"I am spending Christmas with Malfoy." Hermione said this for what seemed like the tenth time. Her eyes widened at her own sentence and she groaned before dragging her hands down her face. Fuck, she was stupid. So very stupid.
Daphne, who sat the closest to her, wrapped her arm around Hermione and smiled understandingly as she said. "Draco wouldn't have asked you if he wasn't sure, I am sure you will enjoy spending Christmas with Cissa."
"That doesn't matter! What matters right now is what you will wear! Ginny, come on." Pansy exclaimed, gesturing for Ginny to follow her.
Ginny smirked and followed Pansy, and the both of them started searching through Hermione's clothes.
"What are you going to wear to the New Years Ball?" Daphne asked as a way to distract Hermione.
"The what?"
Pansy went rigid, her shoulders squaring as she turned around to face her.
"You don't know about the ball?" She asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
"No." Hermione shook her head, looking at Ginny who shrugged.
"Ginny, do you know about the ball?" Daphne asked.
Ginny nodded and sat on Hermione's bed. "Yeah, Blaise told me. His mother always organizes a ball at the end of the year."
"I am surprised Draco didn't tell you, but again, Draco never really cared for the ball." Pansy shrugged and sat on the bed, resting her back against the headboard.
"The ball is a very famous event. Mrs. Zabini is an amazing host. You will receive an invitation soon, since Blaise always helps with sending them." Daphne explained, smiling fondly as she did so.
"That's not the problem! What are you going to wear?!" Pansy exclaimed, widening her eyes.
"I have a dress that might work." Hermione muttered as she thought of the beautiful dress.
Pansy smirked. "You're coming through, Granger. Come on, show it to me!"
Hermione smiled and nodded before standing up and going to her closet. It didn't take her long to find the dress, the dress was like a rose in the middle of white tulips. It's color shone more than the rays of the sun.
She turned around, showing the dress to her friends.
Ginny and Daphne both gasped as Pansy widened her eyes.
She looked at Hermione with a mixture of awe and fondness in her eyes. "Well, Granger. Looks like Draco won't be the only enchanted person in the ball."
***
They stood in the foyer, Hermione looking around nervously while drumming her fingers on her legs. Her hands sweated as she took in the familiar room, but at the same time, not so familiar anymore.
Last time she was here, the Manor looked gloomy, dark, and somber. She almost felt the dark magic that took hold of the place sink itself into her heart, plaguing her very existence and emptying her mind. But now, the place looked...peaceful. White instead of black, light instead of dark, full of life instead of dead. Hermione almost felt at ease. It was a weird feeling, that. Feeling at ease in the place that she was once tortured in.
She almost laughed at the irony. Because this time, she was here to spend Christmas. Christmas with the Malfoys. She had never thought that this would actually happen. She didn't mind though, she welcomed the ease without hesitation, but the anxiety had a strong grip on her, and it wasn't willing to let go.
A hand gripped her wrist, a softer grip than the anxiety's one. She turned her head and her eyes met the molten grey eyes of Draco.
"Hey, you okay?" He asked, his brows furrowing. He had asked her before they left Hogwarts if she was okay with coming with him. And she nodded, telling him that she will be okay. But he didn't totally believe her. He believed that there was a layer of hesitation that was hidden under her mask of indifference.
"Yes, don't worry about me." She forced a smile before looking towards a hallway, the sound of heels clanking coming from the end of it.
"That would be mother. She knows about you coming." His hand moved from her wrist down to her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers.
"Draco!" The sound came from the hallway, and before Hermione knew it, Narcissa Malfoy was embracing Draco, her arms tight around him as he wrapped his around her. A smile immediately appeared on Draco's face, and his heart swelled with fondness.
Hermione smiled softly at the faces of the two Malfoys. Both of them hugging each other fierce fully, as if afraid that if they let go, a force would pull them further apart.
They finally pulled back, and Hermione swallowed as her eyes met Narcissa Malfoy's eyes.
