Archive of Our Own

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Hermione Jean Granger. A young twenty-one-year-old brunette who lived with her single father, Richard Granger, in a small cottage that was constantly full of new and improving inventions. She walked through the small village called Lacock, her light blue and off-white coloured pinafore dress swirling around her pale legs and her brown withered leather boots, busying herself with humming to the music that was playing around in her head as she passed by the many villagers and tried to smile warmly at the numerous amounts of local people that Hermione walked past. Hermione tried to keep up all of the appearances, especially with how her father was known by all of the locals across Wiltshire. He was a crazy inventor with crazy ideas. Everyone throughout the villages thought that Richard Granger should be thrown into a mental institute, which would then be leaving Hermione all alone by herself. Hermione loved her father, he was the only person she had left after her mother died of an illness when Hermione was only a baby. She couldn’t lose her father. Some of his inventions could be a little crazy sometimes but they were incredible, so clever, but no one ever seemed to trust her father. The Granger father and daughter were thought to always be the crazy ones, always excluded from things and given weird stares from every villager.

Hermione wasn’t from this exact particular village of Lacock, she was technically classed as an outsider within Lacock but she did live a few villages across from Lacock but she always ended up walking around and towards the small, aesthetically pleasing village, most of the time whenever Hermione had free time to herself. Hermione thought to herself and she would probably class Lacock as her favourite village out of all of the villages across and around Wiltshire. 

Hermione slowly found her way towards the small library in the corner of the village and swiftly returned the previous books that she had borrowed the previous weeks and then started browsing the bookshelves once again. The librarian made their way over and started conversing with Hermione Granger, a friendly face within the village and one of the only people that Hermione could class as a friend. The male librarian, Neville Longbottom, made gentle conversation with Hermione, he seemed a similar age to Hermione, as she continued her browsing over the bookshelves. But, unfortunately, Hermione wasn’t able to find the one specific book that she had been looking for, it was one of her favourites and she couldn’t afford the luxury of buying books so had to always come here to borrow them for a few weeks before returning them again.

Hermione swiftly gave up her search on the bookshelves and quickly left the library before she could allow herself to get overwhelmed by all of the searchings she was trying to put herself through. Hermione continued walking until she came across a shadowy path that she had never taken notice of before but it seemed to be calling out her name and enticing her to continue walking down the covered path. Up ahead, as she continued walking along the path, Hermione noticed a large and dark castle. Hermione had never seen anything like this before in their small villages, a castle of this massive size was unbelievably unknown for this area, it was unknown for any area in England. She could hear noises roaming around herself and the forest around her but continued walking ahead, trying to keep her golden-brown eyes looking straight ahead of herself to keep focused on nothing else but the castle that was calling out for Hermione.

“Hermione. Hermione Granger, Hermione, Hermione…” A booming voice whispered through the air as she continued stepping closer and closer towards the castle. “Hermione, come closer. Please, Hermione…” The booming voice continued calling, whispering and speaking directly to the young woman but it wasn’t a voice that Hermione recognised from anywhere but it was extremely enticing. Drew Hermione closer. It drew her closer towards the intriguing castle and Hermione didn’t realise how near she was to the castle until she was stepping into the gardens, noticing all of the bright red roses that were lining up and down in rows.

Hermione was well aware of the large, overwhelming and overpowering scent that was coming off of the flowers. She usually loved the smell of roses, which reminded her of her mother and father, but this was all too much. The smell was coming off of all the flowers in the castle’s garden. The scent was overwhelming every single one of Hermione’s senses and she couldn’t cope. It was almost sending her off to sleep, the effects were similar to an opium poppy or something else, and it was worrying. Suddenly, as if by magic, Hermione was drifting to sleep and collapsing into the red roses and was knocked out completely. Dead to the rest of the world. A small female house elf, Dippy, stands with a dark green coloured apron, slightly muddy, around her body and busies herself within the garden. It was her chore for the afternoon when she notices the curly-haired girl’s body fall down towards the ground. This wasn’t right. Dippy had never seen a girl on the grounds before even when Master Lucius and Mistress Narcissa lived in the castle. Dippy shot up from the ground, ran over and stared down at the body, urgency and a feeling of panic shot through her small body before apparating out of the castle gardens and down towards the servant quarters. Dippy instantly found the older house elf and most trusted elf, Olly, and knew that she had to tell him everything that she had just found. Master Draco Malfoy didn’t favour any of the other house elves except Olly. Olly was definitely Master Draco’s favourite house elf and that has always been the way, even when he was a child. Instantly on hearing the news, the older house elf then apparated away from the servant quarters and went on his way to find his Master Draco, to try and inform him of the recent breaking news.

“Master Draco, Dippy informs Olly that there is a girl in the castle’s rose garden. She is either asleep or dead. Dippy informed Olly and Dippy wasn’t sure.” Olly makes his Master Draco instantly aware of his presence by the sound of his apparation and instantly relays out the information that Olly had received from the young Dippy. The elder house elf looks around the dusty throne room, unsure why it was so dusty in the first place, but then locked eyes with his Master, who was lounging about on his father’s old throne. This room had basically been abandoned since Master Lucius and Mistress Narcissa moved out and into their French castle near the beaches of South France. The young blond turns around and narrows his darkening slate grey eyes at the small male house elf. “This supposed girl has been knocked out by the opium spell that the roses and the others flowers are enchanted with.” Olly continues relaying out the information that has been given to him, walking closer towards his Master Draco as the house elf continues on with his relentless rambling. “The young Master needs to do something about the girl,” Olly mutters, suggesting, before stepping one step before taking one another away from his Master Draco just as his Master starts standing and stalking his way out of the throne room, towards the front door and the castle gardens. Master Draco was seething with anger as he stormed through the corridors of his castle and burst through the doors, the sound of them slamming against the walls echoed around the whole place. Draco was mumbling under his breath, a habit picked up from his father, and stalked towards the garden, noticing the young girl’s body already.

“Stupid, stupid girl.” Draco continued mumbling the words under his breath as he stared at the sleeping brunette, noticing the furrowed brows and the tense emotion across her face. “What are you fucking doing here?” Draco shouted, the words booming out of him and instantly scratching at his throat. He hadn’t been this angry before and hadn’t spoken this much in years. A crack of apparation sounds out behind him and he feels the small hands of Dippy and Olly on his back. Draco turned around quickly and faced the two of them. “What? What is it?” His voice still raised as he stared at them, raising his eyebrows waiting for their answer. He then remembered himself and shut his eyes, remembering what the house elves had taught him about his anger. Close your eyes, take control of your breathing and start again. He tried, but the anger became too much and the beast inside of him ripped apart every wall and block that appeared in his way. Draco turned away from the house elves and stared down at the body of the unconscious woman before glancing over at Olly. “Take her body to the dungeons, and keep her as far away from the West Wing as possible! That is off-bounds. Stay with her till she wakes.” Draco informs them as calmly as possible before standing and leaving the gardens, stalking back towards the castle as fast as he could. He needed to be away from this situation. He screamed and shouted, punching any surface he could, as he stalked away back to the West Wing. He needed to be away for the evening. For however long he could be away from this situation the world had pushed on him.

Hermione came back into consciousness in a room she didn’t recognise and some creatures staring at her. She breathed heavily and sat up too quickly in the bed that she didn’t remember falling asleep in. The house elves pulled away from Hermione, checking over her forehead before stepping off the bed. She furrowed her brows, rubbing at her eyes before looking around the mysterious bedroom that she was in.

“Where am I?” Her voice was hoarse from just having woken up from the worst sleep she had probably ever had in her life. “What happened to me? The last I remember was that I was walking through the rose gardens and then… nothing. I can’t remember anything after that.” Hermione rubbed at her neck and stared at the house elves. She tried clearing her throat, thinking that coughing would help her voice clear up but it did nothing but continue hurting slightly. It felt like she had been strangled. Hermione reached towards her neck but the elves just shook their heads, they must have known something that she didn’t and she wanted the answer now. Hermione leaned forward, staring back at the house elves and waited for the answer. “What happened to me?” She tried to speak again but the words came out broken and the younger-looking house elf raised her small hand, shaking her head at Hermione.

“The flowers are enchanted with opium. Dippy always told Master that it was a bad idea and that someone would get hurt.” The female house elf, Dippy, got too emotional and had to turn around, scrunching her hands in her gardening apron to stop herself from injuring her own body. An older, male house elf stepped forward, replacing the place where Dippy had just been standing, and bowed at Hermione, smiling a small smile at her.

“Olly, Miss.” The elf explained as he lifted his head and smiled larger at Hermione. “The flowers are also enchanted to hurt and restrain any trespassers, that will explain the injury around your neck.” Olly continued relaying the information to Hermione and her information-hungry brain lapped up every piece. Hermione leaned closer and touched testingly against her neck, wincing instantly at the sharpness of the pain that was still wrapped around her. Olly’s little eyes widen at the sound of the whimpers of pain leaving Hermione’s mouth. “Olly can find some cream that will help with the pain if Miss would like that?” The house elf was polite as ever and Hermione couldn’t help but smile at the elf, nodding her head in thanks. 

As quick as a flash, both of the house elves apparated back out of the bedroom and Hermione found herself all alone once again. This castle felt creepy and sent a shiver of coldness spiking through Hermione’s body. She threw the duvet off her body before slowly climbing out of the bed and looking around the room, trying to find any clues or answers to who lived in this place. She searched for photographs, signs of life, and memories but ended up with nothing. This must have been an untouched wing. But there was definitely life in this castle if there were house elves living and completing chores within this place. Hermione wanted to search more, intrigue was calling out to her again but she didn’t want to push anyone further. The Master of this place could be dangerous, she didn’t know who or what was out there. She liked taking risks but some risks came with death. And the bloody flowers outside in the gardens had almost tried to kill her so Merlin knows who actually inhabits this place. Before Hermione could slowly find her way over to the bedroom door, the crack of apparation rang out and both of the house elves appeared back in the guest bedroom. Dippy and Olly stared up at her with large eyes as they noticed her standing and not lying in the bed, resting. Hermione was never good at staying still, which was why she was always exploring, always intrigued by the stupidest of things. She forced herself back to sit on the edge of the bed and allowed the house elves to smooth a cooling salve and cream over her neck, instantly feeling the slowing effects of relief on the pain in her neck.

Once they were finished, Dippy stepped back and smiled at the curly-haired woman and nodded at Hermione, bowing slightly. “Dippy hopes that helps the pain. Dippy is very sorry for what happened to Miss—?” The female house elf started but never finished. She stared at Hermione, expecting to know the mystery woman’s name. Hermione smiled at the two house elves and pointed at herself.

“Hermione Granger. But, please, just call me Hermione. None of this Miss business. I am not your Mistress or anything.” Hermione smiled, showing the house elves that they were on the same level and could trust her. She wasn’t going to hurt them or endanger them or anything. “Please. Call me Hermione.” Hermione repeated the point before stopping and smiling warmly again at the house elves.

“Dippy is very sorry for what happened to you, Miss Hermione.” Dippy completely ignored what Hermione had repeated and smiled to herself before apparating out of the bedroom, leaving Olly and Hermione alone. Hermione stared at the older house elf for a few minutes, living in awkward silence, testing out the waters to see whether he would just leave without saying anything further to the young woman. But Hermione’s thoughts were wrong when Olly moved closer, placing the cream and salve pots onto the bedside table and then looked back up at Hermione, opening his mouth to start speaking.

“Olly would also like to apologise. My Master hasn’t been the same for many years now and he doesn’t take well to trespassers, as you can tell from the deadly enchanted garden he has out there. Olly and Dippy do all they can to protect the young Master, we are all that he has here now. All the other house-elves left when his mother and father left to live in their French castle. Our young Master hasn’t been the same since his incident. Olly shouldn’t be saying all of this but he feels as though he can trust the young Miss Hermione. The Master was cursed by an enchantress, he was given a short life. Relying on the petals of a flower that’s kept safely in the West Wing. His anger gets worse and worse every day. But Olly thinks that all the Young Master needs is a friend, some company to keep him sane.” Olly informed Hermione of everything so quickly that it was a lot of information to take in at once. 

Hermione tried to shake her head just to keep everything locked in her brain. She stared closer at the house elf but before Hermione could ask any more questions, the elf apparated away and left Hermione all alone to go over everything that she had just been told. She got up from the bed, and opened the nearest and only window, before starting to pace the length of the room. Hermione hummed to herself, running over all the information she had collected in a couple of minutes and tried to push out the guilty feeling that started creeping into the corner of her brain. She had informed her father that she was going to Lacock library and having a wander around the village before returning home, and now it was whatever time and she hadn’t returned home. Her father must have been so worried, Merlin knows what he must be thinking right now with himself being all alone. She tried not to let the guilty thoughts eat her alive, she had plenty to worry about right now and knew that her father could survive. Hermione just hoped someone in their village would reach out and look after him. Richard Granger wasn’t very good at being alone, he needed that someone to keep him on the line and not fall off the edge. He nearly fell after the death of Hermione’s mother and surely he would topple again if not fall off the edge with the unannounced disappearance of Hermione. 

