The door closed behind two women leaving him and Draco utterly confused. 'What just happened? What is she planning now?' He looked at Draco, what he felt was clearly written on the boy's face.
„Close your mouth, Draco, it is unbecoming of you." He drawled, Draco turned to gaze at him, still baffled
„Did mother just said she is going to drink tea with Bucktooth?"
„Please Draco, Miss Granger or Granger. Do try not to behave like you had no upbringing whatsoever." He corrects the boy automatically, the years of being professor enabling him to do so even if his mind still swirls with questions 'What is she planning?'
„That is not fair!" whines Draco „She calls me Ferret-face."
„Do you feel compelled to stoop to that level?" he mocked 'What is she going to tell her?' his mind, however, slipping slowly but persistently to panic 'She knows so much about me, more than I am willing to be shared.'
„No, you are correct, I apologize." Whispers Draco, lowering his head
„Did you talk to your father?"
„No, not yet. I did talk to her, she floo-called me this morning." Smiles Draco, fondness sipping into his voice, and dives into a detail transcription of their conversation, but he listens with only quarter of attention.
His thoughts are with two females that left the room. Another unsettling thought injected itself 'Narcissa is not the only one who can reveal privileged data.'
In a way he is glad that Narissa decided to take the girl under her wing, Grange's lack of proper behaviour is tiring and annoying. One would think that the person who reads that much would at least try to educate itself. But, the rub is, she couldn't know, no one ever tried to properly integrate Muggle-borns to wizarding society...they would just shove them in and let them swim or sink. This smug, uncaring attitude is a part of why purebloods have negative feelings towards Muggle-borns. Muggle-borns and half-bloods raised in strictly Muggle word are not prepared to face the wizarding world properly, and it is not their fault that no one tried to teach them. Sure he is aware that wizarding world is almost as good as frozen in times, they didn't even pick the good era to be stuck in...but, outsiders, Muggle-borns more so than half-bloods, coming from more technologically advanced and interpersonal relations relaxed society just couldn't fit right in. From the purely wizarding point of view, their behaviour equalled like one would enter the poshest restaurant he can find and start eating soup with a fork.
„Are you listening to me?" snapped Draco
„To my misfortune I do, what I do not hear is you finding the solution." He scolds Draco in hope to jolt him into action „You are misleading that poor girl."
„I do not! I never hid anything from her. She knows I love her, she is also aware of my situation." Pouted Draco and once again starts the story about the girl, he returned to his thoughts.
The girl needed someone. Normally, the mother-in-law to be would school the girl, or father-in-law if the situation is reversed. He took care and implemented obligatory weekly gatherings in Slytherin common room to teach the half-bloods to a wizarding ways. He was sure that Molly would teach the girl once she gets to the right age, but Weasley's were nothing if not odd and unconventional. Even the Lovegood girl had proper if absurdly crazy, upbringing. The decision to follow the rules was individual, but lack of knowledge was problematic, it created a deep chasm of misunderstanding.
He sighs, how many times he argued with Albus to implement a course for Muggle-borns and half-bloods, with no result. Yes, Cissa would definitely be useful for the girl, if they do not kill each other, that is.
„Severus, you are not listening to me..."
„I apologize Draco." He breathed out „Your mother just jogged my memory about something."
„And what would that be?"
„Oh, just the topic I often argued about with Dumbledore. To no result, I might add."
The door flung open and they stopped talking, Granger girl burst in, red in the face, with a deep frown. She didn't pay attention to them, but approached her trunk and dug through it taking three bundles before warding her trunk again and rushing out of the room. Draco looked at him
„What do you think this was all about?"
„Do I look like I am with them?"
„No, but...you share the room with her...what she could take from there?"
„Any number of things."
„I don't like this." Draco shoved his hands in the pockets and balled them into fists, he looks nervous
„What are you afraid off Draco?"
„That they talk about me." His voice quivered slightly
„Not to burst your bubble, but..." he coughs a laugh „...Granger followed your mother armed with parchment, which would inform any careful observer that she has questions."
„Questions about what?"
„Your mother sent a book to Granger few days before, a book about etiquette."
Draco's eyes grew wide and scared, glancing around like the boy is looking for the means to escape, he had to laugh.
„Relax Draco, I believe that Narcissa just got tired from the lack of proper behaviour Miss Granger exhibits. It means nothing."
„Can you be sure of it?"
„I can. Your mother maybe does not desire to be an intermediary between you and your father, but I am certain that she does not want to cause Lucius having a heart attack."
„Yes, she handed that duty to me." Mumbled Draco
„You are exaggerating. Your father will accept you desire and get you out of your obligation once you tell him, it is not like the girl is not from the family he wouldn't approve off."
„I don't know..."
„And you won't until you try. You have two options here, either to keep your mouth shut and go with your father's original plan...or...to confront your father and tell him bout Greengrass girl. It is entirely up to you which path you will choose."
„Yes..." Draco trailed off, he gave him space, finally, after several minutes of silence Draco lifted eyes to meet his „I would appreciate if you have any advice..."
