The Manor – Hermione & Draco

Disclaimer – Everything in this story (characters, locations, terms and phrases,) belong to the legendary J.K Rowling. But I enjoy the belief that the story line is my own, so if you don't object too strongly, please let me continue this dream. Thanks.

A/N – Here it is, the long awaited sequel to The Cabin. Thanks for all the continuous support and reviews, my fingers are crossed in apprehension about your reactions to The Manor. I hope it rates as well as The Cabin in your opinions. But there's only one way to find out…

Chapter One – After Math

Hermione lazily opened one eye and glanced about her bedroom. The curtains were drawn shut, but they fluttered slightly, indicating that the window was open. The room was dim and warm with summer air, and Hermione felt like falling asleep again, but when she shifted slightly to get more comfortable, a weight in her stomach made her realise why she had woken in the first place.

She groaned and attempted calling out for help. "Mum." she tried, but considering she could hardly hear herself, she doubted her mum would come running into the room. Clearing her throat, she took a deep breath, "Mum!"

After a few moments, Hermione heard footsteps coming down the hall and her door slowly creaked open. "Hermione? Are you awake?"

"Yes, and I need to go to the toilet again." She whined. Since she came home from Hogwarts a week ago, her mother had been fussing over her like she was sick. Which she was. Hermione was unable to get out of bed and walk down the hall without her mothers shoulder to lean on. The wound Voldemort had inflicted upon her had weakened her greatly.

"Again? Why do you drink so much?" Her mum asked, opening the door and shuffling over to Hermione's bedside. She pulled back the covers and helped Hermione sit up. Wincing in pain, Hermione held her side where the wound was still healing.

"I have been sleeping for about twelve hours mum, I think it's only natural to need to use the bathroom every once in a while." Hermione explained, letting her mum lift her slowly to her feet. "Ow…" she whimpered when pressure was placed on the newly healed gash.

Giving her daughter a sympathetic look, Mrs. Granger placed a supporting arm under Hermione's arms and assisted her to the bathroom. Waiting a few minutes outside the door, she then helped Hermione make her way back to bed. "Back to sleep with you." She ordered her.

"Mum…" Hermione said, closing her eyes already.

"Yes dear?" Her mother replied, pausing in the doorway to look back.

"Have I had any visitors while I've been asleep?" she asked drowsily, but with a faint touch of hope in her voice that made her mother sigh with regret.

"I'm afraid not, darling."

"Oh." Was Hermione's disappointed response. She heard the door close with a tiny click and soft footsteps fading down the hall. Before Hermione fell asleep, she thought about Draco, whom she had only received a few letters from since they both left Hogwarts. When was he going to visit her? Perhaps she should try visiting him tomorrow…but that would mean she'd have to go to the Manor. With all she had heard about that place, she didn't actually know where it was. Hermione frowned and drifted off to sleep with worried thoughts floating about her head.

A few days later, Hermione woke to the sound of two very familiar voices. "No way, Harry! You wake her up. She'd never do my homework again."

"Uh, Ron? Schools over, mate. I don't think even you have to do your homework again." Harry's voice sounded amused.

"Oh…right. Sorry, I've used that excuse so many times before; I forget it's not valid." Ron replied. "But still no. I don't think I could wake her up after all she's been through recently. She needs her sleep."

"It has been a week since she defeated Voldemort Ron. I think you'd be safe to wake her now." Harry said coaxingly, and Hermione figured him to be sitting in the chair next to her bed.

Ron sighed and Hermione heard him move next to her bed softly. "Ok, here goes noth- hey wait a minute. You wake her, Harry."

"Me?" Harry asked, apparently incredulous. "It wasn't my idea to come over and visit, therefore you do the waking."

Hermione smiled at this tactic and said, "You mean you wouldn't have visited me unless Ron reminded you to? Shows what a great friend you are." She opened her eyes to see Ron standing over her with a look of relief, obviously happy that he didn't have to wake her up after all.

Harry grinned mischievously, and replied, "Even after he reminded me, I didn't want to come. But he placed a body-binding spell on me, so I had to."

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked up at Ron, motioning him to sit down at the end of her bed. He did, asking "So how have you been?"

She closed her eyes and replied, "Sleeping for the most part, and trying to sleep the rest of the time. My wound hurts almost constantly, but it's healing well. I should be able to get up and walk around within the next day or two."

