Narcissa elegantly put her teacup down on its porcelain saucer and surveyed her perfectly manicured back-gardens. Despite the events of the previous day, her gardens had been completely restored to their former glory, much to her satisfaction. She had taken up the task of maintaining the gardens ever since she had first married Lucius, and some of the happiest times of her marriage had taken place there. She could just make out the sprawling oak tree under which Lucius had first kissed her. Even though the tree looked slightly out of place against the now minimalistic flowerbeds of the gardens, she was loath to cut it down. She shook her head at her own sentimentality. Dipping an emerald green quill in her ornate ink-pot, an old gift from Lucius who had always loved her intricate sketches, she continued the letter she had been writing periodically over the past day. Early mornings were generally her quiet times, where she could reflect on all the changes happening around her. Everyone had always told her that being a Black and marrying a Malfoy guaranteed an easy, struggle-free life. Narcissa laughed drily at that. If they saw me now…
"Morning Mother," said Draco as he walked to the patio where he saw his mother taking her morning cup of tea. To his surprise she hastily folded away her writing and tucked it into an inner pocket of her robes.
"Good morning dear," she said pleasantly, pouring him a cup of tea, "Even though it's already eleven."
"What have you been doing all morning?" Draco asked, taking a seat next to her.
Narcissa delicately placed the teapot back on the glass table. "Just been enjoying this excellent cup of tea."
"I didn't realise you liked tea this much," said Draco smirking, "I mean to get up before everyone else despite what happened last night, just to enjoy a cup…"
"I really like my morning tea," said Narcissa defensively, as she picked up the tongs and dropped two lumps of sugar into her son's tea. Her hand shook slightly under the strain of trying to appear casual while lying to Draco. Get a grip on yourself woman, you lied to Voldemort's face. You can do this she assured herself.
"So much that you pretend to write secretive things, just to have an excuse to wake up early and enjoy tea? Pembrooke must've improved their tea leaves over the years," grinned Draco, as Narcissa dropped a shining silver teaspoon onto the saucer with a loud clunk. "So, what are you writing that you're so embarrassed about? Love letters?"
"I'll have you know that you should mind your own business Son," said Narcissa fiercely as she spooned a circle of lemon into his tea with unnecessary force, uncaring that tiny droplets of tea had started to pool around the porcelain saucer.
"Mother," said Draco softly, taking the teacup away from his mother and holding her hands gently, "It's good that you're moving on, or trying to. Father let you down more than anyone else, and he strung you along in his obsessive path towards power leaving us with nothing in the end but pain and shame."
"Don't speak that way about your father," said Narcissa, an unfamiliar expression in her bright eyes, "No matter what he did, he never intended to harm any of us."
Draco was shocked. "But you helped send him to Azkaban. You testified against him!"
"Yes, because it was the right thing to do," Narcissa said firmly, "But that doesn't mean that you should speak about him like this. He only tried to do what was best for us."
"And failed," said Draco bitterly, "He was so obsessed with his own ideas of power and what it meant to be a Malfoy that he never truly cared about what I wanted, or whether I even wanted to follow his footsteps."
"Enough," said Narcissa, her voice deathly low, "Your father loved you, and his only mistake was to unquestioningly follow the path that he was told was the right way. You managed to break away from it, and that is commendable, but your father simply wanted you to do what he thought was best for you. He raised you the only way he knew how."
Draco sulked in silence as Narcissa finished her tea, pointedly ignoring him. Draco and Narcissa rarely argued, but whenever they did, it seemed to always be connected to Lucius somehow. Draco bitterly sipped his tea as he thought about his father and how much horror he had brought to the Malfoy family over the years. He still had flashes about the time the Manor was used as Voldemort's personal headquarters when he passed by certain rooms and hallways. His father had led them all to the doorstep of danger, and his mother had bravely risked her life to whisk them away. As far as Draco was concerned, Lucius wasn't even fit to wipe the grime off his mother's feet, and here the insane woman was defending him. If Lucius had made even half the sacrifices Narcissa had, Draco would've found it in his heart to forgive him for letting them all down, but Lucius had always slunk away without getting exactly what was coming to him. Even now, he was in Azkaban away from Draco's wrath, and his actions were being defended by Narcissa.
