a/n1: Hello my lovely readers! I'm glad you liked the last chapter as much as I did. I actually wrote the chapter last week already and I just forgot to update :D Betalove to reynardinepttr on tumblr! Enjoy! :)
Hermione had promised to come over after dinner on Sunday evening and even though it was nearing nine, she intended to uphold her promise. Tomorrow morning Narcissa's hearing in front of the Wizengamot would finally take place. They had stalled it many times over the last three weeks and Narcissa was rather nervous by now.
Hermione doubted that the witch had much to fear, seeing as the other wives of Death Eaters who hadn't participated in the Battle had gotten off lightly as well. Nevertheless, worry churned in Hermione's gut when she apparated to Tonk's Cottage.
She had used the weekend to search for information about her parents' departure from Great Britain. Living in her old house and talking to the neighbours, it seemed they had done as she had suggested and left shortly after her charm. But they hadn't left anything behind and Hermione started to worry that she might have forgotten a few things that had been hers.
Upon entering Andromeda's garden, Hermione spotted Draco by the pond next to the house and waved in greeting. He returned the gesture and went back to reading the book in his lap. Hermione allowed herself to watch him for a few seconds.
Draco looked much better than he had done even on the evening after his trial. The sick paleness that had marred his features since sixth year was slowly being replaced by a much healthier skin tone. He would probably never have much colour and next to her he would always look chalk white, but he didn't look like a walking corpse anymore.
Hermione shook her head and went inside. She wasn't here to ponder Draco's elfish complexion. 'Well, Tolkien elves, not house-elves,' she hurried to correct herself and shook her head once again. Malfoy, elvish? Where did that thought come from?
oOo
An hour later, Hermione stepped back outside and walked up to Draco. When she came closer she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Why was he cradling his hand like that? And was that blood on his shirt?
"Draco! Is everything alright?" Hermione called while running up to him.
He looked up, his eyes flitting from her back to the house and down to his hand. When she reached Draco she grabbed his hand without further ado. She hadn't expected him to push her away forcefully though.
"Leave me alone, Granger!" he snarled and she actually took a step away, pressing her back against the tree.
"I- I just saw the blood and wanted to help," Hermione said quietly, raising her hands to show she wouldn't attack him. "I'm sorry for startling you."
"I don't need your help," Draco sneered and put his hands into his pockets. "Why did you come here?"
"I wanted to ask whether you'd like to come over tomorrow. Narcissa told me that you have been interested in books about healing lately," Hermione explained cautiously. She had no idea what had set him off, aside from her grabbing him. "I found quite a few while sorting through a smaller study in the townhouse."
Draco sighed and dragged his left hand through his hair. "Depends on the hearing. If everything works out I'm sure I could come over in the evening." His voice didn't betray any emotion.
"Alright, that sounds good," Hermione said with a tiny smile. "I'll leave you alone now, good night."
"Good night," Draco replied coolly. At least he didn't sneer anymore.
Hermione nodded to herself and walked away. She wondered what had happened before she came out. There had been a few specks of blood on Draco's shirt but she hadn't seen any on his hands or arms. Maybe he had already healed the cut when she arrived. And she really shouldn't have grabbed him like that. Draco didn't trust her like Harry or Ron did.
He had called her Granger again. Even after his second testimony, when he had been so cold towards her, he hadn't done that. What did all this mean?
Hermione forced herself to focus on Grimmauld Place and apparated to the old house.
Draco lifted the glamour from his knuckles and stared at the bruises. Some were already fading; others were still red, the mix accentuated by the trickles of blood where his skin had split. One and a half weeks of punching things had left colourful traces.
Granger had to appear in the worst moment! Luckily, living with Death Eaters and in a school where violence had been openly encouraged, Draco had learned to glamour fast and thoroughly. Be it on himself or one of his friends. Nobody wanted the Carrows to see them hurt. They took too much pleasure in exploiting the injuries even if the students were Marked.
Draco sat back down and gently brushed over his hurt knuckles. For a few moments his thoughts had shut up and he could enjoy the night without the whispers of doubt that sounded suspiciously like his Aunt Bella, and sometimes Professor Snape.
But he had to find something else. If he continued like this even magical healing wouldn't be able to prevent the skin from scarring. One could only heal a part of the body so many times before the magic stopped working properly. The prime example for this problem had been Mad-Eye Moody, hurt so many times that magical healing hadn't worked anymore, leaving only muggle medicine. But how many healers were actually good at muggle medicine? They knew it included stitches and salves but that seemed to be it, according to the books Draco had read.
But then he had heard two Ravenclaws talking about transplant operations and it sounded like they gave that man a new kidney! Of course you could re-grow a kidney with magic, but how did the muggles re-attach it to the body if they only knew stitches and salves?
Maybe Andromeda would know more about this. She said that Mrs Chang, the mother of the Ravenclaw Seeker, did know enough about muggle science to help them with the infant formula.
