Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Depressing, but true.
Hello darlings! Okay, here's the deal. I get on a plane tomorrow at 6am. I will try to update at 5am providing nothing goes horribly wrong. I will also bring my laptop so I can update while I'm away providing nothing goes horribly wrong. If you don't see a weekday update, something went horribly wrong, or I got lost wandering the streets of New York, never to return. Dramatic, hey? Please review like mad, because I'm doing my very best to keep up my end of the bargain. Wink wink.
This chapter: DUDES! SHIT GOES DOWN! OMFG!
xo
Hermione shivered as she walked down the stone pathway leading to the Manor. Was it always cold and foreboding here? Not that she was an expert on the old building, not by a long shot, but for whatever reason, it seemed perpetually dreary. Draco walked next to her, quiet and lost in his thoughts, a look of deep concentration on his face. Something serious was occupying his mind, she could tell. Best not to break the silence. Besides, she could use the time to prepare herself for this bizarre lunch date.
They approached the black gate, and Draco raised his hand, not slowing down. The gate opened for them, creaky and rickety, like it was about to change its mind and snap closed again. Draco placed his hand on the small of her back to usher her through.
"That gate has a mind of its own sometimes," he said in explanation, glancing over at her. She smiled in response, secretly relishing the contact. Funny, but she found his touch so comforting now. Her sixteen-year-old self would never have believed it.
"Don't worry," he whispered. "This place isn't as bad as it seems."
As if on cue, a ray of sun cut through the clouds, and then another. Hermione looked up with surprise.
"I thought it was just about to rain," she said. "I definitely didn't expect to see the sun!"
"It's safe to say you can expect the unexpected today," he murmured as they approached the main doors. He snapped his fingers and she heard something unlock. Ever chivalrous, he opened the door for her and let her walk in first, his hand resting on the small of her back almost immediately after to assure her he wasn't far behind.
"My mother is all about details," he whispered in her ear. "It's just her way. Don't let it alarm you. My father loves to come across as cold and disapproving. Same rule applies."
"Okay," she said. "And if they just genuinely hate me?"
"That won't be an issue, dear," said a voice.
Hermione looked up with red cheeks, feeling silly from being overheard by Narcissa of all people. Both she and Lucius were standing at the base of the stairs, looking every inch as she remembered them from the War.
Except one thing had changed. Narcissa was smiling. The woman's eyes travelled from Hermione's face to her hair, and then down to where Draco's hand rested on Hermione's back. Her smile grew ever so slightly.
"It's truly a pleasure to meet you under more pleasant circumstances, Miss Granger," said Narcissa.
"Likewise," Hermione said, keeping her voice strong. She would not let herself be intimidated here. Not that it seemed to be much of an issue - having Draco's mother smiling freely at her was puzzling, but encouraging. Lucius, on the other hand, had his face in a permanent scowl. He noticed her looking at him and nodded, brusquely.
"Miss Granger," he said.
"Sir," she replied curtly, nodding out of what little respect she could muster.
Draco's thumb brushed gently over her spine and she fought her eyes to keep from fluttering shut. Thank Circe he was there. She would be a right ball of nerves otherwise.
It would be nice if he could do that thing with his thumb again. Just to keep her calm, of course.
"Lunch is nearly ready," said Narcissa. "Might I suggest that we take our tea in the garden beforehand?"
"Certainly, mother," Draco said, he and Hermione fell into step behind Lucius and Narcissa. Hermione caught his eye as they walked, trying not to betray her uneasiness at being in the old house again. He winked at her, keeping his face otherwise impassive. She grinned in response.
"So Miss Granger," said Narcissa as they approached a white table with matching chairs in the garden. The tea was already set out. "Lucius and I owe you a great deal of thanks for helping our Draco with the business the way you have. I had lost hope that the Malfoy name would ever be accepted in society again."
"There's no need to thank me," Hermione replied, accepting a cup from Narcissa. "Draco saved my life. I will always be there to help him in whatever way I can."
