Month 16 – Calmness causes Chaos
Month 16 – Calmness causes Chaos
Hermione and her father arrived home a week ago, having spent two weeks in Australia dealing with everything there.
Luna had opted to fly back with the Grangers, and the flight was grueling for all. Well except for Hermione. She felt wonderful. Nothing was bothering her. She slept and kept calm when dealing with her father. To her, everything was going splendidly. Hermione was getting along with her father better than ever. There wasn’t anxiety that she would use magic on him again. He seemed to be calmer too. Everything was calm.
Calm.
Calm.
Calm……
As soon as Hermione entered the apartment Draco felt the change in her demeanor.
He’d been prepared for their arrival. Luna texted the group with their movements and arrivals throughout their journey. She made sure to text him specifically when they landed to let him know when they would be arriving home.
He’d had time to make dinner as they were arriving in the evening.
They each had a small bag. Luna had brought back the larger luggage items when she’d port keyed back with the cats. Draco had opened the door when he heard the taxi pull up. He had stood next to the window looking down onto the street, so he was prepared to welcome them home.
Harry and Ron said they would be there when they got home, but Harry had texted 30 minutes prior that they were running late due to a hiccup apprehending a suspect in a current investigation. They anticipated that they’d arrive shortly after the Grangers and Luna.
Draco was anxious, to say the least. He’d missed Hermione tremendously, but he had to keep his cool. She was just his friend; he kept telling himself. She was also grieving and dealing with having her father back in her life again.
Phillip entered the flat first with a burst and heavy breathing, like he’d run up the stairs to their floor. Luna followed with a wispy smile, yet her face met Draco’s with a touch of concern. Then Hermione followed.
Draco’s back was to the door but he could feel her as soon as she crossed the threshold. Her manner was different and he stood up stiffly. Turning around he looked at her calm face and saw the glassy look in her eyes. She was occluding. She was smiling up at him as she gracefully walked to him for a hug. Her movements were robotic, and he felt no warmth from her. Her occlusion was affecting more than her memories. It was affecting everything that made Hermione the woman he was in love with. Looking to Luna, he saw the withered look on the blonde girl’s face as she shrugged her shoulders.
Stepping back from Hermione, he heard her exclaim, “Thank you Draco! It seems like my house is in order. There’s nothing I need to do. I was worried I would have to get settled in with cleaning and setting up the cats. Looks like you’ve taken care of everything.” Her voice sounded forced and fake. He didn’t like this at all.
Phillip moved toward the guest room, stating he needed to lay down for a bit. His head hung low as he quickly made his way to his room.
Hermione went to her room claiming she needed to unpack from the trip.
Draco stood watching the woman he loved.
Luna stepped to his side placing her hand gently on his arm. “She started occluding last week. Phillip and I went out for the day. I hoped Hermione would take the day to rest, but when we returned she wasn’t home. As soon as she entered, I felt the change in her. As I looked into her eyes I knew she’d started to occlude.” The remorse on Luna’s face was palpable.
“Has she ever occluded before this?” Draco asked.
“Not that I know of. I was going to ask Harry and Ron, but it’s been a bit chaotic trying to keep Phillip calm. He noticed the change in Hermione too and with his aversion to magic, he’s been very stressed. Phillip has commented several times on how Hermione seems like she’s in a trance. Hermione seems oblivious to his concern. She appears to think everything is hunky dory…. I didn’t even know how to tell you all. I thought it was best to wait till we arrived home. We need to do something about this.”
“Have you entered…..” Draco began.
Luna snapped (something he’d never seen her do), “I tried. She’s built-up strong walls.” Taking a shaky breath, Luna looked at him with apologetic eyes for her gruffness. “I have never seen anyone get so strong at occlumency as fast as she has. With each day she becomes more robotic and…. calm. I’m scared for her, Draco.”
“Yeah. It’s a bit creepy.” He said as he looked down on Luna’s contorted face. He’d never seen her break down before. She was known throughout the group as the stable one. The one who everyone could lean on. Seeing tears fill her eyes as she looked down the hallway, he encircled her shoulder with his arm. One loan tear slowly leaked out of her eye. She didn’t lean into him. She was at as much as a loss as he was.
