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Chapter Twenty Two

Malfoy Manor was timeless, elegant, and at least a few centuries old. The sight of the familiar ancestral home brought back all sorts of memories for Hermione and she had some trouble grasping that the vision in front of her had hardly changed throughout the years. The only noticeable difference she was able to pinpoint was the height of the trees and species of plants grown around the grounds.

"What do you think?" Abraxas asked, squeezing her hand softly with his own. The sound of nature around them under the clear night sky with twinkling stars overhead as they walked to the front door of his family home.

"It has a certain charm," Hermione replied cheekily and grinned up at him when he looked down his nose at her with a smirk.

Without even knocking, the front door of the house cracked open and an older, beautiful, raven-haired witch was revealed. She wore a wide grin before going to hug the man next to her and kiss his cheek affectionately. It was obvious that the woman in front of her was Abraxas's mother and the clear love between the two was something that made her heart pang in her chest.

"Mother, must we do this every time you see me?" asked Abraxas in a weary tone, silently hoping she hadn't left a lipstick mark on his face.

"Of course we do! I'm your mother, it's part of my job description," she joked, pulling away from him. Her gaze slipped from Abraxas and widened when they locked on Hermione.

The aristocratic witch, dressed in rich purple robes, moved towards her without sparing a second glance to her son and came after Hermione with a certain gleam in her cerulean colored eyes that made Hermione crack a nervous smile. The brunette fought the urge to fidget in place for only a second before she was engulfed in a warm hug.

"I'm so pleased to finally be meeting you, my dear," she said happily before letting her go. "I'm Elena Malfoy."

"I could have introduced you both had you allowed me to do so," Abraxas muttered good-naturedly and the other woman chuckled.

"Oh, where is the fun in formal introductions? I have to suffer through enough of those when I go to functions with your father. Besides, I'm meeting your girlfriend for the first time and it's an unwritten rule that I get to greet her however I please. You're just lucky I didn't decide to start out with baby pictures," Elena said in a tone that made Hermione giggle and Abraxas to sputter in horror.

"I'm Hermione, it's nice to meet you as well," the curly haired witch introduced herself when she was able to stop laughing.

Elena's bubbly personality was infectious and Hermione felt her anxiety about this dinner slowly slip away as the couple was ushered into the house from the front porch. As soon as the door was closed behind them, Hermione was immediately taken by the hand by Elena and led through the massive house.

"I love her," Hermione murmured to Abraxas and walked with Elena through one of the many hallways of the old home.

"Hermione, you'll have to forgive me, you're the first woman he's ever brought home," Elena said. "I'm afraid if I let you out of my sight you might vanish into thin air."

"She is a witch so that is a possibility," Abraxas answered wryly, his lips twitching when he heard Hermione chuckle.

Unlike the outside, the inside of Malfoy Manor was quite different. The décor embodying the house could easily be as old as the house itself and was almost unrecognizable to Hermione. It was clear that Elena and Narcissa had very different tastes in home décor.

"And this is where we part ways. I need to check on dinner and your father. He was suppose to be down here already, but I have a feeling he's still held up in his office," Elena said with a fond gleam in her eyes.

"See you in a minute," Abraxas nodded, before leading Hermione into the open living room and was hardly surprised to see a lone figure waiting for them leaning against the mantle of the fireplace.

"Hey Jack," he said with a wide smile when he saw his best friend. He pulled the other wizard into a quick man hug that had Hermione fighting a smile. "I didn't know you'd be here."

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this for all the gold in Gringotts," Jack said with an impish grin, his green eyes full of mischief as he inclined his head towards Hermione. "Hello little Gryffindor."

The time traveling witch smiled at the familiar nickname before giving him a small hug. For once, the surly Potions Apprentice did not smell of a freshly brewed potion. She chalked it up to the fact that he was wearing rather nicely made dress robes and doubted he ever brewed in them.

"Hello sneaky Slytherin," she greeted back once he had released her.

"I see you've already met Elena. She's a bit eccentric, but you get use to her after a while. Just be prepared to receive more than your fair share of hugs this evening and don't be surprised if she has your wedding to my dear brother all planned out by the time you leave," he warned cheerfully, clapping Abraxas on the shoulder, smirking when the other man glared at him.

