Chapter 8
Hermione and Draco were sitting in the library, where they had been swapping shifts with Harry and Ginny for the last two months. After Professor McGonagall was unsuccessful finding an antidote, they had been furiously searching through many of Madame Pinch's tomes trying to find something to give them hope.
All four students were having a hard time dealing with their tragic situation. However, Harry was hit the hardest, since he had no family left in the wizarding world. He had been looking forward to having a large family like the Weasleys, but now, it was completely impossible. Their sadness was enhanced by the fact that Harry and Hermione's former best friend and Ginny's brother had perpetuated their current circumstance. Their shared betrayal was incredibly hard for them to take.
On that morning, Draco finally snapped. He yelled and threw the musty text aside, "This is so hopeless! We are never going to find an antidote. I don't know why we are even trying to find one. Salazar Slytherin was a brilliant wizard; he would have known that people would try to circumvent his potion, so there is obviously no antidote."
Harry and Ginny entered the library in time to hear Draco's tirade. Harry immediately jumped to Hermione's defense, saying, "Hey what are you yelling at Hermione for Malfoy? None of this is her fault."
"I know that Potter! It is the Weasel's fault. He was the selfish one. He and Astoria Greengrass are the ones to blame. I wasn't yelling at Hermione. I was just venting!"
Ginny put her hand on Harry's arm as she spoke, "Harry this isn't doing any of us any good. We don't need to be fighting with each other. We need to stick together and search for an antidote." She continued to run her fingers up and down his arm, trying to calm him down.
Hermione shot a sharp look at her friend and boyfriend and said, "Ginny is right. We need to keep trying to find a solution. There has to be one, I refuse to accept that I will never have children."
With those words, she furiously swept several books into her bag and left the library. Draco and Harry were sitting there with dumbfounded looks on their faces watching Hermione's retreating back.
Ginny cleared her throat several times before the two wizards finally heard her and focused their gazes back on her. "Draco, she is probably half way to your common room now, you should probably go and talk to her."
Draco nonplussed, said, "Yeah, thanks Ginny," and ran out of the library after his troubled girlfriend.
Arriving at the portrait guarding their common room, he said the password quickly. When it did not immediately open, he addressed the occupants, "Come on open up! Hermione was upset, and I need to make sure she is OK."
Godric Gryffindor spoke up first and said, "Now, now dear boy, it would not do for you to go in there right now. The Head Girl was in a right state when she came through. Helga is quite worried about her."
"Yes, I am and so is Rowena. She went to another portrait inside to see if she could help her."
"The girl was quite upset, and has been for some time. What has been going on, young Master Draco?" Salazar Slytherin finally asked the question that all four had been wondering for the last pair of months.
Draco looked at the three, current occupants of the portrait, and decided that maybe they could help. Therefore, he directed his comments to the root cause of their problems -- Salazar. "Well Salazar, Hermione and Ginny Weasley ingested one of your potions. It was Diffius Amatoris."
"Merlin, how did they get hold of that potion? It has been banned for centuries!" Helga incredulously asked.
"It was given to them by Hermione's ex boyfriend and a Slytherin girl that wanted to be a Malfoy," Draco replied uncomfortably.
"Well, why not brew up the antidote and be done with it?" Salazar casually asked.
Draco openly gaped at the portrait. What was Slytherin talking about? There was no cure. He said as much and Slytherin answered him smoothly.
"Of course, there is an antidote. Why would I create such a potion without any means of reversing it? What if one of my enemies had gotten hold of the formula and gave it to my lady?"
"But, there is no record of an antidote!" Draco snapped.
Hermione came out of the portrait as Draco was yelling at Slytherin's portrait.
"Who are you yelling at now Draco?" she asked wearily.
"Ask Salazar who I am yelling at. He asked me why we didn't just brew an antidote for his special potion. When I told him there wasn't one, he said that there was."
"But we haven't been able to find it! Please, could you tell us what we need to brew it?" Hermione begged the painted canvas.
"Girl, those directions are not in my head. They are written in my private, potions journals."
"But they were written a thousand years ago and have never been found. Are you sure you don't remember what we need to do to brew it?" She asked him again.
"Honestly, girl, don't you listen? I don't remember the directions." He directed his next comments to Draco, "My fine, young Slytherin, do you mean to tell me that no one has ever found my potions journals? If so, how did anyone ever know how to brew Diffius Amatoris if they didn't have my journals?"
"I'm sorry my Lord, I should have thought of that," he got a strange light in his eyes as he spoke.
Draco then took Hermione's hands in his and said, "We need to go see my mother. She may know how we can get the journals. My father had many of Slytherin's books. Odds are, mine or one of the other old, pureblood families has these books, and she is our key to getting them. We need to go see McGonagall."
He turned back to the portrait "Thank you so much. You have given us hope for the first time in months." With that, he began pulling Hermione back down the hall towards the Headmistress' Office.
