Lady Malfoy

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Lady Malfoy

Nii, ma panen siia siis uue fiction´i. Mulle see üpriski meeldis see ja loodan, et ka teile.

Summary: "Miss Granger, you are in grave danger," he said slowly. "But the Ministy can offer you a safe hiding place, where no one will be able to find you."
"Wh...where is this place?" Hermione said shakily.
The man took a deep breath and looked into those brown eyes. "Miss Granger, what do you know of Malfoy Manor?"

---

Chapter 1 : For What It's Worth - Prologue

Henry Skeid sat amidst a huge stack of papers and quickly filed through a set of documents that lay right in front of him. There was nothing in the pile today that he hadn’t seen before: warrants, arrests, decrees and many other boring jobs that the Head of Magical Law Enforcement was forced to do.

Though a very tall man, Henry’s aging features gave him a very feeble appearance that was only enhanced by his square spectacles and receding hairline. A few grey hairs were visible on in his dark hair and his pale skin had developed white blotches and dark circles under his dark eyes. Despite his failing appearance, Henry always managed to pull of a very powerful look with his navy blue robes with gold buttons.

His thoughts were distracted for a brief second when a loud buzzing sound erupted in his room. He looked up immediately and removed his spectacles, placing two fingers between his eyes, on his temple. His next appointment had arrived and it would not be an easy one.

He took a deep breath and quickly looked at himself in the mirror, smoothing down some untameable hairs on his head. He wiped the sweat off of his forehead and adjusted his collar. “Show time,” he said to himself as the green emerald flames erupted in his office and a young girl fell out into the ashes.

Immediately Skeid rushed over to help her up and smiled warmly. “Hello Ms. Granger,” he said gently as the young woman got up on her feet. She dusted herself off and Skeid was able to get a good look at her appearance. She looked different than in most of the photos in the Daily Prophet. Her dark hair was bushy and messily tied up into a ponytail which seemed to compliment her brown eyes.

She looked up and smiled briefly too. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Skeid,” she said, holding out her hand.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Skeid said as he took her hand and ushered her over to his dark oak desk where he seated her on a cushioned brown chair.

“Thank you,” Hermione replied.

Skeid took a seat on the other side of the desk and took a deep breath before beginning. “Would you like something to drink?” he asked her patiently.

“Water will be great,” she said quickly. Skeid had the feeling that she wasn’t in the mood for casual chivalry and wanted to get down to business. He took out his wand from his robe’s pocket and waved it, causing a pitcher of water and a glass to appear on the desk. Hermione filled it with water and took a quick sip before looking back at Skeid.

“I was very curious to know why you requested to see me,” she began. “Your…your assistant didn’t really mention the reason for this appointment.”

“Yes, I’m afraid I have to keep her in the dark about certain situations,” Skeid replied. “Such as this.”

“And what kind of situation is this?” Hermione asked.

“One of great importance and great danger,” he said with a tone of weariness. “Ms. Granger, I will need you to listen carefully while I explain this to you.”

Hermione sat up in her seat with a concerned expression on her face. “Alright.”

“It’s been quite a while since You Know Who was defeated and, to be frankly honest, things are not as organized or proper as we would have hoped.”

“I’m…I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Hermione said.

“Do you know of a Rodolphus Lestrange?”

“Bellatrix Lestrange’s husband?” Hermione asked. “Well, yes I’ve heard of him and I think he was there at the Final Battle but…but I’ve never actually seen him.”

“After he was apprehended and sent to Azkaban, the recent damage done to the prison resulted in a few prisoners escaping – he was one of them.”

“Recent?” Hermione said. “You mean the escape a year ago?”

“Precisely,” Skeid said. “Our sources tell us that he left the country after his escape.”

“Where did he go?”

“Australia.”

Hermione’s eyes blanked in fear. “Australia?” she repeated. “Did…d…did he hurt anyone there?”

“Miss Granger, he murdered a muggle couple. We found their bodies and it seemed that they had had their memories modified.”

Hermione’s eyes were very watery. “What…who…who were they?”

“We don’t know their real names but their neighbours said that they were Wendell and Monica Wilkins.”

“NO!” Hermione got up from the chair and buried her face in her hands. “NO!” she yelled.

“Miss Granger…” Skeid began but decided not to continue. He thought it would be best to give her a few minutes to release whatever she felt inside.

“My…my parents!” she cried. She hit her fist hard against the walls and wept her heart out.

“Miss Granger, I am deeply sorry for your loss,” Skeid began. He had never been good with consolations or condolences. He offered her a box of tissues and refilled her glass of water.

Hermione took a few more minutes to collect herself and reached for a tissue, with which she wiped her eyes. She took a sip of the water and took a few deep breaths before looking back at Skeid. “How…how long ago did this happen?” she asked amidst sobs.

“Three months ago,” Skeid replied sombrely. “We didn’t know who they were until I heard that you were looking for your parents whom you’d sent there. I am terribly sorry for your loss.”

Hermione nodded but didn’t say anything. “May I go now?” she asked.

Skeid shifted uncomfortably in his chair and then looked back up at the young woman who seemed to have aged so much in these past few minutes. “Unfortunately Miss Granger, your parents death is not the reason I called you in here.”

“I…I beg your pardon?”

“In light of your parents’ death, I am worried for your security,” Skeid said. His tone had taken on a very paternal character that he wished it hadn’t.

“My security?”

“Though you are of age, as I understand it, you have no longer any living relatives…blood relatives.”

Hermione shook her head. “No, I don’t,” she replied.

“Miss Granger, you are a muggle born,” Skeid said firmly. “And you now have no living blood relatives. With this ongoing surge of killings of your lineage, I do not think you’re in a safe position.”

“What?” Hermione said. “I’m…I’m living with the Weasleys currently and I d-”

“I understand that,” Skeid said patiently. “However, Arthur and Molly Weasley’s house is not safely out of the way. Your reputation in helping Mr. Potter has earned you a very prominent position on the top of the list of muggle borns that need to be killed.”

“Are you saying that I’m in danger?”

“Yes,” Skeid said matter-of-factly. “And we need to take all precautions to ensure that you remain safe.”

“What kind of precautions?”

“The Ministry can offer you housing, in a very special location that is definitely hard to locate.”

“I…I can’t believe this!” Hermione shrieked. “I am very well able to defend myself, thank you!”

“I understand that, Miss Granger,” Skeid said. Hermione was begging to turn red and Skeid was worried she wouldn’t listen to him. “But Rodolphus Lestrange is heading this killing spree and he is, if I may so, a very expertly trained killer.”

“I don’t care if it was Voldemort himself coming for me!” Hermione said, getting out of her seat.

“He’s targeted you!” Skeid said. “You were the one that killed his wife.”

“I don’t…I don’t believe this! So he murdered my parents?”

“I’m almost positive that he didn’t know they were your parents,” Skeid said. “But he has targeted you.”

“This is absolute madness!”

“Miss Granger, please calm down!” Skeid insisted. “It’s not only for your safety but for the safety of the Weasleys and Mr. Potter!”

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked.

“These are ruthless, cold blooded killers,” Skeid urged. “They won’t care who they kill and if you’re living with the Weasleys, you’re making them a target!”

Hermione sat back down and wiped her eyes. Skeid looked into those dark, sad eyes and couldn’t help but feel completely helpless. “I know this is hard,” he said after a while, “but please try and understand.”

“If, hypothetically, I was to say yes,” Hermione said slowly. “What…what would happen?”

“Well,” Skeid said calmly, relief sweeping over him. “We’d send you to this location where you would be cared for by an auror at all times. It won’t be like babysitting, you will be free to do whatever you wish but an auror will keep an eye out for you.”

“Will I be able to see my friends?”

“Absolutely!” Skeid said. “They may visit you whenever they like. However, we ask that you not leave the premises unescorted until we find Lestrange and detain him.”

Hermione buried her face in her hands. “I promise you we are trying to apprehend him with our best possible resources,” Skeid assured her.

Hermione looked back up at the old man and sat up straight in her chair. “Alright,” she said after a few minutes of silent contemplation. “I…I will accept your offer.”

“You’re doing the right thing,” Skeid said.

“Wh…where is this new place that I’m going to be living in?”

“It belongs to a very experienced and very talented auror,” Skeid assured her.

“Yes alright, but where is it?”

Skeid had been dreading this moment during the entire conversation. He took a deep breath and looked into the young woman’s eyes. “Miss Granger, what do you know about Malfoy Manor?”

[Liz-Miia Parker]

Mmm, ma armastan draco&hermione fanfice (Y)

[Lana Marye Allen]

Siis on meid kaks XD
Heaa, järgmine nüüd palun!

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Chapter 2 : Telling Them

The Burrow had grown exponentially ever since the Final Battle at Hogwarts. The cracked walls, loose floorboards, broken banisters and aging furniture had all been replaced while the Weasleys had added an additional story at the top and enlarged their basement below. The pale walls were now painted in beautiful cream colours and adorned with beautiful wooden floor. Thought it had been through so much renovation, Hermione still saw the house the same way she did when she first arrived here during Hogwarts. She stepped into the tiny living room where the evening light had placed a golden hue on the side of the walls.

“Hermione!”

Hermione jumped at the sound of Ginny calling her from behind. “Hermione!” she called again and this time Hermione turned around to see her red-headed friend jumping down the stairs.

“How was the meeting?” she asked with concern.

Hermione didn’t know how to respond, or whether she should say anything at all. She walked over to the stairs and peered quickly up to the second story where no one stood on the empty landing. She then turned back to Ginny and beckoned her to the kitchen with a stern look on her face.

“Hermione, wha-” Ginny started but was silenced by Hermione.

“Not here,” she whispered and ushered Ginny into the tiny kitchen. Though the house itself had changed a lot, the Weasleys’ kitchen remained its old self with the tarnished floorboards and peeling paint. Hermione pushed Ginny through the dancing mops and hopping brooms which were trying to clean the floor, and sat her down on one of the wooden chairs around the dining table.

“Are you alright, Hermione?” Ginny asked worriedly. Hermione nodded her head quickly and tiptoed back to the entrance of the kitchen where she once again checked the stairs to see that it was empty. After ensuring that no one was there, she returned and on her way back, knocked over a two teacups and a bowl of fruit.

“Sorry,” Hermione muttered clumsily to no one in particular and sat herself back down opposite Ginny.

“What’s going on?” Ginny asked, as she stood up and headed towards the stove.

“What are you doing?” Hermione said as she stood up too.

“No, no, sit back down,” Ginny said casually. “I’m getting us some tea.”

“Oh,” Hermione said shortly. “Right.”

Ginny took out a large metal pot and placed it on top of the stove, adding two cups of water. She then took out her wand and muttered a few words under her breath, igniting the stove and allowing the water to gently boil.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Ginny asked again as she reached for some tea leaves on top of the fridge.

Hermione wasn’t paying attention as she craned her neck behind the doorway to check if the stairwell was empty again.

“There’s no one there, for Merlin’s sake, Hermione!” Ginny said. “Who are you looking for?”

Hermione looked back at Ginny with a dull expression and sighed. “Ron,” she said. “He’s not home, right?”

Ginny dropped a pinch of tea leaves into the boiling water and shook her head. “He left for work a few hours ago, actually,” Ginny said. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want him to hear what I’m about to tell you,” Hermione said sombrely. She reached for a jar on top of the wooden table and opened the lid only to find that it was empty.

“Hungry?” Ginny asked her, reaching into one of the cabinets and taking out a yellow jar. She removed the lid and placed it gingerly onto the table, offering it to Hermione.

“Very,” Hermione said tiredly as she reached into the jar and pulled out a rice cake. She sighed once again and began to chew on it absentmindedly as Ginny poured out the tea into two green mugs, dropping a lump of sugar into each one.

“Alright,” Ginny said firmly as she sat down and handed Hermione one of the green mugs. “What’s going on?”

