Draco’s Remorse

The next days flew by ever so fast and when Friday came, Hermione was a nervous wreck at the thought of meeting Narcissa Malfoy on her turf. The agreement was that Draco would floo in first and then Hermione would follow five minutes after. McGonagall had arranged for them to use the fireplace in her office as it was already connected to the Malfoy Manor. It was time for Hermione to head to the headmistress’ office. She looked a final time at her reflection in the mirror and then carefully took a small parcel from the chest of drawers. With a deep breath, she exited the room.

She knocked softly on the door at the top of the spiral staircase and waited for McGonagall to let her in. Draco was already there and smiled in approval of her chosen dress, but didn’t comment on it, thinking it would bother the headmistress. “Remember to be back here Sunday morning at the latest. Monday morning we start with midterm study groups and following Monday is the first exams!”

They reassured her that they would be back Saturday evening after dinner and Draco stepped up to the fireplace, taking a handful of Floo powder and made sure Hermione knew the right words. “It’s Malfoy Manor, not mansion or you’ll end up at my great, great aunt’s place.” Hermione smiled and said she wasn’t new to flooing so he didn’t need to worry. Comforted, Draco smiled and stepped into the fireplace. Green flames rose around him and he disappeared.

Hermione looked so nervous that McGonagall had to smile. “My dear, are you sure you want this?” Hermione nodded and McGonagall sighed and said she shouldn’t worry then and that she believed Narcissa wasn’t the snob everyone made her up to be. “She has had a hard life. It has a tendency to turn hearts cold. Now go, or Draco will think you aren’t coming!” Hermione smiled and thanked her for the encouraging talk and left for the Manor.


Narcissa sat in the ladies parlour reading when she heard Draco calling for her. “In here, Sweetheart.” She put the book away and greeted her son with a hug. She could see that something in him had changed a fair bit and for the better. He was clearly nervous and Narcissa could remember the feeling. She had been as nervous when she was presented as a candidate-wife to Lucius. “Now where is the girl?” Narcissa asked in a calm and rather cold voice.

Draco felt a knot form in his belly. She had promised to be kind and fair to Hermione, but it sounded like she wasn’t even going to give her a chance. “She’s on the way. Mum?” He looked worriedly at her. “Mum, you promised…”
“And I will keep that promise Draco. I will treat her like I would any pure-blood girl you could have brought home!” She smiled and tucked a stray piece of hair behind Draco’s ear. He looked so much like his father had at that age, with his blond hair down to the shoulders. Only, the look in Draco’s eyes was so far from the look that lived in Lucius’. “I want to see if she is worthy of dating my son! And that doesn’t take pure-blood…“

“Ha… Hallo? Mrs. Malfoy…? Draco…?” Hermione’s voice sounded from the kitchen and Narcissa placed a possessive arm around her son’s shoulders and called out that they were in the lady’s parlour just across the hallway. She was curious to see the Granger girl again. When Hermione walked in wearing a baby blue and white casual dress Narcissa was taken aback at how sweet the girl looked.

“Mrs. Malfoy,” Hermione smiled and reached out her hand. “My name is Hermione. I’m pleased to meet you.” Narcissa smiled a chilling smile, took Hermione’s hand and said the pleasure was all hers. When the girl handed her a gift, Narcissa was stunned and thanked her. “May I open it now?” She asked walking over to the soft divan, looking excitedly at the rectangular parcel.

“Please do! I didn’t know what you would like.” Hermione looked anxious to see if she had it all wrong, but was pleased to see Narcissa’s face light up. Hermione had bought her Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice after she had learned that Narcissa had a soft spot of period novels by strong women.

“This was very kind of you. How did you… Draco?” Narcissa looked sternly at her son, who just smirked back. “Now, Miss Granger, may I give you a tour of the Malfoy Manor? Just us Ladies!” Standing up and putting a firm hand on Hermione’s back, she gently led her out of the parlour, leaving Draco standing in slight panic that he wouldn’t be able to hear what his mother asked ‘Mi.

