Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harry Potter.
A/N: This chapter is a bit longer than the others but I really wanted to squeeze the last bit in before the next chapter ;) Well happy reading and don't forget to leave a review!
The next morning was her first lessons with Narcissa. They had met down at breakfast and then moved into a sitting room. They were sitting opposite of each other in leather wingback chairs. Narcissa looked like the epitome of class. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a neat bun and she was wearing a beautifully designed blue sundress and strappy heels. Her ankles were neatly crossed as she sat in her chair.
Hermione felt very inadequate. Her hair was unmanageable today and was sticking out in all different directions. She was wearing a neat dark grey pantsuit that she had found in wardrobe along with the same heels she had worn the night before. She attempted to mimic Narcissa's graceful posture but it just felt too unnatural for her to maintain.
"Well first things first we simply must do something about your hair. It is quite like your mothers. In fact I think I might just have something that will work, stay right here." Narcissa quickly stood up and left the room leaving Hermione completely baffled.
When She reentered the room she was holding a large glass bottle with a slivery substance inside. She motioned for Hermione to cup her hands and then poured the liquid into them. Getting the idea Hermione massaged it through her hair and took the hairbrush that Narcissa was handing her and brushed it through.
"Much better, here take a look." She handed Hermione a small hand mirror, Which Hermione took apprehensively. She brought it up to her eyes and smiled. Her unruly hair was now in soft flowing curls that cascaded down her back and over her shoulder. It was much longer now with the curls relaxed, falling just above her bum.
"Your mother's hair was almost worse than yours. I'll have this taken to your room so you can use it whenever you feel like it." Narcissa was smiling to herself as if lost in memory.
Hermione found that her curiosity got the better of her when she turned to Narcissa and asked, "Did you know my mother well?"
Narcissa eyed her carefully before responding. "Yes, I knew her well, although not as well as my sister. They were in the same year and practically grew up together they were inseparable. Our mothers were also quite close, both being pureblood of high stature they had also grown up together. It was no surprise when our parents drew up the marriage contract for Bella and your mother's brother."
"Wait so Rudolphous, is…is my uncle?" Hermione's head was spinning with the new information.
"Yes, and Bella is your aunt." Narcissa laid a hand on Hermione's and continued, "She wasn't always like this you know, after you mother…. After she passed away, Bella just lost it, it was like she had lost a part of her. She was consumed with anger and grief. I am sure you have heard of the Longbottom incident?"
Hermione nodded.
"After your mother was killed Bella was determined to find those who were responsible. She tracked down the Longbottoms knowing that they were both Aurors and Order members. She tortured them until they gave up the names. James Potter and Sirius Black, Sirius was our cousin and Family means everything to the Blacks. Bella was so enraged that she just kept on with the torture until she simply could sustain it anymore. I do not condone my sisters actions I am merely trying to help you understand her."
Hermione was in shock, she didn't know what to say. What Bellatrix did to the Longbottoms was despicable, but if she were in that position, if someone had killed Harry or Ron would she handle it any better? Would she not do anything within her power to get justice? She shook her head, she would never be like Bellatrix, and she couldn't torture someone like that she wouldn't allow herself to.
"Dear you really must learn to not allow your emotions to show. I can see just by looking at you how distraught you are. Emotions are a dangerous thing to show. You must relax your face and only show the emotions that you want others to see."
Hermione tried to change her expression to one a little less obvious of what she was feeling inside but found it more difficult than she had originally thought it would be.
"Practice in the mirror my dear, that shall be a portion of your homework for the week. I also want you to read these." She handed Hermione two books. One titled Pureblood Society: Then and Now and the other, History and Practices of the Pureblood Witch.
Hermione nodded before asking another question. "Why does he want me at the meeting on Saturday?"
It had been bothering her all morning, why would her attendance be required at a rally? She had heard of the things his Death Eaters do at these things and she wanted nothing what so ever to do with it.