"That's great, Hermione." Harry commented, and she smiled at him. "Sorry if we woke you up, we thought maybe you would be awake because it's lunch time."

"Just because you two couldn't imagine skipping a meal, doesn't mean I can't." Hermione said. "And I don't mind being woken, I swear I'll turn into a sloth if I keep sleeping at this rate."

Ron laughed, not because it was funny, but to release his relief at finding her well. Harry and Ron had been anxious about her, and put off visiting for a few days longer than intended, for they feared finding her in a sickly state.

"Have you had many visitors?" Harry asked her, taking a sip of the tea Mrs Granger had provided both the boys with before she allowed them to go upstairs.

Hermione looked at him, and answered, "Apparently Professor Flitwick came by last week, but I was sleeping, so I missed that visit. Dumbledore and McGonagall came over yesterday, which was nice of them. They say they're very busy at the moment, Dumbledore especially, with the media. Everyone has to know what happened, so they're attending many conferences and meetings to alert the world. And now, you two. I think everyone just wants to give me time to rest."

Ron frowned. "What about Draco?"

Hermione stomach flipped at the mention of his name, but looked out the window to avoid eye contact with either of the boys. "Um, Dumbledore says he really busy with the media too. Says that because I'm indisposed, he's had to handle all of it himself, what with interviews and stuff."

"Oh." Ron said, "So he hasn't visited?"

"No." Hermione replied softly.

"He will soon, don't you worry Hermione." Harry comforted her. She nodded and waited for them to change the topic of conversation, for at that moment, she was unable to think of anything else but Draco.

Ron and Harry exchanged a look, and began talking of anything that entered their heads. Harry started, "I heard from Simon Harrow, coach of the Speeding Snitches again, they've moved forward training to start in a few weeks, instead of September. I think they need to, to make sure I'm still good enough…"

Ron said quickly, "Mum's really worried about you, she told me to tell you that if you ever want her to cook for you, or if you want to come and recover for a while at the Burrow for a change of scenery, you can always have my bed…"

As Ron faded, Harry began talking again, "Ginny wished that she could have come today, and says she's sorry, but she has exams. Seventh years do finish first, you know. She said she'll try drop by on Saturday, that's in two days…"

Harry glanced at Ron, who thought rapidly and came out with the line, "Does your mum have any food I can eat?"

Hermione giggled, and pointed to her unfinished bowl of vegetable soup. "It should still be warm." She told him, as he reached for it eagerly.

"Shouldn't matter." He replied indifferently, raising the spoon full of lukewarm soup into his mouth.

Harry and Ron stayed for most of the afternoon, and left when Hermione began drifting off to sleep mid-sentence. She told them sleepily to make sure they came with Ginny to visit her again Saturday, or else she would send Dementor's after them.

Later that day...

Swallowing nervously, Draco shifted the flowers in his right hand to his left. He looked over his shoulder at the car that waited for him in the street. He had thought it would be more appropriate to visit a muggle neighborhood in a car, as opposed to aparating, just in case he was seen.

Draco knocked on the front door of Hermione's house and waited. When no-one answered, he frowned and knocked again. Still no-one came to let him in. "What a useless butler she must have." He commented, unimpressed. His eyes wandered over the door, looking for a trick, maybe something that would make his knocking echo through the house. That was when he saw it.

A little button sat on the wall next to the door.

Draco leaned in close and examined it closely. It didn't look as if it would destruct the house if he pressed it. If that's what it was for, the Granger's were just looking for trouble by putting out in the open for anyone to push. Taking a deep breath, he thought he'd try his luck, or else he's never get in.

Hovering his index finger over the little button, he closed his eyes tightly and pressed it. There was no explosion, just a faint chiming noise coming from inside the house. He smiled, pleased with his discovery. He pressed it again, listening to the noise it made.

Draco pressed his ear to the door, hoping to hear it clearer, and pushed the button again. And again. And again.

The door suddenly swung open and Draco nearly fell on top of Hermione's mother, who stood facing him with pursed lips and an irritated expression. She looked him over, noting the flowers in his hand and his previous fascination with the doorbell.

"You must be Draco." She concluded.