A crack of apparition sounded as Harry and Ron appeared next to Luna. Both had huge smiles on their faces, yet Harry’s expression immediately sombered when he saw Luna. Without hesitation he gathered her in his arms. She finally weakened into his embrace. Draco heard a soft muffled sob come from her. She had buried her face in Harry’s neck. Ron’s look of confusion went to Draco, asking what had happened.
“Hermione is occluding. She hasn’t just buried her memories, she’s acting differently. Almost robotic. Fake and creepy.” Turning to the two men, he asked. “Has she ever occluded before this?”
Ron started to shake his head as they all turned to Harry. Harry’s grip on Luna tightened as he also lightly shook his head. “When Snape started to teach Harry to occlude in 5th year, Hermione showed interest in learning, but I don’t think she ever got around to it. At least not that she told either of us.”
Draco furrowed his brow, looking down the hallway towards Hermione’s room.
Luna sniffled and raised her head. Her voice not loud enough that they all had to lean in to hear her whisper hoarsely, “Hermione’s jumped into this with full strength. I’m not sure, but I have a feeling that this is more than just occluding. If we don’t get her to stop soon, she might become so addicted that she won’t ever stop. We might lose her. The woman we know, and love might become snuffed out.”
Ron and Harry looked at Luna with concern as Draco’s gaze lingered on the hallway. Ron began with an intuitive question. “Wait. What do you mean by ‘you think she’s more than occluding?’ Like she’s using legilimancy too?”
As Luna pulled away from Harry; his arm moved down to her waist, keeping her close to him; she wiped the tears from her face. Clearing her throat she darkly said, “While I was studying with Professor Snape, he told me about a rare magic that was gifted to a witch or wizard once every few years. He’d never met anyone besides Dumbledore. They were gifted with a strength of magic that no one could compete with. It often showed when they were around 3 or 4-years old. They would be singled out and taught to harness their strength and use it properly. It accentuates everything about them. He told me that it wouldn’t just accelerate their magical gifts, but other gifts, often represented in physical ways. Being logical and smart is one of the key factors. But it’s the fact that there is one type of magic that the gift grasps onto, accentuating that over everything else the witch or wizard can do.”
Draco didn’t turn towards the group but quietly said. “Mind magic.”
As Harry and Ron looked at Draco, Luna started to nod her head. Hearing a rustling come from the hallway, Phillip started towards them with a look of concern.
“You believe Hermione has this gift?” Phillip asked.
Luna tried to school her face, wiping away the last of her tears. “Yes. My guess is that because she is muggle born, it was never assessed and she wasn’t able to be primed for it. We all just thought she was exceptionally smart. It would explain why her obliviation spell on you and your wife was so powerful that it couldn’t be reversed. Also, if she’s occluding, the gift is exacerbating it so that it’s taking over her entire mind, shutting down everything we know to be her.” Turning towards Harry and Ron, she asked. “Hasn’t every spell she’s done that has to do with the mind been stronger than the others she can do?”
Looking down, Harry thought hard. As he started to nod his head, he turned to Ron. Watching his friend nod his head as well. “It also makes sense that she decided to go into mind healing.” Ron said.
Luna turned back to Phillip. “Was there a time when she was around 3 or 4, that you can recall where she was exceptional at some point. Something that seemed out of the ordinary?”
“Well, yes. She had levitated a plate of peas and dumped it into my lap, but when Professor McGonagall came to tell us she was a witch, we told her about it and she said it was most likely the first time she presented her powers to us.” Looking at Luna deeply, he asked, “Did we hurt her by not paying more attention? Because we are not magical, did we hurt her?”
Draco stepped towards the man, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “There is no way you could have known. Do Not start blaming yourself. Don’t do that to yourself. Hermione has always been exceptional. Throughout all the years she’s been around the magical world, no one has been able to pick it out. Even Dumbledore himself. You raised a wonderful daughter.” Smiling at him, Draco squeezed his shoulder for good measure.
