i will understand those who have decided to leave this story because I have been extremely unfair with the updating- even on my other stories…

I cant apologize enough, and if you don't review because you've forgotten what the hell this story is, it hasn't been updated for so long, I will understand.

Draco sat cross legged on his bed, only half listening to what his mother was saying to him. Occasionally, he would nod or agree, but otherwise, he kept his gaze firmly on the bed sheet.

Narcassia's face was grave as she explained to her son that what happened over the last few days were not his fault, and that he should be thankful that Hermione was there now.

After a few moments however, she became aware that her son's attention was drifting on and off the subject, but she continued talking, now almost glaring at him, and trying to make him listen. After a few fruitless moments, however, Narcassia sighed, and took her eyes off Draco.

"As I understand it, your father is talking with Miss Granger at this minute-" she noticed Draco's back straighten, and he looked up at her. "do not worry yourself so, he isn't harming her."

"Then what is he saying?" Draco asked carefully.

"I believe your father is set in his mind that Miss Granger is not up for the task…that is, going to the ball. Apparently your father thinks that she will wind up embarrassing herself, and shaming you." Narcassia said, lightly waving her hand around. "But we both know what he is like…"

"Yes, we do." Draco said.

Narcassia ignored him. Well, pretended to. "He has asked me to give her lessons-"

"Lessons in what?" Draco interrupted.

"Please Draco, stop talking over me!" Narcassia said snappishly. "Like I was saying, he has asked me to give her lessons in how to behave at such an occasion. Within the next few weeks, I will be teaching Miss Granger how to sit properly, with good posture, how to walk smoothly, head held high, how to talk when spoken to, and with appropriate answers, how to dress for such things, how to dance formerly with a partner, and how to eat with the many cutlery items that will surely be set in front of her."

Draco's mind was buzzing. Hermione? His mother was going to be teaching her how to be more proper?

Narcassia stood. "Speaking of such things as eating, you look terrible dear- come on, we shall join them in the dinning room, and if I'm not mistaken, I believe Miss Granger's lessons shall begin tonight."

She led her son from the room. Draco walked behind her, still musing over the fact that Hermione was going to be given lessons. It was amazing.

They entered the silent dinning room a few minutes later. Draco was suddenly thinking that Hermione was dead, because he couldn't hear her, but she was simply sitting so silently, not even breathing loudly.

"Ahh, my wife…well Miss Granger, it seems that your lessons shall begin in a few moments." Lucius said, looking at her with a cold glare.

Hermione nodded. "It would seem so." She responded.

Narcassia smiled at her. "Come dear, come up this end of the table, so we may have some privacy."

Hermione was all too happy to get away from Lucius, as she suddenly stood, and followed Narcassia down the table, and sat at the end.

She hadn't noticed that so many forks existed in her entire life. Four of them, all different shapes and sizes were laid out neatly to the right of the plate. Three different knives were to the left. There were also three different plates, with the smallest one sitting on top, with the largest on the bottom. A bowl sat neatly on top of the small plate.

They were so clean, that Hermione's reflection stared back at her as she studied the silver patterns on the edge.

"Now my dear," Narcassia said, sitting down next to her. "Straighten your back." Hermione did. "The first dish that you will be served is always soup- well, at our dinners it is anyway. So, a waiter will pour a curtain amount, and what you are given, you eat."

"But there are no spoons." Hermione said, looking around.

Narcassia smiled. "A waiter will normally hand you one if it isn't already laid out." She paused. "Right so, you would elegantly drink your soup, taking careful sips from the spoon…in fact," just as she was speaking, a little house elf ran forward with a cauldron full of soup.

He carefully poured some into Hermione's bowl, then into Narcassia's. He also handed them a spoon before disappearing down the table to the other end to serve Lucius and Draco, who were watching her carefully.

"Right so, take your spoon, and dip it into the bowl, but take the soup from the edge of the bowl- it is cooler there you see." Narcassia dipped her spoon into the bowl, only half filling it, before elegantly blowing on it, then sipping it silently.

