Hermione had explained her plan to Harry over dinner that evening, an almost painful experience because he just didn't have the Slytherin streak needed to see why the support of the Malfoys was necessary. Eventually she gave up, begging him to trust her and inform Nagini that she needed help.
The snake understood what she needed immediately and the two of them disapparated for Diagon Alley first thing in the morning. The first errand was to pick an owl, which Hermione had expected to be as difficult as selecting Crookshanks had been. It ended up being considerably more difficult as Nagini insisted that she needed the best owl. Hermione kept the shop keeper entertained with the moderated story of how she had rescued Nagini from Voldemort as the snake slithered up the rows of cages, looking at the various birds on display. Once they had been shortlisted, Hermione picked out the fastest one in full knowledge that her mail had to go particularly far. The shop keeper tried to give her a discount but she refused, paying the full amount and leaving the shop with her new familiar and her serpentine friend.
She sent the owl off straight away with the letter asking to visit the Malfoys that she'd written the evening before.
The next stop was Twilfitt and Tattings. Nagini had turned her nose up at Madam Malkin's, so Hermione had taken her to the only other clothing shop she knew. The shop owner sneered at her when she came in, taking in the jeans and tshirt that she wore with obvious disgust.
'How can I help you Miss...?' The shop owner trailed off, hinting to be given a name.
'Granger.' She supplied, unsurprised when the witch's attitude changed immediately.
'Miss Granger, welcome to our shop, how can I be of assistance?' The woman grovelled and Hermione walked over to the rows of robes hanging against the walls.
'I'm looking for a set of everyday robes.' She answered, letting Nagini in through the door behind her. 'This is Nagini, a maledictus. I have found her to have impeccable fashion sense.' She introduced as the snake slithered up to the rows of clothing. To her credit the owner didn't even seem slightly fussed, following as the snake selected several items off the shelf and putting them aside for Hermione to inspect. They'd had a long discussion the evening before, via a very bored Harry, and Nagini had decided that all the clothes in Nurmengard were too out of date to impress a society doyenne such as Mrs. Malfoy.
The Maledictus quickly narrowed her options down to a deep crimson robe with a knotted belt and a simple fitted black one fastened with a single button. Hermione quickly chose the latter, deciding that the crimson was a little too Gryffindorish.
They purchased the robe as soon as it was fitted, apparating straight back to Nurmengard where a house elf had laid out the jewellery. She changed quickly as Nagini picked out a pair of simple earrings and apparently house elves could speak to snakes because they had a furious argument over her hair and makeup. Eventually the snake must have won out because the elf grumpily snapped its fingers and Hermione's hair popped into a simple bun with the escaping strands framing her face in soft curls. She put on the earrings Nagini had chosen, pleased with the overall effect in the mirror. She looked like a mature witch, without it looking like she was trying too hard. To someone that didn't know her, it could have passed as everyday officewear.
Kingsley's reply arrived just as she was preparing the feminine briefcase with an undetectable extension charm. He had notified the Azkaban guards to expect her and given her a portkey to the gates.
Harry wished her luck, not seeming to notice her unusual attire as she shoved everything she could imagine herself needing into the briefcase. She gave Nagini a hug and took the offered portkey.
Her first thought was that Azkaban had nothing on Nurmengard, it was a still summer day in the northern sea and the water rippled docilely against the rocky outcrop. In the bright sunlight, the walls were a light grey, lichen splashing pale green and yellow across the surface. With the absence of the dementors it really was an almost benign, where Nurmengard still thrummed with the echoes of the dark arts.
A guard met her at the entrance, leading her through heavy wooden doors and into a carpeted entrance hall. There was a guard room off to the right, but she was led into a waiting room on the left. He pulled out a chair for her respectfully, all without saying a word and she sat at the table in silence as he left to fetch the Malfoys.
All three of the esteemed purebloods looked worse for wear. Heavy iron manacles wrapped around their wrists, Narcissa in particular seemed to struggle with hers as they were marched across the room and forced into chairs across the table from her. There were several minutes of waiting as the guards shackled the three to their chairs, then they were finally left alone.
The three purebloods still managed to look down their noses at her as she carefully opened her case and pulled out a sheet of parchment. She deliberately made them wait as she arranged the sheet just so. Even in her short time with Grindelwald she had learned so much about how to play people but now she was testing her skills against the masters.
'I do hope you have been treated well.' She finally said, it was small talk and she hoped that they would catch on. She needed to bore the nosy guards enough that they wouldn't notice when she cast a privacy charm
'Well enough, Miss Granger.' Mr. Malfoy finally replied.
'That is a very nice robe, Miss Granger, may I inquire as to where you got it?' Mrs. Malfoy added and Hermione quickly identified that she was the one to engage in mundane small talk with.
