Chapter 9: First Impressions
"My Lord." Draco, bowing his head in recognition of the man seated at the head of his family table.
"Ah, Draco. I see you are back from your graduation festivities; did they go as you had hoped?"
"They did, My Lord. I was coming to seek out Father specifically to address just how well they went."
"Do enlighten us then." Voldemort said, waving his hand towards the chair seated towards the end of the table, directly next to Rabastan Lestrange."
"I have secured my courtship with Miss Navarre and concluded that she very much believes in our mission, My Lord. She is to speak with my mother tomorrow to learn more of the courtship bonding, since her Uncle did not find it necessary to teach her such things, and after that our courtship should begin within the week."
"And did you tell her that you are one of my followers, Draco?"
"I did not directly state that My Lord, however, my conversations with Daphne have confirmed that Miss Navarre is very much aware of my families affiliations."
"Mmm, and your friend, Zambini?"
"Is ready to take the mark and become one of your most devoted followers my Lord." Draco said, his features a perfect replica of his Father, who was seated on the right side of Voldemort.
"Good. I expect the bonding to take place by the end of the week and I expect the marriage to be fertile within six months, is that understood?"
"I beg pardon, my Lord, but the Malfoy's do not have a positive history with conceiving an heir, I am not sure that will be possible, and that is assuming I can get her to agree to such a short courtship." Draco said with obvious concern on his face.
"I believe you will figure it out, Draco. This is your main task, for now we will put your recruiting efforts aside and you will solely focus on ensnaring the girl. I want her bonded to you and as soon as that has taken place, you'll present her to me."
"Yes my Lord."
"Leave us."
* Break *
"Hello darling!" Narcissa said, opening her arms and wrapping the young girl into them. "I've been looking forward to having you in my home for quite some time now. Did you find the chateau to your liking?"
"I did, thank you. It's a lovely home and the grounds are breathtaking." Hermione smiled.
"Did Draco show you the vineyards?"
"He did, we took quite a few walks through them while we were there and while I was hoping to escape the house some."
"Was the company not to your liking, then?" Narcissa inquired.
"Oh! I didn't mean to imply…"
"It's quite alright dear. It is unfortunate sometimes how purebloods must keep up certain pretenses, especially ones that involve the Parkinson family. Dreadful family really, but you'll soon realize that we rarely interact with them unless it is a large formal gathering. Oh don't look so surprised dear!" Narcissa said the last statement with a flip of her hard, indicating to Hermione's partially opening mouth.
Hermione quickly shut her mouth and wracked her brain as to how she should respond. "Well, as I said, the home was beautiful."
"Yes, it's one of my favorite properties. So, let's get to why you're here today. Draco has told me you all would like to begin a formal courtship, yes?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh! None of that now! I feel old enough as it is when I'm sitting here discussing my sons marriage! You'll call me Narcissa dear, or if you'd prefer you are more than welcome to call me Mother, I always wanted a daughter." She smiled sadly, as if thinking of long ago memories.
"Thank you, Narcissa."
"So, do you know what type of bond you're interested in pursuing with Draco? He told me you all had spoken briefly on the matter but that he wanted to make sure you fully understood before anything took place."
"We wanted to follow tradition; I'd like to have the par animum bond done just as if we were children. I know I missed out on many aspects of our culture and I'd like to make up for that where possible."
"Hmm," Narcissa hummed in approval, "that sound quite nice dear. I'm not sure if Draco and you will receive all of the benefits but it not a difficult ceremony and one that will only strengthen as you all get to know one another. I assume you know everything about this bond then?"
"Yes! I was quite interested in the book Daphne showed me on the different types of courtship and marital bonds. I was quite interested in how this may affect us since we're adults though. Obviously attraction is not something we need the bond to help us build, but the deeper connectedness of our magic and the bonds ability to sustain life in children intrigues me as to how it could help us now, what with everything going on."