"Hermione Granger, a pleasure to meet you." Narcissa said, smiling sincerely at Hermione.
"The pleasure is all mine." Hermione replied, and extended her hand when Narcissa extended hers.
Draco smiled as he watched the interaction between his mother and Hermione. He was relieved that it didn't go as bad as he thought it would. When Hermione's hand fell at her side again, Draco took it within his own, and he didn't miss the glint in Narcissa's eyes when she noticed. She smiled before meeting their eyes again.
"I will show her the guest room." Draco said.
Narcissa shook her head as she said. "You don't need to. Tobsy can do that while you put your stuff in your room."
At the sound of her name, Tobsy appeared out of nowhere with a quiet crack.
"What can I do, mistress?" The house elf said as she bowed her head.
Hermione widened her eyes and was about to say something when Draco gripped her hand tightly, shaking his head when Hermione faced him.
Hermione pursed her lips and didn't say anything, but she was still angry about the house elf. She was always against the enslavement of house elves. But no one agreed with her, and she was forced to drop S.P.E.W.
"Can you please show Hermione the guest room?" Narcissa asked, a smile on her face. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows as she took in Narcissa's treatment towards the house elf.
"Yes! Tobsy will be happy to do just that!" The house elf exclaimed, smiling broadly.
Narcissa dipped her head as she said. "Thank you."
Tobsy turned and faced Hermione, and with a snap of her finger, Hermione's packed trunk disappeared.
"Your stuff will be in your room. Please follow me." Tobsy said and started walking towards the huge stairs.
Hermione looked at Draco and he squeezed her hand and nodded. She smiled and thanked Narcissa for letting her stay before following the house elf.
***
After Tobsy showed Hermione her room, she led her towards the dining room where Draco and Narcissa were sitting.
Just as she was about to walk in, she heard their voices.
"She is very beautiful, isn't she?" Narcissa.
"Mhm, she is." Draco.
"Are you sure it was wise to bring her here, last time—"
"I know what happened last time, mother. Will never happen again."
"Yes, it won't. But the trauma, it's..."
"I know, I know. But that is Hermione Granger we are talking about, mother."
"You do have a point."
Hermione smiled slightly before walking inside.
"Hermione! Come and join us." Narcissa said with a broad smile on her face. Hermione didn't hesitate to sit with them.
"I know I said this before, but I am really thankful that you are letting me stay—"
Narcissa cut her off with a smile. "Oh please, you're always welcome here. Now, stop thanking me and let's all have dinner. Oh! I also want to have tea with you later today. Do you mind joining me?"
Hermione smiled and shook her head as she said. "No, I don't mind. I would love to."
Narcissa beamed at her and Draco. "Great! Now, let's eat before the food gets colder."
Draco and Hermione didn't need anymore persuasion.
***
"Wow..."
Hermione's eyes were blown wide. Awe, adoration, and admiration visible in them. Her eyes scanned the shelves while her hands scanned the books.
It was beautiful...
After dinner, Narcissa invited Hermione to sit with her in the library to drink tea, and obviously, Hermione didn't hesitate to agree.
The Malfoy library was one of the biggest libraries she has ever seen, with books covering walls and volumes everywhere. Hermione felt as if it was heaven on earth, it certainly felt like it.
"You can take as many books as you want, I was planning on giving you a few of my own collection." Narcissa said as she sat on one of the armchairs.
"Oh! I ca—" Hermione began to say.
"Oh nonsense! I would love to discuss some books with you." Narcissa said with a smile as she picked her cup of tea.
Hermione gave her a small smile and sat on the armchair opposite of hers. She picked her cup of tea and waited for Narcissa to say anything. She was still not used to how she was being nice to her. She knew that the Malfoy matriarch wasn't going to act unpleasant towards her, but she still didn't expect this...fondness.
Narcissa put her cup on her saucer before speaking. "I am very glad you came with Draco. I haven't had any company except for him since Lucius's trial. The company is quite nice."