"Good morning you two," said Blaise as he walked outside cheerily. Pansy smiled at Narcissa and Draco as she entered behind him. In his irritation at his parents, Draco had completely forgotten that they had elected to stay at the Manor and get some sleep. Next to him, Narcissa raised an eyebrow at the fact that Blaise and Pansy had walked out together, but refrained from commenting on it.
"Hardly is," muttered Draco as he poured himself another cup of tea.
"Why isn't it a good morning? You and Hermione are both alive and well, and it's your first day as a married man," winked Blaise as he sat down next to Draco. He picked up the plate of biscuits and offered Pansy one before taking one himself, a small gesture that did not go unnoticed by Narcissa's sharp eyes.
"Don't remind me," said Draco, grimacing.
"Okay, so your wedding night was less than ideal, but you still have tonight," Blaise said, wagging his eyebrows suggestively.
"Yuck, enough," said Pansy, hitting him lightly on the arm, "I do not ever want to picture anything like that,"
"That makes two of us dear," Narcissa agreed fervently, as Draco rolled his eyes.
It's going to be a long day
Hermione walked towards the back gardens as helpfully directed by a house-elf that had been waiting outside her door when she stepped out, just to inform her of everyone's whereabouts. Hermione realised that Pansy and Blaise would still be around, and found herself feeling glad that she had decided to wear the set of peach robes Narcissa had got made for her the first time she had stayed at the Manor. At least if she was going to face Pansy, she would be able to hold her own dress-wise. Hermione had never realised just how well the Slytherins dressed before, probably due to her lack of interaction with them outside of Hogwarts, but Pansy was growing up to be almost as elegant as Narcissa. Even though she still had her pug face from her younger years, since Hogwarts Pansy had grown significantly more attractive just through impeccable grooming. She no longer looked ugly, instead her unusual features drew onlookers in.
As Hermione reached the patio, she saw the four Slytherins laughing together as Narcissa leaned over and smoothened Pansy's hair affectionately. Hermione felt an odd tug in her chest, as she looked at the tableau in front of her and realised more than ever that she was the odd one out. Narcissa and Pansy seemed to be so free with each other, probably because Narcissa had known her since Pansy was a little girl. Perhaps she had always thought of her as her future daughter-in-law, at least until Hermione had come onto the scene and ruined everything. Draco and Pansy would be perfect together, and have stuck-up pure-blood children that Blaise would be godfather to. Even Pansy and Julius seemed to be close, from the little she had seen them interact at her announcement ball. Maybe she had just got in the middle of someone else's perfect love story, and was trying to fit herself into their lives like a bushy-haired square peg in an elegant round hole. Just then, Blaise noticed Hermione hesitating in the doorway and smiled at her and waved.
"Morning Hermione, I trust you slept well?" he asked, pulling out the chair between him and Draco for Hermione to sit on.
"I did thanks, I hope you all did as well," Hermione said politely, sitting down. Narcissa smiled and handed her a cup of tea, while Pansy offered her a biscuit. Hermione felt her previous fears dissipate. Maybe she wasn't as much of a sore thumb as she thought, after all, everyone else at the table had been close to each other for most of their lives. Solid relationships took time, and at least the Slytherins were trying.
"We are meeting McGonagall, Potty and Weasel at Hogwarts at one," said Draco, addressing Hermione, but looking down at his nails. Hermione was taken aback by his odd behaviour. Just last night he had been tender and passionate, and now he was acting as though she was nothing other than an irksome fly in his path. For the life of her, she couldn't understand what she had possibly done wrong. She was too busy feeling sorry for herself to notice the disapproving glare Narcissa was aiming at her son. Unlike Hermione, Narcissa knew exactly why the boy was being a grouch and that he was lashing out at the wrong person. Blaise looked from Hermione to Draco in surprise, for he could've sworn that he'd picked up on some chemistry between them at their wedding, but now they seemed to have regressed to strangers. Pansy stared at her nails, subconsciously copying Draco, one of them was chipped and had to be rectified immediately…
"You could address them with some respect, you know," said Hermione mildly. "They've been nothing but friendly and welcoming towards you."