She decided to stare out the window and see how far the jump would be. Hermione gasped loudly to herself at how tall the tower was that she was residing in. The East Wing was basically a tower. She could see part of the gardens, which was the only plus for being in this castle. Escape had been on her mind but maybe it was slowly wilting away because of how high up she was. She had no rope. But, possibly there was some other fabric around this room, Hermione had spotted a wardrobe when the house elves had been talking to her. She stood up and crept over towards the wardrobe and flung the doors open, noticing loads of dresses and other expensive clothes. Hermione winced, could this be for her? It couldn’t be, could it? The house elves did have magic so it was one hundred per cent that they could have placed something other clothing in here for Hermione but checking the sizes, Hermione noticed that they weren’t in her size. These could have been the Master’s mother’s clothing that had been left behind. Hermione could use some of this to tie together, create a rope and possibly escape. She got to work on the task, humming quietly to herself.

Draco stalks his way down to dinner, hugging his long jacket around his body, shivering with a coldness that sent through his body. He enters the dining room, staring at the long dinner table with memories of himself, his mother and his father sitting around eating together flooding his brain. He felt a shudder wrap around him as he started shaking and pushing away the memories, Draco couldn’t deal with that at the moment. As he plonked himself down in his chair at one head of the table, he noticed the other setting on the opposite side, where his mother used to sit. He fucking screamed, shouting and screeching as he swiped his plates off the table, the crashing and breaking of glass clattered around the dining room.

As the plates crashed to the floor. “Olly!” Draco shouted out, the three house elves shuddered down in the kitchen as they heard their Master screaming out in anger. He could be unreliable when he was this angry. Master Draco was terrifying to the little house elves when he was this angry. Olly, Dippy and Zopsy panicked at the sound of their Master Draco bounding down the stairs and stalking towards the kitchen. They had to face the reality of their anger, it would only get worse if they decided to hide away from him.

“Be calm. Let Olly do the talking.” Olly spoke clearly, staring at his daughter, Dippy, and his wife, Zopsy. They all needed to remain calm during all of their Master’s anger. Draco stormed into the kitchen and stared at the three house elves. The only house elves controlling the inner and outer workings of the Malfoy family's Wiltshire castle.

“You’re making her dinner?” Draco screamed, anger rolling off his body as his face grew redder as steam practically blew out of his ears as they stared at Dippy, Olly and Zopsy. His eyesight flickered between the family of house elves. He waited for an answer but the panic-stricken face that was painted across Zopsy’s face made him smirk. Olly moved forward, stepping closer towards his Master while Dippy and Zopsy stepped back slightly.

“Well, Olly thought you might appreciate the company,” Olly spoke, lifting his head up towards his Master before smiling at the blond man.

“Master, Zopsy wants to assure you that I had no part in this hopeless plan. Preparing a dinner, designing a gown for her, giving her a suite in the East Wing.” Zopsy relayed the information, not really aware of what she’d been saying to her Master as sudden realisation and growing anger painted on Draco’s face.

“You gave her a bedroom?!” Draco screamed at what Zopsy had just informed him. He couldn’t believe what his house elves had just done, this couldn’t be happening to him right now. Draco couldn’t believe that the house elves had done all of this for the prisoner, she didn’t deserve any of this luxury. She was supposed to be kept in the dungeons on her own where she couldn’t reach the West Wing. But now she was practically allowed to free-roam his castle?

“No, no, no.” Zopsy shook her head and turned towards Olly, pointing her small hand towards her husband. “Olly gave the girl a bedroom.” Zopsy continued informing her Master Draco but that didn’t calm down his anger. If anything, it kept up his anger and made him more unpredictable. Master Draco wouldn’t hurt the house elves, he trusted the house elves but he hated when they betrayed his trust.

“This is true. But, if this girl is the one who can break the spell then maybe you can start by using dinner to charm her. Good thinking, Zopsy.” Olly chuckles, bumping shoulders with Zopsy as the both of them stood together and stared at their angry Master Draco. Things weren’t going to be good if they continued saying things like this.

“What?” Zopsy glared at Olly and shook her little head.

“That’s the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard.” Master Draco rolled his eyes before turning his voice into a mocking lilt. “Charm the prisoner.” The blond rolled his slate grey eyes once more before shaking his head as he mocked his house elves. They knew it was a joke but tried not to laugh at their Master right now as it wasn’t the time for them to chuckle and laugh with Master Draco.

“But you must try, Master. With every passing day, you become less human.” Olly reminded him as if it wasn’t constantly playing on his mind. Olly reminded him of the fact as if Draco didn’t spend many waking moments watching the flower and trying to make sure no more flower petals dropped off but it always resulted in him watching another one drop to the bottom of the glass jar.

“She’s common. What kind of person do you think that makes her?” Draco questioned, staring down at the house elves and noticing that Dippy hadn’t said anything towards her Master just yet. She seemed to just let her own mother and father speak to their Master. The young Dippy was still emotional and nervous when it came to talking with their Master Draco, most of the time she would get her father to do the majority of the talking. But, then the little house elf stepped forward and spoke calmly towards Master Draco.

“Oh, you can't judge people, now can you?" Dippy smiled as she said the words towards her Master and waited for him to realise what all three of the house elves were saying to him. And maybe they were right with what they had been saying. Draco pulled a face at the house elves before leaving the kitchen, the house elves following after him, as he started making his way and stalking towards the East wing. As Draco stalked up towards the East wing and found himself in front of the door, slamming his fists loudly against the bedroom door as the three house elves stood behind him.

“You’ll join me for dinner. That’s not a request.” Draco spoke through the door, anger rolling off of his body as he removed his fists from the door and stared at the object in his way. He was breathing heavily with the anger that was rolling off him. He couldn’t control himself as he waited for a response but nothing came from the other side. Draco waited for a few moments but before the girl could say anything, the house elves started speaking to their Master.

“Gently, Master. The girl has lost her freedom and her family in one day.” Dippy spoke first to Draco and smiled as she spoke the words, she was trying to be as calm as possible because he needed to be calm with the young girl. Master Draco needed to remember that not everyone was used to the anger that the Master had within his body. Dippy’s father, Olly, stepped forward and joined Dippy by her side.

“Yes,” Olly nodded at his Master, agreeing with his daughter’s words. “The poor thing is probably in there, scared to death.” Olly stared at his Master Draco and waited for something to happen and for their Master to change his ways with how he was asking the poor girl to dinner with him.

“Exactly.” Dippy agreed, nodding at her father and their Master Draco.

On the other side of the door, while the Master of the castle was communicating with his house elves, Hermione was pushing the connecting line of cloth and material that she had made earlier out of the window to act as the ladder for her escape. She could still hear the muffling voices arguing with each other, and smiled at the consideration that the house elves were showing Hermione. The Master knocked again, but showing more kindness and was calmly knocking at the door this time. Hermione looked up from the window ledge and found herself staring at the bedroom door, she was breathing heavily with anticipation.

“Just a minute,” Hermione called out towards the bedroom door, still sitting on the window ledge. She stared down at the drop once more before slowly moving away from the edge as she didn’t want to risk slipping and falling to her death. Though, the Master of this castle probably wouldn’t mind if Hermione slipped and fell down towards her untimely death but it would be in his hands. Trying to calm the annoying thoughts, Hermione moved closer towards the door, careful to keep a distance just in case the man’s anger got out of control.

“You see? There she is.” Olly exclaimed from the opposite side of the door and Hermione smiled to herself at the happiness that was evident in the house elve’s voice. She looked back towards the door, hearing silence for a few seconds before Olly started speaking again. “Now, remember, be gentle.” Olly stared up at Master Draco and stared at him, reminding Draco scarily of his father. He didn’t want that image in his head, he shook himself before turning to the other house elves.

“Kind.” Dippy smiled up at Master Draco, her smile grew larger as the blond narrowed his eyes at the elf.

“Charming and sweet,” Zopsy instructed before nodding at their Master.

“And when she opens the door, give her a dashing, debonair smile. Come, come. Show Olly the smile!” Olly continued speaking, instructing his Master. Draco sighed, rolling his eyes and thought about how stupid all of this was. He could have eaten all of his dinners in the time they were messing about with all of this. The blond tried to smile down at the house elves but it ended up being too harsh and sarcastic looking. The house elves all recoiled back and made strained faces at their Master Draco. That wasn’t the most successful idea that Olly had had. Draco sighed again, rubbing at his face before facing himself back towards the bedroom door.

“Will you join me for dinner?” Draco questioned the door before glancing down at the house elves and making a face of nervousness. He was worried that he wasn’t doing any of this correctly and would instantly make a mistake, messing things up. Maybe the house elves had been right about this girl and breaking the spell. Could she be the one to change everything in Draco’s life?

Hermione walks closer towards the bedroom door and opens her mouth in a small “O” shape at the question she’d just been asked. “You’ve taken me as your prisoner and now you want to have dinner with me?” Hermione’s voice didn’t waver as fury ran through her veins and bloodstream, her fists clenched at her sides as she stared back at the door. She shook her head, not quite believing the statement that had come out of her keeper’s mouth. She was a prisoner here. Hermione wasn’t at a hotel or something. Who did he think he was? At the sound of Hermione’s rejection, Draco started getting angry again, grunting as he started to lose everything that he had tried so hard to keep control of but it was no use.

“Uh-oh. He’s losing it.” Dippy muttered, shuffling herself and crouching behind her father as if their Master Draco was going to explode like a bomb. Dippy winced as she stared at the blond man.

“Oh, dear!” Zopsy exclaimed as she moved closer towards her husband and daughter, expecting the Master Draco bomb to go off at any second. And she was correct in her thoughts.

Draco slams his fists heavily against the door once again, the noise booming louder than before. Hermione pulled herself back in shock, not knowing what was being kept behind the door. She then found herself noticing a small gap and peeked through, looking at the one who had captured her and pulling away, gasping, when she noticed it was a young, blond man and not the beast that she originally thought of keeping her here. He was in this castle all on his own and was one grumpy motherfucker, so no wonder why he had gotten cursed. The door visibly shook as Draco slammed his fists against the wood once again.

“I told you to join me for dinner.” Draco’s voice rang out, echoing down the corridor and around the bedroom that was holding Hermione. She was breathing heavily, staring at the door as if she was staring directly at her capturer. 

"And I told you no. I'd starve before I ever ate with you." Hermione shouted back, puffing out her chest and confidence rolled through her. She had never felt this powerful before but she knew that it was within her. Her father always told Hermione stories about her mother, who was the most powerful woman that Richard had ever seen until Hermione was born.

"Well, be my guest. Go ahead and starve." Draco starts walking away from the door. "If she doesn't eat with me then she doesn't eat at all," Draco muttered under his breath towards the house elves before he moved away from the door. He was pissed and hadn’t even properly exploded but that would happen as he walked away from the East wing and back to where he was planning on going. "Idiots!" Draco grumbled to himself as he walked away from the elves and the girl behind the door. She would die in that room. She would starve or fall out of a window. He didn’t care at this point as long as she stayed out of his hair. She had already caused too much trouble.

“You can’t talk to us like that. I forbid it.” Zopsy moved away from where she was hiding behind Olly’s shoulders as the sound of Master Draco storming down the castle corridor could be heard and the sound slowly died down. “Uh…oh. Am I too late?” Zopsy looked around for their Master Draco, not seeing him. “Shame, I was really going to tell him off this time.” Zopsy shuddered, not noticing that Olly and Dippy chuckled with each other quietly. The older female house elf turned away from the way that Master Draco had retreated down and so didn’t notice that Olly was looking down the corridor and chuckling to himself again.

“Oh, Master, you’ve returned.” Olly opened up his small arms as he pretended to welcome Master Draco back into the corridor and instantly Zopsy exclaimed, shrieking and jumping in mid-air before hiding behind Olly’s shoulder once again. Olly and Dippy started laughing loudly at Zopsy. Joking about how terrified and scared Zopsy was about their Master.

“Oh, very funny.” Zopsy rolled her eyes as she stared at her husband and daughter, shaking her head so they know that their joke wasn’t very funny. She had always been terrified of the Malfoy men. When Zopsy had been hired, before marrying Olly, she was supposed to be mainly Mistress Narcissa’s house elf and avoided the abusive Master Lucius whenever she could.