Hermione did the same, feeling utterly stupid- this was totally stupid. She felt like a baby, learning how to eat.

"Remember your posture dear." Narcassia said softly. "Always hold the spoon in your right hand."

After a few grueling moments, the bowl disappeared, and Narcassia moved on.

"Right, now, after the soup, there will be a plate of salad. Use the second smallest fork for this one dear."

Hermione picked up a fork with three pointy bits.

"Never fill the fork up with food- only half way, and that is plenty." Narcassia said as the middle sized plate filled with green lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, and capsicum.

(A/N: I really don't know any of this, so I'm making it up okay? I hope it sounds alrihgt…and I don't know what they have in their salads, but that's whats basically in my familys salad, so it will have to do.  keep reading!!!)

"Why?" Hermione asked, carefully poking the fork into the lettuce.

"If someone asks you an important question my dear, you want to be able to swallow quickly without choking!" Narcassia smiled. "Remember, fork in right hand, the same as the spoon. Normally, you would take the salad from the outside, but that is getting far too technical."

Ill say Hermione thought, bitterly as she swallowed the lettuce.

"After the salad, there is usually a meat plate." Narcassia said as the plate disappeared. "Carefully put the salad fork back where it was, and pick up the fork with the longest prongs." Narcassia smiled when Hermione had the fork in her hand. "And the sharpest knife."

Once Hermione was equipped, Narcassia told her to hold the fork in her left hand, while the knife in her right. When she was done, a plate with a juicy stake, topped with a tea spoon of sour scream and a sprinkle of chives appeared.

"Always cut your meat in a small triangle…that's right dear…remember your posture!"

And so it went on. After the meat plate, which had used the large plate, the smallest plate appeared, with a weird looking thing turned upside down with chocolate sauce sliding down its sides.

"Now, use your smallest fork, and carefully cut a small piece off at the side." Narcassia said.

Hermione did. This was so stupid.

"And that, my dear, is a simple meal done." Narcassia smiled at Hermione who looked slightly disappointed when the desert disappeared.

"What is the other fork used for? And the knives?" Hermione asked curiously.

"It all depends on the meal. This fork, for example, is a shrimp fork. The other knives depend on what is being served."

Hermione nodded.

"Well, now, lets see how you go eating without my help." Narcassia snapped her fingers and the plates reappeared, clean and ready to go. The little house elf appeared again, poured more soup into the bowl and handed her a spoon. Narcassia politely declined the offer of soup.

"I should tell you now dear," Narcassia said before Hermione started. "That if you are in conversation while eating, never leave the spoon in the bowl, or rest your elbow on the table. Always hold the spoon slightly above the bowl until you have said your piece. Never, not once should your elbow touch the table until the end of the meal."

Hermione nodded, already sick of these lessons, then carefully dipped the spoon into the soup at the edge of the bowl, made sure it wasn't dripping, and silently sipped it.

Before, she hadn't noticed a taste, but this time, the soup tasted like chicken, mixed with some sort of vegetable.

Hermione continued until she could no longer get the soup without tipping the bowl up. She put the spoon down and waited.

"Well done dear." Narcassia beamed. "Salad plate next."

Hermione hesitated a minute, before remembering the right fork. She couldn't believe she was doing this.

Thankfully, she managed to finish all the courses, without spilling any of it, and without help. Narcassia said she was so proud, and glanced up the table where Draco was watching her with a smile on his face, and Lucius nodded his head in approval.

"Well my dear, seeing as we have time, I believe I will take you to the sitting room, and show you how to sit properly, and make casual conversation." Narcassia had just pushed her chair back when they all heard the front doors bust open, a house elf squealing at someone to wait until his master was ready to see him, before the doors to the dinning room opened.

Wormtail stood there, his cloak on, and the hood up, but his face shined through it, smiling demonically at them. His eyes settled on Hermione, and seemed to widen in surprise before narrowing slightly.

"Is this what you have replaced honorable house guests with Lucius?" he asked coldly.

