A/N: Hi all! A thank you to BratGirl1983, maits18, LLybers6, takingflight4, kacpin2002, Shorty653, Dayannight, ZoeyOlivia, Rubydragonjewel, decadenceofmysoul, LC003, and percabethbooklion for commenting on the last chapter! I really do appreciate your kind words!
And I would like to (happily) announch that this fic has reached over 100 followers which is WILD so thank you to everyone who is following this journey with me!
I also keep forgetting to do this, but I do not own Harry Potter.
As always, enjoy!
Chapter 3
Anyone who knew Hermione knew that she wasn't the most graceful when she woke from a deep sleep. She cracked her eye open to find Nagini's tongue darting out three inches from her face.
The brunette moistened her mouth, "you're heavy," she croaked.
Nagini slowly moved off her, slithering onto the floor. Hermione quickly sat up, stretching as she slowly stood. Her stiff muscles quickly loosened, and Hermione realized that for the first time in a long time, she had some rest.
Hermione moved to the window, the setting sun lighting the sky in reds and oranges.
Hermione groaned, her stomach crying out along with her.
She would have to have dinner with Death Eaters tonight. She sighed to her self, remembering what Harry told her before she snuck away from Hogwarts.
Do what you've got to do.
Hermione took her time to explore the room, and to her surprise, her wardrobe was full of clothes, the bookshelves stacked high with old tomes, and the en suite bathroom filled with products.
Nothing in the room looked like she could afford them even if she wanted to. With pursed lips, Hermione turned on the water for a bath, selecting a peppermint soap for her bubble bath. She quickly piled her hair on top of her head, disrobed, looking at herself in the mirror. The witch was still so thin that her rips pressed against her skin. When her eyes travel south, she noticed her stomach was being to distend, a small bump indicating her pregnancy.
She cradled her stomach for a moment, turning entirely to the side with a smile. "Good job in there," Hermione said, patting her stomach proudly.
She walked to the bathtub, stepping over Nagini who had slithered into the room, sank into the hot water, her muscles relaxing when she finally settled.
Hermione watched Nagini, who made herself comfortable next to the bathtub, could tightly on the cream mat.
"You know you don't have to follow me everywhere, right? No one is going to attack me in the bathtub," Hermione told the snake who just stared back at her. She honestly didn't expect to get an answer.
Hermione huffed, drawing her knees to her chest, staring at the bubbles, "I don't know what to do next," Hermione admitted, "I didn't plan to her this far ahead… I hope that they hear me out. They'll hear me out, right?" Hermione turned and faced Nagini who hissed in response.
It wasn't a threatening sound, quite the opposite, and Hermione felt warmth bloom in her chest.
"You think so?" Hermione asked.
Nagini lifted her head and nodded, her tongue darting out to taste the air.
Hermione opened her mouth to speak when there was a gentle knock on the door. "Miss. Granger?" Narcissa Malfoy's voice rang, "Are you alright?"
Hermione snapped out of the moment, sitting up straighter in the bathtub. "I—um— I'm fine!" she said, "I'll be out soon."
Hermione slowly stood, the cold air causing gooseflesh to break out on her skin. She ripped the lone owl hanging behind the door and wrapped it around herself tightly. With a final glance at Nagini, Hermione opened the door only to find Narcissa standing regally in front of the bathroom door.
"Sorry, I was in the bath," Hermione said, moving quickly past Narcissa towards the wardrobe, "come on you blasted snake, our conversation isn't over."
The older witch made a strangled sound as Nagini followed Hermione into the room, sliding over Narcissa's dragon skin boots.
Nagini hissed at the blonde.
"That's rude," Hermione said, turning away from the wardrobe to glare at the snake.
Narcissa's eyes widened, and Hermione almost couldn't stifle the laugh growing in her chest at the other witches horrified look.
"I don't speak parseltongue." Hermione faced the wardrobe again, letting her fingers glide over the fabrics, "If that's what you were going to ask."
The blonde witch nodded, moving towards Hermione. "Let me choose something for you to wear… Most from the Dark Lord's inner circle will be at dinner so you should dress for the occasion." The witch said, "put on your underclothes and will work form there."
Hermione turned to Nagini and mouthed underclothes to her, but she quickly did what the Malfoy matriarch said, slipping on a bra and knickers before facing the older woman.
