Chapter Text
As Hermione stood in the lobby trying to ground herself and from letting the pain consume her, she thought about how she had fallen for Draco initially.
It had happened pretty quickly like a tidal wave; she had jumped in with both feet into the deep end no matter that she couldn’t see what was at the bottom. She had long since given up her soul, her boundaries obliterated, she waded into the deep waters without knowing the way the currents would flow. Now where had her love gone, she had hoped that they would be something, but in the moment that Roxy had kissed Draco everything that she had hoped they might have been, was just imaginary, and it hurt, her heart was ripped open once again.
Hermione took more calming breathes and moved, she caught a the reflection of herself, her eyes were puffy, her hair looked disheveled, and she still had some blood on her hands so once again she made her way to the nearest loo to clean up. She walked in and moved to the sink to clean her hand. She had a few cuts on her hands that stung as she rinsed them off. She watched as her blood ran down the drain much like her hopes of even being anything let alone friends with Draco. She had been foolish to hope.
“Are you okay Miss Granger?” called a female voice.
Hermione looked up to see Narcissa Malfoy looking at her with concern in her eyes.
Hermione wiped her tears and held her injured hand to her chest.
Narcissa didn’t hesitate to move to her cautiously, “may I take you to the room to help you get cleaned up.”
Hermione was still a bit dazed and simply nodded, this felt nice, a mother's concern.
Narcissa wrapped an arm around Hermione’s shoulders, they made it to the elevator once more. She was in a daze not noting that she had climbed several floors again, failed to notice that she had excited the elevator with Narcissa still grounding her, as she ushered her down the hall towards a room, she hadn't her mind still lost, she was numb, and her heart still hurting.
When they entered, Lucius was standing at the door and held it open so that they could pass through. Narcissa led Hermione to a sofa, where she sat. Pulling out her wand, with a quick wave Narcissa had vanished the blood on her hand and clothes, then healed her small cuts.
“Would you like some tea dear?” Lucius asked as he settled into the chair next to them.
Had Hermione not been still upset about witnessing Roxy kiss Draco, she may have questioned why Lucius was being so nice, but her thoughts were a bit scattered, so she simply nodded.
“Boone” Lucius called out, and house elf in a suit popped in.
“Could you please bring us some tea please, and maybe some calming draught for Hermione.” Lucius asked the smartly dressed elf.
“Yes sir” the little elf replied before popping away and back with the tea service and a small bottle.
The little elf held out the small bottle out to Hermione, “Miss Hermione for you” the elf said bowing.
She took the bottle popped the cork and drank, handing the bottle back to the elf. “Thank you”
“It is Boones pleasure to help the great Hermione Granger” the little elf said before turning to Lucius.
“Thank you, Boone,” Lucius said before the little elf popped away.
Lucius prepared her tea, asking her for her preference. After he had prepared it, he walked over to her handing her the cup. Hermione had watched in fascination now that the calming draught had achieved its goal.
“Thank you” she said, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out, “your elf, you spoke to him….”
“Politely?” Lucius said smiling.
Hermione felt embarrassed, she had not expected for the Malfoys to be so cordial with her let alone her staff, she remembered Dobby.
“Boone is family Hermione, all of our elves are, they are all free and stay with us because they want to, not because they must.” Lucius said.
Hermione still reeling from what he had just said and witnessed asked, “but Dobby, I mean the way he was treated, I don’t understand.”
“I can assure you that Dobby was family as well, it was a different time, and I greatly regret that he was lost to us, but that my dear, is a conversation for another time, for now can you please tell us what happened.”
Hermione was in shock, surely, she had stepped into an alternate dimension, one where Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were showing concern for her and their elves.
“Hermione I can assure you that we will have that conversation, but I am concerned about what happened, why were you in a bathroom crying and bleeding?” Narcissa said her voice full of concern.
Hermione closed her eyes, she thought could she really confess to falling apart at the thought of Draco moving on, she could just lie, but she somehow knew that Lucius Malfoy would see right through it, so she called on the remainder of her Gryffindor courage and replied.
“I accidentally shattered the champagne flute in my hand when Draco’s girlfriend Roxy kissed him, how pathetic I must seem, I am sorry for interrupting your evening, I’ll just see my way out” Hermione winced having to admit that she was pathetic in front of Draco’s parents, who had been nothing but cordial to her since she had arrived.
Narcissa chuffed, “Roxy Red is most certainly not Draco’s girlfriend.”
