A/N Soooo... I'm really sorry it's been so long. I definitely hit a serious case of writers block. But I've hit a new gold mine of creativity so the ideas are a-flowin! So yeah, here it is. New chapter. I really wanted to give Hermione a reason to hope, here. Now, obviously the cliffhanger from chapter three is still hanging. If you bear with me then maybe you'll find out what he's so worried about! Thanks so much for sticking with me and thanks for the encouragement! You guys are awesome.

Until next time,
-xoxo Mel

Chapter 4 – Mother-In-Law

It had been a week since our first date. Things had been progressing slowly but I felt like we'd actually reached a point where we could call ourselves friends. We'd been to dinner twice but had four official dates. I felt like we were at a point where we were able to communicate with each other.

That being said, I did not, under any circumstances, feel comfortable with the fact that I had to meet with his mother so soon. I had not seen her in years, let alone ever been on good terms with her. So, I dreaded this first meeting time.

I will give credit where credit is due, however. I did appreciate that she was so willing to get to know me, after everything we'd been through. And, after all, the wedding was officially scheduled for New Year's Day. Two weeks ago, I would have pushed the date back for as long as I could, but, now that I've had the opportunity to smooth over the cracks—no, craters—in Draco's and my relationship, I was just ready to get the thing over with.

So there I was, approaching the gate to Malfoy Manor, about to begin the planning of my wedding. This place always gave me the creeps but I guess it was mostly because of who inhabited the place. It didn't seem quite so malignant now that I was to become a member of the family. Thankfully, Draco had agreed to never force me to live in this place—not after what I'd been subjected to there. We had agreed that he could move into my flat (shocking, I know) until our new home was completed.

I have to admit, I was extremely excited about this. I'd always had a knack for decorating but I had never really had full hold of the reigns like this. He was going to let me design and decorate it however I wanted.

The large front door opened before I'd had the chance to knock. The small house elf escorted me in and showed me to the drawing room where I was to meet Mrs. Malfoy for tea.

She was perched there, on the edge of her seat, reading the daily prophet. Her posture was perfect. Her clothes were neat. It was extremely intimidating. I cursed myself for my jeans and jumper. When she looked up at me, all I wanted to do was recess into a shell of shame.

"Hermione, dear!" She said with a warm smile, surprising me significantly. "It's been such a long time." And she pulled me into a light but friendly embrace.

"It certainly has, Mrs. Malfoy. It's so nice to see you again." We were clearly turning over a new leaf here, pretending like there had never been a war and I had never been tortured in this cold house.

"Oh, call me Narcissa! Please, have a seat. Make yourself at home." She said as she poured me a cup of tea. I was surprised when the house elves dismissed themselves before doing this themselves. I thought they were supposed to do everything around here.

"Thank you so much for having me over and for helping me plan everything. My mom was busy today so she couldn't accompany me." I was extremely surprised when she invited her at all, but I guess Narcissa Malfoy is just full of surprises.

"Really, dear, it's no bother at all. And I do hope she's able to help us with the planning. There's so much to do and so little time!" She said happily, "But enough niceties, now. We need to get down to business. There will be plenty of time for small talk later!"

And so, the tedious task of planning my wedding commenced. We started at the top of her lengthy to-do list with my list of bridesmaids. In the end, we settled on three: Grace Watkins as my maid of honor, a fellow faculty member of Hogwart's whom I've become very close with; Ginny Weasley; and Georgiana Malfoy, a distant relative of theirs whom Draco "considers a sister" according to Mrs. Malfoy. This was a fairly easy task. I don't have a long list of girlfriends to choose from and the Malfoy family really doesn't have many women in it, either.

The next item was not quite so simple: the guest list. We battled over the size for a bit and eventually settled on a number that didn't call up my lunch, although I was still a little uneasy about it. I know I have a lot of people that I would have wanted to include in my wedding but, since this wedding wasn't something I wanted to celebrate, it wasn't my priority to invite too many people.

At this point, we decided it would be a good time to take a break for lunch. Narcissa insisted we go out, though I wasn't sure I was quite ready for the world to see me in this way. I reluctantly agreed and we flooed over to Diagon Alley.

We spent lunch getting to know each other better. I must admit, I really did enjoy her company. While we may disagree on some things, we had more in common than I would have thought.

"Oh, it was one of our family's biggest secrets. I mean really, how could we have such an emaculate library of books without including the Muggle classics? Actually, Draco has made quite a few contributions to it. Our collection of books is his prized possession." She explained to me. I wasn't entirely surprised that Draco valued their libraries. It was the Muggle collections that surprised me, obviously. If those books had been found, they would have been punished greatly, I'm sure.

"But how did you manage, if you don't mind me asking? I mean—with them all right under your roof, that is. It couldn't have been easy." I asked, awkwardly.

"Oh, it wasn't. At first, we just assumed they would have no need for entering the library. The Dark Lord, himself, was not much of a reader, if you know what I mean." She laughed at this. Talking about those dark times came so easy to her. Another surprise, I suppose. "But after further discussion, we agreed it was best that we move them someplace safer. Like I said, those books were—are!—extremely important to Draco—and my husband and I, as well! So we moved them to a vault in our basement that no one, excepting the family, knew about. There were all sorts of protective charms down there."

"Well, I'm very glad for that. I'd love to see the collection sometime." I smiled at her. Talking with Narcissa came so easily and I found that our lunch flew by quite quickly. Before we knew it, it was already 14:30.

When we made our way out of the restaurant, I assumed we'd floo back to the Manor but Narcissa had other plans.

"I wanted to surprise you. I know we've just eaten, so now is the worst time for fittings, but the wedding is just so clo—"

"I'm sorry. Did you say fittings?" I asked her.

"Well, yes! We have to be getting you a gown, dear! The wedding less than two months away! Now is as good a time as any." I flushed. This was all happening very quickly. Thinking about a dress made it so much more real to me.

"I—I hadn't even thought of it." She could see I was nervous. Who wouldn't be? I was getting married in a month and a half to a man I barely knew. She pulled me aside, away from the crowded street.

"Hermione, dear, I know how nervous you are. I really do. I've been right in this position once before, but I had no one to treat me like it wasn't a funeral we were planning." She told me.

"You've… been through this? You mean?"

"Yes, dear, my marriage with Lucius was an arranged one, as well. But his family was very cold and cruel. They planned everything—never once did they ask my opinion. And they treated me like a stranger. Now, I know how that felt. And it did not make the situation any easier. And, that, my dear, is part of the reason why I am doing what I'm doing. You deserve so much better." She looked me in the eye and I could tell she was sincere. Maybe this situation wasn't quite as bad as I had originally thought. "I know we've had our issues in the past, Hermione. And, by Merlin, I will do everything in my power to make that up to you. But a beautiful young girl like you deserves to have a marriage as beautiful as your wedding is going to be, despite the circumstance."

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Malfoy. I—"

"Hermione, if you don't start calling me Narcissa I will be very upset with you!" She smiled. I couldn't help but tear up slightly. She really was making this situation that much more bearable. And I knew that, if she could make this much effort, I could at least do the same.

So, I perked up, straightened my blouse, and followed Narcissa into the most elegant bridal boutique I had ever seen.