Hermione took a sip of the tea and felt a gentle warmth spread throughout her body that seemed to vanish the instant it came. Her eyes began to tear very slightly as she gathered herself to divulge the happenings of today’s meeting. “Do you remember the owl I got two weeks ago?” Hermione asked Ginny carefully.

Ginny furrowed her brow and shook her head. “No, I do- oh wait, do you mean the one from Australia?”

Hermione nodded. “The one that said that Wendell and Monica Wilkins had disappeared without a trace.”

“Yeah, I remember that one,” Ginny said, reaching for a rice cake too.

“They fo-” Hermione choked slightly and held back her tears. “They…found my parents.”

“Really?” Ginny said, at first sounding ecstatic but then confused after seeing Hermione’s tears. “But…but that’s good news, Hermione!”

Hermione wiped her tears carelessly on her sleeve and took another sip of the tea, relishing in another instant of warmth. Ginny still didn’t fully understand what was going on but reached over and gently pat her friend’s hand.

“What happened?” she asked softly. “Are they alright?”

Hermione shook her head and lay her head down on the table, unable to contain her grief. “They’re dead,” she breathed.

Ginny gasped and placed her hands over her mouth as Hermione sobbed against the wooden table. “I’m…I’m so sorry, Hermione!” Ginny whispered to her friend. “How…how could this have happened?”

Hermione looked up and wiped away the salty tears as they trickled down towards her mouth. Her eyes had lost all grief but instead contained hatred – one so powerful that Ginny felt almost afraid. “Rodolphus Lestrange,” she said bitterly.

“Lest- wait,” Ginny said. “You mean Bellatrix Lestrange’s husband?”

Hermione nodded. “He found his way down to Australia after the Azkaban breakout last year,” she said. “He went on a killing spree of muggles.”

“That loser is the scum living beneath dirtiest of fungus,” Ginny swore.

“He’s still on the loose,” Hermione said with difficulty as she reached over to wipe a fresh batch of tears streaming down her face.

“Don’t worry about it, Hermione,” Ginny said calmingly. “Cry it out if you need to.”

Hermione nodded and rested her head on the table, on top of her arms. She hadn’t gotten a chance to really let the full effects of her parents’ deaths get to her back at the Ministry but now, in silence, with her friend, she could feel the pain and grief overwhelm her. She sobbed uncontrollably on her arm and found herself reminiscing about life with her parents and what it had been like and the millions of thing she would miss. She appreciated Ginny just staying there with her, without uttering a single word or doing anything. The presence of someone else in the room made her feel like she wasn’t totally alone in this world despite what she felt like inside.

After a few minutes of silent grief, Hermione heard a thud at the door and a creaking sound, indicating that it was opened. Hermione immediately sat up and wiped her eyes as fast as she could, using her sleeve once again which now had a stain on its green fabric. Ginny turned towards the entrance of the kitchen where she heard footsteps approaching from a distance.

“I’m going to see who it is,” Ginny said softly. “Just sit tight.”

Hermione grabbed Ginny’s hand and stopped her from leaving. “Don’t tell Ron!” Hermione pleaded. “Make whatever excuse you can but you can’t let him see me like this.”

“Wha-?” Ginny asked confused.

“Just please!” Hermione begged.

Ginny nodded quickly and headed out the door. Hermione watched as Ginny’s shadow turned the corner and began to speak. “Ron, is that you?” she called out.

There was no reply.

“Ron?” Ginny asked again. “Ro- Oh Harry it’s you!”

Hermione sighed with relief as Ginny greeted Harry happily. She reached over to the cup of tea which had provided her with ample comfort and took another sip, feeling that similar sensation tingle her.

“Why did you think I was Ron?” Hermione heard Harry ask Ginny.

“It’s nothing,” Ginny said quickly.

Hermione put down the green mug beside her half eaten rice cake and call out to Ginny. “It’s alright, Ginny!” she said. “You and Harry can come in here!”

“Is that Hermione?” she heard Harry ask.

“Of course it is,” Ginny said.

Hermione saw their shadows approach the kitchen entrance and heard their footsteps get louder. Harry and Ginny came into view as they entered the tiny room and Ginny beckoned him to take a seat.

“Hermione, what’s going on?” Harry asked, as he clumsily made his way over through the mops and brooms and took a seat beside her. He had removed his jacket and was wearing dark black jeans with a bottle green t-shirt that seemed to compliment his eyes.

“What’s with all this secrecy?” he asked, this time, looking at Hermione. “Th- wait, Hermione? Are you crying?”

Hermione looked over towards one of the glass cabinets and saw her expression reflected faintly in it. Her eyes had swollen exponentially and the redness beneath them seemed to have gotten even redder. She grabbed a tissue from the table and wiped her face dry and then looked back at Harry.

“I’m alright,” she said.

Ginny poured out another cup of tea from the pot and placed it in front of Harry. “Don’t lie to me,” Harry said and placed his hand on Hermione’s.

Ginny sat down on the seat opposite them and gave Hermione a sympathetic expression. Hermione, in turn, nodded and dabbed her eyes again roughly. “Do you want me to tell him?” Ginny asked.

Hermione nodded slowly and Harry turned to Ginny. “Alright, I’m getting freaked out,” Harry said. “What happened?”

“They found Hermione’s parents,” Ginny said slowly.

“That’s great!” Harry said happily. “I…I still don’t understand the tears though.”

“They found their bodies,” Ginny corrected herself, this time, holding back a few tears herself.

“Oh no!” Harry gasped. “Oh Hermione!”

He looked over at her and gave her a hug, allowing her to sob on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” he said kindly. “How did it happen?”

Hermione took a deep breath and looked back at Ginny, finding it hard to speak right now. “Rodolphus Lestrange killed them,” Ginny said solemnly. “He’s still on the loose.”

“I wish there was something I could for you,” Harry said, still clinging onto a sobbing Hermione.

“There’s more,” Hermione whispered. She sat back up and wiped her eyes for the last time, she hoped. She gathered herself and looked back at her reflection in the glass. She had to be strong.

“More?” Ginny asked, sipping her tea.

Hermione nodded. “Rodolphus Lestrange is looking for me.”

The bombshell seemed to hit both Harry and Ginny hard on their heads as they both gaped in shock.

“Looking for you?” Harry repeated. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that he’s out to kill me,” Hermione said bluntly.

“W...w…is…I don’t understand!” Ginny gasped. “Wh…why?”

“It’s because of Bellatrix, isn’t it?” Harry asked.

Hermione pushed back a few stray hairs that were hanging in front of her face and nodded gravely. “He wants revenge.”

“Is that why he murdered your parents?” Ginny asked.

“No,” Hermione said. “He didn’t…he didn’t know they were my parents.”

Harry’s expression was grave and serious while Ginny’s was disheartened and shocked. Hermione didn’t know how they’d react to finding out what the next few months had in store for her so she braced herself and just blurted it out.

“The Ministry wants to offer me protection.”

Ginny coughed on her tea and looked incredulously at Hermione. “What…what do you mean?”

“They want me to move…to another location,” Hermione said slowly. “Listen, do you have any more of these rice cakes?”

Ginny wasn’t sure whether to be surprised or afraid of Hermione’s random question but chose to act confused. “Um…yeah…sure.”

She got up and looked back into the cabinet, this time, emerging with a white jar with blue flowers painted around the top. “Here you go,” she said, removing the lid and handing a rice cake to Hermione.

“What other location?” Harry asked.

Hermione took a deep breath. “It’s…it’s supposed to be highly protected, you know, and…and very hard to locate.”

“Where?” Harry asked again, raising his eyebrow.

“There are many charms around it too,” Hermione said. She was stalling but she, herself, didn’t know why. She was secretly hoping that some miraculous creature would fall from the sky and tell her that this was all a dream. She’d wake up in a few minutes and be happy to be back in her own room with her books and find her parents.

“Hermione, where is this place?” Harry said, now getting impatient. “Do you know, Ginny?”

Ginny shook her head. “I’ve no idea. Hermione, please tell us.”

Hermione spent one last second hoping to wake up and then sighed hopelessly. “Malfoy Manor,” she said.

Ginny knocked over her cup of tea while Harry’s jaw dropped to the floor. Hermione couldn’t help but feel slightly amused at this sudden comical expression that had befallen the both of them. Ginny didn’t even notice the tea spilling over the table as she gaped at her confused and slightly bemused friend.

“Malfoy…Malfoy Manor?” Harry repeated. “ the Malfoy Manor?”

“How many other Malfoy Manors do we know of?” Hermione asked tetchily.

“So…with…with Draco Malfoy?” Ginny asked.

Hermione nodded glumly. “The one and only.”

“Now I understand why you didn’t want Ron to hear about it,” Ginny said steadily, reaching over to the counter and flicking her wand, causing a piece of cloth to fly over and begin to dry up the spill of tea.

“I don’t know how I’m going to tell him,” Hermione said, burying her face in her hands.

“This is rubbish, Hermione!” Harry protested. “You’re safer here with us! We’ll protect you!”

Hermione had been expecting these protests from everyone and so didn’t feel surprised when she saw the look of anger in Harry’s face. “We…we all have our own lives, Harry,” Hermione began. “I don’t want you to endanger yours and I don’t want Ron to endanger his.”

“That’s total nonsense!” Ginny interjected. “Mum and Dad would never agree to this!”

“Would they agree to having their only granddaughter in danger while I live with you?” Hermione added.

Though it was true that most of the Weasleys had grown up and moved out, Ginny, Bill, Fleur and Victoire still lived at the Burrow with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Due to Bill’s busy work schedule, he wasn’t home much and Fleur had needed some help with the baby and it was agreed upon that they would move back in here until Bill had completed his current large project.

“I know what I’m doing,” Hermione said slowly after a while. “I know it’s a…a difficult situation but Malfoy is an auror and he’s back on the good side.”

“Yeah, as far as we know,” Harry muttered.

It was the Easter Break and everyone had once again reconvened to spend a week at the Burrow. It was a usual tradition that around special holidays everyone would gather back for a few days or weeks and stay at the Burrow – this was one of those holidays. Hermione, despite being 21 years old, still liked to be back at the Burrow with her friends rather than at home, in a lonely London apartment.

“What about that tiny, minute, insignificant detail that you’re going out with Ron?” Ginny asked. The cloth had finished cleaning up the spill and so Ginny flicked her wand again and it flew over and lay itself down in the sink.

“He’ll have to deal with it,” Hermione said sharply. “But I am afraid of telling him.”

“Would it help if we were there?” Harry asked.

Hermione nodded and reached for her cup again. “We’ll need someone there to restrain him from punching the wall.”

Harry smiled slightly while Ginny too nodded with an amused expression on her face. As she opened her mouth to say something, she heard the front door click and the brass handle turn, indicating that someone had entered.

“Is anyone home?” Ron’s voice came from outside. Hermione froze and looked over quickly at Harry and Ginny, to whom she nodded.

“We’re in here!” Harry called out, as he gave Hermione a reassuring nod and stood up to go see where Ron was. Ron’s shadow got closer to the entrance and within a few seconds, he came into view.

“Hermione!” he said happily. “I didn’t think you’d be back so soon from your meeting!”

“It was a short meeting,” Hermione said quietly. “Do you want something to eat?”

Ron smiled and nodded eagerly. “I’m starving – it’s bloody windy out there by the way.”

“Oh, really?” Hermione said. “When I got back there was just a light breeze.”

“I know, that’s what I thought too but then when I was heading back, there were huge gusts of wind blowing from all directions.”

“Is it raining too?” Hermione asked, offering Ron a rice cake which he happily took.

“Kind of light drizzling, actually,” Ron said. “Nothing too serious.”

All this while, Harry and Ginny were staring incredulously at their two friends. “Why on earth are you talking about the weather?” Ginny cried after a while. “There are more important issues to be dealt with!”

Ron turned to Ginny with a confused expression but then look back at Hermione as Ginny nodded in her direction. “What important issues?”

“They found my parents’ bodies,” Hermione said quickly. In her experiences of letting the news out to everyone, she’d come to realize that the faster she said it, the less it hurt – much like a band aid which hurts less the faster you rip it off. She found herself holding back a few tears as Ron went over and hugged her.

