Chapter 4

Hermione actually sulked the next day. She couldn't believe everything had gone so wrong. And the worst was that they had to go around to the Greengrass' for dinner. Obviously the game would be up then, having dinner with Astoria's family would be a disaster. It would take Hermione's parents less than five minutes to establish there was something very wrong if someone came home in her body.

It could be worse though, everyone seemed to pretty much leave her alone. Breakfast was quiet and awkward, with Narcissa chattering about the gossip. And pureblood gossip was pretty brutal. Draco did not participate in the gossip to the degree that she would have though. Having been so glad with other's misfortune during school, she would have thought he'd be rolling around on the floor with laughter.

Although saying that, she hadn't seen him in years. Only in passing from a distance. She had pretty much looked the other way whenever he was anywhere in sight. He was definitely older now, lost a bit of the youthfulness. Much more serious looking than the spoilt brat she'd known. She would be lying if she said he wasn't attractive if you were into that kind of attractiveness. The cold, forbidding and angry version.

Lucius and Narcissa looked exactly the same as they always had. Still absolutely convinced of their superiority and entitlement. Narcissa was apparently having lunch at some exclusive club with some woman called Celeste. The men gave no indication of what they'd be doing that day. Probably dreaming about their muggle baiting days, Hermione throught.

In fact, she had no idea what Draco did. He seemed to leave the house each morning, but he came and went. He must not have a normal full time job. Maybe he didn't work at all.

After laying on her bed staring at the ceiling for hours, Hermione had to get up and go to the library. It just wasn't alright with her to lay there doing nothing. So she kept on researching, getting nowhere really.

She still wished every night that she would wake up in her own body the next day and this had just been a bad dream.

Somehow the day passed and the little elf, who's name was Red, came to warn her that she needed to get ready for dinner. Odd name for an elf, but everything about these people were odd. There was nothing cosy about this mansion. It was cold and drafty, dark and generally uninviting. She hated it. It was filled with some interesting object. She hadn't had time to check them out yet, maybe she would have a closer look tomorrow.

She wore green and purple robes. Quite a heavy set, it fit perfectly.

Again the Malfoy's were waiting when she made it downstairs.

"I wish we didn't have to end up waiting for you all the time." Narcissa said.

"I am right on time." Hermione said checking her watch.

Narcissa gave a light little snort and turned towards her husband who would side along apparate her. Why did they always side along apparate? Why not just go themselves. Hermione was kind of grateful because she didn't know where to go, which would be very odd considering she was going to the house where she supposedly 'grew up'.

Draco waited for her to take his arm. He was holding it out without looking at her. This was obviously the etiquette. In fact, he had not said a single word to her all day. Which considering was not a bad thing, but it made her wonder if this frosty relationship between husband and wife was normal or whether there was something not right in their marriage.

It was very odd to touch Draco Malfoy on purpose. He was much warmer than she would have expected, like there was a human being underneath all that snarling and unpleasantness. The apparition jerked her through the stomach. She hated it, it was fast, but really, sometimes she wondered if muggle travel was just a little bit more dignified even though it took much longer.

The Greengrass' house was on a smaller scale, but just as unwelcoming. She wondered if any of these people had even had a cup of coco in their lives.

Mrs. Greengrass air kissed her and called her darling after greeting all the Malfoys first. It shocked Hermione a bit. Certainly more detached than she would get at home. With a twinge, she missed her parents.

They sat down in a little sitting area where two elves were taking drinks orders. Mrs. Greengrass was very beautiful, but heavily made up. She made an effort, which was something Mr. Greengrass seemed to have let go off a while back. He had a large belly which signified that there were several things in this world that he loved a lot. His daughter might not have been that high on the list because he just grunted slightly as she walked past.

Daphne Greengrass, sorry Hamphrey walked in next with her husband. Mrs. Greengrass air kissed her other daughter as well. Daphne didn't look much different from when she was in school, although less the school uniform. Hermione didn't know her husband.

"You recall my daughter Daphne." Mrs. Greengrass said. "Just gave birth to a son two months back."

"Congratulations." Lucius offered. Hermione looked around, really, they didn't know that the sister in law had a baby? Daphne sat down and an elf tended to her.

