All That You Are

Hermione was attempting to clean Snape’s house when he billowed in through one of the doors that she realized she didn’t have access to. He stopped, eyeing her curiously. “What are you doing?”

“Well, I am attempting to clean this place. It’s almost as if nobody has in years.” She was standing on a stool, gripping the bookcases as she tried to dust a few cobwebs from the top. 

“That’s because.” He drew out the word and Hermione rolled her eyes. “I spend most of my time at Hogwarts, teaching as you are aware.”

“I figured that if I am going to be living here that I need to at least pitch in something. You can’t be buying my school supplies and giving me a place to live with me offering nothing in return. The least that I can do is clean this place.” She slid off the stool, giving up on attempting to reach the last patch of cobwebs and surveyed her handiwork. There was still a significant amount of dust, but the place was already looking a lot better than what it used to. Hermione tucked her hair behind her ear. 

“We are leaving in ten minutes. Might I suggest you change into something more…” He didn’t finish his sentence, instead cocked an eyebrow at her and she glanced down at her muggle jeans. 

“Fine.” Stomping upstairs, she pulled on one of the summer dresses that Snape had apparently gotten her. It was a dark green, and shrugged on her robe. Making her way back downstairs, he nodded and opened the door ushering her outside. She shivered and turned back towards him, taking the elbow that he awkwardly offered her. They Apparated, and she fought the urge to puke in the grass where they landed as she closed her eyes.

When she opened them, she gasped. They were standing just outside a massive iron gate, she could feel the magic emanating off of it, and hers hummed in answer. Snape stepped forwards, placing his hand on the gate and she watched a shimmer ripple through it before it creaked open slowly. They strolled forward and her eyes fought to take everything in. 

There were green hedges lining the walkway towards the front of the–Manor? Palace? She wasn’t sure what to call it. It was massive, and beautiful. White peacocks strutted along the grounds and she noticed a collection of Muggle and Magical roses against the front of the house. Bright green vines wove their way up the side of the house, white flowers blossoming against them. She wanted to close her eyes and lie in the grass under the sun, taking in the magic that seemed to thrum through the grounds. Only when Snape had led her inside and they were seated in what looked to be a Drawing Room did she notice whose house it was. 

A man with white-blonde hair made his way into the room, a petite and regal woman behind him. She had brilliant blue eyes and black mixed expertly into her blonde strands. She let out a quiet exhale at the resemblance that hit her like a train. She was in Malfoy’s house, Draco Malfoy. Her eyes widened and snapped towards Snape who only tipped the corner of his lips in response before tucking the expression away completely. 

“Severus, here to discuss business, are we?” The older man–Malfoy’s father, she guessed–narrowed his eyes at her, his gaze flicking over her once before turning his attention back to Snape. 

“Yes, Lucius. I brought my niece.” Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. “Hermione Granger.”

She stood, offering her hand and Lucius raised an eyebrow at her, before carefully reaching out and grasping her hand in his. “Ms. Granger.”

“Mister Malfoy.” 

Lucius raised an eyebrow at her before tilting his head at Snape. They exited the room and Hermione stood awkwardly with her hands clasped in front of her as the woman smiled at her. “Hermione, I’m Narcissa. It’s lovely to meet you.”

Hermione smiled, taking Narcissa’s hand as a flush spread across her cheeks. “Hello, Mrs. Malf–”

“Please, call me Narcissa dear. Any relative of Snape’s is a friend of ours.” Hermione nodded, sitting awkwardly on the edge of her seat as Narcissa sat across from her. A House Elf popped into the room and Hermione startled, her eyes widening. “Tea and scones please, Mip.”

The elf nodded, disappearing and Hermoine noted that the little elf was wearing a large black shirt tied at the middle with a blue ribbon as though it was a dress. Hermione watched as it brought back the tea, and Narcissa poured her a glass. “So, tell me about yourself darling.”

Hermoine gulped, stirring in three scoops of sugar and a spoonful of honey. “I, um. I’m not sure that there is much to tell.”

“Ah, I disagree. Draco has told me quite a bit about you already.” Hermione felt her cheeks flush. “I heard that you are the first student to ever be unsorted?”

It was a question and a statement and Hermione nodded, taking a small sip from the cup. It burnt her tongue and for a moment she wished that it did it well enough for an excuse not to talk. She didn’t know what to say. “Yes, yes that’s right. The hat said that I possessed qualities equally from the four houses and that there wasn’t one that I would fit into fully.”

“Hm. Interesting indeed. How did that make you feel? I bet that was horrible, entering a school and hoping to be given answers only to be left with more questions.”

“Yes. Indeed. It was rather…startling. I wasn’t expecting it. Although, there has been a lot this past year that I wasn’t expecting.” 