"Well, she is more welcome in my house hold then you currently Wormtail. After breaking in here, and tying my wife up?" Lucius's stare was a chip off an iceberg. "Not to mention drinking our liquor."

Wormtail grinned. "But how could I resist? Your wife obviously told you I would be returning…how lovely,"

"Get out of my home." Lucius said, his voice low, but it somehow echoed off the walls.

"Come Draco, and Hermione…I think we shall leave." Narcassia said, quickly glancing meaningful at them, then leading them past Wormtail and closing the door behind them.

"Will father be alright mother?" Draco asked as Narcassia led them quickly down the corridor and up the main stair case.

"Of course." She snapped, though fear was lining her eyes. "Your father can take care of himself." She led them along the corridor, before stopping at a dark door. "Now Draco, you can either return to your room, or come in here with us. But under no circumstances are you to return downstairs, do I make myself clear?"

"Of course mother." Draco said, quickly weighing his options. Hmm, stay here and watch Hermione make casual conversation while probably dripping tea down her shirt, or return to his room and have a much needed shower? "I'll go to my room."

Narcassia eyed him suspiciously before nodding. "Alright, but stay there Draco. There will be Merlin's beard to pay if your father catches you eavesdropping."

Draco nodded, then quickly continued along the corridor.

"Come on in Hermione." Narcassia said, opening the door for her.



Draco closed his bed room door behind him. He walked quickly over to his broom, then proceeded to his balcony. Well, his mother had said there would only be trouble if his father caught him. And Draco didn't plan on getting caught, now did he?

He descended quietly on his broom, the sun was only just setting. He followed the manor wall until he came to a window that was slightly open.

Draco landed silently, hid his broomstick in a near by bush, and crept up to the window, and sat down, listening to the conversation taking place inside.

"Why are you here Wormtail?" his father asked, his cold voice obvious.

"The dark lord sent me Lucius." Wormtail's said, and Draco could almost hear the smirk. "We miss you."

Both Draco and Lucius snorted.

"Somehow I doubt that you would miss me Wormtail."

"No, you are quite right there. I haven't missed you, but the dark lord is wondering why you didn't come when he called?" Wormtail raised a curious eye brow. "And I must say, I am quite curious myself."

"Well I was taking care of some personal business Wormtail," Lucius said evenly.

"Of course." Wormtail nodded. "Something to do with your son?"

Lucius's eyes blazed with silver fire. "As a matter of fact, yes, it was, but you wouldn't know anything about that, now would you?"

"Well of course I do Lucius!" Wormtail clucked his tongue. "But we both know better then to speak of the missions the dark lord gives us."

"So it was your sniveling little backside that attacked my son?" Lucius's fury was so obvious, and his eyes were so icy, that even Wormtail felt his confidence falter. "I should have known. I trust the dark lord, but why would he send you to attack my son? And kill a Slytherin daughter?" he added.

"Well, killing Miss Aj was an unfortunate mistake…she wanted to attack me before I could do anything- I was actually planning just to knock her out…well…whoops" Wormtail sarcastically covered his mouth with his hand. "And as for your son…well really Lucius, I am surprised you have to ask!"

"Tell me why, or I swear under Merlin's sun that I will curse you so badly that time itself will unwind!" Lucius calmly took out his want and pointed it at Wormtail's heart, who again felt his confidence slip for a moment.

"You know that anything you do to me will be revisited upon ten fold by the dark lord?" Wormtail asked, trying to strengthen his voice.

"I know that now, but you wont be around to witness it. Your body will be in pieces!" Lucius spat the last word, and the walls of the dinning room shook under the weight of his anger.

Draco felt it through the wall he was leaning on. Man, Wormtail was in soo much trouble.

"Tell me why."

"Isn't that obvious?" Wormtail asked after regaining his footing. "Your son is close to the Mudblood, who is friends with Potter. Put the pieces together Lucius, you're a smart boy."