He smiled politely, unaware that this was Mrs. Granger, and believing it to a maid. She was wearing an apron after all. He said, "Good evening, I'm here to see Hermione."

"Yes, I gathered that." She replied with a small smile. "Please come in."

He looked longingly at the doorbell, but walked into the house. A man sat on the couch, watching television with his dinner on his lap. The lady who answered the door called over to him, "This is Draco."

The man turned around, and smiled at Draco. "Ah, good to finally have a face for the name. She'll be happy to see you, Draco." He put his dinner on the cushion next to him, and stood up. Making his way over to Draco, he shook his hand. "She's been waiting for you to come."

Draco guiltily looked from Mr. Granger to the maid. "Where is she?"

"Come with me," and with a last glance at Hermione's father, he followed the lady out of the lounge room and into the kitchen. "If you don't mind, I'll get you to take Hermione's dinner up to her. She's been sleeping since Harry and Ron left, which was a good four hours ago. She'll be hungry when you wake her up."

"Sure." Draco agreed. Draco watched the lady, who he now thought might be the cook, dish up two plates of steaming roast chicken and gravy, mashed potato and a pile of mixed vegetables. When she handed them to him on a tray, she winked and said, "The other's for you. I've never heard of a young man who's not hungry at dinner time. Or any other time, mind you."

Draco placed his flowers on the side of the tray and took it with both hands. "Thank-you."

"She's just up the stairs, second door on your left." The cook instructed. Draco nodded in understanding and made his way up the stairs. Walking slowly down the corridor, he stopped outside the door which had the small sign, 'Hermione's Room' on it.

Pushing the door open with his foot, he entered the dimly lit bedroom quietly. He noticed a desk on the far wall, and placed the tray on it, before walking back across the room and closing the door. He faced the room and looked around it, seeing the large bookshelf, almost overflowing with different texts, the desk with their dinner also contained many books, and so did the floor.

He glanced at the bed on his right, and was startled to see a pair of large brown eyes watching him. The rest of Hermione was hidden underneath her big blanket. He smiled at her and walked over to the bed and knelt next to it. "You're awake. Your cook said you were asleep."

"I was sleeping, very soundly too, until I heard the doorbell ring at least five times in a row. Then I realized you must be here." She replied. Then she frowned, as if only just hearing the second part of his sentence. "I don't have a cook."

"You don't?" Draco asked in confusion. "Well that's strange. I don't mean to alarm you Hermione, but there's a lady in the kitchen, and she cooked your dinner. If you want I can go down there and demand she leave at once."

Hermione smiled slightly, and she leaned forwards and hugged Draco tightly. "I've missed you."

"I know, your father told me." He said, hugging her tightly. When she pulled away slightly, he kissed her softly then stood up. "I brought you dinner." He walked over to her desk, picked up the tray and presented it to her proudly. "Here it is."

"Ah, I see mum didn't let you come up here without something to eat." Hermione noted, seeing the two plates. "She's been like that with everyone. Dumbledore ended up with her self-created eggplant and pumpkin pie with apple-pie for dessert. He said she wouldn't take no for an answer."

Draco smiled, and handed her the flowers. She sat up in her bed and took them from him with a happy smile. She smelt them and sighed, "I love jonquils."

"I know. You've said that before." He said, handing her dinner to her once she placed the flowers on her bedside table. They ate in silence, as they both realized they were rather hungry once they took the first bite. After the trays had been set aside, Draco scooted his chair closer to the bed and took Hermione's hand in his.

He looked at her in concern, "How have you been? And tell me honestly, I've told you before that I can tell when you're lying."

She smiled at him, then said "I've been…getting better. My wound is healing well." To prove she wasn't lying she pulled down the blanket and lifted up her nightgown to reveal the scarring injury in her side. "See?"

Draco examined it closely, then looked up at her. "That's taking a long time to heal Hermione."

"Dark magic leaves the deepest wounds." She responded.

"So I've heard." Draco said, his voice suddenly sounding strained. Hermione's expression became helpless as Draco's face began to show signs of oncoming tears. As much as he tried, he just couldn't stop the tears building up in his eyes and then streaking down his face. Hermione made space on the bed, grabbed his hand and gently pulled him on to her bed so he was lying next to her.