"Draco has never been much of a friend to you before now, Miss Granger," said Lucius, coolly. "Wouldn't it be more likely that you will soon consider your debt paid and leave him to run the business without you?"
Hermione bristled. "I resent the implication that I would cut and run. A life debt is just that: it's for life. I have no intention of leaving Draco unless he requests it of me, and frankly, I probably wouldn't listen if he did."
Narcissa covered her mouth to hide a smile while Lucius glared at her.
"I see," he said. "You seem to feel quite strongly about this."
"I feel strongly about doing the right thing. I always have," she replied. "You may remember that about me, sir."
Lucius narrowed his eyes at her, and Hermione swore she could feel the temperature dip. "Indeed I do," he seethed.
"That's quite enough, Lucius," Narcissa said, unsmiling now and very much not amused. "Miss Granger is our guest and she will be treated accordingly."
"My apologies," Lucius said with a forced smile. "So Miss Granger, Draco tells us that you have gotten the business out of debt and fixed nearly all its other problems. That's very impressive."
"I think it just needed an outsider perspective," Hermione said, reminding herself to keep her temper. "I had some valuable connections and made use of them. No magic involved, really."
Suddenly, all three Malfoys shivered. Narcissa frowned.
"Are we expecting someone, dear?" she said to Lucius. "Someone just moved past our wards."
"Not as far as I know," Lucius replied, looking perturbed. "They won't be able to get in the house though, not without our permission." Draco tensed up beside Hermione, and everyone looked back towards the building.
Narcissa closed her eyes and concentrated. Hermione watched her with interest. Was it possible that Narcissa had a bit of Sight in her? She certainly knew how to hone in on her intuition. "They are coming around the back. They will be here momentarily," Narcissa said. Hermione made a mental note to ask her how she could track the person's movements. What a fascinating ability. Footsteps echoed nearby, and she slipped her hand around the hilt of her wand just in case. Judging by how tense the Malfoys were, they probably didn't have many friendly visitors over the years.
"I know you're here, Hermione Granger," said an angry female voice. Hermione exchanged a confused look with Draco. They were here for her? Someone stepped out from behind the hedge, eyes blazing with fury.
"Stacey McLorrow," said Hermione, something funny shifting inside of her. The trepidation she felt at being in the Manor, the uncertainty, the nerves, all gone. Now she just felt blunt ferocity at the person who was intruding. The fact that Stacey had her claws into Ron wasn't really what rubbed Hermione the wrong way... It's that she used that advantage to ruin Draco. It was completely unacceptable. "What brings you here?"
"You know damn well what brings me here, you sneaky little bitch," said Stacey, the air around her crackling with rage. "I just received your nonsense legal papers."
"Legal papers?" said Draco, looking to Hermione.
"Don't play dumb, Draco," Stacey sneered. "I'm sure it was you who asked her to do it."
"Do what, you fucking cow?" he asked, angrily. "And what the hell makes you think you can just waltz in here and insult Hermione?"
"Draco had nothing to do with it, Stacey," Hermione said, calmly. "I built the case, I paid the lawyer, I wrote the letters, and I will prosecute you to the full extent of the law on behalf of Trebax."
"Explanation please?" Draco said, looking between the two women.
"Yes, I think we'd all be curious to know," said Lucius, looking oddly intrigued at the situation playing out in front of him.
"It's simple, actually. Stacey used illegally-gotten information that contained Draco and Blaise's intellectual property," said Hermione, matter-of-factly. "I was able to track the recorded data from the toy and link it directly to the plans she stole. Ron will pay separately for his role in all of this, but as for Stacey, Trebax is suing her for every cent she made off the flexible brooms and then for additional damages."
"We are?" Draco said, in awe.
"Yes, we are. And we will win. There are many cases that have already set a precedent for this sort of theft. We are on the right side."
"Brilliant," said Narcissa, nodding with approval.
"You are not and you will not!" Stacey cried. "How dare you try to punish me for being good at business. You're just angry that your former fiance now belongs to me!"