Hermione was shocked with how nonchalant Narcissa seemed to be when talking about Lucius. It's didn't look as if she was drowning in misery as Hermione thought she would.
When her Gryffindor courage came through, Hermione spoke. "Do you— do you visit him?"
Narcissa pursed her lips as she stared at her cup of tea before smiling and nodding. "I didn't use to, but he practically begged to see me. I have been visiting him more often, when it permits of course. He is my husband, and even though people might hate him, they don't know him as much as I do."
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows as she tried to imagine a Lucius Malfoy that was better than what people thought and said. She tried to not judge him like she did Draco at first, but Lucius was not Draco. And it was hard for her to put aside the man that stood still during her torture in his own house...but maybe there was more to Lucius than she thought.
"Do you miss him?" Hermione asked quietly.
Narcissa gazed at her and smiled, but her eyes seemed far away, as if her mind was walking down memory lane. Her smile felt as if it was directed at someone else. And from the expression on her face, Hermione knew the answer to her question.
"He is my husband. I love him, and I miss him. He made mistakes, but who doesn't? I know he is not a good person, but he is a good husband, that much I can say." Narcissa said.
Hermione pursed her lips and nodded. "Everybody makes mistakes."
Narcissa smiled.
"Yes."
A knock on the door forced both of their heads to turn around. Draco stood next to the door, his hand was in the air, ghosting the surface of the door. His hand fell at his side when his eyes met Hermione's.
"Draco," Narcissa acknowledged, smiling. She seemed to always smile, which Hermione liked.
"Mother, I was going to show Granger around, mind if—"
Narcissa shook her head and said. "You can go ahead. I will have Tobsy bring some books to your room, Hermione."
Hermione smiled and stood up. "Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy."
"Oh, please call me Narcissa."
Hermione's smile widened and she nodded before walking over to Draco who held his hand out. Their normal routine. Hermione took his hand and intertwined her fingers within his own. They both looking at each other for a moment before Draco started to walk towards the stairs.
***
"Not what you expected?"
"Certainly not." Hermione mused.
They were in Draco's room, which was 'coincidentally' across from Hermione's room. Surprisingly, Draco's room was not what Hermione expected.
Meanwhile Hermione expected everything to be green and expected the door to have a 'No Gryffindors allowed' sign on it, Draco's room was the complete opposite. Bed sheets, white. Walls, white. Everything, white. It looked like literal heaven.
"I thought everything would be anti-Gryffindor if I am being honest, and I expected there to be more...color. It's size is also not as big as I thought your room would be." Hermione said as she admired the books on his shelves.
"Well, that's because this was not my original room." He shrugged and leaned against a wall.
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "Really? Why?"
He shrugged again. "When you wake up to your own mother getting tortured in your own room, you begin to develop a hatred towards said room."
Hermione widened her eyes before walking towards him and gripping both of his hands tightly as she looked up into his eyes. "I am sorry..."
He tightened his grip on her hands. "Not your fault. Stop apologizing to me."
"Sorry— oh," she looked at the floor as a small smile lit her face, and Draco couldn't help but smile at the blush that started to devour her face.
"You're pretty."
Hermione looked up into his eyes and her cheeks burned more. She took a deep breath before rolling her eyes playfully and connecting her lips with his. His eyes widened slightly but then closed as his hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He ended up hitting the wall behind him and he quickly rotated them around so her back could be against the wall. Her hands rested on either side of his neck, and one of them started to move higher until it reached his hair. Quickly, she tousled both of her hands in his platinum blond hair. One of Draco's hands travelled up and touched her jaw, and Hermione disconnected their lips for a second to let out a sigh before connecting their lips again.
His lips travelled towards her jaw and Hermione let her head hit the wall behind her. She took a deep breath as she felt him place kisses on her jaw to her collarbone. His hands travelled under her jumper and drew circles on her bare skin. His hands were so cold, and they stole the warmth of her skin. Hermione's hands did the same as they travelled under his shirt and touched his chest. He exhaled softly and Hermione gasped as his cold breath hit her skin. She let out a quiet moan and firmly gripped his face and brought his lips back to her lips.
