A/N: Finally! Another chapter for you!

I'm sorry it's been so long but I really hope you'll enjoy it and let me know what you think in the comments.

HBSJ

Chapter 22

A small door swung open at the corner of the room and gave a soft whoosh through the room.

Hermione's heart was pounding like a drum in her chest.

And then she grinned and jumped about for a moment because she damn well could. She was so happy she'd found this secret entrance to what she was certain was a secret passage.

And now to exploring it!

She crouched down and looked inside.

The entrance was small but the area behind was large enough to stand in.

She fished out her phone, turned on the flashlight and steeled herself before she entered the little door.

Once she was in, she noticed a cleverly placed lever that was connected to the little door. She pulled it and the door swung shut with a soft thud.

Now she was truly alone and she took her time exploring the small room she was standing in. It was dusty and there were some cobwebs to be found but otherwise it was in overall good condition.

There was a chair and a small table with a candle on it along with an old lighter. But it still worked.

She turned slowly all the way around, watching for any sort of clue because she could still feel that slight draft, yet there was no other exit in the room. Well, seemingly there was no other exit.

The room had a wooden floor, wooden walls and even a wooden ceiling. However, the wood had been treated to last many years indeed.

She smirked, happy that she'd found herself a solid sort of mystery to occupy her thoughts.

Her analytical brain kicked in and began picking the room apart. This couldn't be the end. There would be no draft if there were no way out, other than from their sitting room.

She noticed a slight scuffmark on the chair seat, right at the front. What an odd place to have scuffmarks. When she touched the floor right below the mark, she could feel the draft. It came from below.

Her eyes widened. What an exciting discovery!

She began moving the sparse furniture to see if she could open the hatch on the floor but it didn't work.

She leaned against the back of the chair, thinking hard when it lifted slightly. She jumped away and a part of the floor thumped back down.

A grin was forming and she pushed the chair forward so that it was resting on the front of the seat and a large piece of the floor came with it. She could make out a study built in ladder but everything else was swallowed up by darkness.

But she couldn't turn back now. She'd come this far.

With her phone tightly clasped in her hand, she descended into the tunnel below the Dowager House.

Draco was in his father's office, looking at all of his trinkets. Every Malfoy that had ever lived had collected them over the years and the glass display cases took a lot of the floor space in the large study.

His father was on the phone and Draco waited impatiently. He had been summoned to a chat about the choices in his life and his immediate future.

He wanted to scoff. What could his father possibly have of wisdom to impart?

"I do thank you, it has been most illuminating speaking with you mr. Riddle." Lucius said silkily and hung up.

Draco looked up sharply and his eyes narrowed practically of their own accord. "What are you doing talking to Riddle?"

"Now now Draco,-" His father positively drawled from his overlarge throne-like chair on the opposite side of the desk. "-just because you and he fell out, there's no reason to assume that I do not have contact with the man."

Draco seethed, his entire frame rigid, trying to contain the anger simmering within him. "You've always drilled Family First into me. Always family before anything and anyone else. And now you're prioritizing him over me?"

Lucius' jaw clenched visibly and he pierced Draco with a burning glare. "There are more at work than you could possibly imagine son. If I have to play nice with the man, I can do that for the sake of my family. But I will not have you questioning me or my decisions."

He stood up and paused slightly because there was a small thud from the left of the fireplace, almost as if it came from inside the walls. His father glared at the spot before he walked around the massive desk as he resumed his speech. "You are my heir and I have taught you all you need to know to run our estates profitably but you are also my son. And my son will show me some well-earned respect. You do realize that this feud between the two of you can be capitalized upon, yes?"

Draco blinked and his father had a brief but thoroughly exasperated look on his face.

"He may have planned his dally with the Granger-girl, maybe not but you are the reason for it. We know that he's in league with Skeeter and we can work this to our advantage because a scandal is always based in truth. And he's still maniacally focused on getting her on his team just to steal her from you. He's still convinced you are creating a team with her as your centrepiece."

Draco glared at his father and he glared right back before continuing. "Everything I do, everything I will do and everything I am is to protect and further my family. All of my family. And if it results in scandal for others who are not family, then so be it. Do you understand that Draco?"

Draco thought through the talk with his parents, the approval he'd gotten to court Hermione and he realised that she was included in their family. She was going to be protected. He nodded. "What will you have me do?"

They heard another muffled sound and turned as one towards the secret door, hidden behind the portrait of a previous Lord Malfoy, Duke from seventeen forty-two to seventeen seventy-eight.