“I’m so sorry, ‘Mione,” he said and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I…w…how did it happen?”

“It’s alright, Ron,” Hermione said, as Ron sat back down. “It…it was some loose death eater who got to them.”

She met Ginny’s eyes briefly for a second and then quickly looked away. “But the Ministry wants me to be placed in a protection program just in case I’m in danger.”

“What?!” Ron burst out. “In danger?”

“It’s just a precaution,” Hermione reassured him. “No one’s really after me but they…they want to be sure until they’ve caught the killers.”

Hermione wiped her eyes and looked at the dumfounded expressions on Harry and Ginny’s faces. She knew they would disapprove of her lying to Ron but it was the only way – the only way that she was sure Ron would let her go without fighting or protesting. If he had known she was in real danger from a cold blooded killer, he would have endangered himself and refused to let her go.

“I can’t believe this!” Ron said. “Why would someone be after you?”

“Because I’m a muggle,” Hermione said, once again she avoided both Harry and Ginny’s eye. “Ron, listen. I don’t want you to feel upset or afraid for me. This whole thing is just a stupid protocol that the Ministry has to follow. I’ll stay with an auror for a few weeks and then come back, completely unharmed.”

“Harry and I are aurors too,” Ron said. “Why can’t you just stay here?”

“Ron, please!,” Hermione pleaded. “Just…just let me go for a few weeks. You can come and see me whenever you want and…and it’ll all be over before you know it.”

“Where…where is this place?” Ron said shakily.

“It’s very protected and I’ve been told that it’s one of the most difficult buildings in London to locate,” Hermione said shiftily.

“So it’s in London then?” Ron confirmed.

“Yes, of course,” Hermione said.

“Where in London?” Ron asked.

“Well, you know, since it’s so protected no one really knows where it is,” Hermione muttered.

“Doesn’t it have a name? Or…or some sort of title?”

“Just tell him,” Ginny sighed, giving Hermione an encouraging nod. Hermione looked to Harry who nodded too and gave her a weak smile.

“Malfoy Manor,” Hermione blurted out.

Usually, in a mode of surprise, one would remain stationary or completely frozen but Ron Weasley was not like that. The moment he heard the words ‘Malfoy’ come out of his girlfriend’s mouth he sprung up off his seat and turned red in the face.

“Malfoy…Malfoy Manor?!” he repeated.

Hermione too got up and tried to calm him down. “Yes, Ron but please trust me, I’ll be alright.”

“Malfoy is going to be watching over you for the next few weeks?!” he said.

“Just calm down, mate,” Harry said, placing his hand on Ron’s shoulder.

“Of course I won’t!” Ron yelled. “My girlfriend is about to move in with a death eater! This kind of situation calls for anything but calm!”

“We’re not moving in,” Hermione said bitterly. “And he’s not a death eater.”

“This is for Hermione’s own safety!” Ginny told Ron. “Don’t you want her to be safe, Ron?”

“Of course I do! But that prat Malfoy won’t take a curse for anyone! I can protect you better than he can!”

“I know you can, Ron,” Hermione reassured him. “I just need you to understand that I can’t stay with you and endanger you and the rest of your family.”

“We can move away!” Ron bellowed. “We can move to another city for all I care!”

“Ron, please,” Hermione pleaded. “I promise you that everything will be alright.”

Some colour had begun to drain from Ron’s red face as Hermione placed her hand on his cheek and kissed him. “I promise you,” she said faintly.

He had calmed down a bit more as she held on to both of his hands and looked at his beautiful dark eyes. “I am safe and there’s really no danger to me. This is just the Ministry’s stupid protocol that I have to follow – everything will be alright. Do you trust me?”

Ron stood steady for a moment and then nodded slowly. “I do,” he said.

“Then trust me to know what I’m doing,” she said.

“And you promise everything will be alright?” Ron asked, sounding very childish and very serious at the same time.

Hermione nodded and kissed him once again. “I promise.”

Ron sighed very softly. “Then go.” Relief swept over Hermione as she hugged Ron gently and smiled at his overprotective expression.

“That took less effort than we thought!” Ginny said happily and began to clear the table of all the rice cakes and jars.

“When are you leaving?” Harry asked her.

“The Ministry wants me to move as soon as possible,” Hermione said. “I told them that the earliest I could leave was tomorrow afternoon.”

“Alright,” Ron said with some difficulty.

“Ron and I will go get you a trunk from upstairs,” Harry said, looking at Ginny as Ron left the kitchen. “And maybe, Ginny, you can…can talk to Hermione.”

Ginny nodded as Harry left with Ron and then turned back to Hermione. “What was that all about?” Hermione asked.

“Harry and I both want to know why you didn’t tell Ron.”

“Tell him what?”

“That you’re in serious danger. He just thinks this is some stupid Ministry screw up.”

Hermione took the three mugs of tea from the table and walked over to the sink and began washing them. “And that’s how it’s going to be,” Hermione said. “I don’t want him worrying for me.”

“And what if Rodolphus Lestrange finds you?” Ginny asked.

“They have aurors all over the world looking for him – I’m sure they’ll find him before he finds me.”

“I hope so,” Ginny said worriedly.

As Hermione finished washing the cups, she placed them by the side and turned when she heard a knock on the front door.

“I’ll get that,” Hermione said as she dried her hands on a towel and walked outside into the living room. As she made her way through the maze of shelves filled with photos, she looked back up the stairs to see where Ron and Harry had gotten too.

She finally reached the front door and turned the brass handle which felt cold against her warm skin. She opened the door which made a slight creaking noise as it sprung forward. It took her a few minutes to completely recognize who was standing at the door but the first thing that she registered was that smirk that always seemed to surface when he spoke to her.

“Hello Granger.”

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Chapter 3 : Goodbye

Hermione stood gazing at the door for what seemed like at least a few years until she finally seemed to accept that she wasn’t hallucinating. In full body and mind, as arrogant as ever and as…blonde…as ever, Draco Malfoy leaned on the doorway with a sneer curling up on the side of his mouth. His hair had grown a little longer than she last remembered but it seemed to glow against the sunlight coming from behind, creating a glowing halo and making him seem as angelic as a new born baby. His pale grey eyes and malicious sneer on the other hand, destroyed that innocent appearance and showed him for what he truly was – the devil.

His smile – or rather his smirk – personified everything that Hermione could possibly hate about him and even more. His arrogant posture that framed him in the doorway gave him an air of superiority and insolence that made Hermione want to punch him right in the face. And of course, suppressing that urge was taking her a lot of effort.

“Malfoy?” Hermione said after a while of staring.

“No it’s Viktor Krum,” Malfoy snapped back. “I just wanted to dye my hair.”

Hermione threw him a nasty look and huffed slightly. “That’s not funny.”

“I think it is,” Malfoy replied, his smirk still visible at the left side of his lip. Hermione had the severe urge to just put a huge piece of tape against his mouth and slam the door in his face.

“You know Granger,” Malfoy began. “I’ve been standing at your door for…quite a while. Are these the kind of manners mudbloods have?”

Hermione matched Malfoy’s irritatingly perfect smirk with a clumsy grimace. “I think they’re better manners than arrogant little pricks have.”

“Clever retort, Granger, have you been practicing?”

Malfoy seemed quite content with arguing for the entire day but Hermione had had enough. “Why are you here, Malfoy?” she sneered.

“I’m here for the same reason you think I’m here,” Malfoy replied.

“And what reason is that?” Hermione shot back.

“Would you like me to discuss that in public so that Uncle Ralphie can hear about it too?” Malfoy said casually.

“I don’t know what to be shocked at more,” Hermione snapped. “The fact that you can talk about this so casually or that Rodolphus is actually your uncle in reality.”

“Neither surprises me,” Malfoy said casually.

Hermione reached over to the door and grabbed the brass handle, controlling every urge within her to stop her from shutting it right in his proud face. Malfoy was now matching Hermione’s stern gaze and they seemed to be competing to see who could hold their gaze for the longest without looking away.

Hermione was sure this childish competition could go on forever and it probably would have if Ginny hadn’t come barging from behind.

“Hermione who is i- Malfoy!” Ginny gasped as she stared at the blonde man before her.

“Oh great, it’s you,” Malfoy said unenthusiastically.

“It’s nice to see you too, Malfoy,” Ginny retorted sarcastically. “Glad you could come.”

“Me too,” Malfoy sneered. “I’ve been standing at this bloody doorway for ten minutes now and no one has asked me to come in.”

Ginny looked at Hermione sourly who rolled her eyes and nodded after a few seconds. “Come in,” Hermione said shortly.

She didn’t bother to allow Malfoy to go in first, even though he was the guest, and as her parents had taught her – guests always went first. She turned on her heel and marched into the living room with a heated expression on her face, red enough to match Ginny’s fiery hair. Ginny on the other hand, let Malfoy pass her and ushered him roughly into the cramped living room where his proud stature seemed out of place.

Hermione walked over to one of the faded old couches and sat herself down, grabbing one of Mrs. Weasley’s hand knitted pillows and placing it in her lap. Malfoy on the other hand looked utterly confused and disgusted as he stared around the room and finally, after a resolved look from Hermione, took a seat on one of the wooden chairs opposite the couch.

“Do you want something to eat?” Ginny asked, as she took a seat beside Hermione.

Malfoy looked around sceptically. “No.” he said bluntly.

“Good,” Ginny replied coldly.

“But I would like something to drink,” Malfoy said maliciously, sneering once again.

“We don’t keep alcohol here,” Ginny said.

“Well I suppose tea would do, or do you not have that either?”

Ginny glared at Malfoy and jetted up from her seat, threw him a nasty look and turned her heel into the kitchen. Hermione meanwhile had resorted to fidgeting with the tiny beads dangling off the cushion to distract herself from Malfoy’s insolence. Malfoy, on the other hand, seemed to be looking around the room with an expression of utter disgust. Hermione noticed he didn’t take his coat off or place his arm on the seat.

“So why are you here?” Hermione asked.

“I told you,” Malfoy said. “I’m here for the exact reason you think I am.”

“Enough with these games. I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow afternoon!” Hermione said.

“Yes, well, unfortunately I don’t run a chauffeur service here – transporting stupid muggles from the city to the countryside.”

“You know what Malfoy?” Hermione snapped. “I can’t believe after all that crap you pulled about being innocent and turning to the good side that you haven’t changed the slightest bit.”

“Oh don’t pull that psychoanalytical look on me, Granger,” Malfoy retorted. “I don’t need you to discover the inner reason for the denial of my feels and then somehow connect to my desire of being a ballerina. Alright?”

Hermione took a brief second to imagine Malfoy as a ballerina, laughed her head off internally and then went back to glaring at him. “This is ridiculous!” she burst out. “You just can’t show up here and just start being your stupid old asinine self.”

“Listen, Granger, I’d love nothing more than to sit here and talk with you all day – actually, I’d rather die than do that – but we need to get going.”

Ginny returned with three cups of tea on a tarnished silver tray that she hastily slammed down on the coffee table between the three of them. “Enjoy,” she sneered at Malfoy who gave her an equally blunt look.

Hermione reached over and grabbed the tea quickly – it seemed to have made her afternoon a little more bearable and a little less painful. She placed her lips against the smooth rim of the cup and tilted the cup ever so slightly so that the warm tea poured effortlessly into her mouth. Malfoy too took one of the cups and after examining it to make sure there were no crawling bugs on the handle, he too placed it against his mouth and took a sip.

“So are you going to tell us why you’re here?” Ginny asked.

“Well as I already mentioned to Gran- oh god! What is this sweetness in the tea?” Malfoy asked with a disgusted expression on his face.

“It’s sugar,” Hermione said incredulously.

“There is such a thing as moderation,” Malfoy said, with a sour expression on his face as he placed the cup back on the table.

“Enough with this,” Hermione said. “I’m not leaving now.”

“Well then good luck finding your way to a manor which even the Dark Lord himself had trouble locating,” Malfoy sneered proudly.

