then drink it, and it makes your hair more uniform. No places straighter than others, no curls much tighter than the other, just a uniform head of your naturally beautiful curls. Do you want to give it a try?"

Hermione nodded vigorously. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you!"

Narcissa looked up and over to her husband. "Lucius!"

The father and son were glaring at each other mercilessly, neither breaking eye contact even as he nodded in acknowledgement of her call.

"I'm going to order a supply of that wonderful potion from America, that personalized one, what's the name?"

"Madame Pompadour's Personal Pulchritude Perfecter?"

She snapped her fingers. "That's just the one! I knew you paid attention. He's a wonderful husband, isn't he, dear? I'm getting Miss Granger a subscription if it works for her. She'll also need a few other odds and ends for her beauty regime as well."

"Joy."

Severus was making his way to the Headmaster's from they dungeons, a hard hike for sure. Having roped his seventh-year class into working quietly in the library – and thanking Irma with a bottle of his home-brewed leather oil for some library books – he made his way to the conference between his brother-in-arms and his godson and his, er, student with more haste than was strictly necessary. Lucius had no patience for muggles or muggleborns who didn't understand the Wizarding World and he worried just how long that patience would stretch for Miss Granger. Although from his conversation last night, he expected the anger of the Malfoy patriarch was directed firmly at his son.

It was his second visit to the Malfoy Estate within two days, and Narcissa had caught on that something was happening at the school.

She popped in, doing her job as a proper hostess to inquire whether they needed anything, and stayed to talk about Draco. Snape was relieved when Narcissa joined, to tell the truth, because she was always the least bigoted of the pair. She held no resentment towards Andromeda, at any rate, and that was quite a sign of goodwill towards muggleborns that she accepted one was married to her sister.

Upon hearing about Draco's behaviour at school, she was disapproving. And after hearing of the staircase incident, she was incensed. Finally, Severus smirked, the sensible reaction to hearing your child is a menace to society. Of course, Narcissa was more concerned that her son could ever hurt a woman than his bigotry, but there was also a measure of disgust for the actual epithets he uttered and the behaviour of thievery.

"I was going to recommend waiting the weekend as an indirect show of apathy," Severus said. "However, given today's events-"

"Surely it wasn't so severe? She wasn't injured," Lucius pointed out.

"He could have seriously harmed the girl, Lucius!" she screeched. "Imagine if he had! What if Dumbledore had called the Aurors! And why didn't you tell me about his flying lesson before now? Even with our beliefs, Lucius, to take from another pureblood family! Augusta will have your head in the next Wizengamot session, and you know how well respected she is!"

"And Potter is also influential," Severus sneered slightly at that but managed to repress his inner hatred of the boy. "Imagine what people would say about a formerly alleged Death Eater raising his son to hate the Boy-Who-Lived? One word in the wrong ear about what happened and the Wizarding World hates your boy and you."

Narcissa nodded frantically. "Absolutely right. Well, we must prepare for our trip to Hogwarts tomorrow. We'll make amends to Miss Granger and Mister Longbottom, give a cursory apology to Mr Potter, and then deal with Draco. Can you make time for it, Lucius?"

"Of course," he sighed. "But Narcissa, surely it isn't necessary to formally make amends, is it? Our reputation –"

"Amongst our circle is fine without," she agreed, "but they are few and most are in prison. With the majority, we are still out of favour. Our reputation is better now than it was at your trial, of course, but I will not have this family dragged back into the limelight for another foolhardy attempt at blood purity!"

Severus watched the stoic lady take a deep calming breath laden with more emotion than he normally saw for the woman. "You barely went free during the trials, and many still see our family as a threat. I will not have Draco grow up the same way."

Lucius was silent, then gave a nod. "Very well. But full restitution only to the mudblood girl. She is the only one he attempted to harm."

And now they were alone with her. Dumbledore himself had found him and told him as much, hinting that maybe as Draco's godfather he'd be welcomed in the room to watch over the girl and he was anxious to oblige.

"Jelly Beans," he snapped at the gryphon, barely pausing for the stairs to appear.

Well, Severus blinked at the scene before him, that is unexpected.

Granger was planted in a chair right in front of Narcissa, and from the delighted half-smile on Narcissa's face, she was fully enthused with Miss Granger's hair. Perhaps he should have anticipated this; with the excuse of getting into the girl's good graces, Narcissa was free to be as kind to her as Severus knew he was capable of. . . and the girl's hair was truly atrocious when freed.

He avoided that corner of the room and went to the sofas where Lucius and Draco were sharing glares with each other.

