CHAPTER SEVEN

'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.'
~Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities~

"How about we do something together?" Ron asked, a few nights later over the phone. Hermione couldn't fight the giddy grin ghosting over her face. She knew how much Ron hated Draco Malfoy, so for him to suggest they hang out together with him and Jenna Boyle, was a big deal. It was moments like this that reassured her Ron cared for her. He didn't need to take her out to eat in France. He just had to make her a beaded bracelet and offer to help her out with the Malfoys.

"I would love that, but do you think it will do any good? Malfoy doesn't exactly like you either. It might just increase the tension." She reasoned, thinking the situation over in her mind. She would have loved to have dinner with Ron around, but it might not help anyone but her.

She could practically see Ron shrugging on the other line. "Whatever you say,"

"But how about we get dinner Friday night?" She proposed.

"In England, right?" Ron joked.

She bit her lip, "I was thinking Prague, actually."

"Oh, Prague," Ron chimed, like he was considering the idea, "I hear it is lovely this time of the year."

She laughed, wishing they could continue this banter forever. She was so glad they had fallen back into a good place. She needed Ron now, his very presence calmed her. Most of the time. She felt like she was sixteen, hiding under the covers so her parents wouldn't know she was still up talking to her secret boyfriend. Of course she was up absurdly late, two in the morning, and she was hiding from her parents under the covers hoping it would mask her voice since even though she was an adult, her parents would still come into her room and tell her to sleep. Of course, Ron wasn't her secret boyfriend, but in this moment it felt like he was and it was just them.

They talked a bit longer before she let a yawn slip and Ron panicked, worried he'd been keeping her up all night and bid her goodnight. She had work in the morning anyway, so it was probably better she slept. She knew they'd been filming her for a few hours at work, so she probably didn't want gaping eye bags. And Ron and Harry had their first auror training the day after, so they probably should have been stocking up on sleep.

"So how are things going with the show?" Her dad asked, over breakfast.

Hermione cut her omelet and glanced up at her dad. He usually read the newspaper, but this morning it was sitting untouched next to him. "We went to the museum the other day," She said, "I guess it could have gone worse, but it also could have gone better."

"How about the boy? What was his name again-"

"Draco," Hermione supplied, knowing her dad had a thing for helping downtrodden souls. It was the reason he used to volunteer at animal shelters when she was kid. It was why she had picked Crookshanks, the meanest looking cat in Diagon Alley. Everyone deserved a chance and with a little love, Crookshanks had warmed up to life. Well, everyone but Ron. You can't have everything, after all.

"Yes," Her dad nodded, "What about him?"

She shrugged, feeling herself blush a little. What, she scolded herself, are you doing blushing? There's no reason to blush! She looked at her dad, thankful to see he had been busy stirring his tea to notice her uncalled for reaction. "He liked the horses, I think. But he didn't say anything."

"Do you think there's a chance for him to change?"

He wasn't a puppy from a shelter, she wanted to tell her dad. But in her mind she was replaying everything she knew about Draco Malfoy and everything she had ever seen. He couldn't have been a bad person, deep down. He hadn't killed Dumbledore and he hadn't wanted to fight Harry in the Room of Requirement. But he hadn't been able to stand up to the Death Eaters. He had been caught between two sides, unable to find the courage to support either cause. He was a git and a prat, there was no denying that. But was he... was there even a word?

"There's a chance for everyone to change, isn't there?" She found herself saying.

Her dad smiled at her. "That's my girl."

She rolled her eyes, but felt her heart swell up at the praise. That's my girl, she smiled to herself. Had Lucius ever praised his son? Draco had always seemed like he was starving for any scrap of affection. She didn't want to spend so much time thinking about him. It was her dad's fault for bringing him up that early in the morning.

During her lunch break, Hermione went to find George at his shop. The snow was gone and when she questioned him about it, he shrugged telling her that it would lose its appeal if he did it everyday.

"How's Malfoy? Is he being a manky old prat?" George inquired, leaning against one of the shelves.

