Chapter 6
The next couple of weeks passed pretty quickly. She only saw the Malfoys at breakfast. She spent most of her time there, and it really was big enough that you didn't have to see anyone unless you wanted to.
She spent most of her time in the library. She didn't really have anywhere else to go. Her flat had been packed up and rented out to someone else, so she didn't have anywhere else to go.
Renting a place of her own would be a very odd thing to do, and truthfully, she had plenty of time and space to herself at Malfoy Manor. Plus it would bring about a really awkward conversation if she charged a flat to the Malfoy's account. She didn't have any money of her own and she certainly couldn't access her own little account considering she was deceased and looking remarkably like someone else.
Her research was pretty discouraging. First of all, she couldn't find anything related to taking up occupation in someone else's body. Secondly, even if she could prove that she was an imposter in this body, the marriage between it and Draco would still stand. Marriage was between the bloodlines, and the blood was still there. Why did everything have to be about blood with these people?
So no matter how incapacitated or altered the wife became mentally, the marriage was still valid. She couldn't find any leeway that she could use to claim she was another person, ie. not the person he married, because legally he married the body and not the soul. So in short, she just happened to be stuck in Draco Malfoy's property.
She still had a moment of extreme confusion when she woke up in the mornings. She still had the odd times when she thought this was her own personal hell. It was an odd thing. Basically she was offered what she'd wanted, a husband who really wanted a child and a body capable of producing one, at least according to the medical community. A stable home, enough money to ensure she could do the things she wanted to do. On the surface it was a wish come true.
There was just a small drawback, just one little detail, it had to be with Draco Malfoy. You can have everything you wanted, but it must be with the person you've always despised. And let's not forget that the feeling was mutual even more so from his side maybe. Now if that wasn't a dilemma made in hell, she didn't know what was.
Her complete obsession with having a baby and it was no within reach, it just had to be with Draco Malfoy. And said child will then grow up to be a Malfoy.
She knew that life was about compromises, but this was a little much, wasn't it?
Maybe if Draco knew that his schoolhood nemesis was now in his wife's body. Maybe it would be enough to bring about some kind of divorce, even though it is not a done thing in their society for any reason. Surely being accidentally married to someone would be enough to qualify. Although she knew it wasn't. She'd come across a case where two people had married under the influence of the Imperio curse, as a joke and that marriage still stood.
Malfoy might want a separation if he knew he was truly tethered to a mudblood. Although, technically the body was still of the pureblood bloodline. Not to mention the fact that Draco did not believe her. She had mentioned her predicament a few times and he'd assumed that she was mental. Actually, she suspected that he might be thinking that his wife was making up excuses for not sharing the marital bed with him.
What does that say about their marriage, when one spouse assumed the other would fake a mental illness to avoid doing it with them. Maybe he was really bad at it, she thought with amusement.
Hermione's musing were disturbed by someone in the fireplace.
"Astoria, darling, we're still on for today, aren't we." The head in the fireplace said. After closer inspection, Hermione was shocked to see it was Pansy.
"Today?" Hermione asked uncertainly.
"You haven't forgotten, have you?" Pansy said. "We are going to Sertrini's, remember."
"I'm sorry Pansy, I'd forgotten." Hermione said, not really knowing what else to say.
"Well, get ready." Pansy said. "I am coming over in half an hour. I knew you'd forget, you're such a scatterbrain, Astoria."
Pansy was true to her word. Hermione didn't know what to do, but in the end she decided it was better to just go along with it for now. Hermione knew that Sertrini's was a restaurant that didn't welcome all.
Pansy was dressed immaculately when she dragged Hermione out of the house.
"So, how is everything?" Pansy said as they were finally seated with drinks.
"I had a bit of a knock on the head." Hermione said. "Haven't quite been myself since."
"Sorry to hear that." Pansy said, but the sympathy wasn't quite there.
"How is your husband?" Hermione asked since she remembered that Pansy married an older man.
"Decrepit. But very rich. Nothing has changed." Pansy said with a laugh. "How is yours?"
"Haven't seen him much." Hermione said. It was really strange having a conversation with Pansy. Hermione was quite curious to see what Pansy was like without all the snarling.
"How is Theo?" Pansy said to Hermione's surprise.
"Haven't seen him either." Hermione responded with a bit of a blush from the embarrassment although she wasn't sure why she was embarrassed. Pansy obviously knew about Astoria's affair with Theo. It made her wonder if Pansy also had someone on the side. She decided to go out on a limb, "And yours?"
"Can't complain." Pansy said with a sly smile. "Now what are we going to do about Felicity?"
"I'm sure you have some idea what you want to do." Hermione said. Not sure what Pansy was referring to or who Felicity was, but better to let Pansy talk.
"Well, I have couple of idea." Pansy started. "The cow needs to pay."
