Let me know what you think of Draco after this Chapter please. If you're like, 'WTF, I don't get this?' let me know what you have questions about and I'll fix things. I'm big on continuity and pacing, so if you think something doesn't make sense then drop me a line.

The Book Called Revenge

Chapter two

Hermione, had she been able to touch anything, would have needed to go no further than the filing room for past suspected Death Eaters to find Draco. They kept tabs on those who were suspect of treachery and it would be an all-out manhunt if Draco had run off without notifying the Ministry first. Too bad for Hermione, the chances that someone would coincidentally check up on the one person she was looking for, so she could read over their shoulder, were slim to none.

In fact, if it hadn't been for the planning of her up and coming funeral, she had no idea how she'd have found Draco's hideout. But as luck would have it, going to her funeral was the talk of the community and it seemed that no one wanted to look insensitive by missing it. Including high class purebloods whose reputations were on the line.

One high class, purebred woman in particular had been her saving grace for finding out about Draco's whereabouts. One miss Pansy Parkinson.

She and Ginny had been close for quite some time seeing as how they had plenty in common, but the bad blood between Hermione and Pansy was too thick to be set aside.

Again, that had been Hermione's doing. Pansy had honestly tried getting to know her and make things comfortable, but Hermione being the bitter old hag she was, couldn't forgive and forget, even if Pansy's family had never really been part of the war. Hermione hadn't wanted anything to do with a girl who'd thought of Draco as a god.

It was proof enough of how skewed Parkinson's perceptions had been and evidence to Hermione that, even if Pansy hadn't backed a side, if she'd had to, you could guess where her loyalties lied.

That aside, Hermione could almost kiss the woman when she'd joined the Weasleys in planning and had privately stepped away with Ginny to ask if it were okay that she be accompanied by Blaise and Draco.

Hermione's heart jumped for joy and for the first time in her life, Ginny's care for Hermione's feelings, scared her to death.

Ginny stood there contemplating and Hermione stood beside her with bated breath.

"Maybe," Pansy started, "I shouldn't have asked. I know that this is about her memory and I understand if you don't want some people there whom she'd didn't really like." Pansy sighed.

"No," Ginny said sighing as well, "Blaise is fine, Draco on the other hand, I'm not so sure."

Hermione watched Ginny struggle and felt tears coming to her eyes. Why had she had to be so damned hate filled?

"To be honest," Ginny continued, "In my opinion, anyone who wants to come and mourn should be able to. At this point most of the wizarding world will be attending as it is. But Harry and Ron may not appreciate seeing Draco there."

Pansy nodded her understanding.

"I was hoping to get Draco back into town." Pansy's smile was solemn as she spoke quietly, "He's become a hell of a man and if Hermione is looking down on us, I'd really hope that she could see him there and forgive him."

Hermione was taken aback, as was Ginny as she spoke.

"He's still holding on to that?" Ginny shook her head, "Hermione was very…Hurt after the war. Some of the things that she did and said…" Ginny trailed off.

"I know," Pansy smiled in understanding.

"I," Ginny hesitated, "I think that Hermione was really the one to owe him an apology…"

Hermione looked at Ginny and knew that she was right. She'd known that for plenty of years to be fair. She really wished that she'd done it earlier.

Pansy shrugged.

"Hermione had a lot of right to feel the way that she did," Pansy said, "True, a lot of things weren't his fault, but plenty of things were. Even before all the things that went on during those last horrible years at Hogwarts, he… and I…" she added thinking about it, "we did some pretty awful things to her."

Ginny closed her eyes and took a deep breath, like she was trying not to let herself cry.

"I wish she would have at least given you a chance. She was always so stubborn and I hate to think that she took all that animosity to her grave with her…" Ginny's throat tightened up on her and she had to take a moment to clear it. "Tell Malfoy to come."

Hermione watched Pansy's face light up. "I'll try. He's been avoiding me and Blaise like the plague for years, and he hasn't even written to his mother since he left, but I want to convince him that this could be good for him. Maybe get him to let go of some of the past." She placed a hand on Ginny's back, "Thank you for letting me be a bit selfish when it's completely unacceptable."

Ginny smiled. "You're always like this so don't go trying to sound sorry about it now."

The two of them embraced and Hermione realized with a twist in her stomach, how close the two really were. She'd never put much stock in their friendship, mostly because she'd made a point of not being around when Pansy was and Ginny never talked about her with Hermione.

God, she was such a horrible friend.

When Pansy started to bid everyone goodnight, Hermione refocused on her goal.

Pansy went over to the fire place and Hermione followed, riding the floo with her from the Burrow.

They arrived in Pansy's foyer.

Hermione had to sit through a lengthy letter but finally Pansy's elegant scrawl inked out Draco's address on the heavy parchment envelope.