Hermione wanted to groan. Why was everyone asking her about the Malfoys? She had other stuff going on! They didn't take up every second of her life. She noticed the camera crew a few feet away and wondered if George even realised they were there, but it couldn't have been quite a shock since he was also a part of the show.

"Well, my dad thinks Draco is like an abused puppy. Lucius hates me, which is nothing new. And Narcissa might care if she could just get away from her husband." Hermione said, looking at a box of Dancing Pencils. She glanced at George, "Really?"

He shrugged at the product and said, "Did Ron tell you about maybe doing something together?"

She nodded, "Yeah, last night. So things must be good with Jenna, yeah? Did you have fun at the car show?"

George's face lit up like it was Christmas morning. "Those were so dumb cool muggle cars."

"Dumb... cool?" Hermione questioned, her nose scrunched up in disgust at the slang.

"What?" George asked, looking nervous. "Was that not the right use?"

She rolled her eyes, "I guess it is, but I never use it. I also hear the word 'mad' a lot."

"It was mad cool?" George asked, his eyebrows raising, "But that sounds dumb."

"My point, exactly," Hermione laughed. She felt the camera crew getting a little closer and George looked around like he sensed them moving in as well. She looked at George- he looked annoyed. "I guess I should start heading back,"

He smiled, "Okay, bye 'Mione," They hugged and Hermione had sinking feeling the camera crew was documenting everything. She hoped the Ministry wouldn't edit this into something it wasn't. There was nothing wrong with her hanging with her boyfriend's brother- and also one of her friends- during lunch break everyday. Besides, George had a girlfriend he loved very much and she was very happy in her own relationship.

When they pulled away, she saw George didn't look too happy with the camera men either. He waved as she left, taking her half of the camera crew back to Flourish and Blotts.

"So are you happy with your job?" One of the guys asked her, filming her setting up the new Hogwarts school books.

She nodded, using a box cutter to open the heaps of book packages. She didn't feel like using magic and had never used a box cutter before, so she was excited to try it out. She had used a Swiss army knife once before, but this was cooler. "I love books and Diagon Alley is a great place to be. I'm looking forward to just enjoying life for right now."

"Do you know what you want your career to be?"

"Not in so many words," She laughed, pulling out four books of The Standard Book of Spells Year One and setting them down on the table with a thud. "But I'm not too worried about it right now. Harry and Ron will be starting auror training tomorrow and they're both really chuffed about it. I don't have that passion for something yet."

"You're having dinner at the Malfoys' tomorrow night. Are you nervous? The last time you were at the Manor was a traumatic experience..."

Hermione tried to compose herself, hoping the horror of that night wasn't painted all over her face. Why did they have to ask her questions like this? They would be filming the whole ordeal, did they really need her to talk about it?

"I- um.. I'm hoping we can move forward and learn new things about each other." She said, diplomatically. The truth was, her stomach was doing flip flops all day long at the thought of stepping foot in Malfoy Manor for the second time in her life. She had no idea what to expect or how she was going to react. She didn't know how the Malfoys would be either. They hadn't been the most welcoming bunch and it wouldn't be like when they were at the museum. There they had the art and history to distract them- or at least, Hermione did. But dinner would either be talkative or silent and awkward. There would be no distractions.

Would dinner be served at the same table the Death Eaters used to have their meetings?

She shivered at the thought.

'Mione,

I got your owl. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. This summer program is so intense, I'm surprised you never elected to take it. I'm having a great time, but Gryffindor Tower is like a sauna! Anyway, enough about me. I can't believe so much has happened! Mum wrote me about it too, I kinda wish I was there to do it with you guys. So you're spending time with the Malfoys, eh? Listen, 'Mione, don't let them push you around and tell you that you're worth less than anyone.

Are they as bad as we're all thinking they are? Or have they... learned something? Is that possible? I know Draco is a massive git, but... he was always was a good looking git. At least he is aesthetically pleasing to look at. I know, you and my brother are blissfully happy and in love or whatever, but we can all agree Draco Malfoy is a sexy bloke. Gosh, I can't believe I'm saying that! I should throw this out and start again. Don't get any ideas, missy. You'll break my poor, stupid brother's heart. I know you would never do that.