Narcissa was staring at her, a small smile pulling at the corner of her lips. Hermione heard footsteps and her eyes drifted to the door just as Draco was walking through it. His eyes were focused on his arm, clasping gauntlets around his wrists as he talked. He was dressed in a pair of black trousers that seemed to be fitted just for Quidditch and a plain gray t-shirt. “Mother, do you know where my broom is? I couldn’t find it–”

His head lifted and she watched as his eyes widened in surprise. He stopped, mid-step and sentence, blinking at her. Her cheeks flushed in response. 

“Draco, I believe that you know Hermione.” He nodded once, swallowing as he stared at her. 

“Yes, what is she doing in our drawing room, mother?” He was scowling at her.

“Don’t be rude, Draco. Snape brought her here, she’s, his niece.” Draco’s eyes widened in surprise. 

“Does that mean that we’re related? Snape is my Godfather.” His voice had raised an octave and Hermione felt herself flush even more. Narcissa chuckled.

“No, darling, that's not how that works.” Narcissa was looking back and forth between the two and Hermione saw the wheels turning behind her eyes. “Draco, why don’t you give Hermione a tour of the grounds?”

“I was just about to take my broom out for a bit...”

“Well, I’m sure that she would love to see the grounds on the way, go on darling.” Hermione stood, nodding as she walked towards Draco who seemed to have remembered himself. She watched as he straightened his shoulders and turned to open the door for her. 

“After you, Granger.” Hermoine stepped through, her eyes flicking over every detail. The Manor was glorious, the main hall had a massive staircase that wound up towards the second floor and white busts of–ancestors, she guessed–lined the entrance hall on the right. There were dozens of doors and she could hear the sound of her shoes on the floor as they made their way through the house. Draco was pointing towards things, and she caught on that he seemed as though he was trying to impress her. She nodded and threw in a comment here and there at appropriate times, and she noted that his chest puffed out every time she did so. After what seemed like forever, Snape emerged just as Draco was about to show her through a set of two large doors. 

“We’re leaving now.”

Draco turned towards Snape. “When will you be back?”

Snape raised an eyebrow at him, his gaze flicking between the two of them. “Tomorrow.”

Draco smiled, turning towards Hermione. “I guess that I will have to show you the library then.”

Hermione went to bed that night realizing that Draco never found his broom.

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The next week went on like that, with Snape bringing her to the Manor. She enjoyed tea with Narcissa who made small conversation before Draco would casually stroll into the room. Then, he would take her exploring through the house. They had yet to see the library and for a moment Hermione wondered if he had been lying about it.

“Think that I was lying about our library, Granger?”

She raised her eyebrows at him. “Were you?”

Draco smiled at her. “Maybe I just wanted to give you a reason to keep coming back.”

Hermione felt herself blush. “Well, you’ll have to show me the library then and I’ll decide if you can tell your ancestors if it’s worth it or not.”

Draco smiled at her, all dimples before leading her back to the set of double doors, his hand pressing against the wood. “Only Malfoy’s have access to the library, so I’ll have to be with you if you ever decide to come here so that I can let you in.”

Hermione nodded; eyes fixed on the double doors as they swung open. She stepped in and it felt like she had just stepped into the library of her dreams. It was massive, the smell of parchment and wood invading her senses as she closed her eyes to breathe it in for a moment. Bookcases ran along every inch of the wall, except for the space where the fireplace and windows were. Large black chairs were positioned towards the fireplace and Hermione realized that she could live in one of those if she was allowed, curled up with a book all the time. 

A small staircase wound up towards the second floor where even more bookcases were filled to the brim. A large book was thrumming with magic and Hermione realized that it was the same kind that they had at Hogwarts. “Definitely worth waiting a week just to see the look on your face.”

Hermione spun back towards him, a smile pulling on her lips. “Malfoy, this is beautiful.”

“Worthy to come back to?”

Her eyes met his and she realized that he was watching her intently with something in his eyes that she couldn’t quite decipher. “More than worthy, please let your ancestors know.”

They smiled at one another before Hermione turned to run her fingers along the books on the shelfs.

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She spent the rest of the summer cooped up in the Malfoy library whenever they visited, occasionally bringing one of her own books to sit on the grass outside while Draco zoomed around the Quidditch field–which still surprised her that there was a full-sized one just sitting in his backyard. Although she wasn’t sure why it surprised her in the first place, the Manor had a library that she had only dreamed of. 

Lucius was a strange and reserved man that usually spent his time doing whatever it was that he was doing with Snape when they disappeared. Narcissa had become one of her favorite people. They discussed all sorts of things, life at the Muggle Orphanage, what house she would want to be sorted into. Hermione had been pleasantly surprised that Narcissa was interested in hearing about her Muggle life. Although, she noted that there were little questions regarding that part of her life when Lucius was around. 