His father sighed and went to the bell pull. Not one minute later a footman arrived. "The cats from the barn must've entered the secret passageway from the stables again, have someone fetch them out."

"Yes my lord." The man bowed and left.

But Draco was still frowning. The cats were usually outside on fine days, and it was an exceptionally fine day. What if it wasn't a cat?

He shook off his suspicions and focused his attention back to his father.

"I am pleased that you have finally decided to court someone in earnest, even though I would've wished that she came from a title. However,-" He held up his hand for silence as Draco made to interrupt him. "-I have spoken at length to your mother about this and what they lack in title they have in brains. And money. So I have no objection to the match as long as you prepare her for what is to come."

Draco smiled. "I have a feeling that you haven't just told me all of these rather disjointed things just for your amusement and my confusion?"

His father smirked wickedly and gave him an acknowledging nod. "Indeed I have not son. You see, on behalf of our family, we are going to take the fight to them."

She walked and walked through the tunnel. This tunnel seemed to end at the Dowager House, so there was only one way forward. It seemed to be going downwards as she reached the lake, probably, and she was itching to find the end of the tunnel.

The tunnel eventually sloped upwards again and her heart started to pound in her chest. It was thrilling and also a little bit scary but she just couldn't make herself turn back because she was completely giddy that she had found a secret bloody tunnel!

She eventually reached what looked like very old foundations of a building, most likely Dartmoor Manor, if she was judging by the direction of the tunnel.

As the entered the house, the tunnel split up into three directions. One left, one right and the last one straight up a staircase. She paused briefly to consider her options before walking up the stairs to explore.

She probably shouldn't, this was their private house, their home but her curiosity spurred her on, almost daring her to keep on going.

As she walked on, she saw many doors with latches along the way but she didn't dare open any of them. Every now and then, she encountered a small window showing the beautiful grounds of Dartmoor which helped her in determining where she was.

Only once did she hear someone vacuuming but otherwise, all was quiet as she explored the secret passageway within the walls of the manor.

Suddenly, she heard someone talking from the other side of yet another door. It was just a snippet of conversation but she froze immediately.

As she listened more closely, it was Draco's muffled voice and his father's terse reply. She almost gave herself away with a little "Oof" as she tripped over a floorboard just as she was moving closer to the door but she stayed silent enough for them to resume their conversation.

She knew that she shouldn't have, but she edged closer to the door to listen and they were talking about family. Family first as they'd called it. And then the Duke had proceeded to lay out his plans for the cheerful demise of everyone who weren't a part of their family.

When Draco hadn't responded, Hermione had held her breath, sure that he would tell his father to stuff it. But then, to her horror and surprise, he had simply agreed and the shock that rocked through Hermione had almost gotten her caught.

In her agitated state, she stubbed her foot on the same protruding floorboard and then kept utterly still as Draco and his father listened for yet more sounds. She hadn't even dared to take a breath.

When they began to talk again, she ran. She didn't pay much attention to where she was running, only that she was running away from them.

She held it together. Or tried to anyway.

She ran back through the tunnel, the small antechamber, through the sitting room and the hallways all the way up the stairs to her own room.

She held it all the way and when she finally was there and had closed the door…

That was when she let go.

A guttural sob wrenched from her throat and she clung to her pillow, trying to process all of the horrible truths she had just heard.

It made the old saying 'If you listen at doors, you hear what you deserve' ring around her head over and over. She should have never gone into that tunnel in the first place.

How could she have let herself be so stupid?

How could she think she could trust them at all?

She knew she hadn't heard it all but she'd heard enough. Obviously, Draco didn't give a damn about her, she wasn't their family, this was obviously all just some sort of entertaining ruse to him.

And then there was Tom Riddle. The man who still sent her gifts that she had resorted to regularly sending back or giving on to the local charities instead. But he had been out for her just because of Draco and their mutual animosity.

Riddle had done this to her solely because of Draco and some stupid feud they had going and then proceeded to slap it all over the news in cohorts with Skeeter. And now the Malfoys were going to capitalize on it? What despicable human beings!

Tom had clearly deliberately embarrassed and belittled her to the world, twisting words with that horrendous Rita Skeeter to make her out as a homewrecker and a slut for no apparent reason other than to harm Draco.

Only, he still wanted her to come play for his team. That was why he kept on wooing her.

No. That would never happen. There was no doubt about that.

She had mostly heard the Duke speaking, he had sounded so derisive about it all and it cut because she hadn't even met him more than a couple of times.

But when Draco had folded to his will, she broke. Because she wasn't their family and from the sound of it, she never would be.

