Malfoy's Mistress

Chapter Three

"Mione, are you sure you want to go through with this?" Harry asked Hermione.

It was late Sunday night and Hermione was just packing a few last minute items in her suitcases. Harry had called her not long before she'd started searching her flat, basically repeating the same question every few minutes.

"For the last time, yes." Hermione told her best friend. "This has been my dream for so long, and after all this hard work, it's finally happening."

"But you're a great Healer, what's so wrong with delivering babies at St Mungo's?"

"Harry, I've told you before, I love my job but being a private healer is something so much better. I may have to deal with the Malfoys but I just couldn't pass up the pay."

"If it's money that's the issue-"

"No, money is not the issue. You know my pay's more then enough to get me by." Hermione said, reaching under her couch for a stray sock.

"Then why are you so dead set on this?" Harry asked her. Hermione could hear little Ronald playing on the floor in the background.

"Because it's my dream!" She half shouted, becomming frustrated with her long time friend.

"There has to be something else-"

"There isn't! Now stop pestering me about it because I'm not budging." Hermione said, closing the conversation.

"Fine, but I still think this is a really bad idea and so does everyone else." Harry told her.

"Well thank you very much for your opinion but it's not up to you. I've accepted the job and that's final." She said, opening up her suitcase to throw in a few more items.

"Well, for your sake, I hope the Malfoys have matured. If not, there's no hope." Harry said.

"I'm sure they have Harry," Hermione replied, checking the time on her wrist watch. "Isn't it a little late for Ronald to still be awake?"

"It is but Gin's out for the night and he won't sleep for me." Harry answered.

"Have you tried giving him some warm milk?"

"Yes, and rubbing his back, and reading him a story. I've tried everything, all he ever wants to do is play."

"Then play." Hermione said simply.

"Play?" Harry repeated.

"Yes, play. Run around with him, play tag. Something that will tire him out. Do that and he'll sleep like a log." She told him.

"You sure that'll work?" Harry asked her, sounding hopeful.

"I'm positive." Hermione said, forcing her suitcase closed.

"Thanks Hermione, I'm gonna go do that then. Call me when you can!" Harry said excitedly.

"Bye Harry." Hermione said to the dial tone before hanging up the receiver with a laugh. It was a wonder that she could give such good parenting advice to her friends when she'd never even been close to being a parent of her own. Perhaps things like that just came naturally to her?

After going over her checklist of things she'd need at the Malfoy's, making sure she had everything and more, Hermione stepped into the tub to have a relaxing bath before bed.

With her candles lit and her portable stereo playing soothing Mozart music, Hermione's mind began to wander, going over the possibilities that awaited her in her new career.

Hermione could see herself, years down the road, living with a rich family whom she'd been with her years. She'd help the mother through her pregnancies, helping take care of the children while her husband worked. She could see herself being happy in that home, almost like part of the family. It wouldn't be a glamourous or exciting life, but it was the life for her.

She wondered what life would be like at Malfoy Manor. She'd never seen the place, but she'd often heard Malfoy bragging at Hogwarts about all the many rooms and wings and the vast garden out back. Hermione couldn't picture Malfoy Manor as a very happy place, she could only picture a dark castle-like building, with a dark empty yard and large iron gates.

And what about the Malfoys? She knew that Lucius had been killed shortly after the war had ended, but she didn't know about Narcissa. She couldn't even remember ever reading Narcissa's name in the paper under wanted Death Eaters. But being the wife of Lucius, she imagined the woman to be just as cruel and unyeeling.

And then there was Pansy and Draco. Hermione had never cared for Pansy, throughout school the girl had been quite known for being premiscuous during the short durrations which she and Draco were broken up. The break ups never lasted long, but at the end of each there were usually about three or four new boys added to Pansy's long list of men. How the pugfaced girl had ever gotten so many boys, Hermione will never know.

The biggest worry of all, however, was Draco, the head Malfoy himself. Malfoy had always been a pompous ass all through school, putting himself on a pedastal and anyone else who was of lesser economic status was dirt. He'd many times boasted about how well off he was, bragging to anyone who'd listen. It was a wonder his inflated head had never weighed him down.