Hermione was tucking a Tome back into the shelf when Draco strolled into the library. “Granger.”

“Malfoy.” 

“My mother wanted me to come and fetch you. She said that she was taking you dress shopping while father and I collected this year's school supplies. Snape wanted me to inform you that he has already collected the necessary list for this year.”

Hermione pursed her lips. “Thank you.”

Draco stood there waiting, and she crossed the library quickly, falling into step with him as they made their way across the Manor. It was quiet and Hermione was aware of how close Draco was standing, his shoulder brushing against hers. Her cheeks flushed and she reached up to play with the ends of her braid that fell against her shoulder. 

They approached the drawing room, and she waited while he opened the doors, pulling out her seat for her as she sat. With a small nod, he left the room. Narcissa was smiling over her teacup at them. 

“Draco is rather fond of you, dear.”

Hermione felt her cheeks flush. “I enjoy his company.”

Narcissa hummed and they sat together for a moment. “Well, I thought that I could take you out to get some dress robes.”

“Oh, you don’t have to, thank you.”

“I insist, darling. Snape can only do so much for a young girl.”

That was how she found herself in a boutique with Narcissa, trying on dress robes in various shades that she couldn’t find any possible explanation of where she would wear them. They were just leaving, and she realized that she was exhausted. All traces of exhaustion disappeared when she noticed Lucius and Draco making their way quickly over towards them from Flourish and Blotts. Lucius was sporting a black eye and Narcissa strolled forward, swatting him on the shoulder. 

“What on earth, Lucius.”

“I had a rather unfortunate disagreement with Arthur Weasley on the discussion of Muggles.”

Hermione raised an eyebrow and caught Narcissa throwing a glance in her direction. Lucius raised an eyebrow at her. Draco was silent next to her, staring at his feet. “Hm, must have been a rather unfortunate discussion indeed.” Draco’s head snapped up towards her, and Lucius regarded her with a small smirk pulling on the corner of his lips.

Narcissa swatted him on the shoulder again and they turned to make their way back to the Floo. Draco was staring at her as though he noticed something about her,  he hadn’t seen before. She lifted her chin higher as they made their way back to Malfoy Manor.

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Draco and Narcissa had accompanied her to the Platform, and he quickly made his way away from her towards the familiar group of Slytherins that were making their way onto the train. She noticed the blue-eyed boy was again staring at her curiously and she made a note to talk to Theo this year. Something about him was drawing her in and she couldn’t put her finger on why he seemed so familiar to her. There was a haunted look in his eye, and she wondered if she housed the same when people looked at her. Narcissa gave her shoulder a soft squeeze, nudging her towards the train and Hermione ducked her head, stepping onto the train. 

Harry and Ron weren’t in their usual compartment and Hermione was confused, she hadn’t seen them anywhere else on the train and worry nestled itself into her stomach when she wondered if they weren’t going to be there that year. Nestling into the empty compartment, she opened the book that Narcissa had insisted she bring with her to Hogwarts. There were three or four in her bag that she was terrified of bringing anywhere other than her dorm, but she had found it rather impossible to deny Narcissa anything. She had been so kind and warm, welcoming her with open arms and a curiosity that she didn’t expect from a Pureblood family like them. 

Research in the Malfoy library had proven very beneficial, and she was aware of just how many ancestors that Malfoy had. He came from a long line of witches and wizards that were Pure. She also managed to find out that the group that he was always around were a part of something referred to as the ‘Sacred Twenty-Eight’. There was a Pure Blood Directory in the Malfoy Manor, and she had come to find out that it contained information on the twenty-eight Pureblood magical bloodline and families.

She wondered if that was why Draco didn’t seem to talk to her very much outside of the Manor. They weren’t seen together, and it made sense why he had gone out of his way for any interaction that he had with her last year. Along with that, what didn’t seem to make sense to her was why she was allowed in the Manor in the first place. She had come to find out, per Draco, that there were wards in place to keep Muggleborn out of the Manor and forbid them from entering, along with the usual comments from Lucius about purity. 

It was something that was important to them, and she found herself not caring in the slightest about anybody’s bloodline. 

Just as she realized that she had zoned out on the pages instead of reading them, she heard a faint knock, drawing her attention away. Theo was standing at the door, his small frame seemed to fold in on itself as he stared at the ground. He was fidgeting, twisting his fingers together as he remained quiet. 

“Theo?” His head snapped up and she regarded his blue eyes curiously. “Did you need something?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but before any words could come out a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Blaise had appeared beside him, flicking his gaze between them. “Theo? What are you doing mate?”

