A/N: Hey everyone! Firstly, I am apologizing again for not publishing it yesterday. Here's another Dramione short story by me. This one's a little different than the last one as it takes place in their eight (or seventh) year. Also, I have made up some things in it, which I don't know exist in the Wizarding World or not. On with the story!

"Shut up, Ferret." 

"You keep your mouth shut, Beaver." He yelled at her. 

"I told you first, idiot." She exclaimed. 

He stuck his tongue out at her. "Wow, such a good and mature reason." He told her. 

"And you sticking your tongue out at me is so mature, right?" She rolled her eyes at him.

"You-" He started but was cut off by someone. 

"SHUT IT BOTH OF YOU!" Someone yelled, making them jump in the air. They both turned around to see their headmistress glaring at them. 

"What do you think you both are doing?" McGonagall crossed her arms in front of her. 

"He started it first." Hermione pointed at Draco. 

"Oh really? As I clearly recall, you were the one to start the name calling." He accused her. 

Before she could say anything, McGonagall said, "Quiet, both of you. And, I'll see you both in detention today evening."

And with that, she left. Hermione turned towards the blonde Slytherin, and exclaimed, "This is all your bloody fault, Malfoy. I just received the first detention of my life because of you."

"First detention? Did you forget our first year, Granger?" He asked her.

"Oh, right. How can I forget that? I can still picture you running away from there, screaming so loudly." She smirked at him.

"Shut up. Anybody would be scared of what I saw there. You didn't see it. And, I am sure if you did, you would've done the same." He rolled his eyes at her.

"I don't recall Harry running away from there. And he saw the same thing, Malfoy." Hermione told him.

"Well I am not  bloody Potter, you know. He's a weird boy. He doesn't think about what's safe and what's not, he has to just go and search all around." Draco said. 

"We all become curious sometimes." She said. 

"Curiosity killed the cat, Granger." He smirked at her. 

"You're insufferable. You cockroach!" She exclaimed. 

"Cockroach? That's the best you can come up with? Seriously-" He started but someone cut him off, again. 

"Ten points from both Slytherin and Gryffindor." They heard McGonagall shout from where ever she was. 

They both groaned, and after glaring at each other again, they walked away from each other. 

---------

"I am telling you, I am really tired of those two." McGonagall sighed. 

"What did they do this time?" Her friend asked her, sipping the tea from the cup. 

"What they do always. Fighting each other, name calling and what not. You would think that they are some sort of couple or something from the way they act around each other." McGonagall said, sipping the tea as well. 

"I hope they become one. I can just imagine them, few years from now, roaming around the city, with their kids." Her friend said, with a dreamy smile on her face. 

"But first, they need to get past this stage." McGonagall told her. 

"What stage?" She asked. 

"Denial. And, I don't know what to do." McGonagall sighed. 

"Hmm..." She paused for a moment, and then said, "I may know how to help you with that. I have a plan." She said, and leaned a bit closer to tell her about her master plan.

After a few moments, McGonagall said, "Are you serious about that?"

"I am dead serious." She said. 

"Well then, I want you to join me when we put that plan into action. He won't say no to you." McGonagall smirked. 

"Draco Malfoy wouldn't have expected this in a hundred years." Her friend also smirked at her. 

"No wonder you're in Slytherin." McGonagall said.

---------

"Alright, students, listen here." 

Draco, who was peacefully taking his own sweet time to finish his breakfast, groaned when the food suddenly disappeared from his plate. 

"You were too busy staring at Granger to notice that breakfast has already ended." Blaise told him.

"I wasn't staring at her." Draco stated.

"Oh really? So you didn't look at her when she was talking to Weaslette throughout the breakfast? Or when she glared at Weasel for saying something to her?" Blaise asked him. 

"First of all, she was talking to Saint Potter, and Weaslette was talking to some other Gryffin-dork. And, she didn't glare at Weasel, she glared at Finnigan, and she smiled at Thomas- domas after a while, her dimples were-" Draco started but stopped when he saw Blaise smirking at him.