Anyway, just try to stay positive and don't give up. You're doing this to try and help change the world. It's noble. Hopefully people will listen and you will be able to teach the Malfoys something. Or maybe they'll have something to teach us. I doubt it, but maybe I'm biased since what happened in my first year. But if there's anyone can find something good in them, I know you're the best person for the job.

Cheers,

Ginny

The letter was waiting for her on her bed when she got home from work. She felt like she was being watched- which she was since Ministry camera men were following her around all day and now crammed into her tiny bedroom.

Her mum had had a fit when she walked in with the crew behind her. She ran off, shrieking about her hair being unfit or something. She felt herself smiling at the letter and wondered if the camera people thought she was weird. "It's from Ginny," She explained, looking up at the camera, "She's doing a summer astronomy program at Hogwarts, so I haven't really heard from her much."

"What was the letter about?"

There was no way she was mentioning Draco Malfoy being a sexy bloke. She folded the letter and put it in her bureau. "Just giving me some words of encouragement." She waved the question off, hoping he wouldn't push her. "I'm going to get ready."

She pulled on black skinny jeans, strappy heels she had recently learned how to walk in, and a white blouse she had tucked into her trousers. She used a spell to straighten her hair, not willing to go through a battle with the hair dryer. She was nervous about dinner, her stomach churning at the thought. The last thing she wanted to do was eat. She'd rather have Lucius give her a personal tour of Azkaban.

She was supposed to be Apparating to the Malfoy home in Wiltshire. The manor loomed up in front of her. It almost looked like an old Southern plantation- she had seen plenty of them in her old social studies textbooks in elementary school and as she got older, in the film 'Gone With the Wind.' She doubted the Malfoys had seen 'Gone With the Wind.' They probably had no idea what the Civil War in America was. Maybe one day she'd teach them about it.

The sky was still bright, as was the custom in the summer. A part of her felt like it should have been dark, maybe because she associated the Manor with unhappiness and despair. For a moment it all came rushing back. The torture. The pain. Bellatrix's breath smelled like fire whiskey and cigarettes. Her throat had gone dry from screaming.

Escape.

The second it hit her, she was filled with confidence. She had lived. She had gone into Malfoy Manor and come back out. She had survived. This evening would be no problem. The cameras were practically in her face, but it all melted away as her entire being was filled with energy. She felt reinvigorated. She whipped out her phone to text Harry. He was her only friend with a muggle cell phone. Probably because he was the only one that had ever known what one was and like her, had been deprived his entire teenage life of one.

Gonna be okay. xx :) Mione

He was the only person, besides Ron, that understood what she was going through. She may have been physically tortured, but Ron had screeched bloody murder like every blast had hurt him. She hadn't been able to hear him then, but she had heard the recounts. And Harry had been hit with the spell before, besides being possessed by Voldemort when he was fifteen or frequently being pulled into Voldemort's mind. And then there was also all the pain his scar had caused him all his life.

She had spoken to Harry before she left her job earlier. He had asked her to help him find the most obscure book in the world (Everything You Need to Know About Black Footed Penguins by Chester Bergenfield) so he could talk to her about the dinner with the Malfoys. She hadn't said much since the camera crew was there to film it all, but Harry was able to sense her tension over it.

She walked up the long driveway, noticing all the blooming flowers. There was a birdbath which gave her pause. She hadn't seen a real birdhouse in years. Who knew the Malfoys would have one? Since when did they care about tiny birds bathing? Didn't all the Malfoys just want to rule the world and keep house elves enslaved? Did they have a house elf bath? She rolled her eyes at the thought.

Also- she didn't seen any cars. Why did they have such a long driveway but no car? This was ridiculous. Finally, she reached the front door. Even that looked ancient and she wondered if this house really was built during the Civil War. The knockers were like the old round iron ones that you needed to pull. She spotted a doorbell.

