Hermione gasped in amazement as Draco smiled at his childhood home. It was the Malfoy Manor. It was a handsome, magnificent mansion built with grey stone and many windows. Some carefully trimmed green hedges were around it, and evergreen trees grew at the edge of the property. A glistening lake was to the west of the house, and the sky was a merry blue. It was absolutely gorgeous.

Draco's face was bright and excited; Hermione never seen him like this before. "Come on." Draco said. "I'll show you around, there's so much I have to show you."

Hermione grinned silently as Draco continued his uncharacteristic chatter while they walked. "There's a group of centaurs that live in the forest, but don't worry, they're friendly. Oh! And the field behind the manor makes an excellent Quidditch playing field; father put up some hoops and everything… We have 7 bedrooms, not including the elves and servants' headquarters; I'm sure mother will let you stay in one." He paused and stopped smiling as they reached the huge front double doors.

He frowned. "Mother will be right behind these doors, I'm sure of it. Let's go a different way so that we won't have to see her." Hermione nodded in agreement. He motioned for her to follow her. It was as if they were young children again, unburdened with secrets, love, sadness, and stress.

Draco trotted until they were at the side of the mansion, smiling secretively. "Don't tell anyone, okay?"

"Okay." Draco pushed back some hedges and revealed a small path going right along the wall. Hermione asked, "How do you know about this?"

"I grew up here, of course I know everything about this place. I used this path for the exact same reason as now."

They crept along as quietly as they could, giggling to themselves as they went. Hermione saw another side of Draco that appeared when he was at a familiar place where there was no one needed to be impressed. He was himself. Hermione almost liked him this way. In another world, at another time, Hermione believed they could be good friends.

They reached a low hatch on the wall. It was about three feet tall. "This was made in the medieval times for our servant elves to go through so they could wait on us more quickly if we were outside. But it went out of use a long time ago. I found it when I was eight." Hermione laughed and bent down to take off her heels. Draco took them and hooked them on his fingers and gestured for her to go. "It's not long, just keep going until you reach the other door, then open it and go through it."

Hermione went down on her hands and knees and crawled in. It was dark and musty inside, the floors were stone. She heard Draco get in and close the door. She giggled as she imagined an eight-year-old Draco go through this secret door, then wondered how he looked now, all crouched up. He was a good six feet tall.

Draco's voice echoed through the small tunnel. "You should reach it now…" Hermione hit the door with her face and she groaned. "Oww.." Draco laughed behind her, and she punched his shoulder playfully.

She carefully opened the door, and there was light. It was the elves' kitchen. The door had led to right next to the pantry. Small figures with pointed ears looked in confusion at her as she straightened and tried to fix her hair. Then Draco appeared next to her, now the master of this house, the Malfoy heir. He wore a dignified expression and put his chin up. He straightened his back and widened his broad shoulders.

The elves visibly cowered and looked down. "Master… To what services shall we serve you with?"

"This is Miss Granger, my fiancé. She is now your master also. I wish to see mother. Tell her to come down to the garden parlor." He ordered them. They bowed and scuttled away.

Hermione gave a disgusted look at how he ordered them around. "Do you have to use elves like that? They are treated lower than dogs!"

He shrugged. "I tried to make them leave, I really tried. But they absolutely refuse."

"But still…" Draco handed her her shoes and walked away. Hermione struggled to put them on quickly and followed him.

AN: REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW

please comment and tell me what you guys think about this story so far

It would be very nice and helpful to know your opinion