In-Laws

Author's Note: Sorry about the long delay, everyone. I mean... the ~really~ long delay. It's almost seems as though I had forgotten about this story. I haven't, really. Just been preoccupied. Anyhoo, here's your long awaited chapter. Hermione moves in with the in-laws!


In-Laws

Chapter Fourteen

Hermione's eyes traveled up the wrought iron gates. She couldn't believe how fast time had passes. She had fitted the bride's maids in baby blue dress robes and Ginny in a soft mint colour to match the Best Man.

Now, Hermione stood before the looming gates of Malfoy Manor. Her trunk dragged behind her on the gravel covered ground. The gates were meant to be intimidating. The snakes which wove through the bars were meant to warn intruders. It worked.

She stamped down her nervousness. "You can do this," she told herself. "It's just like taking a test."

Well, that didn't help. She had always been a nervous wreck before a test, during a test, and after a test. And this test had no text to study from. This was pure willpower and inner strength. She quickly reminded herself that she was a Gryffindor.

She stood straight and stared right at one of the snakes. "Open," she commanded. "I am Hermione Malfoy and I wish to enter."

The gates didn't budge.

She tried again. "I, Hermione Malfoy, command you to open and allow me passage," she said, mustering up as much power as she could.

They still did not move.

She could feel panic slightly start to enter her body, but quickly pushed it aside. Instead, she took out her wand and tapped the gates. "Open!" she shouted.

It still did not move.

Now panic was setting in. Lucius had given her specific instructions to be inside the Manor at noon. He had even gone out the way to send a carriage for her and everything. The carriage was gone. Perhaps she had needed the carriage to get through the gates?

Near tears, Hermione went to lean against the iron bars... and almost fell through. With a gasp, she jumped away from the gates in alarm. She stared at the bars with confusion. They looked sturdy enough.

She reached a tentative hand out to touch them. Her hand went through the bars as if they didn't exist. She quickly pulled her hand back. Perhaps the bars recognized her?

Grabbing her trunk firmly, she decided to try walking through the bars, though she was a bit hesitant. To her astonishment, she was able to pass through easily. It was as though the bars were nothing but ghosts.

Purebloods! she mused. She wondered if the bars actually kept anything out, then surmised that they had to have.

She turned around and her mouth opened in shock. Perhaps it was because she had never seen the Manor grounds in the daylight. She certainly couldn't see the manor yet. Instead, she saw a long, narrow dirt road lined with Japanese cherry blossom trees and white oleander bushes. Albino peacocks picked at the road, but stayed close to the trees. When Hermione approached them, they walked closer to the trees.

She levitated her trunk and began the long trek to the Manor. She thought about her idea of walking instead of taking the carriage. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the gesture. She just wanted to see the grounds at ground level. Not to mention she felt a bit... medieval riding in a carriage.

She didn't mind the walking, either. The grounds were beautiful. The gaps between the Japanese trees and oleander bushes were large enough that she could see huge expanses of beautiful land. There were rolling hills and Hermione swore she could hear the distant sound of water, which she assumed must mean fountains or even, perhaps, a waterfall.

Thirty minutes of walking, however, made her glad she was sporting shorts and a tank top. The summer sun peeked through the overhanging branches of the trees and threatened to burn her skin. She sighed in relief when she saw the pale walls of Malfoy Manor straight ahead of her.

She smiled when she noticed the beautiful water fountain that had been placed right in front. Her smile slipped however, when she saw the massive structure she would call "home." Hermione couldn't help but note how new everything looked and surmised that the Malfoys had recently redecorated.

Hermione was exhausted. It was truly a long walk in one direction on a dirt road. She collapsed onto the stair that lead to the door and breathed a sigh of relief. She closed her eyes. Just five minutes of rest was all she needed...

"You're late," sneered an angry voice as a tall shadow fell over her.

Hermione opened her eyes and turned to see Lucius glaring down at her. "Sorry," she quickly apologized. "It's a really long road."

He folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. "What happened to the carriage?" he questioned.

"I sent it away," she answered, giving him a confused look. "I thought Draco told you. I was to take the carriage to the gates and then walk the rest of the way."

"That's a thirty minute walk, Mudblood," he growled. "Thanks to you, my wife has started cleaning alone. You have fifteen minutes to take your trunk to your room, change, and meet her in the parlor... Oh, and Mudblood? Wear robes."

He turned and left before she had time to protest. Annoyed, she stood up and dusted herself off. She grabbed her trunk and continued into the Manor. That was when she realized, she had no idea where her room was.

She silently chastised herself as she glanced about the foyer. There had to be someone who could show her the way. She would even settle for a house elf, though she hated to ask something so helpless.

"Hermione! You're here!" called a female voice.

The young Gryffindor glanced around, but saw no one. The voice chuckled, "The painting, dear. Up here."

She glanced up at the top of the huge staircase and smiled when she saw Evalon standing next to a disgruntled man. "Evalon, so good to see you," she greeted, walking up the stairs.

"You look lost," the painting commented, thoughtfully.

"I am," Hermione admitted. "I have about ten minutes to find my room, change, and meet Narcissa in the parlor. Trouble is, I have no idea where either room is!"

