Chapter 3 –The New Neighbour
Its Wednesday night, Hermione packing in her old apartment, excited about moving tomorrow. She has requested to have Thursday and Friday off so she could finish moving into her new apartment. It is a small one-bedroom apartment but it was located in the building she have longed dream to live in. She loved the exterior of the building. The building was built in 1885 with an almond beige colour wall outside, silver pearl casted iron lacework to the verandas and sheet glass windows. The place was close to work, instead of apparating to her office, she looked forward to walk to work instead. The rent was higher than her old apartment. She wouldn't consider the possibility to rent this place if not for her recent well earn paid rise. After all she was always the first one to arrive at the office and last to leave, she was hoping to get a promotion soon but a paid rise was certainly not bad. She called it destiny because the apartment became available the day she got her paid rise. In fact she was surprised that the building offers one-bedroom apartment, thanks to Blaise Zabini her co-worker who brought her the good news.
Thursday has arrived, Draco woke up with a letter on his beside table from Blaise confirming Hermione has took today and tomorrow to move into her new apartment. He sent Aki down stair to check if Hermione was around. Making sure the ground was clear before he departed for work. He knew he was not ready to let Hermione knew they now live in the same building, he was not ready to face her yet. Aki a bit confused by the strange order Draco gave her, she apparated into Hermione's apartment as quietly as she could. She saw this beautiful woman there, humping a tune of a very familiar song, Aki was sure she had heard this song from somewhere. From her hiding spot, Aki could just see Hermione unpacking a box full of books, sorting them onto the bookshelves. Aki then returned to inform Draco the coast is clear, Hermione was unpacking in her apartment. Feeling a bit paranoid, Draco asked if Aki would like to walk him to work, as he would appreciate some company. Aki always enjoyed going for a walk with her master, she liked this new way of bonding between her and Master Draco, something she had never experienced with her old family. Although this was not the first time she went for a walk with her master, they have never walked together in public during the day time, she knew Draco generally would like to avoid any attention he would received from public eye and any criticism they may made. During their walk, Aki noticed a few people were glaring at Draco whispering behind his back. Aki knew her master was a former death eater but she also knew he has switched side and even after the war he has continued to contribute so much to the wizarding world. A lot of people have benefited from him and his company's potion. Being a house elf Aki has incredible hearing. She could hear people talking about her master, saying nasty things about a death eater walking with an elf. Aki was so frustrated, she did not like people talking bad about her master, just before she attempt to defend her master, Draco told her to learn to ignore them. They walked pass an ice-cream shop, Draco stopped and asked if Aki would like one. Knowing this was Aki's favourite ice-cream shop and she would die for their strawberry cheesecake ice cream. Draco passed the ice cream to Aki, Aki happily held the ice cream cone in her tiny little hands like a child and they settled themselves on a bench in a park. Aki never received ice cream for her old family, not that she didn't like her old family but she definitely liked Draco and felt blessed he was her master. She could not imagined the master sitting next to her was what people described an arrogant, nasty, snobby little brat. Master Draco was her favourite person in the world. She wished her master could find a lovely lady, why did Master Draco asked her to spy on this beautiful lady living downstairs? Draco never mentioned any lady or love interest in his life despite he shared all his little secrets and thoughts with her. Maybe this indeed was the right moment to ask, Aki plugged up her courage and asked "Master Draco, was there ever a lady in your life?" Draco looked at Aki surprised by her question, he smiled gently if anyone cared about him genuinely it would be Aki. "Yes, there was." "Do you still sees her?" Aki asked, hoping her master would tell her more. "Yes or No Aki and may I enquire why suddenly you become so interested in my love life? " Draco teased Aki, he was amused that Aki was slightly interested in his love life, since when his house elf became so nosy. "Master Draco is the most amazing person Aki knows, yet Master Draco is always lonely and Aki can always see sorrows from Master Draco's eyes. Aki want Master Draco to find a lovely lady and be happy! And Master Draco asked me to spy on the pretty lady down stair today, does she means something to you?" Draco debating in his mind, whether it was a good idea to share this piece of information with his house elf. "Please, Master Draco, Aki is good at keeping secrets, I will take Master Draco secrets to my grave. You can always count on Aki." Aki gave Draco a lovingly smile, had her little hands holding onto Draco's sleeve, her innocent eyes stared at Draco sincerely. Draco took a deep breath and began.
