18. Chapter 18

I'm so sorry for taking so long to update! I had exams, so I've been incredibly busy. But, I'm back now, so hopefully updates will be more regular.

Guys I hit 100 favourites last chapter! *squeal* You guys are amazing.

Disclaimer: Still don't own Harry Potter.

Here we go.

Draco landed gracefully on the lawn in front of the Manor. Hermione wasn't as lucky. She tripped over a root and almost fell on her face. Luckily, Draco grabbed her before she hit the ground. She stumbled to her feet and didn't move for a moment; Draco thought she was going to topple over, but she stayed steady.

"That was an…..interesting…..sensation," she said softly. Draco chuckled.

"Takes a while to get used to," he replied. He was surprised she hadn't thrown up. Good for Hermione.

He took Hermione's arm and began to lead her up to the Manor. Hermione's eyes widened as she took in the majestic home, the sculptures, the towers, the stained glass windows.

"What is this place?" she asked wondrously, her eyes glazed over.

"Malfoy Manor," he replied simply. "It's where I grew up. I originally was going to take you to my flat, but the wards are stronger here, which would be helpful in our current predicament."

"Wards?" she asked, still looking in awe at the manor.

"Invisible, impenetrable shields, blocking people from entering the premises," Draco responded.

Hermione nodded, and began to speak once again.

"Was that thing, that transport thing you did apparation?" she asked. Draco nodded.

"Could I do that before, the disappearing and reappearing thing?" she asked excitedly. Draco smiled.

"When we all took lessons in sixth year, you were the first person who was able to do it. You passed the test with flying colours." Hermione grinned proudly at this, her face shining with pride. Draco took a moment to just watch. The pride on her face briefly reminded him of the first time they had gotten a piece of homework back. The look on Hermione's face back then was almost identical to the look on her face now.

They had reached the front steps. The two of them ascended them quickly. Draco opened the door to the manor and walked inside, Hermione trailing quickly in his wake. They arrived in the front entrance, with large staircases trailing up on either side of a large family tree tapestry. Draco glared at it for a moment. The Malfoy bloodline had caused him many problems.

With a sudden and unexpected crack, a house elf appeared before them. Hermione gave a small jump. The house elf was grinning broadly, wearing an old tea towel with the Malfoy crest. The Malfoys used to have their house elves wear pillow cases, but after Lucius was imprisoned, Narcissa decided to be a tad kinder to the creatures.

"Master Draco!" the little elf squeaked. "Welcome back! What may I do to assist you and your guest?"

"Hi Totter," Draco replied. He had always liked this little elf. He began to work for their family shortly after Lucius was put away. "I was wondering where my mother was."

"She is up in the library," Totter replied.

"Thank you, oh and also, could you prepare two rooms? My guest and I will be staying here for some time." The little elf nodded, bowed to the two of them and disappeared with another loud crack. Draco took Hermione's arm once more and began to lead her up one of the staircases.

"Was that a house elf?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, it was," Draco replied, anticipating her reaction. He didn't particularly want to hear about SPEW.

"They had sweet faces," she said, smiling. "Are they paid for their services?"

Draco snorted. "I'll tell you later."

Draco continuously led her through the halls, upstairs, downstairs, until they finally reached large wooden doors that led to the library. "You'll like this," he told her, and entered the room.

Hermione's face immediately lit up in elation. She gazed with glassy eyes at the endless shelves of books on every wall. "This is brilliant," she breathed.

Draco chuckled. "I knew you'd think so."

Draco headed to the back of the library, Hermione rushing quickly after him, though her eyes never left the books. She was so predictable.

Draco quickly spotted his mother sitting in her favourite arm chair, a plush green one by an open window. Draco turned to Hermione, and muttered quickly, "stay here, behind these books, until I call you out." Hermione looked at him curiously but didn't object. She instead turned to the books and began reading all the titles. Draco chuckled softly, and went over to talk to his mother.

