By Reason Of Birth

The Punishment

Five days later, and after two visits from Snape to check on the progress of her healing, Hermione was finally allowed to go out and about without any physical restrictions.
Blaise had been allowed to stay for a second week, and had spent a large portion of that time with Hermione, trying to keep her spirits up. Theo was often there as well, and Harry, Lilah, Savannah, and Daphne had stopped by see her.

The Grangers had spent most of the afternoon with her on Sunday. She had been very happy and touched that the Notts had invited them over for her, knowing that they were jealous of the Muggles, even though the situation was of their own making.

At precisely two o'clock that afternoon, Hermione found herself in Brisco's study with her biological parents and all three of the Malfoys. Theo and Blaise had been banned from the entire floor of the cottage, and were anxiously waiting in Theo's room for a promised blow-by-blow from Hermione of everything said.

Everyone was in dress robes, including Hermione, only hers had a plunging neckline, the end of a thick, white scar peeking out from under the fabric covering her right breast, courtesy of Dolohov. On her left side was a light scar that ran from her collarbone down, disappearing under her robes. She wanted them to see what he had done to her and that the scar would always be with her, though the Dittany had lightened it considerably.

Once the pleasantries had been exchanged, Brisco brought the topic to the reason for the meeting. "Caoilinn and I had a rather lengthy talk with Hermione and, after deliberating for a few days, she has decided upon her retribution."

"Before you tell us what it is," Draco interrupted, and Hermione noticed a twitch in Mr. Malfoy's eye, "I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry... Hermione. I never should have cursed you, especially with that particular curse. I may be many unpleasant things, but 'killer' is not on that list." Draco glanced over to his father before turning back to face her. Lucius' eye was twitching just the slightest bit more, anticipating what his son was about to say. "I hope that you can forgive me."

Hermione just stared at him for a moment, processing what he had just said to her. "Forgive I can do, Draco," she answered after a slight pause, his name falling awkwardly off her tongue. "But I will never forget what you did to me," she continued, trailing her fingers along the scar he had given her for emphasis.

"That’s all very well indeed, Miss Granger, but we, as his parents, are more concerned about the retribution you have planned for Draco," Mrs. Malfoy said, her nose upturned as she sneered at Hermione with distaste and brought the conversation back on topic and away from her son’s guilty feelings.

Hermione couldn't help but give a small smirk. "My parents explained to me why it wouldn't be advisable to involve the Aurors, though I wasn't really planning on it to begin with. Draco was just as surprised as I, that he had cursed me so badly, and I sincerely doubt that the Minister would let him off with just a slap on the wrist. Also, he doesn't deserve to go to Azkaban for making a stupid choice; well, not for this stupid choice.

"I am not going to simply let him off the hook, because I don't feel as though I should. And I am certainly not going to challenge him to a duel, which leaves a punishment of my choice that will not cause him more harm than he caused me. I took my time in deciding on a fitting course of action, and I like what I chose, especially since, as I understand it, he can't say no," she said, building up to her decision, wanting to make him sweat a bit.

"I have decided that my retribution for Draco nearly killing me will be simple. He has to be nice to me and Harry Potter until we leave Hogwarts next year. He doesn't have to go out of his way to be nice, that would be disturbing; he just can't make snide comments, ridicule either of us, instigate others to ridicule us or join in when they are, or talk badly about us whether we are there or not. Also, there will be no cursing, hexing, or otherwise using magic against either of us."

Draco looked at Hermione, disgust clearly showing on his face. "I have to be nice to you and Potter? Wait... not Weasley?"

"No. Ron is not included in this agreement. Your families have a mutual hatred, and I have no intention of stepping between that. The deal is solely for myself and Harry." At this, a glimmer of respect passed across both Lucius and Draco's faces, but it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.

"Does Potter know about this?"

"He'll find out soon enough, and I have every intention of making him follow the same rules. Voldemort is dead; there's no reason for outward hostilities, and it is so much easier to be nice to people than not. Who knows where life will take us, we might as well put aside our childhood grievances now.

"Draco, I by no means want to be friends with you, or anything else of the like, but it isn't too much to ask for us to be cordial to one another, especially since we'll apparently be running in the same social circles now."

"Miss Nott, your decision is not only highly acceptable, but rather generous. It is well thought-out and inspired by mature thinking. Thank you for not making this rather upsetting situation worse by resorting to physical retaliation," Mrs. Malfoy said demurely, her earlier dislike of the girl quickly put aside.

"Mrs. Malfoy," she responded, smiling, "believe me when I say that I thought very much of physical retaliation, but in the end, I knew that Draco hadn't intended to cast that particular curse; usually when spells are exchanged between us, the intent is to humiliate, not to harm. Also, as I am sure you are aware, it is human nature to watch your enemies closely, and Draco has been considered an enemy by me and my friends for many years. I am sure that he would quickly shrug off any physical violence I caused against him. This punishment, however, will force him to change his behaviour in what I consider to be a favourable manner. I think that it may benefit him in the long run, but meanwhile, I take most of my satisfaction in knowing that it will kill him to have to be nice to Harry and myself. I may not be causing him any physical harm, but I am causing him a sort of mental torture."

Draco was glowering at her, knowing that she was exactly right, but Mrs. Malfoy simply smiled. She had been trying to get her son to give up on his petty rivalry for years to no avail, and now he would have no choice in the matter. She just hoped that when Draco left Hogwarts the following summer that he would have matured enough to keep the past where it belonged and move on as a more mature young man.

"You, young lady, should have been sorted into Slytherin," Lucius said, a high compliment from any Slytherin.

"So I've been told," Hermione grinned back.

"Hermione, Draco, please kneel down facing each other," Brisco ordered them, now that all of the details had been hammered out.

Hermione and Draco knelt on the ground facing each other, and clasped their right hands together, Brisco's wand tip resting on their linked hands. "Do you, Draco Malfoy, promise to adhere to the punishment that I have laid out for you tonight, following every stipulation named?" Hermione asked.

"I do," Draco said, and the two watched as a thin tongue of brilliant flame came out of Brisco's wand and wrapped around their clasped hands like a red-hot wire, binding Draco's promise to Hermione.

Once the ritual was finished, the two teens stood up and stared at one another, each hoping that Draco could keep to his Vow. She hadn't wanted to force him under penalty of death, but it was tradition to take an Unbreakable Vow, and to both her parents and the Malfoy's, tradition must be kept.

"Will you be joining us for supper?" Caoilinn asked, her voice making it clear that the invitation was out of propriety and not because she wanted them to stay. Since the situation had been handled properly, there would be no feud, and she would continue to be friendly with Narcissa, but she did not want her daughter's would-be killer in her home any longer than necessary.

"Thank you, but no. Lucius has business to take care of, so we really must be on our way home," Mrs. Malfoy answered, and the Malfoys took their leave, escorted out of the house by Imison.


Chapter End Notes:

thanks to lupie and the readers and reviewers. descriptions of the unbreakable vow come from chapter 2 in hbp.