"Good at business?" Hermione laughed dryly. "As far as my research tells me, the flexible brooms were your only money-maker over the last two years. You're not good at business - you're not even particularly good at theft." Stacey's mouth dropped open in shock at Hermione's candor. "As for Ron, Stacey, I'm sorry to break it to you, but I'm not sad that you're with him. I think you deserve each other. There was a time when I thought we could make each other happy, and I was never more wrong. I suppose everything happens for a reason."
"Oh, how positively zen of you!" Stacey said, rolling her eyes. "Just because you've moved on with your Death Eater boss, you think you're above me."
"What? Moved on with Draco? How do you figure?" Hermione frowned.
"Come on," Stacey scoffed. "Do you really mean to tell me that you two aren't involved? Everyone in England is talking about it. I saw the picture in the paper."
"I was holding her up!" Draco protested, annoyed at having to defend himself again, and furious at being called a Death Eater. "She wasn't feeling well!"
"That's shite!" Stacey said, clearly getting worked up again. "I'm through with your lies. You will not take everything I have worked so hard to build. Trebax should have fallen apart long ago. Shame on you for helping Death Eaters, Hermione! You should know better!"
"Draco ceased being a Death Eater when the War ended!" Hermione shot back. "Shame on you for making his reintegration as difficult as possible! Or do you not want to encourage those who've had a change of heart?"
"You think he's had a change of heart? What a laugh! Your judgement is clouded! Don't you see what's going on? Ron told me how he was talking about you right before he beat him to a pulp. He said he'd commit murder if Ron ever hurt you again. That's what you're defending? Some violent prick with a possessive streak?"
"Is that true?" said Hermione, looking at Draco with wide eyes, a warm feeling spreading through her body.
"Yes," he said, uncomfortably. "I didn't want to upset you, so I didn't mention it."
"I understand," she said, quietly. "And I appreciate the gesture."
"You do?" he said, relieved.
"Look at you two!" Stacey cried. "You can't possibly convince me that you aren't together. And sitting here with two senior Death Eaters? What's the plan then... Is Lucius going to have you for lunch?"
"Watch your tone, young lady," Lucius said, far too calmly for anyone's comfort. "Miss Granger is our guest."
"Fuck you," Stacey spat. "And fuck your family. I know what you really are. You say you aren't with Draco, Hermione? Then I suppose you won't mind if I do this!"
Stacey raised her wand and opened her mouth, but got no further. Hermione moved so quickly that neither Draco, Narcissa or Lucius were even able to get their wands out in time. With a blur of movement, Hermione disarmed Stacey, knocked her down, and stood over her, foot on the girl's throat. Hermione's expression was uncharacteristically dark, her wand pointed at Stacey's head.
"What curse were you about to throw at him?" she asked, her hand shaking with anger. "Were you playing for fun or for pain? Answer me!"
Stacey didn't respond, her eyes bulging with fear, choking sounds coming out of her mouth from the pressure Hermione was putting on her throat. She scrambled to move but was completely pinned down.
"You come to where you aren't welcome, spew vile threats at me, insult the Malfoys, make accusations that aren't true, and then you try to harm Draco? What exactly were you hoping would come of this?"
"Piss off," Stacey rasped.
"I will piss off when you deal with the consequences of your actions," Hermione said. "The next time I see you will be in court. If you so much as look at Draco the wrong way again, I will find you. Understand?"
Stacey nodded as best she could with Hermione's shoe digging into her neck.
"Good," Hermione said, removing her foot. "Now leave."
The girl stumbled to her feet and ran off, hair streaming behind her, rough coughs echoing through the peaceful garden.
Hermione watched her disappear, her hands shaking slightly as the adrenaline rushed through her body. What... What was that? Where did that come from? She turned back towards the table, suddenly acutely aware that Draco, Narcissa and Lucius were all staring at her. Fuck. How was she going to explain this? The urge to protect Draco from Stacey's attack took over all her other impulses, and she reacted without thinking. She must look completely unhinged. Her eyes flitted over their faces. Draco seemed shocked. Lucius wore his characteristic pensive frown. Narcissa seemed... Impressed?