“That’s nothing to be pleased with,” Hermione snapped.

“Look, Granger,” Malfoy said. “The train to the outer city leaves in exactly –” Malfoy paused to check his watch. “44 minutes. It will take us at least twenty minutes to get to Diagon Alley where we will have to take the fireplace to the station which will take about ten minutes to get to the train. That gives you the next 14 minutes to pack your things and leave with me or stay here and rot with Rodolphus Lestrange’s wand up your nose.”

Hermione looked at Ginny and rolled her eyes. “I’ll go get my things,” she said and stood up.

“Fourteen minutes,” Malfoy said, tapping his watch. “Oh no wait- thirteen minutes.”

Malfoy stopped talking as he heard footsteps coming from the second story that began to descend.

“I think the bigger trunk was better,” one of voices came.

“It’s so heavy!” the second voice complained. “It’s not like she’s moving – it’s just temporary.”

Harry and Ron came into view as they descended the staircase, each step creaking against the floorboard beneath their feet. They stopped talking as they saw Draco Malfoy sitting on the couch with their respective girlfriends.

“Malfoy?” Harry blurted out.

“Oh great,” Malfoy muttered to himself. “It’s the Potter posse.”

“What the hell are you doing here?” Ron asked.

“Relax Weasley,” Malfoy scoffed. “I’ll be gone in a few minutes.”

“You’re not supposed to be here until tomorrow!” Harry said.

Hermione stood up and looked at Ron and Harry. “It’s alright,” she said. “There was a misunderstanding with the timings –”

“So you’re leaving now?” Ron said.

“Yes,” Hermione replied solemnly. “Don’t worry about me, Ron. I’ll be fine.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about,” Ron said, shooting Malfoy a nasty look, who seemed rather amused by the whole situation.

“Ten minutes,” he said, checking his watch again.

“Don’t talk to her like that!” Ron burst out, reaching into his pocket.

Harry darted forward and stepped between Ron and Malfoy and mouthed a few words to Ginny who got up from her seat immediately. “Let’s go pack, Ron!” she said as she grabbed Hermione’s arm and Ron’s arm and went with them upstairs, with Harry following them close behind.

---

“What the hell was that?!” Ron exploded as the four of them entered Hermione’s room on the second floor.

Ginny rolled her eyes and went over to help Harry pull out a large brown trunk from underneath the bed. “I told you I’d be leaving, Ron,” Hermione replied.

“Yes, but you didn’t tell me it was NOW!”

“Whether I left today or tomorrow, I’m still going to be gone,” Hermione said, tiredly. She was in no mood to argue with Ron but he just wouldn’t listen.

Harry and Ginny had managed to pull out the trunk and pretended with a lot of effort not to hear the arguing going on between Ron and Hermione. Harry thrust the trunk open while Ginny effortlessly waved her wand and all of Hermione’s possessions fell into it.

“And look at the way he was talking to you,” Ron bellowed. “It’s like you’re his bloody slave!”

“It’s Malfoy, Ron!” Hermione cried. “What else can you expect from him?”

“This is absolutely absurd,” Ron said. “I don’t see why you need to be going in the first place.”

“Are we going to have this conversation again?” Hermione asked angrily.

“Alright you two!” Ginny burst out. “Just stop this fighting!”

She placed herself between Ron and Hermione and looked at the both of them with a very annoyed expression. “Ron, Hermione’s leaving today and the last thing she needs is for you to be your stupid childish self. Why don’t you just say goodbye and do all that other crap couples do?”

“Hermione,” Harry began. “You guys shouldn’t be fighting at this time.”

“I can’t deal with this!” Hermione said. “If Ron doesn’t want to understand that I need to leave then maybe he doesn’t need to.”

“I can’t believe you’re acting like this!” Ron protested. “I understand why you need to leave!”

“Well then! Why are you so angry?”

“I just don’t….I just don’t want you to leave!” Ron burst out and then shut himself up in anguish. Hermione’s expression immediately softened as Harry and Ginny looked at each other with slight smiles appearing on their faces.

“I have to,” Hermione said slowly, gently placing her hand on Ron’s arm.

“I know,” Ron grunted.

“You can come anytime you want to visit me,” Hermione said.

“Well not anytime,” someone said from behind with a harsh tone. All four of them turned to see Malfoy standing at the doorway, leaning against the frame with an amused expression on his face.

“Granger,” he said, brandishing his watch in front of her. “Seven minutes.”

“Wait,” Hermione said harshly. “Why can’t Ron come anytime he wants?”

“Because it’s a protected house. And it won’t be very hard to find if Weasley here keeps bobbing in and out,” Malfoy sneered.

“What do you mean it’s protected?” Ginny asked.

“The Ministry’s placed a whole load of curses and spells and charms onto it. It’d take a pretty smart wizard with a lot of skill,” Malfoy paused to look at Ron and smirked, “to navigate his way through all of them to make it to the front door.”

“Well then this random death eater who killed your parents won’t be able to make it past the front gates, Hermione,” Ron said comfortingly. Malfoy’s expression faltered for a second and he looked at the both of them with a confused expression.

“Random?” he repeated. “Weasley, don’t underestimate him.”

“What are you talking about Malfoy?” Ron spat.

“It’s getting really late!” Ginny said suddenly.

“Yes,” Harry agreed immediately. “Ron, help me move Hermione’s trunk downstairs.”

Ron stared at the both of them blankly with a perplexed expression on his face. He didn’t have time to question what any of them had said as Harry shoved one handle of the trunk into his hands and began to navigate it down the stairs.

As the both of them left the room, Malfoy turned back to Hermione and Ginny and checked his watch for the fourth time. “Five minutes,” he said. “Coming or not?”

Hermione rolled her eyes at his unpleasant nature and then turned to Ginny. Ginny had been scribbling something on a piece of paper when she turned to face Hermione. “I’ll keep in contact,” she said gently.

“You better,” Ginny replied and hugged Hermione tightly. She still had the piece of scrap paper in her hand and as Hermione began to get slightly teary, she handed it to her.

“This is a safer address to send us owls to,” she said, indicating the writing on the paper. Hermione scanned her eyes over the sheet and read, Number 12, Grimmauld Place.

“Grimmauld place?” Hermione repeated with a puzzled expression.

“Yeah,” Ginny said, beginning to feel a little sad herself. “Since no one really lives there and it’s protected, we thought it’d be the safest place for you to send the owls in case Rodolphus is trying to intercept them or something.”

“Alright,” Hermione said and folded the piece of paper very carefully, placing it in her left pocket.

“I guess this is it,” Ginny said. “You take care.”

“You too,” Hermione said.

“And don’t you dare forget to keep in contact with us,” Ginny warned jokingly. “I think Ron may resort to becoming a hermit if you don’t.”

“Bye,” Hermione said wistfully and turned slowly, as though taking a longer time to leave would dull the pain.

Malfoy rolled his eyes and went down before her, his expensive dragon hide shoes making a thud against the wooden floors. The walk down the stairs for Hermione seemed to be one that caused her a lot of pain. It seemed that every step she took reminded her of another cherished memory that she’s spent with her friends.

Step

The Quidditch World Cup.

Step

Ron kissing her in the middle of the final battle.

Step

Hogwarts Graduation.

Step

Ron and Hermione dancing together for the first time.

Step

She couldn’t take it anymore. She wiped her eyes quickly with her other sleeve this time, and continued walking down the stairs at a faster pace, with the memories of so many years lingering at the back of her mind.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she turned to see Harry and Ron waiting for her, with a disgruntled Malfoy standing in the back. Hermione tried to pull herself together as she turned the corner and walked up to Harry and Ron.

“Did Ginny give you the address?” Harry asked gently and Hermione nodded solemnly. “Don’t you forget to write to us,” Harry said.

“I won’t,” Hermione replied and hugged Harry tightly.

“Don’t worry,” Harry said softly, so that only Hermione could hear him. “If you need anything, just write to us.”

“Of course,” Hermione said, trying to smile but failing miserably.

“If he causes you any trouble – any at all, or you get lost or something happens, just remember, Grimmauld Place is the safest place you can go. Only Ron, you and I can get in there by ourselves- not even Ginny.”

“Alright,” Hermione nodded and then turned to Ron. She had been dreading saying goodbye because she wasn’t sure what she’d say or how she’d fit all she wanted to say. However, as the moment neared she realized she didn’t have to say that much to him – just goodbye.

“Ron,” she whispered softly as Ron quickly averted his gaze. “You knew we’d have to say goodbye.”

“I don’t want to,” Ron said childishly, fiddling with his finger nails.

“We’ll see each other very soon,” Hermione assured him. “No matter what Malfoy says, the Ministry will still allow you to visit me.”

“Do you promise to write to me?” Ron asked.

“Of course,” Hermione said, trying to keep her expression and voice happy. “Don’t worry about me,” she added.

“I never worry about you,” Ron said.

“Good, because I worry about you all the time.”

“Well, you shouldn’t,” Ron said seriously.

“I’ll try. It’s going to be very hard not to keep thinking about you.”

Ron nodded. “I don’t think I’ll be able to stop thinking about you.”

Hermione smiled very weakly and put her hand on Ron’s face. “This will all be over before you know it.”

Ron nodded and then turned away for a few seconds. “What’s wrong?” Hermione asked.

“Oh it’s nothing,” Ron said chokingly. “I…I’ve just got something in my eye.”

Hermione couldn’t help but smile as she turned Ron back around and gave him a kiss. Their embrace was only broken when Malfoy rudely cleared his throat and scoffed ever so slightly. Ron and Hermione broke apart and turned to see Ginny coming down the stairs too.

“I’ve got to go,” Hermione said softly and wiped her eyes quickly as Malfoy tapped his watch impatiently. “I’ve got to go.”

“About time,” Malfoy sneered as reached into his robes and drew out his wand. He aimed the wooden stick very carefully at Hermione’s large trunk and whispered a few words, causing the trunk to levitate itself and move with Malfoy’s wand.

“Can we go now?” he asked impatiently.

“Yes,” Hermione nodded and turned to the three of them. “Bye,’ she whispered gravely.

Harry, Ginny and Ron just looked at Hermione as she put on her coat and stepped out into the garden. Malfoy had gone in front of her and was waiting outside. Hermione didn’t turn around again, the pain she would feel would have been too overwhelming for her. She took a deep breath and shut the door behind her, leaving all she knew behind.

[Liz-Miia Parker]

Ta läheks naq võlla ahahahahahaha.

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Chapter 4 : The Long Commute

Hermione had been sitting in a secluded coach for what had been at least ten minutes. She sighed to herself and checked her watch again – eleven minutes. The coach itself was very beautifully decorated with golden lining, red cushions and mahogany hangings on the side. It made Hermione feel, to a certain degree, very royal and regal and could only imagine the countless times the Malfoys had ridden in this, staring at the commoners down below them. But despite the gentle smell of expensive cologne, the velvet cushions against her back and gentle breeze ruffling her hair, Hermione felt utterly irritated right now.

They were still in front of the Burrow. As she had walked out the front door, into the garden and out into the street, Malfoy had made her sit in the carriage and said he would return shortly. That had been thirteen minutes ago.

She had now resorted to picking off stray threads on the edges of cushions, fingering each one carefully with her nails. She looked back out at the Burrow from where she could see Ron standing at the second story window, watching mournfully. She wasn’t sure if he could see her but she knew that speaking to him again would just make the pain of departure even deeper.

She settled her feel against the opposite wall and began to fiddle with her fingers. Her patient was thinning – she knew Malfoy wasn’t thrilled about this assignment either but he had no right to leave her here.

There were soft, distant footsteps approaching the carriage and as they got nearer, Hermione saw a tall shadow emerge.

“All set, Granger?” Malfoy said as he peered inside the carriage.

“It’s been fifteen minutes. I’m bloody well set,” Hermione snapped. She knew she should be rude but her patient had now worn thin.

“Right,” Malfoy said shortly and then went back outside.

