Making Memories of Us
Sunday, 27 June 2004
Hermione woke up screaming. Her throat was sore, and she was shaking. She was also immediately grateful for the forethought to cast silencing charms. Reaching for her wand, she casts a Tempus spell, and seeing the time, deciding that it was early enough to get up.
After starting her morning an hour early, Hermione stepped into the hallway freshly showered and dressed. Ignoring the stifling darkness around her, she made her way to the large kitchen. Much to her surprise, Malfoy stood leaning against the center island, in muggle sweats and a long-sleeve quidditch jersey. He shifted uncomfortably on his socked feet when he noticed she was there.
“Oh. Sorry, I didn’t realize you were in here.” She apologized, stepping in. A steaming tea pot sat on the island, along with a pair of chocolate muffins.
“It’s okay. I was just about to be leaving.” Malfoy said as she poured herself some tea. She added two sugars some cream, before taking a sip. She watched as he moved to the sink, hand washing his mug. She wondered silently why he didn’t use magic, and when she tore a piece of the muffin off, she tried to picture him making the sweet treat. His voice pulls her out of her thoughts. “I haven’t had anything to drink since Friday. I thought you might want to know that.”
She nodded, and her question bubbled out before she could contain it. “Why don’t you just use magic to clean up?”
He doesn’t speak for a long while. “I haven’t used magic for anything since my wand was snapped after the war.”
She blinked, processing this information. “That was six years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have a wand now?” She presses for more, hoping to hear why Draco Malfoy, the most infamous pureblood in today’s day and age, strayed from magic.
“No, I wasn’t permitted one until the fifth of last month.” He still hadn’t faced her, despite having finished the dishes. She forces an exhale, trying not to recall what had happened that day.
“Do you want one?”
The silence could have been cut by a knife, neither one moving, and he seemed to have stopped breathing as well. She watched as he turned around, finally looking at her. He quickly diverted his gaze to the floor. His answer shook her deeply. “I don’t think I deserve one.”
“Why?”
“Because no good could come from it. Magic… magic only causes pain.” His eyes were glazed over, a far away look to them, as if he was seeing someplace else, and not the kitchen in his childhood home.
“I spent the first 11 years of my life without magic. When I was told I was a witch, it made everything so much clearer. Something had been missing, even if I hadn’t realized it yet. Bad things did happen because of it, but that doesn’t make it inherently bad.” She insisted, not understanding how anyone could view the thing that makes her who she is as bad.
He grips his left arm, and rubs it absently. “Let’s agree to disagree. I'll meet you outside in 20 minutes.” He left the room abruptly, leaving her with more questions than answers.
The pair had met at the end of the property, and Hermione apparated them to the Ministry. Hermione stepped away from Malfoy, straightening her skirt. Nervously, she fidgets with her hair before marching past the large fountain in the atrium, grateful for the very few people there on a Sunday. Malfoy trailed behind her, a few feet back. If she turned around, she would see that he was slumped over slightly, hands tucked into his pockets, a blank expression on his face. She reached the lift, and Malfoy stepped in beside her, pressing the button for the correct floor. There was an uncomfortable silence before Malfoy turned towards her.
“Before I forget, this is yours.” He pulled a silver ring from his pocket, holding it out to her. Hermione picked it up tepidly, resting it in her palm. It was a silver ring, fashioned to look like two snakes curling themselves around her finger and a pale blue gemstone. It was neither simple or gaudy, and truth be told, Hermione could have seen herself picking this one out for herself.
“It’s connected to mine, and it can alert me to if you need help. I’ve not used one before, so I can’t be to sure on how it works, to be honest. It's from my families vault, and I made sure there were no dark curses on them. My father never got around to explaining much about these types of heirlooms, so I hope it does as intended. If you don’t like it, you could always pick something else out and I can attempt to switch the enchants over.”
“No, this one is perfect. Thank you. What does yours look like?” She asks, slipping it into her ring finger. A cool sensation washes over her, seeming to settle into her bones. A soft hum joined in, calming her slightly. Malfoy holds up his hand, showing her a small black snake, similar to her own. It was simple yet she felt it fitted him. She doesn’t say anything, just nodding slightly.
The doors to the lift open, and she walks quickly towards the desk where an older woman sat, getting ready to start her day. “Hello, we are here to apply for a marriage license.”
After hours of being interviews and insisting she was doing this of her own free will, and that she was not Imperioused, she was finally leaving. She sighed, realizing that she had no time to head back to the Manor before she was expected at The Burrow. Not bothering to say goodbye to her new husband, Hermione stepped through the floo, and exited into the comforting space she used to regard as her home. The family home seemed to always have a tilt to it, but it never toppled. It was a testament to the strength of the family. The sound of a woman's voice in the other room was combined with an excited “Aunt ‘Mione!” brought a smile to her face.
As she stepped into the kitchen, she was met by Teddy throwing himself at her, and she groaned as she lifted him up. “One of these days, you are gonna be too big for me to carry you.” He giggled and insisted that he would never be too big. Hermione shook her head with a laugh, setting him down as Molly began filling her in one what everyone else was up to. Teddy happily snacked while the two women conversed.
Hermione yawned despite the early time. Looking down at a sleeping Teddy currently splayed out on the couch like a starfish and Victorie who had fallen asleep hanging halfway off, she couldn’t fight the smile. This afternoon had been just what she need, but a part of her dreaded returning to the Manor.
Bill entered the room, chuckling at how his daughter had fallen asleep. “Headed home?” He asked as he picked Victorie up.
“Something like that,” She said in response, and then an idea came to her. “Hey, are you busy tomorrow?” Bill shakes his head no, and Hermione lets out the breathe she was holding.
“So, I’m not prepared to explain anything just yet, but I need a favor. You would be paid, I’ll make sure of that. But I was wondering if I could hire you to go through Malfoy Manor and, I don’t know, get rid of anything thats super cursed? Honestly, I’m sure you could do whatever you want with most of the stuff, Malfoy probably won’t mind.” She watched as confusion crossed his face, as if trying to connect the dots. “Oh, and the reason I need it done is because we got married earlier, and I moved in yesterday.”
He blinks for a second, obviously taken aback. Then, with a shrug and a shake of his head, he agrees. She gets him to promise not to tell anyone about it, that she planned to do it soon. Saying goodbye to Bill, Hermione slips out the front door and to the apparition spot. With another look at the Burrow, she disaparates to her new ‘home.’