"Damn," whispered Lucius.
"Excuse me," she said, her voice wavering. "I just need a moment."
Quickly turning on her heel, she ran back into the house, determined to find a quiet space to clear her mind. What on earth had she done? Granted, Stacey was a particularly vile brand of bitch, but Hermione had never responded that aggressively to anyone. Was she ill? Something felt different, it was certain. She couldn't keep chalking this up to her newfound sobriety. Something was very wrong with her.
Draco watched her turn and run, and he stood up abruptly, determined to follow. Narcissa waved him down.
"Sit, Draco," she said. "She needs to be alone for a moment."
"She needs me," he said, wincing as the words came out of his mouth. "She needs my help," he clarified.
"She needs a lot of things right now," said Narcissa, firmly. "Time to think is one of them."
"I know about the potion," he said, accusingly. "I know what you did."
"Then you must also know that I mean her no harm," she replied, raising an eyebrow. "I simply took her addiction out of the equation. You shouldn't be upset just because I've done something helpful."
"But why did you do it?" he asked, frustrated. "Why go out of your way to help someone we all allowed to be tortured last time she was here? That makes no sense!"
Narcissa glared at Draco for bringing up what was clearly a sore point with her. "I think you know why, Draco. Because I suspect she's not just an outsider in our lives anymore. Now sit down."
He obeyed, fuming, clearly struggling with the fact that Hermione was alone in the house.
"That potion could have been anything," he snapped. "She could have died. You didn't even have the decency to tell me what you were up to."
"I didn't tell you because you would have lectured me for meddling. As as for the potion, why did she drink it then? She's a smart girl," Narcissa countered.
"Because she thought it was from me," Draco muttered.
"I suspected as much," Narcissa replied, satisfied. "She trusts you implicitly."
Lucius looked between his wife and his son and sighed, stirring his tea. First he had been wrong about the girl, and now his son and his wife were arguing. This simply wouldn't do. Given the seriousness of the situation, there were more important things to discuss. Apparently someone was going to have to bridge the divide here.
"So tell me, son," he said, conversationally, pretending the discussion was perfectly normal. "Have you fallen for the girl?"
Draco didn't respond, staring back towards the house. Lucius took his silence as an affirmation.
"Does she feel the same way about you?" he asked, dropping in a lump of sugar.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Fairly."
"That little display just now might indicate otherwise," Lucius said, eyeing his son carefully.
"She was talking about dating people this morning," Draco said, sounding dejected. "People who aren't me."
"Impossible!" said Narcissa, looking affronted.
"Dear, please," said Lucius, impatiently. "I think it's clear that while Miss Granger is affected my the Gregales, she's not at the same point as Draco just yet."
Draco's jaw dropped as he stared bug-eyed at his father. "You know about the trait?"
"Draco," Lucius tsked. "How do you think your mother and I ended up marrying so young? One minute I was a Pureblooded bachelor and the next I was ready to rip out the intestines of any wizard that touched a hair on your mother's head."
"But... But..."
"Yes yes, it's very rare," Lucius said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I was extremely doubtful when your mother told me her suspicions about you two, but I'm afraid I can't really deny that both you and Miss Granger are displaying all the signs."
"Hah!" cackled Narcissa, proudly. Lucius rolled his eyes.
"Her hair started to change this morning," Draco admitted, quietly. Narcissa gasped excitedly.
"My my," Lucius said, his eyebrows raised. "You really have gotten under her skin. That happened quickly."
"It doesn't matter," Draco said, dropping his head into his hands. "She will never accept it. She will never accept this... This thing."
"How so?" Lucius frowned.
"You don't know her like I do. She's stubborn - infamously stubborn. She will never want to be with me just because some weird magical trait connects us. She will hate not having control."
