"Do you really have to move in with him?" Ron asked as he shoved a pile of blankets into a box, not even bothering to fold them like she requested.
"Unfortunately," she mumbled. The boys had come to help her pack for her impending move into Malfoy Manor tomorrow morning. Malfoy had sent an owl the night before to tell her to be ready at 7 am sharp. She had rolled her eyes and grumbled about him being a demanding prick.
"Bet he paid off the Ministry so he wouldn't have to move himself," Ron said.
Harry walked in the room with a stack of pillows. "You know he's under house arrest and can't leave, mate."
"I know, he's just such a git and I feel like this is all somehow his fault."
Hermione sighed. "Sadly this is the workings of the Ministry. I'm hoping once his house arrest is up, I can convince him to move elsewhere. I don't know how long I can bear to live there."
Ron snorted under his breath. "Doubt that would ever happen, and if it did he would just buy another mansion."
Hermione silently agreed. Malfoy was anything but frugal. There's no way she could coerce him into moving into a smaller home, even if it would only be for six months. She was sure he needed to be bathed in luxury at all hours of the day. He probably spent the equivalent of her life savings on hair care products alone.
"Maybe we're underestimating him and he'll give into his wife's demands," Harry said with a laugh.
"Can we please change the subject?" Hermione begged. "Ron, how's the house hunting going?"
Ron married Lavender two weeks prior, and after a cramped week of her living in his tiny apartment did they decide to look for somewhere else to live. Surprisingly the reunion of the two exes seemed to be going fine. As long as fine resulted in occasional arguments that landed Ron on Harry and Ginny's couch. Occasionally meaning every other day.
"It's a bloody headache," Ron groaned. "Lav refuses to look at anything less than 8,000 galleons." Harry cringed at the number. "I told her if she wanted to pay that much she was more than welcome to, but otherwise she needs to suck it up and deal with living in squalor."
Hermione fanned herself with a book. "You really know how to woo the ladies, Ronald."
Harry choked out a laugh as Ron tossed a pillow at her head. "Fuck off, you."
She was going to miss these moments. These easy conversations she enjoyed with her best friends. Gone were the days of dropping by unannounced and having dinner and a laugh with friends on a random weeknight. Gone were the days of meeting up in Diagon Alley for a quick pint after work.
Ginny had always been around, so Hermione was used to Harry splitting time between them or Ginny tagging along, but adding two more people into the mix was bound to be disastrous. That or it was going to be a headache and a half making time to meet up together.
Even though she knew Malfoy would never be caught dead joining her for dinner, Lavender was bound to join them from time to time. She and Ron actually had a shot at being a real couple. They dated in Hogwarts so there was chemistry there, they just had to get passed their differences and learn to get along. Some could say that's what she should think about her and Malfoy but she wouldn't. Never would she and Malfoy get along. Never would they get passed their differences. She just hoped that house was big enough that they never had to see each other.
….
The only thing that made mornings worth it was the strong cup of coffee gripped in her hands. She used to take it with a spoonful of sugar, but after the war she took her coffee exclusively black. She didn't have the time to sip the warm beverage while she waited for the caffeine to kick in. No, she had to drain the cup in one go and be out the door as quickly as possible. Now, she had gotten used to the habit and found the thought of sweetening up her coffee sickening.
Just as she had gotten comfortable on the kitchen stool and taken the first sip, a sharp pop echoed from the other room causing her to jump and drop her full mug to the floor.
"I swear to all that is holy, if you made me spill my coffee a half hour earlier than you needed to be here— oh. Hello." A small house elf with a purple floral dress stepped around the doorway and gave a low bow. Her nose almost touching the floor.
"Tipkin is here to bring Lady Malfoy and her things home," the little creature squeaked.
"Hello, Tipkin. Please call me Hermione," she refused to be called anything related to Malfoy.
"Master says Tipkin is to bring Lady Malfoy home straight away," Tipkin said, completely ignoring Hermione. She bounced impatiently on her toes.
Hermione tried not to roll her eyes. She didn't want to insult the sweet thing, but leave it to Malfoy to send his elf to come collect her.
"Sure, Tipkin. Let me just grab some things," she made to rise from her seat, but Tipkin shook her head, her ears flapping with the motion.
"Tipkin is the bring Mistress straight away." She snapped her fingers and all the boxes packed by the door disappeared. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing that Malfoy sent her. It sure saved her the time and muscle to move her boxes, even though it would only consist of her tossing the boxes through the Floo. She didn't care what priceless item she broke on the other side.
