Hermione POV
Ron and Harry are speaking to me again, I can't help but feel like they need something from me. Funny that now that I have the time because I'm more skilled with the time turner, I feel like spending the little extra time I have on my side project, Luna or Blaise. They do their best to accept me the way I'm as I do to accept them. They also don't ignore me or punish me, they always reciprocate. Of course I'm still friends with Harry and Ron, I'm just not sure I'd put their interest above mine anymore. [A/N: a lesson I wish I had learned as a teen: boundaries have to be set by givers, because takers gonna recklessly take… you give an inch and they take mile].
"Granger." Malfoy is at my table in the library again.
"Malfoy."
"I'll have the book this Saturday. I also acquired two books on Gamp's Law that are not at Hogwarts." He has glinting eyes. Is this a trap? "So I guess I'll see you on Sunday at 5pm."
"Ok, don't forget to bring your wand and a coin for us to train your skills." Just a curt nod and he's gone.
I need some kind of plan so I'm ready when I get the book.
Research what entails when DoM cust a familial bond.
Research paternity tests in both muggle and magical ways.
Find a way to fool the trace on underage wizards and witches
Check for traits inherited depending on the bloodline and check which ones I fit. E.g. Grey eyes for Blacks; lucky for Potters; Platinum White hair for Malfoys; Parseltongue for Slytherins.
If I fit, tell Luna to help me check if there is a relative at Hogwarts or Hogsmead so I can test them.
It seems like a solid plan. I hope it doesn't fail.
Draco POV
Finally it's Saturday. While I wait for mother to arrive at our private room at Pudifoot's I review what I've already set aside for tomorrow: my special oil perfume, my new slacks and shirt, my embroidery dress robes, hair gel for signature slicked hair, my scion rings and polished dragonhide boots. And let's not forget the chocolates and a pouch full of galleons.
"My Dragon."
"Mother."
"How have you been?" She asks while silencing the room with a spell.
"Wonderful mother, it's been a great week. Uncle Severus has given detention for Potter and I got high marks on the last History of Magic assignment."
"That is good news. Speaking of news, I heard Sirius is around."
"The Mass murderer?"
"He is family, my dragon, our cousin. If you happen to see him, just tell him that you are my son and that I-"
"Is he still? Wasn't he burned from our family tree?"
"Manners, do not interrupt me, Draco. But yes, he is our cousin, when someone is burned from the family tree it only cuts the inheritance and legal bonds, not the familial ones. As I was saying you tell him I'll have his favourite lemon grass tea ready whenever he wants to visit at He-knows-Where." Sometimes mother sounds delusional, she really thinks a mass murder will listen to a teenager offering tea. Still, I need her help to smooth Father towards Granger
"Where?"
"He-knows-where, and when it is time, you'll know too. Afterall nowadays you are the rightful Black heir." She takes a long sip and stares at me. I know the moment's come. She wants to negotiate the terms for me to have the book.
"Assuming I'm in possession of the book, tomorrow I'll bring it to my tutoring time. Is there something worth highlighting during it?"
"I see. I assume she's not of Pureblood Heritage, is she?"
"No, mother. Her parents are not pureblood."
"And she is neither in Slytherin or Ravenclaw. Is she?" I can't help but narrow my eyes. How she does know all of this is beyond my understanding.
"No, she's not. And mother, I'm not unaware of our Black rituals."
"Interesting. Do you think Miss Granger is captivated enough by you that a non-consented ritual will not bring any harm to either of you?"
"I'm working on it. She'll like me enough by the time we are old enough to enact one of the rit- Wait, how do you know it's HER?"
"My dragon, I'm your mother. Of course I know." She retrieves some letters from her robes. "I started to be tuned in when your first letter to me from Hogwarts stated "I met someone in the train, a witch who was asking if anyone has seen a toad. She went compartment by compartment, all compartments in our train, who does that? It wasn't even her toad. And her hair looks like a mane, of course she ended up in Gryffindor. Such a terrible fate." At the time I wondered which fate did you find terrible? Hers for being in Gryffindor or yours for having to watch her from afar because she was a Gryffindor"
"Oh." Am I that obvious?
"Then my suspicions grew even more: "Granger accused me of cheating my way into the team, mother. I lashed out. I wish I could apologise. I was meaner than she ever was." And when you wrote "Are basilisks really able to kill those of less pure blood? Is it possible to filter the mud out of someone's blood?" I knew it was a matter of time."
"Mother…"
"No worries, Draco. I'm glad you wrote those. I will not lie and say that her heritage is perfect, but I'll not care about it because it is your happiness at stake. Us Blacks are known for being relentlessly intense when in love. Plus you are a Malfoy, your lot is cursed to love only one witch for their whole lifetime. Your father has loved me since we were introduced at a party. I was 5 and he was 6 years old."
"Why have I never heard of this?"
"Besides the two times you told him about Miss Granger being first in class, have you ever mentioned any witch to your father? Probably he thought only two comments about grades weren't a factor determinant enough. I think he is waiting for an opening so he can explain it properly to you. This is not to say he'll accept your relationship at first or welcome her with wide arms open" She holds my hands while smiling and shedding tears."My son, I want you to know that it means everything to me that you are comfortable with me and trust me enough to talk about her in our letter exchange. I'll do everything in my power to see you happy. You are the most important person in the world to me, I love you my dragon." This is the first time I've seen my Slytherin of a mother is completely open and direct to me like she were a Puff. I'm shocked and happy. Mother really loves me and is asking nothing in return for her help.
"Enough of weeping. Let's talk business. Inside the pureblood directory you'll find the Malfoy and Black pages. A drop of your blood on those pages will give you access to the hidden parts of our family trees."
"What do you mean by hidden mother?"
"People like Sirius and Andromeda who got cut off from the family tree but kept their familial ties will pop back, because they are still related to us by blood and magic. And also any hidden or falsified status will be shown. Did you know that a Malfoy married a mud- muggleborn in 1692? " My eyes are wide. No way. What about the purity of bloodline? "You only can see it if you drop Malfoy blood. Regardless I suggest you only mention this later after a few meetings with her."
"Thank you mother."
"Severus once complained that she is eager for knowledge. I'll smooth your father so we can invite her over to visit us this summer or Yule. And if you earn her affections, we can enact the ritual by Samhain in two years."