"My dear, you are going to be presented to the Inner Circle, they will be the only other's besides those in this house who know of your identity until our Lord deems it time to tell the world of his heirs Inner Circle will be there to protect you; it is our duty to our Lord."
It made Hermione slightly ill to hear the blind devotion in Narcissa's voice but she tried her best to keep her expression neutral, after all wasn't that the major point of this lesson?
"I see." Narcissa flashed a smile at Hermione's response and quickly stood up from her chair.
"Well I think it's about time to head out to do some shopping why don't you go freshen up and meet me in the entrance hall in fifteen minutes, we will depart from there.
Fifteen minutes and one trip through the floo later, Hermione found herself in Borgin and Burkes.
"Here dear I almost forgot, take this." She handed a small vial to Hermione which she immediately recognized as Polyjuice potion. Obviously they didn't want her to be recognized by anyone in Diagon Alley. She quickly downed the potion and felt her body begin to change. She stepped over to a mirror leaning up against a wall and saw that she was about the same height and build as before so her clothing still fit, but her hair was now as straight and blonde as any Malfoy and her eyes were a bright blue. Her nose was slightly smaller and her skin was a creamy white with absolutely no freckles, the face was quite a bit thinner than Hermione's but overall who ever this body really was, she was quite pretty and looked nothing like Hermione.
"Now Hermione during this trip you are a distant cousin of Lucius and your name is Belle. If you try to give away your true identity at any point this," She held up a small gold bracelet before clasping it firmly onto Hermione's wrist, "will make it sound to anyone who doesn't already know like you are babbling incoherently."
Hermione's heart sank as she looked at the bracelet. She had really hoped that they wouldn't have thought this out this thoroughly but she should have known better. Sighing internally Hermione followed Narcissa out of the shop and onto the streets of Knockturn Alley.
She stayed close by her guide not wanting to attract any unwanted attention but then noticed that people seemed to stay out of Narcissa's path. As she passed they would move out of the way and bow their heads as a sign of respect.
It was all so unreal to Hermione that a woman could command such power. Narcissa seemed to sense Hermione's thoughts and leaned over to whisper to her.
"Someday people will act the same around you, status in society still means a great deal but no one will respect you unless you act like you deserve their respect."
Hermione spent the rest of the short walk watching Narcissa. Rather than walking she seemed to glide, she held her chin high but also managed to keep her eyes looking friendly. She would nod occasionally to those who looked like they were also a part of the upper class. Hermione was in awe by the commanding presence that she held.
Soon they reached Diagon Alley and emerged into the sunlight that seemed to avoid Knockturn Alley. Hermione took a deep breath and smiled for the first time in long time. She reveled in the feeling of the sun hitting her face and just being outside in general. She had been a prisoner and felt caged these last couple of weeks and now even if it was for a brief time, she felt free.
They entered one of the higher end clothing shops and the very first dress she looked at she dropped almost immediately after seeing the price.
"Mrs. Malfoy, that dress is $300 galleons." She whispered.
"Ah! They must be having a sale then, lovely! And please dear call me Cissy."
Hermione saw that Narcissa already had an alarmingly large stack of dresses in arms, and a crazed look almost reminiscent of her dear sisters in her eyes. She handed Hermione half of the pile and ushered her over to the dressing rooms.
When Hermione stepped back out with the first dress the shopkeeper bustled around her making small adjustments with her wand. When she stepped away Hermione glanced in the full length mirror. The dress was well in all honesty it was hideous.
It was a pale pink dress that came to just above her knees. Hermione hated any shade of pink and the length of the skirt made her feel like a little girl. She looked over to Narcissa who merely shook her head and shooed her back into the dressing rooms. This was going to be a long day.
Three hours and too many dresses to count later and Hermione and Narcissa left the shop laden with several bags. Hermione wasn't paying too much attention when she suddenly bumped into someone knocking her down.
"Oh sorry dear! Here let me help you up," Hermione looked up into a familiar face hand her breath stopped as she took the hand that was offered to her.
