A/n: thank you everyone for the reviews and for following! It makes my day to see I have a new notification! I'm sorry to take so long updating. I had to a little re-reading of Deathly Hallows to make sure I didn't totally twist the original story. I also wanted to make sure I handled this conversation correctly.
After Tippy finally left they both relaxed with the tea and sandwiches she had brought but tension was in the air. The elf had brought up a lot of memories that they had very carefully sidestepped these past few months.
"So. You freed all of your elves before Dobby's Law even passed?" Hermione stated looking at Malfoy over her tea cup. It intrigued her, most pureblood families had fought the law and many had to be forced into compliance.
"Of course, I had planned to anyways, I was trying to line up potential positions before I did so. It just timed out right to do it when the law went before the Wizengamot."
"You had planned to free your house elves?" she asked her curiosity peaked. He always seemed like the kind of person that would starve to death in dirty clothes if left to take care of himself, especially back in school.
"Of course, it would have been cruel to make them stay in the Manor. Tippy is my personal elf so she came with me to my flat once I was released from prison. Two of mothers closest, both from the Black side stayed with her. They agreed to stay on with us and the rest I helped get employment at Hogwarts." He paused as he saw her expression change to confusion, "Dont fret Granger, they are compensated well beyond what the law requires. "
Before she had a chance to reply they heard the floo activate in the front room and foot steps coming down the hall. Malfoy jumped up and opened the door just as Ginny was raising her arm to knock. "Weaslette" he says as he pulls the door open further to allow her entrance.
"Malfoy, I am so pregnant I waddle, I'm tired and upset so this is your one and only warning to not cross me. Otherwise I will be forced to bat-bogey you, Ferret." She said as she indeed waddled into the room and took the chair Malfoy had been sitting in. He looked for about half a second to say something but quickly thought better of it. "Still as pleasant as ever I see. I will leave you..." before he even had the door shut Ginny was asking Hermione how she was.
The witches spoke for a few minutes about the accident and how Hermione was getting along with Malfoy when, crack! "Tippy is back for the tray and to see if miss needs anything else." Tippy says bowing then as she looks up she sees Ginny, "miss Ginny! You knows Miss Granger? How is you?" The elf asks as she stops in front of Ginny.
Ginny was about to reply but Hermione interrupted them both, "Wait how do you two know each other?" She asks as the elf hugs her friend, beaming.
"Tippy was at Hogwarts when the Death Eaters took over. She would patrol the hallways and help anyone who was hurt by the Carrows get the medical help they needed. She told us it wasn't safe at her home so her master brought her to the school and told her to help us any way she could. She would bring people to the Room of Requirement and keep it stocked with medical supplies. She and Dobby kept us fed and got us any supplies the Room couldn't provide." Ginny replied looking over the elfs head at her friend in shock. "Without her I'm not sure how much longer we would have been able to hold out. Wait, now its all over, who was your master?" Ginny asked looking back at the elf. As soon as Ginny asked her who her master is the elf started twisting her dress in her hands and her eyes started darting between Ginny, Hermione and the closed door Malfoy had stepped behind.
"I's never supposed to tell. Master says wes could all gets hurt if anyone found out." She said still looking around worriedly.
"Malfoy!" Hermione called him back into the room. His footsteps could be heard coming back down the hallway.
"You bellowed." He said in a deadpan voice as he opened the door. As he looked around the room Hermione could see the moment he registered what was going on. His face reflected the look of a deer caught in the headlights before he was able to put his usual haughty mask on. "Tippy, what are you doing back?"
"Mr. Draco I came to get the tray and check on Miss Granger." The elf replied still wringing her hands.
"She is fine so you may take the tray and go now." He said dismissing the elf. He sounded eerily like his wretched father in that moment, making Hermione flinch. She looked at Ginny as the elf quickly collected the tray and disapporated away with a Crack! Ginny looked shocked for a moment then quickly asked the question most pressing on her mind, "Malfoy how long has Tippy been yours?"
"She is a Black family elf, she has always been my personal elf. After the war I freed her and she chose to stay in my employ. Why does she concern you?" He asked.
"Because during the Carrows reign at Hogwarts she came to a lot of students aid and she said it was at her masters request." She paused shaking her head in disbelief, "it was you? All this time I wondered. And it was you." She paused again then looked at him, " You gave her the potion, didn't you? Where did you get it? At first we thought it was Madam Pomfry sending it but after the war I asked and not only did she not send it she didn't know of any such potion in existence."
Hermione felt this was a rather personal moment between the two but couldn't help but question, "what potion?"
"After anyone was Crucioed Tippy brought a potion. It helped with the after effects. It lessened the pain and tremors and strengthened you."
"No such potion exists." Hermione said, she knew because she had researched it many times since the first time fake Moody had shown them the curse in DADA class.
"Its not known to many but those of us at Hogwarts that year know it exists." Ginny said then turned back to Malfoy, "so where did you get it?" She demanded of the blonde.
He hesitated but finally gave in under her direct glare, "Severus and I developed it the summer between 6th and 7th year."