"Not funny, mate," Abraxas replied while trying to shrug Jack's hand off his shoulder.

"So how's your research on Polyjuice Potion fairing? Have you made any progress?" Hermione asked, changing the subject while trying to process the information she was just given.

Jack gave her a shrug before crossing his arms over his chest. "It's still in the brewing stage and won't be trial ready for another few weeks. All I'm lacking are a few test subjects to experiment on, but when the time comes I think there will be a few students on the verge of failing Potions who would be quite eager for some extra credit."

"Jack!" Hermione said in a shocked gasp that had both men in the room snickering. "You cannot test experimental potions on students that don't have an antidote!"

The mop-top blonde smiled wickedly. "Yes I can. In fact, I even have the Headmaster's seal of approval."

"You have got to-" she began.

In front of them, Caelum Malfoy appeared at the door and paused under the archway. He was impeccably dressed in rich green robes while giving them all an amused look. "Jack, if you could refrain from distressing the guest of honor it would be highly appreciated."

"It's hardly my fault the woman gets all riled up at the mere mentioning of doing my job as a Potion's Apprentice," Jack argued back, only to have Caelum raise up a placating hand.

"Nevertheless, I don't think it's proper dinner decorum to rile up our guest before she's even sat down for dinner," Caelum replied with an arched eyebrow before he turned his attention to Hermione. "Miss Green, it's a pleasure to see you again. Welcome to our home."

"Thank you, Mister Malfoy. It's a pleasure to see you again as well. Please, call me Hermione," she said politely and was relieved when the older man gave her a reserved smile.

"Only if you'll call me, Caelum."

"Caelum," she replied, the name sounding strange on her tongue.

"Now, I was sent down here to fetch you three for dinner. I expect you all to be in the dining room in less than five minutes," he said with an air of finality before disappearing from the doorway, leaving the trio alone once more.

Everyone appeared to have their regular spot where they sat on evenings like this, so Hermione hesitated slightly after Abraxas when they entered the dining room. In her own time, she usually sat next to Draco on the left side towards the middle of the same overly large dining table. However, now she found herself in a room with a Malfoy family from the past and if it wasn't painfully obvious to her that she didn't belong in this time before, it was almost crystal clear now. The impulse she felt in her gut to run away from her current situation and never look back was overwhelming.

Abraxas had already gone ahead of her to pull out one of the high-backed chairs out for her to take a seat. "Poppet? Care to join us?"

Taking a deep breath to clear her mind, the curly haired witch nodded and smiled as her wizard's face softened at her expression.

Once Hermione was seated next to Abraxas, he took one of her hands in his own and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He watched as the rest of his family took their own seats and soon the plates of food were being levitated around the long table from person to person with small talk being made here and there.

As Abraxas smacked Jack's hand away and gave him a withering stare for attempting to steal his one of his breadsticks, his mother directed the conversation over to his witch. "So, Hermione, my son tells me you're from America?"

"Yes, I am."

"But you were born here, correct?" Caelum asked from the other side of his wife as he dug into his pasta.

Hermione nodded and felt Abraxas rub his thumb over their combined hands idly. "I was born here, but had to move when my grandmother became ill and after she died we remained there."

"I remember Dumbledore mentioning that, but I'm afraid my memory isn't what it use to be," Caelum replied with an apologetic smile.

"You attended an American Wizarding school?" Elena asked curiously, her eyes settled on Hermione intently.

"I did."

"It's a shame you didn't get the opportunity to attend Hogwarts. Maybe you and Abraxas could've had the pleasure of meeting sooner," Caelum replied with a knowing smirk that made Abraxas want to glare at him. His father knew entirely too much for his liking.

"Oh, I don't think so," Jack said, dabbing his mouth free of tomato sauce.

"What do you mean?" Elena replied with a furrowed brow.

"Our dear Hermione is a Gryffindor. Dumbledore allowed her to try on the Sorting Hat and chances of them interacting had she gone to Hogwarts are slim to none," he replied plainly with mirth dancing in his emerald eyes.