"Don't fucking tell me what to do," sneered Draco.
"Then don't do things that require me to have to," Hermione said simply.
"Just because you're my bloody wife doesn't mean I have to listen to you nag all day long Granger," Draco's voice lowered to a hiss.
"Isn't it Malfoy now?" interjected Blaise. The newlyweds ignored him.
"I hate you," said Hermione acidly.
"The feeling is mutual," Draco said, narrowing his eyes at his wife.
"Wow, you guys are such a great couple! You have so much in common," Blaise joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Shut the fuck up Blaise and don't butt in where you're not required," scowled Draco, deathstaring his friend, who raised his hands in mock defence.
"You apparently don't like being told what to do, and yet you just told Blaise what he both should and shouldn't do, nicely done," said Hermione furiously springing to Blaise's defence.
"Just shut the hell up okay, Granger? Isn't it enough that I'm stuck with you, do you have to fucking rub it in by constantly prattling away?" Draco snarled as he stood up wand outstretched, emitting green sparks. Hermione's eyes glittered with fury as she pulled out her wand, ready to hex the living daylights out of her husband-
"Protego!"
Narcissa's shield charm threw the newlyweds backwards, away from each other. Hermione had never seen her mother-in-law look that formidable before. Surely she was going to be killed by all the Slytherins at the table for daring to raise a wand against their prince. Just my luck: to survive Voldemort only to be hexed to death by my in-laws.
"Draco Malfoy, you will apologise to your wife this instant," spat Narcissa, looking at her son with distaste.
I have got to be dreaming, Narcissa standing up to her precious Draco for me? Maybe there was something in those biscuits…
"Make me," scowled Draco, glaring at his mother.
"I will not hesitate to use the Imperius curse on you," said Narcissa firmly.
"I'm sorry Granger," said Draco through gritted teeth, saying the words as though each one was a personal death threat against his wife. Or his mother. Either maddening woman would do right now. Picking the remnants of his pride and himself off the ground, Draco stalked off to his study, fuming the entire way there.
"I do apologise for Draco's behaviour," Narcissa said, as she sank down into her chair, shaking her head sadly.
"It's not your fault," mumbled Hermione reasonably, utterly mortified at the scale of argument that had broken out in front of Pansy. It was bad enough that Narcissa and Blaise had to witness her humiliation, but Pansy too? To her surprise, however, the girl didn't look the slightest bit pleased about it. She looked anxious and upset, almost as though she cared. Blaise stooped down and helped Hermione off the ground and back onto her chair. He helpfully poured both a trembling Hermione and a rage filled Narcissa a soothing cup of tea.
"It's been two years today," said Pansy suddenly, breaking the silence.
Narcissa nodded, looking surprised, "How do you remember?"
"It's Parker's birthday tomorrow, and right after it had happened Draco had come to Parker's seventeenth birthday party in a foul mood," Pansy recalled.
Hermione looked to Blaise in confusion.
"It's been two years today since Lucius went to Azkaban," Blaise explained gently, "And Parker is Pansy's little brother, he will be nineteen tomorrow."
"Oh." Hermione didn't know what to say to that piece of information. She felt a stir of empathy for Draco. No matter how old or independent he got, Lucius would always affect him in the way only fathers could. Despite their many arguments, Draco had never been this vicious to her before. Maybe he was dealing with something and she had unintentionally got herself into the crossfire.
"If you will excuse me, I think I will go have a lie down now," said Narcissa primly, as she pushed her chair back with shaking hands and stood up. Hermione watched her mother-in-law depart with concern, unaware that Pansy was watching her carefully.