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
Hermione returned to the room an hour later. She was carrying her parchments, three bundled up dressing robes Harry packed in her trunk, the only dressing robes she had for formal occasions and Mrs Malfoy's promise that she will send Misty with books for further reading.
It felt nice to learn again. Even if she was nervous about the tea, and even if Ms Malfoy was far from pleasant, she finally understood – the woman was just like that. Narcissa Malfoy was straightforward in the way she expressed her thoughts, economical. She understood one more thing, the woman detested proper form of addressing but she employed it anyway, when necessary. After a polite but bitter argument, they decided which of her three robes she will wear during the event. Mrs Malfoy also insisted that she learns proper addressing and memorise the two tomes with titles and social standing of every member of wizarding society, and to combine the two when someone enters a room to greet Snape.
The fact that she had to argue against dragging the tailored form Triffitt and Tattings to make her better fitting robes was irritating. She did not appreciate the critique of her choices of the model and line of robes, but she also couldn't deny that the woman was always dressed to the perfection.
Snape was quiet and distant, so she reminds him that he should rest and resume her reading with renewed zeal. Soon as his breathing stilled to even soft puffs she lowered her book and gaze through the window. In general, Narissa was lip-locked to any questions concerning Snape... the only thing that she revealed was connected to her medical treatment of the professor, revealing that he was practising some sort of Muggle fighting sport. That was not much to go on, there were many fighting sports she heard off, probably much more she never heard off, and he could practice any of them.
What struck her as odd, was how Muggle that was. He carried himself and acted like he was pureblood, until the sixth year they didn't even know that he is half-blood, so why Muggle fighting sport. It is not like all of Death Eaters did it, if Malfoy was into something like that surely his wife would know more. No, that must have been pure Snape. It made her wonder what else was just his?
Narcissa did reveal one more thing, but that certainly must have been slip of a tongue, and she congratulated herself on the way she managed to get even those tidbits of information form woman. Her mind drifted to that part of the conversation...
..."Miss Granger, for every woman, it is important to know how to behave properly. It isn't even simply a matter of finding a correct suitor, or husband for that matter. Let's be honest, you do not have to marry ever in life... but... the life if awfully lonely if you do not have at least an occasional lover."
„And why would I need to seek a lover among males..."
„Do you honestly believe that women are less judgemental?" Narcissa raised an eyebrow
„No, of course not." She stuttered „But...no, that is not what I wanted to say!"
„So, you are not interested in women? You know, the wizarding world is not prejudicial of same-gender love as Muggle world is."
„I know, and no, I'm not. What I wanted to say...why would I look at men who put emphasis on women's behaviour?"
„In a wizarding world, that pool is rather small, and not pleasant so socialize yourself with. Well, not if you want to succeed."
„I..."
„Miss Granger, even half-bloods are educated in that direction, take Severus for example," said Narissa softly and her heart drummed a bit faster, but she is quiet „he is all about proper behaviour and etiquette, and yet he finds pureblood women boring."
„He is in love with Harry's mum."
„Is he? Interesting. True, he does have a soft spot for Muggle-borns. But that is just an example."...
...Narcissa kept on and on about the importance of proper etiquette. She rolled her stiff neck. The back is killing her from the arrow straight position Narcissa forced her in while sitting. She could use a hot bath. Placing a monitoring spell on Snape she ventures to the bathroom and fills the tub. Groaning when hot water caress her sore muscles. She usually opts for a quick shower, bath tub is reserved for him, and that is odd though. She feels like she is invading his private space. But hot water is shooting and lulls her into doziness.
The sharp sound of alarm springs he out of her pleasant stupor, glancing at the second part of monitoring charm she breathe little easier. Steps out of the water with the pang of regret and nuisance, does he had to the that now? she das such nice rest. Wrapping a towel around her body she grabs the want and opens the door, flicking the wand at his direction with muttered spell.
„Granger!" he yells, his voice surprised and angry „Are you have a habit snapping spells at people randomly?"
„No."
„Odd, I am certain that you just stepped from the bathroom and flicked the spell on me, blindly I might add."
„It wasn't blind," she sigh „I modified the charm, I saw what is wrong and what spell I need to use."
„It is...reassuring to know...even if you messed with magic once more, unauthorised. For further references...I am quite capable of...solving that problem...on my own."
„Not while I'm in the room!" she cries in alert
„Ah, but you were not in the room." His snide remark is hurtful but that does not make it less true, she was not in the room
„Right. I'll remember that." She huffed and turned to get back to the bathroom and hot water
„Granger..."
„What now?!"
„Everything Narissa tried to teach you still didn't sink in, I presume." His voice is flat but cutting
„As a matter of fact, it did. Why would you even..."
„The towel..." he remarks dryly.
With mortified squealed she run into the bathroom, wishing to smash huge mirror above the sink, it told all too well how she presented herself in front of him. The bloody towel slipped, revealing the tips of her breasts and a small portion of the dark areolas.