“Olly got you there.” Olly laughed as he knocked his shoulders with Zopsy’s and they laughed together, Dippy joining in as she moved closer.

Master Draco bursts into his bedroom, smashing anything he can as anger rolls off his body and he screamed as he moved through his large bedroom. He slowed his movements down as he stalked towards the glass jar containing, holding the red peony which slowly was wilting off its petals to show much time Draco had left before he turned into the beast he was on the inside. Draco paced, keeping his slate grey eyes remaining on the peony flower until Draco picked up the magical face mirror that he had inherited from his mother, Narcissa Black Malfoy. He stared at his reflection before realising what he had to ask of the magical mirror.

“Show me the girl,” Draco commanded of the magical mirror. It slowly changed and showed Draco an image of the girl, Hermione, leaning against the bedroom door with her knees clutched towards her chest as she looked around the bedroom, where she was being kept. Hermione leaned her head down onto her knees as she sighed, closing her eyes for a few seconds. Draco’s lips turned down into a frown as he stared at the scene in the magical mirror. The scene of the girl then disappeared, showing Draco his face once again in the magical mirror’s reflection. As he moved the mirror away, he stared at the peony closer and watched as another petal floats off the flower and falls down towards the bottom of the glass jar and instantly dies, along with the other fallen and dead red peony petals.

“Another petal fell.” Olly looked up from the fire, sensing the immediate change within the Malfoy family castle, it shook around the three house elves as Olly stared towards his wife and daughter. They all frowned, not knowing what would happen to the three of them when the final petal fell and their Master was cursed to be a beast. Dippy frowned, hiding her face away from her mother and father. She couldn’t risk getting emotional right now, it was okay that she was this upset. Zopsy quickly noticed and slid closer towards Dippy and hugged her small arms around her daughter.

“You’ll have your days in the sun again,” Zopsy reassured her daughter and hugged her tighter. Dippy sobbed quietly and nuzzled herself closer towards her mother, hugging herself closer to Zopsy’s body.

Back in the bedroom where Hermione was being kept, she was slowly starting to thread the rest of the material out of the window. She hummed to herself, trying to keep herself distracted while she pushed the linked material ladder out of the window. As she was planning her escape descent out of the window, there was a sudden knock on the door, it wasn’t as heavy as before but it could be him again. He obviously hadn’t heard her clearly the first time. Hermione turned around and stared at the door.

“I told you to go away.” Hermione’s voice came out stern as she stared at the door, breathing heavily.

Hermione turned back around, away from the door, staring out of the window and stared at the makeshift ladder that she had constructed. She tried to hide the majority of it, kicking the starting line under the four-poster bed and trying to hide part of the ladder with the lavish curtains. Hermione then moved back towards the large four-poster bed and stood by the object, hiding the final part of the ladder with her dress and body. She brushed her hands against her dress as the door burst open, Hermione tried her hardest to act as naturally normal as possible when house elves: Zopsy and Dippy enter the bedroom with a tea trolley.

Zopsy gasped loudly to herself as she entered the bedroom, staring up and laying her eyes on Hermione for the first time. After all, she had only heard bits about the incident in the gardens from her too-nervous and excited daughter, Dippy. “Oh. Oh, aren’t you a vision! How lovely to make your acquaintance.” As Zopsy and Dippy moved further into the large bedroom, Zopsy’s eyes hover over and noticed the ladder that Hermione had created for herself. Her eyes moved away from the ladder and hovered back towards Hermione’s eyes. “It’s a very long journey. Let Zopsy fix you up before you go. Zopsy has found that most troubles seem less troubling after a bracing cup of tea.” Zopsy pours a perfect cup of tea, passing it over to Dippy, who runs quickly over towards Hermione. “Slowly now, Dippy.” Zopsy smiles while telling her daughter off before smiling back up at the brown-haired young woman.

Hermione smiled down at the young, energetic house elf before bending down and taking the teacup from Dippy. She took a long sip, closing her eyes at the taste of the drink. This was the perfect cup of tea she had ever drunk. Hermione nodded at Zopsy before smiling more warmly at Dippy.

“Pleased to meet you!” Dippy smiled, slightly blushing under the attention she was gaining and had never experienced before. She wasn’t used to seeing a woman within the castle, she was too young to remember Mistress Narcissa. Dippy started humming loudly to herself and started jumping around the room, jumping around her mother. Hermione smiled, not saying a word and liking the slightly quiet atmosphere that had been created, and just watched the two female house elves interact with each other. But then it became slightly awkward and Hermione had to add something to converse with them, she needed to release her worries.

She cleared her throat. “I’m worried about my father.” Hermione stepped forward as she spoke. “He has never been on his own before.” She frowned, walking closer towards the tea trolley as she started glancing down at Zopsy.

“Cheer up, my poppet. Things will turn out in the end. You’ll feel a lot better after you’ve had some dinner.” Zopsy nodded up towards Hermione, smiling at the young woman.

“But I thought he said, ‘if she doesn’t eat with me, then she doesn’t eat at all.’ ” Hermione questioned, tilting her head and furrowing her brows.

“Mmmm, people say a lot of things in anger. It is our choice whether or not to listen to them.” Zopsy muttered, though clearly loud enough for Hermione to still be able to hear the comment as the older female house elf started the tea trolley back out of the bedroom, followed closely behind by Dippy. “You coming, poppet?” Zopsy turned back towards Hermione, smiling warmly at the curly-haired woman.

Olly bursts loudly through the kitchen doors and stares around the room at all of the bubbling pots and the food creations that had already been made and conjured up for the dinner. He moved his hands around, about to spread his magic around the kitchen to make sure everything was awake so they could continue cooking. “They are coming!” Olly announced as he walked through the castle’s large kitchen and stared at the pre-prepared food. “Final checks, everyone! Tout de suite!" Olly exclaimed as he felt a small presence looming near him, he already knew who was about to say something.

“No, you don’t. If the Master finds out that Olly violated his orders and fed her, he will blame Paisley.” Paisley, a small and timid house elf spoke clearly at Olly. She was one of the only elves within the castle that followed everything the Master said and she never liked to step out of line or misbehave. She thought that she deserved to be the favourite but it would never be her. Olly was always going to be the favourite house elf.

“Yes, Olly will make sure of it.” Olly shrugged, chuckling loudly to himself as he continued bouncing around the kitchen, performing his final checks of everything. “But, did you see her stand up to him? Olly is telling you, this girl is the one! They must fall in love if we are to break Master Draco’s curse and how can they fall in love if she stays in her room?” Olly jumps onto the pure white cloth-covered trolley that Paisley is pushing around the castle kitchen.

“You know that she’ll never love him.” Paisley wasn’t optimistic about Olly’s plan, she didn’t think that the falling in love plan was a good idea. This young woman would never fall in love with Master Draco.

"A broken clock is right two times a day, mon ami …” Olly comments. “But, this is not one of those times.” The house elf continued speaking. He continued jumping and bouncing around the kitchen, noticing several champagne flutes lying on their side. “Please, stand up straight!” He speaks as he pushes the glasses back up to standing. “It’s time to sparkle!” Olly sings, chuckling as Paisley stares in disgust at the male house elf.

“Not so loud, please. Keep it down!” Paisley scolds as she stares at Olly, fully knowing that Olly and the others won’t be keeping the noise levels down.

“Of course, of course! But, what is dinner without a little music?” Olly exclaims as he finishes up his final looks around the food being prepared for Hermione.

"Music?" Paisley questions.

Olly starts guiding in the magically enchanted jet-black grand piano that the Malfoy family owned in their castle. Master Lucius and Mistress Narcissa had taken all the other magical instruments and left the piano for their son, as that was the only instrument he ever had an interest in playing when he was younger. It was one of the things that reminded Master Draco of his mother, who he loved and missed every single day. Olly and Paisley had now all made their way into the luxurious and large dining room, waiting for Zopsy, Dippy and their special guest. At the sound of the door opening, Olly and Paisley turned around.

"There you are, dear," Zopsy spoke smoothly, smiling at Olly as she walked in with Dippy and Hermione following closely behind. Olly clapped his hands together and slowly music started playing around them. Hermione stood by the table and stared as Olly jumped onto the table and smiled warmly at the young woman.

"Ma chère Mademoiselle, it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now, we invite you to relax. Let us pull up a chair, as the dining room proudly presents... your dinner!" Olly spoke, spinning around the table as he wandlessly enchanted magic throughout the room. Hermione sat down and watched Olly, not being able to help the small giggle that left her lips. The male house elf then started singing which surprised Hermione, she really didn't expect the house elf to start singing out of nowhere. "Be our guest! Be our guest. Put our service to the test. Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie. And we'll provide the rest." Zopsy clicks her fingers and a napkin ties around Hermione's neck as she continued watching the show that Olly and the other house-elves were putting on for her. She was loving it. "Soup du jour. Hot hors d'oeuvres. Why we only live to serve. Try the grey stuff, it's delicious. Don't believe me? Ask the dishes." Olly's voice continued singing out and food surrounded Hermione, her eyes raising up at the desert that was called the "grey stuff".

Zopsy, Dippy, Olly and even Paisley danced around the dining room and upon the table. Hermione couldn't help the smile and laughter that was coming out of her. She had not had this much fun in a while and didn't know she could have this much fun while being held captive in a castle, away from her father.

"And a dinner here is never second best. Go on, unfold your menu. Take a glance and then you'll be our guest. Oui, our guest. Be our guest!" Olly continued, spinning around as more food plates started flying around before placing themselves down on the table around Hermione. She stared at the food, her eyes were massive. She had never seen food like this. "Beef ragout. Cheese soufflé. Pie and pudding, en flambé. We'll prepare and serve with flair. A culinary cabaret!" He claimed, smiling at Hermione as she started tucking into the food and actually gave the grey stuff a try. She exclaimed with glee at the taste of the desert, it tasted amazing.

"I don't understand why you're all being so kind to me. Surely, you're as trapped here as I am." Hermione spoke calmly towards the house elves, Zopsy and Dippy, as they walked together through the castle. She turned herself to face the elves. “Don’t you ever want to escape?”

“The Master isn’t as terrible as he appears. Somewhere deep within his soul, there is a good person who is just waiting to be set free.” Zopsy smiles up at Hermione as they stopped by the main staircase of the large Malfoy castle.

Hermione glanced up the main stairs before turning herself back around to the older female house elf. “Olly mentioned something about the West Wing,” Hermione commented, a question floating in the air.

“Never you mind about that. Off to bed with you, poppet.” Zopsy sang.

“Goodnight.” Hermione smiled at Zopsy before starting to walk up the main staircase, her steps slow as she didn’t want to end the night just yet.

“Nighty-night.” Zopsy started walking away, the two female house elves watching Hermione slowly walk up the stairs. “Straight to bed,” Zopsy commanded, like the mother she was.

As soon as Zopsy and Dippy were out of sight and couldn't be heard anymore, Hermione started making her way towards the West Wing. It was calling out to her. Intrigue settled through her bloodstream. 

When Hermione entered the West Wing, she noticed it wasn't as well-lit as the rest of the castle that she had seen. It felt almost like it had been destroyed, blown up or something else had happened to create this amount of damage. Her heart kept telling her to move away, to go back to her bedroom but her brain continued telling her to keep going, keep searching for answers. 

She found herself standing in front of double doors, luxurious and golden, and she pushed her hands against them, hoping they would open. She held her breath as slowly they moved and pushed open with her hands guiding them. 

It was a bedroom. Hermione looked around, confused as to why she wasn't allowed up there. Why was this forbidden? It was clearly the man's bedroom. She walked forward, her sight locking onto a portrait of who she assumed to be the family. The older man, possibly his father, was scowling and his face had been ripped. The older woman, his mother. Beautiful and blonde. Looked kindhearted. Someone that maybe Hermione would have liked and gotten on with. Then their son. The man who had hatred rippling through his bloodstream. She moved away and walked further into the large bedroom, her eyes landing on the peony under the glass container. Hermione was in awe, staring at the beautiful flower.

"What are you doing here? What did you do to it?" Draco stormed around the corner, scaring Hermione, and started shouting at her. He instantly stared into the glass and checked over the flower for any more fallen petals.

"Nothing." Hermione pulled back, stepping away slowly.

"Do you realise what you could have done? You could have dammed us all! Get out of here!" He towered over Hermione as he shouted and screamed in her face. "Go!" His voice boomed as Hermione ran and rushed out of the bedroom, running as fast as her legs could take her. Draco checked over the flower once again, his breathing heavy as he remained in a panicked state.

"Checkmate, again." Olly smiled, chuckling as he and Paisley just finished another chess game with each other.

"Wait! No! You cheated again." Paisley shook her head, staring at Olly with a frown and annoyed at another lost game. Hermione ran down the stairs from the West Wing and Olly clocked her. 