He walked out into the sun room an gazed out over the fields, taking in the feeling of being home and not having to fear a Cruciatus Curse would hit him from out of no where. Turning around he saw the grand piano and happy memories filled his mind. Smiling, he went to it and played the first three notes of one of his favourite songs.

He sat down and wondered if he could remember it all. Slowly he began to play the lullaby his mother had sung to him when he had been a toddler. After the first run through he felt more at ease and started to play it once more.

“From your head down to your toes
you’re not much, goodness knows
but you’re so precious to me
Sweet as can be, baby of mine.
Sweet baby of mine!”

He turned to see his mother beaming and Hermione smiling at him proudly, the two women he loved. “I didn’t know you could play the piano.” Hermione said in a cheerful voice and Narcissa answered that of course he could and that he also played the violin, the guitar and sang like a dream. Draco laughed and stated that she only said that because she was his mother.

He sat, slowly turning from side to side on the round stool, and looked so at peace with himself and the world that it made Hermione wonder if anybody beside her and Narcissa had seen him this way.

When a small voice behind her told them that dinner was served Hermione turned white. She had totally forgotten that the Malfoy’s kept house elves. She slowly turned and saw a little young female house elf looked at her and smiled. “Nice to have young miss in manor. Makes Mistress smile and hum,” and with a pop she disappeared.

“Now, Mum, humming?!” Draco smirked and Narcissa just raised her hands in denial and shook her head, saying that the elf must be hearing things. Draco jumped up and hooked one arm under his mother’s and the other under Hermione’s. “I’m starving! Shall we?” And the three went to the every day dining room.


Later that night Hermione and Draco were sitting on the back porch talking of all and nothing. Draco leaned back against one of the supporting beams, one leg out over the porch edge and the other bent with his arm resting on it. As the stars began appearing on the night sky Draco asked a question that had been on his mind for some time. “I don’t know if you can answer this, but if Dumbledore knew my task, why didn’t he stop me? If he had he wouldn’t have died that night…” Draco looked out into the dark gardens, the painful memories filling him. He hated the gardens at night!

“I don’t know Dray. Maybe because he knew it was a way out for you?” Hermione sighed and told Draco that Harry had been sure Dumbledore sacrificed himself to save Draco. At this Draco stood up and leaned his hands on the banister, his face contorted in pain and self-loathing. “So when everybody blames me for his death… they’re right!” He felt his stomach turn.

Hermione rose and stood behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not to blame. Please don’t put the blame on yourself. You didn’t have any other choice!” Her warm hand on his shoulder was more that he could take.

He pushed her away and sprinted into the darkness of the garden, into the shelter of the maze. With tears streaming down his face he fell to his knees he pleaded that Dumbledore someday would forgive him. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… Please forgive my stupidity…” He felt so guilty it threatened to consume him then and there. Then, he felt something wrap around his neck and his throat constrict, he couldn’t breathe. Panicked, he cried out.

“Hallo, Son, happy to see me?” At the sound of his father’s voice he really panicked and he reached back to push Lucius off him. He started to feel dizzy, but refused to beg. Black spots danced before his eyes, then he felt the noose loosen and he fell forward onto his hands, gasping for air.

“It would be too easy to let you die so soon. I want you Mudblood girlfriend to witness THIS!” Lucius sounded insane. Draco coiled as Lucius’ boot hit his stomach. “I want to hear you beg for mercy. Hell, even better, I want you to plead for me to kill you…” Lucius laughed insanely. Draco knew what was coming, but still screamed as the Cruciatus jolted throughout his body, lifting him high up into the night sky.

In the kitchen Narcissa screamed as she heard the familiar cry of pain from her son and dashed out of into the gardens. The scream made Hermione go white with dread and as Narcissa ran by her on the porch, she followed her out into the dark gardens. But the sight that met her made her wish she hadn’t.

