(A/N)

So I am on a roll and here goes the fifth chapter! I have already crossed the 7,000 words mark with this chapter!

I imagine the renovated Manor would look like a beautiful French property called Château de Moissac-Bellevue. You can check it out online on its site!

Anyway, on to the story.

Mili

The young Malfoy had decided to reach the Manor an hour before the decided to time to make some necessary arrangement before the muggle-born witch arrived.

He had instructed the elves to not disturb them before lunch hour and had asked them to ensure that the Malfoy Matron, Narcissa Malfoy never crossed paths with them He had already met her the first thing when he had arrived and told her to enjoy her time in the gardens today. A suggestion he knew she would follow. She loved to tend to her rose bushes and after the war, simple things brought her joy while the usual pureblood fanfare and celebrations were a thing of the past that she no longer seemed to associate with.
She was very wary around people and preferred to spend her time at the Manor and other Malfoy properties in and around Europe. She had also gone timid and occasionally had lapses in her memory after his father was given the Dementor's kiss. She had not taken the loss of Lucius well. She had loved him deeply, and his evil acts had made her feel only more and more hatred and loathing for the Dark Lord who had stirred that kind of behaviour in her dear husband. This was the very reason, apart from the love she had for her son that had made her defect at the last moment during the war when she had announced that the Chosen One was dead.

Draco knew it was better that Granger never came face to face with his mother. He did not want to know the kind of havoc it could start. Both the women did not need to relive the war, and them meeting could trigger the memories of that very hellish time.

He was now waiting outside the gates of the Malfoy Manor, as she would not be able to apparate inside the wards and it would be rude of him to let her apparate outside the gate and walk the mile from the gate to the Manor, alone. The grounds around the Manor were sprawling, and if one was being honest, one could get lost.
He did not want to admit that he did not want to leave Hermione alone in this place. He knew the kind of memories she had of the place and he wanted to be there for her when she finally came in, just how she had wanted to be there for him.

At two minutes past ten, Draco heard the familiar crack of apparition behind him and he turned to see Hermione standing there giving him a weak smile.

"Are you alright?" Draco quirked an eyebrow.

"Oh yes, I am. Apparating empty stomach wasn't a good idea. Just feel a little dizzy. That's all. I overslept so had to skip breakfast." She said moving towards the massive gates of the Manor.

"I will ask the elves to fix you something. What would you like to have?" He said as he extended his hand for her to hold before they walked through the gates and into the grounds.

Hermione looked at his hand hesitatingly but finally put her right hand into his much larger left hand. His hand was surprisingly warm. She had almost expected his hand to be ice cold. This was just another surprising thing that she had learnt about Malfoy over the years.

"So, elves huh?" She said. He gave her an amused expression and started walking towards the gates with her. He held her hand firmly in his and could not help but feel how his hand easily encased hers. How her dainty feminine fingers were cold and wrapped right around his warm palm, seeking warmth.
He could not help but glance at their hands in awe before he realised he had been staring for an awkward amount of time. He quickly looked away and focused on their path.

"Free elves Hermione. They are all well fed, clothed and given salaries or whatever they like in exchange for working at the Malfoy Manor. Their living quarters are also well maintained and its ensured that none of them overwork themselves."
"Wow. I am impressed Malfoy. I really am." She beamed. Malfoy had rarely seen Granger smile, but as she broke into a grin, he realised she looked beautiful. Not in a making-heads-turn manner, but more like suddenly making you take notice of who she is and how amazing she can be. Her nose was a little wrinkled, her eyes had a twinkle in them, and her white teeth sat perfectly straight between a pair of plush pink lips. He realised then that her bottom lip was fuller than her upper lip and a sudden urge to bite on it took over him. He quickly looked away.

They reached the colossal doors of the Manor that opened magically as he stepped in.

"Umm Malfoy, are their special wards for uh…muggleborns?" Her tone was unsure and meek.

Draco stopped as they entered the foyer and looked at her. He suddenly saw a side of Hermione's that he had never seen before. A side she always hid behind her Ms Know-It-All demeanour. He suddenly knew why she had been so incorrigible since their first year. She had wanted to fit in in a world she knew nothing of. More than looking for approvals, she was simply looking out for herself and being prepared by knowing all that she could.