Narcissa laughed and smiled at the young woman in front of her, "I can see why you've intrigued Draco so! You're quit passionate about your learning, aren't you? I am glad to hear that attraction isn't anything to worry about," at this Hermione blushed, "and that you're so interested in your magics binding together. It is a feeling I grew up with my entire life so I cannot imagine not having it, I will be glad my son can experience such a closeness with another person."
Before Hermione could respond a knock sounded on the parlor door. "Mother?" could be heard before the door opened slightly. "Mother do you have a- Hermione!" Draco said with a smile and obvious confusion. "I didn't think you were due until tomorrow."
"I invited her over today, your Father had plans come up for tomorrow and asked I escort him."
"Yes, that's actually what I was coming to ask you about but that can wait."
Hermione stood up, brushing the wrinkles from her robes, "I was actually just going to take my leave, I don't want to impose. It's been a pleasure speaking with you Narcissa and I'm sure I will see you quite soon regarding our conversation."
"No need to leave, Hermione! If you and Draco want to speak with one another I can come back in a few minutes. I'm not sure when you all are wanting to move forward with the courtship ritual but either Lucius or myself will be able to cast it for you."
"I'd forgotten a family member was required to cast the bond, how silly of me! Will I need someone from my family? I'm, well I'm not sure I have anyone who would be willing to cast it."
Narcissa shook her head, "As long as your blood is willing given you will both me fine. Parents are only used since children are not old enough to understand what willingly giving their blood can mean, and at that age children are still magically connected to their parents. I only said Lucius or I could do the spell because you need someone else to cast and in my experience a family member seems to strengthen the bond. It's both of your choices though my dear; I'll be back in just a few moments Draco, I'm going to find your Father."
"Yes, Mother." Draco said with a nod to his head before turning back to look at her.
"Long time no see." She said with a shy smile.
"Ha!" he laughed and took her hand in his. "I would like to have a conversation, if you'd permit me to move us to the gardens?" Draco asked.
"Of course." She had expected them to head towards the door but instead Draco wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, apparating with a soft 'pop'.
"Well I wasn't expecting that!"
"I apologize, I didn't think before moving us. You'll be able to do that soon, Malfoy's can apparate anywhere in the Manor, in fact there are some locations of the Manor that can only be reached via apparition."
"That's fascinating, are there—"
"Maps? Yes, and I'll make sure to show all of them to you. I'm sure you'll spend countless hours pouring over the family history." He chuckled. "Here, let's sit." He said gesturing to the benches by what looked to be a small pond.
"It's quite beautiful out here."
"Yes, Mother through everything she was into these gardens from what my father says. None of this was here before she became the Lady of the Manor."
"She's done an amazing job."
"Hermione, I know that you and Daphne have spoken about her upcoming nuptials and the…implications that has for the war, yes?"
Hermione breathed out, quickly shifting things in her mind and attempting to figure out how she should answer any questions that may come up. Severus and I have gone over this, calm down, breath and play your part. "Of course. Is that what you're wanting to speak to me about, the war?"
"To a point, yes. It's not a well kept secret that my family believes in bringing back the old ways, of making our magical community more exclusive and –"
"I know you're a death eater Draco." She said quietly, not making eye contact.
"Well," he said attempting to keep the shock off his face, "that makes this conversation easier. You know you'll be expected to meet him?"
"I had assumed what with you being…" she trailed off.
"Being what?"
"Well, it's not a grand secret that your father is one of his top supporters. I assumed you were very much the same and that that would mean I would need to support the cause as well."
"I am, similar to my Father in beliefs, how one goes about those beliefs is where we differ. However, you are correct, my Father has a very high ranking among the Death Eaters and after I've completed my mission, I will as well."
"Your mission?"
"Marrying you and getting you pregnant, as quickly as possible from what I have been informed."
"Why…why are you telling me this?"
"Because my Mother told me not long ago, that I should treat this mission as if you would be my wife. I am very similar to my Father in many ways but one way I do not wish to be similar to him is how he manages his relationship with my Mother. She was not aware in everything he was a part of until after she married, I have never been given a choice in what I am involved in because this is what I was born into and I love my family. I am expected to marry, I will be expected to have an heir to carry on the Malfoy name and I will continue to be a death eater. I want any woman I marry to know this and even if it means not marrying someone that I believe I can grow to fall in love with, I would rather lose that than trap someone into this life."
