AN: Sorry! Feels like I've been gone for forever, though it surely wasn't *that* long, right? Ha ha. Anyways, I just reread her because my brain is a sieve and I want to do my best world-building (on top of what JKR has already supplied to us) AND keep everything straight/have as few plot holes as possible. Anyways, without further ado, the next chapter! P.S. Thank everyone for all the lovely reviews and favs/follows. Love y'all bunches. P.P.S I can't believe I missed the birthday for Savior? It's also one of my closest friend's bdays so I should have it memorized (though with this posting I am averaging about one chapter a month which isn't *too terrible*.
Chapter 12.
Narcissa
"MY DEAREST HERMIONE,
I shall write to you again when I have better news, but at this time I do not have express permission from your guardian(s), be it your muggle parent or the aurors who removed you, to host you yet. Myself, my husband, and my sister are all working on ways to circumvent the obstacles being placed in our way. I hope your first week at Hogwarts has been lovely and please write to me with any questions you have. Also, please expect a package to be delivered from Diagon, as Celerius is too recognizable to come to you at the breakfast table.
Yours, Cissy."
Narcissa softly bit the end of the quill, absentmindedly straying to a habit she had as a child. A habit her parents hated, no less. How can we get some of Hermione's blood? It'd be easiest to just ask her for some, but I don't know how well her mind is protected. Bella is right, Dumbledore is dangerous when he has Hermione under his care.
The blonde woman was startled out of her thoughts when Lucius's silver owl nipped at her.
"Why are you so eager, hmm Cel? Has Hermione been giving you tasty treats?"
Narcissa brushed a finger alongside Celerius's feathered chest as he let out an indignant squawk. After tying the letter to his leg the great bird swooped away, leaving Narcissa chuckling to herself. She would need to send Hermione some healthier owl treats if the student would insist upon feeding the ethereal bird snacks by the handful.
Narcissa glanced at the grounds, following a trail left of newly sprouted wildflowers. She saw Bellatrix, in her leather corset, leading the parade of growth. The witch smiled to herself. Bella's love of life and spring was returning, the joy of Hermione's near-recovery enough to make the blonde forgive her sister for ruining all the work her landscaping elves had put into maintaining the grounds. Almost.
As if feeling eyes on her, Bella looked up at the window, meeting her dark eyes with Narcissa's blues. The darker witch grinned, a smile so breathtakingly alive that Narcissa decided to allow the impromptu garden to stay, at least until next week when the elves came to touch up the orchards in time for the annual Autumnal Gala come the September solstice. Perhaps our Hermione will be proven by then, and can celebrate her first birthday with us in a decade.
Hermione
The large owl was once again at her window, making her grateful to only be sharing a room with Pansy. She dark haired girl could sleep like the dead and Celerius's quite rapping had yet to wake her. Hermione could hardly contain herself, excited to hear from Lady Malfoy again. Skimming the parchment, Hermione was disappointed at the lack of information made available to her.
It seems like Mrs. Malfoy is having trouble getting her way.
Herimone held back a chuckle. While she had only known Draco for a week, she could see similarities between the blond boy and his mother, though where he came off as a little whiny and spoiled his mom's attitude just screamed "I deserve what I want when I want it and I can make it happen." A quality that Hermione admired about the powerful woman.
In the bed across the room, Pansy started to shift around, an indicator that she would be awake and pushing both herself and her roommate to attend breakfast in approximately five minutes. Hermione quickly gestured to Celerius, or as she liked to call him, Celly, to wait in the owlery. There wasn't time for her to scrawl out any type of response at the moment. He lifted his wings in preparation to fly off when he paused, looking expectantly at Hermione.
"Oh here you ridiculous bird."
Hermione actually laughed this time, giving him a small handful of Mole Morsels™. I need to order another bag. When Celerius pecked at her hand again he was met with a swat from Crookshanks, who seemed to appear out of thin air at random times. Now that classes had started he no longer spent all day wrapped around his master. While she had been distracted by the antics of her two favorite animals (the only two animals she knew, unless you count Crabbe and Goyle), Pansy had gotten dressed and now sighed impatiently, waiting for Hermione to begin to head to breakfast. The young brunette smiled to herself. Things didn't seem so bad right now.