He had walked right into his trap. 

"So, I was right. You were staring at her." Blaise said. 

"Shut up." He muttered.

"Aww... Our little Drakie has a crush!" Blaise said, clapping his hands. 

"I said shut up." Draco grumbled. 

"This is so sweet! The idiotic, ferret, Draco whose ego's the size of Hogwarts' castle Malfoy is in love." Blaise said. 

"With our Hermione future Mrs Malfoy Granger." He added. 

"WILL YOU SHUT UP, IDIOT?" Draco shouted, earning him a glare from McGonagall. 

"Mr Malfoy, if you would please do us a favor, and listen, it will be really great." McGonagall said, smiling at him as his pale cheeks turned a bright shade of red. 

 He quickly apologised, and looked towards Hermione who was already staring at him. 

For a reason he still didn't understand, he winked at her. 

Hermione blushed and turned towards the front as he smirked at her, and shifted his attention to the Headmistress. 

"Why are you blushing, Hermione?" Harry, who was completely oblivious to what had happened, asked her. 

"I am not blushing, Harry." Hermione told him. 

"It seems like our Hermione has a crush on someone. Someone who's present in this Hall." Ginny smiled innocently at her. 

Hermione's head turned as fast as possible towards her, and her eyes widened. "Are you out of your mind? I don't have a crush on Malfoy." She said, but realised her mistake a little too late. 

"So you do have a crush on Malfoy? I didn't even say a name, and you just assumed. Oh Godric, this is interesting." Ginny smirked at her. 

"Will you please shut up? I don't have a crush on him." Hermione shook her head.

"So if you don't have a crush on him, then you won't mind when I tell you that I saw Greengrass looking at his blue eyes, and he even smiled at her, his big dimples clearly visible." Ginny said. 

"He doesn't have blue eyes. His eyes are grey, like light grey when he smiles, and a darker one when he's angry or something. And, a stormy grey when he's sad. Also, he has those really small dimples on his cheek when he smiles, but-" Hermione stopped as Ginny started smirking at her. 

"You should be a Slytherin." Hermione muttered, and turned back to her Headmistress. 

"Hey, Hermione?" Ginny whispered. 

"Yeah?" She asked her. 

"Just make sure I am the maid of honor at your and Draco's wedding, and, that I am the godmother as well." Ginny winked at her, as she turned a violent shade of red. 

"WILL YOU ALL PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!" McGonagall shouted, and sighed in relief when everybody immediately shut their mouths. 

"As I was saying, to implement the House Unity plan, I have planned something. This is for the seventh and eighth years only. I request the remaining students to go to their classes." She said. 

As they followed her orders, the hall became nearly empty, as there weren't much seventh and eighth years. 

"I have planned a field trip for you all. The destination is a surprise for you all, but I assure you that you all will enjoy it." McGonagall smiled at them.

"Yay! But seriously now? It just took you eight years to do that?" Seamus asked, while grinning at her. 

"Mr Finnigan, please stay quiet otherwise you won't be allowed to come with us on this trip." She said. 

"We will go today, and return after a week. Professor Slughorn will be the Headmaster during this, and I have already hired another professor to teach Transfiguration to the students. You all will be given an hour to pack your things, but will only be allowed to carry a single back pack each, which will be provided by me." She continued. 

"Also, there's one important rule. You all are not allowed to carry your wands with you. I'll, of course, have my wand since I am the only Professor who's coming with you all." She said, and immediately everyone started shouting. 

"Are you crazy?"

"You can't order us to do that!" 

"If you all want to come on this trip, then you'll do as I say." McGonagall said, and everyone grumbled, but finally agreed. 

"Do you really think you will be able to handle us alone?" 

"I assure you, Mr Potter, that I won't be alone. And the person who's coming with me, is perfectly able to handle you all." She said, while looking at Draco. 

"Why do I have a feeling that whoever that person is, won't be good for you, Draco." Blaise smirked at his best friend, but received no reply. 