“It’s not for lack of trying.” Lucius muttered before taking a drink if his tea.
Hermione looked up at Narcissa the look in her eyes pleading for her to explain.
“While I know that my son had a dalliance with her....once, it was simply that, and now Miss Red can’t take the hint that Draco is not interested in her, regardless of how many times he has told her.” Narcissa said plainly.
Oh my God, she thought. Hermione was completely mortified at her accidental outburst of magic and running away like a coward.
“Hermione let me be candid with you, we knew years ago that Draco was in love with you and like us had the unfortunate task to maintain appearances. He could not be open with his affections or intentions for you, this of course is a result of my family’s unfortunate side in the war, but as I said earlier, let me be candid, we knew, and we were happy for him. We want nothing more than our son to be happy and that my dear was you and I believe is still you, based in his music. I will forever bare the shame for my part in the war and the harm that befell you in my family home, and for that you have my sincerest apologies, but please know that you being with Draco or being in Draco’s life is and will not be an issue for us.” Lucius Malfoy said so sincerely.
“Please be patient with him Hermione, he was heartbroken when you wouldn’t leave with him. He wanted nothing more than to keep you safe, but when you left him, he let you go.” Narcissa said solemnly.
“But he said that you had a marriage contract to Astoria Greengrass.” Hermione said unsure of how to process what the Malfoy's were telling her, knowing it was a lie.
She wasn’t sure what to believe. Their words sounded true but the emotions whirling within her were to many, and the calming draught was doing its job well.
“There was no such thing.” Lucius replied, confirming what Astoria had said years before.
“Then why would he say that” Hermione asked. “Why would he try to push me away. Oh gods, I let him push me away.” Hermoine felt like room was spinning.
“Hermione dear, I would say stay calm, but I know that the draught is working. Please take a breath for me. I think that you and Draco need to speak so that he can explain things to you.” Narcissa spoke softly.
“There are things that we know and want to discuss with you, but most importantly there are things that you and Draco need to speak about first. I vow to always speak candidly with you, and as such know that we have nothing but respect for you and your friends for what you had to sacrifice and endure. We all did, but now that the war is over, we want nothing but to continue to move forward and make amends and heal old wounds. I know my son has never stopped loving you, a mother just knows. He was...is hurt and has tried to heal but you were the one that got away, and if judging by your reaction today, I think that the feeling is mutual. Please don’t let one silly girl ruin this. I don’t know why Roxy Red kissed our son, but I think that you should speak to him, clear the air.”
Hermione’s emotions kept swirling, she was embarrassed at her earlier display but looking at Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy sitting here telling her that Draco possibly still loved her made her more confused. The fact that he lied made her angry again, but the sincerity in their words and their gentle actions told her that she should trust them. They had treated her with nothing but respect since she saw them again, and the way Narcissa was looking at her as if to implore her to not walk away again, helped with Hermione’s resolve.
“I don’t know if I could go back out and face everyone just yet” she confessed. “It’s a lot to take in…to process.”
“Hermione dear I have no doubt that you have the courage, but I understand, we have said a lot but have also been vague. Please believe that we will have a full disclosure conversation with you, it is the very least that we owe you, but we encourage you to speak to Draco first. We do not think any less of you for not wanting to go back out to the party, this has already been an unconventional meeting.” Lucius said with the look of sympathy in his eyes.
“Hermione I will have Boone take you to Draco’s suite, and then Boone will bring him, Stella will make sure that no one bothers you. She is very protective over Draco and will ward him when he is wanting solitude.” Narcissa said, just as Lucius called Benson back to the room.
“I have to let me friends know that I’m okay, I just let them, they will be worried.” Hermione said knowing the Ginny would tear the building down looking for her.
“We will go speak to your friends, but Boone informed Pansy that we have you.” Lucius said standing.
Hermione knew she needed to speak to Draco, she owed him that much, but her anger was still bubbling, she had proceeded the fact that he had lied to her years ago, but it still hurt to think about. Benson approached Hermione, “if the young miss is ready, I will take her to master Draco’s room now.” He holds out a hand for her to take.
Hermione stood looking again at Lucius and Narcissa who held nothing but caring and concern in their eyes, “thank you again for helping me and for speaking to me. I look forward to our next conversation.”
“As do we my dear” Narcissa said smiling, “now off you go.”
They smiled at her before she took Bensons hand and he dissaperated them away.