"Your gesture was received well." He sat next to Lucius. It was a power move, a small one, but enough that Draco knew once again that there was no one on his side. On this one, he and Lucius were in agreement. "Even among the snakes."

That made father and son look to him in surprise.

"Really?" Draco's voice came out as a, probably unintended, whine but enough to earn a glare from Lucius.

"Yes, Severus, truly?"

A nonchalant lean back and a nod. "Not all, clearly; Draco's friends were indignant of course. A few seventh and sixth years. But no one appreciates the triple-digit loss of points Mr Malfoy has accrued over the last couple of days, and no one believes he has approached this situation with the subtlety that is expected of their House.

"Add to it that Miss Granger sat with the House yesterday and was gracious, kind, and polite and that she's found an ally in Mr Price, whose reputation is impeccable. Her behaviour amongst the Slytherins endeared her to them far more than the whining of a clearly impolite and impulsive boy. Most agreed that this behaviour is inappropriate, privately and publicly."

At that, he leaned forward and looked down at the blonde boy. Blue met black in fear and anger. "Slytherin House is uniting, and not against Potter or Granger."

But then he drew back, not wanting to set undue expectations. "Of course, it's not overt. Those in Draco's year are either his friends or unlikely to cross him. And the older years are treating it like an infant's tantrum."

Draco was getting more and more frustrated, he could see, and Severus did understand why the boy was feeling that way. All the years of being told and shown that he was the most important – both to his parents as a sole child and to society as a Malfoy – did not leave much room for the consideration of others. And for people like Potter and a muggleborn …. He had not been raised to do any differently.

"I don't understand!" he finally screamed in frustration, drawing gazes from the salon-corner of the room as well. "Why are you saying this? What did I do wrong!?"

Lucius and Severus shared a look. This was a delicate thing, with Granger being in the same room. References to blood status should be avoided, but clearly, it was still an issue in the boy's head.

While they considered, Hermione had gotten up from the chair she'd been forced into and approached the volatile Slytherin boy.

"You were mean," Hermione said, wincing at how simple it sounded. The boy whipped around, shooting daggers at her. "That's what you did wrong, okay? You don't know it's wrong to be mean."

"What?! I do too!" Draco sneered.

"No, you don't!" Hermione stamped her feet. "If you did we'd be free right now! You don't think you were wrong at all! You were mean to Neville and you took his gran's gift, and then you were mean to me and Harry, and you don't think it was wrong! It was wrong! You can't just be awful to everyone all the time! It's childish."

Severus held Lucius back from interjecting. The kids were having it out, and it was good for Draco to have a head-to-head debate with someone on his level.

"I'm not a child! And you all deserve it!"

Hermione's first instinct was to get angry, but she still had the some of the lightness in her from earlier that Narcissa had unknowingly kept alive with her kindness. It made her a nanosecond slower in deciding what to say, enough to do a complete redirect her thoughts of laying into him.

So she didn't get angry, she got sad. It reminded her of when her dad tried to teach her about bullies not knowing any better. Draco really didn't know he wasn't right. And it reminded her of what her dad and mum had said some time ago after church.

"Anger doesn't get shared, you know," Hermione informed the boy, still a little sad for him. "You can be angry as you want but I don't feel your anger. You're the one who feels terrible when you get angry, and angry people make mistakes. Being mean is a mistake."

Severus and Lucius felt slightly dizzied by the non-sequiturs in the girl's speech – clear evidence of her age – but to their surprise, Draco seemed to follow it the way only a kid could and frown intently.

Hermione didn't know what else to say. She didn't want to say the wrong thing and make him not listen to her, but she wanted to help him, a little. She was still sad for him now that she saw what her daddy said was true.

"I think you should smile," Hermione said finally, the only thing she could think of. He really was miserable, and whenever she was miserable that was what she did. "I haven't really seen a happy smile on you before. No, not with your friends, or at dinner, or when flying … everything is a little

Hermione plopped herself right next to Draco, no regard for how strange her sudden change was. See, to a child, it made sense. She'd remembered her decision to smile and be happy while Malfoy was attached to her, and she'd immediately fixed it. There was no reason not to fix it. She was now smiling at the distraught Draco with a brightness that Severus had to admit he'd missed since yesterday.

"I think what Miss Granger is saying, Draco," Lucius stepped in then, words slow, "is that you can control your own emotions with a change in perspective. Not everything must be taken as a personal offence to you. In fact, most things are not."

Hermione remembered a quote she liked and shared it out loud.

"'School thy feelings, oh my brother,

Train thy warm impulsive soul,

Do not its emotions smother,

But let wisdom's voice control.'"

The group of them looked at her with different faces, but she was looking at Draco who was steadfastly frowning at the floor.