Because when McGonagall has said that, the doors of the Great Hall had opened, and there stood a figure. 

For a second, everything was still there. 

And then:

"MOTHER?" 

---------

Draco didn't like it. 

And no matter how much Blaise tried to convince him, he was adamant to not go on this trip, without a wand, and accompanied by his mother and Headmistress. 

So there was only one person left, who would be able to convince him. 

Yeah, you guessed it right. 

"Draco, come out of your room." Narcissa told him. 

"No." Came back the reply. 

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, I said come out." Narcissa said. 

"No." The answer didn't change. 

"If you don't come out this instant, I'll throw all your green apples away,  or maybe even give them to the Hufflepuffs, I've heard how much they like them." She said, knowing fully well what will be his answer.

As she predicted, the door opened in exactly two seconds, and there stood the Malfoy Heir, with his arms crossed in front of him.

He knew his mother wasn't kidding when she said that she would give those green apples to the Hufflepuffs. She had done that before as well. 

It was during the summer before his fifth year. He had just told his mother that he had accidentally used a spell on Hermione, which had caused her teeth to grow larger and larger. When his mother had asked him if he had apologised to her or not, it took him a second to say no, and that he actually made fun of her. 

But he wasn't expecting what she did next, at all. 

Wordlessly, she went to the kitchens, told the house elves to put all the green apples in a basket and give it to her. 

Poor Draco, he was thinking that his mother was so happy with him, and as a result, she would make his favourite apple pies.

But instead, Narcissa contacted every Hufflepuff in Draco's year, and asked them if they wanted the green apples. She had heard that they really liked green apples from none other than her own son, who was complaining about how they ate those precious apples in front of him, not even bothering to offer him some. 

Within half an hour, all the apples in the Malfoy Manor had been given to them. And, as if to torture Draco even more, she had even ordered him to carry the apples' basket and when they had gone to give the apples. 

And, Draco absolutely didn't like Hufflepuffs. He preferred to stay in his room for the whole day, not even coming out to brag about his broom or how he had defeated everyone. But that was better than him throwing a tantrum all day. 

Narcissa didn't understand what his problem was. She, on the other hand, absolutely loved Hufflepuffs. 

She was even hoping that maybe Draco would be sorted into Hufflepuff, not that she would tell him of course. 

One can only guess what he would do if he found that. 

Another thing she won't tell him was that, he had worn Hufflepuff coloured clothes in his childhood, and he even liked them. She had even once made the Hufflepuff robe for him and he hadn't taken it off for a whole day. 

It was a good thing that she had pictures of those days. But she had never shown them to Draco, he'll destroy them in a second. 

So what if Draco wasn't a Hufflepuff? She was sure that Hermione and his kids would be in that house. 

And yes, Hermione. Narcissa had loved that girl since the day she saw her on the platform during their first year. 

And she knew that her son did too, no matter how hard he tried to deny it.

"So now that you've opened your door, please tell me why won't you go on this trip." Narcissa said, inviting herself to his room. She sat down on the bed, and he sat down on the bed nearest to his, aka Blaise's bed. 

Unlike how his mother sat so gracefully, he laid down on his side on the bed, throwing the mattress on the ground, and arranging the pillows the way he liked, and Blaise hated. 

Blaise can do whatever he likes, Draco didn't give a damn. Okay, maybe except telling the whole school about his crush. 

But the fact was, he wasn't here now, and there wasn't any need to tell him that Draco was the one who messed up his bed.

"I don't want to go." He simply said. 

"And why would you not want to go?" She asked. 

"Because I don't want to go." He said. 

Narcissa sighed, and thought, he won't agree like this. "Do you know that Hermione Granger is also going?" She asked him.

"And why would that matter to me?" He asked her. 

"Isn't she your crush? Or better to say, the girl you love?" She smirked at him. 

"What the- how do you even know about that? Wait, let me guess. Did Blaise tell you about that?" Draco narrowed his eyes at her. 

"I don't reveal my sources, Draco." She innocently smiled at him. 

