Monday
She didn't know what she was expecting when Malfoy opened the doors to the grounds of the Manor. She hadn't even asked what the problem was and had never been so unprepared in her life. She was too worried about keeping her hands from shaking and her heart at a steady pace from being back in this place after so many years. It's not like she had happy memories here. They were stained with blood, and anguish and hatred and grief.
It had taken all she had to convince Harry she was fine to come here. He had in so many words told he not to go. Told her to think about what she was doing. This was her job and she didn't want anyone thinking that she couldn't handle this. Her scar was itching and she kept reaching for it as feeling it still there was some sort of confirmation that it had happened. It wasn't a nightmare. She had lived through it.
This was all she thought about before he opened the doors but as soon as he had, any notions of anticipation were replaced with what she could only describe as disgust. She could see as far as two Quidditch fields in front of her before a large wooded area sprung out on the horizon but the space between was filled with pink domes that looked like large marshmallow mushrooms covered in black spikey hair.
She wasn't ashamed to admit it but her jaw slackened, mouth forming an 'O' and she just stared at the mess that she assumed used to be the grounds of this beautiful estate. There was still at least 300 metres in front of them that was untouched, including a large fountain and a beautiful area filled with many exotic and colourful flowers. A few more days and all that would be destroyed. Eaten up by the growing mass of spongy mess laid before them. She walked down the marble stairs and on to the gravel path that seemed to loop the whole way around the Manor, the stones crunching beneath her heels until she stopped at the edge of the grass.
She turned to Malfoy searching for an explanation as to how this has happened. He was next to her within two steps looking out over the grounds. At one point she thought he saw a flicker of a grimace as he looked over the estate but that quickly disappeared and he held the same stoic expression. Hands clasped behind his back gazing out into the distance.
"How… When?" She looked at him expectantly, shaking her head.
"Three weeks ago. My mother noticed a small patch forming at the edge of the forest over there." He didn't look at her but pointed to the right hand side of the grounds where it met a large forest. He was barely blinking despite the sun streaming through the clouds.
"This could have been stopped, weeks ago! What made you delay this long before coming to see us? It's torn up… everything!" She looked out once more over the grounds in utter disbelief.
"We had some advice from some friends who thought they had the same problem. That didn't work, in fact it just made it worse. It's grown substantially."
"It's mating." She said.
"I'm sorry?" He turned to face her as if making sure he had heard her correctly.
"They're mating." She said once more.
"Mating only happens between animals…" he started.
"That's because it is. Horklump. It's an animal. Didn't you ever read 'Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them'?"
"Unlike you Granger I don't memorise every book I read." He turned and looked away from her over the grounds once more a brief sadness overtaking his face.
She rolled her eyes but decided to ignore his little outburst. She expected this from him after their disagreement this morning she supposed she deserved it. She shouldn't have been so… rude. She set the Quill and Parchment she bought with her to work with a flick of her wand and the began instantly scribbling away the many thoughts sprawling through her mind, making a firm to do list.
"Streeler venom and lots of it. It's the only way to get rid of Horklump. I know a breeder here in England. Whether he has enough for this I don't know but with the ministry stock we could cope. Usually we would let them loose to roam over the affected areas but in this case we need to work faster. The breeder I know has found a process to turn the liquid venom into a powder with the same results once applied so I think that would be the most effective way because of the large area."
"What's a Streeler?" He interrupted her train of thought.
"It looks like a snail really. Just a lot larger. Multi-coloured shell, strangely beautiful really. You should re-read 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.' It's very informative." Merlin she was such a geek, she thought to herself.
"I'll bare that in mind." He said, still not looking at her.
"I'll need help. A team – maybe 8 wizards to distribute the venom. If we leave it unfinished it will just carry on spreading and we need to stop it as soon as possible. If of course, you will grant us access?" He nodded.
"I'll be back tomorrow with everything we need and the team. Can you open up your Floo for 9am?"
He finally turned to face her and nodded once more. She thought she saw a twinge at the corner of his lips but she put it down to the sun being in her eyes.
