Chapter 4 – New life, New image.
As Hermione sat down, she noticed everything seemed to go quiet and she could feel every pair of eyes upon her. She looked up and found that everyone was staring at her waiting for her to speak.
'This is so weird,' She thought to herself.
'You're telling me ,Sis .I've never seen Cissa stay this quiet.'
'BLAISE! Are you inside my head?'
'Yes, so please don't shout .You'll give me a headache.'
Hermione turned towards Blaise, her eyes were wide with shock, and could not help but laugh to see him with his hands in his head massaging his temples.
"It's not funny you know. You're not the one with the headache."
Hermione couldn't help but laugh even harder but stopped abruptly as Draco began to speak.
"What's so funny? Blaise, mate, what are you talking about? No one shouted at you."
"You have the connection, don't you?"
Hermione and Blaise looked across the table at their mother and nodded, and waited for her to explain. Before she had the chance to speak, Cissa jumped out of her chair and rushed over to Hermione.
"Mia! I can't believe you're finally home! I didn't think I'd ever see you again. Of course I knew everything and I am so sorry if any of us were ever mean to you. We didn't want to do it and you ought to know that Draco would have never said all those things to you if he didn't have to. We're just so glad to have you home! We must go shopping with the girls and your mother to get you a dress for the ball this weekend! Can you believe you and Blaise are turning seventeen? I think you should-"
'Cissa tends to talk a lot once she gets going and there's no use trying to stop her .And if you think she's bad now, you should see her when she drags us all shopping.'
Hermione tried to push Blaise out of her head and carried on listening to Narcissa describe the type of dresses she should wear for the ball. This continued until Lucius spoke, putting an end to Narcissa's chatter.
"I think it's about time you kids get to know each other a bit better. Why not show Mia around the Manor, Draco, Blaise? Maybe go for a swim while we adults go to the study to sort out some party arrangements. Make sure you're down for dinner at six o'clock though.
"Yes, Father," Draco nodded as he rose from the table. "You coming, Blaise, Mia? We'll meet you two by the pool, ok, Sofia?"
Sofia jumped up and grabbed her friend. "Okay, Draco. Come on, Isobel. I've got a whole new section of my wardrobe I just have to show you."
'Sofia is just as bad as Cissa when it comes to gossiping and, honestly, I think she's worse than Cissia when it comes to fashion and clothes.'
'She can't really be that bad at just thirteen!' Hermione asked her brother in astonishment.
'You're saying that now. Wait until you see her wardrobe, it was three full rooms last I saw it.'
"You two are really going to have to stop doing that connection thing. I don't like it when I don't know what you're talking about."
Hermione and Blaise just turned to Draco and laughed at the indignant look on his face.
"Poor Draco," Hermione mocked him. "You'll get used to it. Now, would you mind showing me the rest of this Manor and where I might find a bikini? I want to go in the pool."
Hermione could hardly believe that she was actually being nice to 'Ferret Boy', actually calling him by his first name even. There was just something about him now that made her want to be nicer to him. Maybe things weren't going to be so bad after all.
"I will get used to it, in time. You want to see the manor, you said? Well, follow me, my lady, and I'll give you the grand tour."
'What was that all about?' Asked a very confused twin brother. 'I thought you hated Draco or 'Ferret Boy' as you call him.'
'Things can change, brother of mine, and I might as well be nice because he's going to be around an awful lot, isn't he?'
Instead of waiting for a reply from Blaise, Hermione continued on down the corridor where Draco stood waiting for them.
"So that's the house. There's just one place left to show you."
"And what's that?"
"Your bedroom."
"You've got to be kidding me! I get my own bedroom?"
"I am kidding. You actually get your own wing. Well, you, Blaise and Isobel have to share." Draco led her along another long corridor and pushed open a tall, wooden door at the end. "This is your wing. The door at the end on the left is Isobel's room, the door on the right is Blaise's, and this one here… is yours."