"Whatever. I don't care. Besides, I don't even have a crush on her. I didn't agree to your statement." He rolled his eyes. 

"You didn't deny it either." Narcissa said and stood up. 

When he didn't say anything, she sighed again. The hard way it was. 

"If you don't come on this trip, I would tell everyone that you love Miss Granger." She said. 

He sat up in an instant. "You wouldn't do that. That's blackmailing." He said. 

"It's not blackmailing. It's called convincing you in a smart way." She winked at him and walked towards the door. 

He groaned and stood up to pack his bag. Just before his mother walked out, she turned to him and said, "Just so you know, your father will be joining us in two days. The place where we are going is his property after all." 

She walked out before he could even think of a reply. "What is this? A family reunion or something?" He asked to no one.

----------

Hermione had never thought that she will be called to McGonagall's office for just disagreeing to come to a field trip. 

She didn't want to come to that trip for three obvious reasons:

1. They weren't allowed to take their wands with them.

2. She would rather spend her whole week in library studying for NEWTs.

3. Narcissa Malfoy was coming with them.

She didn't know why had McGonagall even invited her for this trip.

She knew that Narcissa was a scary and intimidating witch. She lied to Voldemort straight to his freaking noseless face for god's sake!

And Hermione didn't know what she would do if she hexed or said something to his son in front of her. She didn't want to be at the receiving end of her wand.

She had expecting a scolding maybe, for her reasons, or just a talk about why she wouldn't go. But what she hadn't expected was to see Narcissa and McGonagall sitting in the latter's office, talking and laughing about something she had no idea about.

She knocked on the door to let them know about her presence. McGonagall stood up from her chair, and said, "Ahh, Miss Granger. Mrs Malfoy wanted to talk to you. You two stay here, and I'll just go and make sure that everything is ready."

Without giving her a chance to protest, she left the office. 

Merlin, for what crimes was she being punished? She thought as she eyed the woman in front of her.

Seeing her hesitation, Narcissa simply gestured for her to come and sit in the chair next to hers. Hermione, seeing as she had no choice, walked towards that chair and sat down. 

"Would you like some tea?" Narcissa asked her.

"Um, no thanks. I am fine." Hermione awkwardly said. 

"Well then, let's get straight to the point, shall we?" Narcissa said. "I heard you and my son were serving detention yesterday. Whose fault was that?" She asked.

"It was completely his fault. That white bouncing ferret is mad, I am telling you. He cannot let me just simply walk around without picking a fight with me. Honestly, he is a prat and-" Hermione stopped as she saw Narcissa watching her.

"I am so sorry. I didn't mean that-" She started but was cut off.

To her confusion, Narcissa started laughing. After composing herself, she said, "I am glad to hear that my son's a prat, Hermione."

To say Hermione was confused, would be an understatement.

"W-what?" She stuttered. 

"I am happy that my son's a prat, Hermione. It means that he is still is usual self. The way he was before Voldemort came back." Narcissa said. 

Hermione knew she shouldn't be shocked when she said his name. She had lied to him to save Harry, and saving the Wizarding World in that way. Sure, she did that only to protect her son, but they all owed her for that. 

"You don't know how hard it was for him, Hermione. He knew what was expected of him the moment Voldemort came back. He tried to act like he didn't knew, act like he didn't care, but I knew Hermione. I could see that it was bothering him." Narcissa sad. 

"He only supported Umbridge because of Voldemort's fear. I used to get letters everyday from him, telling me how much he hated her. No matter how much he said he hated you all, he was glad that you made her go away." Narcissa chuckled at the end. 

"But that wasn't the only thing mentioned in his letters." Narcissa smiled as she said that. "He stopped writing letters in sixth year. I understood why he did that. Voldemort would've asked me how much he had progressed if he knew he was sending letters to me. I told him not to come back for Christmas, again because of Voldemort. Sure, we didn't celebrate Christmas like you all did, but still, it was a happy occasion. And, I didn't want him to ruin that for my son. You know, Draco didn't even complain when I send him a small stuffed dragon for Christmas, with a note saying my little dragon, like I do everytime." She laughed at the end, but Hermione knew it was a humourless laugh.