"I…I don't know what to say Draco."
"You don't have to say anything yet. I'll be here if you decide you'd like to move forward with the bonding but I understand if you do not."
"No! I mean, I do want to move forward with the bonding. I believe I could fall in love with you as well." She smiled shyly.
"I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and happy Hermione."
"I know that. Can you promise me one thing?"
"What is it?"
"No lies?"
"Never." He said placing a light kiss on her lips.
"Would you like to do the bonding ceremony?" she asked him.
"Now?"
"Unless you'd prefer to wait?"
"Let's go find Mother."
* Break * 1 Week Later
She heard loud, broken claps coming from the shadows as she headed to the rooms Dumbledore had given her at Hogwarts.
"Severus?"
"Put on quite the show, didn't you my little death eater?" he said with a slight lilt to his voice.
"Are you…are you drunk?" she asked, squinting her eyes as if that would help her see his full form in the shadows.
"And if I am? Doesn't change your quite nauseating display in the gardens last week, does it?"
"You were there?"
"Does that surprise you? I'm everywhere Hermione, it's my job to keep after the poor little muggleborn in training."
"That's enough out of you! I've done everything we'd discussed and everything is set up perfectly. Per the old laws, when our marriage is sealed he won't be able to keep a thing from me and we'll have the in that you can't provide." She snapped back.
"When you're married now, is it? Guess no one will have use for me then, will they? Perhaps I can stop being their little puppet and you'll be the hero, having sacrificed to marry Draco Malfoy and become the wealthiest, most titled witch in the entire magical community."
"Are you implying I'm doing this for money?" she scoffed, completely ignoring his comment regarding marriage.
"No, no, all I'm saying," he stumbled out of the shadows, bottle of Ogden's still in hand, "is that the two of you seemed quite cozy and that bonding? Well, I don't think you needed it to help you build any affections."
"You're right, I didn't. Draco seems like a good man who loves his family and the fact that our magic is so compatible makes me drawn to him. To be honest even before this stupid spell it was like that, I just didn't understand what the pull meant because I'd never been taught and because of heritage neither of us knew how to handle that."
"Are you defending his behavior to you before?" he bellowed.
"I'll thank you to keep your drunken rage to yourself. I haven't the time to deal with this Severus, it's incredibly beneath you. I'm not sure what your problem is but you need to stop! You're supposed to be my mentor, you're supposed to be helping me and instead I'm debriefing with Dumbledore because you've been no where to be found all week and I'm training with dummies in the room of requirement!" she shouted at him in exasperation.
"I can't do this." He whispered.
"What?"
"I can't do this! It isn't supposed to be like this! I was fine with my duties, fine with my fate, I was fine with dying in this war! But now…"
"Now what?" she said taking a step towards him.
"Now I can't imagine a day without you, even after death. I've only just found you and you'll marry him in a month."
"Severus, I don't have to marry him and certainly not in a month."
"Yes you do and we both know it. We both know that neither of us will walk away and leave the people we love to chance. As for the month," he said trying to straighten himself up and pull himself together a bit, "it's his task. He's been tasked to…" Severus tried to finish before passing out and slumping to the ground. Hermione swore under her breath, her mind racing at what Severus had just said. A month? Draco hadn't mentioned anything about that. He'd been so open about everything else, why would he hide this? She went to flick her wand and stopped, thinking that Severus was always telling her she could practice with almost anything and quite frankly she was in no rush to get him back to his room. With that thought she pocketed her wand and focused, pushing her magic from her core, through her limbs and focusing on projecting it outwards. Severus' body levitated off the ground and moved towards her, she smiled with satisfaction at her progress and headed down the hall towards the dungeon.
"Miss Navarre?" Professor McGonagall called.