Snape
He glared at the young girl sitting in the great hall. He watched as owl after owl deposited goods by her breakfast plate. Her housemates quickly assisted in stacking the numerous parcels, eager to please the swot. He sneered. While they didn't send the silver owl, he could recognize the sender of the care packages. The sheer volume of items sent was itself a clear giveaway. The Headmaster was foolish, wanting to parade about as if he didn't have his own dark past. The girl was dangerous and the company she kept was evidence of that. The Malfoys had to know of her true lineage otherwise the rumors about her blood status would be enough to send them careening away from her. If not doing something much worse.
The nondescript barn owls that delivered multiple packages to the first year contained some mysteriously wrapped items, but if he had to guess, the majority appeared to be books. Old books. Possibly dark books. One package was obviously owl treats, the carrier lingering by Hermione in the hopes of receiving a treat. The bird disappointedly hopped away as he was repaid with a scratch under the beak for his troubles. This gift only further confirmed his theory as to who was treating the young witch. He was familiar with the brand, and it's price, because his own carrier owl had a sensitive stomach. All natural organic rubbish. But they're better than the processed bits of rodent other treats were made of.
Hermione (afternoon)
Hermione twiddled her thumbs in the back of the classroom. It was finally Friday and while the week had flown by with all the excitement of beginning a new term and discovering her magic, she was ready for the weekend. I should pen a response back to Mrs. Malfoy tonight, that way I may have a response by tomorrow! Hermione really appreciated the older witch and wanted to talk more with her.
Hermione shook herself out of her thoughts as Professor Snape droned onwards. She couldn't shake the feeling that the man was bad news, but Draco was her closest friend here, barring Stoozy and Crookshanks, and the blonde boy trusted his Uncle without doubt. She glanced over at the Malfoy heir and saw he was doodling instead of paying attention. She kicked out at his chair before whispering to him.
"Draco! How can I thank your mom? She's been so nice to me and answering all the questions I have, whether they're about classes or wizarding culture. I don't have too much money but maybe I could send her some flowers that she likes? Do wizards send flowers?"
Draco laughed quietly at his friend, careful not to get too rowdy lest his uncle catch them.
"Yes, Hermione, wizards do send flowers. But I know something better you can give her."
Hermione watched as Draco's smile turned almost sinister, like he was plotting some great prank, before his boyish grin returned to normal. The brunette shook away her misgivings, knowing that she owed the Malfoys a lot and that, without question, she trusted Draco.
Professor Snape looked at the whispering children before sneering at them and clearing his throat. Draco and Hermione instantly righted themselves and scooted away from one another.
"I'll talk to you in the common room, Hermione."
After their double potions block, Draco had vanished. Hermione decided that now would be a good time to write her letter back to Lady Malfoy, in case she got caught up in whatever scheme Draco had concocted in class that morning.
"DEAR MRS. MALFOY,
I hope that you are well. I have been spending a lot of time with Draco and am glad to have a friend in your son. I tried to sway my schedule as much as possible, but as a first year we didn't have too much say in our course load. Here is my schedule below:
Monday: History of Magic / Transfiguration / Lunch / Break / Charms
Tuesday: Transfiguration / Charms / Lunch / Double Defense Against the Dark Arts
Wednesday: Double Herbology / Lunch / Potions / Break / Astronomy (evenings)
Thursday: Break / DADA / Lunch / History of Magic / Transfiguration
Friday: Double Potions / Lunch / Double Break
On Mondays I have also been signed up for flying instruction with Madame Hooch, though I don't wish to continue with the lessons once my four weeks of required training are complete. Brooms and I don't see eye to eye. Is there a trick to staying on the broom other than glueing myself to it?
I hope that whatever is keeping me from attending your home later in the term clears up, as I would love to ask you more questions in person. I also wanted to send you my appreciation for the books you had sent; I have already started reading about animagi, something that Auror Tonks had talked with me about in Diagon.
Draco has just found me in the owlery penning this letter, so I must go. I will be sending this with Celly, and provide him one of the delicious new treats you sent.
Gratefully yours,
Hermione Granger"
Hermione tied the rolled paper deftly to the owl before giving him a couple of the treats the Malfoys had mailed her. As Celerius flew off, she turned to Draco who sported a smile as big as his thin face could contain without cracking.
"You won't believe what I've come up with."
Second A.N. (I obviously just love to talk at you guys) - i'm going to try my best to be a reg updater (am I allowed to say "again"? I once did ~3-4 chapters in a row haha). I have a settled job now, but I am moving again come July so really I can't promise too much. BUT I hope y'all enjoyed the chapter, even if it was a little owl-obsessed. Au revoir!
AN#3: (Will check this bad boy for glaring errors in the next couple days most likely)