Hermione bolted up from her seat very fast and hit her head hard against the ceiling. “HOLD ON!” she yelled after him.

Her head was now throbbing and she looked up at the beautifully adorned ceiling to realize that it was all hard iron underneath it. After using some very choice words to curse Malfoy, she sat back down and continued rubbing her head with the back of her hand.

“What is it?” Malfoy asked angrily, poking his head into the carriage again.

“Why haven’t we left yet?” Hermione asked angrily.

Malfoy rolled his eyes. “It takes time for all these charms that I have to put around the carriage. And here I thought you’d be low maintenance.”

“Low maintenance?” Hermione snapped.

A sneer curled up at the edge of Malfoy’s lips. “Low maintenance,” he repeated,

“And WHAT is that supposed to mean?” Hermione yelled after him but he was gone again. Hermione huffed loudly and sat back down. “Stupid ass,” she mumbled to herself.

The weather had begun to worsen outside as rain started to fall to the ground. Hermione looked up and saw that Ron had now gone in. She didn’t want to admit it but she did feel a little offended that he wouldn’t watch her leave – that’s what she would have done. However, further thought on this topic was cut short by Malfoy stepping back in. This time though he didn’t just peer in but instead sat down opposite Hermione.

“We should be leaving in a few seconds,” he said carelessly, glancing at his watch.

“Well I don’t think I’ll be trusting your sense of timing from now on,” Hermione retaliated.

“What?” Malfoy said roughly. He had peered out one of the carriage windows and was now checking his watch again.

“I’ve been sitting in here for fifteen minutes!” Hermione burst out. “You said we’d be leaving any minute-”

Malfoy smirked. “The fifteenth minute is any minute.”

“And what was all that rushing me throughout the house?” she snapped.

Malfoy opened his mouth to respond when his watch suddenly beeped. “Eli! It’s time to go!” He hit his fist against the door of the carriage twice and Hermione felt a lunge in her stomach as the carriage began to move. She took a deep breath to steady herself but calm was the last thing she could be as the carriage began to speed up - Hermione was sure it could take on a muggle race car any day. Her heart began to race as she looked out the window to the side and saw they were coming to a curved street.

“Turn!” she whispered to herself, still looking out. The curb was getting closer and the carriage still hadn’t turned.

“Turn!” Hermione whispered again. “Oh please!”

She clutched the side of her seat, digging her fingernails deep into the fabric until she was sure she had ripped it. Her heart began to pound in her ears and her pulse rate was rising exponentially. The curb was now only a few feet away and the carriage still hadn’t turned.

“TURN!” she yelled and immediately closed her eyes as the carriage was now a mere few inches away. Her throat felt like it had been twisted and a tingling sensation began to rise in her stomach. The magnanimous crash or the very narrow turn that she had been expecting hadn’t come. She slowly opened her eyes as she felt the wind soar through her bushy hair and a light bit of dust in the air.

Once her eyes were opened, she realized why they hadn’t crashed into the curb. She expelled a few deep breaths and began to let go of the cushions on the side which now had deep nail imprints on them. She turned to the side and looked down at the houses that were now getting smaller and smaller into the distance. They were flying.

Opposite her, Malfoy stood looking highly amused and looked at her with a belittling expression. “It flies,” he said.

“Yes I figured,” Hermione replied coldly.

“Of all things Granger, I thought flying would be the last thing you were afraid of,” Malfoy smirked, still enjoying those few moments of Hermione’s panic.

“I’m not afraid of flying,” she snapped. “I’m afraid of crashing and dying.”

“Pathetic,” Malfoy said.

“What’s pathetic?” Hermione asked angrily.

“Being a witch and still thinking you’d crash – though I suppose, you can’t really be called a witch.” Malfoy had now resorted to casually gazing out the window with his hand on the pane.

“Are you really going to spend the next few months making second year jokes?” Hermione asked him. She tried to keep her voice calm and cool but anger was building inside her.

Malfoy didn’t respond to her. Instead, he turned a black dragon-hide bag that lay under the seat. He reached for it and placed it gingerly in his lap, allowing Hermione a good view into it. From what she could see, there were quills, parchment, some robes and books jammed into that one tiny sack. As Malfoy turned the bag slightly right to reach in deeper, Hermione saw gold lettering along the front which shined under the sunlight – L.

Malfoy had now pulled out a green covered book from his bag and placed it back under his seat. As he gingerly flipped through the pages, Hermione sensed that he wasn’t going to respond to her any further. She happily turned her attention to the window where she gazed down upon the bare fields that they were now passing over.

The world began to seem a lot simpler as she watched the grass from above, looking like a green splash of paint against the blank canvas. That’s what Hermione often thought of the world, or rather liked to think about the world – just a painting. The artist first painted the canvas blue for the sky and then added bits of green for the grass and fields. He then splashed a mixture of yellow, orange and white to replicate the blinding light of the sun and with splashes of white, he created the clouds.

The fields look so beautiful – the fields…wait. The fields?

Hermione paused for a few moments to ponder the thought that had entered her mind. “Wait,” she said aloud. Malfoy looked up, irritated at being disturbed and rolled his eyes.

“Do a few moments of silence annoy you that much?” he said irritably.

“Why are we flying over fields?” Hermione asked.

“I beg your freaking pardon?” Malfoy said.

“You said we have to get to Diagon Alley!” Hermione said.

“I did.”

“We should be over London – over buildings and roads and cars.”

A small smile curved onto Malfoy’s lips. “Very smart indeed, Granger,” Malfoy said, now looking highly amused.

“Don’t insult my intelligence!” Hermione snapped.

“Forgive me,” Malfoy said, sounding anything but sincere.

“Explain why we aren’t over London right now!” Hermione protested. She hated being treated like a child.

“We’re flying directly to the Manor,” Malfoy said after a while. He had now placed his book by his side and was rummaging around for something else.

“But…but…” Hermione stuttered. “Wh…what was that whole lecture…?”

Malfoy found what he was looking for – a copy of today’s Daily Prophet. He took it out from under one of the cushions and placed it in his lap. “What lecture?”

“The whole thing about having to catch a train and…and…taking a fireplace from Diagon Alley and…”

Malfoy’s smile was now visibly wider. He didn’t respond immediately but instead started to flip through the newspaper very casually.

“Was that your idea of a joke?” Hermione burst out.

“It wasn’t a joke,” Malfoy replied innocently. “That is how one gets to Malfoy Manor – it’s just not how we’re getting there.”

“I don’t understand!” Hermione said angrily. “I had to rush through my goodbyes and…and pack whatever I could find…”

“I just thought giving you a deadline would make things run a little faster.”

“A FAKE deadline?!” Hermione screeched. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Ron properly!”

“Yes, well, I’m sure Weasley’s going to be okay,” Malfoy snarled. “He’s got his mummy back home if he needs a hug.”

“Shut up,” Hermione snapped.

“Hey, you’re the one who started the whole conversation,” Malfoy said, still taking pleasure in Hermione’s disdain.

“Alright,” Hermione said testily. “I’m sorry I ever spoke to you in the first place.”

“Good.” Malfoy said.

“Perfect.”

Hermione had slammed her hand against the window and was now absentmindedly staring outside. Malfoy had returned back to his newspaper and was flipping through the pages slowly, reading any interesting articles that he may have found. She was sure the silence in the carriage would go on forever – but it didn’t.

“Master Malfoy?” a voice called out from outside.

Hermione immediately jumped at the sound and shot her head out the window to see what was happening. She couldn’t see anything but as she raised her head a little higher she saw a little man sitting at the front of the carriage – like a driver.

Hermione gasped silently and then sat back down in her seat with a bemused expression. “There’s a man on top of the carriage!” she said.

Malfoy looked up. “Well, yes.”

“Master Malfoy!” the man called again.

“What is it, Eli?” Malfoy called back.

“We’re a little behind schedule,” he said. Malfoy reached for his watch and then nodded a few times and then looked back up.

“Yes, we are,” he said. “I suppose you want to speed up, then?”

“That was my intention,” Eli replied. “I just wanted to warn you so that you and your guest could secure yourselves in the seats, it can get quite bumpy.”

Malfoy pondered for a moment and shook his head. “I think we can afford to be a little behind schedule,” Malfoy said. “Don’t speed up.”

“Very well, sir,” the reply came and the carriage continued at its regular speed. Hermione secretly felt relieved that there was no more speed since she still hadn’t quite recovered from when they had taken off. Hermione looked at Malfoy and sensed that he realized that and she quickly changed the subject.

“I thought this carriage was enchanted,” she said quickly.

Malfoy nodded. “It is.”

“Well, then…why do you need a driver?” she asked coldly.

“Someone’s got to navigate and control the Thestrals,” Malfoy said.

“Thestrals?” Hermione sat up immediately. “This carriage is driven by Thestrals?”

“Are you surprised Granger?”

“Well, it’s just that I saw one of their legs,” Hermione said slowly.

“So?” Malfoy asked bluntly.

“I’ve never seen one before.”

“I guess you’ve seen death then,” Malfoy said, his tone was so nonchalant that Hermione felt a little annoyed. She quickly slumped back down and threw Malfoy a nasty look. She decided that looking out of the window made her seem busy and perhaps she wouldn’t have to talk to him then. It was getting darker, now that the sun had set. The stars in the sky had gone from distant objects hidden in the sun to magnificent miracles twinkling in the sky. With them in her mind, she slowly closed her eyes.

---

“What’s the matter mate?” Harry asked, as he sat down beside Ron at the dining table. The Weasleys had decided to go out to dinner but Ron had refused to go and Ginny and Harry thought it would be best if they stayed behind too.

Ginny was over at the kitchen counter cutting up some vegetables when Harry had entered. He looked at her with questioning expression and she nodded gravely and gestured to Ron.

“What do you think the matter is, Harry?” Ron replied.

“It’s been four hours since she left, Ron,” Ginny said, placing the vegetables in a bowl.

“It feels like forever,” Ron said grumpily, fiddling absentmindedly with his fork.

“Mate, if you keep counting the seconds like this, it will seem like an eternity,” Harry said. “Trust me, Hermione will be fine.”

“Harry’s right,” Ginny said, getting some heating up some leftovers on the stove. She walked over and placed the vegetables in front of the two of them and pat Ron’s shoulder before going back to the stove.

“Well I know Harry’s right,” Ron said irritably. “That still won’t stop me from worrying about her.”

“Alright think about it this way,” Ginny said. “Is Hermione smart?”

Ron looked up. “Well of course.”

“Smarter than you?” Ginny asked.

“Infinitely.”

“Is she brave?” Ginny asked again.

“Yeah.”

“Is she strong?”

“I think so,” Ron agreed.

“Then she’ll be fine,” Harry finished. “Now have a carrot and stop moping.”

Ron couldn’t help but smile a little as Harry reached for a carrot stick and began chewing on it. He grabbed another one and offered it to Ron who took it too. Ginny finished heating up the leftovers and placed them in a large plate as she walked over to the dining table.

“Eat up,” she said as she placed it gingerly between the three of them. Ron grunted slightly at the sight of the stale chicken from yesterday’s dinner and hard rice.

“I bet you wish you hadn’t turned down your dad’s offer for dinner,” Harry said, equally disgusted at the food.

“You said it,” Ron said as took a handful of rice and dumped it in his plate.

“I bet even the food at Malfoy Manor isn’t this bad,” Ginny said.

“Bad?” Harry scoffed. “I’ve heard they have a whole line-up of house elves in their kitchen to cook. I think the last thing Hermione has to worry about is bad food.”

“Yep,” Ron said, stuffing a fistful of chicken into his mouth. “Bad company is her real problem.”

“I think you’re right,” Ginny said. “Those few minutes with Malfoy this afternoon almost killed me – I can’t imagine having to spend months with him.”

“Poor ‘Mione,” Ron said sadly.

“I know,” Harry agreed. “Hopefully they find Rod-”

Harry stopped short when he looked over at Ginny who gave him a very frightened look. “Hopefully they find this death eater,” Harry corrected himself quickly.