It was my first day at Hogwarts, everyone was waiting outside the great hall for Professor McGonagall to lead us to be sorted to our houses. And there was this girl, her name was Hermione Granger murmuring spells she had learned from the books during the summer, frightened about what kind of tests we have to face before we sorted. Quite annoying really, so I told her to shut up with a bit of attitude. Just as she looked up and searching who was the person to honour her with such insult. Her beauty shocked me, she has these large brown eyes and thick long eyelashes you would never forget. But it was her smart mouth caught me off guarded, the chemistry I felt instantly between her and I was undeniable. In the end she was sorted to a different house, you see she was a muggle born and they never got sorted into Slytherin. Later she became friends with Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, who rejected my handshake back then, I have hated him since. Of course she was the smartest witch in our year being on top of everything beating me in every subjects except flying. I never missed out any opportunities to insult her by calling her a mudblood, picking on her and her friends. I was confused at the time, I want to be close to her yet I hated her for being a muggle born. But being a Malfoy I was expected to hate muggle born and treat them like scrums. When I was young, I was desperate to please my father, all I wanted was him to be proud to have me as a son. I tried really hard to live up to his expectation. I knew if I told my dad I have lingering feelings for a muggle born girl, my father would had disowned me. I had behaved antagonistically towards her because I have feelings for her, her muggle born heritage was just a cover up. The hate she had towards me only accumulated as the year passed at Hogwarts. I remembered she had called me a foul loathsome evil little cockroach and punched me right to my face in third year. It was weird, afterwards I kept feeling my face where she punched not because it hurts, it was because that was the first time her skins touches mine. At times, I found myself hiding behind the bookshelves in the library, sneaking to her special spot near the lake just to watch her. I was disgusted by my creepy stalking behaviour especially for a muggle born! "I am a Malfoy, we never stalked." I told myself. How much I wished she was a pure blood then. Luckily in my sixth year in Hogwarts, I have came across a book that would change my life, that was when I changed my view in muggle born and as you know I have changed side and battle against Lord Voldemort since. During the war, Hermione has finally forgave my unacceptable badly behaviour in Hogwarts and we had worked together amazingly well. The love I always had for her was hard to suppressed it has only grow by days. Everyday I prayed she would grew a slight interested in me. And finally my wish came true but horrible things had happened during the war and now I am no longer exist in her memory.
Draco finished his story hastily, he didn't want to get into details in what happened between him and Hermione during the war. Those memories were full of happiness and also sadness. He was not ready to share or talked about those memories yet. He turned and looked at the now teary Aki, she was so drawn to the story she had forgotten to eat the ice cream in her hand. He gently wiped the melted ice cream off her hand and smiled. "I thought you were supposed to be the one who look after me?"
Aki had let her master finished the story never once interrupted him, no matter how many questions were in her mind. She has served her master for 4 years, never once he had shown he was capable to love a women, but now he just revealed the story how he loved a lady for his whole life. "Was Hermione the lady I saw this morning? Master?" Draco nodded. " Aki, you can return home now, I can continue my way to work by myself. Here is the rest of your ice cream" He smirked as he handed over the now empty cone to Aki, not knowing Aki did not return home but to apparate to his mother's house to find Hanna.
It was Draco's first official meeting with the Order. He was still shocked by the fact that Dumbledore had pre-arranged his death with Severus Snape. He didn't know until the moment his godfather stepped up next to him and cast the killing curse Avada Kedavra. He was quite angry at their arrangement. He fully believed he really has to kill Dumbledore himself, he knew from the beginning he was no killer himself. After Dumbledore's death, He remained with the death eaters as a spy by Dumbledore's order. He stood in front of 12 Grimmauld Place, looked puzzled when Snape handed him a piece of paper and asked him to read it. Still frustrated with his godfather he said "What is this piece of junk?" Snape ignored the rudeness coming from Draco. Draco continued to look at Snape, "Well? What am I suppose to do with this?" "A logical thing to do when someone hand you a piece of paper is to read it." Snape replied impatiently, never he thought his godson could be such a thickhead. Draco unfolded the piece of paper as he read out 12 Grimmauld Place he found an apartment that did not exist before, now appear in front him.
