Chapter 1
For the first time in her life, Hermione was lost for an answer for something, rendered speechless at what had just been insinuated. "What a preposterous idea" was the answer she finally settled on before she stormed out of the room.
2 weeks ago
It had only been 2 years since the war and Hogwarts was starting again. Two thirds of the golden trio were going back to repeat their seventh year and the prophet was buzzing with the news. Hermione had arrived at precisley 9 am and was now pacing backwards and forwards at the front door of Grimmauld place, waiting for Harry to gather his things so they could finally apparate to Kings Cross. That was, until a woman with bi-coloured hair and deep brown eyes opened the door. Both women froze, staring at each other. Narcissa was wearing a pitch black dress that hugged her figure, similar to the one she had worn on that night. The night when those caramel eyes had turned into a soulless void and watched as she was tortured. Hermione's scar began to throb with pain as the memories resurfaced.
A manic woman with unruly curls straddled her and began to cut into her arm. She screamed and looked across the room to meet the once chestnut eyes, that now were the deepest shade of ebony, so cold that water would freeze under their gaze. And that's exactly what Hermione did. She froze. Although Bellatrix was still carving into her arm she didn't move. She just stared into those etherally beautiful eyes and waited. She didn't know what for. After what seemed like an eternity she heard Bellatrix shout a crucio and her body started to writhe. The last thing she could remember after Bellatrix's cackle was thinking "why doesn't it hurt". And then she passed out.
When the flashback ended Hermione was laying down on a sofa, which she presumed was the one inside Grimmauld place. A man with platinum blonde hair sat on the sofa across from her, staring into his lap.
"Malfoy?" She almost yelled, "what in merlins name are you doing here?" Draco looked up in surprise, having made the assumption that she wouldve still been unconscious.
"Well Granger", he replied with his usal arrogance, "I had received an invitation from Harry to accompany you two to Kings Cross." He rolled his eyes dramatically and continued "But since you decided to go ahead and faint we will no longer take the train, rather we will be all squashed up in the back of those cheapskate ministry limousines' '. He scoffed at the last few words.
A little confused at why Harry would invite Draco, Hermione contemplated what she should say next, however she needn't have bothered, as Harry and (much to her delight) Narcissa appeared.
'`U ok Mione?", Harry asked with a worried look on his face.
"Fine" she snapped back, unwilling to give Narcissa any satisfaction at seeing her weakness. Although, at the look Harry gave her, she regretted her tone a little bit. Only a little bit she thought to herself. Definitely not enough to apologise. Especially not in front of the Pure-Blood supremacist, Narcissa Malfoy.
"It's Black now", Narcissa said coolly. Hermione glared at her.
"What are you even doing here Mrs Black", she spat out the last word with disgust.
"It's Professor Black to you", the woman with bi-coloured hair replied haughtily. Hermione gasped, already thinking about dropping the woman's class.
"You have a potions mastery?" She finally asked, a little shocked.
"No Miss Granger I do not, I am simply going to show up and start teaching manners to little witches who have the nerve to disrespect their elders." Narcissa replied sarcastically.
Harry and Draco watched this exchange with confusion written on their features, unaware of the events that had taken place at Malfoy Manor. Eventually, after a few Moments of silence and watching the two women glare at each other, there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it", Harry quickly said, eager to escape the awkwardness in the living room. When he came back inside, he was followed by the minister of magic.
"Miss Granger, Madame Black, Mr Malfoy", he nodded his head to each of them in acknowledgement.
"Your ride to Hogwarts has arrived and I'll be accompanying you as I have business to attend to with the headmistress.
No one said anything and Kingsley sighed.
"We'd best be on our way then", Kingsley continued, as if he had not noticed the tension inside of the room.
"Shotgun!" Harry yelled eagerly. When there were no reactions apart from Draco's raised eyebrow and Narcissa's sneer, he ran out the front door to claim his seat.
Hermione followed him outside, levitating her trunk, assuming Draco and Narcissa would follow suit.