Chapter Seven - Dublin
Six Months Later
Hermione and Draco had finished the theoretical aspect of their training and had progressed to the practical aspect of their training, observing and learning as Trainee Healers. This meant some very long hours at St Mungo's.
Hermione and Ron's friendship was still strained but at least he was talking to her again, although they had had another argument when Draco and Astoria's engagement was announced.
"See he's still the same pure blood tosser, with the same prejudices. Why won't you listen?" he had yelled.
Hermione had replied stearnly that Ron did not know the full facts and HE was being prejudice by refusing to accept that Draco had changed.
Draco's life was a blur of work and wedding planning. Astoria and her mother were going to make sure this was the wedding of the century and his mother was just as bad. This is a new start for us as a family she kept telling him. He was finding life at home much more stressful that life at work, which was why he was overjoyed to be selected to attend a seminar in Dublin with Hermione.
Hermione found herself standing in front of a house she never thought she would ever be near again. Malfoy Manor still looked dark and intimidating. Hermione found herself shaking just looking at it.
Her and Draco were heading to a seminar on permanent spell damage to be held at St Patrick's Place for the Permanently Damaged in Dublin and she had agreed to meet him at his home so that they could travel together. She was currently regretting that decision, wishing they had agreed to meet anywhere else but here.
Draco walked up to the appariation point outside the gates of the Manor and saw Hermione. He could see that she was shaking and she looked as pale as him. He then realised that this was the first time she had been anywhere near the Manor since that day, and while he knew it was like a totally different house, she didn't.
"Hermione" he said, taking her attention away from the Manor. She jumped, having been focussing on the Manor so intently that she didn't see him arrive.
"The portkey should activate any second" he said as he held out a cup and Hermione took hold too. She wanted to be away from the Manor as quickly as possible, why did she have to be so adament that she would meat him here. She should have let him meet her at her place like normal.
Then suddenly she felt the pulling sensation of the portkey activating, indicating they were on her way to Dublin.
Draco and Hermione spent the day in the seminar learning about the long term effects of spell damage as well as the effects of those subjected to long term spell abuse. While Hermione learnt more than she had in a long time it still didn't improve her mood. It lead to her having more questions in relation to what her future held after bells's treatment.
The day ended with a tour of the St. Patrick's Place for the Permanently Damaged, leaving Draco and Hermione amazed at the facilities available and the treatment on offer. It really was a world leading centre.
Both Draco and Hermione had had an amazing day but were both feeling drained and not really ready to go home. Draco suggested they go for a drink and Hermione took them the Temple Bar. They found a booth near the back of an quiet bar and Draco ordered a bottle of wine and some food for them.
"I should never have made you come to the Manor" Draco said.
"No, it's not your fault. I didn't realise it would still effect me so much. I mean the nightmares have pretty much stopped." As she realised what she said, she quickly took a mouthful of wine.
"Mine haven't" Draco replied, figuring talking about it couldn't make them feel worse than they all ready did. Hermione looked at him, "you have them too" she asked.
Draco nodded "I sometimes think witnessing torture is worse than being tortured. You sleazy ask yourself could I have stopped it, should I have stopped it why didn't I stop it. At least on the receiving end you can fight back, resist, fight, watching you just feel helpless."
Hermione wasn't sure how to respond, she'd never really had to witness prolonged torture other than when she was tortured by Bellatrix and then as Draco said she was able to fight and resist, to do something.
"I'd never thought of it like that" she said in a small quiet voice. "You must have seen some terrible things." Draco looked at her and nodded "I'm still seeing them" he said.
They sat in silence contemplating the day and the past, until Hermione finally asked a question until now she had been scared to ask "why were you and Narcissa in the dungeon?"
