Let Me Help You
DracoxHermione
Rated NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling
Let Me Help You
Chapter 12
Draco silently listened to his mother explain how she and Severus came to become a couple , curious about it while also wanting to erase his recent memory of them from him mind. Apparently Narcissa had started to fancy Severus that summer not long after approaching him about looking out for Draco and they made the Unbreakable Vow. She had kept up letters to the man, as well as visits, and somehow along the way she developed feelings for him. Severus on the other hand didn't return her feelings right away, but he realized sometime during Thanksgiving that he too had strong feelings for Narcissa and told her during her next visit about Draco. Their secret relationship began there and they were planning to tell Draco over the Christmas holidays and didn't expect for him to walk in on them doing certain activities.
Grey eyes flitted back and forth between Narcissa and Severus before asking, "Are you two happy?"
"Yes, very much Draco," Narcissa answered. Sitting beside of him on his bed, she wrapped an arm around him and told him, "We want to be together and we would like your blessing."
"But what about father? What if he finds out?"
"We will handle that when the time comes should he or anyone else find out. So what do you say?"
Draco looked at his mother, then Severus before answering, "Well, I always viewed Sev as more of a father than my own. But aren't you younger than mother?"
Severus nodded and said, "Just by four or five years."
The blond boy looked back at his mother and saw hopefulness in her blue eyes. Nodding he said, "Okay, you have my blessing."
"Thank you, darling," Narcissa replied as she hugged him.
Draco nodded before saying, "Now that that is out of the way, I also have something to say." When he had the two adults' attention, he took a deep breath and said, "I am officially courting Hermione Granger."
Severus' eyes widened in shock while Narcissa's face took on a thoughtful expression. Her blue eyes widened in realization as she said, "Oh, Hermione Granger! The Muggleborn Gryffindor said to be the brightest witch of her age. I remember her; Lucius was furious that she bested you in every subject sans Potions."
"Right."
"Draco, I want to meet her. Invite her here for Christmas Eve dinner."
"What?"
"Don't 'what' me, Draco; invite her. If you plan on making her your girlfriend, I want to meet her and her family."
Draco stared in shock at his mother. He had always thought she was against Muggles and Muggleborns, just like his aunt Bellatrix. But hearing this made him think otherwise. Narcissa noticed her son's expression and she explained, "I've never been prejudiced against Muggles and Muggleborns alike. But as a Pureblood wife I mustn't speak against my husband or else I would face consequences, especially now with the Dark Lord's return."
Severus nodded and said, "Yes, but back to what Draco has said. You are courting Miss Granger?"
When Draco nodded, Severus sighed and pinched his nose. After a moment he asked, "Why would you do this? Do you know how careless you could be if you do this?"
"It's not like I haven't thought about it, Sev. But even so, I'm willing to take the risk. I really like Hermione and I want to be with her. And if you don't support me and help us keep our relationship a secret, I'll anonymously slip to the Daily Prophet that you're seeing mother in secret," Draco replied, ending with a smug look on his face.
Grey eyes stared into black ones challengingly, the boy completely ignoring his mother's astonished cry of his name. He still continued to stare at his godfather, watching as the man's eye twitched in annoyance as he scowled at him. Severus let out a huff before saying curtly, "Fine." He then turned around and strode from the bedroom.
Narcissa sighed and told Draco, "Despite that obvious blackmail, I'm so glad you are home and that you have accepted mine and Severus' relationship."
Draco nodded and asked, "So you really only started liking Sev a few months ago?"
"Yes, though I always found him interesting back in school. Of course when he was a first year, I was a fifth year and already betrothed to Lucius, him being a sixth year at the time. I've always been friends with him, even more so when he became your godfather. So we do have history, just not romantic history. Actually now that I think about it, he was always glued to Lily Evan's side until their fifth year, though I had already graduated by then; Lucius informed me of that. He said quote unquote, 'Snape has finally ridded himself of that Mudblood.'"
"Lily Evans? Do you mean Lily Potter?"
"Yes, though she was originally Lily Evans. Gryffindor Muggleborn, best friends with Severus growing up apparently. Until of course she got with James Potter, the arrogant boy that he was with his no good friends. Always pulling pranks on Severus, getting his hurt every time and nearly killed. It's amazing how many things I heard about after graduating."