Ron hadn’t seemed to notice this momentary tension and continued eating. He nodded grimly and then began to pour some water into a glass. “I do hope she writes to me soon,” he said.

“I do too,” Ginny sighed. “I have no one to talk you around here anymore.”

“Hey!” Harry protested. “What about me?”

Ginny looked confused. “What about you?”

“Why can’t you talk to me?” Harry said, sounding hurt and slightly amused.

A smile broke out on Ginny’s face as she playfully toyed with the cup in her hand. “You want me to talk to you about clothes, work, family, relationships-”

“Hold on there!” Ron said quickly. “Hermione talks to you about relationships? About me?”

“And you talk to Hermione about us?” Harry interjected.

Ginny’s smile faltered for a second. “Yeah,” she said leisurely.

“Bloody hell!” Ron spat. “How much do you know about me and Hermione?” he asked slowly.

The edge of Ginny’s mouth curved into a mischievous smile. “I know more things about you and Hermione than you probably do.”

“Ah! Women!” Harry protested as he shot up. “I can’t believe you tell Hermione stuff about us!”

“Well, we’re friends! That’s what friends do when they hang out!” Ginny defended.

Harry and Ron had both stood up, both blushing profusely and angry at the same thing. “That’s not what Harry and I do when we hang out,” Ron said irritably.

“Yeah!” Harry agreed. “We talk about Quidditch and brooms and work-”

“Oh don’t play all innocent with me!” Ginny said, still smiling but now a little red in the face. “I’ve seen you both smiling at Fleur whenever you guys are over here.”

“We’re being friendly!” Harry defended.

“Don’t you remember Bill and Fleur’s first anniversary dinner” Ginny shot back.

“What’re you talking about?” Ron said innocently.

“I saw you run right into her when she told everyone that she was so happy she could kiss anyone!” Ginny told Ron, who backed down immediately.

“That is true, mate,” Harry whispered to Ron, smiling slightly.

“Don’t you play innocent either,” Ginny snapped at Harry. “I seem to recall that you were right behind Ron when that incident happened.”

Harry backed down too. “Um…Ron…I think Teddy needs our help upstairs!”

Ron looked perplexed. “I thought he was sleeping, I p- Oh right! Yeah! We’re coming Teddy!”

Both Ron and Harry immediately shot out of the room so fast that they were gone in the blink of an eye. Ginny couldn’t help but smile at both of them. She went back to the dining table and picked up the dirty dishes and placed them in the sink where a piece of cloth began to clean them.
---
Hermione felt her leg throb painfully and opened her eyes slowly. For a brief second, she had forgotten about Malfoy and the fact that she was on her way to Malfoy Manor. She seemed to think that she was back in her apartment, back in her bed and that it had all been a bad dream. Unfortunately for her, that moment disappeared as fast as it has arrived and she remembered it all.

She sat up and saw that it was now pitch dark outside, with the clouds covering those little stars that she had envisioned as she slept. She turned her head slowly off the window pane and realized that the pain in her leg was actually coming from a pointy object lying against it. She bent down carefully and felt the object under her seat; immediately she could tell that it was wooden and it took her a good fifteen seconds to realize that it was her wand.

She grabbed it and placed it back in her handbag beside her, making sure to keep it safe this time. She looked around the carriage as best she could because the candles had been blown out and the lanterns doused. Her hand felt its way up to one of the cushions and then to the side panels and to the bag beside her. Eventually, she gave up trying to find her way around and slumped back in her seat.

“Tea, miss?”

Hermione jumped from her seat as she heard a voice come at her from behind. She looked around and finally saw a tiny man holding a silver tray on his hand and smiling at her very kindly. He was carrying a faintly lit candle and Hermione wondered why she hadn’t seen him approach but shook the thought from her heard.

“I apologize for startling you,” he said gently.

“That’s quite alright,” Hermione said quietly. “It’s my fault for reacting so badly.”

“So you are the well-known Miss Granger?” he said, holding out his hand very politely. Hermione wasn’t sure what to do – at first she thought he was going to shake her hand but then she realized that the wanted to kiss it. She awkwardly gave him her hand and he placed a kiss upon it very softly, the bristles of his white moustache brushing against her skin.

“A pleasure,” he said. “I am Eli Holmes.”

“You’re the driver?” Hermione asked. Now that the light had grown brighter she could see that Eli was a tiny, short man but very old of age. He had a flourishing white moustache that complimented his white hair which had a balding spot right in the middle.

“Oh no, I just guide the Thestrals.” he said. “Though it isn’t my regular job, Master Malfoy thought it be best if I accompanied him on this journey.”

Hermione smiled. “So what is it that you do?”

“I am the butler at Malfoy Mansion,” he said warmly.

“Oh,” Hermione said. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m-”

“Hermione Granger,” Eli finished her sentence for her. “Yes, Master Malfoy has been kind enough to fill me in on your situation. I’m most sorry about your parents.”

Hermione couldn’t help but feel a little relaxed as she realized the sincerity in Eli’s voice. She acknowledged his condolence with a smile and then turned towards the window where darkness still flooded the night.

“How come we’re not moving?” Hermione asked.

“We’re waiting for Master Malfoy to return,” he replied. “While he’s outside, the Thestrals are resting too.”

“You can see them too?” Hermione asked, feeling comfort in knowing that she was not alone.

“Oh indeed,” Eli said casually.

“So you must…so you must have seen death?” she asked. Hermione felt a little odd acting so friendly and personal with someone she’d just met but something about Eli’s twinkling blue eyes reminded her so much of Dumbledore that she couldn’t help but trust him.

“My dear,” Eli began shortly. “I’ve seen so much that you would be surprised.” He smiled soulfully and turned to face the empty seat behind him.

“So wait, where did Malfoy go?” Hermione asked, suddenly realizing that he wasn’t here.

“He will return shortly,” Eli said, providing no more detail.

“But where did he go?” Hermione asked suspiciously.

Eli chuckled softly as he reached behind him and drew out a silver tray. “Master Malfoy is a rare mystery to many, perhaps even his own parents,” he said thoughtfully. “Someone as insignificant as I could barely provide you with his daily schedule, let alone unplanned wanderings.”

Hermione sat puzzled for a few minutes as she thought about what Eli said. Malfoy was a rare mystery? How on earth could that be possible? Her attention was momentarily disrupted by the clanking of fine China as she noticed that Eli was pouring her a cup of tea.

“Oh that’s really not necessarily,” she said kindly. “I don’t really need any tea.”

“Aren’t you tired, my dear?” Eli asked her.

“That’s alright,” Hermione said. “I’ll just get something to drink once we get to the Manor.”

“Oh but we are here. We just can’t go any further without the Master” he said, gesturing to the flood of lights ahead where a mansion twice the size of Buckingham Palace stood. Hermione shook her head twice. That had not been there a second ago. “Welcome to Malfoy Manor.”

[Liz-Miia Parker]

Mulle meeldib see fic aina rohkem aga samas tahaks teada selles sõjast rohkem, mis sai jne.

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Chapter 5 : The Manor

In the far distance, an array of twinkling lights dominated the darkened sky. Hermione squinted carefully and saw the vague outline of a magnificent manor that seemed to tower over the rest of the area. Beyond the entangling vines and ancient trees, she saw a huge cast iron gate that restricted the entrance to the manor with two silver serpents crafted onto the entrance. After the gates stood the infamous Malfoy Manor, in all its glory. Since they were so far away, Hermione could only see a faint outline of two towers attached onto the main Manor which could emulate the prowess of the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts.

“So how about that tea, dear?” Eli casually suggested, offering Hermione a cup of fragrant liquid.

Hermione was still gaping at the sight before her when she felt the warmth float over from the tea and prickle her skin. “Oh…right…” she said clumsily as she took the tea cup from Eli and began to sip it gently.

“Don’t worry about the castle,” Eli suggested. “You’re with Master Malfoy – it’s not as scary as it looks.”

“I…I beg your pardon?”

“This strong and intimidating appearance shouldn’t fool you. There are traps set from the main gate to the doorway, just to ward of intruders. But with Master Malfoy, you’re safe.”

“Oh no, I’m not scared,” Hermione said quickly.

“Then why are you so anxious?” Eli asked.

“I…I just had no idea how…big…Malfoy Manor would be.”

Eli smiled. “I suppose you thought it would be around the size of one of those muggle mansions…what are they called?”

“Bungalows,” Hermione said. “They’re called Bungalows in the muggle world. And you’re right. I never thought it would literally be as grand as Hogwarts.”

“That does seem to get a lot of people.” Eli placed the tea pot carefully on a tiny table beside Malfoy’s seat and turned to leave.

“Are you going?” Hermione asked quickly and rather childishly.

“Master Malfoy is returning,” Eli said, pointing out into the distance from where a small figure was approaching.

“Oh.”

“We’ll be flying to the castle so I need to get the Thestrals ready,” he said warmly. “Will you be okay, Ms. Granger?”

“Yes…yes, of course. Thank you.”

“Thank you for what?”

“Well, you’ve certainly kept me company in this darkness,” Hermione smiled. “I appreciate it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said as he took one step off the carriage and then disappeared.

Hermione took a moment to gather herself. The sudden appearance of the Manor had startled her but now she had to compose herself and take a few deep breaths. “I’m alright,” she sighed to herself. “Just…just need to take a minute.”

She certainly didn’t want Malfoy to see her so weak and vulnerable for she knew it would only lead to snide remarks and cruel insults. She looked out the window and saw his shadow getting closer. She wiped away the drool at the side of her mouth from sleeping and sat up straight as Malfoy stepped into the carriage. He paused for a second with a genuine lack of interest. “Oh,” he said. “You’re awake.”

“Yes,” Hermione said, equally casually.

“Well, we’re here,” he said as he took a seat opposite Hermione.

“Right, I see that.”

“Good.” Malfoy took the cup that Eli had placed beside him and began to leisurely sip it as he looked out the window.

“Where were you?” Hermione asked suddenly.

“Nearby,” Malfoy replied vaguely.

Hermione rolled her eyes and took a sip from her tea too. “That’s not very helpful,” Hermione sneered.

“Well I don’t have to answer to you,” Malfoy replied coldly.

“No, but you have to explain to me,” Hermione retorted with equal coldness. Malfoy was being so vague and annoying that she had that usual urge to punch him and spill a few drops of blood on that perfectly pale skin of his.

“What do I have to explain?”

“You’re my protector,” Hermione said, though she realized how weak that made her sound. “You can’t just leave me alone and then not tell me why.”

Malfoy grumbled and then shot Hermione a nasty look. “I had to unlock the Fidelus Charm on the Manor.”

“There’s a Fidelus charm?” Hermione said, sounding fascinated. “So, that means you’re the-”

“Secret Keeper,” Malfoy finished for her. “Are you satisfied now?” he added roughly as he took another sip of tea.

“There’s nothing satisfying about being stuck in a spooky old manor with you for the next few months with a madman chasing me,” Hermione snapped.

Malfoy was taken aback by Hermione’s sudden outburst and hid his surprise immediately by taking a long sip of tea. It seemed that Hermione too felt a little awkward after and hid behind her cup as well resulting in a mutual and rather cold silence that was only broken after Eli entered the carriage.

“The thestrals are ready, Master Malfoy,” he said obediently.

“Perfect,” Malfoy said. “So are we all set to go?”

“Yes, sir,” Eli responded.

“Alright then, we should leave as soon as possible,” Malfoy instructed. “Make sure that you hold on to the reins tightly – the mount is a little narrow.”

“Of course,” Eli nodded. “Where did you want to land?”

Malfoy peered out the window to the Manor in front of him and then calculated a few things mentally before turning back to Eli. “The courtyard?” Eli suggested.

Malfoy shook his head. “You will not have time to fly the Thestrals back – they will need to rest where we land and I’d rather not have them in the courtyard.”

“Very well, sir,” Eli said.

“The Northern Tower,” Malfoy said after a while. “Land on the roof and the Thestrals can rest there while we dismount. You can take them down to the stables in a few hours.”