“I’m not sure, but it all fits. I’m going to talk to a mind healer that helped my mother before she died. She’s been the one I talk to about my gift.” Luna said determinedly.Ron quickly turned to her. “You have it too?”
Luna finally laughed and shook her head at him. “No. I mean my gift that I am a natural Legilimens and Occlumens.”
“Ah…..” Ron said nodding his head.
Suddenly, Hermione appeared and was dancing towards Harry and Ron, giving them both awkward hugs. At least to all of them the hugs looked awkward. Hermione didn’t seem to be phased by their reactions.
Standing back from them, she made an exaggerated intake of breath, smelling the air. Looking around at the group, she said, “It smells like dinner is ready. Shall we eat?” She turned to the kitchen, walking away from the group who watched her with unease.
“That’s just fucked up, that is.” Harry hit Ron, eyes going to Hermione’s father. “Shit, sorry Dr. Granger.”
“Not a worry, son. I know the last time I saw you all, you were still teenagers, but I know you’re adults now, so I better get used to it…. So……. Fuckety, fuck, fuck, fuck it…” He said with a small grin. This caused the whole group to chuckle.
Harry, who had been quiet the entire conversation finally spoke up. “Dr. Granger,”
Phillip interrupted him. “You all need to call me Phillip.”
Harry cleared his throat. “Phillip…. We’re going to get Hermione back. Don’t you worry. We haven’t ever given up on her. We never will.” Looking at Draco, he continued, “We are prepared, in a way. Draco set up a schedule making sure at least one of us will always be here with you. You won’t have to do this alone. We all know what a difficult time it is for both of you.” Turning back to Phillip.
Draco’s hand was still on Phillips’ shoulder. Squeezing it again, Draco started. “I’ll stay with you each night. The cats are used to me now and I think it’d be best seeing as Hermione is……” He trailed off.
Phillip looked between the four people surrounding him. His eyes began to fill with tears. “You all really love her, don’t you?” Looking around at all of them. Heads nodded without hesitation.
Luna approached Phillip, pulling him into a hug. “That includes you too, Phillip.” Looking around again, the nodding continued.
“Okay, then.” Phillip said. “Let’s get through dinner, shall we?” He said, looking towards the kitchen as they all heard Hermione moving around, setting the table.
The next week Luna confirmed that Hermione indeed had ‘The Gift’. It was termed DONUM in the 13th century. The rarity of the occurrence was why none of them had ever heard of it. If it didn’t happen in England, it would still happen all over the world. It was not known how often it occurred due to it not being widely known. Yet as Luna dug into more research on it, she learned that no muggle-born had ever been reported as having it. Hermione was a rarity.
In the last week Draco stayed with Hermione and Phillip each night. Most days too.
Blaise and Cho came and read with Hermione. She engaged, but didn’t really share the enthusiasm that they were used to.
Ginny and Theo came to watch movies with them. Hermione got up during the middle of the first movie and without a word, walked into her room, shutting the door softly.
Harry and Ron came each day after work to try to talk with her. Reminisce about their days before the war. Draco and Phillip learned a lot about the shenanigans they got up to and Draco made note of all the things he’d like to rehash later when Hermione was back to her old self. Hermione didn’t laugh with them, but shared forced smiles. When there was ever a lull in the conversation, she’d get up without warning and return to her room, shutting the door quietly.
Neville and Tori came with a new plant over the weekend, trying to get her involved with repotting it and where to put it in the apartment. Something she had always enjoyed doing before her mother passed. Before they even started to repot the plant, Hermione was no where to be found. The door to her room was closed and locked from the inside.
Pansy finally came on the last day of the week. She stormed to the closed door, blasting it open to find Hermione sitting on her window seat, looking out towards the London sky. Marching up to her Pansy slapped Hermione across the face. Hermione’s head whipped around because of the slap, but when her head settled, she looked down at the book next to her, picking it up to start to read, not giving Pansy any reaction. Pansy had grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her to come out of it, to no avail.
Draco watched all the interactions. Often with Phillip beside him. Phillip became more and more distraught. Draco tried to hold it together. Each time he watched as Hermione sunk deeper and deeper into the husk that was becoming her body.