"So you mean to tell me that Potter's mum was friends with Sev?"
"Yes. In fact, I think Severus may have had a crush on her. Unfortunately their friendship did not sit well with either Slytherin or Gryffindor House. But nevertheless they were close."
"And Potter doesn't know about any of this?"
"No, I don't believe so. He probably still thinks the sun shines out of his father's arse with all the praise everyone gives the man. They only want to talk about how great he was, never about how he and Sirius Black were troublemakers of their own. But they have no issue insinuating everyone that comes out of Slytherin in evil."
Narcissa sighed as she looked up at the ceiling of her son's bedroom. Shaking her head she looked at Draco and smiled saying, "But never mind what I said, darling; it sounds as if I'm being hostile. Once you finish unpacking, come downstairs for dinner."
The blonde woman gave her child a kiss on the cheek before standing and leaving his bedroom to head downstairs. Draco couldn't believe what his mother told him. Severus was once friends with Harry Potter' s mother? He wondered if Hermione knew that, because Potter obviously did not.
Deciding to write her a letter Draco pulled out a quill, ink, and a piece of parchment and began to write. He asked her whether she knew of Severus' relationship to Lily Potter, as well as inviting her and her family for dinner on Christmas Eve. Once that was done, he sent it off with his owl before unpacking his bedroom like his mother told him to.
Hermione laughed as her father told her about how one of his employees was supposed to pull a tooth and ended up fainting halfway during the procedure because of the blood, leaving the patient confused and the dental assistant in hysterics. Her mother was trying to explain that it was not funny and no one on duty was able to take over at the time, but even she couldn't stop the giggles from slipping through her own lips.
Tapping on the window caught their attention and Hermione's eyes widened at seeing a horned owl with a letter in its beak. Standing she walked over to the window and opened it, the owl swooping in and dropping the letter on her mother's lap before landing on her father's shoulder.
"Uh, H-Hermione?" her father stammered. "Wh-What am I supposed to do?"
Hermione took the letter from her mother and looked to see her father eyeing the nocturnal bird nervously. Smiling she answered, "Don't worry, it won't hurt you. Unless they are prone to biting."
"Biting?!" her mother exclaimed before looking at her husband worriedly as the man tensed up further when the owl began to stroke his hair with its beak.
Hermione opened the letter and smiled at seeing Draco's elegant handwriting. Sitting down she began to read:
Dear Hermione,
I hope this letter finds you well, as I also hope that you made it home safely for the holidays. I also hope your homecoming was much more welcoming than my own. I walked in on my mother and Severus doing…things. They are a couple now and I will explain that later.
Firstly I want to formally invite you and your parents to Malfoy Manor for dinner on Christmas Eve. I told my mother that I was courting you and she wanted to meet you. So if it is possible, please let me know. If not, I understand and hopefully you can meet my mother another time before the Christmas holidays are over.
Secondly, my mother told me something interesting today. Apparently, Severus was friends with Lily Potter growing up. Did you know that? And if so, does Potter know it? He probably doesn't, if truth be told, but I was wondering if you did.
I miss you already and I hope we can see each other before the start of next term. If not, I am perfectly content with receiving letters from you. I hope to hear your reply soon, my beautiful know-it-all.
Yours,
Draco Malfoy.
Hermione's brown eyes widened in shock at the contents of the letter, every single word. Professor Snape was with Narcissa Malfoy? Narcissa wanted her and her parents to join them for Christmas Eve dinner? Professor Snape was friends with Lily Potter? Narcissa wanted her and her parents to join them for dinner?! But despite all of that, she couldn't help but read the last part of the letter again.
My beautiful know-it-all.
Was that a sort of pet name for her already? It was obviously written as a form of endearment, so apparently. It certainly warmed her heart and made her feel good, unlike the time Professor Snape called her an insufferable one. Nevertheless she was touched by it. But to be invited to dinner already…
Turning to her parents who were both still eyeing the owl cautiously she called, "Mum? Dad?"
They turned their eyes to her and answered, "Yes?"
"What would you say if I told you I kind of have a boyfriend and his mother just invited us to dinner on Christmas Eve?"