Hermione quickly committed the words to memory before Pansy wax sealed the thing and owled it out.

Draco Malfoy

Surry England, Pattington road, the house in the middle of nowhere?

Hermione frowned. This wasn't a help at all. She couldn't even apparate near there. She had no idea where it was. She silently yelled, jumping around and throwing a tantrum of huge proportion.

She was so busy acting like a five year old that she almost missed Pansy get up and grumble under her breath.

She bent and wrote a quick note.

Blaise.

Just wrote a letter to Draco and realized how futile that was. Going to get him and drag his sorry ass back here for the funeral. I'll be back in time for our lunch date tomorrow, but this may take all night, so do forgive me if I'm a bit worse for wear when I see you.

Pansy

Jumping for joy, Hermione couldn't believe her luck as Pansy reentered the fireplace and within moments they were in a large and beautiful log cabin styled home, walking out of a large brick fireplace. The furniture was plush and manly and the walls were decorated with bold framed, expensive looking art.

"Draco!" Pansy called as she walked through the house impatiently.

Hermione followed her through a large doorway leading into a surprisingly shiny stainless steel kitchen. Very strange…

As Pansy headed through another doorway and up a flight of stairs Hermione pulled her eyes away from the modern kitchen and focused on the span of the second floor. More dark red wood, an open door down the hall revealed a hot tub if she wasn't mistaken, a study with the door also ajar and the three other rooms which hid their contents behind heavy wood.

Pansy walked up to one and threw the door open to reveal a large four poster bed covered in black down. The bed was a mess, as was the desk in the corner and the large walk-in closet on the other side of the room. There was dirty laundry on the floor and a plate with what Hermione hoped was today's lunch, left half finished on the side table.

"That slob," Pansy remarked in disgust as she left the room. She inspected the other two doors; a guest room and what seemed to be storage space judging from all the unmarked brown boxes.

When it seemed like Pansy was settled with excepting his absence, she left a note on the kitchen counter letting him know that she'd dropped by, and then left the house through the floo network once more.

Hermione stood in the massive space taking it all in. He was still rich alright. She wondered when he'd be back and what she was going to say to him.

She found a back door and walked through the glass, surprised to find that they were in the middle of a forest. She took a step further outside on the expansive wooden porch, and looked around at the tall trees. Malfoy, living alone in the solitude of a forest?

Who'd have guessed?

The light from the sun was fading behind the trees as night fall came fast.

She stepped back into the house, putting together a string of words and explanations as potential conversation starters while she awaited Draco's return.

It was all pointless fodder for something that couldn't really be put into proper words. Especially because she was mute.

In fact she didn't even understand how the girl before her was able to have a quill and ink in the first place.

This was too much, all she really wanted was to lay down in a big fluffy blanket and lake a long nap. She hadn't been getting much sleep lately what with nothing but the choice between pavement and more pavement being as comfortable as she could get.

She missed the feel of beds and blankets and pillows…

The things you take for granted when they're so mundane to you.

She looked at the lovely white fur carpet on the floor in front of the fire place and collapsed on it. As she guessed, the fur lined her body but beneath her all she felt was hard wood.

As her eyes became heavy she decided that the illusion was as good as it was going to get. With a long silent yawn, she fell asleep.

Draco appeared with a pop in front of his home. Taking out his key and opening the door, he smiled recalling his day at work.

Today at the job site, Mrs. Claretta had come down from the office to motivate the team. With her appealing grey suit clinging to her curves and her hair uncharacteristically down since she wasn't behind her desks, she was more of a distraction than motivation.

Draco entered the house, putting his key on the hook and tossing his jacket in the closet near the door, as he headed for the kitchen.

They were building a second addition onto an already exaggerated home. Their boss, Mrs. Claretta was a laid back woman as long as her carpenters where doing what needed to be done, and because they were ahead of schedule, she had come down to hang out with her staff.

Draco reached for a glass out of the cabinet and went to the fridge, filling it with water.

As he under stood, if not for her lack of muscles, she'd have been out there in the heat alongside them. As it were, she was just too damn good looking to be lifting anything, so her mind for business and her knowledge of the job was where her stronghold was at.

Draco smiled, leaning against the counter.

She was quite open with her staff, and the news of her impending divorce had been all anyone could think of lately. Soon she'd be just Miss Claretta, but Draco being the kind of guy that he was, wasn't wasting time on silly titles. As far as he was concerned, she was already back on the market whether it was in writing or not.

And he wanted her. The employee and boss relationship had always been a thin line with her and he was going to make it a whole lot thinner.

He set the cup down on the sink and as he was leaving the kitchen he noticed the note on the island.

Pansy had been here, and thank god that he'd missed it.