From somewhere inside the Victorian maze someone was holding Draco trapped in a Cruciatus curse. “Oh my God… NO!” She tumbled after Narcissa who was screaming, begging who ever was hurting her son to stop but the only answer she got was Draco’s cries of pain. As she turned the last corner before reaching centre of the maze, her worse nightmare came through. A mentally deranged Lucius was about to kill their son.

“Ohhh please… please no… take me instead… he’s your son… please don’t!” Her legs gave away under her and she crumbled to the ground. Lucius sneered and hissed that he had no son. He let Draco drop to the ground and aimed his wand right at his chest. “Avada Keda-” Suddenly, his wand flew out of his hand.

Lucius stared at his hand in disbelief. Thinking it must have been Narcissa; he spun around but was met but the sight of a young woman with brown wavy hair pointing her wand at him. “What the hell…?” He didn’t hear her cast a curse, but his body went stiff and he fell to the ground with a thump.

Hermione raised her wand and shot three red busts of light into the air, not knowing what else to do, and to her astonishment it worked. Four pops where heard soon after and Kingsley Shacklebolt, Tonks and two other Aurors came running in.

“How the bloody hell did he escape?!” Shacklebolt stopped and stared at Lucius, not really believing his eyes. Two Aurors Hermione didn’t know tied Lucius down with binding spells and kept an eye on him. Tonks walked slowly over to Hermione, who stood as frozen, wand still pointing into the air. Her eyes fixed on a weeping Narcissa who sat holding Draco’s limp body.

“Hey, ‘Mione, what are you doing here?” Tonks said in a normal voice trying to reach her shocked friend. “We’ve… been… Oh my God… He’s dead isn’t he?” Hermione felt the tears flow but didn’t care. “I don’t know sweetie. Shall we go check?” Tonks placed a supporting arm around Hermione’s waist and the two young witches walked slowly over to the weeping mother.

Narcissa sat rocking forth and back, consumed in grief. She hadn’t been able to help her son against his father. She had seen Lucius do this to him so often, but never for so long a period. As she held her son’s bruised and tortured body in her arms she felt helpless and hopeless. She couldn’t even bring herself to check if he had a pulse. She didn’t believe anybody could survive a Cruciatus for so long with out being seriously damaged in body and mind.

“Mrs. Malfoy… Narcissa… Is he still with us?” Tonks knelt down besides her aunt and cousin, giving Draco a worried look. Narcissa just shook her head and murmured that she didn’t know. Tonks knew she had to check. Placing two fingers on his neck she didn’t feel a pulse and a glimpse of pain ran over her face. Looking more carefully, she still wasn’t able to find even a faint pulse. She sighed and sent Hermione a mournful look and shook her head.


It couldn’t be true. She didn’t want to believe it. She felt numb and dizzy as she walked over and knelt down beside Narcissa. She leaned her head on the woman’s shaking shoulder.

Shacklebolt frowned and pushed Tonks aside to check Draco again. “Don’t do this boy!” He took Draco out of Narcissa’s arms and laid him down flat on the ground. “You don’t look dead so stop torturing your mother and... girlfriend?” He cast a wondering look at Hermione, but quickly focused on Draco searching for even the lowest beat of his heart.

Suddenly a smile decorated Shacklebolt’s face and he laughed from relief. “See, I knew you weren’t dead, stop scaring your loved ones so!” A barely audible moan slipped from Draco’s mouth making both Narcissa and Hermione turn their heads and look hopefully at Shacklebolt, who smiled back. "Let’s give him some room, shall we?"

Draco felt like he had been run over by a stamping hoard of Centaurs, but at least he survived yet another torture session with his father. Squinting through nearly closed eyes, he saw a group of concerned faces. Groaning in pain he tried to sit, but was forced down again by queasiness.