Draco opened two large white doors and showed Hermione in. "After you," He said, watching her as she looked around the room in amazement. Neither of them noticed Blaise disappear into his own bedroom, leaving the two all alone.
"Like it?"
"Like it? Oh, I love it! I hope my room at home is just half this lovely."
"Oh, yours at home is much better than this one. Trust me."
Hermione stepped inside the walk-in wardrobe and began looking for a bikini to change into.
"You'll find your bathing suits the end cupboard along with shoes and any sort of accessory you may need."
Hermione turned around to see Draco leaning against the door frame, his eyes roaming all over her body.
"And how, Draco Malfoy, would you know where my bikinis are kept?"
"For one, I spend far too much time helping my mum and sister when they go shopping and two, I helped decorate your room."
"Oh, well thank you."
"You're welcome. I do want to make sure you understand that I am sorry for the way I treated you for the past six years. Believe me when I say that I didn't want to call you any of those names or act the way I did around you. In all honesty, I wanted to do the complete opposite to you."
Hermione's eyebrows shot up into her hairline. What exactly was he trying to say?
When she didn't respond, Draco went on. "I know this is coming as a shock and that you have already had so many surprises today but I think you are beautiful. And don't think I am only saying this because you're a pureblood now because I don't care if you're a pureblood or a muggleborn, I'd like you regardless. I've always liked you and even if you have the Glamour Charm removed, I'll think you're beautiful no matter what."
Hermione stared at him, dumbfounded. Before she had time to react, Draco had crossed the distance between them and pulled her body against his. He kissed her soundly on the lips, relieving himself of the years' long desire. Hermione surprised them both when she started to kiss him back. She pulled back and looked up into his eyes through which love and warmth shone brightly at her.
She blushed and turned away from him, busying herself by trying to pick out her bathing suit.
"I'd better get ready before Blaise wonders where we are," She rambled nervously.
"Right, I'll wait for you out in your bedroom." He turned to exit the wardrobe before pausing and saying, "Wear the green one, it will suit you." He then carried on walking into her bedroom closing the wardrobe door on the way out.
Hermione stood for a few minutes, trying to calm herself before changing into the green bikini (that admittedly did not cover much), a black sarong and matching green flip-flops.
As soon as Hermione emerged from her wardrobe, Draco felt his throat go dry and his pants grow tight.
"Draco? DRACO!"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Aren't you going to change?"
"Oh…right, yeah." He took out his wand and with a flick of his wrist he was dressed in his swimming shorts, leaving his toned chest bare for Hermione to admire.
She didn't know how long she had been staring at his bare chest when Draco's voice startled her.
"See something you like?" He smirked at her, clearly having seen her reaction to his body.
"So what if I do?" Hermione put her hands on her hips and tried to appear as though she wasn't taken aback by everything that had happened that day. As if finding out that she was adopted wasn't enough, now she had to try to understand the strange feelings she was beginning to have every time she looked into Draco's eyes.
"If you do, then why don't you come over here and get it because I'm definitely seeing something I want."
Hermione took a tentative step towards him when Draco reached out and pulled her to him.
"You know, I didn't hate you either these past six years," Hermione confessed. "I just thought you were the arrogant Slytherin sex god who slept with anything with big boobs and long legs."
"You thought I was a sex god, did you?"
"Did I mention that I thought you were conceited, as well?"
"Fine, I'll stop but you should know that I only shagged one person."
"Don't lie to me, Draco," She turned her face away from him.
He placed a finger under her chin and tiled her face up so he could look into her eyes. "I'm not lying to you… I can't believe I even when anywhere near that pug face."
Hermione tried unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh. "Who?" She managed to get out before laughing again.
"Pansy Parkinson," Draco spat bitterly. "She drugged me with some potion last year. I had no idea what I was doing, she was controlling me."
Hermione sobered and looked into Draco's eyes, the disgust apparent on his face.