Hermione raised an eyebrow at the two of them. “There’s plenty of room. I know that it’s not a Viper Pit and might not hold your interest, but you’re welcome to sit.”

A small smile pulled at the corner of Blaise’s lips, and he stared at her curiously. “Thank you for the offer, Granger but–”

Theo made his way quietly into the cart, tugging a book from his robes and leaning against the wall by the window. Hermione didn’t say anything, instead gave him a small smile and pulled her book back into her lap. Blaise was still standing in the doorway, staring between the two of them. 

“Right. I’ll just tell everybody that you’re in here with..Granger then.”

Hermione watched as he slipped into the hallway, tugging the door closed behind him. Hermione didn’t say anything, instead just attempted to read the book in her lap. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Theo was still staring at her, although attempting to cover it with his book. She cleared her throat. 

“Theo, did you want to talk about something?” His eyes widened and he shook his head, tipping his eyes back down to the book. “What are you reading?”

Slowly, he lifted the cover, and she smiled. “That’s my favorite book.” it was Hogwarts; a History and she watched as Theo’s eyes brightened more. She took the moment to study him. It looked as though there were faded bruises along his jawline, the yellowish tint against his pale skin. Even though his eyes were bright blue, they seemed to be lacking light, as though something dark was residing in their depths. His hair was beautiful, although it seemed to also be lacking life. It was as though there was something draining him completely of anything that resembled happiness. 

He seemed to be studying her as well, his eyes flitting over her face and she sat there, letting him. She wasn’t sure what it was about him–maybe the loneliness that she saw reminded her of herself, or maybe she was desperate for an explanation as to why he seemed to be lacking happiness within those blue eyes. 

The door sliding open had her jumping, startled. Draco and Blaise were standing there, gaze flickering between the two of them. Draco stepped forwards, sitting with a huff on the bench next to her and she raised an eyebrow at him. “To what do I owe the honor of being blessed with Draco Malfoy’s presence?”

Draco’s eyes flickered and he stared at her before smiling, but it was Blaise who answered. “Well, Theo here seems to have decided that this cart was worthy of Slytherin’s. So here we are.”

After a moment, Pansy and Daphne slipped in, sinking onto the seats. She listened intently as they all described their summers. Pansy and Daphne had spent the summer in France with their parents, while Blaise had spent it traveling with his mother who had just gotten married. She had gathered that he was on husband number six and the others seemed to have died of strange circumstances. Hermione also gathered that Theo, Draco and her were all quiet. Which, in itself, was unusual for Draco who was accustomed to boasting about anything and everything he possibly could. 

“Aren’t there usually two more of you? The two who are usually running around together with you, Draco?”

“Are you talking about Vince and Greg?” Draco was staring at her with raised brows and Hermione simply nodded.

“They’re always with you, I’m rather surprised that they’re not here as well.”

“Taking a liking to noticing who I’m around, Granger?” Her cheeks flushed.

“No.” It was simple and they glared at one another. 

“What did you do this summer?” Pansy was picking lint off of her robes, and it took Hermione a moment to register that she was addressing her in particular. She wasn’t sure how she was going to respond to that, Draco didn’t say anything about his summer and she wondered if he just didn’t want anybody to know that she was there. 

“She was at the Manor for most of it.” All eyes snapped to her, and she felt herself flush even more, tucking unruly curls behind her ears. 

“Yes-Well.”

“What were you doing at the Manor?!” Pansy was looking back and forth between them, and Daphne hadn’t managed to close her mouth. 

“I-erm, well.”

“Snape’s her uncle. He had some business at the Manor most of the summer. She went with him for most of it.” All eyes were on her, wide and startled. 

“Malfoy! Snape said not to say anything about that.”

Draco simply shrugged. “What, Granger? Afraid that the whole school is going to find out that you might be more Slytherin than you let on?”

Hermione glared at him. “No. Snape asked me not to say anything about me living there, I was respecting his wishes which I thought that you would do as well.”

Theo was staring at her, his brows furrowed. She cleared her throat, casting another glare towards Draco. “What? They’re all going to find out sooner or later. Usually, they spend a few weeks at the Manor over the summer anyways. If Snape brings you next year, then they are going to know anyway.”

Hermione wasn’t sure if she should be outraged or happy that Draco assumed that she was going to be at the Manor next year as well. Pansy was studying her, and Daphne was whispering into Pansy’s ear. Hermione ignored them, and yanked (well, pulled rather delicately) her book from Draco–who had stolen it and was regarding the cover. “Is that from my library?”

“Your mother was kind enough to loan it to me.”

“Hm.”