DISCLAIMER: The wonderful JK Rowling owns these characters and the universe. I do not. I am using them for a story not associated with the canon universe.
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Hermione went to dinner for the first time since arriving at Crestfall Estates. She was met with the surprise of four people sitting at the table instead of three. Her face lit up at the sight of the fourth person. If it was Christmas, she'd call it a miracle. If it was her birthday, she'd say it was a wish came true.
"Luna!" She screeched. The blond raced towards her.
"Hermione!" The two friends met in a hug. Maybe there was a little good in this horrible world.
"That's kinda beautiful. I can't wait till Red joins," Blaise whispered to his friends. Theo and Draco nodded. They were happy Hermione had actually decided to come to dinner.
The two friends let go and walked to the table. Theo and Blaise sat at their normal seats with Hermione and Luna opposite and Draco at the head of the table.
"What are you doing here, Luna?" Hermione asked, still stunned.
"Oh, it's all part of their little plan," She pointed to the quiet boys across and next to them. "Neville said it was a part of their vow. I don't know much. I think Theodore was suppose to wait to bring me here but I didn't see any harm in coming early. Now you have one more friend too. I'm sure it gets lonely with Draco working a lot."
Hermione nodded and began to eat. The silence enveloped the group as dinner progressed on. Draco watched Hermione feast on her food. She acted as if she had barely eaten anything these past days. Maybe she hadn't, he thought. He never instructed Tippy to keep him aware of her whereabouts and habits. He needed to do that after dinner.
"How can you get away with this?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"Pardon?" Draco asked confused.
"How can you have me here? How can you keep Luna here without it looking suspicious? I still don't understand," she said.
"Hermione, you just have to trust them," Luna told her. "I do."
"What she said, Granger. I told you that we will let you in on everything one detail at a time," Draco explained. "As for keeping her without suspicion, well, anyway we can looks suspicious. Everything we are doing is suspicious to anyone who doesn't know our agenda. Your friend and Theo came up with a genius idea though."
"It's not genius," Luna corrected. "It's the only situation that can slip through ministry cracks, even with your people inside."
Hermione waited. "Luna and I are… um…" Theo took a deep breath. "We are…"
"Getting married," Luna finished.
Hermione dropped her fork. Even Blaise looked shocked at the news. "What?"
"Merlin's pants that's the only way I can get her safe, isn't it," Blaise murmured. Draco and Theo nodded. Blaise got up. "Excuse me, I believe it is time for me to retire for the night. I will see you in the morning."
Blaise walked out. "I do agree with Blaise. Let's retire, Theodore," Luna glided to the door. "Good night, Hermione and Draco."
Theo followed her leaving Draco and Hermione alone. "Are you ever going to be honest with me?" She asked. He stayed quiet. She nodded. "That's what I thought."
She left too. Draco smashed his fist into the table once she was gone. "Fuck!"
Blaise and Theo were sailing smoothly, even if they were getting married. Draco didn't know how he was going to keep her safe. He had her secured but it wouldn't last forever. With Theo getting married and Blaise setting the proposition in time to the Weasleys, everyone would expect him to tie the knot with some aristocrate pureblood.
"I know that look," He jumped at the voice and aimed his wand. "What is on your mind, Draco?"
He lowered his wand at the approaching person. "Mother?"
Narcissa walked into the dining room and sat next to her son. "It's quite odd here, son," she said.
"Mother, why are you here?"
She ignored him and continued talking, "Blaise let me through the floo first of all. Quite the security measures you and the boys have here. He's made it possible for me to be the only outsider of those that do not live here to enter. Then roaming the halls trying to find you, I was greeted by Theo and Luna Lovegood with locked arms. They didn't see me though so I kept walking in the direction I assumed I could find at least a house-elf.
"The strangest run-in I had though was with a crying Ms. Granger," Draco shifted in his seat. "I had two thoughts when I saw her: what is she doing here and why is she crying? She was very polite, dear. I saw that she's taken care of quite well, considering Tippy is her personal elf. Anyway, she directed me here. I also heard from your father that two former school mates of yours are going through laws and revamping the system. So, my sneaky son, what is going on?"
Draco stayed silent. He trusted and loved his mother. She was a good occlumens too. He needed to be honest to her. He had to be honest with someone. Then why not Granger, part of him asked. He didn't know. She's the one who deserved the honesty.
"Draco, if you are worried I would tell your father or the Dark Lord would find out, I can assure you I will protect your secret because I love you and I want you safe," she chided.
Draco sighed. "We can't live in a world like this, mum. I don't want my children to live in a word like this. Blaise, Theo, and I are continuing the fight by rising through the ranks with others. Luna Lovegood is here because Theo is going to marry her. As for Granger, she was in the Manor's dungeons while we were still there. She's my 'property' for a lack of better words. She was crying because she and I just can't get along because she wants to know the truth and I'm too scared to tell her," he confessed.
Narcissa brought her son into her arms. "You're to scared to trust her," she corrected. "It's not that you are scared to tell her but you are scared she won't be there when necessary."