Draco reflected over the last week about his own relationship with his parents. Watching Granger shut her father out and how it affected him, made Draco write a letter to his mother.
He’d kept in touch with her throughout the years. At first it was only once a year, especially while they lived as muggles. It was hard to get post to her without using magic. He had explained what they decided to do, and she supported him, even though she didn’t understand completely why he chose to continue it.
Draco had relied on the others to get letters to and from his mother. During the two years they lived as muggles, Blaise and Pansy still went to Diagon alley to get money from Gringotts and send post to all in the magical world.
Draco needed to stay away from the magical world. It was the only way he could survive what he’d been a part of. What he’d done. His anger towards his father was palpable and he cursed him when he died. It was the first time Draco shared his feelings of his father to his mother. While his selfish confession hurt his mother deeply, she still loved him. She was grieving the loss of the man she loved. Even though his father had led them down a dark path, causing them physical and mental pain, she still loved him. Draco refused to contact her for almost a year after his father’s death.
It was his mother who finally reached out to him. Informing him that she was remodeling the manor and that since he was the sole owner, she was obliged to notify him. He had told her she could do whatever she deemed necessary, but that he would never step foot on the property again. He allowed his hatred to taint his relationship with his mother.
Her response was one he hadn’t expected. Her letters were always consistent. Cordial and polite. This response was nothing like that. The letter that arrived was a howler. Hearing his mother’s angry voice, one he never heard yell in the entirety of his life, shook him to his very core. She had chastised him for treating her badly. That she had let one Malfoy man walk all over her and now she was done letting any other man walk over her and her feelings. Regardless of if it was her son or not. She demanded that he respect her feelings and even if he didn’t agree with her grieving her father, he must not treat her poorly for feeling as she did or living her life as she chose to. Ignoring her was no longer an option because she wasn’t about to lose the last remnant of family she had left on the earth.
As the howler ripped to shreds, Draco cried for the first time in years. He had always been the strong one. He had the support of his friends, so why did he need his mother’s? The guilt he felt at realizing he’d left his mother alone during one of the most emotional times of her life, made him sick. The loathsomeness he felt of himself was horrendous. He’d abandoned the woman who raised him. The woman who defied the Dark Lord when he asked if Potter was dead. She had done that for him.
While he couldn’t immediately start a continual back and forth with his mother, he did write the best apology letter he could think of. It was three months later that his mother responded. It was a simple invite to meet for tea. Draco pushed it off but wrote to her regularly. At least once a month. Theo made sure the letters were swapped magically.
Every night Draco snuck into Hermione’s room to watch her sleep. He tried to hold her hand in his, but each time Hermione rolled away from his touch. Night after night Draco became more despondent.
Even though she was still capable of doing all her chores and living her life, she was half there. Draco cried only while he was in the shower. He was losing her and he didn’t know what to do.
Draco never left Hermione alone. He always had someone scheduled to be with her, but after the first week, she decided to go back to work. Not school, just work. Harry and Ron stealthily followed her on the first couple of days, determining she was lucid enough to perform her work duties. Even though several of her co-workers commented on her robotic actions, they admitted her work was still as good as it was before she left.
This is how Draco found himself spending so much time with Phillip.
Phillip became his distraction. As well as Draco became Phillip’s distraction. They talked about Hermione growing up. The types of things she was into and where she wanted to go on their summer vacations. But most of all, Phillip finally started to talk about his wife. His grief was immense. He truly loved her. Hearing him talk of Jean, Draco admitted to himself how he longed to have a similar kind of love in his life. While he mourned her, Phillip also began to mourn the loss of his daughter. Not only now that she was occluding, but also the years he’d lost because of her obliviating them. He went through all the stages of grief.
Anger had been the worst. The gentle man in front of him threw a full whiskey bottle into the fireplace. (An expensive bottle of whisky, mind you.) That’s when Draco took him to a bread making class at the community center he’d been teaching at. Phillip aggressively pounded on the dough and the teacher looked at Draco with concern. On their way out, they saw the local football intermural teams setting up and Phillip asked if he could join. Draco had never played football, but it seemed to be exactly the thing Phillip had needed to release some of the tension of his grief.