At quarter to one, Hermione slowly made her way to Draco's study, her stomach sinking with every step she took. Pansy had gone to check on Draco almost an hour ago, and Hermione wasn't sure if she was still in the Manor or if she had made a speedy exit like Blaise had. Despite his obvious desire to leave the scene of domestic disharmony as soon as he could, Blaise had made sure that she was alright before he left for his meeting. Hermione took note of that fact. It said a lot about Blaise's character and ability to care for people. Once Blaise had left, Hermione had made her way to Julius' playroom to help herself relax before she faced Draco again. For the last hour Julius had charmingly diverted her mind from her anger, and had slowly helped her simmer down. It was with great reluctance that she left her stepson's room, but the urge to get more information –for he had the Portkey McGonagall had sent– easily overwhelmed the urge to stay the hell away from her husband. As Hermione arrived at his study, however, she noticed that his heavy door was slightly ajar. Peering through the crack, she saw Draco sitting on a chair with his head in his hands, while Pansy sat on his desk stroking his sleek hair.
"She really does care Draco," said Pansy softly, "I saw the way she looked at Narcissa after you left. She was concerned about your mother's well being when Narcissa said she would go lie down."
"I know she cares Pans," Draco muttered, without moving his head. "She's a bloody Gryffindor, blindly caring about everyone and everything is almost one of the pre-requisites for that house."
"I know you're upset Drake," Pansy murmured, rubbing soothing circles on his back. "But lashing out at Granger won't help. She is after all, your wife now."
"I know, I know," mumbled Draco sulkily. "I did apologise to her."
"That apology means about as much as that old bat Trelawny's death predictions do," said Pansy giggling.
"Fine, I'll apologise to her properly," said Draco, half smiling.
Hermione stepped closer to the door and knocked loudly. She felt horribly guilty for eavesdropping on Draco and Pansy when Draco was clearly in a vulnerable state. She felt just as guilty for having misjudged Pansy so extremely. It was a shock for her to hear Pansy sticking up for her to Draco, and trying to convince him to apologise to her. The way they were talking, they really sounded like she and Harry did. Maybe Blaise was completely right and there were no sexual feelings between the two. A mere month ago, if anyone had ever suggested that Hermione would give Draco and Pansy's relationship -or lack thereof- this much thought, she would've laughed in their face. Now, she would be eagerly asking them exactly what they knew about the nature of their friendship and how sure they were.
"Come in," said Draco, getting to his feet as Hermione entered the study.
"Oh you're still here Pansy?" asked Hermione, feigning surprise.
"I was just leaving," Pansy said, as she quickly gathered her things. She gave Draco a hug and nodded to Hermione as she walked out the door.
Draco silently pulled out the Portkey that McGonagall had sent him, and tapped it with his wand twice as he had been instructed. The Portkey glowed, and Hermione quickly put a finger on it just as it jerked the two of them to the Headmistress' office at Hogwarts. To their surprise, it was empty. Draco scowled heavily as he sat on one of McGonagall's overstuffed armchairs and completely ignored Hermione's presence. The newlyweds waited in stifling silence for any of the other three to arrive and put them out of their misery. Despite the conversation that Hermione had overheard, it didn't look like Draco's apology was forthcoming anytime soon.
To both newlyweds' relief, the door burst open and Harry and Ron ran in. Draco never thought that he would be happy to see Harry and Ron enter a room before, but obviously nothing was going to be as it should today. First his mother defended his father, then Hermione defended Blaise, Pansy defended Hermione who apparently cared about Narcissa, and now he was pleased to see Harry and Ron. Draco longed for the days before the Gryffindors and the Slytherins had gotten so ridiculously entwined.
"Oh thank Merlin, we're not late," said Ron, catching his breath as he realised that their former Transfiguration teacher wasn't there.
"Hello to you both too," Hermione said sarcastically, and then immediately bit her lip. Clearly Draco's bad mood was catching.
