CHAPTER THIRTY TWO- Goodbye, Hogwarts
With their N.E.W.T.S. completed and their belongings packed Hermione and Draco took one last stroll through the castle. "Must we do this? The train is about to leave," Malfoy said.
"I want to say my goodbyes and you know full well the train won't leave without us on board," she said. They continued to walk until they stopped at the doors of the Great Hall where Draco and Hermione first met.
"Seven years ago when we were children, did you think we would be standing here? Together like we are now?" Hermione asked trying to cover her bump. "Not the slightest. I would have transferred to Durmstrang immediately," he answered sternly.
The answer did not hurt Hermione's feelings because she thought she would have transferred to Beauxbatons to avoid this fate as well. "Shall we?" Draco said eager to leave.
While waiting for a carriage to take them to Hogsmeade Station, Gladys, Mallory and Ursula were running towards Hermione to say goodbye. "Get rid of them! Now!" Hermione asked Draco.
Hermione dreaded the gaggle of girls and Malfoy was eager to yell at something. Before the group approached, Professor Snape stood between the Malfoys and the young ladies. "If I see you three have missed the train your first month back at Hogwarts will involve cleaning leech jars," Snape said.
The girls ran off quickly and Snape turned to them. He saw how hard Hermione had been trying to conceal her ever-growing stomach with robes and coats and longed to comfort her.
If he had it his way she would spend the summer safely at Hogwarts and away from the Malfoys. "Congratulations on your N.E.W.T.S. I'm certain I will be seeing you two often." Snape said.
"Looking forward to it," Draco hissed as he grabbed Hermione's hand to drag her on the train. Once inside their private compartment he complained about having to take the Hogwarts Express back rather than Apparation.
Hermione was no longer allowed to travel by floo powder, Apparation or port key now that she was almost four months pregnant. Traveling without magic made Draco more irritated than usual.
Upon arriving at King's Cross Draco said goodbye to his former classmates with promises of seeing them over the summer before they all headed to work. Hermione stood by their bags and waited for him to finish his farewells.
"That's the one we need to get in," Draco said scanning the busy street for their car. The car the got into was black and luxurious and altered by magic. The backseat was much bigger than it should have been as well as the boot of the car.
"As fast as you can," Draco commanded of the man driving. "Two hours if we are lucky to Malfoy Manor. Honestly, how do you Muggles travel like this?" Draco asked.
Hermione had no energy to correct him in saying she was not a Muggle but a witch. The best witch of her year in fact. However, being back in a car was soothing and she took the opportunity to dose off as the big car lulled her to sleep.
"Nearly three hours! Get me out of this damn thing," Draco said flinging himself onto the driveway of Malfoy Manor and stretching his legs like a maniac. Hermione was happy to get out of the car as well, but not happy to be back with her in-laws.
Narcissa came prancing out of the manor and embraced her son tightly. "Draco! Congratulations, my darling. You've done so well!" Narcissa said still suffocating her son.
"Mother… Please… Let go," Draco said detaching himself. "Is supper ready?" Malfoy asked his father who had just come outside. "The table is being set now. I trust the ride was not difficult?" Lucius asked with a smirk.
"You try being in a tin box for almost three hours," he said heading inside. Her in-laws offered no greetings to Hermione but Narcissa gave her a long look up and down.
Hermione's appearance must have pleased Narcissa who did not comment on her looks. At the table Narcissa had extra portions put on Hermione's plate as well as her nightly potion set on the table.
"How much longer until Black Landing is ready?" Draco asked while he ate his favorite meal. Narcissa had a feast set up in his honor and Lucius brought out a special bottle of wine from the cellars.
"Only a few days longer. Would you not stay the summer at Malfoy Manor? Your mother wants you here," Lucius said.
"I'd much rather be at Black Landing. Besides Mother, Devon is not far at all." Draco said. "I know my dear, it just broke my heart seeing your things packed up and sent away," Narcissa said.
"Devon?" Hermione questioned. She thought Black Landing would be much further north. "The Black's have estates all over the U.K. but Black Landing has always been Draco's favorite," Narcissa said.
"It's nestled right in Dartmoor. We have a small coastal cottage in Plymouth as well. Draco, while you're there stop by and check on the place. It has been vacant for too long," Narcissa added.
"I'll send a crew there to have it cleaned. How have the gardens been tended?" Draco said. The conversation continued with arrangements of setting up Black Landing, Healer Tonnesen's visits and the visits Draco would be making to Malfoy Manor.