Hermione had about a million questions but she realized this was between them and bit her tongue. After a few moments of Ginny and Malfoy staring at each other Ginny finally nodded her head and stood up. "Well, thank you then. Tippy was quite literally a lifesaver and your potion lessened the suffering of many."
As she was about to leave the room he called out, "Weaslette," when she turned back to look at him he looked her in the eye, "no one is to know of this."
In a very uncharacteristic move Ginny just nodded then left the room. Somehow in that moment they came to an understanding and a truce.
Yet again they were left in an uncomfortable silence. Malfoy sat back in the chair by the bed and she could see him putting his mask back on as his expression turned totally blank. Hermione gave him a few minutes to gather himself before she spoke, "Better?" She asked startling him. He turned and looked at her almost as if he forgot where he was. When he looked at her he simply nodded. "When did you learn to Occlude?" She asked startling him once again.
"Lucius started teaching me the basics after Voldemort returned. Severus taught me to fully Occlude the following summer. Kind of necessary if I wanted to survive with that madman living in the same house." He answered in a monotone. Then added "how can you tell?"
"Since the first time you walked into the pub. I knew you were different. It wasnt till the next day I realized you had Occluded. As the weeks went by I could see you slowly dropping more and more walls. You still keep some up but no where near what you did that first day. I never said anything because I have my own walls. Most came down the night I told you about Fred but I still have a few." She answered honestly. She had learned the basics from researching how to help Harry 5th year. While on the run she brought a few books on the subject and began to teach herself. She explained this to Malfoy and while he looked confused as to why Harry would need to know Occlumacy she glossed over it and kept going. As they got to know each other better and especially after she told him about Fred she had dropped almost all her walls around him. The only thing she shielded him from was that year on the run.
After the war Harry refused to tell anyone what had happened during the year on the run until Hermione woke up and he spoke to her and Ron. They decided to pull a page from Dumbledores book and keep the full extent of what they did that year to themselves. All far as anyone knew they took that year on the run to train, nothing more. They told Ginny and Neville about the Horcruxes because she had been possessed by one and he had killed one. They had a private meeting with Kingsley and told him about the Horcruxes mainly to explain why they actually had to break into Gringotts. He then used his power to convince the goblins to not press charges.
Everyone at the final battle had heard Harry talking about the Elder wand but few knew what it was. So only a few people knew the Hallows were real but only Ginny knew Harry had possession of them all at one point and even she wasn't told where the other two were. She understood it was for her own safety that she didn't know and never asked for more information.
After a moments contemplation Hermione grabbed her wand, "Accio Firewhiskey, Accio Scotch." The two bottles and two glasses came flying into the room. She pointed them to the night stand and then poured two shots of Firewhiskey and handed Malfoy his before saying cheers and taking her shot. He paused just a moment then took his as well. She then took the glasses cast a scorgify then poured the scotch, neat.
When he raised his eyebrow at the scotch she said, "I always keep some, it was my dads favorite." She smiled sadly at the memory, then looked back up at Malfoy, "We have been dancing around each other and our past for awhile now. I think the time has come. I drop my walls, you drop yours and we get it all out in the open." She could see he was about to protest so she pushed on before he could argue, "Obviously there is plenty I cant or won't tell you. I assume its the same for you. But if we are going to continue whatever this is," she pointed between the two of them, "certain thing's need to be discussed."
After a moment he nodded, "Fine. What do you want to know?"
She hadn't expected him to agree so quickly, it caught her off guard. Honestly she thought it was a 50/50 chance he would either refuse or just storm out. She thought about how she wanted to ask him her first question.
"What changed between 1st and 2nd year? First year you basically ignored me. Unless I tried to stop you and Harry from going at it, you left me alone. Then 2nd year I went from someone in the background to a target? The first time you called me a mudblood," he visibly shivered at how matter of factly she used that foul word, "was 2nd year. What happened?"
Malfoy took a sip of his scotch as he pondered his reply. He knew what she was talking about, there was use no denying it. "As you can probably tell, I led a very sheltered life before Hogwarts. I was only allowed to associate with my parents pureblood friends children. I was taught from an early age that if you weren't pureblood you were nothing. Blood status was everything. So when I got to Hogwarts my attitude was that anyone less than pureblood wasn't worth my time. So I did ignore you, I honestly didn't even notice you half the time until you were stepping between myself and Potter. Lucius was on the board of governor's so he had access to final grades for the year. That summer after the grades were posted he saw that I came in 2nd in every class. That was unacceptable in his eyes, Malfoys are always the best at everything. For me to be 2nd was an insult to the family name and I was deemed a failure. Since he didn't recognize your surname he asked Severus about you. Once Lucius found out I came in 2nd to a muggleborn he lost it. I already had private tutoring, instead of a couple hours 2 days a week he insisted I study 10 hours a day 6 days a week. He threatened me if I dared be 2nd again. So when I saw you again I took it all out on you. I still felt you were beneath me but now I blamed you for Lucius' behavior. Every year you beat me and every year he got worse and I blamed you more. I was mad at him but I took it out on you. For that I am sorry." He finally looked up at Hermione, his grey eyes clouded as he apologized. Up until that moment he had been staring at his glass, turning it in his hands.