He didn't know how long it was going to take her to understand that he wasn't going back. Living with muggles was so much… easier. Living where people didn't know him was easier. His life was easier. And he'd had enough of the hard life.

He crumpled up the paper and headed upstairs.

Hermione lied still on the ground just beyond the kitchens doorway. She'd heard him come in and froze up. What was she supposed to do now? She heard his door close upstairs and sighed. This wasn't going to get her anywhere and now as if things weren't going to be hard enough, she was going to freak him out by walking through the door of his room.

She got up, she had to just get this over with.

Heading up the stairs, she pumped herself full of reassurances. It would be easy, just get him to understand the situation and then find out how to get her out of it. POOF! Release and then she could go and put an end to her funeral planning.

As she stood in front of his door, it all seemed so plausible. She braced herself and took a step forward heading to the door at full speed before she could talk herself out of it.

There was a loud thud as her face collided with door, and she fell backward onto the floor. She rolled around on the ground holding her nose that she was sure she'd just broken.

As she rolled around screaming curses that never left her throat the door to Draco's room swung open and before she could register what was happening he was on top of her with his wand at her neck.

She looked up in shock as he wrenched her hands from her aching face. There was a strange moment of stunned recognition in his eyes before he pushed the wand harder to her throat with a frown.

"Who are you?" he demanded in a low voice.

Hermione shook her head in a don't shoot kind of way and moved her mouth frantically wishing the word would come out.

As Draco watched her, he seemed to have caught her lips wording Hermione Granger repeatedly. He shook her slightly.

"Talk," he yelled, "You can't be Hermione Granger because she went missing five months ago," he told her and Hermione shook her head mouthing.

'It's me, Hermione Granger.'

He looked down at her, examining her features for what seemed like forever, before he stood up and backed off, his wand still at the ready.

Hermione put her hand to her nose to make sure it was still intact and not seeing any blood she got to her feet with a little effort.

He stood there watching her movements as if he wasn't sure she were really there.

"Talk," he said again, his guard still up.

Hermione shook her head pointing to her mouth and throat, willing him to understand.

"You lost your voice?" he asked skeptically and Hermione nodded.

She felt a wave of dizziness hit her and fell back against the railing of the second floor. She looked at the railing with surprise then, at him.

He took a weary step back from her and her body slipped through the bars.

Before she fell to the first floor Draco's caught her and pulled her back over the railing with surprising ease, before again stepping away. Standing closest to the railing now, he ran a hand across it's smooth surface.

"What's going on?" he asked calmly and Hermione commended his control, she on the other hand was freaking out.

She could touch things!

And he could see her… well, of course he could. It was just that after being invisible for half a year it was a shock. Even though Revenge had told her that he'd be the only one who could see her, in the back of her mind, she'd had this fear that she'd get here and he wouldn't be the one and she'd never find who she was looking for.

It wasn't much of a consolation, but even if it was Draco Malfoy, being seen was a wonderful feeling.

And touching things, God, she could cry. She felt the wall behind her and had to hold back tears. She smiled as her fingers grazed the panels and she felt hysteria bubble up inside of her. She started laughing, jumping up and down a little while running her hands against the walls.

She took a few steps down the hall trailing her hand after her and suddenly fell halfway into a room as the walls gave way again. Or maybe it was her mass giving way. Either way she stood up watching as her body again passed through solid objects.

What was this, just a momentary thing?

Suddenly she remembered that Draco was in the hall with her and froze taking some calming breaths.

When she turned to him, he was just standing there staring at her with a confused frown. A blush rose to her cheeks as she came back toward him feeling sheepish. There was complete silence as she refused to look up at him as he watched her, waiting for answers.

When his patience had been tried enough, he stepped past her into his room and stood in the doorway as he addressed her.

"I just realized that, whatever the bloody hell this is, I don't want to know," he said shaking his head at the absurdity of it all. "Get out of my house and don't get me evolved," he said seriously, before closing his door in her face.

Draco pulled his black shirt over his head, letting it litter the floor and headed for his bathroom. Starting up the shower, he decided that he was going to consider this whole encounter as some whacked out dream.

Curiosity killed the cat and he wasn't about to follow it's lead. He'd never seen a human move through objects like that. His first thought was that she was a ghost, but he'd just been touching her, and then when she slipped through the bars of the railing his instincts had kicked in and he'd caught her. Sure enough, she was solid, and so was the railing…

It wasn't hard to guess that she was under some powerful magic and he was sure that she'd done something to deserve it.

The question was, why was she in his house? And how had she found him? And wasn't she supposed to be missing?

Okay, there were a lot of questions, but it didn't concern him and he wasn't going to get dragged back into anything having to do with the wizarding world.

He was getting ready to remove his jeans when her felt a hand catch onto his forearm.