Not like he hadn't regretted his decisions as an adolescent before, but he felt terribly ashamed of bullying her back at Hogwarts. If he was being honest, being second in class to a muggle borns with was a massive blow to his ego. It was more his jealousy and insecurity that had often made him lash out at her more than any blood prejudice. If he wanted to simply establish his pureblood superiority, he could have traumatised plenty of his fellow students, including a few Slytherins, and not just her.

"You of all people should know this, no magic differentiates between bloodlines, Granger. Magic is the same to all of us. And nothing determines how strong we are as witches or wizards except our own prowess. All the pureblood bull shit was made by the sacred twenty-eight to simply establish their superiority. See what happened with that? Dead bloodlines, lots of squibs and a half-blood maniac trying to take over the world."

Hermione realised that Malfoy sounded bitter, and his bitterness did not seem to be directed at her at all. She could not help but look up at him in a daze. They were standing beside each other so it was hard to miss the bitterness etched all over his face.

"Loppy!" Malfoy commanded. With a pop, an elf in a child's frock appeared in front of the duo.

"Would master like something? Or should Loppy get something for the new Mistress?" The elf asked meekly.

"She isn't your new Mistress, Loppy! Why would you assume things I don't tell you!" Malfoy was not only annoyed and angry but also, rather rudely shocked at the elf's assumption. He knew his mother often talked to them about how he absolutely must settle down soon, but this was ridiculous!

Hermione was equally taken aback and was further shocked when she felt a blush creep up her cheeks.

"You were holding madam's hand and Loppy has never seen you do so even with Miss Parkinson or Miss Greengrass, Sir. Loppy will never again make this mistake Sir. You may punish me if you want to."

The fact that they were still holding hands fell over them like a lightning bolt. They quickly let go of each other's hands. Hermione's cheeks were now blazing and Draco's ears were pink with embarrassment. They had been a little too comfortable holding onto each other it seemed. They avoided looking at one another as best as they could.

"A punishment would not be necessary. However, I would like you to prepare some breakfast for Miss Granger and me. I would like some poached eggs and sausages with toasts. And a cup of tea, please. Granger what would you like?" he turned towards her, only to see her quickly look away trying to hide her blush that seemed to really suit her well.

"Um..I will have the same, but I would prefer some orange juice with mine instead of tea if it would not be any trouble Loppy."
She smiled at the elf.

"Would you need Loppy for anything else?" The elf asked with a smile. She was relieved that Master had not become angry with her. And the new Miss was nice to her. Loppy really like this new Miss. Even though Master Draco was nice to all the elves, his friends only ordered them around. Especially Miss Parkinson. Loppy did not like Miss Parkinson, but she dare not say that to anyone.

"That will be all, Loppy," Draco said as the elf disappeared with a loud pop. He had decided to take Hermione from the longer way, through the West Wing, rather than go through the East Wing and cross the drawing room.

Hermione realised that the Manor felt a lot different from earlier. Of course, there was no megalomaniac after her life and there were no death eaters in here anymore, but the ambience of the place was much warmer and full of light.

The French windows had mint green heavy drapes pulled to the side to let the Sunshine in, which was reflecting brilliantly off the light grey and white walls and ornate marble floor. It seemed as if the Malfoys had taken inspiration from their French ancestors to redo the Manor. The staircase was now a sweeping magnificent piece of marble, yet no matter how beautiful it all looked; Hermione did not wish to venture up the staircase because she knew what lay beyond it, the wretched drawing room where she was tortured. She had long forgiven Draco for something he had no control over. So had Harry. They both understood his predicament. Ron was yet to learn to be forgiving and to not see the world as black or white. It had its shades of grey and one had to learn to differentiate between them.

Draco moved towards the left wing and Hermione almost breathed a sigh of relief. "I won't take you that way. I know." He said in a deep voice. Even though he had not looked at her as he said those words, she did not doubt his sincerity. He might be a bully and mean, but evil and cruel he was not.

She followed him as she looked on with astonishment at the newly redecorated Manor. The Manor was now not only magnificent and opulently decorated as it was before; it also felt calm and inviting. Two words Hermione had never thought she would associate with either the Manor or its owner. But, the world was changing and so were the dynamics between the Brightest Witch of her Age and the Almost as Bright Malfoy Heir.