"I'm glad you're both safe," said Harry giving Hermione a hug and Ron a pointed look. Ron looked abashed but shrugged from his position across the doorframe, still trying to regain the full use of his lungs.
"Malfoy," Harry acknowledged, extending his hand.
"Potter," Draco nodded, shaking Harry's hand firmly before lapsing back into sulky silence. Harry and Ron looked at each other quizzically; they had both been subjected to the disgusting scene of Hermione and Draco making eyes at each other at the wedding. What could have possibly happened? Or had it all been just a very convincing act for the guests?
"Sorry to keep you all waiting," McGonagall said, as she entered the room in a flurry of dark robes. "Some of our first-years had a bit of an accident, but it's all been set right now. Good to see you both unscathed Mr Malfoy and Miss Gran- uh Mrs Malfoy,"
Hermione and Draco simultaneously cringed.
"So, what exactly happened as soon as the altar blew up?" asked Harry, pulling out a small scroll of parchment and a quill. Hermione quickly summarised the events, while Harry meticulously wrote them down. When she was done, Harry looked down at his parchment, frowning. "So you think it was a Portkey that transported you?"
"It certainly felt like one," said Hermione.
"Did you find any object that could've been a Portkey with you when you landed?" asked McGonagall.
"Well- no. I don't think so," Hermione said tentatively, trying to recall if there had been anything that fell through with them.
"No there wasn't," said Draco, speaking up for the first time. "I checked the rocks carefully before we left to make sure we hadn't dropped anything when I fell. And I doubt I dropped anything in the water, because it would've had to have been in my pocket to have fallen out, and I would've certainly felt something, or at least felt someone putting it there."
"But it definitely felt like a Portkey?" pressed Harry.
"Yes, definitely," said Draco.
"Did anyone try to hurt you while you were at the place?" asked Ron curiously, glancing over at Harry's notes.
"We already went over this with Blaise actually," said Hermione, "We've agreed that it's highly odd that someone sent us to somewhere completely random and did nothing to us at all. Malfoy almost drowning was a freak accident."
"Maybe it was, I dunno, a weird prank or something?" suggested Ron, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I highly doubt that," said McGonagall, "Someone seems to have it in for Mr Malfoy. It can't possibly be unrelated to the curse."
"What sort of security did you have?" asked Harry
"The kind that is hard to get through," said Draco, "I took Valmont's help with it."
"In that case, the person has to either be an exceptionally powerful wizard, or someone that was already at the wedding because they know one or both of you," concluded Ron.
"Or both," suggested Harry, "It could be an exceptionally powerful wizard that has put some poor person under the Imperius curse, and forced them to do it,"
"That's impossible," said McGonagall, "The weddings that take place due to such curses don't allow people that are under the Imperius curse to be present. Every present guest needs to be a witness in his or her right state of mind. If there was anyone under the Imperius curse, their rings would've started to glow and the Imperius curse would've been lifted off that guest."
"So whoever it is, is either powerful or one of our friends acting on their own accord," said Hermione softly, feeling a chill run down her spine at the thought.
"That's what it seems to be. It also rules out a lot of possible Death Eaters that could've been behind your curse, as they were wandless in Azkaban at the time," said McGonagall, deep in thought.
"Though, a Death Eater in Azkaban could have an accomplice," reminded Harry. "Let's not rule anyone out yet."
"What about Polyjuice potion?" asked Hermione suddenly.
Draco scowled. "It's amazing what little faith you have in me and my arrangements. I personally oversaw all the security measures and took Valmont's help with it, yet you think we didn't think to ward the wedding against something as simple as a Polyjuice potion? Silly us, we probably got distracted being evil Slytherins together."
"I was just making a suggestion," said Hermione acidly. "There is no need to bite my head off just because I don't trust your precious Valmont. I don't see where you think you stand, defending your security measures like that, seeing how there was a breach and we could've both been injured or killed. Clearly somewhere, somehow, someone went wrong."
