Hermione Granger stepped out of the fireplace and brushed the dust off of herself. A house elf greeted her.
"I need to speak to Narcissa right away, please," Hermione told him.
Her annoyance and frustration grew by the minute...she couldn't believe that she had lied to her whole life. And add to that her lingering discomfort in regards to coming to Malfoy Manor after everything and...well.
"Right this way, Miss. Mistress is entertaining in the parlor." Nausea in her stomach built, memories of the first and last time she was in the drawing room and the torture she suffered at Narcissa's crazy sister's hands still assaulting her. Not that Narcissa ever allowed her elves to lead her toward that particular wing after everything.
To top it all off, though, Hermione was confused as she walked with Stinky through the Malfoys' beautiful home. Her heels clicked on the hardwood floors, drawing attention to beautiful paintings that looked like they belonged to a museum. Pictures of Malfoy ancestors that would usually call her nasty names like Mudblood when she had tea with Narcissa, now seemed like they were actually happy to see her.
Hermione started thinking about when first started visiting Narcissa after the war. She had testified for all the Malfoy's trials that they shouldn't be sent to jail especially Draco because he was a child when he was forced to take the dark mark and Narcissa because she had never taken it.
Although Hermione wasn't a huge fan of Lucius she knew it put aside from that testified on his behalf for Narcissa.
Lucius and Narcissa were put under house arrest and they had to have their wands monitored for the next year. Draco was made the head of the head household.
Hermione was still thinking when she realized that stinky was opening the parlor door, Hermione could see the room was occupied by two other people other than Narcissa and Lucius. Hermione's lungs sucked in a breath as she recognized two death eaters, one of whom had tried to kill her twice. Her hand found her wand at once, and Hermione advanced further into the room, settling into a fighting stance. All eyes had turned toward her.
Narcissa stood up and carefully walked toward Hermione. "Hermione, let's not have any more bloodshed in this house, please."
Hermione still had her wand raised. "That son of a bitch has tried to kill me twice and now you are entertaining him? Are you fucking kidding me?" she yelled.
While Dolohov had been immediately recognizable, the other one took her a minute. He had shoulder-length blonde hair and a short beard. She thought he looked like Thorfinn Rowle who was a couple of years older than her in school. They both were sitting in armchairs, facing the couch that Narcissa and Lucius occupied.
The older witch's gaze never wavered from her. "Please, Hermione, will you at least listen to what they have to say?"
Hermione glared at the woman. "I'm keeping my wand in my hand, and they better keep theirs in their holsters."
Narcissa came over to her and, taking Hermione's hand, led her to where the men were sitting. As they saw them approaching, Lucius, who had stayed quiet before, stood and muttered, "Welcome to our home, Miss Granger."
Hermione glared at him as well.
They walked over to the two other men. The older-looking one whispered something Hermione didn't understand.
"What?"
"I am sorry for... for everything," the dark-haired wizard murmured.
"Oh yeah, because that really fixes everything!" Hermione looked at him. "I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive."
"Natasha..."Dolohov said
"My name is Hermione," Hermione said, punctuating every word as Narcissa pulled her to sit on the couch next to her.
Lucius conjured a chair for himself across from the couch. "Perhaps it would be best to start from the beginning, shall we?"
"Hermione, this Antonin Dolohov," Narcissa said. "But it seems you already know that." As she tried to ease the tension in the room.
"I will explain everything, but first…" The man in question waved towards his companion. "l want to introduce you to your betrothed, Thorfinn Rowle."
"What?! I refuse to marry him."
Thorfinn rose to his full height, reaching at least six feet tall, and walked over near her, ignoring her raised the wand.
"It's not like I'm thrilled to marry you, either," he said, rolling his eyes.
Narcissa looked between her and Thorfinn, pinching the bridge of her nose."Thorfinn, you're not supposed to anger her even more."
As the blond wizard knelt before her, Hermione couldn't help but think he was gorgeous, not that she would ever tell him. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. Her breathing quickened, and she ripped her hand out of his. "What do you think you are doing?"
Hermione was so mad it was a wonder steam wasn't coming out of her ears.
They stayed like that - Hermione glaring daggers at him while he faced her full-on - until they heard someone clear their throat
"Can you stop trying to antagonize my daughter, Thor?"
The blond man - no, Death Eater, looked at Hermione, and she could feel herself flush, confused at the change in his gaze. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart, you probably have a lot of questions."
"Don't call me sweetheart," Hermione growled, then trained her gaze on the dark-haired wizard. "You said you'd explain?"
Narcissa reached over and gently took her hand."I can't imagine how you feel, my dear, but we will get everything sorted out as soon as Severus arrives."