"Miss, what are you doing?" Olly called out.

"Getting out of here." Hermione stormed as she stomped down the stairs.

"Stop!" Paisley called after her suddenly as she and Olly shot up. They started chasing after the young lady, as fast as their little legs could take them, completely forgetting about their magic in a time like this.

"Don't let her leave!" Olly exclaimed. Hermione rushed through the main doors, grabbing a jacket as she ran past the coatstand. "Don't go! It's dangerous!" Olly continued shouting after her but it was too late, she had already disappeared out of the main castle doors.

Hermione runs through the castle grounds, back through the gardens and heads back towards where she knows the forest is supposed to be. She hopes that she can get away as fast as possible but she was tired, it was dark and it was cold. She was freezing. But, she had to keep pushing herself forward, if only Hermione had a horse or something. She raced through the woods, looking backwards to see if the man was following after her, chasing her. Hermione could only just see a glimpse of the castle and she was stupid to think that she had escaped. 

Surely, Hermione has escaped. As she continues running, wolves howl nearby and Hermione starts to feel panic rising into her chest as the sound of wolves howling gets closer and closer. Out of the corner of her eyes, she sees shapes of a dozen white wolves flitting through the forest trees and they were closing in on her. Was she about to die? 

Hermione continues on, trying to speed up but she was nothing against the wolves. They weren't bothering to hide anymore as they continued emerging from the trees to take down their prey. Hermione was their goal for them. They were closing in fast. Hermione pushes through the undergrowth to find that she has reached a frozen pond and she didn't hesitate for a moment. She started moving onto the ice and started to move across the pond. The sound of ice cracking under her feet was deep and low, increasing in volume as she tried to move across the ice. Hermione slides slightly on the ice, panicking as the wolves started closing in on her. 

Hermione then finally made it across the pond back onto the land. But, before Hermione can feel any relief a wolf starts snapping their jaw at Hermione's thighs. Then another wolf joined in and started snapping their jaw at Hermione. She makes a controlled decision and leaps onto the nearest snow bank. She seizes a thick branch and starts wielding it as a club as the wolves surrounded her, baring their teeth like razors. Hermione started beating it away, she turns to confront another but it bites the branch clean out of her hands. Hermione turns herself slightly, looking up and notices that on the rock above her, she notices the larger alpha wolf is about to take a diving leap onto her. The wolf jumps and Hermione flinch, but just as the wolf was about to make its landing towards Hermione, Draco appears and pushes the wolf away with magic. With magical force, Draco hurls the wolf across the frozen pond, howling loudly.

All the wolves start diving on Draco at once, tearing shreds from his cloak. Draco struck at them, and the wolves then started scurrying away and yelping at the attack. The alpha wolf started sneaking and jumped onto Draco's back, going for his neck. Draco slammed together the wolves on his arms with magic and that dropped them down to the ground. He then reached behind and seized the alpha wolf. Draco snarled at the wolf, ripping out his inner beast. He squeezed the alpha before hurling the wolf into a stone ledge. There was a loud crack, knocking out the wolf and Hermione was close to saying that could have killed the alpha wolf. The remaining wolf pack retreats away in panic, their loud pathetic yelps echoing throughout the forest trees. 

Hermione turned and watched Draco whimpering in pain, his shoulders were slumped. She stepped forward before watching the blond collapsing into the snow. This was her chance. Hermione could run. She turned and looked towards the woods, to her freedom. But then she stupidly decides to turn back around and slowly approaches the wounded Draco. Hermione covered the blond with her blanket and he started stirring, one eye-opening and looking up at Hermione.

"You have to help me... you have to stand..." Hermione spoke calmly as she struggled to help Draco up. She felt a small amount of magic wrap around them and suddenly helping Draco back to the castle was easier. She was breathing heavily, panting, and luckily they were nearing the large castle, it was clearly in sight now.

Now back in the castle, Draco was lying about in his old large four-poster bed. Hermione was dabbing at a large gash that was on his arm. Draco bares his teeth and screams, staring daggers at the curly-haired woman.

"Fuckkkkkkk! Ow! That fucking hurts!" Draco roared.

"If you held still, then it wouldn't hurt as much." Hermione rolled her eyes as she continued dabbing the cloth against his arm.

"If you hadn't run away, none of this would have happened." Draco continued being snarky.

"Well, if you hadn't frightened me, I wouldn't have run away." Hermione retorted back, feeling the watching eyes of the house elves.

"Well, you shouldn't have been in the West Wing." Draco bit his tongue.

"Well, you should learn to control your temper." Hermione felt anger rolling off her body. Draco is momentarily silenced for a few seconds as he watches Hermione looking down at the wound that she had been dabbing. Hermione flinched, it was much worse than she originally thought. "Try to get some rest," Hermione muttered as she watched him. Draco's breath slowed down to a low rumble as his eyes slipped shut.

"Thank you, Miss." Zopsy smiled, nodding her head towards Hermione.

"We are eternally grateful." Olly stepped closer.

"Why do you care so much about him?" Hermione wasn't sure where the question came from but she couldn't stop it once the words started spilling from her lips.

"We've looked after him all his life." Zopsy stared at the sleeping blond.

"But he seems to have some curse over you all. Why? You did nothing." Hermione shook her head, frowning.

"You're half right there, dear. You see, when the Master was young, his cruel father took that sweet innocent little boy and twisted him up to be just like him... we couldn't do anything. We sat, watched, and did nothing. His mother was powerless. His father destroyed the innocence that was behind the Master's eyes." Zopsy looks down in shame and Hermione notices that the other house elves do the same, even Dippy who wouldn't have been old enough but still felt guilty.

"Let him sleep," Olly informed them. The house elves and Hermione exited the West Wing bedroom. Draco stirred as the door quietly shut, he shivered in his sleep before wincing in pain.

The next morning, Draco opens his eyes weakly and looks out of the window, taking in the low light of the sunrise. His vision adjusts, the silhouetted figure by his bedside steps closer and the woman is revealed. Hermione smiles as her eyes hover over his body. A smile forms on Draco's lips as he closes his eyes once again. Hermione turns around away from the blond, checking over the glass jar as she watches another petal slowly drop down to the bottom. She walks forward, closing in on the glass jar, her eyes unable to move away from the flower.

"What happens when the last petal falls?" Hermione questions.

"The young Master remains alone for a small amount of time before dying. It is a cruel truth to know and carry around on your back. He doesn't have long. And the rest of us are tied to the estate so as soon as the Master passes, we go along with him. We will die too." Olly frowns, hearing Dippy sniffle behind him as the female house elves step forward and stand with Olly. Hermione turns towards them and stares at them.

"I want to help you. There must be some way to lift the curse." Hermione was caring through and through. She owned a lion's heart as she stared down at the house elves. Her heart broke for them.

"Well, there is one — " Paisley started speaking but Olly knocks her out of the way, staring at her for her to shut up.

Zopsy steps forward, grabbing the bottom of Hermione's dress. "It’s not for you to worry about, lamb. We’ve made our bed and we must lie in it." She comments. In the bed, what the others don't notice is Draco cracking open his eyes and had been listening in to the conversation. Maybe he shouldn't have but they were openly talking in his bedroom. The years of shame and anguish spun around his body, haunting his face as he began to remember what his curse had done to him. What would be his endpoint? His endpoint was death. There was no other solution.

A couple of days later, Hermione was spending almost all of her time sat at the side of the man's bed. She was still feeling guilty for the house elves being stuck to this estate but also felt guilty for being the cause of him getting hurt. But technically it was also his fault. He had scared her. She watched where he was sleeping. He seemed to be wincing less, the pain becoming manageable. He was still bandaged up. Hermione sighed, blinking a couple of times before staring down at her hands, which she had been keeping on her lap. Away from touching the angry blond. She didn't want to risk waking him up. But Hermione had gotten into the routine of speaking extracts from books from memory as the blond slept in front of her.

"Love can transpose to form and dignity. Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind. And therefore — " Hermione continued reciting the words from memory. While still looking down at her hands, she hadn't noticed Draco cracking opening his eyes to notice that Hermione hadn't been reading, she knew all of that from memory. Draco joined in, interrupting the curly-haired young woman.

"And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." Draco finishes the sentence. Hermione looks up, blinking at the blond and is completely surprised at what had just happened.

"So, you know Shakespeare?" Hermione gasped, blinking a couple of times as if this was all a dream and he didn't actually know who Shakespeare was. She would probably wake up in a few moments, finding that it was all a dream and that she was back with her father again.

"I had an expensive education," Draco explains.

Hermione pushes a loose curly strand of hair behind her ear. "Actually, 'Romeo and Juliet' is my favourite play." She smiled.

"Why is that not a surprise?" Draco rolled his eyes.

Hermione nervously laughed. "Sorry?" She raised her eyebrows.

"All that heartache and pining and — " Draco shudders. "There are so many better things to read," Draco commented, chuckling.

"Like what?" Hermione stared at the man as he smiled at her, raising his eyebrows in challenge.

Draco led Hermione into the biggest, grandest and most private library in all of the United Kingdom. The chamber was vast and lined floor to ceiling with books. Hermione gasped with shock. She was in heaven right now. This was where she would be happiest. Hermione wished that she had found this earlier in her capture, she wouldn't have been so angry if she knew this existed. She was speechless. No words. No thoughts. No nothing. This was incredible.

"Should be something here you can start with..." Draco spoke, turning around and staring at the speechless Hermione.

"It's wonderful." Hermione nodded, her smile growing in size.

"Oh. Yes, I suppose it is... Well, if you like it so much, then it's yours." Draco commented, the importance of that statement floating straight into Hermione's brain. He finishes speaking and turns to start leaving but then is stopped when he hears Hermione clearing her throat.

"Have you really read every one of these books?" Hermione questioned, turning around to face where Draco had walked off. He smiled.

"Not all of them. Some are in Greek." Draco shrugged his shoulders, smiling larger.

"Was that a joke? Are you making jokes now?" Hermione chuckled quietly, staring at the blond.

"Maybe." He shrugs once again. Hermione shakes her head, not believing what had happened but she hated to admit to herself that she was charmed by the joke. Draco turned back around and stalked out of the library.

Draco and Hermione eat together at the long dining room table. Draco was reading a book which was sitting on a stand so he couldn't get any dinner on the treasured book. He looks up to watch Hermione, who was sitting at the other end of the table with three books surrounding her. Draco continues watching the curly-haired young woman as she picks up her spoon and starts eating, quietly sipping the soup off the spoon. Draco noisily eats the spoon, slurping the liquid from the spoon, and practically inhaling the soup from the bowl. Draco looks up a few seconds later, having inhaled the pumpkin soup and Hermione smiles at him, noticing the soup dripping from his chin.

Hermione and Draco cross a stone footbridge in the castle gardens as she reads aloud. Draco's leg is still hurting from the wolf accident but he stupidly won't let Hermione heal him. He doesn't want pity. He moves tentatively as he listens to Hermione read.

"The air is blue and keen and cold. And in a frozen sheath enrolled." Hermione reads, not noticing that Draco had stopped moving. She savours the words as she reads them and continues walking on. "Each branch, each twig, each blade of grass Seems clad miraculously with glass." Hermione finally notices that she is walking alone, she turns around trying to find Draco before finally locating him. She notices that Draco is staring out, soulfully.

"I feel as if I'm seeing it for the first time." Draco stares out, sighing. Hermione follows his gaze and also finds herself staring at the splendidly desolate landscape. It's beautiful. She had never seen anything like this before. Draco slightly glances down at Hermione. "Is there more?" He asks her. Hermione smiles, pleased for a moment that Draco has at least slowly become a fan of poetry, she can't help blushing.

"But in that solemn silence. Is heard the whisper. Of every sleeping thing: “Look, look at me. Come wake me up. For still here I be.”" Hermione meets Draco's eyes, the two of them smiling at each other as she is slowly aware of the hidden meaning in the poet's words. She wonders whether Draco also has realised the hidden meaning in the words.

In the fresh snow, Hermione was brushing gently against the coat of one of Draco's horses, in her head, she named the creature Philippe but it probably already had a name. Draco looks at Hermione, nervously stepping forward towards the horse. Hermione nodded at him as he raises his hand and starts petting the horse. Philippe reacts skittishly, causing Draco to withdraw his hand. He stares at the creature, who he used to ride when he was a boy. It used to be his mother's horse. Hermione grabs his hand and places it back on Philippe. Then as she turns away, she starts walking, humming to herself.