A house elf greeted her. "Hello, miss. The Malfoys is expecting you." The huge door swung aside, letting her in and gave Hermione a full view of the elf. She was wearing what looked like a dirty pillow case and her ears were droopy. "My name-ses Puffy."

"Puffy," Hermione said, closing the door for herself so Puffy wouldn't have to, "Do you know you are entitled to a salary for all your hard work? Do the Malfoys treat you right? Don't be afraid to speak up."

Puffy looked at her like she had three heads. "You're like that bad Dobby. Puffy needs no money," The little elf stuck out her chest like she was proud of this, and then added, "He got what was coming to him, he did."

Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but was stopped by a cold laugh. She looked up, startled to see Draco Malfoy in all black, standing in the middle of a grand staircase. "Granger, you never change. Still on about that SPEW thing, are you?"

She hid the fact that she was surprised he even remembered the name of her house elf campaign back at school. Instead she retorted hotly, "It's not SPEW. It's S-P-E-W and it stands for-"

"I know what it stands for," He cut her off with a wave of his hand, and continued down the few steps. She watched him angrily, crossing her arms. He moved fluidly, like he knew every inch of this house like the back of his hand. He could have probably walked around it blind. She would have crashed into the bust of Armand Malfoy- who she knew was considered the first of their name- over by the window or stubbed her toe on the radiator.

For a horrible moment, Ginny's remark about him being sexy came back to her. She paled, why was she thinking about that? Because of the way he looked too good in all black? Or how confidently he moved about his house- his natural habitat? Was it because she had never seen someone look that sure of themselves, like that day at the meeting when he'd blatantly checked her out? Or because she was remembering how he had studied the golden horse at the museum with such intensity it was like he was etching every curve into his mind? What was going on?

And worst of all: why did he know what S.P.E.W. stood for? He never seemed to care before. Did that make him sexy? She doubted Ron knew what it stood for. He had spent the whole year walking around all year calling it SPEW when he knew perfectly well it was S.P.E.W..

"Are you the welcoming committee?" She asked, hoping he couldn't read her mind. Worse, what if he could read her expression? Was her sudden thought of him being sexy painted all over her? She tried to draw her lips into a tight line and hoped he hadn't noticed anything. Hopefully the camera people hadn't noticed anything, either.

Puffy turned to Draco and said, "Dinner-ses almost ready, sir."

Draco looked away from her and nodded at the elf. "Good."

The elf disappeared with a pop. Hermione glared at Draco, "You could have said thank you."

"For telling me dinner was almost ready?" He rolled his eyes, and then turned back to the stairs, "Come on, Granger. They're waiting for you in the study." He didn't look to see if she was following him as he went back up the stairs.

She followed him, making sure to stay a few paces behind him. The place looked different since the last time she'd been there. Maybe they'd remodelled. Or the last time she had been dragged in as a hostage and tortured. She hadn't really been able to look around. It was bright and not as cold as she remembered. Maybe it really hadn't been as cavelike as she had thought. It was a home after all, with people that (supposedly) loved each other. Draco had to have good memories here. Maybe she was clouded by her bad experience. Perhaps she was wrong about this place. Maybe what she remembered wasn't really what had happened. What she remembered was what happened.

And yes, she'd been tortured. But maybe the place, itself, wasn't that bad. She tried to stop thinking too much and by doing that, her eyes strayed to Draco's perfectly formed butt. His dress shirt was tucked into his dress trousers, giving her ample view. She was scandalised and started blushing furiously, shoving every inappropriate thought away. And it was all being caught on film. To make it worst, the amount of cameras were doubled as the entourage following her was now joined by Draco's own set of cameras.

Curse, Ginny, she thought.

Finally, they arrived at the study. She stopped in the doorway, stunned by the giant bookshelves. They towered over everything the room, shooting up into the ceiling. It was like being in a forest of evergreens. They dwarfed everything. And each shelf was stacked with spines of books. She couldn't help herself from going to investigate. There were spell books, history books, books about magical creatures, the evolution of brooms, magical law books, even a cook book- the one by Molly Tanker that was being promoted at her job.