 "He didn't come out of his room for days when Dumbledore was killed, kept repeating that it was fault again and again. He was losing himself, Hermione. I was scared. Scared that I would never get him back. Scared that he would never be the Draco he used to be. But then..." She trailed off in the end. 

"What happened?" Hermione asked her. 

"You. You gave me a hope, that he would be okay." Narcissa said.

"Me? But-how?" Hermione asked, dumbfounded. 

"One day, I discovered some of the letters he had written to you, but he never sent those." She said. "Draco would be so angry when he finds out that I told you about this, but it's not like I care about that." She smiled. 

"He would write about everything he didn't like in those letters. Things he liked, things that made him upset and what not. The first one was written in your third year, the day you punched him." She looked at Hermione. 

Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Don't worry, I am sure he totally deserved that. He was, as you called him, a foul loathsome evil little cockroach." Narcissa chuckled. 

"How did you know about that?" She asked. 

"Theo Nott told me. But that don't tell Draco that I know, okay?" Narcissa said, and Hermione nodded. 

"The letters were simple till fifth year. But that changed in the sixth year. He would write how much he hated Voldemort, and how he felt so alone that time. He even wrote that he wasn't angry that Harry hit him with that curse, saying that he deserved that for all he did, and for he was about to do." Narcissa said. 

"That's not true. He never had a choice, right? And, that was completely Harry's fault. I swear I scolded him for days after that." Hermione said. 

"I know, Hermione. I can't expect anything less from you. The letters were all different, but had the same sentence in the end, 'please save me, Hermione. I am not a monster, I promise.' I can't describe how I felt after reading them." Narcissa said. 

"You don't have to say anything. I understand. To be honest, I saw what he was going through that year. He looked so sick everyday. I wanted to do something, but I didn't. And he's right, he was never a monster, and never will be." Hermione said. 

"He was correct. You truly are amazing, Miss Granger. Friends or not, I am just glad that you're in his life. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't." Narcissa smiled sadly at the witch. 

Before she could say anything, the door opened. Narcissa stood up, and said, "I am sorry if I bored you with all of that, Miss Granger." 

"Don't worry, Mrs Malfoy. I enjoyed talking to you." Hermione smiled.

Narcissa hugged her tightly, and whispered, "I hope you will do what you know is right." Hermione nodded and hugged her back. 

As she pulled away, Narcissa said, "And, please call me Narcissa." 

"Then you please call me Hermione." She smiled, and after nodding at McGonagall, she exited the office.

"You heard everything, didn't you?" Narcissa asked her friend. 

"These extendable ears are extremely helpful, you know." McGonagall said as she shown her those ears. 

"I should've known." Narcissa smirked.

"Why did you lie to Draco? You knew Hermione wasn't coming to the trip." McGonagall said. 

"I didn't lie to him. I knew Hermione will eventually agree to come. She just needed a reason to come." Narcissa said.

'You love her, I can see it." McGonagall said. 

"Of course, I do. She's my daughter-in-law after all. Come on now, we have a trip to go to after all." Narcissa smiled. 

Hermione was smiling as she made her way to the Gryffindor tower. 

She was going to the trip. And, she couldn't believe how kind Narcissa was. She was really a very lovely lady. 

Why Draco wasn't like that? She had no idea. 

But one thing was certain, she was going to change that. 

But boy, she was in for an adventure.

A/N: That's it for this chapter. It was 3900+ words. Hope you guys liked it. So, originally this  short story was supposed to be of one chapter only. But then, I decided to spilt it up into two parts. I am sorry again, but I hope it wasn't too cheesy or too boring. I really liked Hermione and Narcissa's talk. Random question: Do you like Narcissa and McGonagall's friendship? Answer in the comments below. Vote, comment and please share my story. Reviews are always appreciated. Thank you! 

Next (last) part on 24/5/20(Sunday). 

Until next time.