"There’s something sweet and almost kind But he was mean and he was coarse and unrefined." Hermione smiles to herself as she hums, looking back and watching Draco continue petting Philippe. Her smile grows as she watches. "And now he’s dear and so unsure I wonder why I didn’t see it there before." She smiles, gathering a snowball together. Suddenly, a snowball hits Draco and he looks for the culprit, noticing the smile on Hermione's face. Draco starts building a huge snowball, collecting it together before hurling to object at Hermione. It knocks her clean off her feet and falls back into the snow. Draco can't help but grin, chuckling quietly.

Hermione starts reading at what Draco was now classing as her end of the long dining room table. She looks up from her current book, noticing that Draco was looking at her instead of eating.

"May I?" He asks. Hermione smiles, nodding before going back to her book. As Draco walks the length of the table, he quietly hums to himself, keeping his eyes on Hermione as he hovers his plate to the spot next to her. "She glanced this way I thought I saw. And when we touched. She didn’t shudder at my paw. No, it can’t be. I’ll just ignore it. But then she’s never looked at me that way before." Draco sits down, grabs his bowl and slurps down the soup from the spoon. But then he catches himself and notices Hermione watching him. After a moment, Hermione picks up her spoon once more and slurps down the soup noisily from the spoon. Draco smiles. They loudly slurp and drink the soup, laughing together.

Zopsy and Dippy magically remove dust bags from the expensive chandeliers above the ballroom, as Hermione stands on a balcony with her sleeves rolled up and starts scrubbing a dirty window. A beam of sunlight peeks through the now clean windows. Meanwhile, Paisley magically mops the floor, cleaning away years of grime and revealing the shiny marble that was hiding underneath.

"New and a bit alarming. Who’d have ever thought that this could be?" Hermione stared out the newly cleaned windows and spotted Draco outside, walking with Philippe and talking with the horse which made her smile. "True that he’s no Prince Charming. But there’s something in him that I simply didn’t see!" Hermione smiles as she continues watching Draco through the window.

Hermione stands on the library ladder, pulling down book after book before handing them over towards Draco. She feels eyes on them, watching her and Draco's every move. She looks slightly and notices the house elves watching them from the corner of the library. Hermione smiles, lightly shaking her head.

"Well, who'd have thought?" Zopsy smiles at the others. "Well, bless my soul!" She continues.

"Well, who'd have known?" Paisley nods back.

"Well, who indeed?" Olly chuckles quietly as the towering stack in Draco's arms starts teetering until the library table magically scoots closer up behind him, allowing him to properly set the stack of books down. Draco nods gratefully before smiling. "And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?" Olly nudges Zopsy with his arm.

"It's so peculiar, wait and see." Zopsy smiled at her husband.

"We'll wait and see! A few days more. There may be something there that wasn't there before." The house elves muttered together as they continued watching Hermione and Draco interact with each other.

"You know, perhaps there's something there that wasn't there before." Paisley smiles, chuckling quietly.

"What, mama?" Dippy speaks up, turning towards her mother and father, who were both smiling with knowing smirks.

"There may be something there that wasn't there before," Zopsy repeated the words that Paisley had just spoken, looking down at her daughter.

"What is it, what's there?" Dippy jumped up and down, still staring at her mother, needing to know what the adult house elves were talking about.

"I'll tell you when you're older." Zopsy smiled as Dippy waited for a few seconds, nodding at her mother.

"Okay, I'm older!" Dippy smiles, laughing along with her mother.

Draco sits in the beautiful Malfoy castle flower garden, reading and as he looks up from his book he notices that Hermione is approaching. She smiles at him as she sits down next to him. Hermione tries to glance at what book he has decided to read.

"What are you reading?" She asks, innocently smiling at the blond.

"Nothing." Draco shrugs her off, trying to hide the book but Hermione catches the title just as he covers the name.

"Guinevere and Lancelot." Hermione tries to hold back the smile but she struggles as she stares at Draco, raising her eyebrows up at him.

"Well actually, King Arthur and the Round Table. Knights, and men, and swords and things..." Draco quickly tries to dig himself out of a hole but just seems to dig a deeper, deeper hole.

"But still... it's a romance." Hermione chuckles as Draco shyly nods.

"All right. I felt like a change." Draco sighed, pulling a face.

There was a beat of unnerving silence between the two of them before Hermione decides to break it.

"I never thanked you for saving my life." Hermione smiles, looking up at Draco.

"Well, I never thanked you... for not leaving me to be eaten by wolves." Draco chuckles along with Hermione who was also laughing. There is a quiet charged moment between the two before it ends with shouts and laughter coming from the castle, the house elves were the culprits of the joy-filled sound. Hermione and Draco couldn't help but smile at the sound.

"They know how to have a good time." Hermione chuckled, smiling.

"Yes. But when I enter the room, the laughter dies." Draco frowned, staring down at the floor as the book went down onto the bench between them.

"Me, too. The villagers say that I’m a “funny girl,” but I don’t think they mean it as a compliment." Hermione stared at Draco, realising that they had something in common even if it was a horrible thing to have in common with each other.

"I'm so sorry. Your village sounds terrible." Draco reassures her.

"Almost as lonely as your castle." Hermione comments as Draco turns to her with a melancholy smile. Then an idea pops into his head and his face lights up.

"What do you say we run away?" Draco suggest. Hermione stares at him, surprised by the suggestion.

Draco and Hermione enter the library together, the night sky and stars shining brightly outside of the window as they move further into the large library. He crouches and unlocks a desk cabinet. Within the cabinet, resting on velvet, its gold-left cover faintly glimmering with magic, was a leather-bound book that was covered in a thick layer of dust. Hermione stared at it, intrigued by a book that she had never seen before. She could feel the magic running off the book.

"Another little "gift" from the Enchantress..." Draco mutters as he cracks open the book to reveal an antique world atlas. There were no countries labelled, just land and sea. Hermione stepped closer and stared at the book. "A book that truly allows you to escape." Draco smiles. Hermione moves closer to find the pen and ink drawing is alive. She stares at it. Waves were lapping the beaches. Green trees were saying in the invisible wind.

"How amazing," Hermione mutters, her eyes staying on the book.

"It was her cruellest trick of all. The outside world has no place for a person like me. But it can for you." Draco offers his hand and Hermione takes it. He gently moves her small hand towards the book. "Think of the place you've most wanted to see. First, see it in your mind's eye. Now, feel it in your heart." Draco mutters the instruction in Hermione's ears. Hermione nods and this wasn't a difficult decision for her. The moment her hand hits the page, the two of them are spinning through celestial flares which blur and recombine as the lights of Paris appear. They land together on the top floor of a windmill in Montmartre.

"Where did you take us?" Draco questions Hermione.

"Paris," Hermione mutters, her voice sounding monotone. Draco looks out of a window and spots all of the glittering lights, sparkling outside and he can't help but smile at the sight of them.

"Oh, I love Paris. What would you like to see first? Notre Dame? The Champs-Elysées? No? Too touristy?" Draco questions aloud but turns around to find that Hermione is silent and stuck in a place where they'd landed, her golden brown eyes brimming with tears. Something was wrong.

"It's so much smaller than I imagined," Hermione muttered, sniffing. Draco watches as Hermione walks through her childhood home. Abandoned years ago, the room was crumbling around them. Hermione finds the remains of her father's easel. She brushes her hand against the easel, pain pinging her heart. A tarnished wall mirror. Her own broken crib. "This is the Paris of my childhood. These were the borders of my life. In this crumbling dusty attic. Where an artist loved his wife I thought that I would find an answer Here where his heart has always lived." Hermione frowns, staring at her crib. "Now I see it’s empty and abandoned. Easy to remember. Harder to move on. Knowing that the Paris of my childhood is gone." Hermione notices something tucked into a corner of the crib. She prises it loose and stares at the baby rattle that was carved into the shape of a peony. Draco peers over her shoulder and focuses on the baby rattle.

"What happened to your mother?" Draco questions.

"That's the only story my father could never bring himself to tell. And I knew better than to ask..." Hermione mutters the words, feeling tears continue to prick the corners of her eyes. As Hermione continues speaking, Draco notices something sitting on the chair. The dark pointed mask of a plague doctor, Draco looks up towards Hermione, bringing the mask into Hermione's eyesight.

"Plague," Draco speaks calmly, watching as the revelation lands on Hermione's face. She looks around the room.

━━━━━━━━━

A tall doctor stands in the doorway, his face was covered by a mask. "You must leave. Now." He speaks, the voice muffled through the mask. A bag was hastily packed, and Hermione's younger father was taking only what was necessary. Richard stopped moving to gaze at Hermione's mother, Jean, who was lying on her deathbed, surrounded by all different types of medicines.

"Quickly... before it takes her..." Jean mutters weakly. She closes her eyes, turning away. Richard picks up the baby Hermione, who drops her beloved peony-shaped rattle. Hermione's mother touches the baby rattle to her lips as her husband and child disappear into the night.

━━━━━━━━━

Hermione stares at the flower-shaped rattle, her eyes red with tears still sliding down her cheeks. Hermione lifts her head, realising the silence and stares at Draco. She was breathing heavily, still feeling emotional as she clutched the rattle close to her chest.

"Let's go home," Hermione mutters the words and Draco knew she meant the castle. She meant the castle, he reassured himself as he nodded at her before grabbing her hand.

Wind and rain dance loudly in front of the local country inn. There was loud, echoey music and drunken laughter from inside. Ronald walks away from the window and moves back to sit next to his best and only friend, Cormac. He wipes his face and sighs, staring at the scene going on around them in the inn.

"Wow, this is some storm. At least we’re not tied to a tree in the middle of nowhere, right? You know it’s not too late, we could just go get him..." Ron speaks openly but Cormac doesn't react so Ron continues speaking. "It’s just, every time I close my eyes, I picture Richard stranded out there. And then when I open them, he’s-" Ron goes to continue but is stopped when Richard stumbles into the pub and is followed closely by several other village folks. Ron stands from his seat at the sight of the smaller, older gentleman. "Richard!" He exclaims before wincing, realising that he probably shouldn't be happy and narrows down his smile. Richard and Cormac lock eyes, and Ron realises that Cormac was quickly assessing the situation and seeing how he should go about this.

Richard and the Inn owner step closer towards Cormac. "Cormac, did you try to kill Richard?" Cormac is breathing heavily as he stares at the two older men, thinking about running or fighting or maybe even denying the accusation but instead the greasy man smiles warmly.

"Oh, Richard! Thank heavens. I've spent the last five days trying to find you." Cormac exclaims loudly, smiling at the father of the woman he craved after. Suddenly, all of the villages shift their gaze towards Richard and stare at him. Richard steps forward, shaking his head and pointing his finger towards Cormac's chest in accusation.

"No! You tried to kill me! You left me for the wolves!" Richard's voice boomed around the now-silent pub.

"Richard, it’s one thing to rave about your delusions. It’s another to accuse me of attempted murder." Gaston's argument lands on the crowd watching them. Richard stares around the room, feeling the crowd slipping away from him.

"Richard, do you have any proof of what you’re saying?" The owner of the pub glances at Richard before his eyes move back towards where Ronald and Cormac were standing together.

"Ask Trelawney! She rescued me!" Richard exclaimed, pointing towards the woman in question, she looked very run down and alone. But before Trelawney can speak and say anything in support of Hermione's father.

"Trelawney? You’d hang your accusation on the testimony of a filthy hag?" Cormac exclaims staring at Richard in shock. He was chuckling loudly, his voice mocking. He turns towards the hag. "No offence, Trelawney." Cormac smirks, still chuckling as Trelawney raises an eyebrow but still says nothing towards the conversation in defence of Hermione's father.

"Mr Ron! He was there. He saw it all." Richard tries to claw back the sympathy of the villagers.

"Me?" Ron steps forward, questioning. He was playing a role, he would protect Cormac for his whole life. Cormac steps closer towards Richard and the other villagers, smirking but one hundred per cent playing a role throughout this. He needed the villagers on his side, he was their hero.

"You're right. Don't take my word for it." Cormac stretches his arm around Ronald and pulls the ginger closer to him, smiling at the shorter man. "Ronald, my dearest companion, did I, your oldest friend and most loyal compatriot, try to kill the father of the only woman I’ve ever loved?" Cormac stares at Ron, as does every single patron in the pub. Ron is torn, he doesn't know what to do or what to say right at that moment.

"It’s a complicated question on a number of accounts, but... no. No, he did not." Ron finally speaks the words and the crowd around them is instantly reacting to the breaking account from Ronald. Richard is crestfallen because Cormac has won. The disgusting man has won. Richard exclaims in anger as he lunges at Richard, who instantly catches the older man's flying fist. Cormac easily subdued the punch and pushed the hand back down.

"Richard, it pains me to say this, but you’ve become a danger to yourself and others. No wonder Hermione ran away. You need help, sir. A place to heal your troubled mind." Cormac signals to three other beefy men and Richard turns to see the three men block the exit, the only place he could escape. Cormac places his large hand on Richard's shoulder and squeezes tightly. Richard winces, staring down at the ground. "Everything's going to be fine," Cormac mutters, smirking.

