My Hero

The visit to Malfoy Manor

Draco's POV:

"Granger? What on earth are you doing here?" I asked, shocked.

"I could ask you the same question Malfoy,"  she replied, tucking a strand of curly brown hair behind her ear. "I haven't seen you since the..." she trailed off. 

Trial. 

I cleared my throat uncomfortably. "Mmh, Yeah. It's been a while..."

We awkwardly stood there for a minute, her feet shuffling around and my hands clasped together tightly. 

"Well! I best be off then!" she said suddenly, breaking the silence and stepping forward, her hand out-stretched in farewell.

"Yes. Yes. Of course," I stammered. "We need to get going too, don't we Scorp?"

"NOO! I want Hermione to stay!" Scorpius exclaimed loudly, whilst rushing back to Granger and tackling her in a bone-crushing hug. "I'm not leaving," he said, stomping his foot down in defiance and pouting. "I want to show her my new broom and my collection of Chocolate Frog cards and my bedroom and-"

"Ok, Ok," I responded loudly, raising my hands in surrender. "She can come if she wants to."

Crazy Kid.

Granger bit her lip, contemplating whether or not to come. Wondering whether she wants to go to a former Death-Eaters house no doubt. I don't blame her. The last time she stayed at Malfoy Manor, she didn't have the best experience.

"Please Hermione. Please, Please, PLEASE!" Scorpius frantically begged. 

Merlin, he's only just met the woman, why's he already so bloody attached?

"Fine, fine! I'll  come," she said, laughing and grasping Scorpius' hands, "Only if that's okay with you Malfoy?"

"No problem Granger," I drawled, "Just keep this one," I pointed to Scorpius, "quiet while apparating."

She nodded and promptly took a tight hold of one of Scorpius' hands. He immediately stopped his fussing and fell quiet.

Show-off.

I gallantly extended my arm to her and she took it, smiling softly. Soon, the faint POP! of apparition could be heard as I felt the familiar sensation of tugging at the navel, as we travelled to Malfoy Manor.

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Hermione's POV:

We landed gracefully in the hallway of Malfoy Manor. Scorpius immediately raced forward shouting "TOPSY! TOPSY! WHERE ARE YOU? WE'RE BACK AND WE BROUGHT YOU A PRESENT!"

"Topsy?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, "who's that?"

"Oh, you know, the house elf," he said waving his hand dismissively and hastily adding, "she's treated excellently," after seeing my horrified expression.

"Malfoy! House- Elves should not be treated as slaves! They are living beings and should be treated with respect! Imagine if you spent your whole life slaving away after ungrateful little snobs! I personally think-"

"Granger! Calm Down! Topsy is treated fine! She receives pay, has clothes, a bedroom, gets sufficient amounts of food and everything! No need for you to go off on another one of your SPEW rants!"

"Right, sorry. I had no idea," I said, embarrassed. "I didn't know you had changed that much," I added softly, staring inquisitively into his silver eyes. 

"Yeah. You and the rest of the world. It's okay, I understand. I'm used to it now," he muttered, gazing distractedly into the distance. "Just a day in the life of a former Death Eater." 

I nodded uncomfortably, feeling a pang of sympathy for Malfoy. Who knew his life was so difficult?

"We should probably go find Scorpius," he added, hastily breaking out of his reverie and  indicating the door opposite with a jab of the head, "Merlin knows where he disappears too."

I laughed, grateful for the change of subject. "Lead the way."

"Erm, Granger. Your arm," he pointedly said, motioning toward my arm that was still wrapped around the crook of his.

How embarrassing.

''Right. Yes. Sorry, about that," I stammered, blushing madly, while hastily extracting my arm. I cleared my throat and gestured towards the door, "Erm, after you then."

He laughed and smirked at me. "If you wanted to touch me that badly then you only needed to ask."

Prat. 

I pretended to throw up in disgust, "In your dreams Malfoy."

"Hurry up then Granger, don't want to  keep Scorpius waiting," he declared, advancing toward the door and flinging it open dramatically, "he's probably dying without his hero." 

Idiot.

"Oh yes! Because we know how much the Malfoy's revel in Hermione Granger's presence, "I slyly remarked, winking at him and walking towards the door. "Like father, like son."

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AUTHOR NOTE

Thank you so much for bearing with me while I completed this Chapter.

As always, reviews and comments are appreciated.

Thanks again! SEE YOU SOON!

~xitzrheerx