By Sunday dinner time, Hermione noted Malfoy still hadn't returned to the school. Although it was somewhat of an assumption, having not seen him at any mealtimes, it was confirmed to a degree by the continuous presence of his friends and housemates in the Great Hall who seemed to note his absence as they conversed with glances to Draco's usual seat. Ginny had pointed out to her brunette friend that she appeared to have her gaze glued to the Slytherin table across the hall rather than bother to converse with her friends beside her, causing a heavy blush and a mutter of apologies from Hermione.

"Honestly, it's like you're in love with the guy!"

"Ginny! That's completely ridiculous; I'm not in love with Malfoy. I'm merely concerned for his overall wellbeing."

"Is that why you went to the quidditch pitch today while the Slytherin team were training?" Dean chimed from beside her, a smug grin aimed toward his brunette friend.

Hermione gaped as she turned her gaze to him. "How did you know I was down there?"

"I was checking on the commentary equipment for the game tomorrow. I spotted you snooping around the stands."

She missed a beat before replying haughtily. "That's because… I was looking for you."

"Oh is that right?" He sent a sceptical eye roll in Ginny's direction but she managed to pass off her amused snort as a cough. "Whatever could you have needed me for?"

Hermione knew she was grasping at straws but she was positive she'd never hear the end of it if the two of them realised that was in fact why she was down there. "I wanted to make sure you didn't need any help with the Transfiguration essay."

Dean had known the entire Golden Trio since first year and while they weren't all best friends, he certainly knew them far better than most. He had to admit, he was probably closest with Hermione and for that he was most grateful, she offered a refreshing change of pace from his mostly male companions.

"You mean the one we handed in on Friday?" He tried to suppress his grin but it illuminated his whole face when she groaned in defeat. "Face it Hermione, you're obsessed with him."

Hermione immediately rushed to defend her actions when Ginny cut in, a chicken wing clutched tightly in her fist. She really did remind Hermione of Ron sometimes. "Honestly, you're turning into Harry. Remember when you guys were in sixth year and he used to watch Malfoy on the map all the time?"

She remembered it very well, having scolded her friend on numerous occasions about his obsessive following of the Slytherin. It was rather unnerving to think she was turning into a similar character. Draco Malfoy was an enigma, one she just couldn't seem to ignore. He was so different from how she'd always viewed him and she needed to understand if he really had changed and his infuriating desire to keep it a secret about why he needed to pass Arithmancy. Succumbing to her friends ridicule, she vowed not to bring up her study partner for the rest of the meal and instead was subject to the Gryffindors chattering about quidditch events. She swore the sport dominated her life far too much for someone who was barely even interested.


Hermione tried to push away thoughts of the Slytherin for the remainder of the evening but when she decided to study in the common room later that night, she eventually reached her potions project and was again reminded of their study sessions together. Unsure of Ginny's reaction to bringing him up once more, she tried a different approach with a nagging question she couldn't seem to shake.

"Whatever happened to Narcissa Malfoy?" Hermione finally asked into the silence. She'd recently had a few stray thoughts about the matriarch too, knowing Draco was evidently concerned about her.

"What do you mean?" Ginny glanced to her friend beside her, laying the Daily Prophet down in her lap.

"After the trial, what happened to her?"

"As far as I'm aware, she's still on house arrest. One of Harry's auror colleagues is in charge of her case, he has to stop by the Manor every month or so to make sure she's still abiding by the rules."

"Do you know him? The auror?"

She shook her head, picking up the paper once again and glancing down the page as she answered. "No, older chap. Closer to my brother Charlie's age. Absolutely hates the trips though, mentions it to Harry every time he has to go. He's a half-blood and his wife's Muggleborn, despises the Malfoys."

Hermione could feel her frown forming before Ginny even uttered the last words. "That's awful, why would they give him that job knowing his feelings on the family?"

"Dunno, poor sod. I'd hate having to babysit my worst enemy too."

"No! I mean, it's terribly biased and unfair against the Malfoys."

"Pardon?" Ginny raised a thin ginger eyebrow at her friend's outburst.