"It's a quote I learned," Hermione told him with a cheery smile, trying not to make the boy angry again. "I have a whole quotes book of my favourite ones and I collect them. They had this other one, 'Hold your tongues about things of no moment.' If it's something that doesn't really matter – something not really wrong, just different and maybe annoying to me – I shouldn't say anything about it because it will do more bad than good if I do. I'm not really good at it, but mum says I should try or I won't make many friends."

Once again, Severus was gobsmacked. This small child was speaking with more wisdom than even some his age couldn't impart, and with an earnestness that pierced straight through your heart. He saw Narcissa's eyes brighten as she looked upon the girl, and even Lucius looked pensive at her words. Draco … Draco finally looked a little sorry.

"And I'm talking too much again, I'm sorry," Hermione said with an embarrassed smile. "I just didn't want you to be sad. That's all."

Didn't want you to be sad … Didn't want you to be sad … "Why'd'you care?" Draco clung to his last petulant string, turning away from the girl.

Hermione frowned. "Well, of course, I care. You are a person, too."

The dam broke for Draco. He sagged as the last of his tantrum left him, and he realized just how angry he had been and just how much it had controlled him. He really shouldn't have been so angry, it didn't leave him feeling great … and he'd needed someone like Granger to fix it. That was how low he'd fallen. He'd given a mudblood the high ground.

She was still a mudblood to him, though. He's only eleven, this stuff didn't get fixed in one go.

But still, he whispered. "Thanks."

Lucius interjected then, his voice low but firm. "Draco, I believe now would be the appropriate time to apologize."

Severus saw the child bristle and worried his pride would make an instant reappearance because of his father, but the small bristle that could have easily turned into a tantrum faded. He drew himself up and bowed his head the way he was brought up, still stiff but only as a cover for his true feelings.

"I'm sorry."

That was enough for the castle. Both kids felt the magic tether fall away and grinned at each other before turning to the adults. "It's gone!"

"Oh, well done, Draco!" Narcissa beamed proudly at her son. "This has been a good lesson, and I hope you never forget it."

"Indeed," Lucius Malfoy seemed both genuinely relieved and slightly concerned. As if he didn't know what to expect. "However, does Miss Granger accept your apology?"

Hermione was suddenly the focus again, but she was already nodded to Draco and then to his parents, back and forth, in her usual frenetic bobbing. Severus suppressed a smirk.

"Excellent," Narcissa clapped. "Now, I know you two will butt heads, but I want you both to get along in the future. Shake hands and be friends. Can you two do that for me?"

That's an interesting play, Severus thought. Hermione, the Gryffindor she was, stuck out her hand immediately. Draco looked like his pride might resurface and fight the edict of his mother, but a look at the girl's smiling face and he clasped her hand tight.

Draco smirked at her. "Friends don't tell Potter that their friend got a hiding from their parents, right?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Right."

Narcissa downright beamed at the two of them. "This is now resolved quite nicely, I think. We should let the children get to class. But Draco, please don't forget to think about your words and to watch that temper; we don't want anything else to happen, right? And Miss Granger? I will send the sample potion that we talked about, the one for your hair, and I'll expect your owl telling me how it works out. Now off you go!"

Both children grabbed their bags and made for the exit, but Narcissa grabbed Draco in a choking hug before he left.

"I love you, Dragon," she said with a warble. "And I do miss you. Write to your mother often, alright?"

Draco blushed but nodded. Then together the kids left Dumbledore's office.

Lucius' eyes turned to Severus', analytical. "It was an interesting choice for Dumbledore to place him with this particular muggleborn, wasn't it? And it didn't last long."

"No," he mused, "but it didn't have to. It brought both of you to Hogwarts to see Draco's behaviour and showed a new, non-prejudice attitude for the school. Miss Granger was just an effective tool."

"But I think we can agree she is an absolutely delightful child," Narcissa announced, sitting across from the pair of them. "And she was able to bring out Draco's better side – with our help of course."

Severus thought about that interaction. Children often understood each other better than they did adults, true, but he doubted that even if he understood Draco's line of reasoning that he would have been able to give the boy similar counsel as Miss Granger. Bringing out his better side indeed.

"Yes, she is quite singular," he said simply. "There is a lot of attention on this girl."

Meaning you can't touch her, Lucius, was his silent edict to the blond Lord. But he was surprised to note that Lucius had his cane under his chin as he thought intently about the interaction. He and Narcissa waited for the man's verdict quietly.

"See how she does with those books, Severus," said Lucius finally. "And keep Draco from offending her again. I'm interested to see who else's attention falls on her."