On the way back home, Draco had finally opened up to Phillip about his own relationship with his mother. He’d kept his feelings and background to himself. He hadn’t wanted to dump his problems on the man who already had so much to deal with. But it was Phillip who prompted him to share. As soon as Draco started to open up, Phillip’s countenance changed. He was able to take on everything Draco shared and give good fatherly advice. It didn’t bombard him but helped him flourish. Focusing on someone else’s problems helped him. He related to the relationship Draco had with his mother like his with his own daughter. The other perspective brought clarification for Draco.
That’s when he finally reached out to his mother to meet for tea. Her response came quickly. He had informed her of Phillip and his encouragement that they meet and rekindle their relationship further. She had insisted he bring Phillip. She also insisted that they meet at a muggle café. This surprised Draco, but he decided to ask questions later.
They’d meet in the next week.
Draco was a rack of nerves on the morning he planned on meeting his mother.
The normal schedule they’d had for the last couple of weeks was: Hermione and Draco would wake at 6am. She would shower while he went for a 30-minute run. At 7am Phillip would wake from the smell of breakfast, in time for him to wish his daughter a good day at work. She would always eat the plate Draco left out for her, but she never danced with joy at how delicious it was. Even though Draco was more and more discouraged from her non-actions, he still held onto hope. Hermione always kissed her father on the cheek as she said goodbye for the day, and Phillip always looked anxious as he watched his daughter walk out the door. Her crack of apparition sounded a few seconds after the door closed. She never let her father watch her do magic. She was diligent about that fact.
Phillip had leisurely started his day, reading the papers and watching the local news. Jumping in the shower around 9:30am. Around 10 am, Phillip found Draco pacing in the living room. Draco stopped abruptly when Phillip cleared his throat.
“Son, you’re going to wear a hole in that rug if you don’t stop.”
Draco simply plopped down on the couch with a huff.
“Why are you so nervous, son?” Phillip said.
Draco shrugged. “I haven’t seen my mother for over 8 years. I’ve failed her as a son and I don’t know how to make up for that.”
“Yes. We’ve talked about this. She forgives you. She loves you. You have nothing to worry about. She said her peace and you listened. You’re trying again and that’s all you can do. Don’t try to make up for the past. The past is gone. Hmmm?” Phillip hit Draco on the shoulder as he sat next to him.
Holding up his wrist, he showed Draco his watch. “It’s only 10:15. The café isn’t far from here. What say we walk there. Might be good for us to keep our legs moving and we can have a good chat on the way.”
Draco only nodded. They weren’t supposed to meet his mother until 11am, but the café wasn’t that close. It would take them about 30-40 minutes to walk there. As he got up, he looked down at himself. “Do you think this is good to meet my mother?” He looked up at Phillip with wide eyes. He was wearing nice black jeans and a black v-neck t-shirt. Nice black boots and a black belt.
Phillip looked him up and down with a look of concentration on his face. “Have anything with color?” he asked.
Draco’s look was concerning. Phillip looked at him with a laugh. “Just might be nice to add some color.”
Without hesitation Draco left to change his shirt. Upon coming out he was wearing a dark navy v-cut t-shirt.
Phillip laughed loudly, causing Draco to stop with hesitation. “Well, that is some color, I guess.” The blue was almost black. Draco looked down, then turned around to go change again. He kept a bag of his clothes in the bathroom closet. He returned wearing a dark green v-neck t-shirt.
Phillip pulled both of his lips into his mouth to not laugh, lest Draco go change again. Draco didn’t even bother looking at Phillip. As he grabbed his black coat, Phillip finally released a large hoot. Draco slumped his shoulders, pulling out his phone to check the time. It was 10:40. Looks like they needed to drive now. He’d taken too long to change.
They pulled up to the café 5 minutes till. Phillip opted to drive. Draco noticed he loved driving his cars. They would often go on long drives during the day. Their talks were becoming one of Draco’s favorite things.