"A Gryffindor, eh? That's wonderful!" Elena said happily as Hermione fought off a blush while Abraxas made a mental note to hex Jack later for causing her discomfort.

"It is?" The elder Malfoy wizard asked from beside his wife and visibly blanched when she shot him a reproachful look.

"Of course it is," Elena added, taking a quick drink of her water before she spoke once more. "I myself am a Ravenclaw and as much as I love my Slytherin family, it's nice to have someone from another house around the dinner table."

Hermione sighed in relief at Elena's words. She didn't know how the predominantly Slytherin family would feel about her Gryffindor lion status, but was elated that Abraxas's own mother was not a Slytherin as she once believed. "You weren't sorted into Slytherin?"

"Merlin no. I'm a Ravenclaw through and through. It's a wonder I put up with this lot sometimes," she replied gesturing to her family with an exasperated look that had Hermione grinning.

"Did you hear that mate? Mummy doesn't love us like she always said she did," Jack quipped, sarcasm dripped from his lips as he wiped away an imaginary tear.

Abraxas sniffed mockingly, playing along with his friend. "All we ever did was love her and this is the thanks we get."

Caelum was chuckling softly next to his wife as she rolled her eyes with a wry smile on her classically beautiful face. "See what I mean? These three will be the death of me."

"Now, now, darling, we aren't that bad," her husband soothed, looking down at her in a fond way that Hermione had often seen between her own parents.

"You're just lucky you're handsome," Elena murmured amusedly before pressing a light kiss to her husband's lips, causing both young men across the table to make gagging noises.

"Oh, would you two grow up," Caelum replied with a sneer. "For Salazar's sake, we're having dinner with your girlfriend Abraxas so do not act as if you haven't done this before."

"Yeah Abraxas, act your age," Jack muttered innocently before he polished off the last of his meal.

Hermione snorted. "This coming from the man who whines like a first year about a job he willingly took."

"Oi! If you had to work with the bumbling oaf that is Horace Slughorn then you'd be bloo-" Caelum was quick to clear his throat with an arched eyebrow as he interrupted Jack and the beginnings of what sounded like a curse filled tangent. Hermione giggled at Jack's put out face at being cut off while Abraxas's shoulders shook with silent laughter.

The conversation continued to flow freely amongst the Malfoys, warm and caring, gently teasing one another. Over desert of cheesecake, Elena regaled tales from Abraxas childhood, making Hermione smile and giggle at certain points as she tried to imagine a little Abraxas doing all sorts of adorable things. Abraxas was less than thrilled about his mother telling embarrassing stories from his past to the woman he loved, but as long as she wasn't questioning them about a wedding he would continue to suffer in silence.

However, Jack was anything but silent when his name was dragged into one of the stories. He swore up and down that he fell into the lake on the grounds of Malfoy Manor because he tripped and not because one of the peacocks outside had chased him into it. This caused a roar of laughter all around the table along with several head shakes. It was clear the blonde was just trying to save what little dignity he had left and was doing a poor job of it.

Hermione giggled happily at Jack's angry scowl when nobody bought his story and sneaked a peek up at Abraxas. She could stare at him for hours. He had light stubble over his chin that glinted in the candle light and her fingers itched to stroke it and feel it against her face. She blushed at the direction of her thoughts and as if on cue he peered down to look at her, his lips turning to a smirk when he noticed the look in her eyes.

"Enjoying the view, Poppet?" he asked huskily, bringing her hand up to kiss the back of it.

Like the dinner plates, the dessert plates were cleared magically and the party moved to the formal living room to continue their time together. Abraxas feigned interest as Jack told his parents about his latest research project, he'd already heard it all and his mind was more focused on the woman who sat next to him. He placed his hand on her knee idly, letting his long fingers travel up her thigh. He suppressed a smirk when he heard her breath catch before she laced his fingers with her own.

"Shall I give you a tour of the grounds?" he asked quite openly, wanting to be anywhere other than in a room with his parents and his best friend at the moment.