Draco walked into the room filled with the member from The Order. From a quick glance he could see on his left was Tonks, Lupin, Kingsley, some guy and women he did not know, the Weasleys, Potter, Longbottom and there was Hermione sitting at the end of the table. Never in his life he would think sitting among with the presence company. He felt he is now the centre of everyone's attention. Back in school he enjoyed feeling important and being the in the spotlight, but right now the attention he received was definitely making him awfully uncomfortable. Before he came to this meeting, he was anguished about what The Orders would think of him? Some murderer? Do they believe he has truly changed side and now ready to fight with them?
Arthur Weasley stood up, "Everyone as you are all aware, Draco has changed side and now fighting for The Order. He has been risking his life putting himself in danger continue to be a death eater in order to pass us information. I would like all of you to give him a warm welcome." There was no clapping, not even a reassuring smile from anyone in the room, just silence. For a moment Draco felt like he was the dark lord in one of the meeting, where the rest of The Order were like the death eaters, no one wants to speak everyone had their eye down staring at the table. Arthur Weasley continued, "Judging from your warm welcome, I am positive all of you are still holding prejudice to Draco. Dumbledore has left me one of his memories I would like to share with the rest of you. I can assure you will change your mind about Draco and Severus, and I expect you to treat them just like how you treat the rest of The Order after this." Arthur Weasley conjured a pensive, he opened the flask allow the slivery liquid of Dumbledore's memory dissolve into the pensive.
After the trip down the pensive. The Order now understood everything has been pre-arranged between Severus Snape and Dumbledore. Some went up and apologised to Snape and Draco, reassuring from now on there will be no doubt only trust between them. Draco was relieved. Even Molly Weasley had just hugged him and told him his action was brave and to know what is right and switch side, putting himself in danger being a spy. She then insisted Snape and Draco to stay for dinner before they returned to the Manor. They agreed and Molly made her way to the kitchen, Snape went to have his secret meeting with Kingsley, leaving Draco by himself.
Not sure what he should do before dinner. Draco thought it would be a good idea to sit next to Neville Longbottom, after all he didn't insult Neville as much as the Golden Trio in Hogwarts, beside stealing his remembrall or telling him if brains were gold, he'd be poorer than Weasley, and that's saying something. He was sure there were a lot of more, but he was so talented in insulting people sometimes he did it without him realising, let alone tracking them. It was ironic now he has to spend time with people he had been bullied for years. Neville gave Draco a smile and offered him a cup of tea. Draco was overwhelmed by Neville's hospitality, which made him more guilty because he knew the reason Neville grew up without his parents was all due to his cruelness and heartless Aunt Bellatrix. They sat next to each other in silence, until the Golden Trio walked pass. "Look what the cat dragged in!" said Ron, Neville replied "What?" not knowing Ron was being mean to Draco. "A Ferret." Ron seemed to be please with what he came up with. Draco was sure Ron's word wasn't meant to be an ice-breaker. Being a Malfoy it was in their gene that they were born to bring down people, Draco was often impressed by the exceeding creative words he could come up with. He knew the old Draco will definitely return his word with some smart, insulting comments but he has chose to remain silence. He has to admit to himself "Really Ferret is the best he can come up with? This Weasley really need to develop a few more brain cells before the war, or else he is likely to be killed in the first 2 seconds." "Honestly, Ron! I thought being of ages will make you behave a little bit more mature." Hermione joined them and sat opposite Neville. "Thanks Granger." Draco was grateful Hermione had defended him, he wished Hermione would punch Ron's face just like how she punched him in third year. "No, Malfoy just because I am being civil with you doesn't mean I have forgot OUR past, OUR history." "Hermione, I…" Hermione stopped Draco before he could finish his sentence. "Look! Whats done, is done. I hope you are not foolishly enough to think I will pretend nothing had ever happen from just a memory. I respect you for knowing what is right and switched side. But our past is not a history that can be rewritten." Hermione returned to her book, ignored Draco existence. Draco was hurt by Hermione's word. He wished she understood how much he had regretted his words and behaviours, he would give any thing in the world if he could start over again. Hermione saw Draco's face and felt a bit uncomfortable and guilt came rushing about how rude her words were. "Don't worry, I think they will come around. What you are doing right now is far more dangerous than us. You have my respect." Neville patted on Draco's shoulder on their way to dinner. "Neville, thank you so much for being nice to me. Consider in the past I have been well you know a prick to you." Draco never apologised to anyone in his life, he wasn't sure how to say sorry to people. He wished there was a book he could read on "how to apologise to people you have been bullied in the past", then maybe he would be able to come up with a better apology to Neville. " I know how you feel, it is easy to forgive someone but it is not easy to ask someone for forgiveness." Draco was glad Neville had look past their history and being supportive, at least he knew someone in The Order genuinely did not mind being in his company.