Once they arrived, they gave the password that Professor McGonagall had given them. Draco knocked at the door and impatiently waited for their Headmistress to answer the door.
Hermione said, "Draco, you need to calm down."
"How can I calm down, Love? We just found out that there could be a cure for you, we just need to find it."
Professor McGonagall finally opened the door as Draco was speaking, she said, "Well Mr. Malfoy, it seems you have some very important news to share. Come in."
Draco told her what he had found out from the founders. Hermione hadn't heard most of it, so she, too, was a captive listener. He finished by asking permission to use McGonagall's floo to go and see his mother. It was only one week until the Christmas break.
"Certainly you can go and see your mother. Might I suggest you let Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley know what you have discovered today?"
Hermione exclaimed, "Oh goodness, we haven't told them yet. We need to let them know, it isn't fair to leave them not knowing that there is hope. Professor, could they come with us to Draco's manor?
Turing to Draco, McGonagall asked, "Do you think that would be alright with your mother, Mr. Malfoy? If you need to look through your family's library four heads are better than two."
"Oh Merlin, I can't keep them from coming can I. Sure, why not, Granger?" Draco said with exasperation evident in his voice. "Is there a way to get them up here quickly, Professor?"
"Certainly, I will have them brought up at once." She called a house-elf and directed him to bring Harry and Ginny to the office posthaste. Once the duo arrived, Draco explained the situation to them.
Ginny couldn't keep the smile off her face and asked, "Can we go now Draco? I want to find this antidote."
At her nod, Draco swept his arm indicating to the fireplace and said, "We can go together, ladies first." Once the four were standing in the fireplace. Draco threw the floo powder and clearly commanded, "Malfoy Manor."
Once the spinning stopped, Draco stepped from the fireplace and encountered the shocked gaze of Narcissa Malfoy. She was just walking out of the drawing room on the right of the massive foyer the foursome had arrived within. He trained his gaze on his mother and tried to quell her anxiousness with an explanation, "Mum, I am sure you remember my friends Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley."
Both Harry and Ginny stood next to Draco covered in soot. Hermione silently joined them and looked at Draco with hurt and confusion.
Sensing her unease, he gave her a smile, and brought her over to his mother. "I believe you also remember my girlfriend, Hermione Granger."
Instantly her hurt melted into a large smile. Clearly, she was pleased at being introduced to his mother as his girlfriend. "Hello Mrs. Malfoy. It is nice to see you again," Hermione said confidently, holding out her hand for the older woman to shake.
Narcissa was noticeably impressed with Hermione's good manners. She didn't seem at all surprised to hear her son introduce her as his girlfriend, which was a puzzle he filed away in his head for later discussion. While shaking Hermione's hand, she replied, "Miss Granger, welcome to our home. Forgive me for asking, but what brings you, your friends, and my son here today expectedly? I believe that you are supposed to be in school."
Draco interjected, "Mum, we are here to look for some books. Professor McGonagall sent this note to you, so that you would know that we had her permission to be here. The note also explains our reason for coming today. Since introductions are done, if you need us we will be in the library."
She looked at his friends, still incredulous that he used the word "friends" and Harry Potter in the same sentence.
Draco continued, "Come along, we'll begin by searching the library. Mum, once you have read Professor McGonagall's note, you are welcome to join us. Your help would be very valuable."
Draco swept off his friends following behind him. They were all looking around in awe at the opulent treasures and display of wealth in the hall that Draco led them through. Harry counted eight rooms that they passed on their walk to the library. However, the walk through the manor didn't prepare them for the grandeur of the library.
Hermione gasped in awe of the massive room that they entered. Ginny squeaked at the riches displayed in the room and Harry groaned at the sheer number of books that they would have to look through.
"Merlin, how are we ever going to find a few old journals in this library? There must be thousands of books. Even Hogwarts doesn't have this many books, and it is a school!"
"Potter, are you daft mate? We aren't going to be looking through the entire library. We only have to look through the journals."
Draco indicated the left wall of the room.
"All of those are journals?" Ginny asked her eyes huge in disbelief.
"Yes, but they are all sorted by name, so it shouldn't be too hard to find the ones written by Slytherin." Draco further explained.
Narcissa Malfoy chose that moment to enter the library. She announced, "I have been speaking with your Headmistress son and she told me what you are looking for. You won't find his journals in here--"
"Then where are they mum? They have to be here. I know father had Slytherin's potions journals."
"Then perhaps, you should let me finish speaking before interrupting me. He has always been so impetuous," she said directing her words to the others. "Now, as I was saying, Draco, those journals are not here. Your father had me hide them before the Dark Lord took over our home. I will go get them now."
Narcissa turned and exited the room. Draco looked at Hermione and said, "I'll be right back," and then followed his mother.
Harry smiled over at Hermione sharing a look conveying their thoughts without words. Seeing Hermione smile in reply Ginny spoke up, "I know you two have your little looks that say it all without speaking, but I don't know them."