“I’m… I’m all right… but it hurts like bloody hell. Mum?! ‘Mi??!” Draco’s voice sounded strange and foggy, but he needed to know if they were all right. He felt a slender, cold hand took his and heard his mother whisper that she was right here and she was all right. “’Mi?” Draco was worried that she had suffered, well, other that seeing someone she cared about being tortured.

“I’m here… Don’t…don’t ever do that again!” He heard her cry, but couldn’t help but chuckle and when an angry Hermione asked what was so funny he said that he would do his best to keep his father’s tortures of him down to a minimum. At this even Hermione had to see the funny side of her demand.

“I need some sleep. Someone want to help me?” Draco was so tired and was hurting all over but declined his cousin’s offer to go to St. Mungo's. He explained that he had become more or else immune to the side affects of the Cruciatus curse after years of being targeted with it quiet often. “Just need to sleep a little.” Shacklebolt and the other male Auror helped Draco into the living room couch, followed by Hermione.

Narcissa indicated that she had something she needed to talk with Tonks and the other Auror about and left the two youngsters alone. Hermione pulled up a small footstool and sat beside Draco, not saying anything. Draco groaned a little as he turned around and looked at her. “So, after the son of a hippogriff was through torturing me what happened?” Hermione told him in a monotone voice and said that they thought that he was gone. At this her voice failed her and she couldn’t go on. When she raised her eyes to meet Draco’s, he was fast asleep. She was grateful as she could hold the tears back anymore.

She was still weeping when Narcissa, Tonks and Shacklebolt came in. “They are taking Lucius away now,” Narcissa said and went to the kitchen. Shacklebolt squeezed Hermione’s shoulder. He asked if she was all right and if she needed a medi-witch to talk to, he would see to it that it was free. “You were so brave, Miss Granger. We could use more like you in the force, but I guess you have had enough for the rest of your life, eh?” Hermione smiled and nodded, she didn’t want to be an Auror. No way! He gave her shoulder another light squeeze and left her alone with Tonks and a sleeping Draco.

“So… You and Malfoy?” Tonks smiled and Hermione smiled back, “Weird, right?” Tonks nodded and added that if it worked out she and Hermione would be family and Hermione stated that she would like that. After two minutes of total silence Hermione asked what would happen to Lucius now. He was clearly dangerous!

Tonks said that Narcissa would like to talk with Draco about it before anything happened but for the night he would be kept in the ministry under lock and mind control spells. “Get some sleep, ‘Mione, you’ll need it!” Tonks gave her a hug and left for the ministry with the rest.

Narcissa had been waiting for the Aurors to leave. She quietly walked into the living room and stopped at the door to watch the young witch sitting beside her son. Mudblood or not Narcissa felt she owed Hermione the world. If it wasn’t for Hermione, Draco wouldn’t have survived this time.

In a soft voice she asked if she may enter. Hermione looked confused and just nodded. “If there is anything in the world…” Narcissa took the young witch’s hand, “anything, it’s yours!” Hermione felt odd sitting there being offered the world on a silver plate by Narcissa Malfoy, but smiled and said she only wanted them to be safe. “We will be. If Draco accepts it…” Narcissa whispered and looked old all of the sudden. She sighed and smiled at Hermione and told her not to worry about it right now. “See you in the morning, my dear.” Narcissa gave Hermione a hug and left the room so quickly that Hermione froze and stared after her in shock. Guess she had been accepted?


As the first rays of sun found their way through the windows of the living room, Draco slowly awoke and saw Hermione resting her head on his stomach, fast asleep. This was something he never had expected to see, but it felt so nice he didn’t want to move in fear of waking her up. He could hear his mother rattle around with the pots and pans in the kitchen and smiled.

Some time ago, Narcissa had decided to learn how to cook on her own, after reading some muggle cookbooks. She had become rather good at cooking American pancakes and soon the delicious scent of pancakes spread into the living room.

