And Then Love Conquered

The Jig is Up

I sat, alone in the library at the Malfoy's vacation home off the coast of Nova Scotia.

Yes, alone.

As soon as we had come to the overly-opulent home, I impressed the importance of telling everyone the truth and Draco, immediately, shut me down. He said the timing wasn't right with all the tension between Gryffindor and Slytherin; also, the fact Voldemort had returned, his family was under his watchful eye. He didn't want to put his family at risk of death or shunning due to our relationship, no matter how wrong he thought they were.

I understood his reasoning; but I could not relate. I, so badly, wanted to be able to sympathize with him, but our families were too different for me to form any similarities besides the fact their children attended the same wizarding school.

I tossed my quill down and yawned, rubbing my eyes—I had worked on McGonagall's vanishing spells essay for the remainder of the night Friday, all day Saturday, and for the greater portion of Sunday; and, I was beyond tired.

"Is Miss Granger done with her work?" the house-elf, Krane, asked.

Draco sent the little guy in every night to attend to my needs as I was refusing to talk to him after our fight. Krane had brought me every meal and gave me a very extensive tour of the property, telling me the entire time how pretty he thought I was. I quite liked the elf, though, I idly wondered if his opinion of me would change if he knew I was muggle-born.

"I'm finished, yes. Thank you for asking, Krane. I appreciate your attentiveness."

"Krane is always happy to serve the Malfoy family and all their friends. Master Draco requests you join him for dinner tonight. He wishes to speak directly with you."

I hesitated. "Is it formal?" 

Since I'd arrived, I took to eating dinner in the spare room where I stayed, but I'd seen the dining room. The space was all crystal chandeliers and heavy linens—during the tour, I immediately asked Krane to take me to the next room for fear of tarnishing anything.

When Krane shook his head, his ears flopped form side to side, making a slapping noise. I had to stifle my giggle as to not offend him. "Master Draco requests you meet him in the upstairs sitting room, Miss. Very scenic and relaxing for Miss Granger after her long weekend of studies."

"Do you ever wish you were freed, Krane? That someone presented you with clothing?" The question I asked caught me off guard, but even more so the little elf.

He gasped and shook his head so hard I feared his brain would shoot from his ears. "Krane adores the house of Malfoy, Miss Granger. Krane hopes to serve the family until he takes his last breath, Miss."

"I meant no offense. I'd just like to know you better, is all."

"Miss Hermione Granger is too good to Krane."

"No one could ever be too good to a kind man like you."

The elf led me, by hand, to the sitting room where Draco waited for me. He stood before a massive window, overlooking the Atlantic as the moonlight pooled through the window and glinted off his almost-white hair.

"Thank you, Krane," Draco said, not turning away from the window.

"Master Draco," the elf bowed so low his nose kissed his kneecap, and with a loud "pop" he vanished.

Draco sighed, sliding his hands into his pockets. "This isn't how I wanted this weekend to go."

"How did you expect it to? We want two different things."