"It's not your fault," Hermione soothed. "Plus she can't do anything more to you. She was arrested after the finale battle and is now living in a cosy cell in Azkaban."
Draco smiled and leaned his head towards Hermione's, giving her a quick kiss on the lips. Before she could kiss him back Blaise barged in through the door, changed and ready to go down to the pool.
"What's…oh! Sorry to interrupt but I'm off down to the pool. If you two can tear yourselves away from one another then maybe you can join the rest of us."
Hermione stepped away from Draco looking at the floor, the heat rising in her cheeks.
"Shut up, Blaise! Just because you can't pluck up the courage to ask Kira out."
Now it was Blaise's turn to look at the floor blushing. Hermione gave Draco a questioning look, he was the very picture of innocence though he looked rather pleased with himself.
"Come on, Mia. I'll show you to the pool." Draco offered Hermione his hand which she took and followed Draco out of the room, passing a sulking Blaise on the way out.
"You coming, Blaise?" Draco asked. "I think my mum said something about us having guests and could you shut Mia's door on the way out?"
Blaise followed them both out the room still looking slightly sour.
'Blaise, don't be upset just because Draco got you back with the Kira comment. It doesn't mean you have to take it out on everyone else. Who this Kira anyways?'
"Sorry, sis, I didn't mean to. And you'll have to wait and see about Kira. Now, turn around and walk through the door so Draco doesn't look completely stupid."
"Hey! I heard that and I'm not stupid, thank you very much, nor do I look stupid."
Before the boys started to argue, Hermione walked through the door to the pool room pulling Draco in after her. She saw her mother and father along with her godparents, Lucius and Narcissa, sitting casually in the shallow end of the pool. Sofia and Isobel were laying on the lounge chairs gossiping as always, it seemed.
Suddenly, Hermione thought her eyes were playing tricks on her when they landed on -
"KIRA! What are you doing here?"
Kira squealed and ran over to Hermione, squeezing her tightly. "Aunt Cissa invited me over to meet her new goddaughter but I didn't know it was you! This is going to be amazing! We've got to go shopping for your dress and-"
Hermione was in complete and total shock… for perhaps the fifth time that day.
"Kira! I… Umm, no! You know what I said after the last time we went shopping. I'm not going."
"Oh, come on it will be fun. And that guy was so checking you out."
"Yeah, it will be fun but that's exactly what I mean. You always seem to think everyone is checking me out and," Hermione added in a whisper, "he was a she, remember?"
"Okay! So that was a slight misunderstanding but I promise to behave myself. I swear!"
"Fine, so long as I don't end up having to run from anyone again because you told them they looked like a slapper in the top they were wearing."
"I promise!"Kira emitted a high pitched scream and threw her arms around Hermione and hugged her again.
"I would hate to go shopping with you two."
"Oh! Kira, this is my twin brother B…"
"Blaise. Yes, we know each other,"Kira smiled over at him.
"Oh, so this is the -"
'Don't even think about finishing that sentence, Mia.'
'Alright, but I think you ought to know that she likes you too.'
"What? How do you know that?" Blaise suddenly realised that he had spoken out loud and stared down at the floor, not saying another word.
"Blaise, what are talking about?" Kira asked, looking bewildered.
Attempting to save his best friend from embarrassment, Draco spoke up, "Don't ask, Cuz. They are able to communicate with each other somehow. I'm not sure I understand it so don't both asking, you'll end up even more confused."
Draco grabbed Kira by the arm and dragged her over to where the adults were sitting. Hermione linked her arm through Blaise's and followed suit, whispering to him as they went.
"I know she likes you because she is my best friend and I can read her like a book. That and because at the beginning of the holidays, before I knew about everything, she told me she liked her cousin's best friend and his name was Blaise. So I've just managed to piece everything together. It was pretty obvious actually."
A broad smile had spread across Blaise's face but before he could reply Hermione walked to the other side of the pool where everyone else was sitting. She removed her sarong and kicked off her sandals quickly before stepping into the cool water.