Lucius's eyes narrowed so they were like a snakes. He had had enough. His curse was so quick that Wormtail didn't know what hit him, as he hit the closed dinning room doors, and slid to the ground in a pile.

Lucius surveyed the pile in amazement. Wow that felt fantastic!

He took a few steps closer before stopping and glancing at the window to his right. "Well Draco, don't just sit there, come and help me move this bastard off our property!"



Draco winced before standing, and sliding in through the window. "How did you know?" he pouted. He was preparing himself for a large angry shout, but none came.

His father only smirked. "Please Draco, you are my son."

Draco nodded. "Now what?"

"Like I said, help me get this bastard off our property- then I must go." Lucius levitated Wormtail's body.

"Go where?" Draco asked curiously, following his father from the dinning room and out of the manor.

"I must speak with the dark lord in person." Lucius muttered as they followed the darkening path towards the iron gates. He dumped Wormtail's body heavily on the ground. "Now, take him down the road, into town and look for the worst motel you can find…muggle accommodation." He said when Draco looked blank. "Do not bother paying son- just tell them he will pay when he wakes."

And with that, Lucius was gone in a pop.

"Sure, okay." Draco said quietly to himself. "Accio Broom!"

in a few seconds, his broom was racing towards him, and stopping before him. Draco climbed on, levitated Wormtail's body in front of them, then raced off down the road, towards the muggle town a few minutes away.



Narcassia had led Hermione into a room with books lining the walls, a fireplace, and two lush couches.

Sitting down, Narcassia handed Hermione a black cup of tea and saucer, with silver trimmings.

"Now, my dear, I do not want to make you feel stupid, but drinking tea is an art." Narcassia began, taking a sip with her pinky held out. Hermione had only ever seen her grandmother do it.

Hermione nodded, and took a sip, making sure she held her pinky out.

"And casual conversation isn't like normal conversations…" Narcassia smiled. "My dear, your hair is looking absolutely beautiful today!" Hermione felt herself blush, and realized that Narcassia's casual conversation usually meant to make someone feel better about themselves, or take an interest in the person talking.

"Never tell a lie in casual conversation dear, for it always reflects in your eyes- and if there are more then two people in the conversation, then they will surely react if it's a lie. So, no lying." Narcassia smiled again. Then her smile faded, and she looked out the window. "That boy never listens!"

"Excuse me?" Hermione asked, puzzled- was this casual conversation?

"Oh nothing, its Draco- he never listens…even now he is leaving his room preparing to eavesdrop…well, I hope Lucius doesn't notice…" Narcassia paused then smiled. "So, once you have taken a sip of your tea, place it back on the saucer and rest it carefully on your lap- no, never cross your legs…makes it easier for the tea to spill. Just tuck one ankle under the other…yes, there you are. Much safer."

Hermione looked around, trying to think of something to say. "So, how is life?"

Narcassia smiled, shaking her head. "No, never say it like that dear- so many possibilities! Always elaborate on a part of someone's life, for instance, if you know they are married, or have children, ask how they are. Or if you know their job, and know something is happening, for example, say I worked at the ministry in the spell department, and you heard about a new spell, ask me about it." She paused. "If you can't say something to get someone interested in you, and listen to what you are saying, then take an interest in them- talking about things that you know they like."

Hermione nodded slowly- drinking tea wasn't the damn art! It was bloody casual conversation!

"Posture Hermione, Posture!" Narcassia reminded. "Right, so using previous example, that I work at in ministry, but you don't know that. Try and start a conversation."

Hermione nodded, then took a deep breath, plastering a sweet smile on her face. "So, Narcassia, what is it that you do?"

"Me? Why, I work at the Ministry, in the Spells department." Narcassia replied, smiling back. "Very interesting, I must say…but oh, I am rambling…"

"No, please, I would love to hear about it." Hermione said, now realizing that it was much easier then she thought. "I recently read somewhere that more spells are being formulated to help a Witch with everyday house work?"