And it shouldn't hurt the way it did, it shouldn't cut her into a thousand little tiny pieces that could possibly tear her apart.

It shouldn't.

But it did.

It hurt.

They were training every day and it went well for the most part. If you could define well as being utterly harassed by Ginny Weasley with questions about the Princess Royal and being left well alone by Hermione.

Both Harry, Hermione and Ginny had been invited to dine at the manor with his aunt and family on Friday and Ginny just wouldn't shut up about it.

Draco found himself practically hiding from her and yet, Hermione seemed to avoid him just as he was avoiding Ginny.

It made the logistics of their training difficult to say the least.

It was strange watching Hermione. Something had happened but she refused to even speak to him and he was left completely nonplussed.

Finally, he had made a decision. He stood up to his parents and they had approved. Well, his mother had approved and his father had been browbeaten into approving too.

And now she just ignored him as much as she possibly could.

Any news about her came from Harry or Ginny and he was left wondering what he'd bungled.

His parents had begun their fight for the family by getting both of their private secretaries to scour the internet for scathing stories about the Malfoys and there were many. There were some curious coincidences in some of them and his mother compiled all of the information in a large excel sheet with references and cross-references.

His father had even included all stories about Hermione too and the stories about her bordered on pure defamation of character, something his parents took very serious. Especially since almost every one of the stories had been published in the short time she had been at Dartmoor.

There were some older stories about Hermione that had been discarded to another pile and Draco couldn't not look at them. There was an article on a table, it was an interview with her about the debutante ball she had partaken in with Pansy and Daphne all those years ago and he scrutinized the picture. She was pretty in a very youthful sort of way, smiling shyly at the camera.

But he much preferred her as she was right now. A confident adult woman with a rather complicated mind and a knack for playing polo.

He was feeling restless and frustrated with her. It was as if they just couldn't catch a fucking break.

When he was looking to her, she was looking determinedly away and vice versa. It was a nightmare and despite it all, he couldn't not pursue her because she meant too much to him.

She was lovely really.

And a bit odd compared to the other women in his life.

She was brilliant too. And so bossy too and surprisingly, he liked that. It wasn't something he had expected to find attractive but his physical reaction to her was all the evidence he needed. Because at the end of it all, he wanted her. Physically, mentally, he wanted it all. All of her and preferably spread before him on his crisp sheets like a fucking buffet.

Dear Lord he would like that. He would adore it in fact.

When Draco had heard that Will was joining them, he had promptly included him in the invitation for dinner at the manor on Friday evening so unfortunately, she wouldn't have a lot of time alone with her brother but he was joining them for Chesterton so he would be staying over for two nights.

Will arrived on Friday afternoon and she was just so damned happy to see him. She ran to his car and jumped into a hug with him, luckily he caught her before they both tumbled in a heap to the gravelled ground.

She ushered him into the house and he took the green room, seeming very happy with his surroundings and the views of the stables.

They'd spent the first hour or so catching up and then suddenly, he was adamant that he needed to go for a walk, alone. She was baffled, why would he go for a walk when he had just arrived?

Hermione watched him leave suspiciously but didn't comment. She knew her brother well enough that she would find out what was bothering him eventually.

With nothing else to do, she wandered from her room to Ginny's. She was combing through a large pile of clothing, tossing dresses here and there and Hermione joined in the selection.

But Ginny was acting weirdly too. What was wrong with everyone?

While they were combing through dress after dress for their outfits for the evening and their Saturday out. Hermione sighed and plopped down onto her bed. "What's wrong?"

With her eyes still determinedly fixed on the pile of clothing, Ginny's entire demeanour changed and she answered through clenched teeth. "Nothing."

Hermione smiled. "It's not nothing, I know it's not. What is it?"

"Why is it,-" She said, obviously annoyed by something. "-that you get all of the attention? I am fucking gorgeous! So why is it you they're all fussed about?"

Hermione blinked. What? She'd thought it was about something completely different. She watched Ginny sit there with a nasty scowl on her face and Hermione frowned.

But for once, just once in her life, she didn't feel like setting the younger girl at ease, so she said nothing. In Hermione's personal opinion, Ginny had chosen all the wrong ways of making the people at Dartmoor notice her, vulgar being the first word that sprang to her mind.

Her silence seemed to aggravate Ginny even further and she huffed angrily. "Even the princess was more interested in you and Harry and why the hell is that? I outrank you both! And I'm much much more interesting than both of you too!"