After a while, Draco leaned back and smiled softly. "Let's not start something that we can't finish."
Hermione smiled and forced back a retort.
I want to finish that something though.
***
She lay in her bed, her eyes closed and her eyebrows furrowed. She hasn't been sleeping alone for a while, and with the bound spell lifted, there was no reason for her to sleep in the same room as Draco. But she got so used to sleeping with him that sleeping without him was near impossible.
When she finally managed to sleep, nightmares took over her mind.
"I didn't take it! I didn't take it!"
"I DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING! I SWEAR!"
"It's fake! Please! I didn't take anything!"
She
received
no mercy.
She felt as if knives were pressing into her intestines. She felt as if a hand was keeping a hold on her heart and with just one move, could take it out of her chest.
Knives everywhere.
She
was
drowning.
She sobbed and sobbed and sobbed until her tears dried out. She screamed and screamed and screamed until her vocal chords stopped physically working. She felt the numbness take over her whole body.
Help...
Help...
Help...
Maybe if she pretends that she is okay, she will not feel anything...
She felt so tired...she wanted to close her eyes and sleep.
Before closing her eyes, Hermione let her eyes wander around the room, and just in the periphery of her vision, she saw a blond head. She craned her neck until she was able to see more clearly.
Blond hair, black suit, bloody hands.
Draco...
Hermione wanted to scream, she wanted to crawl towards him and protect him. She wanted to stop his misery.
A knife was in Bellatrix's hands, and she didn't hesitate as she sank it deep into his forearm.
No...
No...
Hermione couldn't scream, but a scream emitted from his lips, and it was the first time that she heard him screaming.
Hermione kept her eyes trained on his forearm as Bellatrix dug letters into his skin.
B...
Stop...
L...
Hermione groaned as she spoke quietly. "S— Stop."
"Shut up, mudblood! You brought this shame on our family!" His aunt screamed but didn't stop digging her knife into his skin.
O...
O...
"Stop! He didn't do anything!"
A silencing charm was cast upon her.
She turned her head and glared at Lucius Malfoy, who stood still in front of his wife. No emotions visible in his eyes.
She wanted to yell at him, to tell him that this was his son. But she didn't have any power left in her.
She turned her hand and watched Draco's forearm in silence.
D...
She yelled soundlessly when Draco let out another blood curdling scream. She let out silent words, silent words that she wanted to reverberate across the Manor's wall.
T...
No...
R...
Stop...
A...
Please...
I...
He didn't...
T...
Do anything...
O...
Leave him...
R...
STOP...
Hermione shot up from bed, tears trickling down her cheeks and sweat beads forming on her brows. She brought her legs towards her chest and hugged her knees as she sobbed quietly.
Someone burst through her door. Blond hair, grey eyes, pale face. Draco was safe and sound in front of her.
"Shit! Are you okay?!" He asked as he closed the door shut behind him and rushed towards her. His hands cupped her cheeks and his heart tore in half when he saw the tears staining her face.
"What happened?" He asked quietly as one of his hands started caressing her cheek.
"I—" She took a deep breath and he brushed her tears away.
"Nightmare."
He let out an exhale and kissed her forehead before wrapping his arms around her securely.
Suddenly Hermione grabbed his forearm and examined it before letting out a sigh of relief.
"What's wrong?" He inquired quietly.
She murmured. "Just making sure..."
He kissed her forehead again before standing up and pulling her with him.
"Come on, you're sleeping with me tonight." He said as he led her towards the door.
She smiled and nodded and the both of them headed towards his room, where they both wrapped their arms around each other and fell asleep peacefully. This time, the dreams were what took over her mind.
***
Follow me on my tiktok for sneak peaks and Dramione videos! Username is mar_writer.
Chapter 30 will be up next week!