"Mother!" he said, walking up to her. She looked up from the book she was reading, and smiled.

"Draco! What a pleasant surprise. What on earth are you doing here? I was under the impression you were in Canada."

"I was," Draco responded. "I just got back today." Narcissa nodded and pulled Draco into a hug. "I missed you," she said. "It's been so lonely in the manor without you."

Draco smiled, trying to ignore the guilt that washed over him. "Well, you won't be lonely for long."

Narcissa raised an eyebrow, and Draco continued. "When I was in Canada, I ran into an old classmate. She needs a place to stay for a while." Narcissa's eyes widened at the word "she". Draco rolled his eyes. Once a mother, always a mother.

"Well, Draco," Narcissa said, a smile upon her face. "Where is she?"

Draco turned to the bookcase which Hermione was hiding behind, and exclaimed, "You can come out now."

Hermione slowly came out from behind the shelves, rather timidly with her brown eyes large. Narcissa's face went slack for a moment, and her jaw dropped. Seriously, the number of jaws Draco had seen drop over the last few days was nearing infinity. A smile appeared on his mother's face, and Draco swore he saw a tear leak from the corner of her eye. Draco blinked and looked again. The tear was gone. It must have been a trick of the light.

"Hermione Granger?" Narcissa breathed.

Hermione smiled rather nervously. "Hello, Mrs. Malfoy."

Narcissa stood up and walked up to Hermione, looking over every inch of her. "I haven't seen you in years."

Hermione smiled, more confidently than before. "Apparently no one has."

Narcissa chuckled. "True, true." Narcissa looked over Hermione once more, her grin growing broader by the moment. "Where have you been for the last seven years?"

Hermione motioned to Draco to explain. His mother turned towards him, eyebrow raised.

"Well, she was kidnapped, tortured, obliviated, and dumped in muggle Canada. She has been there since her disappearance, living a muggle life with no memory of Hogwarts, Voldemort, or even the magical world."

His mother flinched slightly at the mention of Voldemort's name. However, she turned back to Hermione, her face soft and gentle. Draco smiled. His mother was a loving, kind, and caring person. But no one gave her the chance to show that side of her because she was a Malfoy.

"Oh you poor dear," Narcissa said, pulling Hermione into a hug. Hermione looked surprised but returned the hug none the less.

"Umm…Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione said, pulling back. "How do I know you?"

Narcissa's expression turned cautious. Draco understood. He thought back to the few times Hermione and his mother had met. They were not very good memories.

"We've met a few times," Narcissa replied vaguely. "And dear, call me Narcissa."

Hermione smiled and tested it. "Alright….Narcissa."

"Mother?" Draco asked, drawing her attention away from the brunette. "Are the wards up?"

Narcissa nodded a little confused. "Yes dear, always. Why?"

"Because we just ran away from the entire wizarding world, and I assume you don't want to be mobbed."

Narcissa looked shocked. "What happened?"

Draco explained the situation to his mother, the story of getting Hermione there, from the funeral all the way to her exposure at the Ministry. He recited the story with only half of his brain focusing. The other half was watching Hermione. The brunette seemed very nervous, twitching at slight noises, and she kept glancing around frighteningly. Draco felt concerned for her, but had to tell his mother what was happening.

"So then we apparated away," Draco concluded. Narcissa nodded.

"Well, no reporter is getting in here," she said firmly. She turned to Hermione. "My dear, Draco will lead you up to a bedroom. You've had a very long day; maybe some rest would do you good."

Hermione nodded.

"I'll talk to you later," Draco said to his mother, and led Hermione out of the library. Once they had passed through several corridors and up a few staircases, Draco stopped and turned to Hermione.

"Are you alright?" he asked, voice laced with concern. "You've seemed nervous since we got here."

Hermione shivered. "You noticed that?" He nodded. "Well, something about this house gives me the creeps. I honestly don't know what it is, it's just giving me shivers."

