A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

A special thank you to the Guest who commented on the last chapter. Thank you so much! It was the perfect Christmas Present. And another thank you to everyone who has been following this story as it grows, and we still have a few chapters to go!

Disclaimer, I do not own Harry Potter.

As always, enjoy!

Chapter 9

Malfoy Manor was just as intimidating as she remembers it being. The tall, iron, gates standing several feet over Hermione's head.

The witch back tracked for a moment, cowardice wasn't typically in a Gryffindor's nature, but most Gryffindors weren't almost tortured to insanity in the manor that was just behind the gates.

Hermione bit the inside of her cheek, her mother's words washing over her.

She could do this.

She had to do this.

Hermione stiffened up her upper lip and stomped her foot to force herself to walk. she marched right up to the gates to knock, but when she put her first in the air, they black gates creaked open with a loud groan.

Hermione's fist stayed in frozen in the air. Where they expecting someone?

Where they expecting her?

Hermione let her arm fall and she took a cautious step forward. Once she stepped fully onto the manor's land, a gust of wind blew behind the witch and the gate's slammed shut. Hermione's head snapped back, her eyes wide with panic.

"Hello?" Hermione called, turning back to the cobble stone walkway leading up to the manor's front door.

The quiet pop of apperation echoed around Hermione.

"How may I help you?" An elf said holding a deep bow. Judging by the floral pattern on its pillowcase, the little elf was a girl.

Hermione jumped back, almost tripping over her feet. The little elf held her position, only lifting her head to look at Hermione with an unspoken question.

"Oh— erm— I'm here to see Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy," Hermione said.

The elf stood, "The Mistress and Master are busies," she squeaked. The elf's lower lip trembled, "They aren't taking visitors."

The elf put up her hand to snap when Hermione interrupted, "No! Lucius Malfoy told me to find him!"

The elf looked at her curiously, her arm dropping slightly, he eyes narrowing, "What is's your name, Missy?"

The witch cleared her throat, "Hermione Granger."

The elf gasped, hopping from one let to the next. "Oh, Missy! I knews you would come! The other elves losted hope but I knews!" The elf grabbed onto Hermione's pant leg and started to pull her towards the manor, "Come, come!"

Hermione relented, waking side by side with the elf.

"What's your name?" Hermione asked.

The elf, who had slowly got from a walk to a jog turned to find Hermione a few yards behind her, "Mossy, Miss."

Mossy ran back to Hermione and grabbed onto her leg again.

"It's nice to meet you, Mossy."

"No, its nice to meet you miss!"

Hermione chuckled at the elves excitement. Before Hermione knew it, she was standing at the large French doors of Malfoy Manor, the walk much shorter now than she remembered it being all those years ago.

Mossy pushed the doors open and motioned for Hermione to follower her. Hermione made sure to only focus on the elf. She counted the flowers on the pillowcase and cataloged the different colors in fear of looking around her and running right out the doors.

The two moved up the stairs and took a left turn into a dark hallway. Hermione paused, closing her eyes and taking in slow breaths.

"Don't worry, Missy," Mossy whispered, "all the bad people are non now."

Hermione looked down at the elf and nodded, "I know."

The elf gave Hermione a strong nod back, holding her chin up high. Hermione did the same.

"Let's get going then," Hermione said, gesturing into the darkened hallway.

After several turns, Hermione spotted the messy brown hair of Theodore Nott, his face was streaked with tears. The wizard had his forehead pressed against the wall while Lucius and Narcissa were arguing, gesturing in the air passionately. Pansy Parkinson was kneeling on the floor slightly rocking in place.

Hermione froze. Maybe she should have waited to come by.

It obviously wasnt the best time.

Blaise Zabini walked out of the dimly lit room gripping his wand in a shaking hand. The door shut behind him.

He shook his head.

Narcissa let out the kind of wail that Hermione hadn't heard since the war. Nott's shoulder slumped forward, shaking in the effort to keep his cries down. Parkinson buried her head in her hands.

Lucius looked in her direction, only to jump back at the sight of her.

"Missy," Mossy whispered pushing Hermione's leg towards the group, "go, go."

The elf popped away.

Hermione cleared her throat, "Mr. Malfoy?" she rasped, "My parents told me you were looking for me."

All heads snapped towards Hermione, and all eyes wide with some kind of shock.

"Yes," Lucius whispered. He reached out for the brunette witch taking steps to be an arms length away, and when Hermione didn't flinch away, Lucius rested his hand on her shoulder. Hermione had to take a slow breath not to yelp out in pain at his touch.

Hermione gathered whatever she had left of her self and said, "How can I help?"

Blaise Zabini was who stepped up, tucking his wand away clumsily, "What do you know so far?"

Hermione shook her head, "Nothing." Hermione said, "No one's told me anything more than Draco is dying."

"Potter hasn't told you?" Pansy gritted out from her spot on the floor.

"No."

Lucius gently pulled Hermione closer to the group. Blaise made the calculated step to block Hermione's view of the door he has walked out of.

"The Malfoy line is cursed, Granger," Nott said, "not many know."

Hermione crossed her arms, "What do you mean cursed? I'm not exactly a curse breaker."

Nott snorted but said nothing. He merely crossed his arms and watched Hermione with narrowed eyes.

"When a Malfoy heir is born, the curse takes effect." Narcissa whispered, "At the age of 20 their magical core begins to unravel— Death expected at 25."

Hermione's eyes found Lucius's immediately, "There aren't any curses that cause someone's magical core to unravel. Dolohov tried and failed," Hermione said, gesturing to herself, "try again."

Lucius moistened his lips and take a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking, "What do you know about Veela, ?"

Hermione coughed out a laugh. She doubled over and began to wheeze, failing to catch her breath.

"Oh Merlin," Hermione said, whipping mirthful tears from her eyes, "you lot have gone mad."

She looked up at the other people in the room, their mouths dropped open.

"You aren't joking." Hermione said in horror, "Oh god why didn't he just tell me? We've been working together for almost 6 years!" Hermione paused, "Oh, I'm going to kill that ferret… Wait— Harry knew too then didn't he? I might have to kill Harry Potter!"

Hermione's fists on her hips, her chest rising and falling.

"Gryffindors." Parkinson muttered.

Hermione let her shoulders fall, "What can I do to help?"

Narcissa perked up, she looked at the door Blaise was still blocking, "So you'll help?"

"I am a Gryffindor, aren't I?" Hermione said, her eyes meeting Parkinson.