“Alright,” Eli nodded and then turned away.

Hermione coughed very slightly to indicate her presence in the room since no one had seemed to pay any attention to her before. It’s not like she liked the attention – she just didn’t like being left out of conversations. Malfoy looked at her with a boring expression and then his lips began to curl into that familiar grimace.

“You’d better hold on, Granger,” he said. “It can get pretty bumpy.”

Hermione didn’t respond – just glared. She placed her hands on either sides of her seat and grasped the armrests quickly as the carriage began to move. Gradually, like before, the speed started to increase steadily and before she knew it, they had taken flight. A small churning feeling began to initiate in Hermione’s stomach and she knew it was the tea. She closed her eyes immediately as she felt the carriage go higher and higher and then it began to turn. It began to turn upwards towards the sky and Eli initiated a complete ninety degree turn. Hermione opened her eyes a fraction to see Malfoy sitting against his seat very casually, holding on to it lightly. He seemed to be enjoying that fact that Hermione was about to scream for her life. The carriage was now practically vertical – heading straight towards the stars. Hermione started to take deep, heavy breaths and sweat began to form on her forehead despite the chilling weather.

The churning feeling in her stomach then suddenly began to dissipate and her nerves calmed down – they were landing. She sighed deeply and very slowly opened her eyes. As before, Malfoy had his usual entertained expression on his face and this time, it seemed, he was on the verge of burst out in laughter.

Hermione shot him the dirtiest look she could muster and then look down the window and saw where Eli was landing the carriage. As the wheels touched the stony surface of the roof, Hermione felt a jerking feeling against her legs and then they landed. Hermione opened the door immediately to touch her feet to the floor while Draco waited patiently for Eli to arrive and open the door for him.

“Your bags are waiting for you, Miss Granger,” Eli said as Hermione came into his view. She saw that the roof they were standing on was as deserted as the forest they had been in – not a soul in sight. The chilling winter breeze was cooling her down and calming her nerves as she returned Eli’s comment with a smile.

“Would you like me to tend to the Thestrals?” Eli asked Malfoy.

“That won’t be necessary,” Draco replied. “I need you to show her to her room.” He crudely referred to Hermione who felt very offended.

“Certainly,” Eli said, nodding obediently.

“After you’ve shown her the room,” Draco continued. “I’ll need you to come see me.”

Eli nodded once again, his white hair ruffling slightly in the breeze. “Where will you be, sir?”

“In my room,” Draco said shortly as he loosed one button on his cloak and nodded to Eli.

“Goodnight Master Malfoy,” Eli said, as Draco began to depart. He glanced at Hermione for a second, nodded to her and then went through a small wooden door near one of the edges.

With a flash of a moment, he was gone. Hermione stood dumbfounded and very offended by Malfoy’s cold and rude attitude but then again, it was Malfoy and she couldn’t have expected anything else. She turned to Eli who was busy closing the carriage doors and tying the reins to a small post near the same wooden door that Draco had gone through.

“I’ll just be a minute,” he said as he went over and firmly threw the reins around the post and tied it strongly.

“Take your time,” Hermione replied quickly, not wanting to sound like Malfoy. “So, how long have you worked for the Malfoys?”

Eli smiled. “It’s been so long that I can barely remember a time when I didn’t work for them.”

“Oh wow,” Hermione exclaimed. “So I guess you know your way through this castle pretty well.”

“I’d like to think so,” Eli responded, now casting a charm on the carriage so it would clean itself. “I’m done, Ms. Granger. I’ll show you to your room.”

---

Hermione’s footsteps were echoing around the dark hallway as she descended the stairs from the Northern Tower. The chilling breeze from the roof had managed to finds its way into the Manor and now her arms had tiny Goosebumps trickling all over. She held her arms tight together and began rubbing them gently to keep herself warm as Eli guided her towards the central area of the manor.

“Don’t worry, Miss Granger,” he said softly. “This breeze only goes as far as these stairs. Once we leave the Northern Tower, it’s very toasty inside the Manor.”

“That’s great,” Hermione said happily as she imagined the thought of the warm atmosphere encircling her cold skin.

They had approached the end of the stairwell where a large wooden door separated the warmth from the cold. Eli placed his hand against the door and found its thick brass handle, which he tugged on strongly to open it. Instantly, a gush of warm air came racing out and soothed Hermione’s prickling Goosebumps and frozen fingers.

“Better, isn’t it?” Eli asked her.

“Definitely,” Hermione said, taking in some of the air into her lungs. It was then that she realized how utterly deceptive the stairwell down the tower had been. The inside of the Manor was nothing like the dark, chilly, deserted stairwell. Granted that it was still empty, but the gigantic hallways that lead down in front of them were no longer hidden in the shadows but rather illuminated with beautifully dimmed gold lights that shone magnificently on the maroon carpet. The walls carried the gently glowing torches that carried this illumination and were clean and beautifully decorated unlike the stairwell.

“I…it’s so…” Hermione stuttered.

“Beautiful?” Eli offered kindly.

“It’s gorgeous!” she breathed. “I…I never imagined that Malfoy Manor of all places could look like this!”

Eli chuckled softly. “It’s surprising how many people seem to be taken aback by its appearance.”

“The outside is so…ancient and worn out…” Hermione said, still unable to contain her shock.

“Well I suppose that it true,” Eli agreed. “You see, the Manor itself was built thousands and thousands of years ago by Maurus Malfoy.” The two of them had begun walking down the illuminated hallway.

“Maurus Malfoy?” Hermione said. “That name doesn’t sound familiar.”

“It wouldn’t,” Eli said sombrely. “Maurus was one of the first Malfoys to arrive here in England. He’s rather unknown to others but very famous…or rather infamous when it comes to knowledge amongst the pureblood families.”

“I see,” Hermione said.

“When Malfoy arrived here, he had the mansion built for himself and his wife – a rather scary old witch I am told. And it’s been in the family ever since.”

“That is certainly very old,” Hermione remarked.

“The inside of the Manor looked very similar to the outside before Abraxas Malfoy moved in here with his wife and son, Lucius.”

“Draco’s grandfather?”

“Certainly.”

“I’ve heard of Abraxas,” Hermione noted. “Wasn’t his wife supposed to be the most beautiful woman in Wiltshire?”

“Indeed,” Eli said, sounding very impressed. “She was said to have the most silver of hair and greyest of eyes – she was part Veela.”

“Oh,” Hermione said suddenly. “So that explains the blondeness in the entire family!”

Eli smiled. “She was very socially conscious and when she married into the Malfoys, she had the entire mansion renovated – from head to toe. All the obscure and hidden rooms of the mansions weren’t renovated of course but the main interior was.”

“Well that explains it,” Hermione said. They were now heading down a very long stretch of hallway with portraits on every side of the wall. Most of the wizards and witches were asleep but a few of them were peeking to see this new visitor. “How far exactly is my room?” Hermione asked after a while.

“Actually,” Eli said as they approached a dark, wooden door amongst many other similar ones down the hallway, “We’re here.”

He turned the handle on the door and opened the room to a very dimly lit chamber with a very golden theme. The sheets on the small bed were a tanned beige which matched the dark wooden headboard very well as well as the four side drawers and huge armoire on the side. There was a miniature chandelier hanging from the ceiling which provided the only current illumination that was present aside from the moonlight drizzling through the drawn curtains.

“I hope it’s satisfactory,” Eli said kindly as he led Hermione inside.

“Of course,” Hermione said happily. She had been expecting a prison rather than a room so she was very content with her current arrangements. Her luggage had arrived beforehand and was lying at the foot of her bed.

“It’s been a very long day, Ms. Granger,” Eli said as Hermione began to tour the room.

Hermione turned around and smiled. “I know, and thank you so much for accommodating me so well, Eli…if I may call you that.”

“I am at your beck and call whenever you need me,” he said, bowing shortly and then smiling at her as his eyes began to shimmer against the gold light.

“Goodnight Eli,” Hermione said, as Eli turned towards the door.

“Goodnight Ms. Granger,” he responded and closed the door.

---
“Is she asleep?” Malfoy asked as Eli entered the master bedroom. He didn’t look at Eli as he entered nor did he turn around.

“I just saw her to her room,” Eli said obediently.

“Right,” Draco said shortly and then turned to face Eli. His eyes were a little dark around the edges but that did not deter from his perfect complexion and shining blonde hair.

“What is it you wanted to see me about?” Eli asked.

“I need you to keep an eye on her, Eli,” Draco said carefully, as he fiddled with the quill in his hand.

“Whatever for?”

“She’s…she’s very curious,” Draco began. “I’ve known her since my first year and she’s not the kind of person who is afraid of challenges or of the unknown-”

“Many consider that an admirable quality.”

“I don’t. This Manor is huge and I don’t want her poking her head around it. The last thing I need is for her to get lost or in trouble here – there’ll be aurors all over the place if something happens to her.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Just give her anything she wants – food, entertainment, whatever – keep her occupied.”

“Absolutely, sir.”

“She shouldn’t be too demanding,” Malfoy said. “Her parents’ deaths will keep her thoughts occupied most of the day so I doubt she’ll be bothering you.”

“I don’t mind serving her.”

“Well either way, Eli, just makes sure she doesn’t wander off.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.” Malfoy turned to face his desk again and rubbed the back of his head.

“She’s a very nice lady,” Eli remarked slowly, carefully calculating Malfoy’s reaction.

Malfoy didn’t turn around but scoffed very slightly. “I’ve known her far too long to judge that.”

“It hasn’t been that long,” Eli remarked.

“Not for you maybe,” Malfoy said. “But to me, I’ve known her for almost half my life.”

Malfoy began to flip through a few pages of his book. “Oh by the way,” Malfoy said after a while. “Her boyfriend may write.”

“Boyfriend?”

“Yes,” Malfoy rolled his eyes. “A terrible loser with red hair. His writing’s like a dead rat’s scratches against parchment.”

“Will he be just writing or will he come by?”

“I doubt he’ll come by. He doesn’t have enough skill to make it to the front gates let alone past all the charms between the gates and the front door.”

“Am I to keep these letters from Ms. Granger?”

“No no,” Malfoy said. “Give them to her but make sure the owls stay to a minimum.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.”

“Will that be all, sir?”

Malfoy nodded very slowly. “Is she still in the dungeons?”

“Ms. Granger?”

“No.”

Eli turned around. “She was there yesterday, sir.”

“Thank you,” he slammed his book shut and got up, beginning to head towards his bed. “Goodnight Eli.”

“Goodnight.”

[Greete Black]

Mulle draco&hermione ficid eriti ei meeldi tegelikult, kuid see on päris huvitav.

[Liz-Miia Parker]

Huvitav kes vangis on

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Chapter 6 : Goodmorning

Hermione sat in the backyard of the Burrow on a thin blanket laid out by Ron. He was sitting beside her with his eyes glued to her beautiful face and his hand on her hand. She smiled sweetly at Ron and admired the beauty of the sky under which they sat. It was night time and so the stars were brightly shining and casting their gently glimmer on everything below them.

“It’s such a beautiful night,” Hermione said softly.

“I hope it doesn’t rain,” Ron remarked, staring at the dark clouds that were beginning to form.

“Why should it matter?” Hermione asked.

“Well, you know,” Ron said awkwardly. “I don’t want to get wet or anything.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Rain is such a beautiful thing, Ron.”

“How so?” Ron asked thickly. “It’s just water.”

“It falls from the sky!” Hermione said, exasperatedly. “It comes from a place that we know so little of – for all we know, it could be angels shedding their blessings onto the earth below.”

Ron rolled his eyes and sighed.

“What was that?” Hermione asked.

“What was what?” Ron said innocently.

“Why did you just roll your eyes at me?”

“Hermione, I swear, you’re so melodramatic sometimes.”

“Melodramatic?” Hermione asked, getting a little angry.

“Well, I mean…its just water.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just water, Hermione. There’s nothing more to it.”

“Nothing more?”