Standing up, Draco glamoured his knuckles again and shrank the book to put it into his trouser pocket. He stretched and slowly walked up to the house, wondering how he could broach the subject with Andromeda without telling her the source of his thoughts.
Hermione arrived at Grimmauld Place right when the door opened and Ron came barging through. He didn't even look at her and just apparated away. Slowly Hermione approached the entrance, peeking inside in search for the source of Ron's anger.
Harry stood there in the hallway, one arm around a shell-shocked Pansy and his wand in his hand. Hermione looked for any signs of damage and noticed the smoking spot on the wall where formerly Walburga Black had been.
"Harry, what happened?" Hermione called while stepping inside and closing the door behind her.
The sound pulled Pansy out of her stupor and she tried to leave, but Harry grabbed her hand before she could. "Ron and Walburga were for once in agreement that Pansy has no right to be here. Although they had different reasons."
"Alright, let's go into the kitchen and talk over a cuppa, shall we?" Hermione suggested cautiously. She didn't want to startle Pansy.
"Good idea," Harry said, pulling Pansy closer to him and leading her to the kitchen.
Hermione checked her pocket for the Calming Draught she had always with her when she went outside and followed them. Tinna was already preparing the tea and some batter in a flying bowl.
"Good evening Miss Hermione, how was your stay at your parents' house?" Tinna asked with a small bow when Hermione entered the kitchen.
"Good, thank you, but I did miss your cooking, Tinna," Hermione answered with a genuine smile while she sat down at the table. "Just like you thought, it was much easier to pretend to have returned from my boarding school when I stayed for two nights before moving to my friends' place."
"Did you get the answers you needed?" Tinna asked curiously, commanding the tea to serve itself with a tiny gesture of her hand.
"Most of them," Hermione said with a nod. "Of course the neighbours had no idea where they moved."
"Maybe the British Embassy could help you? Surely the muggles have one as well," Tinna suggested.
"That will indeed be my next move tomorrow," Hermione said, taking a sip from her tea.
"If you need any help with the Ministry of Magic in Australia just tell me, a cousin of mine works there," Pansy offered quietly with a tiny smile.
"Thank you, Pansy," Hermione beamed and was rewarded with a bigger smile. "Now tell about your weekend!"
Harry complied with a grin and started talking about cleaning out the master bedroom. Because while Molly and Sirius had removed most dark artefacts and the doxy infestation they hadn't really done much else.
"Tinna thinks most of the furniture should hold for another decade at least if we clean and polish it properly," Harry finally said and Hermione nodded thoughtfully.
"Do you know anyone who could do that?" she asked after a moment's contemplation. "I think I probably could learn the spells but I don't want to damage the furniture by mistake."
"That's why I asked Pansy to come over and take a look," Harry said with a wink.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you went into the furniture cleaning branch. But well, if you're happy with it," she said with a shrug and a wink.
Pansy snorted. "Of course I didn't, I don't know yet what I want to do but that won't be it. Nevertheless I have good connections to the Selwyn Corporation who specialise on all things furniture. But thanks to them being Slytherins they get barely any contracts and would probably be happy if you hired them."
"Are they any good?" Hermione asked between two sips of her second cup of tea.
"The best on the British market actually," Pansy said nonchalantly.
"Only the best for the Blacks," Harry said laughing and the two young women smiled at each other.
"Obviously," Hermione said with a broad grin. "Now, what set Ron off?"
"He came just back from dinner with his family when I came downstairs with Pansy," Harry explained quietly. "I didn't join them today because I wanted to finish the guest bedroom next to the master bedroom. But I visited for lunch and George and Percy seemed to have had a bad day."
"Oh dear Morgana, that explains a lot," Hermione whispered. While George tended to retreat into himself if he had a really bad day, Percy lashed out. Nobody had expected it when it happened for the first time and he had reduced everyone around him to tears with his scathing remarks. Only when Bill had sent him out of the room had he calmed down and apologised to everyone. He had left anyway and nobody had seen him for the next few hours.
"What does it mean?" Pansy asked her voice still hesitant and quiet.
"It means that he probably tried to get through to George all evening while listening to scathing remarks from Percy," Hermione said quietly. "He must have lost his temper when he saw someone who is, in his eyes, responsible for all of that in his home. Because that's what Grimmauld Place is for all of us, home, a safe haven."
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry," Pansy said with huge eyes.
"Don't be," Harry retorted immediately. "You couldn't have known. It's my fault for not thinking of it."
"No, Harry," Hermione cut in putting her hand on his arm. "Did you tell Ron that she would come over later?"
"I- Yes, I did, as soon as I received her reply," he said cocking his head. "What do you want to say, 'Mione?"
"You told him, he didn't say no and therefore he has no right to tell Pansy that she isn't allowed to be here," Hermione said soothingly.
"Mister Harry should listen to Miss Hermione," Tinna said while she levitated the tiny baked goods she had made during their conversation onto the table. "Mister Ronald should have remembered. It is terribly sad that he didn't, but it is not your fault. Although you probably shouldn't have taken out your wand."