"That actually makes sense. He was a ass because of me, you couldn't call him out so you took it out on me. Now I get it." Hermione said nodding, "Apology accepted. Now, whats a question you have for me?" She asked shocking him. He truly expected this to be one sided for he had lots to apologize for.
"Seriously? Thats it?"
"Thats it." She shrugged.
"How?" He asked.
"Simple. You were a 12 year old. You grew up. Obviously you don't still feel the same way or you wouldn't have talked to me that first night at Paddy's. So, what do you need clarified? " she asked simply. He couldn't believe she saw it so simply but couldn't bring himself to push it. He knew the most important question he had but he still wasn't ready to ask it. So he asked the other question he had, "what happened to your parents?" She looked obviously startled at this question. "I noticed in the pictures in the hall that there are none of your parents recently. And when you told me about Fred you said something about losing your family forever. What happened?" he asked, "if you don't mind sharing that is. " he added.
"Dumbledore gave us a mission before he died. We knew we would be targeted by Voldemort and needed to hide on the run. We also knew our families wouldn't be safe. Harry's aunt, uncle and cousin were relocated and heavily guarded. The Burrow had every conceivable protection put on it and we had a story for why Ron didn't go back to school. But what about my parents? I knew I was a prime target. I was Harry Potter's best friend and a muggleborn. It would be to easy to get to me through them. So I obliviated me from their memories, changed their names and sent them to Australia. I thought I did it so I could bring their memories back but I did it wrong." She paused. She hadn't told anyone outside the family what happened to her parents. It was just to painful knowing it was all her fault that she didn't have them. "Ron and Harry went with me to Australia when Bryony was 6 months old to try and restore their memories but I couldn't bring them back. The damage was done. So they are happily living on the Australian coast, with no idea they have a daughter. Harry thought the area beautiful and bought a small bungalow nearby. He and Ginny vacation there every year and check on them for me. Its hard at times, especially with Bryony growing up without them. I know they would love her but I know it was for the best." She shook her head then asked her next question, "What changed your mind about blood purty?
"What makes you think I've changed my mind?" he half smirked. He knew this conversation had been coming for some time now. He knew that no matter what he decided when it came to this witch, the air had to be cleared first.
"You mean other than the fact that you are here in my house? You haven't looked down on me, you've sneared and been condescending but never looked at me as less. Not since school. So what changed your mind?"
"Simply put? You. I was taught that purebloods were the better, stronger wizards. Your strength and brilliance disproves that. Compare you and Longbottom, he is a pureblood with a lineage just as far back as the Malfoys. Sacred 28 and all that drivel." She gave him a warning look at the mention of Neville, and he held up his hand, "I will admit he came into his own in 6th year and more than proved himself not only in battle but as a leader in 7th. However, you are a muggleborn and you are a far superior witch. Then seeing how destructive such beliefs are made me realize it wasn't worth fighting a war over. I knew I was on the losing side but my sense of self preservation made me stay, it became a join or die situation. So I joined. I regret everything I did for the cause but if I hadn't I wouldn't be here today, neither would Mother." Saying all that made him think of another question he had and before he could convince himself not to ask he blurted out, "Why did you testify for me?"
"Because I knew you had no choice, it was join or die, just like you said. We all deserve a second chance, and we all have done things we aren't proud of. You could have identified Harry and yet you risked bluffing. You only agreed it could be me once your mother pointed it out, same with Ron. If you truly believed in the cause you would have agreed immediately and been happy to call Voldemort to earn his favor. You were forced to join, and when the time came you did what you could to help, then in the end you turned yourself in."
He took another sip of his scotch and said "I'm sorry I didn't do more to stop her..." he started, "stop right there," Hermione said interrupting him, "I let all of that go a long time ago. If you feel the need to say something then of course say it but don't think you need to explain to me. I believed it when I said it in my testimony and I still believe it to this day. You did what you had to in order to survive. I blame you for nothing that happened in Malfoy Manor." She held out her left hand for him and he took it before he looked down at the scar. "It should have never happened." He said staring at the word. They both stared at it for a few moments, lost in thought, reliving that night.
Finally Hermione squeezed his hand, "But in a twisted way its a good thing it did. That night, while she tortured me Bellatrix gave us a clue we desperately needed. The war ended when it did because of her. Then I didn't contact Fred in a timely manner and once he found out what happened he insisted on meeting up. We had agreed it was to dangerous but after that night he insisted. It is because of that meeting I got one last night with him and Bryony is the result. So in reality it had to happen the way it did.
They sat there in silence holding hands until Hermione feel asleep again. Malfoy got up, transfigured the chair into a lounge and lay back down, picking up her hand again. And that is how Harry found them early the next morning.
A/N
so don't hate me please, I obviously took some liberties here. I have read so many fanfics that mention the Mudblood scar that it wasn't till I re-read the last few chapters of 7 that I realized that was a movie-ism. However I have a plan for it and have kept it for my story.
On a funny side note my husband saw my tablet and read Bryony's name and asked if I was writing about paper towels smh... BTW I do have a reason behind her name that was going to be explained in a Fred flashback but instead I will just explain it in a later chapter.