She was looking straight into the face of Molly Weasley. Hermione resisted the urge to jump into the older woman's arms. Narcissa's hand immediately grabbed Hermione's as if to stop that very thing from happening.
"Molly." Narcissa nodded at Mrs. Weasley hate pouring out of her eyes. Hermione was startled to see the same look coming from the Weasley matriarch. She had never known Molly to be a hateful person but the look in her eyes was almost frightening.
"Narcissa." Molly ground out through clenched teeth. Before things could go any further Arthur Weasley stepped up to his wife wrapping a protective arm around her.
"Stay away from my family Malfoy and keep an eye on yours." Hermione took a step back as Arthur sent a hateful glare her way before turning on his heel and leaving taking Molly with him.
Narcissa looked at Hermione with a small faltering smile. "Molly and I used to be friends you know. While we were at Hogwarts."
Hermione opened her mouth to ask about what happened when Narcissa raised her hand to stop her.
"Another time dear, we're running late we should get back." And with that they headed back To Borgin and Burkes to floo home.
Over the next few days Hermione attended her lessons and every night after dinner she would head to the library and would be joined later on by Draco who would silently read with her and then walk her back to her room where they would silently part ways. At first Hermione resented him on intruding on her quiet time, but she eventually got used to it and began to feel it was nice to have someone who wasn't yelling at her or even just trying to teach her, being around.
One night after a particularly brutal training with Bellatrix that had gone all the way through dinner; Hermione limped into the library and collapsed into one of the couches not noticing that Malfoy was already there.
She had a splitting headache and wasn't able to focus on much.
"Granger?" She groggily looked over to the other couch and saw Malfoy getting up and crossing over to her.
"Your bleeding." Hermione ran her fingers through her hair and when she pulled away she saw her hand covered in blood.
"Oh." Was all she was able to say as she stared at the dark red liquid on her hand.
"Here let me help." Draco pulled out his wand and Hermione flinched away, still jumpy from her earlier ordeal. He raised an eyebrow at her before silently waiving his wand over her head. Relief flooded through her as the pressure that had been building up behind her eyes slowly dissipated. He then did the same thing for her swollen twisted ankle.
"Better?" He said as he stood up and walked back over to the other couch. Hermione nodded and slowly sat up straight.
"Thanks." Hermione muttered. She was very confused about this random act of kindness. Sure they weren't on bad terms anymore but she certainly never expected him to go out of his way to help her. "I think I'm just going to go to bed."
Hermione stood quickly and her head began to spin, she felt herself begin to fall when someone caught her by the elbow. She looked up into stormy grey eyes, as Draco helped to steady her. She had never been close enough to really notice how beautiful his eyes were and there seemed to be a touch of worry shining through his well masked face.
I really must have been hit hard if I'm thinking that Malfoy actually gives a rat's ass about me. Hermione shook her head trying to clear her mind and took a step. Malfoy stepped with her, his hand still on her elbow. She shook him off feeling more in control of herself and walked through the doors to head back to her room.
She could hear him slowly trailing her but she didn't look back at him. She had shown weakness, she couldn't begin to think of her enemy in any other light than she always had, as evil. But did she really think that Malfoy was evil? Sure he was a right prat most of the time but he had never really acted evil per say.
He was certainly a product of his upbringing though, he was the son of devoted followers of Voldemort. He was raised to believe in every messed up ideal that his parents did. Perhaps it wasn't too late for him after all.
She sighed to herself as she walked through the dark corridors. She had bigger things to worry about right now. Tomorrow was the day that she was going to be introduced to the Inner circle and she honestly had no idea what to expect.
When she reached her door she heard the footsteps behind her stopped and she glanced back to see Malfoy watching her for a moment then turn and head back towards his rooms. Although her mind was still reeling from everything the moment Hermione slid under her covers she was fast asleep her body overpowering her thoughts from the exhausting day that she had had.