Hermione mumbled words of annoyance under her breath, but still stood and offered the elf her hand. With a light pop the left her small flat. Her home for the last year.
They appeared into a curiously small entry way, but it still reeked of exuberance with the marble floor and shiny furnishings. Before she could fully take in the room, Tipkin was already on the move. She assumed she needed to follow so she practically chased the elf from the room.
"Master is working and will greet Mistress soon. Tipkin is to show Mistress to her room."
Hermione felt a flood of relief that Tipkin didn't say their room. Merlin help her if she was required to share a room with Malfoy.
She glanced around and took in the house as they walked through the halls. The Manor looked as it had before when her, Harry, and Ron were brought in for questioning, but it lacked the despair it had during the war. The air wasn't thick with dark magic, she felt she could breathe freely. The walls even seemed lighter. The windows let in light she was surprised to see. The light reflected off the shiny floor and bounced around the walls. It almost made the house look, dare she say, homey.
Tipkin stopped outside a large oak door and gestured to Hermione. "Mistress's room. If Mistress needs anything, please call Tipkin."
Hermione smiled down at her. "Thank you, Tipkin." The elf bowed low again and disapparated before straightening back up.
Hermione turned toward the door and took a deep breath.
Please don't be a snake pit, please don't be a snake pit.
She pushed the door open and blinked in shock. The room before her luckily wasn't a snake pit, but it was something else she didn't imagine. The room was the size of her entire flat, maybe even larger. The plush white carpet ran wall to wall. Hermione had never seen such pristine carpet before. Bookshelves lined half the walls, at one blank wall sat the huge four poster bed, while the other was floor to ceiling windows. The room was cozy, warm, and inviting. Something she did not expect to see in Malfoy Manor.
Noticing two doors opposite the bed, she opened the first one to find a closet. This couldn't be the closet. It was larger than her dormitory at Hogwarts. The next door led to the ensuite teeming with marble and gold fixtures.
Hermione shook her head and walked back into the bedroom. This was overly extravagant, even for Malfoy.
She was taking stock of the books on the shelves when her boxes appeared in the room. At least she could spend most of her day unpacking so she wouldn't have to see—
A knock on her door sounded and she groaned. Of course she couldn't put off this meeting for long.
She flung open the door ready to receive some sort of reprimand for just existing, but what she got was kind blue eyes and a warm smile. Not the cold grey eyes and pursed lips like she was expecting.
"Hello, Miss Granger! So pleased you arrived alright." Narcissa Malfoy was positively glowing in her silver dress robes, the light shining on her like she was some ethereal creature.
Hermione blinked at the Malfoy matriarch. In all her worrying about Malfoy, she had completely forgotten about the fact that his mother also lived in the manor.
Narcissa's smile faltered slightly at Hermione's silence and dumbfounded face.
"I hope everything is to your liking. In case it is not, you are more than welcome to change anything you'd like to feel more comfortable." She tried to brighten her already warm smile.
Narcissa Malfoy being kind was not something Hermione had anticipated. But she figured if she was to spend a year with Malfoy's mother as well as Malfoy, she might as well start off on the right foot.
She brought a smile to her face that felt a tad too fake, but it would do for now. "Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy. The room is lovely. I was just about to start unpacking."
"Oh please call me Narcissa. And I can have Tipkin unpack your things for you. I was hoping we could have tea together. Get to know each other a little bit better." Her smile looked so hopeful Hermione had a hard time saying no.
"Okay. But I'd like to unpack my own things. That way I know where everything is."
Narcissa nodded. "That is fair. Shall I show you to the greenhouse?"
Hermione followed her through the winding halls, each room they passed more opulent than the rest.
Narcissa pointed out rooms as they went. "That's the sitting room… there's the upstairs drawing room… back that way are the kitchens… down that hallway is Draco's study…my wing is just up those steps." Hermione would need a map just to get back to her room. At least the elves would answer to her should she need their direction.
"Ah, here we are," Narcissa walked through a pair of double doors leading to the most luscious greenhouse Hermione had ever seen. Not only was the greenhouse insanely large, but it was filled with every magical and nonmagical plant Hermione could think of. She followed Narcissa on the path that led through the indoor garden, touching the leaves of flowers as she passed.
Once they were seated on plush cushions, Narcissa called for a house elf to bring them tea. An elf, bulkier than Tipkin, appeared in a grunt with a tray of biscuits and a tea pot and cups with saucers. Narcissa thanked the elf and poured the tea herself.