Draco understood. The only other time Hermione had been in the Manor had been when his psycho aunt had tortured her. That was enough to give anyone the shivers.

"I understand that," he replied softly. He slipped an arm around her waist, and began to lead her down the corridor. They arrived at a large wooden door, which Draco led her through. He turned to look at her face. He was expecting a reaction this time.

Her face lit up, and her eyes widened, gleaming slightly. She smiled. Draco removed his arm from her waist and she walked into the room. She spun around in a circle, her curley hair bouncing around her as she spun.

"This is brilliant," she cried. Draco smiled, he understood where she was coming from. Just because he had been raised in a house with high banister beds, private balconies and luscious carpets, doesn't mean he didn't appreciate it.

"I'm glad you like it," Draco smiled. He placed his hands in his pockets as Hermione began bouncing on the bed. Draco snorted.

"There are some extra pyjamas in the dresser and that's the restroom," he said, pointing to another door at the other end of the room. "I'll be in the room right across the hall if you need anything."

"Alright," she replied, bouncing off the bed. "And she sticks the landing," she laughed. Draco smiled once more, and headed into the room across the hall.

It was the bedroom of his childhood, but basically stripped off all his possessions. Only the bed and his dresser were left. "Well, this won't do," Draco thought. He turned on his heel and quickly apparated to his flat in central London. He gathered up one of the boxes he had recently unpacked, and repacked it with a few necessary items. He quickly apparated back, landing in the location he had just left.

Placing the box at the foot of his bed, Draco changed quickly into the old Slytherin pyjamas he had brought. They were basically just green pyjama pants with the Slytherin crest, and a light green t-shirt. He was sitting on his bed, gazing vacantly at the wall and considering calling a house elf to get some food when he heard the knock on the door.

He bounded up from his bed. Smoothing down his hair, he grabbed the doorknob and turned.

Hermione stood before him, her petite frame in his shadow. She was wearing Slytherin pyjamas just like him. They suited her. Since she was wearing an old pair of Draco's pyjamas, probably from around his third year, they were small enough to fit her. Draco found himself staring absent mindedly at her t-shirt. Since the shirt was for a guy, it was tighter in places than a female shirt would be. Draco let his wander across Hermione's form, before finally meeting her eye. A blush was creeping up her face, and she smiled embarrassedly. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yes, Hermione?" Draco asked, leaning against the door frame, not ashamed in the slightest.

"I'm kinda hungry," she said sheepishly. Draco smiled.

"Want to come to the kitchens with me?" he asked. She nodded eagerly. "Come on," he said, taking her hand and leading her down the corridors. She responded wordlessly and followed him. They went down many corridors without saying anything. As they went down a staircase, Hermione spoke.

"So this is really where you grew up?" she asked. Draco nodded. "That must have been amazing." He snorted at her words. She raised her eyebrow, silently asking for an explanation.

"I'll explain when we get to the kitchen," he said. It was a long story that he didn't really want to get into before he was fed. Hermione shrugged and they continued their journey.

After several more corridors, Draco looked around at his surrondings curiously. This didn't seem to be the path to the kitchens, he thought. He looked around to get their location, and suddenly screeched to a halt.

Hermione tripped forward when Draco had stopped. Draco reached forward and caught her. He pulled her into his arms protectively. He could feel his heart pounding as he looked at the large arched door before him. He had begun to shiver slightly. Hermione wriggled around his arm so that they were chest to chest. She looked at him, worry on her face.

"Draco? Are you alright? You look clammy." She reached up and put her hands on both of his cheeks. Draco barely nodded. He was full out trembling now, staring at the door in front of him.

"I took a wrong turn," he murmured, drawing Hermione closer. Who could blame him? The manor was huge. He still got lost in the vast mansion.

"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione asked him straight. She looked at the door. "What's in there?"

Draco shivered. He hadn't entered this room in seven years. Hermione's screams rippled through his head once more.

"It's the drawing room."

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