Draco sits in a bathtub, washing his chest with a large sponge before washing his blond hair. He sighs before speaking. "I saw her in the ballroom, and I said, well, you’re making this so beautiful, we should have a dance tonight. I never thought she’d actually say yes! What was I thinking?!" Draco was spewing the words out of his mouth as he continued washing. He chuckled as he slapped his hands down, splashing himself with the warm water.

"No, Master, it’s perfect! The peony has only four petals left. Which means tonight... you must tell her how you feel." Olly speaks loudly. As Draco stands up, appearing from behind the curtain and he was sopping wet as he reached for the nearest towel.

"I feel like a fool. She will never love me." Draco rubs his face with the towel.

"Do not be discouraged." Olly stares at Master Draco, watching as he shakes his hair and the water sprays everywhere. "She is the one," Olly exclaims.

"I wish you'd stop saying that!" Draco rolls his eyes as he plops himself down into the plush seat that was situated in front of his large mirror. He stares at his reflection. "There is no one." Draco feels anger settling over him and tries to calm himself down, he doesn't want to ruin this evening with Hermione. 

"You care for her, don’t you? Well then, woo her with beautiful music and romantic candlelight..." Olly smiles up at their Master Draco.

"Yes, and when the moment's just right..." Zopsy nods, smiling along with Olly.

"But how will I know?" Draco questions.

"You will feel slightly nauseous." Paisley jokes, chuckling.

"Don't worry, Master, you'll do fine." Olly smiles reassuringly.

"Just stop being a coward and tell Hermione how you feel. And if you don't, I promise you'll be drinking cold tea for the rest of your life." Zopsy scolds playfully, chuckling as she smiles at Master Draco in the reflection of Draco.

"In the dark." Olly continues.

"Covered in dust." Paisley chuckles, smirking at their Master. "Dark and very, very dusty." She continues speaking. The house elves start annoyingly humming loudly as they begin making over their Master, though it is very bad as they speak allowed.

"Start with the hair! Women love nice hair." Olly mutters, speaking towards the other house elves.

"I'll take the fingers and toes!" Zopsy chuckles.

"Dippy, brush those teeth!" Paisley instructs the youngest elf.

Dippy wields the smallest pair of scissors that Draco had ever seen and even then they looked massive in the small elf's hand, the young female house elf was also wielding a brush as she stared at her Master. Zopsy pours hot water into the nearest and largest tea cup, watching carefully over her daughter. Draco was pushed and pulled, primped and snipped. His long fingers are dipped into the teacup and his nails are buffed by the steam from the hot water as Olly starts sorting out the mess that is Master Draco's hair.

"Dip dip, snip snip..." Olly sings as he smiles at all of the other house elves. Paisley is starting to powder Draco's face, not that he needed to be any paler.

"Eyes closed, poof!" Paisley chuckles, pulling back and staring at their Master.

"And the pièce de résistance..." Olly speaks as he clicks his finger and one of the Master's father's old wigs land on Draco's head. He nods at Paisley and she pecks his cheek with a beauty mark. Draco spins around in his chair to see himself in the mirror and he looks totally ridiculous. This wouldn't do at all. The house elves properly take in their handiwork and realise the mistake they have made. This needed to change and change right now. "Okay, I can fix this!" Olly spoke loudly, trying to calm everyone down as panic rose in the air of the Master's bedroom.

Hermione is helped dressed by Zopsy and Dippy, who have both just come from Draco's bedroom. She smiled as she stared down at the bright sunflower yellow dress that she'd been placed in. Zopsy and Dippy stared up in glee at the young woman.

"Beautiful! But something is missing." Zopsy exclaims, looking up at the ceiling. She stares at the dust that was around the gilding that glowed in the moonlight, suddenly there was a moment of inspiration flickering between the older female house elf. "Ahh, yes. The finishing touch." Zopsy sweeps her arm, and the golden dust magically starts wooshing down before settling all over Hermione's gown. That was it. Finally, completing the look.

Hermione was breathtaking as she walked and revealed herself on the upper landing. Draco breaths heavily as he musters up the courage before descending from the West Wing. Hermione hears the echoing of his shoes and she gazes over towards Draco, he looks... resplendent. Hermione blinks a couple of times, gasping quietly to herself as she suddenly sees the blond in a whole new light. From the bottom of the staircase, Zopsy watches the pair with Dippy and the two house elves smile largely at each other. Music starts playing and magically twinkling around the whole castle, and Zopsy sings along to the song.

"Tale as old as time. True as it can be. Barely even friends. Then somebody bends unexpectedly." Zopsy sang as she watched Draco and Hermione meet together on the centre landing before descending onto the staircase. They were arm in arm as they entered the stunning and shining ballroom. The ballroom had been cleaned and scrubbed to its former glory and it looked amazing. Draco stared around the room as the great and large windows offering a magnificent view of tonight's starry night. "Just a little change. Small to say the least. Both a little scared. Neither one prepared Beauty and the Beast."

The music rises, and Hermione bows in front of Draco and smiles at him as she watches him bow in return. She takes a deep breath before offering him her hands and he nervously takes them. Draco and Hermione begin to dance, gliding across the ballroom. There are carved instrumental figures of violins, violas, and harps which have magically come to life and are playing accompaniment with the cadenza while they all sparkle with polish. They were shining brightly.

"Ever just the same. Ever a surprise. Ever as before. Ever just as sure. As the sun will rise. Tale as old as time. Tune as old as song. Bittersweet and strange. Finding you can change. Learning you were wrong." Zopsy continued singing as she and Dippy watched Draco and Hermione move around the ballroom. But to the blond and the curly-haired brunette, nothing else in the world existed except each other. Draco was careful, gentle and graceful as they twirled around the ballroom. The lights in the ballroom grew dim as he lifted Hermione, spinning the both of them around as Hermione was swept away.

On top of the cadenza, Olly was putting an arm around Paisley, pulling her closer towards him. They were smiling together as they watched Hermione and Draco dance together. Hope was floating around in the air.

"Certain as the sun. Rising in the East. Tale as old as time. Song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the Beast." Zopsy's voice started to become quieter as the lights came back up and the terrace doors magically opened up, allowing Hermione and Draco to take a step outdoors. "Certain as the sun. Rising in the East. Tale as old as time. Song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the Beast." Zopsy's voice drowned out as Hermione and Draco stood together on the terrace under the stars, they smiled warmly at each other.

"I haven't danced in years. I'd almost forgotten the feeling..." Draco pauses, breathing heavily as it seems as though he is mustering up the courage to do something. "It’s foolish, I suppose, for someone like me to hope that one day he might earn your affection." Draco didn't look at Hermione, he stared down at the ground.

"I don't know..." Hermione uttered the words quietly.

"Really? So you think you could be happy here?" Draco started looking up slowly.

"Could anyone be happy if they’re not free?" Hermione mumbled, gazing wistfully towards the forest and sighing quietly to herself. She moved the conversation back to talking about dancing, she wasn't ready to admit her feelings towards anything right now. "My father taught me to dance. I used to step on his toes a lot." She smiles sadly, blinking back the tears, holding back the sniffling that wanted to happen.

"You must miss him." Draco stared at the back of Hermione's head.

"Very much." Hermione turned around and looked at Draco, wiping away the tears that wanted to leak out of her eyes. There is a beat of silence where Draco thinks before deciding that it's the right thing to do.

"Would you like to see him?" Draco questions. Hermione stares at Draco, shock painted over her entire face.

Hermione stares into Draco's hand mirror, blinking as she realised what this object was. She breathed heavily, not sure whether to say the words until Draco tapped on her shoulder. He was reassuring her, that it was all okay. Everything was fine and the mirror couldn't and wouldn't hurt her.

"I'd like to see my father," Hermione spoke towards the mirror, watching a glow of magic light up in the mirror and when it cleared, Hermione could see her father, Richard. But, he was being manhandled in the village square and looking closer, Hermione noticed that her father looked terrified. "Father! What are they doing to him?!" She exclaimed, staring at the mirror, feeling the tears prickling the corners of her eyes again. Draco stares at Hermione, wincing at her suffering. This was a choice only he could make. A moment of choice.

"You must go to him," Draco stated, sounding pained as the words left him.

"What did you say?" Hermione blinked hard, staring at Draco.

"You must go to him. No time to waste." Draco repeated the words, tilting his body back towards Hermione. His eyes stared at her. Hermione stared at Draco in a way that she had never done before, with gratitude and appreciation. She started to move, trying to return the mirror towards the blond.

"No. Keep it with you. And you'll always have a way to look back on me." Draco smiled, blinking a couple of times before looking away from Hermione.

"Thank you." Hermione smiled one last time at Draco before rushing out of the West Wing. She continued running. Down the grand staircase towards the castle doors. She stopped, seeing Olly, who bowed to her. He was silent and looked sad. Choking back the tears, Hermione was gone. Olly looked up toward the landing, noticing Zopsy standing there, watching where Hermione just was. He could tell she was feeling the same as he was. Heartbroken.

Draco unclasped his dark blue and beautiful suit coat, letting it fall down towards the ground of his West Wing bedroom. Paisley enters the bedroom, she seemed eager for some news but she was looking around the bedroom, searching for something. Searching for someone. Searching for Hermione. And she wasn't here.

"Well, Master, I may have had my doubts, but everything is moving like clockwork. True love really does win the day!" Paisley was spewing the words, going on and on before Draco's words stopped her in her tracks.

"I let her go," Draco spoke quietly.

"You... WHAT?!" The words were loud out of Paisley's mouth as Olly, Zopsy and Dippy entered the room, hearing what Master Draco had just stated.

"Master... how could you do that?" Olly exclaimed.

"I had to." Draco thought that was enough.

"But why?" Paisley asks but Draco doesn't answer.

"Because he loves her," Zopsy exclaims.

"Then why aren't we free," Olly states, looking down at the floor.

"Because she doesn't love him! And now, it's too late." Paisley was angry as the words spewed out of her body.

"But she might still come back." Dippy's voice spoke quietly.

"No. I've set her free. I'm sorry I couldn't do the same for all of you." Draco turned away, unable to face them. "Now go. Our time is almost past." He stated sadly. The house elves all retreated as Draco lifted and pulled on a dark cape.

"I was the one who had it all. I was the master of my fate. I never needed anybody in my life. I learned the truth too late." Draco sang, stepping onto the balcony of his castle, looking down he watches Hermione mount his horse, Philippe before she starts to ride away. "I’ll never shake away the pain. I close my eyes but she’s still there. I let her steal into my melancholy heart. It’s more than I can bear." Draco watches Hermione set off and he takes a second to watch her slowly start riding away before starting to climb the castle turrets. "Now I know she’ll never leave me. Even as she runs away. She will still torment me, calm me, hurt me, move me come what may." Draco climbed higher and higher, keeping Hermione in his sight as she got further and further away. The further she got from sight, the harder his heart broke into tiny little pieces. "Wasting in my lonely tower. Waiting by an open door. I’ll fool myself she’ll walk right in. And be with me for evermore." Draco climbed as Hermione rode away. He continued climbing until he reached the highest turret of the Malfoy family castle. "I rage against the trials of love. I curse the fading of the light. Though she’s already flown so far beyond my reach. She’s never out of sight. Now I know she’ll never leave me. Even as she fades from view. She will still torment me, be part of everything I do. Wasting in my lonely tower. Waiting by an open door. I’ll fool myself she’ll walk right in. And as the long long nights begin. I’ll think of all that might have been. Waiting here for evermore." Draco stood at the edge of the turret as Hermione finally disappeared through the castle gates and she was gone from sight.

A horse-drawn asylum wagon thundered into the village square where Richard was surrounded by all of the taunting villagers. Their voices echoed around him. The eerie driver steps out as the villagers throw Richard into his cage on wheels. The others approach the wagon, slowly. Scared. Terrified of what crazy old Richard could do to them. Cormac leaned into the wagon, a smirk across his lips as the gathering crowd around them was just loud enough to mask a private plea that was spewing from Richard's lips.

"Have you ever seen the inside of a madhouse, Richard? You wouldn’t last a week. Just give me your daughter’s hand, and I’ll set you free." Cormac's voice was mocking him. The smirk was growing larger as he stared at Richard. Seeing the older man cower in the corner of the wagon.

"Never." Richard spat the words out at Cormac. Cormac clenches his jaw, staring at Richard before locking the door with a loud clank.

"Take him away!" Cormac exclaimed. The wagon began to move and the villagers watched it take the crazy Richard away. But then they are silenced by a loud scream that echoes throughout the village.