"Granger," Draco called, "this way,"

She turned, slowly, still in a trance by all the books. Draco was standing a whole length away from her, looking not at all surprised by her reaction. She thought he almost looked like he wanted to smile, but then pushed it away. Why would Draco Malfoy ever smile, and at her, for that matter?

She caught something out of the side of her eyes. On a table was a leather bound book. It was thick and she wandered over to it without realising. What she saw on the cover made her breath hitch: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.

She looked at Draco.

He understood her silent question. "Mum wanted it. So dad went out and found one." He understood her next silent question and went on, "He owes her for the whole Death Eater thing and turning our home into a-" He paused, as if contemplating his words, then said, "Well, you were here. Come on."

That was probably the longest civil conversation she'd ever had with him, and she hadn't said an entire thing the whole time. She followed him down the aisles of books until she found what looked like a reading circle. Lucius and Narcissa were sitting on love seats, surrounded by their own cameras. At their arrival, half of the cameras left, giving the room more space.

Narcissa smiled at Hermione, "Good evening, Hermione."

"Hi," She greeted, glancing at Draco. She looked at Lucius, then, seeing he was the most unhappy person in the room.

"Please, sit," Narcissa went on, extending her arm out to the love seat next to her. Hermione sat and saw Draco took the chair next to her. The circle was filled, although it looked more like a square.

"Puffy said dinner is almost ready," Draco relayed, reaching to the table in the centre. There was a platter of finger sized vegetables and a few books. He retrieved a battered looking one and a baby carrot.

"Draco," Narcissa chastised, "we have guests." She looked meaningfully at Hermione.

Draco glanced at her. Again his eyes shamelessly glanced her over before he shrugged and said, "She won't mind," He turned to look at her her, catching her off-guard, "Will you, Granger?"

She shook her head, breathless. It was like she walked into a parallel universe. The Malfoys had a study full of books. The Manor didn't feel like a torture chamber. Lucius had bought his wife a book of Shakespeare. Draco didn't sneer at her. Well- there was still time for that one to change. But he was sitting there, eating baby carrots and reading his book. His eyes danced over the words and every few minutes he'd turn a page and reach for another carrot. What was happening?

Narcissa sighed, like this was the greatest sin her son could have done. She looked back at Hermione and said, "Did you go to work today?"

"Yes, I did." She tried to be comfortable with the small talk, but her mind was in overdrive trying to make sense of everything. Her legs were nearly bouncing and her fingers played with each other as she tried to keep it together.

"How long do you see yourself working at Flourish and Blotts?" Narcissa went on.

"I'm not sure," Hermione said, finding herself answering the same question for the millionth time. "I'm kind of just taking it one step at a time until I find something I care about."

"Draco just got an internship at a dragon reserve in Scotland." Narcissa boasted, proudly. "He's always been fascinated with them."

At the mention of his name, Draco looked over at his mum with the usual face a kid gives their parents when they start bragging. Hermione was sure she had used that look hundreds of times when her parents went on about her straight As. He glanced at Hermione, shrugged, and went back to his book.

"That's fantastic," She said. "When do you leave?"

He looked at her and then back at his book, "Next month."

"I was thinking of going to university. You know, muggle school." She said. The moment the words left her lips, she was shocked. She had been thinking that, but she hadn't admitted that to anyone before. Why was she telling the Malfoys this? She should have been telling her parents first, or Ron, even Harry.

What in Merlin's name had possessed her to go and drop a bomb like that now? Hadn't she really gotten that frazzled at the thought of Draco Malfoy getting his life together while she just twiddled her thumbs away at Flourish and Blotts?

Narcissa's eyes widened and she nodded her head. "And what what do your parents think of that? What do they do again?"

"Oh... erm," She struggled, praying no one noticed, "they're thrilled. Oh, and they're dentists. They... fix people's teeth."

