Chapter 20: Family ties
The Malfoys and Blaise walked with Professor Snape to his quarters where they gathered around the sitting room sitting themselves in various places around the room; Hermione, Draco and Blaise took the couch where Hermione stayed between them, Narcissa and Lucius took one arm chair while Severus took the other. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; Hermione couldn't take it anymore, "Daddy, will I still be able to go to Grimwald Place at Christmas?"
"You want to go spend time with the boy that gave you bruises? Gosh now I feel really stupid for defending you."
"WHAT? Ron wasn't my ONLY friend that is staying there over Christmas Draco, Harry, Fred, George and Ginny are all my friends so yes I DO want to spend some time over Christmas with them, SO EXCUSE ME!"
"Hermione Draco that's enough," Narcissa said.
"No Mother it's not, Draco doesn't have the all the answers, in my opinion, he is acting no better than Ronald."
"OH REALLY? Well next time he comes near you don't you DARE come crying to me!" Draco said.
Blaise stood and put his hands on Hermione's shoulders, "You guys, your parents are right, we are all stressed, this isn't the time or the place to discuss this." He pulled Hermione back on the couch and kept his arms around her to keep her calm; Draco hesitated but still sat next to his sister.
"On that note, I think it appropriate to discuss Hermione's safety, now." Snape said.
"Severus, what do you mean?"
"I don't trust that Weasley boy as far as I can throw him, Miss Weasley was right, Hermione shouldn't go anywhere alone for a while, until her brother's temper is calmed enough." Severus explained.
"So what do we do?" Hermione asked.
"I think it best that you stick close to Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter, they will protect you while you are associating with the other Gryffindores, and if you are not with them I think it would be best to stick with your brother, Blaise, and even Pansy Crabbe and Goyle, he won't come near you while you are with someone Hermione, even he isn't that stupid."
"Oh." Hermione kept her mouth shut and realized that this was serious. "Sir I don't understand why he went off like that I didn't do anything."
"I believe you Hermione, we all do, that boy has always had a spot inside of him that was jealous of you, now you have smarts and the money that he could never possess, and that I believe is the gasket that blew this evening." Hermione nodded.
"Hermione, if it makes you feel better, I could come study with you in the library when you want to go."
"Sure."
"And I could go with you when we go to Hogsmeade," Draco suggested, "and when you need to do girl stuff, I am sure that Ginny and Pansy will be willing to go with you."
"Ya I am sure that you are right." Hermione smiled and leaned on her brother, he in turn wrapped his arm around her.
"How's your cheek dear?" Narcissa asked.
"It's alright, a bit sore but it's better."
"You seem to have some bruising on your cheek bone." Severus pointed out.
"Well he didn't tap her cheek," Draco said coldly as his grip around his sister tightened.
"Draco, let it go," Hermione whispered and his grip loosened.
"What about your arm?" Lucius asked.
"That hurts the worst, it still feels like I am being held by him," Hermione confessed feeling the prickle of tears in her eyes.
"Well we could get you up to the hospital wing and allow Poppy to heal you up, and get you some dreamless sleep potion," Severus said.
"Ok, will you come with me?" She directed her question toward her parents but in truth she was asking everyone in the room.
"Sure, we will all go." The group got up and headed to the hospital wing where Poppy was working diligently on another student. As the group entered and got closer, they saw it was Ronald himself, Ginny and Harry were with him along with Seamus and his brother.
"Well, it's nice to see you both again, it's been so long." Draco said sarcastically.
"Harry," Hermione signaled him to come closer, "What happened?" She asked when he was next to her.
"Well," Harry started, "Umm, when Gin and I got back to the room, Ron was talking smack and before I knew what was going on, Ginny had approached Ron and punched him smack in the nose, she probably would have kept at it if the twins hadn't pulled her off of him. Everyone was stunned, but we thought it would be right if we brought him here to get his nose fixed. We just so happened to run into Professor McGonagall on our way here, she demanded that two more come with us to make sure that Gin doesn't do anything else."
"What was the smack talk about?" Blaise asked.
"Do you have to ask?"
"Oh, Hermione." Harry nodded.
"Go Ginny," Draco said quietly.
"Yeah, she won't take any crap." Harry said almost admiringly.
"Ah, Miss Granger, what can I do for you?" Poppy said finally leaving Ron's side, Hermione didn't have the energy to correct her this time.
"Madam Pomfrey, we need you to heal some bruises." Narcissa said.
"Oh yes, I heard about this. Oh dear, the year hasn't even really begun yet and you are already coming to me for healing, what will happen at the end of the year?" Poppy joked.
"I hope nothing, but being the friend of Harry Potter, there are no guarantees," Hermione joked back.
"What happens at the end of every year?" Narcissa inquired, a bit worried.
"Well, Miss Granger here since first year has come in at the end of every year has with some form of an injury, well with the exception of last year though."
"Because of the tournament," Harry said approaching the bed.
"Yes, well you all have had your fair share of injuries as I recall Potter." Poppy said.
"Yeah remember first year when we played that Giant chess board?" Harry said.
"Yes, Ron did a good job of not killing us," Hermione remembered.
"But he didn't do a good job of not panicking." They laughed about the memory.
"Or what about third year? How did you injure your wrist?"
"Whopping willow and you were unconscious talking about your dad?"
"Those were good times, and we fooled Ron because of you…"
"Shut up Harry, we aren't' supposed to talk about that." Hermione said sternly.
"Oh sorry," Hermione laughed at his facial expression. He eventually joined in and before they knew it, Poppy was done and Hermione was free to go.
"Hermione, dear, would you like us to take you back to the tower?" Narcissa asked.
"Um, actually, I think that I'll just go back with Harry and Gin, thanks though," Hermione smiled.
"Ok well good night sweetheart."
"Good night Mom," Hermione hugged her fully and then she turned to her Father, "Good night Daddy."
"Good Night Mia Bear." She hugged him too and left with her friends.
Narcissa broke into silent tears and Lucius hugged her, "She'll be alright Cissy, she's your daughter."
"I know, they both are very strong kids." And they allowed Draco and Blaise to return to the dungeons with Snape before leaving themselves.