Draco was quite during dinner except an occasional one line conversation with Neville. Dinner was wonderfully great, people would assume him living at the Malfoy Manor served by house elves would have luxury dinners. Well not in the presence of Lord Voldemort. Dinner at The Order was nothing like dinner at the Manor. Here at the 12 Grimmauld Place, everyone seemed to forget they were at war during dinner. People were exchanging conversations, with the presence of the Weasley Twins you were guaranteed not to be bored, the whole place was filled with laughter. Draco found himself enjoying even though he wasn't participating in any conversations. No matter how distracting the Weasley Twins were, Malfoy attention always returned back to Hermione. Luckily she was deeply engaged in a conversation with Neville and did not notice him.
Snape put his hand on Draco's shoulder, reminded him it was time for them to leave before the dark lord raised suspicions. Draco thanked everyone for the lovely time and wonderful dinner, he followed Snape to the door. Just before Snape opened the door, "Draco, I would like a quick word." Hermione came running to him. "Make it quick, Miss Granger." Snape made it clear time was a luxury they did not have now. "Draco, I am sorry for what I had said before. Neville was right everyone made mistake and deserve a second chance if they are willing to make an effort. I can't say I have forgiven you and forget OUR past, but I am willing to give you a chance to show me or us, you have changed. But only one chance, so don't screw it up." Hermione turned and ran back to the dining room before Draco could react to her words. "I may vomit" Draco turned and found his godfather looking at him in disgust. "Was that merely a sudden increase of blood flow to your skin, producing the redness appearance on your face? Or did I just witness you blushing?" Snape said. "Oh shut up. Lets go, I thought you said we are in a hurry." Draco tried to hide his now bright red face, for the first time in his life, there might be a chance he could dream about more with Hermione. Opening the door and left the Head quarter, he disapparated together with Snape.
Draco was impressed with the Burgdorf sisters new proposal on a memory recovery potion. He approved the funding of the project. Looked forward to see progress and the amount of profit this potion would bring to the company in the future. The Burgdorf sisters has yet failed to develop any new potion they have worked on, but a memory potion would be quite challenging and complicated. Dan Murphy had also handed in his "punishment", Draco was impressed how detailed and informative the flow chart and the ingredient list were. He knew the sister would have gave him a hand, but he had worked with the sister for too long to know this flow chart and list was a work of Dan Murphy. Maybe this kid after all would turned to a great potioneer liked the sister have tried to convince him in the past.
When he returned home safely without bumping into Hermione, he found Aki was waiting for him in the living room with dinner ready at the table. The house elf looked extremely excited and pleased with herself, Draco wonder why, "Aki you are unpleasantly happy today, care to share?" Aki practically skipped her way to Draco, smiling at her Master. Showing her master the flowers she has brought from the Malfoy Manor. Aki leaded Draco to the spare room and showed him she brought some flowers Hana was growing to the house, hoping a little change with make Draco's day better. The used to be empty spared room are now filled with pots and pots of flowers. Draco reached towards to one of the pots sitting next to the window. His hand held onto the tiny flowers, each with 5 petals and a tiny yellow centre. He stood up admiring Aki's effort in turning this empty room to something spectacular. He found himself surrounded by pots of blue and purple flowers and that's when he recognised these flowers are "forget-me-not".
Coming up next! It has been more than a week since Hermione moved into her new apartment. It is Saturday and Hermione woke up from her sleep, once again she found this tiny bunch of "forget-me-not" laying on her bedside table. Not knowing who has been sending it.
Find out how Draco saved Ron's life during the war! Oh things are finally happening I am so excited!