Looking around, Draco didn’t see his mother. Taking time to breathe deeply, he exited the car to go inside. Phillip let him lead the way.
Entering the establishment, Draco looked around anxiously. His mother was not there yet. Phillip asked if he wanted to order something or wait for his mum. Draco’s upbringing came back in full force. He’d order them all tea, so his mother wouldn’t have to wait to be served. It was the proper thing to do. As Phillip found a table that was out of the way, Draco ordered a full tea service.
Sitting down facing the entrance, Draco started to bounce his knee. Phillip sat next to him, close to the wall. He placed his hand gently on Draco’s forearm, forcing him to look at the older man.
Hearing the bell over the door ding, Draco looked up.
Entering in a flourish was his mother. Yet, the woman in front of him was not the woman he’d grown up with. Her hair was delicately up, but not with each hair in their designated place, it looked somewhat windblown, yet still beautiful. She had delicate natural makeup on, but he could see the wrinkles around her eyes. What shocked Draco the most was that his mother was wearing jeans. Muggle jeans. Her red blouse tucked into said jeans and a cream-colored coat floated around her, comfortably open. She held a muggle woman’s purse over her shoulder.
As soon as Narcissa entered, she looked around with gusto. Spotting her son, she stopped and smiled. Her smile was the biggest smile Draco had ever seen on her face. He instantly stood, running to her as he stopped in front of her. He had been raised to never hug in public. He reached for her hand to hold it up to kiss it, like he had been taught. Narcissa laughed, swatting his hand away as she rose to the tips of her toes, throwing her arms around his shoulders, bringing him in for a deep hug.
Draco stood for a second before he reacted. Throwing his arms around his mother’s waist, following her lead. Upon hearing her laugh and sob happily, he picked her up and swung her around from side to side. Eventually he set her on her feet when he realized tears were falling down his own cheeks. As she settled. Her hands came up to hold him on either side of his face, brushing away his tears. He felt like a child again, coming to his mother when he was sad or excited about something that had happened. The smile she was beaming at him was one he couldn’t stop looking at.
Bringing his hand to run through her hair, she finally spoke. “I know it’s different. I’m much different now.”
He could only nod. She stepped back to take a good look at him. He’d grown at least a foot since the last time she saw him. His shoulders had broadened too. Appraising him she nodded with approval. “You’re even handsomer than I remember.” Her beam only made him smile more.
They both turned quickly when they heard someone clear their throat. The server informed them that their tea service was ready and waiting at their table. Narcissa interrupted, asking for a coffee as well.
Draco scoffed. When had his mother started drinking coffee?
Pulling her towards their table, Phillip stood to greet her. She instantly stepped forward and gave the man a hug. Phillip didn’t know that this was not the woman Draco had grown up with. Draco just stood still, watching the interaction. The two settled at the table and began to easily converse, almost ignoring Draco. He watched as she easily fixed them all tea and then when her coffee came, she finally noticed that he hadn’t sat down.
“My Dragon, won’t you join us?” She said with a tease, waving her hand towards the seat next to Phillip. Draco scoffed again. Who was this woman?
As he sat slowly in his seat, Narcissa continued with her easy conversation with Phillip. Their small talk quickly turned into some deeper topics. Almost like Draco wasn’t even there. He simply sat, drinking his tea. He ordered a scone for each of them, feeling awkward since he was taught to ask if anyone at the table wanted anything more to eat. Yet with his mother’s relaxed façade, he didn’t see that it would offend her. As the scones were brought to the table, Narcissa finally turned to him, making Draco jump slightly. He heard Phillip chuckle at his reaction and he elbowed the older man. That’s when Draco finally saw the mother he’d grown up with. Her scowl was of a silent chastisement and he knew the woman opposite him was not polyjuiced.
His grin threw her off a bit and he finally spoke. “For a second there I thought you were someone else polyjuiced as my mother.”
This made Narcissa laugh and she shook her head, bending it to look down in her lap. Draco saw her wringing her hands. She was nervous too. Phillip wasn’t just his buffer, but he’d become hers too.