"Fantastic." She said and smiled. "I'll get out of your way now to organise things. Would you mind showing me back to the fireplace?" He instantly held out a hand pointing back towards the way they came to the large wooden doors. She started forward, heels crunching on the stones.
"I will need to put wards up where access can be given, for privacy reasons." His voice was soft and low as they walked side by side.
"That's fine. We will mainly be working outside. We can set up our work tents on the remaining grassy area over there," She pointed behind her, "so we just need access to and from the fireplace. We may need to come in and out a few times if that's okay... I just hope it rains tomorrow."
"I don't think I've even heard anyone wish for rain before."
"It helps the venom penetrate the ground. The dryer the ground the harder it makes the work. We will need access to a water source if not."
"We have a pond to the side you can use."
"Great that will work fine. But in the meantime – pray for rain. Fresh water works best." She turned to him and gave a small smile. He just looked back at her. His face unreadable.
"I will need the names of the team and all who will have access to the Manor, for security." He added.
"I'll Owl them to you before the end of the day." She said and smiled once more, not expecting one in return. She was happy she had such a big project to focus on. Even if it would only take a week or so to complete.
"I checked the library, nearly every book on Herbology. I thought it was a plant." The first words of an actual conversation. He shrugged his shoulders as they walked through the doors and back along the parquet flooring to the Fireplace.
"It's a common mistake. It looks so much like a Mushroom. Did you use the Hogwarts Library?" She questioned.
"No I used the one here," he said as she turned to him startled.
"You have a library in the Manor?" She stopped dead in her tracks and looked at him. He stopped and turned to look at her. His grey eyes quizzical.
"Not as big as Hogwarts, but it's decent. A couple of thousand texts. Mainly older books no longer in circulation, passed down through the family."
"Merlin, are you serious? I'd love my own library! Unfortunately, my one-bedroom flat isn't quite big it enough for that yet." She chuckled and noticed that he mimicked her and a small smile formed on his lips.
"Not shacked up with Weasley yet then? Or Potter? I never knew which way you were inclined." He crossed his arms over his chest at that moment and her eyes were drawn to the open collar on his shirt and pale skin beneath. He was in casual cream chinos and a crisp white shirt – he looked like a muggle. She hadn't noticed that he wasn't in traditional robes until now and had to shake herself from her own thoughts.
"No, it's just me. Not that it's any of your business." She clutched the parchment to her chest. She was taken aback by his comment on her friendship with the two boys and may have come across as rude again. Although everyone assumed the same. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other feeling her face begin to flush. She hadn't expected that from him. He was probably just trying to wind her up.
"Okay … sure…" he rolled his eyes at her.
"They are my Friends. Nothing more." She felt the full force of the blush creep into her cheeks at that moment. He said nothing further but continued to stare and her which made the blush worse and her whole body felt like it was on fire. She noticed that he had inched his body ever so slightly closer towards her and she tore her eyes away from his and moved them to his lips.
"Are you still friends with Pansy?" She found herself asking, as if she didn't really think about the words she was saying until they left her mouth. His lips looked soft and pink and there was a rough line of stubble around his chin. Intentional stubble, it made him look older.
He moved suddenly, turning to walk ahead of her directing them back to their original destination at the end of the entrance hall. She moved quickly to keep up with him, not wanting to be left alone and vulnerable in this place. She followed as if he was about to leave her behind. She'd said the wrong thing. She's asked him about his personal life and he didn't like it. Obviously he had not grown up. His pride too big to burst, too proud to have a normal conversation with a…
"We talk. Just friends, nothing more." He mimicked her words. She was taken aback as they reached her exit and he turned back around to meet her eyes once more.
"People grow up… apart. Become their own person." She nodded at his words and smiled at him curiously. This was unexpected. He was a constant source of confusion it seemed.
"Until tomorrow then." She said as she grabbed a handful of Floo powder and stepped into the fireplace. She looked at him one last time and as the powder dropped from her hand she was sure she saw a curve of a smile and his grey eyes seem lighter before she was engulfed in green flames and landed back in the ministry Atrium.