Draco tried his hardest to block his pain and wipe away his tears, but Hermione just said quietly "Don't be foolish Draco. Your father was a great man and you need to mourn his passing."

A large sob escaped his mouth and he slowly buried his face under Hermione's chin. She wrapped her arms carefully around him and held him as he faced the loss of his father, something he had not admitted to himself since he left Hogwarts a week and a half ago.

Eventually his tears subsided. Draco lifted his head off Hermione's chest and looked at her with watery eyes. She also had been crying, for although she hadn't known Draco's father, Mr. Malfoy had been a strong man, risking his life each day being so near to Voldemort as he worked against him. Had he been discovered before Hermione and Draco's confrontation, Lucius would have been tortured and killed, but not before Voldemort had gotten the names of Hermione and Draco out of him. But Lucius had been clever and secretive, and although his life alongside Credere's was the sacrifice of killing Voldemort, Hermione knew he would have preferred to die and have Voldemort die too, than to allow Voldemort to continue living his evil life.

Draco leaned forward and kissed Hermione gently. Pulling back, he rested his forehead against hers and said weakly, "I don't know what to do."

"I'll help you." She told him, kissing him firmly in reassurance, though she had no idea what to do.

"No." Draco murmured when she pulled away. "I mean I don't know what to do about…everything. There's too much stuff that's changed. Nothing's the same anymore."

Hermione looked at him with a frown. "We are still the same, Draco."

He shook his head. "Even we're not the same." Draco paused as if gathering his thoughts. "Due to leaving Hogwarts, I have to get a job, but I don't really know what to do with myself. But, added to that, you and I had to go and kill the Dark Lord, so I have all the media to deal with and then have been placed in charge of rounding up all the Death Eaters who have disappeared."

He touched a fatigued hand to his brow. "Then there's my fathers death to deal with -"

Hermione cut him off in alarm, "Oh no, I missed his funeral last week! I'm so sorry Draco. I didn't even think to ask how it went."

"It was terrible, but I've put it behind me." He answered, obviously wishing not to talk about it. "But now that he's gone, I've got to look after mother, and the Manor has now passed in to my possession. It's huge, so there's all the pay for servants that aren't house elves to take care of, all the chores must be organized, and all fathers connections to be reestablished." He placed his head in his hands. "It's so much to do. And I know," he said quickly as Hermione started to object, "that you said you'd help, but most of that has to be done as soon as possible, and you missy," Draco poked her on the nose, "need to stay in bed until that disgusting looking wound heals."

Hermione mocked offense. "That's not a very nice thing to say about my wound."

Draco smiled. "Have you seen it? I thought I was being fairly lenient with disgusting, although it fits more in to the category of nauseating."

"Shut up you monster." Hermione said, as her eyelids began to droop. Draco kissed her on the cheek, and slowly got out of the bed.

"You need to sleep, and I think if I stayed here much longer, your cook would come and shoo me out." He said to her quietly.

"That's my mum Draco." She reminded him.

"I thought you said she was a dentist?" he furrowed his brow.

"Both my parents are dentists, but as I've told you before, we're not a rich family like yours. My mother cooks our meals." She smiled at his slow comprehension. "Now get out so I can sleep, and come back as soon as possible."

"Anytime to come and see you in this sickly condition I will, Granger." He said, jokingly reverting to his old way of talking to her. "It makes my day to see you in such pain."

She smiled slightly, although it was almost painful in itself to remember the way they used to treat each other. "And it makes my day to see you."

Draco's cool composure went out the window as his shoulders slumped slightly and he rolled his eyes, saying "Hermione. That's not fair. Now I feel heartless."

She giggled and received his kiss with pleasure. After a few minutes, he was gone and Hermione fell into a deep sleep, with dreams of Draco playing over and over in her head.

A/N – Gosh, it's been so long since the conclusion of The Cabin that I sincerely hope my writing style hasn't changed at all. Thank you to everyone who has longed for the coming of The Manor, and has waited patiently. I have loved all the reviews that have continued to pop up in my e-mail for The Cabin, and I also hope that The Manor, though much shorter than The Cabin, will bring Fan Fictioners out there as much enjoyment.

Thank-you all for support of my writing, and I would love to know what you think of this new addition, "The Manor." So, if you please, I'd love you to review chapter one.

All my fondest wishes for the upcoming holiday season, Halfling.