About fifteen minutes later he heard her footsteps in the hall. “Hey, Mum.” he whispered and Narcissa tiptoed in with a stack of pancakes. “Did I wake you?” Draco softly shook his head and whispered that the sun did and with his free hand reached for a pancake. Narcissa looked nervous and in very low voice said that there where something they needed to discuss.

Draco didn’t say anything, but looked his mother straight into her eyes. As Narcissa explained the Aurors believed Lucius used polyjuice potion to sneak out disguised as a guard and that meant that he wasn’t alone in setting up the attack last night. Draco frowned and wondered who else wanted him dead.

Narcissa looked down at the pancakes. “They also believe he would try again and again, even if locked away in Kvitoeya and that the only way for us to be somewhat safe would be to…to strip him of magic!” Draco’s eyes widened in shock. That was every wizard’s worse fear, to become like a muggle and knowing his father’s hatred of muggles, Draco knew it was the worst thing one could do to him.

“He would still be going to Kvitoeya, but without magic…” she couldn’t say it, but she didn’t have to. Draco knew that Kvitoeya was infamous for the inmates trying to kill each other and without magic Lucius would be defenceless. Draco closed his eyes thinking of all the times his father had hurt him, his mother and a lot of other innocent people. “Okay,” as he said it he knew he was most likely sending his father to his death. "Better him than me!" Narcissa nodded and put down the pancakes on a small table within Draco’s reach; she kissed him gently on the head and left the room.

Hermione had woken to the sound of Narcissa saying that they would strip someone of magic and naturally it had to be Lucius. She pretended to still be a sleep, but almost sat up in shock when she heard Draco send his father to his death. She didn’t blame him, but found it frightening that he was able to. When Narcissa left, she waited five to six minutes then began faking a wakening. Stretching she mumbled a morning greeting and then asked if he was feeling better.

“I’m still sore like after a long rough Quidditch match, it was quiet a fall, but other than that my body is tolerable,” he sighed and began with a “but” then told her what the Aurors had recommended doing. He looked genuinely sad that it had to come to this. Hermione ran a finger down his arm and said it would be a secret between the three of them, as long as Draco wanted it to be.

Draco didn’t know why but a single tear seeped from his eye, he quickly removed it and said that his mother had made pancakes for them all by herself and that Hermione should dig in. He needed a bath, but would be back shortly. He sat up and pulled her closer and kissed her gently and then walked out growling curse under his breath of pain. He had been in pain before, but this REALLY hurt! He had mixed feelings of sending his father defenceless to Kvitoeya, but was glad that the ministry stripped him of all magical powers; then he would never be able to use Cruciatus on his son again! A small smile lightened up his face as he began crawling up the stairs to first floor.
He was Free!


Hermione sat down on the couch and picked up a pancake, not really hungry, but curious to see if Narcissa could do something like cooking without house elves. She was pleased to find out that she could! She stretched to take another just as Narcissa walked in. “Enjoying my pancakes?” Narcissa smiled and sat down beside Hermione on the couch. Hermione took a huge bite so she couldn’t answer any questions, for the look on Narcissa’s face showed she was bubbling with questions Hermione didn’t know if she wanted to reply to.

Narcissa didn’t seem to notice. “So, my dear, what made you have the courage to stop Lucius last night?” Narcissa’s interest was authentic and she tilted her head in the same fashion as Draco had a habit of doing when he was fascinated with something the professors were revealing. They were so much alike, Mother and son.

Hermione tried to swallow the large piece of food and almost chocked on it. After the coughing attack she said that she wasn’t brave and she didn’t really think, she just acted when she saw Draco in midair screaming in pain. “Is it true…that Lucius used the curse…before?” Hermione’s eyes looked heartbroken when Narcissa looked away. She didn’t have to answer.

Hermione was irate. How could a father do THAT to his son?! On cue, the two women heard the low swearing and cursing as Draco came down from his bath. They could make out the words “Bastard”… “Lunatic”… “Didn’t deserve this”… and as Draco turned into the living room, the two ladies he loved most sat on the couch with tears in their eyes.

