Chapter 14: Dinner at the Malfoys

After what felt like hours searching through her closet, Hermione came out with a classic black dress. She put it on and smiled to herself. It really did make her look pretty fabulous if she did say so herself. It was a sheer-short sleeved square-neck dress with horizontal pleats all the way down. The dress itself stopped just above her knee. It was a little tight with her gaining weight because of the baby, but it still fit. She found black stiletto heels and then looked at herself in the mirror starting to think of what to do with her hair. She decided to leave it down and curl it into tame soft curls.

As the time neared Hermione felt sick. She was so nervous. Draco claimed they weren't the people she remembered, but that didn't make it any easier. She sighed. Why her? Why did she have to lose her memory? Her coworker didn't… or so she was told.

Just then Draco walked in in a hurried fashion.

"Hey, Hermione. Sorry I'm late!" he said giving her a quick kiss on the cheek while tearing off his tie and hurrying into the closet to change himself. She watched as he picked something out and then paused. He turned around and looked at her and then a smile spread across his face.

"Wow. You look gorgeous," he said as he came and gave her a kiss on the forehead this time, "I don't even know where my mind was when I walked I here and didn't notice you first thing."

"It's ok," said Hermione smiling at his compliment.

"No it's really not when you look like that," said Draco.

"Thanks," said Hermione blushing, "I'll leave you to get ready."

It only took Draco a few minutes to get ready and they were on their way to the Manor. They arrived right outside of it.

"It's not too late to change your mind, you know," said Draco.

"Ugh… we're right here. I think it's a little late," said Hermione.

"I just don't want to push you," said Draco.

"And I appreciate how much you care, but I think this is something I need to do. And at this point I think you're more worried than I am," said Hermione.

"Right. Well let's go," said Draco as he grabbed her hand and they walked inside.

They were immediately greeted by Narcissa. Hermione thought she looked amazing as always. She just had so much class that it was almost intimidating.

"I'm so glad you came," she said.

"Mother," greeted Draco as she hugged her son.

"Hermione, I'm so glad you're ok," she said as she hugged her too. Hermione went stiff at first and then relaxed slightly, "How have you been feeling?"

"Fine. Thank you," said Hermione a little shy.

"And your memory?" she asked.

"Mom. I'm sure you're overwhelming her," said Draco.

"She's fine," said Hermione smiling and relaxing even more, "Memories come slowly. I'm sorry I don't remember a lot regarding you, Mrs. Malfoy, or Mr. Malfoy."

"Oh, please call us by our first names. You don't remember, but you're the daughter I never had," she said smiling at Hermione.

"Is dinner ready?" asked Draco.

"Of course. You're father is waiting for us," said Narcissa.

Narcissa hurried off to the dining room and Draco and Hermione followed a little slower behind.

"Sorry. She's a little eccentric sometimes when it comes to you," said Draco.

"It's ok, really. It helps," said Hermione.

Draco squeezed her hand and they walked into the dining room.

"There they are. Draco, Hermione, good to see you," said Lucius who was already at the dining table.

"Nice to see you too, Mr. Malfoy," greeted Hermione nervous again. It wasn't necessarily Narcissa making her nervous, but him. Like she mentioned to Draco before, she remembered what had happened here before and Lucius kind of scared her to death still.

"Hermione, please call me Lucius," he said.

Hermione gave him a small smile when she sat down in acknowledgement as she sat down. Draco sat down next to her and took her hand again giving it a reassuring squeeze. He could tell she was nervous again.

"Winky," called Narcissa.

"Winky?" asked Hermione out loud. She recognized that name

"Yeah, sorry I forgot to tell you. My parents took Winky from Dumbledore a while ago. She was too distraught to work at Hogwarts and accepted a position here with a wizarding family she recognized," said Draco.

"Oh," said Hermione not sure what she thought about that. She still worried about the elves sometimes, but not nearly as much as she had in the past.

Then Winky appeared and Hermione had to resist the urge not to start laughing. She had a gigantic bow on her head and was wearing an oversized older-looking dress. Obviously things had changed and treatment must be better if she was wearing clothes.

"And servitude is voluntary, but don't remind her. She gets offended," said Draco quietly. Hermione smiled and then watched as they were served amazing food. It reminded her of her days in Hogwarts where there was food of every kind and enough to feed a small country.

"So, do you remember how it happened?" asked Lucius.

"No. All I was told is that I was working and an explosion happened and then someone saved us from fire or something," said Hermione, "I don't even know what I was working on."

"Last time you were here you told us you were working on a cure for Cruciatus victims," said Lucius.

"Really?" asked Hermione, "Me? Does anyone know if I was close?"

"I'm sure someone at work would know," said Draco.

"Wow. Ambitious aren't I?" asked Hermione smiling to herself.

"You always were. We're so proud of you," said Narcissa, "Oh and how's the baby?"

"Fine. I think anyways. The healers could probably tell you more than I could. Speaking of which I think I have an appointment soon. Did Draco tell you?" asked Hermione.

"No dear, you did," said Narcissa.

Hermione's eyes opened wide at the idea of that.

"You had questions before you found out. And then you came here and you found out you were officially pregnant here," she said.

"Well… thank you for helping even though I don't remember," said Hermione.

"Of course. I'm still a stranger I know, but if you needed anything we're here for you," said Narcissa.

The conversation slowed while they finished their meal. After eating too much again, they moved on to another room in the Manor and sat down to talk again. As soon as they walked in Hermione was distracted by all of the portraits that she found. They were all Malfoys of course, and they all looked down on her seeing her as not worthy, but at least they had been silenced. Then she noticed the tapestry with all of the family and their connections. She smiled when she saw herself on it and an empty circle where their child would be when they were born.

"We're both excited for you new addition. You would never think Lucius would be the spoiling type, but he will be," said Narcissa.

Hermione laughed at that thought.

"Well, Draco would have had to have been spoiled by someone to be the way he is," laughed Hermione.

"I did not spoil him; I merely treated him the way a Malfoy should be," said Lucius defending himself.

"Hey," said Draco frowning at Hermione, "I am not spoiled."

"Well maybe not anymore, but you were in school," said Hermione.

"Fine," admitted Draco.

Hermione smirked at him. She won that argument.

"But I'm glad my child will be spoiled. You'll have to make up for being the only set of grandparents," said Hermione.

The room became quiet. Hermione didn't notice as she was thinking about her parents. She missed them. She turned to look at them as she noticed the silence now and was hit by a flashback. She gasped at the memory and tears formed in her eyes. She looked at Lucius now and glared at him.

"You killed my parents," said Hermione.

Ohh cliff hanger lol. Sorry. Had to! haha. Hopefully that wasn't too dramatic.