"Sorry love, I was just thinking that it was funny the way that Draco's Mum just chastised him right in front of us."
Meanwhile the object of their shared mirth was following his mother down into the dungeons deep below the manor. He asked, "Why weren't you surprised when I introduced Hermione as my girlfriend Mum?"
"Honestly, Draco, did you really think I wouldn't keep up on news concerning my only child? Professor McGonagall and I have been corresponding all term. I have known of your relationship for some time now. But why is it that I didn't hear about it from you?"
Draco looked down at his feet in shame before answering. "I assumed that you would not approve. I wasn't sure how to tell you."
"You should give me more credit, love. I have only ever wanted your happiness." Seeing the joyous look on his face, she continued, "Now your father was another matter. He still holds tight to his beliefs Draco and did not take this news well, initially."
His smile faded to a furious frown, his ire was clearly seen in his tight face.
Narcissa continued before he could let his rage loose, "I did say initially. He has since seen the error in his thinking. Do not worry; he will not interfere with your relationship. He has come to accept Miss Granger as your girlfriend, and will continue to do so. He has seen the advantage it can bring to our family."
"Mum, I will not allow Father to use Hermione to help clear the Malfoy name. She is not a pawn to be used. I love her."
"Yes, I can see that son." she said before she finally stopped facing a wall. "And I believe that her love will allow you to finally forgive yourself for what happened during the war."
She retrieved a vial from the pockets of her robe and flicked a few drops onto the wall. She turned to Draco and said, "Right through there is where the journals are hidden," raising her arm to indicate the newly materialized door.
He decided to let the conversation end with her words, but he fully intended on letting his father know how he felt about Hermione. Realizing that the red drops must have been his father's blood, Draco preceded her into the room, stopping short at the treasures displayed before him.
His mother walked to a bookshelf and began removing thick leather bound books.
"Draco, close your mouth you look like a fish, and come help me with these. I cannot carry these by myself."
Draco closed his mouth and walked over to his mother who began stacking tome after tome in his outstretched arms. When he had 14 or so of the thick journals stacked, she then continued pulling them from the shelves. She finally stopped when she had an additional 10 books set aside.
"Mum, these will take the rest of the year to go through," Draco whined as she grasped the heavy stack of books and staggered through the door. He noticed that the door seamlessly melted away back into a plain stonewall after they left the room.
Once they were back on the main floor of his ancestral home, Draco called out and Harry came out of the library to relieve the straining lady of the manor of her burden.
"Here, let me to assist you Mrs. Malfoy," he said politely, holding out his arms for her to place the books in.
"Thank you Mr. Potter. I greatly appreciate your help," she said as Harry took her stack. She then took the top four heavy books from her son's straining arms
He replied, "Please call me Harry; after all I owe you my life."
"Your new friends have lovely manners Draco," she said to her son before addressing Harry again, "It would be my pleasure to call you Harry."
Hermione and Ginny got up from the sofa they were sitting on when the three came into the room. When they set the old books on one of the many tables in the library, Hermione immediately grabbed the top book, sat down in one of the comfortable chairs, and began reading.
Draco walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. "Not going to waste any time are you, Love?" he then grabbed the next book, and soon all five were skimming through the journals, seating themselves in the many comfortable chairs and couches scattered throughout the library.
Three hours later, Narcissa stood up and said, "I am going and see the house-elves about dinner. They should have your rooms ready by now if you would all like to go freshen up before hand.
Draco looked up at his mother with a question in his eyes. She answered his look right away, "When I spoke to Minerva earlier tonight, she said that she made arrangements for you all to leave early for the holiday. She will send your final assignments here. This way we can get through these journals. She also said that she would be here at the end of the week with some help to make sure we can find the antidote."
She left the library and the four decided that they should freshen up before dinner. Draco went to find out which rooms his friends had been assigned and then led them to their rooms.
They enjoyed a sumptuous dinner that evening, and they then headed back to the library to continue going through the many tomes that constituted Salazar Slytherin's potions journals. After several more hours of reading, Hermione and Narcissa had gone through two of the thick books and Harry, Ginny, and Draco finished reading one a piece.
"Oi, Malfoy, interesting to see that your girlfriend reads at the same rate as your Mum." Harry observed with a Draco-like smirk.
"Funny, Potter, very funny," Draco drawled dryly.
Narcissa and Hermione exchanged knowing smiles at the grin that Draco was trying to mask.
Narcissa said, "I think that it is time for all of us to retire for the night. You should find your trunks have arrived from Hogwarts and are waiting in your rooms for you."
She then got up and walked over to the couch that Hermione and Draco were sharing. She bent down and kissed the top of Draco's head, and then to everyone's surprise, she repeated the gesture on Hermione's head as well. She straightened up and said good night to the two young couples.
Hermione looked over at Draco with her eyebrows raised as if to ask, "What was that about?"
He smiled and said, "I guess that was her way of saying welcome to the family."