THE PENSIEVE

                                    

                                          
The smell of old parchment, inks and dust hit her nose first. The room was huge with shelves reaching up to the ceiling, full of ancient tomes. A dark mahogany desk dominated one side of the room in front of the large ancient painted glass windows.
                          
The whole room emanated a raw and domineering male power. The room bespoke the ancient lineage of pureblood wealth and pride.
                          
No doubt, the Malfoys were so proud of their wealth that sometimes that made them total jerks, she thought bitterly.
                          
"You gave the same expression when I showed you this room for the first time."
                          
She almost jumped at Malfoy's voice behind her.
                          
"So many books!" She whispered in awe.
                          
"Yes, that is also the same phrase you said that day. And believe me when I say this, you have already finished more than half of those multiple time in these past years."
                          
"Really? Some of the books seem..... rather dark.." she frawned at the title of a few books.
                          
"Well, 'dark' books aren't necessarily 'bad' contrary to popular belief. To protect yourself from darkness you should know what you're fighting against, at least to a certain extent."
                          
When Hermione didn't reply anything, clearly in disagreement, Malfoy said again, "We agreed upon this matter previously. I hope that you'll again work it out. Now let's not get derailed. Accio Pensive."
                          
With a quick swish of his wand, a large, ancient and ornate stone Pensieve was summoned to the desk. It looked very similar to the one in Professor Dumbledore's office, except the intricate pattern of intertwined snakes with glittering emerald eyes rimming the border.
                          
"A Pensieve! You're going to show me your memories then." said Hermione.
                          
Draco nodded without making a sound as he started to draw silvery memory strands from his head with the tip of his wand.
                          
When he was finished with pouring his memories into the Pensieve, he said extending his hand, "Come. It'll be easier for both of us, if I show them to you instead of telling them."
                          
A brief moment of hesitation flickered in Hermione's eyes before she squared her shoulders in resolution and together they put their heads into the stone basin.
                          
She experienced the familiar sensation of gliding through an invisible fluid down an endless tunnel until finally she got back her footing. Malfoy landed beside her at the same time.
                          
The first thing she felt was the chill that ran down her spine. She shivered in cold and an unknown fear. Within moments she figured out the reason - the familiar hooded creatures almost fully covering the night sky.
                          
The Dementors were not the only familiar thing she noticed around her, the vast stretch of icy water in front of her reflecting a large gothic style castle was all too familiar.
                          
"We're at Hogwarts!"
                          
"Yes. And also at the most perilous time of its history" came the reply from her husband.
                          
"Seventh year?"
                          
He nodded silently.
                          
As another chilly wind blew over them, Hermione tried in vain to fight the cold by hugging herself tight.
                          
"Here, take this."
                          
Malfoy offered his jacket to her.
                          
"Since when have you become such a gentleman huh?" She teased taking the jacket.
                          
Malfoy whispered so softly that it was barely audible, "Since you came into my life."
                          
She didn't know how to answer that. It was so new to her. This new Malfoy, this new life.