"Still not pregnant yet?" Mrs. Greengrass asked or maybe stated. It took Hermione a second to realise it was her she was referring to, causing Hermione to cough into her drink. "I just don't understand why she hasn't produced an heir yet." Mrs. Greengrass spoke to Lucius and Narcissa. "It must be just wilfulness. We tried to force it out of her, but.."

"We had them both checked thoroughly." She continued while Hermione felt her cheeks start to flame. Technically they were talking about Astoria, but still, this was mortifying. "The doctors were adamant that she could conceive." The woman spoke apologetically like she had sold a lame horse. "Although it seems that Daphne would have been a better choice, in hindsight."

Hermione didn't know what to do with herself. No one else seemed to be embarrassed about this situation. Draco was just casually sitting there next to her, sipping his drink as he half listened to the conversation. Lucius and Narcissa didn't react either, like the statement was along their thinking and perfectly acceptable for company. Maybe that was the etiquette in pureblood society, sell your daughters as broodmares and then apologise if they didn't produce quickly enough.

For the first time ever, Hermione felt sorry for Astoria Greengrass. She wanted to hit Draco for not defending her. It must be his fault, she was capable according to the medical establishment, he probably wasn't and really, he is so revolting Astoria probably couldn't bare having him near her.

And then Daphne was giving her the most smug look. Hermione couldn't believe that this was Astoria's family. Hermione didn't like any of them and couldn't believe they were treating their own like this. It made her wonder, maybe it was just her receiving their crap because she was muggleborn, maybe this is how they were period. Underneath all that snobbishness and sophistication, they were just savages. Well she had always known that Draco was vicious, but she had thought that was reserved for people he thought were lower than him in his twisted societal tally.

"They are still young. There is plenty to time." Narcissa said. It wasn't a defence of her, but a polite end to the conversation. Hermione felt sick. She did not want to spend the evening with these people.

Secretly she had always wondered what it would be like on the inside, but right now, she couldn't care less, she wanted away from these people. Would they even care if they knew their daughter was probably dead?

Hermione excused herself and went to the bathroom. She needed a moment to herself. Actually she needed some excuse to get away from here, but she couldn't think of anything. Maybe she should just walk out, but then she would probably get another encouraging talk from Draco, maybe something along the lines of what a whore she was, like last time.

Daphne walked into the bathroom. Hermione didn't know what to do. She had no idea what to expect from Daphne, Hermione wasn't all that sure of the relationship between sisters. She only really knew Parvati and Padma, and they seemed to fight more than anything. Daphne seemed to settle on the wall, looking at her.

"How is your little boy?" Hermione started.

"He is fine." Daphne said, slightly bored. Hermione nodded, not sure what else to say.

"He must keep you up all night." Hermione continued as the silence kept going. Babies was a topic that Hermione had spent a lot of thought on over the last could of years.

"Not really." Daphne said. Hermione realised there must have been someone else who took care of the child at night.

What do you want, Hermione wanted to ask as Daphne lingered.

"You going to the Zabini's house this summer?" Daphne asked.

"I am not sure what the plans are." Hermione said, not even knowing what Daphne was referring to.

Whatever Hermione said, it seemed to upset Daphne.

"Just because you're rich, doesn't mean you can do whatever you want." She snapped before storming out.

What the hell was that, Hermione wondered. She really did have a massive headache now.

She was about to excuse herself with this convenient headache when she got back to the group, when she was being herded into the dining room. Draco's hand was firm on her back guiding her. She hated it when he touched her.

Another evening in polite society stretch before Hermione and she wondered jokingly if maybe Astoria had gotten the better bargain. No, seriously, it was good to be alive, Hermione thought. If she could only extricate herself from this situation. Pureblood wizards did not divorce, Hermione thought as she sat across the table from Draco.

She didn't think he was particularly enjoying the evening either. The conversation centred mainly around politics and who was in office and who was angling for power within the Ministry. This was the pureblood male version of gossip, while the women sat by and listened. Draco would say something every once in a while. He was paying attention to the conversation. He paid none to her.

The evening mercifully finished as soon as desert was done. The Malfoys didn't seem to want to linger after, which was heaven sent as far as Hermione was concerned.

She was astonished that no one had even gotten suspicious at her this evening. Invasion of the body snatchers had happened in their family and no one noticed.