"Enough." said McGonagall with a tone of finality both former students knew not to retort to.
"Well, Harry and I need to be heading back in to do some questioning now," said Ron quickly, looking at his wristwatch, "Can you and Malfoy write out a list of potential people that might have a thing against either one or both of you, and owl it to us as soon as it's ready?"
"Sure," said Hermione, giving Ron and then Harry a hug. Waving goodbye to their former teacher and classmate, the two Aurors left. After a few minutes of exchanging pleasantries with McGonagall, Hermione and Draco decided to do the same so that they could start working on the list of suspects and could give it to Harry and Ron before anything else happened.
Lunch was an unusually subdued affair, despite Julius and Narcissa's animated attempts at drawing Draco or Hermione out in conversation. The newlyweds stared into their soup bowls in abject misery and suppressed rage. Julius caught their expressions and wondered what the soup could've possibly done to his parents, and decided to forgo his bowl just to be safe. Narcissa was resisting the urge to cast the Imperius over the newlyweds just so she could enjoy her meal without all this angst.
"Gramma?" asked Julius, breaking the silence, "Why do people get married?"
Draco stifled a groan. Of all the days to ask the inopportune question, his son had to pick today.
"Because they're in love," answered Narcissa firmly.
"Daddy, are you in love with my new mummy?" Julius innocently asked Draco.
"Yes," Draco said through gritted teeth. Food was not worth this torture.
"Then why don't you ever tell Mummy that you love her?"
"I do," lied Draco quickly, "Just not when you're around."
"Why not? Are you embarrassed you love her because girls are yucky?" asked Julius.
"Yes why not, Draco? Why don't you tell Hermione you love her? Are you embarrassed?" asked Narcissa, smirking.
"No," spat Draco evenly, forcing himself to take a breath.
"Then you should tell Mummy right now! Tell Mummy that you love her and that you'll save her from the soup," said Julius excitedly.
What the hell has he been smoking? The soup? Draco looked at his son in confusion. Next to him, Hermione's cheeks reddened and she wished she'd inherited the Invisibility cloak so that she could disappear from this awkward conversation.
"Go on then, Draco, tell the girl," Narcissa's eyes sparkled with mischief as she tried to look innocently at her son.
"Do it Daddy! Are you scared? I thought you said Malfoys don't get scared," Julius said, bouncing in his seat.
"I'm not scared," snarled Draco, glaring at his mother and son.
"Then why aren't you saying it?" asked Narcissa, hiding her smile behind her soup spoon.
"I love you," muttered Draco, addressing Hermione's kneecaps. "And I will save you from the soup."
"Thank you," mumbled Hermione, trying not to laugh at her husband's discomfort, as Narcissa and Julius clapped.
"Now you both can go make babies!" exclaimed Julius, still clapping.
Draco and Hermione choked on their soup.
"What?" sputtered Draco, determinedly not looking at his wife, who was no doubt wanting to drown herself in her soup bowl just like he was.
"Uncle Blaise told me that when two people are in love they get married and then they can make babies together," explained Julius, gleefully.
"Is that right?" Draco said through gritted teeth, glaring daggers at his mother who was laughing elegantly into her napkin.
"So when will you go make babies?" Julius demanded, "And when can I play with them?"
"Well uh, not for a while yet," said Draco, looking horrified. "Uh it's difficult to make them, and your new mummy isn't good enough at making them yet."
"Actually," interjected Hermione, her eyes flashing. "Your Daddy is just scared to make babies with me because he is worried I will be better than him."
If looks could kill, Draco would've fried his wife. And then his traitorous mother, who was laughing uncontrollably into her napkin instead of helping them out. Narcissa Malfoy found herself laughing harder than she had in years at her grandson's innocent line of questioning and the awkwardness that her son and daughter-in-law were marinating in. Thankfully for the newlyweds, Julius seemed satisfied with their responses and dropped the topic.
A/n: Hope that you have enjoyed my work! Thank you for reading :)