Harry looked at the elf lady for a moment and then he nodded. "You're probably right. Did I ever tell you that I'm really glad Kreacher chose you as our second house-elf?"
Tinna blushed and her ears quivered happily. "Thank you, Mister Harry. Tinna is very happy that you feel like that!" she squeaked and hugged Harry gently.
"By the way, what did you make for us?" Hermione asked inspecting the tiny cakes curiously.
"Tinna presumed to make Miss Pansy's favourite biscuits," the elf lady said shyly. "Tinna hopes that is alright."
"Of course it is," Harry and Hermione assured her in unison.
"Thank you, Tinna," Pansy said and took one of the biscuits. "I really missed them at Hogwarts."
Tinna bowed and patted Pansy's arm gently. "Tinna will make more so you can take some home with you. And maybe violet muffins for Miss Violet?"
Pansy smiled brightly at that. "Oh yes! Vi will be overjoyed! Ally is an amazing cook but Vi swears that your violet muffins are actually the best."
"Well, than we will have to try them as well," Harry said with a grin and a wink to Hermione.
"Oh, and Tinna if you want to you can prepare them for Pansy and send them to her whenever she asks," Hermione said with a smile to Pansy.
"Thank you, Hermione," Pansy said and clasped her hand across the table. "They really lift my spirits on bad days."
"Then you can write or floo Tinna if you have a bad day," Hermione said easily and returned the squeeze.
"Tinna will be happy to make them for Miss Pansy!" Tinna said proudly and set to make another batch.
Sometimes her caring and thoughtful attitude reminded Hermione of Molly. Tinna could definitely be as commanding as the Weasley matriarch.
Theo looked down on the man currently sobbing in front of the floo. He was at a total loss for what to do. His father would have bellowed at him to man up. And Theo didn't remember what his mother would have said or done.
With a quiet 'pop' Cinny appeared at his side. She carried a tray with two steaming mugs, a baking dish with a lid, two plates and two spoons.
"Cinny brought some melissa tea and Mister George's favourite food," the elf lady said, quietly putting the tray on the table between the two couches.
"Thank you, Cinny," Theo whispered. He took a look at the elf lady who had been his nanny after his mother died. "What does one do in this situation, Cinny?"
She shot him a confused look but something on his face must have shown his distress, for her look softened and her ears dropped a few inches. "Master watches what Cinny does."
Then Cinny stepped closer to the sobbing man and started patting his back and mumbling things like "there, there" and "it's alright, let it all out". Fascinatingly enough, Weasley calmed down slowly and was able to take the mug Cinny gave him.
Theo finally sat down on one of the couches in front of the fire and only then noticed that his hands were shaking. He grabbed the second mug to hide it and took a sip of the tea. His muscles relaxed immediately and his breathing evened out. Cinny had probably added a bit elf magic to the tea then.
"What happened to you, Weasley?" Theo asked quietly when the other man had stopped sobbing and Cinny had apparated away.
George raised his head from its place on his knees. "Awful day," he whispered. "Percy called me Fred. I don't know if he was joking or trying to hurt me."
Theo sucked in a breath and leaned forward. "Oh Salazar, that is awful!" And then he was moving and putting an arm around George's shoulder pulling the man to him.
"I didn't know anywhere else to go," the redhead said brokenly. "Everywhere would have reminded me of him. Even some shady bar in Knockturn Alley."
"It's alright," Theo said slowly rubbing George's back. "I told you my home is open for all of you. It gets lonely, you know?"
George nodded. "I haven't been in our flat since the middle of April. And now…"
"You don't have to go," Theo said. "If you don't want to stay at the Burrow or at Potter's you can always come and live here. Salazar knows the Manor is big enough."
"Thank you, Nott," George said with half sob and put an arm around Theo's back as well.
They sat like this for a few more minutes before the heat from the fire got uncomfortable and they settled down on one of the couches.
"Why is there shepherd's pie?" George asked in confusion when he opened the pot.
"Didn't you have some when we smoked on Wednesday?" Theo asked trying to remember the night. It was rather hazy.
"Oh, right," George said squinting at the pie. "Now that you say it, I remember."
"Don't tell me you forgot the whole fucking night?" Theo asked with a startled laugh.
George turned red. "No, just details like what we ate and drank, I do remember you inviting us after all."
"Alright, I was afraid it was so easy to forget," Theo said teasingly and George smiled a bit.
"Nah, don't worry, it was pretty neat. The only thing making it better would have been a real bartender," George said with quiet amusement.
"Noted for the next time," Theo replied and started to serve them the pie.
"Thank you for having me, Nott," George said quietly when Theo gave him his plate.
"It's Theo and pleasure," he smiled and leaned back with his own plate.
"Alright, then, thank you, Theo," George said with a tiny mischievous smile.
a/n2: Yeah, we finally got rid of Walburga! :D What did you enjoy most in this chapter? Tell me please! The next chapter is already written and will be up tomorrow! :)