“It isn’t angels crying or blessing us – angels don’t exist!”

Hermione scoffed and sat up right, staring Ron straight in the face. Her cheeks were slightly red now and her expression was far from friendly. “When I was a little girl, my parents told me that magic never existed!”

Ron sat upright too and heaved an exasperated sigh. “Don’t get started, Hermione!” he pleaded.

“Listen to me, Ron! Just because you don’t know if something exists doesn’t mean you should dismiss it. Don’t disregard the unknown, accept it – question it!”

“There’s nothing to question! It’s just rain!”

“Ron, this is not about rain! It’s about you just…just never being open to anything I say!”

“Are we going to argue about this again?” Ron spat bitterly as he shot up from the ground and started walking a few steps away.

“Yes, we are! Where on earth are you going?”

“I’m going to go inside!” he bellowed, as a few raindrops began to trickle down towards the ground. Hermione felt a drop hit her cheek and slide down to her chin.

“Why are you going inside?” Hermione asked. “What about dinner?”

“Well, if you’ll excuse me but your angels have started to cry,” Ron retorted as he marched further away. “And I don’t want to wallow in their salty tears.”

With that, he stormed into the backdoor and left Hermione standing by herself as the rain began to pour heavily on her. Her eyes began to soften and she could feel her tears mixing with the raindrops on her face.

The sunlight began to hit Hermione’s face very gently as she opened her eyes to her surrounding. She found herself in the room that she vaguely remembered entering last night with the beige paint and oak wood furniture. She sat up very slowly in the bed and realized that she was in Malfoy Manor. She immediately gasped when she remembered where she was, she gasped even louder when she realized that someone was in her room and she gasped the loudest when she realized it was Malfoy.

She immediately grabbed the sheets at the foot of the bed to cover her up and then realized there was nothing to cover. She was wearing very baggy and very loose blue plaid pyjamas.

“Excuse me!” she yelled really loudly as Malfoy smirked. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“This is my house,” Malfoy sneered. “I can go anywhere I want.”

Hermione rolled her eyes and even though she was wearing large clothes, she pulled her sheets closer to her. “Do you think I’m trying to look at you?” Malfoy asked disgustedly.

“Maybe,” Hermione retorted angrily.

“And why would I do that?”

Hermione shrugged. “I don’t know. There are very few people who understand the perverted mind.”

Malfoy scoffed loudly and waved his hand in the air. “Hagrid would probably look more attractive in those pyjamas than you do right now,” he retorted. Immediately, a sneer began to form at the edge of his mouth as he saw Hermione’s offended expression.

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

“It means what it means. In the state you’re in, Granger,” Malfoy began. “No one’s going to want to try and sneak a look at you.”

Hermione’s jaw dropped as she got out of her bed in anger, stormed to the corner of the room and threw a shoe at Malfoy. He was so taken aback by this sudden out burst that he didn’t have time to duck and ended up getting hit right in his left rib.

“What the hell?!” he yelled as he cringed in pain.

Hermione mumbled angrily and Malfoy could make out a few choice curse words that he probably wouldn’t want to repeat. “I’ll have you know,” Hermione began. “That Ron would prefer me no matter how I looked.”

“Yeah right,” Malfoy coughed, more to himself than Hermione.

“What?”

“Oh nothing,” Malfoy said innocently.

“Just say it!”

“Judging by the way you were yelling his name angrily in your sleep, I highly doubt that.”

Hermione immediately turned her head to hide her tears from Malfoy. So she had been dreaming of that night. When she’d awoken, she could vaguely remember dreaming about something relating to Ron but now she remembered exactly what it had been. “What are you doing here?” Hermione asked angrily, wiping her tears away.

“We need to take security measures,” Malfoy said roughly. “I need to show you the escape routes from the Mansion and go through some protective measures here. Hurry up and get dressed.”

“I’ll take my own sweet time,” Hermione said bitterly.

“Fine,” Malfoy snapped. “Just don’t expect Lestrange to show up here and wait for you to get armed and ready before he kills you.”

Hermione threw Malfoy a very nasty look as he began to head towards the bedroom door. He grasped the door handle and jerked the door open roughly, turning to Hermione before leaving. “Breakfast in 30 minutes.”

“Jerk.”
---
Hermione stepped clumsily into the brightly lit dining hall of Malfoy Manor. After kicking Malfoy out of the room and cursing a few times, she had changed out of her baggy pyjamas and put on a light blue t-shirt and dark black jeans.

As Hermione looked around the beautiful dining hall, it wasn’t the massive table that sat in the middle surrounded by at least 20 chairs that caught her attention, nor the huge chandelier hanging off the ceiling but rather the tiny, pudgy man standing in the middle of the room, waiting to welcome her.

“Ms. Granger,” Eli said, respectfully nodding. “I hope you slept well.”

Hermione smiled slightly. “I’ve had better nights,” she remarked as she walked over to the dining table. “This is a lovely hall!”

“It’s funny you should say that,” Eli said softly.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve worked here for many years and this is probably the first time I’ve ever heard someone call this hall lovely.”

“It’s certainly not ugly,” Hermione said.

“Oh I know, dear, but it’s just that compared to the rest of the castle, almost all of the Malfoys seem to find this hall very plain and rather meek.”

“Meek?” Hermione said bluntly with a twinge of irritation in her voice. Bloody Malfoys and their arrogance, she thought to herself.

“It’s not as lavish as the guest hall,” Eli said.

“There are more dining halls?” Hermione said, aghast.

“Three more,” Eli replied, smiling at Hermione’s shock. “Two are on the third floor and one is on the second floor.”

“Who on earth would need four dining rooms for such a small family?”

“Well, Malfoy Manor was never just Master Malfoy and his parents.”

“What do you mean?”

“At one point, long before Abraxas, every single member of the Malfoy family lived in this mansion. Not to mention the hundreds of slaves and prisoners who were tortured everyday in the dark dungeons below us. Eggs, Ms.Granger?”

Hermione nodded slowly as Eli laid out two well cooked eggs on her plate and sprinkled a little salt on them. “Toast?” he offered.

“No thank you,” Hermione said as she took a fork and began to cut through the egg whites. “Did you cook these, Eli?”

“The eggs?” Eli asked. “Yes, yes…I’m afraid they may have gotten a little salty.” He chuckled to himself as he reached into his pocket and took out a very old and damaged wand. “This wand is not what it used to be.”

“Oh no,” Hermione said quickly. “I meant, they’re very good eggs. I haven’t had such a good breakfast in a long time.”

“Thank you, Ms.Granger,” he nodded courteously.

Hermione smiled warmly and plunged her fork back into the eggs as an unpleasant and familiar figure burst into the room.

“Breakfast’s over, Granger,” Malfoy sneered as he entered the hall.

“Lovely way to treat your guests,” Hermione snapped as she continued eating her eggs.

“I have to leave in a few hours,” Malfoy said. “Do you or don’t you want to see how to leave this mansion without getting eaten by a ten foot carnivorous plant?”

Hermione’s fork clattered on the plate as she contemplated the thought of such a plant. “You’re lying.”

“Really?” Malfoy replied smugly. “Try going out the front door and see what happens.”

“I’m not falling for your first year bluffs, Malfoy,” Hermione retorted.

“Fine, don’t.”

“Good, because I won’t.”

Hermione threw Malfoy a nasty look and turned back to her eggs. She watched Malfoy take a seat on the other end of the table and usher a floating glass of pumpkin juice.

“If I may make a suggestion…” Eli said slowly.

Both Hermione and Malfoy looked up at the old wizard. “Yes, Eli?” Malfoy said.

“Perhaps Ms.Granger, you should go with Master Malfoy after you’ve eaten.”

Hermione looked at Eli with a look of disbelief. “I can’t believe you’re taking his side,” she huffed.

“It’s not like that…” Eli began when he was interrupted by Malfoy.

“That’s not true! It’s exactly like that,” he muttered. “Of course Eli will take my side!”

“I can’t believe your guts, Malfoy,” Hermione sneered.

“Ms. Granger,” Eli said weakly. “Perhaps…”

“Not now, Eli!” Hermione said.

“Don’t talk to him like that!” Malfoy snapped.

“Oh dear…” Eli muttered to himself with a very confused expression on his face.

“Eli, you can say what you want,” Malfoy said childishly.

“I wasn’t shutting him up!” Hermione retorted.

“Can you please let him talk?”

“Why don’t you just shut up?”

“Excuse me! This is my mansion!”

“Oh shove it prissy boy!”

“Take that back!”

“I certainly will not!”

Hermione slammed her fork on the table and stormed out of the room, leaving Malfoy and Eli idly in the hall.

***
Hermione ran stormed down the long beige corridor that led from the dining hall to… where? Hermione took a deep breath when she realized that her surroundings looked completely unfamiliar. “Hello?” she called out as her voice echoed down the empty corridor.

She turned her head back and forth to try and find a familiar and safe-looking passageway back to her room and after minutes of hesitation, she walked down to the right of the hallway, hoping she was right. As she walked further and further down the hallway she realized that maybe she wasn’t right after all as the beautiful and dim golden glow began to fade into a dark and eerie shadow.

“Hello?” she called out again. She felt herself descending lower and lower into the castle. “Is anyone there?

Her footsteps began to echo across the hall. “Eli?”

As darkness began to descend upon Hermione’s eyes, she reached out into the blackness to try and feel the walls so she wouldn’t fall. As her hands pressed against the cold stony walls, she realized that she had gone a lot farther than she thought and immediately turned around.

The abruptness of her turn, twisted her ankle and she fell down a long flight of stairs. As her head hit hard against the hard floor, she tried to sit up, still staring into dark nothingness. She cringed from the heavy throbbing in her ankle and tried to soothe it by pressing three fingers on it – it didn’t help. She yelped slightly from the pain and placed her hands against the wall to try and steady herself into an upright position.

“How the bloody hell am I supposed to get out?” she cursed.

Her head began to sweat slightly as she thought of the huge mansion that she remembered seeing last night. She could be anywhere in the castle…

Her eyes began to adjust slightly to the darkness, giving her a vague outline of what seemed like an empty corridor. “Eli?” she called again. “Malfoy?”

---

“Master Malfoy, such petty arguments do no one any good,” Eli said sombrely to Malfoy as he sat chewing angrily on a piece of bread.

“Someone needs to teach that mudblood some manners,” Malfoy sneered.

“It will take her time to adjust, that’s all.”

“No, no, Eli. You can believe what you want to about that silly little twit but I know her far too well.”

“What is it that you hate about her, Master Malfoy?”

Malfoy sighed. “Where do I begin?”

Eli smiled very slowly. “Perhaps you two got off on the wrong foot?”

“I doubt it.”

“Well, sir…if you insist.”

“Where on earth did she go anyways?” Malfoy asked, placing a crouton in his mouth. “These are good croutons by the way.”

“I have no idea,” Eli replied. “And thank you. I’m guessing she’s going to her room.”

Malfoy scoffed arrogantly and looked out the door through which Hermione had exited about 15 minutes ago. “Does she even know where her room is?”

“I certainly hope so,” Eli said worriedly. “It’s not very hard to get lost in here.”

“I can imagine her face if she gets lost,” Malfoy said, chuckling to himself. “It’d be quite a treat to see her worry for once.”

“Well all things considered it’s a pretty straightforward pathway as soon as you take a right from the hall.”

“That’s odd,” Malfoy said. “I could have sworn I saw her take a left.”

“Oh my!” Eli said.

“W..what’s wrong?” Malfoy asked as he saw Eli’s worried expression.

“Master Malfoy, the left corridor leads straight to…”

“The dungeons!” Malfoy finished, with a long of serious concern and worry on his face. “I hate that mudblood!” Before Eli could say a second word, Malfoy had dashed out of the dining hall and headed left.

[Julia Darline Evans]

HeaHeaHea.
Ma ei saa ikka veel aru, kes või mis on vangikoobastes

[Liz-Miia Parker]

Haha !

[Lana Marye Allen]

Irwwww.
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