"STOP!" Hermione screamed out, her voice cutting through the crowd. The villagers turned and gaped at Hermione in the bright yellow, dazzling evening gown. The crowd parted before her as she dismounted Philippe and moved over towards the wagon. She heard their whispers as she passed by them.

"Hermione..."

"Where did she come from?"

"Is that Hermione..."

"Look at that dress..."

Cormac stared, slack-jawed, unable to quite believe his eyes as he gazed at Hermione. She could see the sight of the jealous villages from the corner of her eyes as she sets her goal of rescuing her father from this wagon. What have they done to him? In the shadows, lurking away but watching everything take place, was Trelawney. She was always there. Always hiding. Hermione fearlessly strides right in front of the moving wagon. The horses jump up, startled at the crazy young woman. She runs round to the locked door.

"Hermione? I thought I'd lost you!" Richard calls out. Hermione looks into the wagon and spots that her father is injured on the floor of the wagon.

"Open this door! He's hurt! Open this door!" Hermione screamed at the man driving the wagon. She was furious. Angry. The man that was driving the wagon climbed down and tried to start calming her down but it clearly wasn't going to work.

"I’m afraid we can’t do that, miss. But we’ll take very good care of him." The man informed Hermione but she was having none of this. They couldn't do this to her father.

"My father isn't crazy! Cormac... Tell him!" She spun around and stared at Cormac, expecting him to say something but he stepped forward and was shaking his head. Hermione was going to go crazy at this point. She wanted to scream. What the fuck were they doing to her father?

"Hermione, you know how loyal I am to your family, but your father has been making some unbelievable claims." Cormac raised his hands and shrugged. Hermione stared at him before another village piped up and started shouting stupid claims about her father.

"It’s true, Hermione. He’s been raving about this thing in a castle." The village spoke, making sure the words were clear.

"I have just come from the castle and there is someone there!" Hermione was breathing heavily, panting as she stared at Cormac.

"We all admire your devotion to your father, but you’d say anything to free him. Your word is hardly proof." Hermione pulls out the magic mirror from her dress and stared at the reflection, breathing heavily as she uttered the words. "You want proof? SHOW ME HIM!" She stated towards the mirror as she watched the mirror change the reflection to show her Draco. He wasn't a beast. In the mirror, it showed Draco sitting slumped against a castle turret wall. The villagers around them gasped. Cormac's face registered with shock as he stared at the mirror. Hermione wasn't aware that she was the only one who saw the true Draco. The rest of the world saw a beast, a vile, dark creature. "There is your proof!" She sighed at the last words.

"This is sorcery!" Cormac exclaimed, snatching the mirror from Hermione before holding it above his head and showing every villager the mirror. "Look at this beast. Look at his fangs, his claws." Cormac continued shouting throughout the village, watching in glee as the villagers recoiled back in fright. Hermione noticed that and instantly raised her hands, shaking her head at the townsfolk.

"No, don't be afraid. He is gentle and so, so kind." Hermione reassured them but her words meant nothing because they weren't seeing the Draco she knew. They were seeing this beast that the enchantress had cursed.

"The monster has put her under a spell! If I didn’t know better, I’d say she even cared for him." Cormac was acting like he was putting on a show, exclaiming around as if he was performing to the villagers.

"He's not a monster, Cormac. You are." Hermione shouted. "He would never hurt anyone." She was talking about Draco, he could never hurt anyone. He would never hurt anyone.

"I have heard of the effects of dark magic, but never seen it with my own eyes before! This is a threat to our very existence!" Cormac was shouting as he continued holding the mirror above his head, staring at the crowd of villagers as they chanted his name. "We can’t have her running off to warn the beast. Lock her up too." Cormac's favourite thugs step forward and strong-arm Hermione into the wagon with her father.

"This isn't over Cormac, you'll see!" Hermione shouted through the wagon window.

"Cormac, with all due respect-" Ronald started whispering towards Cormac but he wasn't in the mood to listen to anyone, even if it was his best friend.

"DO YOU WANT TO BE NEXT? Fetch my horse." Cormac screamed. He jumped onto the back of the wagon before addressing the large crowd that had gathered for him. "That creature will curse us all if we don’t stop him! Well, I say we KILL THE BEAST!"

"We're not safe until he's dead."

"He'll come stalking us at night."

"Set to sacrifice our children. To his monstrous appetite!"

"He’ll wreak havoc on our village. If we let him wander free!"

"So it’s time to take some action, boys. It’s time to follow me!" Cormac grabbed a torch from the nearest village and tossed it into a barrel of pitch, watching as the flames rose into the sky. "Through the mist, through the wood. Through the darkness and the shadows. It’s a nightmare but it’s one exciting ride." Cormac lights more villagers' torches before clasping the shoulder of the asylum wagon owner, who was watching helplessly as his wagon horses are commandeered by the mob around him. "Say a prayer, then we're there. At the drawbridge of a castle. And there's something truly terrible inside. It’s a beast, he’s got fangs razor sharp ones. Massive paws, killer claws for the feast. Hear him roar, see him foam. But we’re not coming home. ‘Til he's dead, good and dead... KILL THE BEAST!" Cormac continues his screaming and shouting.

Some of the villagers were seizing shovels, some were grabbing pitchforks, and some were grabbing axes. Some of the villagers then lit torches on the pitch.

"Light your torch, mount your horse!"

"Screw your courage to the sticking place," Cormac exclaims as they push through the village, and ride their horses into the forest.

"We're counting on Cormac to lead the way."

Cormac and Ronald were crashing through the woods at a full gallop as they guide the villages through towards the castle, a full charge towards where the beast was being kept. 

"Call it war. Call it threat. You can bet they all will follow. For in times like this, they’ll do just as I say." Cormac was staring ahead of him as Ronald was doubting what was happening, he was growing scared of what Cormac could do.

"There’s a beast. Running wild there’s no question. But I fear. The wrong monster’s released." Ronald tried to keep his eyes remaining forward but every so often he would look towards Cormac.

"Sally forth, tally ho. Grab your sword, grab your bow. Praise the Lord and here we go!"

Cormac holds up the mirror. "Show me the castle!" He shouts loudly, keeping his eyes on the mirror. Quickly the reflection shows the hidden path towards the castle and the goal is nearing closer and closer. Darkness clouds his eyes as he stares ahead.

Zopsy's head rests on Olly's shoulder as the two of them sigh. Paisley stares up at the ceiling as she hums along to a random song to distract Dippy. Olly and Zopsy hold each other's hands as they try to calm their breathing but nothing was calming them down, not even the tune that Paisley was humming.

"At least he has finally learned to love," Olly reassures them.

"A lot of good that does us if she doesn't love him in return." Paisley wasn't believing in hope right now. Hope sounded like a stupid thing to believe in.

"No. This is the first time I’ve had any real hope she would." Zopsy sighed. Dippy sits up as she hears a distant sound, almost like the rumbling of marching boots. She was puzzled as she moves away from her family and Paisley, climbing up towards the windows.

"Did you hear that, mama? Is it her!? Is she coming back?!" Dippy started jumping, swaying with excitement. The other house elves jump up, excitement rolling off everyone's bodies as they all move towards the window. They all see the glowing orange and red of torches in the distance.

"Could it be?" Olly seemed hopeful. All of the house elves cuddled together as they looked through the glass that was distorted with frost as the mob moved through the castle gardens. Olly warms up the windowpane with a magical flame so they could all see more clearly. "Invaders!" Olly exclaimed loudly.

"Ruffians!" Zopsy exclaims.

"Well, there you go. So much for true love. Man the barricades, and hold fast!" Paisley's voice rose above the rest as they all hopped down from the embrasure and stared at the front door. Olly, Zopsy, Paisley and Dippy stood together at the front door, forming a sad barricade against the wood.

“Hearts ablaze, banners high. We go marching into battle. Unafraid although the danger just increased." With the click of a finger, Olly magically lifts and brings the large grand piano to prop up against the door. The house elves step away before gathering behind the piano, helping to keep it against the front door. On the other side of the door, the mob hauls a battering ram up against the door, slamming it against the wood.

"Raise the flag, sing the song. Here we come, we’re fifty strong. And fifty Frenchmen can't be wrong. Let’s kill the beast!"

There was a loud crashing noise as the battering ram breaks through the first door, which falls out of the doorframe. But the house elves keep the piano pushed against the main door, with all the might their little bodies could push into the piano. Protecting themselves and their Master.

"We need help!" Paisley called out, running back towards the staircase.

Hermione gazes out of the wagon prison-like bars, seeing the wagon owner pacing by the village fountain. She was breathing heavily, panting as she was thinking of any solutions to help themselves.

"I have to warn Draco." Hermione turns back towards her father.

"Warn him? How did you get away from him?" Richard questioned, staring up at his daughter.

"He let me go, papa. He sent me back to you." Hermione smiled, crouching down in front of him.

"I don't understand." He shook his head. Hermione instantly holds up the peony-shaped rattle, smiling sadly as she watched recognition melt onto Richard's face.

"He took me there. I know what happened to my mother." Hermione stared at her father, tears settling in the corners of her eyes. Richard took the rattle from Hermione's hand, stunned as he stared at the baby rattle.

"Then you know I had to leave her there. I had to protect you. I've always tried to protect you... too much, perhaps..." Richard stopped, his eyes filled with tears as he looked up at his daughter.

"I understand." Hermione smiles, taking her father's hand and kisses it gently. "Will you help me now?" Hermione asks quietly.

"It's dangerous," Richard stated.

"Yes. Yes, it is." Hermione smiles, courage and determination flickering behind her golden-brown eyes. Richard's eyes reflected up with the same effect, an idea floating in his head.

"Of course, I could try to pick the lock. After all, it’s only gears and springs. But I would need something long and sharp-" Richard stopped speaking as Hermione, a step ahead of her father, removed and handed him one of her long hairpins which should do the job. "Like that. Perfect." Richard instantly got to work on the lock.

Paisley hopped up the spiral staircase as quickly as she could before appearing out onto the turret. She instantly spotted Draco, perched among the other gargoyles. He looked depressed. He must have been depressed. Paisley had never seen him like this before. He was bad before. Sad. Emotional. When his parents left for France a few weeks after him being cursed. He was like this when he was cursed. He was like this on his eighteenth birthday. Every Christmas. Every birthday. Every day. Alone. No one here to love him.

Paisley quietly cleared her throat. "Pardon me, Master. Paisley is sorry to disturb you, but-" She was stopped by a rough voice.

"She's not coming back." Draco didn't turn around. He didn't do anything. He was done. Finished. He knew that this was the end for him.

"No... the castle is under attack!" Paisley uttered the words, staring at her Master's back, expecting him to do something but no muscle moved.

"It doesn't matter now. Just let them come." Draco was defeated.

The battering ram smashed loudly against the door again and again. "Kill the beast! Kill the beast!" The door was slowly giving away, the mob was too strong against the small group of house elves.

"This isn't working!" Zopsy's voice was panicked.

"I know what to do," Olly reassured them.

The battering ram smashed against the door again. The breathing of the house elves was heavy as they were all panicked and scared at what was going to happen next. "Kill the beast! Kill the beast!" The house elves have now vanished, disappearing away from the door with their barricade dismantled. A series of bolts on the castle door slide open one by one, top to bottom with the door unlocking itself. The battering ram smashed against the door one last time. "Kill the beast! Kill the beast!" The door then swung open easily and the village mob tumbled inside to find the castle foyer completely empty. There was an eerie silence around the castle, like there was no one here anymore, that Hermione had been lying. Cormac and the village mob cautiously entered the castle. The door was barely hanging on its hinges as the villagers lifted up their torches. The flickering lights revealed furniture. Chairs. A coat rack. A feather duster. A candelabra. A teapot and teacup. A harpsichord. All were haphazardly placed around the foyer.

"Are you not the least bit concerned that this castle might be haunted?" Ron shook, his voice coming out with a wimpy tone as he stared at Cormac.

"Don't lose your nerve, Ron." Cormac looked into the mirror. As Cormac turns away, Ron notices a flicker of something, a small house elf running away and hiding. He brings his torch closer to try and study what he had just seen. Several other villagers stare around the foyer.

"This place feels familiar... like I've been here before..." One village's voice rises above the rest. Cormac approaches the West Wing staircase as Ron brings his face down towards the little house elf. He smiled creepily at the older house elf.

"You must be the grandmother," Ron comments to himself. Suddenly, Zopsy looks up from where she was trying to remain still and hidden. She was furious.

"Grandmother? Attack!" She screamed her voice loudly, whistling as the magically enchanted objects and the other house elves rose from their positions. 

