"Where could she have gone?" Harry desperately asked. Pacing back and forth outside the iron gate, trying his best not to glance at the distraught party crowded around him.
Lucius stared at the younger wizard. "I assure you Potter my manor will not swallow you up, either come in or go away." His infamous cane tapping away on the gravel as he walked back inside his property.
The pitch black night sky flashed bright as the lightening struck over the Malfoy estate. The odd group followed the Lord up to the dreaded building along with Andromeda and Narcissa.
"I'm afraid that the recent events have driven your friend over the edge so to speak" Lucius calmly explained, seated by the blazing fire in his study. "Miss Granger has been viewing her memories that she asked me to take after my son..." he trailed off.
Narcissa shifted uncomfortably under the gaze of the strange group. "Does she remember us?" Blue meeting grey. Understanding passing between the two blondes.
"Partly. I know what memories she has seen but there are still more to view" Lucius replied eyeing his ex wife with concern. "More the teasing and the touches." His attention turning to his pensieve laying abandoned on the coffee table.
Harry raised his bushy brow at the rather strange comment choosing to leave it alone for now, he touched the stone bowl curiously. "Can we see them?" he asked, knowing what the answer would be.
"Absolutely not. Private means private even to you Mr Potter." Narcissa brushed his hand away from the bowl, flicking her wand and the pensieve disappeared. "If Her.. Miss Granger hasn't left the estate then surely she can't be far." Turning back to Lucius.
Andromeda and Lucius shared a knowing look. "She knows Draco.. is dead." A lump formed in his throat. "Salazar why didn't I think of it before" Lucius grumbled.
Startling the others Lucius left behind his cane and took off towards the back of the manor, Narcissa and Andromeda following closely behind.
The mausoleums heavy doors remained stubbornly shut refusing to open on the Lords demand.
Red plump lips touched Hermiones cheek, the slightest touch sent bolts of electricity running down her spine. "Thank you for standing up for us Miss Granger. You of all people should of left us to rot in the dark dank cells of Azkaban but instead you saved us."
Sharp blue eyes met her warm brown as Narcissa stepped back putting much needed space between the two witches.
"Everyone deserves a second chance Lady Malfoy. You lied to you know who which in turn saved my best friends life and helped end the war and as for Draco.. he was just a boy forced to play a man's game" Hermione spoke bluntly.
"The doors are refusing to obey" Lucius gritted his teeth, placing both his hands onto the cold stone.
Hermione gripped the scantily clad shoulders in a fierce hug allowing the older witch to take comfort in her arms. "Sometimes in life we must do what we have to, to protect the ones we love" she whispered placing soft kisses to the back of the blonde's bare neck.
"Even if we get our loved ones killed?" Narcissas delicate voice cracked.
The brunette paused at the older witches question, her heart raced at the distraught woman's fear. She wanted to stop her pain so she replied with the only thing she could. "I will make you a promise. For as long as I'm breathing I shall protect you, Lucius and Draco with everything I have".
Narcissa turned around her blue eyes shining with unshed tears, she shakily placed a hand onto Hermione's flushed cheeks. "Why?".
"Because you have shown me love like no other, because Draco is like a brother to me and I protect my love ones." Hermione closed the small gap, their breasts pressed together just as their lips met.
"Hermione can you hear me?" Lucius shouted, desperation leaking from his words as he pounded on the enclosed stone.
The large gathering stood staring at Hermione who stood stiffly in front of Draco. "Good evening everyone" she tried to sound cheery, her wand safely tugged away in her sleeve.
Many of the onlookers stood staring in contempt at seeing the youngest Malfoy amongst them. "This isn't a party for death eaters and their whores" some foolish idiot spoke up.
Draco grounded his teeth at the harsh slur towards his friend and pulled out his wand, taking a defensive stance along side Hermione. "My family are only here on the Headmistresses request if anyone has a problem do take it up with her" he spat out.
Hermione released her wand from its confinement, making sure that everyone noticed it. "The Malfoy family are free to come and go as they please just as you lot are. The next fool to slur them shall see just how the brightest witch of her generation helped your precious boy who lived to survive the Merlin forsaken war" her fierce passion breaking through her speech her brown eyes locking onto familiar green of her best friend.
Harry blushed at the ridiculous moniker. Nodding his understanding to Hermione he broke away from the crowd and stood side by side with his once childhood enemy. "If you try to attack any of the Malfoy family I will protect them from all and any harm".
Hermione took over "the war is over, if we are to prevent another from taking its place we need to rebuild bridges and accept everyone in our society because if we carry on with our petty vendettas the next war we will not win". She could a small hand on her back.
"Lucius stop with the racket this will not help" Andromeda sternly snapped at the frantic wizard. She mimicked the Lords previous actions but all she felt was the cold unforgiving stone beneath her soft palms.
Hermione could feel the whiskey burning up her veins and tightening around her heart. "Take them away please Lucius I can't bare this anymore" she pleaded with the blonde before her. Her tears splashing onto the polished surface of his desk.
"The pain will not go away even if I do as you ask Hermione." Was his short reply.
She was determined not to remember the past even if it meant breaking her promises she made long ago at a time she thought she was unbreakable, immortal. "They say love is the only weapon a man needs" she mumbled under her breath.
The alcohol was forcing her stomach to lurch. "Take my memories and you will never have to deal with me again".
"Draco wouldn't want you to do this Miss Granger. He wouldn't want you to destroy his mother by breaking her heart further" Lucius shouted, anger flashing from his grey molten eyes. "You think you are the only one hurting? Well your not he was my son, my little boy" he thumped the desk hard with his fist "I shall do as you ask but I hope your selfishness is worth losing Narcissa over, losing your precious memories of Draco".