Hermione wondered what this Felicity girl had done to upset Pansy.
"For starters, Clarissa won't be inviting her to the do next week." Pansy said haughtily. "That will give the cow some pause."
Hermione just nodded. Apparently Pansy was just as nasty even when she wasn't snarling. She suspected that Pansy and Astoria might be friends considering how frank Pansy was around her.
"Is Daphne still harassing you for invites?" Pansy asked.
"Yes." Hermione said remembering the conversation with Daphne about some vacation house, wondering where this was going to lead.
"That girl just doesn't get it." Pansy started, while forking the salad that had just arrived for her. "Still expect you to rescue her loser husband from social Siberia. Really what does she expect if she married someone like that? I mean, he is from a good family, but seriously, Deltross was never going to achieve anything."
"I believe it was an arranged marriage." Hermione said, a bit shocked that Pansy was so mean to someone who seemed to be her friend in school.
"Oh please, if you can't influence your parents, you really deserve what you get." Pansy said dismissively. Pansy went on for a while longer about how Daphne had let herself go and now with a brat to cramp her less than stellar style, completing her hopelessness.
Pansy went on to plan her campaign against this Felicity girl and the complexity of the plan was a bit surprising to Hermione.
"You really aren't feeling yourself, are you?" Pansy concluded. "You haven't said boo all throughout lunch."
"No, I'm not myself." Hermione said. "Maybe it will come right over time."
Pansy seemed to eye her suspiciously. "Come on, I'll take you back." Pansy said and they walked towards the fireplace. They didn't pay, Hermione noticed but wasn't going to question. Must be some kind of standing tab. Good to know if she ever found herself starving and stuck without a knut.
Hermione was actually looking forward to being rid of Pansy. Hermione had concluded that Pansy was a formidable enemy considering the lengths she was willing to plan someone's demise. They were all kind of lucky that Voldemort was dismissive of females, because Pansy's planning abilities were shockingly good if they were directed into something useful.
And Astoria, the bitch, was refusing to help her sister improve her and her husband's position. Hermione never had a sister, but she was pretty sure she would never treat her sister like that.
"Let's go see if Drakie is here." Pansy said when they were back at Malfoy Manor. Hermione had been wondering why Pansy had been adamant at taking her back.
Pansy led them toward one of the studies that Hermione had identified was probably Draco's. Pansy opened the door after a quick nock. To Hermione's surprise, Draco was actually inside.
"Drakie." Pansy said with glee. "How are you darling?" She said and left Hermione to go kiss Draco on the cheeks. Very European. "I'm just returning your darling wife to you."
"Excellent." Draco said and sat down. Pansy was leaning on the desk.
"We have been to lunch at Sertrini's." Pansy cooed. "Although we missed your company."
"I am sure you managed just fine, Pansy." Draco said amused.
The interaction made Hermione wonder if Draco and Pansy were having an affair. Probably not. Pansy would be much more discreet, probably. Although Hermione got the distinct feeling that Pansy would very much like it to be so.
Hermione walked over towards the desk. Curious to watch this interaction.
Pansy seemed to notice something on the desk. It was the Daily Prophet from the day after Hermione was killed by a chimney, the one with the picture of her from her 25th birthday.
"That awful girl." Pansy said with a laugh. "So like her to get killed by a Chimney. Crass in every conceivable way. Must have been fate."
Draco looked up and found Hermione's eyes. A little bit of mischief sparkled there. After all, his wife, in her deluded post injury mind though she was Hermione Granger, didn't she. Come on Draco, sell out your wife to her horrible friend, Hermione thought when she looked into his eyes.
Draco leaned back in his chair and smirked slightly. Go on, Hermione thought, do it. It would make Astoria the subject of ridicule for a very long time.
But he looked away.
"Why do you still have this?" Pansy asked.
"I just haven't had the elves in here for a while." Draco said. "I forgot about it."
Pansy threw the paper away across the other side of the desk. "Anyway, must go. She said. "You will come to the do next week. I will be distraught if you didn't come." Pansy was almost batting her eyelids.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." He said, but Hermione almost thought he looked bored.
Pansy looked like she was trying to find some reason to stay, but nothing was extending to her, so she finally turned and walked out. "I will see you then." She called from the door. Hermione could have sworn she was posing.
"I will see you later, sweetie." Pansy said to Hermione with a wink.
Which left Hermione with Draco in his study. The awkwardness of the situation was pressing.
"I better go change." Hermione finally said. Draco just watched her, which made her extremely uncomfortable. She wondered if Draco was going to rub it in that he hadn't sold her out. Ron would have, in a mischievous but not malicious way. But the silence just continued.
Hermione excused herself and left. Lunch with Pansy made her feel queasy to the point where she actually wanted a bath.