"Well…I just mean it's hardly right to send in someone that's waiting for you to fail so he might lock you away. What if he fabricated evidence or said she'd violated the terms of her house arrest, just so she'd be punished?"

The redhead regarded her friend evenly for a moment, choosing her next statement carefully. "Hermione, there's hardly a long list of people who'd willingly accept the post. Harry spoke at Narcissa's trial and Malfoy's as well. Harry's far too close to be allowed the duty and no else in the department would take a single step inside that house."

"What if he's horrible to her?"

"She's Narcissa Malfoy." Ginny stated pointedly, scepticism coating every word.

"She's also an older woman who's lost nearly everything, sitting in that huge house all alone day after day." Hermione quickly rebuffed.

"Alright, look, you know I respect you, Hermione. Not to mention it's endearing to see you forgive people. I understand you striking up some sort of civility or whatever with Malfoy; I admit he's not all terrible although he's a bloody arse at the best of times. That being said, Narcissa harboured Voldemort for over a year, watched plenty of people tortured or murdered in her own home, welcomed back Bellatrix Lestrange, the insane cow who literally tore Neville's family apart, need I go on?"

"She saved Harry's life and I believe she did those things to save her own son from a fate worse than death probably."

"But that doesn't right all the wrongs and while we're at it, long before that homicidal maniac, she looked down on wizarding families like mine for years and shunned her own sister for marrying a muggle. Narcissa Malfoy is not a pleasant woman and I don't think she deserves half the freedom you think she does." The youngest Weasley was adamant and her fiery nature had begun to shine through.

"I don't think you really believe she deserves to be locked away forever." Hermione stated a moment later, her tone calm and sure.

"It's not forever. It's two years in a swanky mansion with massive gardens and far more freedom than a cell in Azkaban." Hermione slumped back into the sofa as Ginny refocussed her gaze on the paper she'd discarded before their conversation had turned heated.

Was it unreasonable to want people to be treated legally and fairly? Hermione wished she could tell her friend she had an irrational and inconsiderate opinion but she knew far too well that there were still those who believed Narcissa should have received a more severe sentence. The kind of feuds between the Malfoys and Weasleys stemmed from generations of bad blood that couldn't easily be erased. She knew Ginny didn't feel as strongly as some her older family members, even Ron who had said Malfoy should be in Azkaban rather than parading around the school. She supposed Draco's grave concern was more than warranted when she thought about it further. Narcissa had no one but him and obviously the auror on occasion but she had limited social interaction and never left her home. Andromeda had made it clear that her own disownment meant not holding a hope of seeing anyone of her relatives again and she had never attempted to reconnect with her sister even after the trial. If all the two Malfoys had was each other, it made sense that they'd cling so desperately to one another.

"Would Harry have access to her file?"

Ginny emitted a resigned sigh, knowing Hermione wouldn't be swayed. "You can't ask him to do that and you know it."

"You're probably right." She muttered, not wanting to get her friend in trouble and it would most likely raise a few eyebrows if he started snooping around. "If Malfoy found out he'd be pretty peeved too." She mused a moment later.

"Much as I dislike the guy, I acknowledge that he's a human being and he exists so I can confirm it would absolutely 100% be a violation of his trust. Trust which you seem to covet."

Hermione slid her gaze sideways to the other girl but her eyes were firmly glued to the page in front of her. "Agree to disagree on everything else?" Ginny heard the hopeful tone and looked to her friend with a nod.

She folded up the paper and plopped it on the coffee table before standing. "I'm off to bed, early start." Hermione nodded mutely, fingers fidgeting in her lap. Before moving away, Ginny glanced down at the brunette. "If you're that worried, ask him when he comes back, he's bound to need someone to talk to." Hermione's eyes lifted to the redhead as she moved away to the stair case.

Maybe she would talk to Malfoy, but she hated feeling like she was prying, he did fervently hate that. He no doubt despised pity too. Regardless, she abhorred the idea of him or anyone suffering alone in silence when all would take is a peace offering or a small gesture to show someone cares.


A/N: Next chapter Draco's back and things really start building. Let me know your thoughts so far!