'Oh, it's from Twilfit and Tattings. Nagini and I needed some time away from Nurmengard. It gets a little stifling in the mountains.' She answered breezily, deliberately throwing in the snake's name. It was enough to catch their attention but not well known enough to interest the guards.
She heard a conversation start up on the other side of the door and quickly cast a privacy charm.
'I believe I have an offer that might interest you.' She finally said, fixing her gaze on Lucius Malfoy. She needed this to be a business proposition and although she stood more chance of intimidating the youngest Malfoy, he was also the most likely to be ruled by his emotions.
'What could you possibly offer us?' The Lord demanded and Hermione smiled, twirling her wand absently.
'Well, Kingsley has offered me the position of deputy minister for magic. I am already in a position to take him up on his offer of course; I'm sure you are aware that I was the leader of the Order of the Phoenix and I am the lady of Nurmengard.' She explained, not missing the expressions of surprise that all three Malfoys hurried to cover up.
'It sounds like you are already a very successful witch, Miss Granger.' He purred and she smiled coldly at him.
'Not as much as I could be with the backing of an ancient British house.' She suggested and Lucius snorted.
'You're wasting your time.' He informed her curtly, but to her surprise Draco interrupted him.
'My father is set in his ways. Please excuse him.' She turned to the youngest Malfoy; he was leaning forwards and regarding her with an expression as interested as his father's was bored.
'You are all facing life sentences, only Draco has any chance at parole. Having a war heroine plead your case would go a long way towards changing that.' She pulled out a list of their convictions and placed them in front of the family, along with the common sentences for each crime. She was impressed that the Malfoy lady and her son managed to keep blank faces despite the large numbers following their names. Lucius was glaring at the wall behind her so she didn't even think he'd seen the parchment.
'Of course, supporting a muggle born in politics would go a long way to restoring our name.' He murmured and Hermione nodded confidently.
'What political policies are you pushing.' Mrs Malfoy demanded and Hermione allowed a small smile to slide across her face.
'Muggle born equality, house elf and magical being's rights. The old ways are dying, taking the old families with them. I'm offering you a chance to be the family that supports this positive change, this nasty business with Voldemort will be quickly forgotten.' Lucius was sneering and looked ready to throw a barrage of insults in her direction.
'Would you be able to silence him, I fear he's about to do something he will regret.' Narcissa sighed and Hermione covered her amusement as she flicked her wand in the direction of the elder death eater.
'Just to make sure we are clear, you want the support of the Malfoy family in your position and in return you will make every attempt to reduce our sentences.' Draco confirmed, leaning back in his chair and Narcissa nodded approvingly. He considered for a few moments and Hermione deliberately withdrew the contract from her folder. She'd laboured well into the night over the spell work, if both of them signed it would be nearly as difficult to break their agreement as an unbreakable vow.
'Very well. My father has no interest in this deal or the good of our family, leave him in Azkaban and I will automatically become head of house.' He agreed, leaning forwards as she passed over a black quill in an elaborate ivory box. None of the three Malfoys were able to hide their shock as they identified it.
'Where on earth did you find one of these?' Draco murmured as he looked over the box. It was admittedly a very rare artefact that almost certainly was created by dark magic. Gellert had taken her around the cabinets in their living quarters during a break from the horcrux project and this had been one of the objects he had pointed out. The quill was similar to Umbridge's in that it wrote in the blood of the holder, however the genuine versions were not a petty torture tool for punishing children. This quill didn't leave a scar; instead it bound the signatories to whatever they had signed to, if they broke their agreement, they would pay the price in their blood.
She ignored the question and slid the contract across to him, turning to Narcissa as he read it over.
'I am aware that all but your property in France were destroyed during the fighting, I also have intelligence which suggests that property has issues with lethifolds.' She saw the unease ripple across the family. She was unnerving them, making sure they knew that they were not the powerful ones in this relationship. 'I am rather accomplished with the patronus charm, I'm sure I could have the property cleaned up in a week or two. I also have several spare bedrooms in Nurmengard that you're welcome to use in the meantime.' She offered and Narcissa nodded graciously.
Draco passed the contract to his mother, his elegant signature gleaming crimson at the bottom. She signed without hesitation, her flowing writing joining her son's. The contract and the quill were carefully passed to her and she signed, carefully concealing her wince. She then replaced the quill in its case and returned it to her case.
'Would I be correct in assuming that Lucius forced the two of you to follow in his allegiance with Voldemort?' She asked slyly. 'Could I also assume that after he accepted Voldemort into your home, your lives were threatened unless you obeyed him?'
Both Malfoys nodded, and they shook hands across the table, manacles clanking. She carefully slipped the signed contract into her case and ended the privacy charm. She stood and knocked on the door, the guard let her out and she didn't look back at her newest allies.