Bound by Fate

Chapter 20: Secrets Unveiled

The days that followed Hermione and Draco's trip to Diagon Alley were filled with a sense of quiet purpose. Hermione spent most of her time in the manor's vast library, poring over old tomes and magical texts in search of something—anything—that might explain the strange "pull" she and Draco had felt. The escape to Diagon Alley had been a brief respite, but the unanswered questions still gnawed at her.

She had thought, perhaps, that there might be something buried in the ancient knowledge of pureblood families. After all, the Malfoys' library was vast, filled with books that stretched back centuries. But despite her best efforts, nothing seemed to shed light on the mysterious connection she and Draco had experienced.

It wasn't just the lack of answers that bothered her—it was the feeling itself. The way it lingered, an undercurrent in the space between them, unspoken but undeniable. She couldn't shake it, and it had begun to creep into her thoughts more frequently than she liked.

Hermione spent her nights scribbling down notes, her frustration growing as the pieces refused to fit together. She wrote everything she could remember: the pull they had both felt, how it had guided Draco to her just in time, how it seemed to appear only when one of them was in danger. She had filled several pages with theories, questions, and thoughts, none of which had led her closer to the truth.

And then, one night, exhausted from hours of searching, Hermione forgot to put her notes away.

The next morning, Narcissa Malfoy wandered into the library, her sharp eyes taking in the room's familiar surroundings. She hadn't intended to linger, but as she moved through the aisles, something caught her attention. On one of the tables, a pile of papers was scattered haphazardly, left out as though someone had been working late into the night.

Curiosity piqued, Narcissa moved closer, her fingers brushing over the top sheet. As she glanced down at the notes, her breath hitched.

"The pull... Draco and I both felt it... it's like something is drawing us together..."

Narcissa's eyes widened slightly as she continued to read. The more she scanned Hermione's notes, the clearer it became what she was looking for. Narcissa's heart quickened as recognition dawned on her.

The Pureblood Pull.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the parchment, her thoughts racing. She hadn't heard of the Pureblood Pull being spoken of in many years—it was an ancient and sacred concept, something whispered about in the most private circles of pureblood families. It was said to occur only when the head of a pureblood household met their soulmate, and once the bond was established, it was almost unbreakable. The connection would grow stronger over time, and once intimacy was shared between the two, the bond would become binding, both emotionally and magically.

The implications were staggering.

Narcissa's face remained composed, but her mind was spinning. Draco had felt this pull, and so had Hermione. The fact that neither of them seemed to realize what it meant was both a relief and a concern. The bond hadn't yet been solidified—there was still time—but if it continued to grow...

Narcissa set the papers down carefully, her expression thoughtful. She couldn't simply confront Draco or Hermione about this. Not yet. If she was too direct, they might react poorly, and she needed to be certain before making any moves. If this pull was what she suspected, it would change everything—not just for Draco, but for the entire Malfoy legacy.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she began to make her plan. She would observe them, ask subtle questions, draw out what they were feeling without making it obvious. It was a delicate balance—she needed to know more before deciding how to handle the situation.

With a quiet breath, Narcissa straightened and left the library, her mind already calculating her next steps.

Hermione was unaware that anything had happened. She spent the rest of the day as she usually did, going back to the library to continue her research. But as the hours passed, she began to feel a strange sense of unease, as though someone was watching her more closely than usual.

At lunch, Narcissa appeared in the dining room, more present than she had been in days. She sat across from Hermione and Draco, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. The conversation started as it always did—small talk, polite inquiries about their day—but there was an undercurrent to Narcissa's words, something almost... inquisitive.

"Hermione," Narcissa said smoothly, her tone light but with a trace of curiosity, "you've been spending quite a bit of time in the library. What are you researching, if I may ask?"

Hermione glanced up from her plate, momentarily caught off guard by the question. Narcissa rarely involved herself in Hermione's affairs, and the sudden interest felt unusual. "Oh, just... general topics," Hermione said quickly, not wanting to reveal too much. "There's so much knowledge in that library, it's easy to get lost in it."

Narcissa smiled faintly, her gaze unwavering. "I imagine there's much to learn, especially from the older texts. Some of the family's knowledge is quite... rare."

Hermione nodded, though she couldn't shake the feeling that Narcissa was fishing for something. She glanced at Draco, but he seemed preoccupied, his thoughts elsewhere.

"Have you found anything particularly interesting?" Narcissa asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.

Hermione hesitated, unsure of how to answer. "I've come across a few things," she said vaguely. "Nothing definitive yet, but I'm still looking."

Narcissa's smile widened ever so slightly, though there was something calculating behind her eyes. "I'm sure you will," she said softly. "Sometimes, the most important discoveries come when we least expect them."

The conversation drifted on to other topics, but Hermione couldn't shake the strange feeling that Narcissa knew more than she was letting on.

Later that night, as Hermione lay in bed, her mind wandered back to the conversation with Narcissa. Something about it had unsettled her, though she couldn't quite put her finger on why. The way Narcissa had asked about her research, the way she had watched her so closely—it felt as though Narcissa knew what Hermione was looking for.

Hermione frowned, turning over in her bed. Could Narcissa have seen her notes? Could she have read them? The thought made Hermione's heart race. If Narcissa knew about the pull—if she understood what it meant—what would she do?

Hermione's thoughts drifted back to Draco, and the strange bond they shared. The pull. The connection that seemed to grow stronger every time they were together. She didn't understand it, and the fact that she couldn't find any answers was driving her mad.

But now, with the possibility that Narcissa knew something... Hermione wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or terrified.

As sleep began to take hold, one thought lingered in the back of her mind.

What if this pull was more than just a coincidence?