Draco took a deep breath and a gulp of wine, "it started when I failed to kill Dumbledore it showed I was weak and useless like my father. Instead of letting it go my father was constantly trying to show that I could be a good Death Eater, a loyal servant like him. He would insist I came to meetings. The Dark Lord obliged I think partly because he knew it was only a matter of time until I cracked. Mother was tortured for my failures which made father angry so he'd take it out on me later. I think the Dark Lord knew his beliefs weren't in my heart, I was never as enthusiastic as Crabbe or Goyle. It became his mission to crack me knowing that every time I showed emotion he would punish my mother and then my father would punish me."
Hermione was shocked at exactly how much of a pawn Draco had been for both his father and Voldemort. They both took a moment to take a drink and eat some of the food which had just arrived.
Draco continued "there was one night some death eaters had killed a muggle family and they were describing what they'd done. I had to sit there and listen while they laughed and joked about it. It was then decided the young ones should go out and have some fun so Crabbe, Goyle and I were sent out to another muggle family - apparently the father was a squib but didn't know it. When we got there I just couldn't kill them or do anything, certainly not use the violent curses we were meant to. I knew what they felt like, and I'd always sworn too myself that I would never use any of them. Crabbe and Goyle had a great time and of course wasted no time telling everyone of my failure to participate. My punishment was to go with Aunt Bella next time she went out for some fun as she called it. That was easily the worst day and the most common nightmare until you, Potter and Weasley arrived."
Hermione excused herself to go to the bathroom and took a few moments to compose herself and headed back to the table, the Manor had effected her more than she thought and while learning about permanent spell damage had been incredibly interesting, it had also scared her as that was her biggest fear, that there would be some lasting damage from Bellatrix.
Back at the table Draco was also trying to compose himself, wondering why he was able to be completely and totally honest with Hermione, and if he actually cared. He had realised that he didn't mind having someone to talk to about everything. His mother was determined to just move on and his friends from the time weren't exactly friends. There was only really Blaise and they had lost touch during the war and although they had been in touch since, it was hard to talk about the war with someone who had managed to stay on the outskirts of it.
Hermione returned with another bottle of wine, and poured them both another glass.
"That day at the Manor" Hermione started quietly, "that was the worst day for me, and seeing the Manor this morning, effected me more that I thought. I still have nightmares about Bellatrix and what she did to me, but I can't believe that a building could have that much of an effect on me".
"Its not surprising Hermione, to you its a place of evil and horror, its bound to effect you".
"But after everything you have said how does it not effect you?" she asked.
"Because I don't know any different I guess. Even before the Dark Lord arrived it wasn't exactly the warm cosy homely home that Mother is turning it into now".
"Narcissa's changing it that much?"
"You have no idea" Draco replied, and spent the next hour describing exactly what Narcissa had done and was doing to the Manor.
Gradually conversation move on to other topics, and neither realised the time until the barman rang the bell and announced last orders.
"Oh my God, its nearly 11pm" Hermione exclaimed, "but I swear we just sat down".
Draco smiled, "obviously time went quicker than we thought" he said as he stood.
Hermione laughed, "at least the day is ending better than it started" she replied as they left the bar.
"And on that note I'm taking you home first" Draco replied, as they moved through the Temple Bar looking for a deserted alley they could apparate from.
After apparating to Hermione's, Draco said goodnight and floo'd the Manor, where he discovered a very angry Narcissa waiting for him.
"A little late aren't we" she said snappily.
"Well Hermione and I stopped for a drink, it was a long day" Draco replied, unsure why his mother was so upset. This was not the latest he'd ever come home and he was an adult, she never asked him to justify his whereabouts.
"And dinner with your fiancee and her family?" she asked in an equally harsh tone.
"Shit" Draco muttered, "I forgot" he replied.
Narcissa stood and faced her son, "well you better start remembering Draco, this wedding is very important for both of us and you would do well to get your priorities right" she said before turning and leaving the room.
Draco was stunned, it had been years since Narcissa had spoken to him like that. It felt like he was back in a time where his family was unhappy and the Manor was a place he hated. He had to get out of the house, and he knew just where he wanted to go.
AN: sorry about the delay in the uploading of this chapter, but life got a little (lot) hectic and busy. I hope to get the next chapter up quicker.