He spun around to see Hermione with a pleading look on her face.

"I told you to get out of here," he muttered stepping past her and out of the bathroom. He didn't want to be too close, everything about this was unnerving. Mostly the lack of her annoying voice.

She followed him shaking her head.

"If you don't get out, I'll throw you out. This…," he said waving his hands at her, "has nothing to do with me."

Hermione shook her head again as if to tell him that he was wrong. She held up a leather bound book and presented it to him.

He wasn't touching that thing. He wasn't going to have anything to do with this.

He kept telling himself that even as he reached for the book and took it from her hands.

Hermione watched as Draco read through the first page, where the Creator had scrawled his directions. Hermione's heart jumped as he looked up at her. This was it, Revenge told him how to break the curse. She was going to be free.

"It's Blank," he said facing the book toward her.

Hermione stood looking at the page that was indeed blank. She snatched away the book from him and stared down at the page feeling tears burn at her eyes.

This book was impossible!

She screamed wishing that the sound of her anguish could at least reach her own ears. She tried to rip the book but it was solid . She fell to the floor unable to hold her own weight up.

She knew that Draco was watching her, and for a moment she wished that she were invisible again. What was the point? Why would the book tell her to find him and then do nothing.

Hermione opened the book again inspecting it's inner cover once more. She blinked feeling confused. There were a new set of rules written in a list.

'You must help him understand your curse. If he does not agree to help you then he cannot see the script.'

Hermione growled. What a dirty book. How was she supposed to explain without a voice?

The book began to scribble on the opposite page. It was a drawing of a quill and Hermione watched the quill solidify and rise from the page.

"What's going on?" Draco asked again seeming impatient, watching Hermione pick up the quill with a sigh. Now she understood what was going on with the girl before her.

She looked up at him and then at the book reading the second line of the new regulations.

'When he agrees to read the book with full knowledge of its doings, only then will the secret to your release be revealed.'

Hermione ran a hand through her hair, as she read the last new line.

'Then the decision falls in his hands.'

Hermione watched as writing started up on the opposite page again.

'It wants me to tell you what happened.'

Hermione looked up at Draco and gritted her teeth, copying the girls words.

She stood up and handed the book to him. He ran his eyes over the writing than looked at her with an eyebrow cocked.

"It?" he asked.

'The book.' Hermione wrote.

"I'm going to regret listening to you aren't I?" he asked and Hermione shrugged as he handed the book back to her.

'I hope not. But I need your help.'

"Why should I help you?" he asked with an incline of his head thrusting the book back at her.

She took the book and stared at the page for what seemed like forever.

Draco watched her try and figure out what she could possibly write that would make him care. From the moment he saw her, he should have thrown her out. Years had made him a kinder person, made his past seem farther away, but it hadn't made him forget.

Her hand slowly moved across the paper as she wrote and he could hardly wait to see what she would come up with.

'I don't know,'

He stared at the page as she looked away from him.

"That's the best you could do?" he asked with a bitter laugh.

She scribbled out frantically with a face on that Draco would describe as defeated. He felt bad for somewhat enjoying it.

'I know I was a horrible person and I recently found out that I still am. I really can't give you a good reason to help me but I guess I was just hoping beyond hope that maybe you became a better person than I have over the years.'

He read the words and didn't know what to say. He was sure that he became a better person than her, but he had nothing to prove, especially not to her.

"Get out," he said and she looked crest fallen. "Let me take a shower and then I'll let you tell me how you fucked yourself over like this.

Hermione's eyes widened in shock. She mouthed the word 'really' as if she couldn't believe it. Which was understandable, he couldn't believe it either.

"What?" he asked walking past her into his foggy bathroom, "do you want me to change my mind?"

Hermione ran for the door with a smile, putting a hand up to check if it was solid or not first, before looking dejected that her hand slid through it, and leaving the room.

He wanted to be angry with her for what she'd done, but time had changed him. Angry? No, a tad bit bitter…? Perhaps.

Not only that, but as he understood it, she was assumed dead with a funeral in the works. No one deserved that. It didn't mean that he wasn't going to enjoy having power over her, but he was going to do what he could to help her out as long as it didn't interfere with his life too much.

To be fair, he liked the way his life was now, and in a whacked out kind of way, it was thanks to her in part.

Without a doubt, he knew that he'd tuned out a better person in the muggle world than he would have if he'd stayed in the wizarding world.

As he stepped into the spray, he smiled. He was even thinking of having a long term relationship with a muggle woman he admired and could see as a potential life partner. That was amazing.

Hermione had done more for him in a backwards sort of way, than she knew.

Beside, how hard would helping her out be?

Tell me what you think is going to happen if you have any ideas. I hope to make another awesome Draco. I'd like to here what you think of him if you'd please R&R.