After three painful nights at the Malfoy's, their bags were packed and a teary-eyed Narcissa waited to say goodbye. "We will come visit you soon, I swear it," Narcissa said clinging to her son.
Outside the door another luxurious black car waited in the driveway. "We are driving all the way to Devon? Who is driving?" Hermione asked. "The train won't leave this early and I'll be the one driving. It can't be that hard," Draco said kicking the vehicle.
Once all of their last minute bags were packed into the boot of the car Hermione got into the passenger's side. She was very irritated when Lucius rapped a knuckle on her window.
Annoyed, she put her window down and he leaned his head in. "Be a good girl, won't you? Perhaps your mother and father miss their old cell down below?" Lucius said walking back to Narcissa who was frantically crying now.
"What did father want?" Draco said climbing into the car. "The usual," Hermione replied. She hoped that Draco would be such an awful driver he would crash but he turned out to be more skilful than she thought he'd be.
"Just read me the damn map. I can't do two things at once," Draco said clearly flustered. After many wrong turns and colorful swear words later they arrived at the base of the moorlands.
"How do you expect to drive a car though a Muggle National Park?" Hermione asked. "A few magical families live here. Hidden away and protected by concealment charms. We just have to find the right entrance…" Malfoy said looking around for the concealed path.
After a half hour of searching and even more cursing from Draco he found the path that would lead to Black Landing. The terrain was rocky through the moors and the twists and turns were making Hermione sick.
"We are practically there! Do not vomit in this car!" Malfoy said. After another half hour of driving and replacing charms they got to the landing in one piece. Hermione was in awe when she got out of the car.
Black Landing was breathtaking to Hermione. It was a 17th Century Manor house that was not as big as Malfoy Manor but had much more charm. "This isn't exactly a "Landing" you know," Hermione said as Draco tried to figure out how to get the keys out of the ignition.
"Now is not the time for technicalities, Granger. How do you get the key out of this thing?" Draco said getting frustrated. Hermione went over to put the cark in park and then took the key out with ease.
She threw the key at Draco and went for a closer look at the house. A big reflecting pond sat between the driveway and front steps filled with lilies and other aquatic plants.
The home itself was old stone covered in ivy and heavy glass windows. The landscaping was lush and had more flowers than Hermione could count. "Shall we go in?" Draco asked with one last kick to the car.
Past the pond, flowers and hedges they climbed the steps to the weighty front door. Inside was just as lovely and charming as the outside. The ceilings were high, the wood dark, fireplaces were lit and natural light poured in.
"My rooms are the only rooms on the third floor so there is no reason for you to go up there," Draco began. "Yours is on the second floor to the left and I'm sure you'll figure the rest out," he said climbing up the steps.
Left alone in her new home she took the entire afternoon exploring it. Outside there was a greenhouse for magical plants, a hedge garden and a tall tree complete with a swing. Hermione knew instantly the gardens would be her favorite place at Black Landing.
The kitchen was exactly what a chef would need, the main dining hall was beautiful and she even found a music room with a piano. Finding her own room was the difficult part.
She opened door after door on the second floor and the last door she tried had all of her belongings inside and unpacked. It was the nicest room on the second floor with a view of the front of the house with the moorlands rolling in the hills.
Despite her situation this was the most peace she had since she found out she was betrothed to Draco. Being alone in a quiet home and knowing she would not be seeing Malfoy much brightened her spirits immensely.
After changing and rearranging some of the items in her bedroom she went back downstairs to the wing of the house she didn't have the energy to explore before. To add to her happiness, she found a library.
Books on every subject imaginable lined the walls next to big comfortable couches. She was about to plop down and read a book when she saw a mural to the left of her.
When she stepped closer she saw it was the Black family tree. At the top of all of Draco's relatives were the words "Toujours Pur." She traced her finger down the branches passing people who had been burnt out until she passed Narcissa which lead her to Draco.
"I see you've found the library. I wondered how long it would take you," Draco said. She did not hear him come in and she jumped when she heard his voice. "Always Pure" is what it says there," Draco said pointing to his mother's family motto.
"I don't suppose I'll be added to this tree," Hermione said. "Probably not. We like to sweep these sort of things under the rug," he said with honesty. "Will our child be immortalized here?" Hermione asked.
"Born on the wrong side of the blanket and-" Draco started. "I don't need to hear it. I'll just take some books upstairs with me," she said piling books into her arms.
Malfoy watched his wife leave the library silently as she struggled with armfuls of books. In her room she realized that living at Black Landing would not be peaceful at all. Hermione decided that night that any free time she had would be spent planning the rescue of her parents and her escape.