"Shit!" Hermione swore quietly and then she heard the clunk behind her and a groan. She stifled a laugh as she realized she'd dropped Severus because she'd broken concentration. "Hello, Professor! I found Severus in the hall way after speaking to Albus and I wasn't sure what to do with him so I thought I'd bring him back to his chambers."
"Is he intoxicated? Heavens, I can smell him from here! Do you need help dear?"
"No, but thank you Professor. I'll put him in his rooms and then head to my quarters." Hermione said, waving her hand at Severus and focusing her magic outwards, she headed down the hall with a now snoring Severus floating behind her. She didn't notice the peculiar look Minerva was giving her at the ease that the girl used both wandless and nonverbal magic. The older woman noted the incident and headed to her quarters, the idea of Severus drunk weighing heavily on her mind.
* Break *
Severus turned to his back and cracked his eyes open, groaning at the ache in his back and head. He reached for his wand, noting that it was securely under his pillow and that he was in his sleeping trousers. With a flick of his wrist a hangover potion whizzed into the room and into his hand.
"Awake I see." Hermione said leaning against the doorframe to his room.
"Yes." He said sitting up, his legs tossed over the side of bed, and his hand running up and down the muscles in his back.
"Here" She said handing his a pain relieving potion.
"What's this for?"
"Your body aches; I may have dropped you a couple of times last night."
"Dropped me?" he asked, his brow raised in question.
"You were a right prat last night. You're always telling me to practice my nonverbal and wandless magic so, I did."
"I never said to practice them on me!" he snarled.
"Then you shouldn't behave like you were. Anyway, I came down just to make sure you were alright, which I now see you are so I'll leave you wallow on your own." She said with a huff and left the room. He sighed before standing and going after her.
"Hermione?" he said causing her to stop and turn near the small kitchenette in his rooms. She just starred at him not saying anything. "Can we talk?"
"I think you said all that needed to be said last night."
"I apologize for last night, Hermione, I was not in my right mind and should not have acted as I did." Instead of responding to apology she simply starred at him.
"I am deeply sorry Hermione."
"I know that, I knew you'd be sorry the second I smelled you last night."
"I did not mean for us to speak that way."
"What did you mean by a month?"
He sighed before answering, "The reason I was so upset was due to the meeting that had happened just before Draco spoke with you. Draco has been tasked with marrying you quickly and ensuring the fertility of your marriage."
"Fer….fertility?"
"The two of you will be expected to begin birthing the next generation of the Dark Lord's followers. I believe that this is the Dark Lord's way of making sure you are securely attached to the Malfoy's and separated from your Uncle."
"Isn't marriage enough to do that? I don't, I don't want to bring a child into this world, not now."
"I know that and we can look into measures to keep you from conceiving. However, there is one more part to the meeting and I do apologize, it is what had me, losing myself last night."
"Which is?"
"The Dark Lord has decided he will not meet you until after you and Draco have wed."
Hermione sighed, moving the chair at the kitchen bar and sitting down. "What is the plan then, I'm assuming you've spoken to Dumbledore?"
"You'll wed him and per Dumbledore, you'll have a child if that is what it takes."
"Marriage I understand but he can't honestly expect me to have a child!" Hermione shouted.
"I am sorry to say but you'll quickly learned what you've signed up for. You are merely a puppet in his war and he does not care what you give up for it. Think Hermione! Look at what he has asked you to give up thus far!"
"I just, I can't do this. How am I supposed to do this? What am I going to do Severus?"
"We will figure it out, together."
Despite being angry at him for their previous interactions she stepped forward and let herself be wrapped in his arms. Home, she thought. This is where I belong, this is where I'm supposed to be. She let him scoop her up and carry her back into his bedroom where he wrapped his arms around her and let her doze into a quiet, peaceful sleep.
* End Chapter *
I realized that these current chapters may be a tad confusing when it comes to the timeline. Since there isn't a set timeline starting next chapter (and I plan to go back and fix the previous ones) I'm going to figure out a way to clarify how long it's been. I'll most likely go back and use graduation as the beginning to the timeline but we'll see!