Hermione kept her expression neutral and merely cocked her head. Rank wasn't as important as it used to be, certainly, but in that one regard Ginny was actually right, in all fairness she should have been given precedence as she was the daughter of a viscount, Hermione the daughter of a baron and Harry a mere commoner.

They weren't at court however, and precedence wasn't much used any longer in other settings. Certainly not one as informal as chatting in the stables. She was sure that just Ginny needed to get this out of her system but she was seriously pushing the boundaries of their friendship.

Hermione wouldn't take abuse from Draco when his foul mood was polluting their training and she definitely wouldn't take it from Ginny either.

Hermione wasn't and would never be Ginny's personal punching bag for any reason. She felt for Ginny who had never really found her place here, but neither had she and she wasn't attacking others for her perceived failure.

"As the daughter of a viscount I should be afforded precedence over both of you and now your mum is paying for all of us to gallivant at yet another event, obviously this is just your self-centred way at trying to flash your money." She sneered.

Hermione found that she was clenching her teeth hard. And she was just about to lose control of herself when Ginny turned to face her.

"In the end it doesn't really matter." She sniffed haughtily. "I don't really need any of you. I'll get myself a prince or a duke or anyone else with money really. I'm too fucking amazing, I don't belong in the gutter my family has made for me."

Hermione didn't want point out that she lived in a veritable castle and that it wasn't exactly common to have acres of land to enjoy when actually being poor. And she'd never gone hungry in her life. It was a long long ways away from the gutter in every way.

Ginny was violently choosing between her multitude of dresses now. "So the lot of you can just fucking sod off."

Something about Ginny's surly attitude made her snap. "You are too spoiled too even see how good you've got it. I can't believe you're this egoistic. And you can't define a castle as a gutter." She couldn't keep the sneer out of the tone even if she wanted to.

And then she left the room. She had to get away from there. She couldn't stand it for another minute.

She practically ran down the stairs, out the door and toward the treeline behind the dowager house. She scurried through it to the other side, where the shadows where dark enough to hide her and she could breathe.

She sat down, closed her eyes and just let out a long breath. For this very moment at least, she could relax.

She sat there for an indeterminable amount of time, relishing in the silence and whispers of the winds and looking out onto Harry's pool house and the extensive grounds of the Dartmoor estate.

She kept turning over her row with Ginny, wondering what hat prompted it.

Was she really as selfish as Ginny had suggested? Surely not.

But did she not enjoy the attention she was getting for the first time in her entire life? Did she not enjoy that her family had the means to spoil her and her friends?

She was feeling so off balance and unsure.

But no, she wasn't unsure of herself. She actually quite liked herself and she may have a few selfish qualities but if that was to the benefit of their entire group of friends, then it couldn't be that bad, surely.

Soft voices interrupted her contemplative state some time later.

Very familiar voices.

"Hello my lady. How do you do this fine evening?" It was her brother but he obviously wasn't alone any longer. She frowned, wondering why he would fib wanting to go for a walk on his own.

"I am very well, thank you sir." She knew that voice. So soft and perfectly cultured. It could only be Astoria Greengrass.

"What can I do for you today my lady?" He almost sounded playful, it was a side of Will that she didn't see often.

She scoffed and Hermione had to stifle a chuckle of her own. "Please stop calling me 'my lady' Will."

A chuckle filtered through the trees. "Yes ma'am." Hermione couldn't help but smile at the exchange.

"I've missed you Tori." Will's voice was so soft and wistful.

"I've missed you too. Sometimes I can't believe that we have to be apart for such long periods. I really don't like it."

There was a slight pause. "Well, if you would accept my suit, then you would be where I am. Where you belong."

She sighed and it sounded so soft that it was almost carried away by the wind. "You know why Will, my parents would never accept your suit."

He huffed. "I am richer than your parents and the Malfoy's both. And I haven't even inherited yet. And you are of age, you can do as you want."

"It's not about riches and you know that. They're so hell-bent on me marrying Draco and neither one of us want that. But they want me to become a princess or a duchess. And I wouldn't be able bear that they would be disappointed in me, or even disown me." She sounded so sad, so resigned to a fate dictated by her parents.

Hermione's heart went out to them. Will was such an oddball and if he had found love with Astoria and if they wanted to be together, they damn well should. This was the twenty-first century goddammit.

Their voices seemed to fade, as if they were walking away and Hermione got up, newly determined.

She and Draco might've made a hash of it and her friendship with Ginny was falling apart like a house of cards, but she'd be damned if old fashioned prejudice and fickle pride should stand in the way for Will and Astoria.

Somehow, she would damn well help them.