A/N- Please forgive my absence, readers. I hope everyone had a great holiday and 2015 is going well for you all.
CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN- Defenses
The luxuries of a secure home were so comforting the young Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy slept for nearly two days straight. With Narcissa there to help care for their daughter and the protection of the little villa everyone was the most relaxed they had been in over a month.
Hermione took the smallest bedroom on the top floor for herself and was enjoying sleeping in a real bed until Malfoy woke her up. "Hermione?" Malfoy questioned, gently waking her.
Reflexes took over and Hermione pulled her covers up to her chin with her wand in hand. "It's only me," he said sitting at the edge of her bed. "What time is it?" Hermione asked putting her wand down.
"Just after seven. Mother has made breakfast downstairs and we have some planning to do," Malfoy said. "Is Isola awake?" Hermione asked. "Yes, she's in the kitchen with Mother. Come downstairs?" Malfoy said.
"I'll be down in a moment," she said dismissing her husband. The lavishness of a real bed, indoor plumbing, and semi-fresh food was something Hermione would miss dearly. She tried not to get accustomed to the lifestyle as she pulled a robe on and washed her face.
In the kitchen Hermione saw Narcissa happily putting breakfast on the table with Isola in one arm. She stood in the doorway of the kitchen and watched her mother-in-law interact with her daughter.
"Yes, little one! Now you need another bottle, don't you?" Narcissa cooed after she plopped some toast and eggs onto her son's plate. "She adores you Mother," Malfoy said smiling. "And I adore her," Narcissa cooed again to Isola in reply.
Hermione went and sat at the table across from Malfoy. "Hermione, would you like some?" Narcissa said gesturing to the food on the stove. "Yes. Thank you," she said. Hermione was still unused to the politeness of the once very cold Naricssa.
"My turn," Malfoy said gathering Isola from his mother. Narcissa was reluctant to let go but did all the same. "She is a dead ringer for Draco as a child. I will show you pictures sometime, Hermione. If it weren't for all her hair you could never tell them apart," Narcissa said filling Hermione's plate up.
Still confused by the kindness, Hermione simply nodded and ate every last piece of food on her plate. After she finished Malfoy put Isola in her arms. The best part of Hermione's day was holding her little girl.
"We need to buckle down and think of something," Malfoy said. The room was instantly sullen and everyone grew quiet. "Where do you think we should go?" Hermione asked.
"Durmstrang. Seek protection in the woods or at the school," Draco said. Hermione shook her head. "Aren't most of the student's families at Durmstrang supporters of You-Know-Who? And we have never been there, we would have no real advantages of hiding," Hermione said.
"She is right, Draco. And he was last seen in Durmstrang, he could still very well be there," Narcissa said clearing the dishes. "We need to go somewhere we know, somewhere with defenses. And possible allies," Hermione said.
"Do you mean Hogwarts?" Malfoy scoffed. "We know nothing of the situation there and Death Eaters will be swarming the school. That is not a good plan," he said.
"Hogwarts is the best place. Think about it, Draco. We have the upper hand as of right now. He will eventually come to us, why not pick a place we know every inch of? And there has to be people willing to help us. We can't be the only ones who wish the Dark Lord gone," Hermione reasoned.
"And once we are there we can call upon your father. And Snape. I sincerely doubt they would turn against us," she said. The way Snape held her and danced with her at the wedding, she doubted he would do anything to warrant her death.
"Where else will we go? Tell me," Hermione said after Malfoy's continued silence. Malfoy's brow furrowed when he said, "Hogwarts it is."
The next two days were spent planning at the kitchen table. Narcissa cooked for them, offered advice when she saw fit, and took care of Isola while the two younger Malfoys prepared.
After endless hours of arranging and arguing everyone was exhausted but satisfied with their plan. Both Hermione and Malfoy had to compromise to allow each other's ideas to work. "You're lucky you're going at all, don't push me," Malfoy would say every time Hermione came up with a proposal that could put her in danger.
"You're lucky you have me going with you," she would reply. It was also decided that Narcissa wouldn't stay long in Greece and move to another safe house when the timing was right.
"You will not tell us where. If things should go badly… It is better that we know nothing of Isola's whereabouts," Draco instructed.
The thought had brought tears to Hermione's eyes. "I don't know if I can bear not knowing where she is… Or if she is safe," she whispered. "Nothing will happen whilst I am with her. I may be getting older but I am much more fearsome than I look," Narcissa said with confidence.
"What of Bellatrix? Should she find you? Would you sister show you any mercy?" Hermione questioned. Narcissa was silent for a moment then answered, "No. My sister would not show her niece or myself any mercy. But I would not show her any either."
Hermione wanted to believe that Narcissa would put her granddaughter over her sister but a part of her was still unsure.
Their final night at the villa was somber. Narcissa could barely keep from crying and had a tissue to her eyes the whole time. Malfoy and Hermione took turns holding Isola.
"I'd like her to sleep with me tonight," Hermione said after their last meal. "I would also like that privilege. She is my daughter too," Malfoy said. "Take my bedroom. It has the biggest bed," Narcissa offered.
Malfoy said, "Thank you, Mother" just as Hermione answered, "That won't be necessary." Malfoy, hurt by her answer looked at Hermione and said, "Please. She can sleep between us."
"I… I don't know if I can," Hermione answered truthfully. They shared a large bed in their dormitory at Hogwarts but every time she was in a bed with Malfoy she had nightmares of their wedding night and the many nights after.
"Please, Hermione. This may be my last night with my daughter," he pleaded. Isola's gaze went to her father and Hermione watched their icy grey eyes meet. "Then yes, she may sleep between us," she decided.
Once upstairs in Narcissa's room the three Malfoys got into bed. Two hours later Malfoy asked if she was still awake. "Of course I am," she replied. She had been watching her daughter sleep and watching her little chest move up and down as she breathed.
"She is wonderful, isn't she?" Malfoy said also looking at their daughter. "Yes, Draco. Yes she is," Hermione replied in the darkness of their room.