Hermione gave him a shy smile before nodding in ascent. He pulled her up by the hand, effectively drawing the attention of the others.

"Excuse us," Abraxas said and his parents waved the pair off while Jack shot him a knowing look before delving back into his discussion of his research projects.

They sauntered out the back door and stepped onto a patio area lit by candles in lanterns hung high above them on the old brick walls. The two passed under a tall tree with a thick trunk where a large peacock was perched on one of the lower branches as they strolled further away from the Manor. Through a small garden and exited through a small fence that wrapped around the patio.

After they had been walking out in the lush forested area for close to ten minutes, Hermione started to wonder just where Abraxas was taking her, but decided just to follow his lead. He seemed to know where he was going, unlike Draco who had gotten lost the first time he attempted to show her the grounds. Another five minutes later, walking in comfortable silence, Abraxas pushed back some low hanging branches to step out into a clearing that surrounded a large lake.

A pleased sigh escaped Abraxas lips and he turned to smile at Hermione before facing the calming lake once more. "Amazing, isn't it? I always come here when I want to want to relax," he said contently.

Hermione looked around at the clear under-brushed forest of trees. She could tell that it had probably taken a lot of time and wand power to keep up its' current condition. It really was a peaceful place. She felt her own heart rate slow inside her chest at the tranquility of it all and took a deep breath as she stepped past the dense branches. However, it was the untroubled and happy look on his face that made her really appreciate the value of what he was showing her. It was a look on his face that she always loved to see on him.

"Is this the lake that Jack was chased into?" Hermione asked, looking down intently at the water in front of her. She had a feeling that the body of water held more than met the eye, but knew from experience she did not want to encounter whatever lay beneath the surface.

Abraxas nodded his head with a chuckle. "Yes, he still won't step foot anywhere near here since that bird attacked him," he explained with a fond smile.

"It's beautiful," she said, her brown eyes moving from the lake to match his gray ones. "But why did you bring me here?"

He moved closer to her while his lips twitched up into a crooked grin. She automatically leaned into him, something she found herself doing a lot when he was near, and he looked down his nose at her. He brought a hand up to stroke her chin with the pad of his thumb. "I wanted to share my favorite place with my favorite person."

"And?"

"And," he repeated in a low tone, leaning down until his mouth hovered over hers, close enough to share the same breath. "I couldn't very well do this in front of my family."

"Do wha-" Hermione attempted to ask before she felt the whisper of his lips on hers and then he pulled back with a crooked grin.

"This."

His kiss was less tentative than the previous one and her eyes fell shut as his warm lips pressed against hers. They left a lingering tingle as they always did when he drew away once more.

"Come here."

"I am here," she said slightly breathless and with a hint of confusion. She was still lost in their last kiss, her brains effectively scattered all around. Abraxas had been the only man to have ever put her in such a state.

"I need you closer," he whined huskily, the look of arousal in her eyes causing the throbbing between his legs to intensify.

His long fingers slipped through her hair to cradle the back of her head and this time her lips touched his mouth first, a firm gentle touch that made his head spin. The kiss was slow, wet, and deep. His lips were cocky and hurried against hers, as if his family wasn't awaiting their return.

"I've been wanting to do that all evening," Abraxas murmured against her lips before pulling away entirely.

"I can tell," she said shakily, still reeling from their kisses.

He snorted in amusement as he pressed a kiss to the top of her forehead. "We'd better head back now before they send a search party."

She nodded thoughtfully and allowed him to place her hand in the crook of his arm as he steered them back in the direction of the Manor.

Like it? Love it? I'm interested to know. Please review :) Below is my author's note!

Okay so I know it's been a hell of a long time, but life has a way of getting in the way of writing. There's also the fact that this chapter fought with me at every click and clack of my keyboard. I cannot begin to tell you how many ways this could have gone, but it's finished now and I'm happy with it.

Again, thank you to all the people who follow, favorite, and review the story. The support is highly appreciated and I always love to read the things you write in reviews. The theories you all have never fail to make me grin. And to those who were inquiring when I was going to update again, TADA!

A special thanks to my beta, firefly81, who does a tremendous job of sifting through all my mistakes