Malfoy had been Hermione's biggest rival in school. Hermione had, of course, always come ahead in every subject, but not by much. And whereas Hermione would need to study hours on end to get her grades, Malfoy simply needed to the bare minimum. That was something that had always frustrated her in school, but she'd let it go. When push came to shove, she beat him everytime.

By the time Hermione finally got out of the tub, it was nearly 1 o'clock. She hurriedly readied herself for bed, savouring the room which she wouldn't see for nearly another week. As she got into bed and pulled the covers over herself, she felt sleep begin to overcome her. She tried to fight it, wanting to consider the next day more thoroughly, but sleep soon took over and she fell into unconciousness.

*

Draco came into the master bedroom late Sunday night. Pansy was already peacefully asleep, making him greatful. He quietly removed his shoes and robes, placing them in the same spot from the night before near his wardrobe. He then removed his clothes, folding them up in the hamper for the house elf to clean and put on his pajamas.

Draco had spent the entire night in his study with a bottle of Ogden's. He hadn't been at all happy to hear that the insufferable Granger was going to be intruding into his life and home. He'd never liked the girl one bit, not from the very first time he'd heard her annoying voice all those years ago. She'd always been so good and innocent, qualities which he himself had never attained. The girl had only ever had a few friends, measly Gryffindors who idolized Potter. A pathetic bunch in his opinion.

Just when Draco had finally become content with his life, she had to come in and ruin it. And for what reason? To help bring in a baby that he wasn't even keen on having. Was this what those muggles had always referred to as being stuck between a rock and a hard place? Was that the term?

Earlier on, Pansy had tried to retrieve Draco from his study for the nightly family dinner, but Draco had refused. The two had bickered feircly, as they always did. It had ended with Pansy screaming at the top of her lungs before turning on her heel and slamming the door behind her. Draco hadn't won the arguement, but he had managed to upset Pansy, and that was close enough to a win.

Pansy, it seemed, had her heart now set on having Granger as their personal healer. After receiving the letter, Pansy had floo called St Mungo's to be sure that Granger was the best money could buy. After be assured that she was, Pansy's mind could not be changed. And once Pansy had her mind set on something, you could be sure that she would make Draco's life a living hell until it happened and Draco was running out of excuses to leave the country.

When Draco was about to climb into bed, he heard a thump coming from the east wing. Quickly, he jumped out of bed, throwing on his robe and slippers. He ran out of his room, making his way to the wing reserved for his mother.

Running into his mother's room, Draco found his mother sitting in her bed, wand in hand, staring at her wand like it just sprouted two heads.

"Mother, I heard a noise, are you alright?" Draco asked, his pulse beginning to slow down.

"Don't worry Draco, I'm fine. I'm not an old woman you know." She replied, getting out of her bed to fix the painting that had fallen.

"What happened?" Draco questioned, helping her replace the painting.

"It was nothing, I meant to do a simple accio but I must've done something wrong and the painting was hit." Narcissa told her son in her delicate voice.

"You might want to be more careful, mother. You're not well." Draco told her.

"Oh I'm perfectly fine, Draco. Stop worrying."

"I cannot help it." He said honestly.

"I know, but it's late. What are you doing up? I heard Pansy retire hours ago." She asked her son.

"I've had a lot on my mind." He answered simply.

"I've heard. Something about a private healer?"

"Yes," Draco said, silently wondering how his mother knew what was troubling him. The woman spent nearly all her time in her wing, but somehow she could always read him like a book. It was highly unnerving. "She will be arriving tomorrow morning actually."

"And yet I have a feeling you're not very pleased about this?" Narcissa asked.

"It's just not the right time, mother. You know that."

"I'm sure it will be fine." Draco expected his mother to say more, but she left it at that. She simply patted him in the arm and crawled back into bed. "Goodnight, Draconis."

"Goodnight, mother." Draco quietly walked out of his mother's room and returned back to his bed. As he layed his head upon his pillow, Draco couldn't help but begin to believe his mother's words. He didn't know why, but he just wanted to believe.

To Be Continued...

Okay so I know it's been a while and this chapter doesn't really have much in it, but I just wanted to finally get something posted. I hope you all liked this chapter, thnxx to everyone for reviewing, I love you all. And no, I have NOT given up on my stories, they're just on temporary hiatus. Enjoy !

Much Love...

XXX

Xx-.k.a.y.y.-xX