“Who died?” he frowned and then smiled. “You almost did!” Narcissa hissed and stood up and yelled that he should not to joke about something like that. Draco felt uncomfortable being told off in front of ‘Mi and hissed back that he didn’t so get over it. An awkward silence fell over the room and Hermione could see that they were both too stubborn to cave in.

“So, what shall we do to day? The Imperius Curse sounds fun!” Hermione said in an ironical voice making the two Malfoy’s look baffled at her and then they started to chuckle. “Guess it isn’t normal to meet your future father-in-law while he’s torturing your boyfriend?” Hermione felt a rush of emotions tear through her body. Did he just say future father-in-law? She knew they were more that just friends, but to hear him say THAT, well it made it factual.

“’Mi, are you all right?” Draco didn’t like the look in her eyes and slowly went to her side. Gently, he took her hand, worried that it had all been too much for her. Hermione sighed, shrugged her shoulders and looked into Draco’s worried grey eyes. “What are we going to do? I mean, when we get back to Hogwarts?

“Yes, well, umm… act as we always have. I don’t think the school is ready for us as boyfriend and girlfriend. Remember that whatever harsh words I say, I don’t mean them. Promise me that!” Draco ran a finger over her lips and leaned in to kiss her. He moaned with a mixture of pain and desire and pulled back. “Guess that wasn’t the best idea when you’re bruised and battered!” Hermione whispered and Draco let out a low warm laugher. “Guess not!”


The rest of the day the three spent looking at old baby pictures, discussing favourite books and music, walking in the gardens that didn’t seem so evil in the sunlight and just relaxing in the parlour. When it was time to go Hermione went up the stairs looking for Draco. She found him in his room, almost naked, glamouring his bruises and cuts away. Hermione knew it wasn’t first time. She quietly entered the room catching his eyes in the mirror. He looked ashamed, but Hermione just raised her wand and helped him finish.

Draco felt a mixture of strong emotions running though his mind and body. He was embarrassed that she had to witness this, but touched that she helped him silently, hiding the worse bruises. She didn’t even flinch when she saw the scar where the death mark had been. He couldn’t help himself; he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with such passion he felt the room spin. He slowly led them over to the bed and pushed her down on it.

She drew him down on top of her and he grimaced in pain. He asked her to be gentle and rolled onto his back. He loved the look in her eyes, the look that told him that she felt she owned him. He smiled when she cast Colloportus on the door, but the smile quickly turned to a lightly opened mouth as Hermione removed her top and whispered that she needed to feel his body against hers.

She softly straddled him and lay down so gently it made him moan in lust. He was no where near a virgin, but she made him feel helplessly in lust. He could tell from the way she moved, this probably wasn’t the first time she had been alone with a half naked guy. He grew so very hard and when she just smiled and rolled off him and tucked herself into his arm, her fingers gently running up and down his torso, he knew she wasn’t ready for that step. He sighed in disappointment and placed his free arm behind his head and closed his eyes.

Hermione whispered that they had to leave for Hogwarts and it wasn’t because she didn’t want him, but they had promised McGonagall. He smiled and told her to go on down and say her goodbyes to his mother. He would dress and follow her shortly. She grabbed her top and quickly put it on, unlocked the door and closed it behind her.

Draco needed relief from his desire or else he could go mad. As he played with himself, he pictured it was Hermione’s hand and not his own and soon felt the heat prior to his climax. Tilting his head back and biting his teeth together so not a sound would leave him, he let the climax flow trough his body, leaving him panting and shivering on the bed.

He lay there for maybe 5 minutes and then cleaned up, dressed and left the room in a tranquil mood. He hugged his mother goodbye and promised to visit more and would bring Hermione home again. He stepped over to the fireplace and slipped his hand into Hermione’s as they flooed back to Hogwarts.