She finally locked eyes with her son and started to explain. After his father died, and she’d lost him as well, she’d almost killed herself. Draco’s gasp made her pause, but she barreled on. She looked back on her life and decided to change everything. She had already brought curse breakers into the manor to rid it of all dark artifacts and dark magic. She was without her wand for two years, and she was under house arrest for 4 years. She relied on the house elves for everything, and she became a recluse.
During another pause, Draco looked at Phillip, making sure he was okay with all the talk of dark magic and magic in general. He was pleasantly surprised that Phillip was on the edge of his seat listening to his mother’s story.
Narcissa continued. “After my house arrest I tried to go back out into society and I was snubbed all around and I made a revelation. To fuck them all. All of them. Magical society was never welcoming if you were an outcast. Why would I want to go back to that life. Mind you, I never told your father. He would have never approved.” She laughed to herself. “That’s when I reached out to Pansy and Theo. I knew they could help me and they had some very insightful suggestions. I didn’t tell you and asked them to keep it a secret because I wanted to do this all for myself.” Placing one of her hands over Draco’s, she patted it, asking him for his understanding. Draco’s answer was to fold her hand into both of his and stroke across the veins on the back of her hand like he did as a child when she would read to him in bed.
With a sigh of relief, Narcissa placed her other hand atop his and they sat staring at each other. Then she continued. “Theo worked it out to get electricity throughout the manor. It had taken almost my full house arrest to get all the dark magic out of the manor. And Pansy helped me with muggle clothing. You know, I think she’d do well to open up a shop to share her designs. She’s got a great eye at mixing muggle and magical clothing. Although, I am partial to the muggle outfits. Much less restrictive and so comfortable. These jeans….. I have never seen my ass look so good.” She laughed when Draco made a face, then laughed harder when Draco saw her wink at Phillip, and he made a sick sound.
“Mother!” He said. Turning to look at Phillip he saw his neck turning red and he decided to table what ever this was and get his mother to return back to her story. “Please continue….. with the manor and muggle stuff….. Nothing more about jeans. Please mother.”
She only nodded and did indeed continue. She shared how she’d purchased a muggle television and how she loved the shopping network. Getting muggle packages delivered was the hardest hurdle, but she’d finally worked it out. The manor’s wards were altered so muggles could see it, but the magical components were still hidden. She then went on to tell him how she’d changed the manor completely. She’d almost gutted it in the remodel and made everything lighter and brighter. The next look she gave Draco was pleading. “I really wish you’d come see it, my love. I’m so proud of how it’s changed and I think you’d be proud of it too.” She stopped, waiting for Draco’s response.
Draco couldn’t commit to it just yet so he said, “Maybe, mother. Someday. Maybe.”
With a sad sigh, Narcissa looked down again, starting to wring her hands, when she suddenly looked up at Phillip and said, “You are welcome as well! I’d love to have a muggle come to the grounds. I want to alter the wards further and you’d be of great help since you are muggle, yet you know about magic!” Her excitement was becoming palpable. She started to clap her hands. “And you must bring your daughter. I remember Draco telling me how fond she was of books. The manor has an extensive library, one that might even be more extensive than Hogwarts.”
That’s when Draco and Phillip looked at each other with remorse, causing Narcissa’s countenance to change. She didn’t allow them to speak. “She must hate me, doesn’t she? For what happened to her in my home.” Looking down Draco heard the last of her words come out with a croak. “Will she let me apologize to her?” Narcissa said in a whisper.
It was Phillip who responded. “Narcissa, that’s not it. Although, Harry has told me what happened to her in your home, and I know it would be difficult for her at first, but she’s very forgiving and I know she’d forgive you. It’s just that Hermione isn’t herself at the moment. She’s been occluding since her mother’s death and she has…..” He trailed off, looking to Draco for help since he still was trying to understand himself.
Draco looked at his mother as she turned to face him, following Phillip’s eye-line. “She has the gift. It’s a rare…”
Draco couldn’t finish because her mother whispered. “Donum.” When Draco’s eyes widened, she gasped at his confirmation.
His mother new about the gift.