She was transported back to Hogwarts when her teeth had grown. Draco had meant to hit Harry, but he missed. She felt herself heating up and wondered if Draco was remembering. He probably wasn't. He seemed too into his book to be paying attention to what was going on. Her teeth growing had been awful, what might have been worst was when she got home and her parents had marvelled at how it had been done- since she had Madame Pomfrey return her buckteeth to their not so much original size.

Puffy zapped into the room, a cloud of smoke floating up in the air like a tribal dance. "Dinner-ses ready."

Lucius stood up, practically running from the room. He had spent the whole conversation staring at his feet. Draco shut the book lazily, folding the corner of the page he was on. He stole on last carrot and left the book on the chair he vacated. He didn't glance at her as he followed in his dad's wake.

Narcissa led her to the dining area. She expected a long table, but was shocked to find a much smaller set up. This confirmed it, she really was in a parallel universe. There was no way the Malfoys sat down to dinner at a tiny, square table similar to the one in her own home.

Narcissa noticed her fish out of water face. "We- I- made a lot of changes in how this household was run after the war."

Draco and Lucius were already sitting at the table, putting their napkins on their lap. Hermione glanced at them as she sat down. They were the linen ones she only used at a restaurant. She followed suit, her mind trying to find a time she ever saw Draco put a napkin in his lap at school. Their meal started with a salad and she seasoned hers with olive oil and vinegar. Everyone else, on the other hand, had a dressing of their choice. Draco, she couldn't help but noticing, drowned his with French. It was reminiscent of the way she slathered her pancakes with syrup.

This place really was like a restaurant, she realised. An assortment of salad dressings, cloth napkins, house elves as the waiters. Maybe some things had changed, but the Malfoys still lived like kings, epicureans, connoisseurs- she knew so many words. Bon vivant. She felt like she had been transported into another dimension.

"So, Hermione, tell us about university." Narcissa said, "What is it like?"

"Oh, um," Hermione started, "You get to study whatever you want. English, music, history... you get a degree and it helps you get a job."

"Fascinating," Narcissa said, and she actually seemed impressed. "What would you take?"

"When I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher. I don't know..." She admitted, "There's so many options. I don't even know where I'd study. Maybe in the states or over in Italy."

"That's so exciting." Narcissa beamed. Hermione was shocked Lucius hadn't stepped in by now- he seemed like he was controlling himself. What had Narcissa said to him? There was a copy of Shakespeare in their study, after all.

Draco's plate was empty, even devoid of all that orange dressing. He was leaning back in his chair, his arm stretched out on the table as he looked at her. Narcissa chastised him and he moved his arm without tearing his eyes from her.

What was going on?

It was like Hogwarts, food appearing on the table instantly. One minute she was looking at her empty salad bowl, and then it was gone, replaced by a plate of grilled pork chops and rice. She hoped the conversation would shift from her.

"So, um, how about you guys? I was at work all day... what did you do?"

"Oh," Narcissa sighed, "Draco read that blasted book all day. I had to rip it away to get him to get ready for tonight. He's always reading."

Hermione looked at him dubiously as Narcissa rattled on about how she spent her day at a ballroom dance class. Draco Malfoy reading all day? This was news to her. He had never once seemed interested in school. Quidditch, maybe, and she never saw him in the library. But then again, he was never around when she tutored someone surrounded by all the other peer tutors. He clearly had solid enough grades to not need extra help. And judging by that study, there was no shortage of books at the Manor.

Draco sent her a very sly, barely there, subtle smirk.

She cut her pork.

A/N Hello everyone! Anyone? Who knows. I hear so little from you guys, so I just want to take a moment and THANK: Loveable Leo and Taylor F who have reviewed every chapter. I also wanna thank pirate-princess1, CrescentMoon12, and LadyBookworm80 who I've heard from a few times. Thank you so much, you make my day brighter. Now, I'm in the middle of revising college essays, so I must go. I hope you keep reading and enjoying. As always reviews are appreciated.