"I think you misunderstand how the Gregales works," Lucius said. "It doesn't just choose arbitrarily. It takes two people who already have the ability to love each other and unites their destinies. You would have fallen for Miss Granger at some point, Draco. The trait speeds things up."
"She won't see it that way," Draco said. "And since you mention it, how is that even possible? Hermione and I hated each other when we were in school. We ignored each other after the War. What's this nonsense about the ability to love each other? We only had the ability to piss each other off until now."
"Your mother and I hated each other in school as well," Lucius said, sipping his tea. "She thought I was an entitled, egotistical maniac."
"Well, you were, darling," Narcissa said, examining her nails.
"And I thought she was a spoiled, headstrong, unbalanced..." - Narcissa sent a venomous look in Lucius's direction - "Queen."
"Nice save," Draco said, mildly amused despite his worry.
"Suffice it to say, without getting into any gushing details, the trait was absolutely correct about our compatibility. Your mother and I are extremely well-matched, regardless of what we used to think."
Narcissa sent an affectionate smile to Lucius, clearly enjoying the change in the conversation.
Draco frowned. What his father was describing actually did sound a lot like what was happening between him and Hermione.
"What I'm trying to say, son, is that no matter your old relationship with Miss Granger, for whatever reason, you are discovering your true potential now. I realize that you are further along, but she just needs a little more time. Control is well and good, but sometimes fate keeps marching to its inevitable conclusion."
"But that's the problem," Draco said, shaking his head. "Hermione doesn't want an inevitable conclusion. This will just freak her out. She needs to feel like she has some say in things."
"Is this whole preoccupation with control tied into her drug problem, Draco?" asked Narcissa.
"Mother!" he scolded. "Honestly! That's confidential!"
"Don't raise your voice at me," she huffed. "Besides, it's not much of a secret. Your father knows."
"Now 'Cissa, it's natural for Draco to feel protective over his mate's secrets," Lucius said. "It's also natural for Miss Granger to desire some sense of agency in her own life."
"Please don't call her that," Draco pleaded. "Look, I have a plan, okay? She can't find out. I'll court her properly. Ask her out for dinner, let us get to know each other again, not rush. She'll like that. If she falls for me, it has to be on her terms. Otherwise she'll panic."
"That's a waste of time," Narcissa sniffed. "When I found out about the Gregales, I couldn't wait to marry your father. With the addiction out of her system, there is nothing stopping her from progressing quickly and taking what is rightfully hers."
"But Hermione could not be more different from you," he said, seriously, praying his parents would understand. "She needs things to feel normal for once. Since the War, all she's done is run from stressful situations. Her parents went missing, and they were never found. Her best friend moved away. Her boyfriend fucked around on her. Nothing went right. She needs a goddamn break. The last thing she wants to hear is that she's got no choice over the rest of her romantic future."
"She's strong, Draco," Narcissa said, dismissively. "I'm sure she'll be more than able to cope."
"Perhaps you missed the last five years of her life, mother, but her coping mechanisms suffered a bit of a blow," Draco growled. "I know what she needs, and I'm telling you... She can't find out about the trait. Not yet, anyway. There's no debating this, unless you want to spook her and have her run away. Would you like that? Would you like to test the resolve of this particular Gryffindor? We would all lose her. You have no idea what you're dealing with."
"Darling," Lucius said to Narcissa, who was starting to look uncomfortable. "Perhaps Draco is right. There's no harm in letting things happen a little more slowly, even if we know the outcome. The girl has been through a lot. If she needs to have some control, we should trust Draco's intuition and let him do this the way he wants to. That means no telling her about the trait, no rushing the process, no pressure."
Narcissa's eyes darted back to the house and she bit the inside of her cheek.
"What's wrong?" said Draco, picking up on his mother's sudden nervousness.
"If everything you say is true, then you need to find her quickly, Draco," Narcissa said.
"Why?" said Draco, already rising to his feet and ready to run. "Is she in danger?"
"No, but I just realized where she wandered off to. She's talking to my portrait."