"You make it sound like I am in love with her," he mumbled.
She chuckled. "I never said that. I only meant you two need to trust each other because you both only have each other most of the time. Theo is busy with Ms. Lovegood, and I can only assume Blaise will have a special witch in his life soon."
He nodded.
"You and Ms. Granger need to trust each other. It's only going to get harder from here, Draco," she commented. "This world is dangerous place, and the people that can be trusted are a numbered few. This is why you must have your confidant—the person you come home to and let it all out and who knows the real you."
"Mother, that sounds like a wife. Granger is not and will not be my wife. You and father would be pissed because I contaminated the bloodline, and she still has her love out there waiting. I don't think the weasel would like it if I took his girl."
"You haven't heard then?" she asked.
"Heard what?" Draco countered, confused.
"Ronald Weasley is betrothed to Pansy Parkinson. The Dark Lord set up the engagement," Draco cringed at his mother's announcement. At least it wasn't him. Narcissa laughed at her son's face. "I thought the same thing. It was such a horrible punishment for him."
Draco was laughing now too. "Better him than you. You deserve much better," She glanced over at the clock in the corner. "I must be going now, Draco. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. I'll stop by another day maybe for lunch or dinner. Then you and Miss Granger can show me around the estate. Now, lead me to the floo."
After showing his mother to the floo, he sought out Hermione.
He found her curled up in her bed with dry tears stained on her face. He stood there not sure of how to go on. Her eyes were still open, and she clearly knew he was there.
"My mudblood germs aren't contagious. You can sit on the bed. I'll do my best not to let whatever tears I have left fall on you," she murmured.
He sat next to her. Draco still didn't know what to say as a silence washed over them. Maybe an apology? But Malfoys don't apologize, his grandfather's voice echoed in his head. Draco internally scowled. After all he had down, Draco was far from the supposed Malfoy.
"I don't mean to upset you, Granger," he began. "I'm just scared. Merlin, I am more scared than I was when I was tasked to kill Dumbledore, and my fear level was higher than any Quidditch player flies on their broom. I'm plotting, with my friends and mother's lives at risk, to thwart the Dark Lord. Every action thought and taken could kill anyone Theo, Blaise, and I care about. I'm not courageous. I'm not kind. I don't commit actions for others; I do them for myself.
"Theo, Blaise, and I made an Unbreakable vow with Longbottom as our binder. We promised to protect certain people," he continued. Hermione had now rolled over and was facing him. "Theo is to protect Lovegood. Blaise is to protect the Weaslette, and I am to protect you. We saw you three as the ones who could… I don't know… take care of Him once and for all. Theo is marrying Lovegood so stuff doesn't look suspicious, and Blaise will eventually propose an engagement to the Weasleys between him and the girl as an offer to keep her safe."
"Isn't it going to look suspicious that two of the uprising figures are marrying blood traitors and significant figures from the other side?" She questioned. "Also, don't people get suspicious that I am under your care?"
Draco thought for a moment. "People probably will but we could play it off as learning the correct way of life or their punishment is bound life with a high ranking prominent figure in this horrid world. As for you, most people don't even know where you are or if you are even alive. My mother didn't know till she just popped by, and according to Blaise, the Weasleys thought you were rotting in the dungeons until he presented to Red."
"First off, 'Red', 'Weaslette', and 'the girl' has a name. Her name is Ginny," she corrected him. "But that must have been terrible for them. I bet Ronald was relieved to know I was okay, even if I am under your care."
Draco didn't look hurt by her comment but shifted slightly. "About the Weasel, Granger," He began.
She sat up. "He's not dead, is he?" Her voice quivered.
"Huh, oh no! The Weasel is still living," he said. "My mother informed me of this in her visit. Granger, he's engaged."
"What?"
"The Weasel is betrothed because in the end he is still a pureblood male and there are a limited few available."
He waited a minute for the expected question. "Who's becoming the next Mrs. Weasley?"
"Pansy Parkinson."
He didn't know if she was going to laugh or cry. She ended up just sitting there. "I bet you're disappointed," she said at last. "Ronald took your woman."
Draco cringed. "She never was my woman, and that's okay that he took her because I have his."
She slapped his shoulder. "I am nobody's woman! I am not a piece of property."
Draco chuckled. "The Dark Lord thinks you are my property," She glared at him. "But of course I know better. You are your own person with your own free will but have to follow a set of rules so you can live another day."
"I think that's enough honesty for today," Hermione said.
Draco nodded and walked to the door. "Draco," Hermione said. He turned around. "What will happen to us?"
He looked at her quizzically. "What do you mean?"
"Everyone's proceeding in their lives and you're suppose to be the leader. How are you and me going to stay safe? You can't promise me that because I am just a mudblood," she said.
"Everything is going to be okay, and I do promise your safety." He walked out after that. Entering his room three doors away, he realized she had used his name again. Maybe there was hope for their relationship yet.