"Mia, will you put some clothes on, please."
Blaise couldn't help but laugh at his father's attitude towards Hermione's outfit.
"Dad, that's not fair. Isobel's bathing suit is nearly identical to mine and you haven't said anything to her," Hermione said.
"Yes, I'm aware of that, but Draco isn't drooling over your sister."
Hermione turned round to see Draco standing motionless, realizing he had been caught by her father. She swam over to him and decided to use his cocky comeback from earlier to get him back.
"See something you like?"
Draco finally recovered and instead of blushing he smirked and pulled Hermione closer to him.
"Definitely."
"Draco, may I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Did you mean what you said earlier, about not caring if I have the glamour charm removed? So…I can be me the real me."
"I meant every word I said, Mia. I like you because of who you are not because of what you look like. That bikini does look amazing on you though."
"You know, it's still hard to believe that you are actually being nice to me and the fact that you snogged me without even thinking twice about…well, that was purely shock inducing."
That said, Draco cupped Hermione's face and kissed her so sweetly and so deeply, as though it were the last thing he would ever do. He pulled back moments later, leaving a slightly breathless Hermione in his arms, her lips pink and swollen.
"You mean like that?"
Hermione just nodded and gathered her senses before turning from Draco to make her way over to her parents.
"Mia, dear? Do you have something to tell us?" Athena asked with interest, her eyebrows raised.
"No, mum, nothing to tell…well, not yet anyway. I do have something to ask you though."
"What is it, princess?"
Hermione looked around at Draco seeking reassurance. He walked over and stood behind her, placing a supporting hand on her waist. She looked to Blaise, who already seemed to know what she was going to ask their mother. He smiled and nodded at her encouragingly. Hermione turned back to her parents knowing she had made the right decision.
"When Aunt Alyssa and Uncle Lucian told me about everything this morning they told me that I had been placed under a glamour charm when I was younger and… I was wondering if you could remove it for me so I would know what I really look like."
"Of course, we will, princess! I'll get my wand."
Hermione's father, Paolo, reached out of the pool to grab his wand. He turned and pointed it at Hermione, pausing to make sure this is what she truly wanted. She gave a small nod and closed her eyes, waiting for something to happen. She felt a slight tingle throughout her body and then heard Draco whispering in her ear.
"That bikini looks even better now and, if possible, you are even more beautiful than before."
Hermione took a deep breath and opened her eyes to see her mother and Cissa crying on each other's shoulders while the rest stood looking on, smiling, glad that Mia was finally home.
Hermione climbed out of the pool and went into the changing room near the pool to stand in front of the floor length mirror. She looked almost exactly like her mother with one exception; her eyes were now brilliant purple instead of dark blue.
'I've never seen eyes that colour before, strange .I wonder if anyone else in the family has purple eyes.'
Her hair fell in soft curls around her face and down to the middle of her back. It was midnight black and perfect, she thought, especially compared to her old her hair. She had to admit, she did like her new image and could see why Draco might think she looked hot in her bikini. She had curves in all the right places and she now stood an impressive 5'8"instead of her old 5'4". She was glad she had asked her parents to remove the glamour charm, a new image could only mean one thing: a whole new life.
"I told you, you look hot in that bikini."
If Hermione was going to start a new life, she decided, she might as well start with her love life. She walked over to Draco grabbed his neck and pulled him to her, kissing him hungrily. As he started to respond, she pulled back, smirked at him and turned to walk back to the pool, grabbing his hand and pulling him along with her.
"I couldn't agree with you more."
Draco was shocked with the new Hermione. She was outgoing and could easily keep someone inline, someone like him maybe. Is that what he needed?
He followed her out to the pool to re-join everyone else, but he didn't miss the strange look Blaise was giving them both.
Hermione stood on the side of the pool staring at her new family. "Hi my name is Mia Alysa Zabini."