Ronald jumped back as all hell broke loose as the furniture started coming alive around the villagers. Enchanted chairs start kicking the shins of several villagers. A feather duster's feathers are flicked into the villager's faces furiously, causing the group of them to start having sneezing fits. As the other villagers funnel in, rising their torches above their heads, they stare up as parts of the door fall down and bonk them on the head. Knocking out those villagers straight away. The coat rack starts spinning Cormac around and is about to land a blow directly on him when Cormac aggressively grabs Ron and puts him in the line of fire instead. Ron becomes a human punching bag as the enchanted coat rack approaches the ginger and rears up onto the hind legs. The shadow falls across Cormac, who dives out of the way, leaving Ron completely exposed.

"Cormac!" Ron shouted out as the massive grand piano came crashing down onto Ronald, squashing him flat. Cormac looked down at his friend. "Cormac... help..." Ron's voice was weak and muffled as he tried reaching out for his friend. Cormac looked from Ronald to the enchanted mirror and then to the grand staircase which lead up towards the West Wing.

"Sorry, old friend. It's hero time." Cormac rushed up the staircase and didn't look back, ignoring Ronald's screams of pain as he passed out underneath the piano.

The Asylum wagon owner was pacing back and forth in the village square before noticing the door to the wagon is suddenly ajar. He runs urgently towards the wagon and flings open the doors, only to find it completely empty. He slams the doors shut angrily, jumping back as he stares at Richard, who is smiling beside him.

"Hello. Oh, I believe this is yours." Richard casually hands the wagon's padlock back to the man just as Hermione rides past on the back of Philippe. As she charges out of the village gates, she tosses part of her ball gown down towards the ground. Richard waves to her proudly before turning back to the wagon owner. "She's very headstrong. Do you have children?" Richard chuckled as he asked the question.

Cormac finds himself at the landing of two staircases. Unsure of which one led up towards the creature, Cormac held up the mirror and watched as it illuminated the right way towards the beast. Cormac ran up, bounding up the stairs as fast as possible.

Dippy rapidly fires china saucers at the village attackers, counting them off as he dispatches them with glee. "One! Two! Three! Four! Five!" She was giggling loudly as she attacked them. Above, Paisley was looking down from the balcony, like a general surveying the battlefield. She was smiling and giggling at the attack that Dippy was performing.

"Good show, Dippy, my girl!" Paisley cheered loudly. Just then as Paisley moved back from watching Dippy, a platoon of books arrived on the large table from the library, they were battle-ready. "Excellent! The infantry has arrived. Now, go and teach them a lesson!" Paisley exclaims, having a little too much fun with all of this. The books rocketed down into the fray, thwacking villager after villager after villager. "Yes, those are called books, you third-rate musketeers!" This statement draws the attention of Goyle, Crabbe and Flint. Paisley shudders at the sight. "Oh, I'm off!" She states before jumping down from the balustrade as the three clumsy men bound up the stairs. The three men face off against Paisley before she backs away quickly. "Ah, terribly sorry, pardon me, I’m just a house elf!" She tries to hide away but suddenly the enchanted wardrobe leaps out, blocking the brutes' path. The wardrobe unfurls her fabric, wrapping them up.

"Yes, that's it... put it on... pretty little boys!"  Dippy cheers as she spots what is happening and smiles. Goyle and Crabbe look at each other and start shrieking out in terror, horrified at their girly makeovers. Flint, however, doesn't seem to mind his new look at all. The wardrobe waddles away as Dippy and Paisley chuckle with each other. "Go! Be free! Be free! Be FREE!" Dippy jumps up and down with joy as they watch Flint walk away with sass and style.

Hermione was riding on the back of Philippe, wishing for him to gallop faster. She whips past the withered tree and down the path toward the castle grounds. She needed to get to him quicker. Draco was going to die. Hermione needed to be there at the castle right now. She shouldn't have been there minutes ago.

From the balcony, Zopsy leapt onto the chandelier and had the kettle hovering next to her. "How do you take your tea?! Piping hot?! Or boiling?!" She chuckles loudly as she douses the villagers below with boiling water. Below, the enchanted grand piano was bucking and raging against the villagers, besting them repeatedly as the piano plays elaborate trills.

"Such sweet music! Ha ha, play him like a concerto!" Olly chuckles as he watches what the piano is doing to the villagers. The enchanted wardrobe throws its massive girth off the balcony, sending the angry villagers below scattering. The wardrobe lands with a graceful thud. Within in the chaos, Trelawney is moving quietly through the villagers and up the stairs. No one is taking any notice of her as she moves through the castle. As the villagers pour out the doors in terror, Olly, Zopsy and Paisley meet at the base of the stairs.

"Bon voyage! Safe trip home!" Olly cheers, waving.

"And stay out!" Paisley screams after the villagers, as they flee the castle.

Hermione rides Philippe towards the castle, she kicks his flanks and they are doubling their speed. She is breathing heavily, panting with anxiety as they gain speed. The castle was in sight.

Cormac steps slowly up onto Draco's turret. Draco can state his presence, turning around and locking eyes with the man he had never seen before. Cormac cocks his pistol as his eyes darken, a smirk appearing across his lips as he stares at Draco, only seeing a disgusting creature. A beast.

"Hello, beast. I am Cormac. Hermione sent me." Cormac relished in the sight of the beast flinching at hearing Hermione's name. Hermione is racing up the stairs towards the turret, she can hear voices that sound familiar to her and they are guiding her to the top. But with no hope left in his body, Draco turns away from Cormac, whose finger was tightening on the trigger. Draco was ready to die. He had given up on life. It was going to happen anyway tonight when the final petal fell. "Were you in love with her? Did you honestly think she’d want you?" Cormac's words hit directly where they were supposed to as he fired the bullet from the gun. Draco dropped instantly over the edge.

On the turret below, Draco's hands make contact with the slanted rooftop, breaking his fall. Draco hugs the rooftop, heaving and panting heavily. Cormac looked down over the edge of the turret, pulling his crossbow and reaching back over his shoulder to draw an arrow from his quiver but he stopped. There was nothing there. Cormac spun around to see Hermione and his arrows gripped in her hands.

"Hermione?" Cormac questioned.

"Where is he?!" Hermione was angry, raging as she stared at Cormac. She snapped Cormac's arrows over her knee and tossed them away. Cormac grabbed her arm and stared down at her.

"When we return to the village, you will marry me, and that creature's head will hang on our wall!" Cormac was raging at her, staring at her with a passion she had never seen in him before.

"Never." She screamed, pulling away and using the pivot to grab the barrel of Cormac's pistol. They were struggling as they fought against each other. With Cormac on the back foot for a split second, Hermione yanks at the pistol hard. Cormac wasn't letting go, he swings with the gun and seemed to be seeking balance on a loose stone. He dropped off the side of the turret. Cormac's reflexes are quick as he lets go of the pistol before grabbing a gargoyle and swinging himself down through a window of the turret. He lands on the spiral staircase, brushing himself off. His pistol, in the meantime, clatters down. The pistol comes to rest on the landing of a stone footbridge below.

Wounded, Draco climbs around the lower turret, his breathing coming out heavily. All around him, the turrets were quivering and cracking as the castle was imploding around them.

"I'm coming for you, beast!" Cormac screams. 

Cormac continues down until he reaches the bottom of the spiral staircase. He dropped to a window box below, jumping sideways onto another. Draco makes a second leap, onto another parapet. The tiles were sliding away beneath him as he scrambled to hang on. Hermione reaches the landing at the bottom of the spiral staircase, leaping down onto another adjacent landing. She looked out, trying to spot Draco through the turrets. Draco swung around a third parapet and leapt onto another. Draco was now as far away as he could get from this man that was hunting him. Finally, Hermione reached a point where she could see Draco on the faraway turret. She screamed out loud as she watched his grip slip.

"No!" Hermione screams, covering her mouth with her hands.

Draco's head turns, looking around. "Hermione?" Finally, he spots her. He was panting, holding back a smile at the sight of her. "Hermione, you came back!" Draco roared the words, hoping to enter his mind all over again.

"I tried to stop them," Hermione called out.

"Stay there! I'm coming!" Draco shouted up towards Hermione.

Cormac dropped onto the walkway lined with gargoyles, landing directly between Draco and Hermione. Cormac sneered, the upper hand was still his. His eyes searched for a weapon before grabbing a stone spire and breaking it off. With some sort of superhuman agility, Draco makes a giant leap from the far parapet back toward the central turrets, trying to get back towards Hermione. Hermione descends the stairs, finally reaching Draco's bedroom. Draco landed on the gargoyle walk and Cormac jumped out at his, bringing his club cracking down onto Draco's back. He roared out in pain but he pushed past Cormac. But, Cormac was landing blow after blow after blow on Draco's back, smirking as he watched the creature staggering down the set of stairs onto the landing of a stone footbridge. The same footbridge where Cormac's pistol came to rest earlier in the fight between the two men.

"Stop! Cormac, no!" Hermione screamed as she watched Draco lumbering across the footbridge, which was crumbling under each mighty footfall.

Draco reaches the cupola on the far side of the castle, directly parallel to his bedroom. One more giant leap was standing between him and Hermione. Cormac lifts the club to deliver the death blow when Draco snatches it. He yanks the club away before hurling it against a far wall. With a loud snarl, Draco's hand is around Cormac's throat. He lifts Cormac and swings him out over the edge of the landing.

"No. Don’t let me go. Please. Don’t hurt me, beast. I’ll do anything." Cormac is snivelling, panicking as he looks into the creature's eyes. Draco's features were twisted with rage and hate but slowly he controls himself and his anger fades away from his eyes.

"I AM NOT A BEAST," Draco screamed, setting Cormac back down. "Go. Get out." He watches as Cormac scrambles to his feet before Draco lunges after him, chasing Cormac away and down the outer staircase of the cupola. Hermione gazes proudly into Draco's eyes, as they looked at each other across the final chasm that was separating the two of them. Draco has just enough distance for a head start to leap across to the bedroom balcony.

Hermione shakes her head. "No! It’s too far!" She shouts out, her voice carried by the wind. But Draco had already gotten down onto all fours, his feet digging into the stone before he was off, gaining speed as he ran like an animal. Hermione gasped, watching as Draco started leaping. He was airborne, flying over the chasm and he was just about to make it to the balcony, landing down safely. He rose from the ground and smiled at Hermione.

BOOM!

Draco roared out loudly in agony. Past his body, across the chasm, Hermione spotted Cormac on the crumbling walkway, the pistol back in his hand. He grinned darkly as he reloads for the killing shot, Hermione was watching, completely helpless as Cormac takes aim once again before firing the bullet. Draco dropped, just as the walkway beneath Cormac collapsed. In an instant, there was nothing beneath Cormac's feet, and he disappeared, screaming in a cascade of stones.

Hermione was cradling Draco's head, anguished as she stared at him. He was laying there, breathing heavily. Softly, he rests his hand on Hermione's hand. But he was fading. His eyes looked at her with the most perfect description of love.

"You came back." Draco sniffled, his breathing heavy.

"Of course, I came back. I'll never leave you again." Hermione reassured him, smiling sadly, with tears prickling the corners of her eyes.

"I'm afraid it's my turn to leave."

"We're together now. It's going to be fine. You'll see." Hermione's tears started dropping from her eyes, falling down her cheeks.

"At least I got to see you one last time." Draco's voice was clear as day before his hand dropped, taking his last and final breath. He died in Hermione's arms.

"No... please, no..." Hermione screamed, staring at Draco. Her tears fell relentlessly as she stopped moving, keeping her eyes remaining on him.

The final red peony petal drops in the jar. Hermione's screams and cries echoed around the bedroom as she clutched her arms around Draco. The hooded figure of Trelawney appeared in the room, staring at Hermione and the dead body of Draco.

"Please, don't leave me. Come back." Hermione cried, her lips gently touching Draco's forehead in a kiss. "I love you." She whispered the words but they were loud enough for Trelawney to hear. 

Trelawney smiled benevolently and placed her hand on the bell jar, which exploded and released a wave of red peony petals, whirling into the air around the room. A golden light began to emanate from Trelanwey. It encircled Draco and he too began to rise. Hermione got to her feet, staring and watching as Draco was lifted and enveloped by the swirling aurora and then was buffeted gently back down to reveal him. He lands on his feet and looks down at his hands, his arms, and his chest. He feels different. He feels... He feels like himself. No anger. No death wish. No pain. He turns around, spotting Hermione instantly.

"Hermione..." Draco smiles. He slowly steps toward her and she moves closer to him. In silent disbelief over what happened, Hermione ran her fingers through his blond hair. She looks into Draco's slate grey eyes, a tint of blue in certain lights. It was him. It was really him. No anger. No pain. This was Draco. The true him. Tears of grief and pain turned into tears of joy as they leaned in together for their real first kiss, arms wrapped around each other.

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