Narcissa pulled out a soft salmon dress and smiled. "This would look lovely on you," Narcissa said. Narcissa turned and looked at Hermione, her eyes trailing down to the young woman's stomach. "You're showing," the woman said in awe.
Narcissa helped Hermione pull on the dress, fastening it closed with the quick flick of the buttons that lined the back. The older witch then nudged Hermione towards the chair in front of the vanity.
Hermione did as Narcissa said, sitting in the chair, staring at herself in the mirror. Narcissa made quick to start on Hermione's hair, releasing it from how it was piled on top of her head for her bath.
Narcissa focussed on the young witch, only glancing up at Hermione periodically. "You-you're so young… I can't imagine being in your position. "Narcissa said, "I know that we haven't had the best history, but we're surrounded by men, so if you ever want to… talk about what you're going through…"
Hermione snorted, not having the best history, was an understatement. This witch's son tormented her, and her sister tortured her in the drawing-room, there was nothing but bad history.
Narcissa stilled.
"Thanks," Hermione said, her eyes boring into Narcissa's through the mirror, "I'll consider it, but I can't get comfortable. Not with you. Not with my grandfather. Not even with this baby, no matter how much I want to. I appreciate it, but it's not an option. Not now."
Narcissa starred back at Hermione, there was hurt in her eyes, but she nodded in understanding. Hermione stood abruptly, taking a deep breath to calm herself before she went barreling into an anxiety attack.
"But thank you," Hermione said, and upon the Malfoy Matriarch's confused look she elaborated, "for the help today… and the offer…"
Narcissa gave a curt nod, "we should get going, I'm sure they are waiting for you."
Narcissa led Hermione to the door, Nagini following close behind. "Don't you mean us? They are waiting for us?"
"No."
The rest of the walk to the dining room was a silent one, and Hermione was thankful, even if the silence was an uncomfortable one. The closer they moved towards the dining room, the more open and welcoming the manor became.
Eventually, after they had climbed down a flight of vert extravagant stairs, Narcissa paused, taking a moment to give a worrying glance at Hermione.
"I'm ready," Hermione said.
Narcissa nodded, stepping back and signaling Hermione to walk into the dining room first. Hermione lifted her chin and walked into the room confidently.
The dining room was more extravagant than Hermione expected, a long row of about 30 people sitting around an even more extravagant table. At the head of the table, on the other side of the room, sat Tom Riddle, his glamor not in place. At the sight of Hermione he stood, the chatter in the room immediately fell, all eyes turned to the newly revealed granddaughter of the Dark Lord.
"Thank you, Narcissa," Riddle said. Narcissa gave a small curtsy and rushed to her husband and son's sides, taking the seat between them. "Now, Hermione, come here." The Dark Lord said, motioning to the empty chair to his right.
Hermione swallowed and walked over, silently registering the people in the room, some of which she recognized from school. Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, the two Greengrass sisters, and a few peers she couldn't name sat next to their parents, their faces carefully blank.
Once she reached the opposite end of the table, Riddle pulled out her chair, motioning her to sit. Hermione sat as gracefully as she could, whispering a thank you to the imposting man behind her, Nagini hissing up to Riddle who gave a soft hiss back.
Once the Dark Lord took his seat, he waved his hand, an array of food appearing on the table. "Eat." He said, "We'll speak after."
Hermione licked her lips at the sight of all the food. All decorum had vanished as she immediately reached for the roast, taking a large piece, then piling her plate high with potatoes.
Hermione moaned when she took her first bite, savoring her mouthful for only a moment before she went for another forkful.
"When was the last time you ate?" the Death Eater Hermione recognized at Rowle asked.
Hermione swallowed her food, a blush crawling up her cheeks. "Since I've eaten anything like this? Almost a year. We didn't have much on the run, or after the battle," Hermione whispered.
Someone snorted down the table, "I would imagine Dumbledore would feed his collection of misfits."
Hermione stiffened, her lower lip trembling at mention of the Headmaster.
She shook her head vigorously, her curls flying around her. "It's— It's not—" She paused, taking a shuttering breath. "Its not good there anymore…"
The Dark Lord looked over his granddaughter, "two months ago, he was a champion for the light."
Hermione's head fell forward, her hair creating a curtain in front of her face, "Two months is a long time." Hermione whispered she lifted her chin, blinking away the tears, "So much has changed… He's not the same man who led us."
"Elaborate," the Dark Lord demanded.