She saw the surprise behind Narcassia's eyes, before she replied. "Yes, of course there is!" she laughed. "If you are a mother of six young witches and wizards running around with fake wands and setting things alight, well you do not want to focus too much on what the rest of your house is doing, do you?"

"No, I suppose not…" Hermione said, her smile falling a little. "Do you have any children of your own?"

Narcassia's eyes brightened. "Why yes, I have two boys, and one little girl."

Hermione took a sip of the tea, and placed it back in her lap.

"Well done Hermione!" Narcassia said, slipping out of character. "See that? We talked for nearly five minutes!"

"Wasn't too hard…" Hermione admitted. It had just seemed to flow.

"No, but of course, it will never be that easy, for instance, if you ask if someone has children and they reply that they did, but the children are now de-" Narcassia cut herself off as there was a low shudder through the ground, followed shortly by an extremely loud BANG. She quickly glanced at Hermione, before taking a steadying breath. "Dead, then you must offer your condolences then back track the conversation to something happier, and get off the topic."

"What was that?" Hermione asked.

"Never mind that dear. Just ignore it…I am sure…everything's fine." She smiled. "Right, now, you know I work at the ministry, and you know I have children, but lets say I am wearing a wedding ring, so you ask me about my husband."

Hermione nodded. "So, Narcassia, does your husband work at the ministry with you?"

Immediately, Narcassia was back in character, and her smile faded. "No, he was going to then…then he died…"

Hermione's mind raced…what now? Oh right, condolences. "I am so sorry to hear that." How was she supposed to change the subject to something happier? Then something clicked… "I must say, I know what you are feeling."

This wasn't the reply Narcassia had expected, that much was obvious. "Oh?"

"Yes…I am not married, but people close to me have died before…" Hermione was referring to her grandmother. "But I find it better to not dwell on the past too much…but I would like to know more about your job…what else are you working on?"

"Nice Hermione, very nice, but remember, if you hesitate that much in a real conversation, then the person opposite you will become suspicious." Narcassia warned. "Now, I am going to ask you some questions, and see how you go at answering them."

Hermione nodded, taking another sip of tea.

"I heard somewhere Hermione that you are extremely smart…"

Hermione nodded slowly.

"I must confess that I was rather brainy at your age…but let me give you warning- if you show off, it will only back fire on you later…brains are only good if you have company."

Hermione personally disagreed, but she smiled sweetly anyway. "Is that so?"

"Yes, no one likes someone who is full of too much self confidence, and suffocates you so you think the way they think."

"I can assure you that I don't do that." Hermione said lightly.

"Oh, but I heard that you did…" Narcassia said carefully, eyeing Hermione closely.

Was this the character speaking, or Narcassia's personal opinion?

"Really? Where did you hear something like that?" Hermione asked, raising her hand to scratch her nose, but Narcassia stopped her.

"No, never do that dear! That tells them that you are nervous, and are stalling the conversation- if they ask you this, then they are purposefully putting pressure on you. Don't hesitate in your answers, but don't lie either." Narcassia said quickly, then slipped back into character, with a pleasant smile on her face. "Oh, it was just mentioned a couple of days ago with some of my lady friends."

"I am flattered that I came up into the conversation, even if it were for the wrong things." Hermione said, slightly forgetting that she was just acting this. "I can assure you, that I do not suffocate people with my opinions…" it took her a second to realize that she was doing that very thing right then. "So if you were smart, I bet that you did very well in your school studies?"

Narcassia smiled. "Lovely Hermione, really well done. You recovered nicely, but remember, they are doing that on purpose." She looked at Hermione's nose. "and if you scratch your nose, do it while there is a pause from both parties in the conversation." She smiled. "I think that will end it for the moment…"

Hermione sighed in relief and stood up.

"Right, come with me, and I will show you to your room."

Hey, sorry about this chapter…I melted it with another one because they were both short, so they melted and formed one longer chapter…

I might have dragged on with the whole casual conversation thing, but trust me, Hermione's going to need it later on!
And as for Wormtail, well, lets just say he got what he deserved!