She glanced up at Hermione. "Milk or sugar?"
"Just a dash of milk, please." Hermione replied watching Narcissa's every movements. She didn't want to be suspicious of the friendly witch, but she was a Malfoy after all. The last thing she needed was her new mother in law trying to poison her.
Once finished pouring the nonpoisonous tea, Narcissa handed the cup over and prepared her own tea. Hermione took a sip and was surprised the tea was fruity and not black like she thought it would be. She took another sip and glanced around the room. It really was something to marvel at. She hadn't expected this much life in Malfoy Manor.
"What do you think?" Narcissa asked interrupting her thoughts.
"About what?"
"The garden. Isn't it just lovely? I love to come here in the winter to escape the cold."
Hermione hummed into her cup. "I can imagine. It's beautiful." It really was nice to sit among the vibrancy of the green plants while it snowed lightly outside. "Do your elves take care of it?" She tried to sound polite and not accusatory. She didn't want to insult Narcissa about the house elves. After the war, most houses began to free their elves, but most stayed on with the families. Hermione was not as ignorant as she once was to realize that house elves loved cleaning and helping their houses. Hermione just hoped no one abused elves like Dobby had been.
Narcissa shook her head. "No, I take care of it all. I started this garden halfway through the war. I needed to do something to keep my mind clear and something about getting my hands dirty and raising these plants on my own is very soothing I've found."
Hermione blinked at her. She had a hard time imagining Malfoy's prim and proper mother getting on her hands and knees and digging in the dirt.
Narcissa let out a tinkling laugh. "I know it's hard to believe, but I've found it quite therapeutic. Do you enjoy gardening as well?"
"My mum used to garden and every so often I would help her, but that was a long time ago." Hermione's mum used to love having her join her in the garden. She would bring out a radio and sing along, getting up to dance to a song she particularly loved. The thought brought on a rush of sadness Hermione hadn't anticipated. She turned her head to breathe deep and gather her thoughts. She was tired of crying in front of people.
She saw the look of concern on Narcissa's face when she turned back. She was going to ask Hermione the question she wanted to avoid, she knew she was. She had that look in her eye everyone did before they asked about her parents. Had they been killed in the war? Had they died unrelated to the war? Did they disown her? Something had to have happened to cause her to clam up like she did when the topic of her parents was brought up. Narcissa had just opened her mouth when thankfully she was interrupted.
Malfoy strode in from behind a large bush and stopped at the sight of them. "My this is cosy isn't it?" He sent a glare to his mother.
"Oh hush, Draco. I was just greeting our guest. Something you should have done the moment she walked through the door."
Malfoy getting scolded by his mother was a sight to behold. Hermione couldn't wait to tell Harry.
"I was busy, mother. Apologies." He looked anything but apologetic.
Narcissa tsked and gestured to Hermione. "Aren't you going to greet your wife, Draco?"
He barely sent her a look from the corner of his eye. "Granger. You're here."
What a charmer. No wonder the girls loved him at school.
"It would seem I am," she replied curtly.
"That is… suitable." He turned promptly on his heel and stomped away. "Dinner is at six," he shot over his shoulder before he was gone.
Narcissa took a small sip of tea. "Forgive Draco. He's been having a rough time… adjusting."
That made two of them.
After another grueling ten minutes of small talk, Narcissa finally let Hermione head back to her room to unpack. On her way she passed a dark doorway that had been boarded up. Dark magic leaked from the underside of the door causing the hair on her arms to raise. Hermione didn't need to venture inside to know what room resided on the other side.
The light and bright hallways almost fooled her into forgetting where she was, but this doorway snapped her back to reality. She was in Malfoy Manor. Where Voldemort stayed. Where she had been tortured. Where Luna and Mr. Ollivander had been kept captive. This was not the sunny friendly home it was pretending to be. No, this was a place of horrors.
She turned quickly to retreat to her room, but was blocked by a large body. Malfoy wasn't looking at her, but glaring at the door she had turned away from.
"I've tried removing it entirely from the estate, but it seems the Manor favors the room too much."
Hermione swallowed and looked up at him. He was still glaring past her shoulder.
He stared for a few more moments before snapping out of whatever thoughts he was having.
"The back staircase bypasses this room if you wish to avoid it," he grunted out and then he was on his way again.
Not wanting to dwell on the feelings the drawing room dredged up, she quickly made her way back to her room, surprised she remembered the way.
She closed the door and leaned against the wood, letting out a long breath.
Day 1 of her new life, halfway done and she could already feel herself drowning.