Evalon laughed, "Yes, you'll have a hard time finding anything in this labyrinth... I think you're staying in Draco's room, though I'm not sure. At least, you can change in there and if we are wrong, Narcissa will set you right. Lucky there are portraits the entire way, so I can guide you. If you go up this flight of stairs to my left and take a right, you can meet me in the far left hallway. I can get you the rest of the way."

Hermione nodded and followed Evalon's instructions. Finding the correct hall was easy enough. A few turns and several doors later, Evalon pointed out Draco's door.

"You haven't much time," the portrait warned. "Dress quickly and meet me back here. I'll show you to the parlor."

Hermione thanked her and went into the room. The moment she closed the door, she was engulfed in darkness. She took out her wand and muttered, "Lumos."

She glanced around the room, smiled, and shook her head. The walls were painted a rich hunter green. The carpet was a sea green. There was a king-sized four poster bed with dark green fittings and pale green drapes. Two dark green leather armchairs sat in front of the fireplace. A deep mahogany desk sat off to the side and looked cluttered, but unused.

The room reminded her of Hogwarts. Above the fireplace, a large coat of arm stood bold and proud. The Slytherin snake loomed above it all. Hermione pictured the Slytherin Common Room looking much like this, save the bed and mahogany dresser which stood beside the bed. The room was certainly big enough.

She placed the trunk on the floor and opened it. She dressed as quickly as possible in simple black robes. She then dabbed on some perfume and pulled her hair into a ponytail. She'd bathe later.

She checked herself in the mirror above the dresser and hurried out of the room. She collided with something large and solid. Looking up, she met Lucius' cold, hard glare.

"Fifteen minutes," he told her, his voice too calm for comfort. "You were to meet my wife in fifteen minutes. Twenty minutes have passed. Are you incapable of following instructions, Mudblood?"

Hermione returned his glare. She was getting tired of that word. "No, sir," she answered. "But when you give me such a short time limit and I've no idea where my room..."

"You had a chance of a tour, and you chose to run off to seldom used corridors," he interrupted crisply. "And, honestly, had you shown up on time, you would not have had such a short time limit. My wife is waiting in the parlor. I suggest you get there quickly."

He started to walk away and she grabbed his arm. He sneered down at her hand, then at her. They stared at one another for a moment before she retorted, "Perhaps it would be beneficial if you showed me to the parlor so I don't incidentally keep her waiting longer."

"You will release me," he calmly voiced.

It had not been a request nor a command. It had been a warning. At that moment, Hermione remember that he had been a powerful Death Eater. As she let go, he grabbed her by the throat and threw her against the wall, not letting go. She hissed as she clawed at his vice-like grip.

"You will never touch my person again," he warned. "You are nothing to me but a filthy little Mudblood. The only reason I tolerate you is my son. I did not become a Death Eater because of my kind heart. Don't mistake my 'hospitality' for acceptance. I will not hesitate to kill you. To Hell with the Malfoy line. Don't underestimate me."

He did not raise his voice once throughout his words. Instead, he had spoken in an almost whisper. But, to her, it was as though he had screamed. His words echoed in her brain. For the first time in over a year, Hermione knew true fear in the hands of a Malfoy.

He released her and she fell to the ground, gasping for air. She rubbed her throat and could feel the heat from it. She hated him.

As though nothing had happened, Lucius turned on his heel and proceeded to walk down the hall. She was stil on her hands and knees when he called to her, "If you're going to follow me to the parlor, I suggest you do so now, Mudblood. I will not wait for you."

She shot him a deadly glare as she picked herself up and followed him. "Don't think you can push me around, Lucius," she growled. "I do not and will not take abuse. As a member of this family, I..."

"Will do as I say without question," he interrupted again, turning to face her. "I am the Master of this Manor, Mudblood. You will not presume to order me about."

"...demand respect," she finished.

She still felt the heat around her neck, but her moment of fear had vanished. "I give you respect and I expect it in return. You don't have to like me. Merlin knows I do not like you. As 'the Master of this Manor,' you have my utmost respect. I'll even be civil towards you. But I will not tolerate being treated like dirt. I am your son's wife, whether you like it or not. I worked my arse off to get you out of prison, something I know you did not deserve. I deserve respect. Nothing more, nothing less. And if you think it's foolish to underestimate you, you're right. You are a Death Eater.

"I am a member of the Golden Trio. Were it not for me, Harry never would have defeated Voldemort..."

She watched Lucius' expression go from outrage to indifference. The small flicker of fear at the mention of Voldemort's name made Hermione give what she termed the "Malfoy smirk." She continued, "What's wrong, Lucius? Still scared of your dead Lord? It's only a name. He can't hurt anyone anymore."

"Only someone very foolish would say the Dark Lord's name," he sneered.

Her smirk brightened. "How odd! I remember a time when you said, and I quote, 'Someone very brave or very foolish.' I assure you, I am not foolish," she informed him. "You underestimate me, Lucius. I know what you are capable of doing. I've seen it. You have no idea what I can do."

With that, she stormed passed him and found her own way to the parlor.