Hermione stared at her grandfather, her eyes wide with fear. "He killed Cormac McLaggen when he tried to feed some of the prisoners in the dungeons." Hermione rushed out, hoping to get it all out before the emotion choked her, "It was a public execution, it took hours for him to die and if any of us tried to help, he was going to kill us too. I don't think I've ever heard someone scream like that."
The few murmurs that filled the room stopped at her confession. Hermione snapped her jaw shut, her hands shaking uncontrollably, her lower lip quivering.
"He took out Ron's eye when he stood up for Marcus Flint, and he tried to make me take the termination potion when he found out I was pregnant. I— I—" Hermione gasped for breath, her sight was going in and out, the violent memories flooding her.
Cormac being skinned alive. Ron, being held down as his right eye, was scooped out of his head. Dumbledore slamming her against the wall of his office, trying to force the red potion down her throat.
The crying.
The screaming.
The smell of blood and smoke wafting in the air.
Bile rose in her throat.
Hermione stood abruptly, slamming her and over her mouth.
"I'm going to be sick," Hermione ran towards her door, her chair falling back onto the floor, the sound reverberating through the room.
She ran out of the dining room, finding the door to the gardens and emptying her stomach over a rosebush.
She tries gasping for air, her lungs refusing to fill all the way, her heart beating so hard, she was sure her ribs would splinter. Hermione slowly sank to her knees, leaning forward on her hands, her finders slowly disappearing into the mud below. She watched her hands for a moment, and she could feel the cold, stickiness of the Earth seep into her dress where her knees pressed against the ground.
When her breath finally came to her, she felt a gentle hand on her back.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said, closing her eyes and taking in enough air to fill her soul, "I didn't mean to get sick."
Hermione turned to see Narcissa kneeling beside her. "It's alright." the woman said grasping Hermione's shoulder and helping her stand, "Let's get you back inside… you'll be wanting some sleep."
Hermione nodded numbly, thankful that the woman seemed to understand. Back in the manor, a small handful of the guests, all of Hermione's schoolmates, Lucius Malfoy, and Riddle stood in the foyer. Hermione wrapped her arms around herself, the mud on her hands smearing up her sleeves, turning her face towards Narcissa for any semblance of safety.
"I'm taking her upstairs," Narcissa declared, here eyes slowly gliding over everyone who was watching Hermione, "we are to have no interruptions."
Narcissa turned her nose up, wrapping her arm around Hermione to lead up the stairs, and Hermione followed without protest.
The walk through the halls of the large house was yet again a silent one. Narcissa pushed the door to Hermione's room open and helped Hermione free herself from her dress. Hermione sat on her bed in her knickers, staring blankly at the area rug as Narcissa started a bath, and when she was ready, Hermione stripped down entirely and stepped into the bathroom.
"I'll be outside the door," Narcissa said after Hermione had settled in the water.
"Thank you," Hermione said.
Narcissa nodded, closing the door enough, so Hermione had some privacy. The brunette witch let her head fall back, closing her eyes as the warmth of the water comforted her.
The door creaked open, and Hermione knew without opening her eyes that it was Nagini to keep an eye on her. A small smile grew on her face for a moment before falling. She missed Crookshanks. He was always so warm, so soft, and maybe, if Riddle would hear her out, she'll be able to hold him again.
She could talk to him as soon as she had her faculties back in order.
She couldn't let her friends— no, her family— down.
A knock at the door of her bedroom jolted her from her musings. Nagini lifted her head and eyed the door.
"What are you doing here?" Narcissa whispered at the unknown guest.
"How is she?" Draco. Hermione's heart stuttered in her chest. She sat up entirely trying to listen in on what was happening in the next room.
"You need to leave. Now, Draco." Narcissa said coldly. There were a pause and some shuffling. Narcissa sighed in resignation. "She's relaxing in the bath."
"Okay," Draco said.
Another sigh from Narcissa.
"Go back to your room and be careful, Draco," Narcissa said.
"Goodbye, mother."
The door closed and Hermione grasped the sides of the tub, pushing herself up. Hermione didn't know how long she had been in the water, but her fingers had begun to prune. She stepped out, pulling a towel around her nude form.
Narcissa was sitting at the foot of Hermione's bed, observing her closely.
"You know, don't you," Hermione said, proud that her voice didn't crack.
"A mother always knows, Miss. Granger," Narcissa said calmly, "now, let's get you to bed. Rest is important in your state."
Hermione didn't protest.