Solace in the Scent of a Rose

Chapter 1 A Mudblood by Any Other Name

Within Malfoy Manor, at the end of the long Georgian dining room table adorned with a vase of peach and white daffodils, sat Lucius Malfoy, with his wife Narcissa on his right and his son Draco on his left. All of them were enjoying French toast with strawberry jam, Draco's favorite. "Draco, are you excited for school?"

"Yes Father," he replied. "I reviewed all the school rules as well. Too bad I'm going to Hogwarts instead of Durmstrang, but I guess it's for the best." In self amusement, Draco snickered slightly at his hidden rebellion, wondering when, or if, his parents would discover it.

"We don't want you so far away. We will miss you enough as it is." When Narcissa observed Draco's fiendish grin and covert snickers, she inspected him closely. Looking beneath the table, she saw his secret. "Draco, boots aren't part of the school uniform."

"I checked the rules and they say nothing about shoes or combat boots. Besides, I like them. Vico bought them for me."

"You're becoming more and more devious. In no time, you'll be running Slytherin." When Lucius saw the boots, he inadvertently chuckled, making Draco smile even more. "I have a going away present for you." Lucius slid a small box to his son. "You've accomplished so much already at home, that I know you'll do well at Hogwarts."

"Thank you, Father," Draco replied as he unwrapped his gift. "I especially like the Dark Arts." Lucius smiled proudly at his son for that one. "This is a Slytherin tie, but I haven't been sorted yet. How did you get it?"

"It is my Slytherin tie," Lucius announced.

Now Draco grinned from ear to ear. "Thank you, Father!" he replied.

After breakfast, Dobby loaded Draco's trunk in the carriage. Narcissa hugged Draco tightly and kissed his cheek. "We're going to miss you. We love you so much."

Lucius put his arm around Draco's shoulder. "Remember that you are a Malfoy so be proud. We love you."

"I love you too, Mother, Father." As his carriage left, Draco waved goodbye out the window.

"Beloved, he'll be just fine." Lucius hugged his wife. "Tonight, I'm taking you somewhere special."

"So I won't miss him at the dinner table?" Narcissa looked at her husband lovingly.

He nodded before he kissed her very passionately. "I love you."

Years ago, Lucius had realized that Voldemort used him to gain pureblood support, but didn't care about the pureblood traditions that Lucius held so dear. By accident, Lucius learned of Voldemort's plan to betray him, thus he caused Voldemort's downfall. While Lucius still believed in pureblood supremacy, he put his family before his own ambition.

Excitedly, Hermione walked the aisles of Hogwarts Express already in her school uniform, with her bushy dark blond hair pulled into a ponytail. The train whistle screeched above and the floor pounded beneath her feet. Fellow first year students brushed past her, anxious to get to the candy trolley, like bees buzzing to honey because of its sweet scent. As she looked for a train car to sit in, she spotted one with a solitary boy with pale skin and short white blond hair neatly combed back, wearing a grey school uniform as well. Three things caught her eye: the Slytherin tie that he wore around his head, Rambo style, along with combat boots which he had tucked his pants into, and the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book by Newt Scamander that he read. Suddenly, he noticed her, smiled and waved her in.

When she entered, she noticed a two inch red scar across his left cheek. "How did you get a train car all to yourself?"

"Do you really want to know?" She nodded. "There were two morons here whose IQ's were so low that I felt myself getting stupider because of their inane chattering. To get them to leave, I sent them on a wabble hunt." Hermione's brow furrowed; she had never heard of a wabble. "If I sent you on a wabble hunt, offered you two gold galleons per wabble you found, money guaranteed, and told you that you could ask me one question, what would it be?"

From the guile laughing in his eyes, she knew he had outwitted the morons, but not her. Charily, she considered her question as she stared at his book about creatures. "May I borrow your book? That would be my one question." Cheerfully, he allowed her to peruse it. "There's no such thing as a wabble. That was rude of you." Trying to evoke a contrite reaction in him, she glared at him as she stood with her hands on her hips.

Instead he doubled over with laughter. "Don't get your knickers in a twist. It's harmless fun. Besides, it's better than telling them to get lost. Not only am I amused, but they're entertained for the entire train ride."

She couldn't help but laugh at his logic. "What's your name?"

"I'll give you a hint." With a whisk of his wand, an illusion of a small silver dragon appeared on the seat next to him.

"A silver dragon, hmmm, Draco?"

He leaned forward, offering his hand. "Draco Malfoy and you are?"

"Hermione," she replied. She had heard of the name Malfoy, and knew of the pureblood mania that pervaded his family. Timidly, she shook his hand. "I should leave now, before your friends get back."

"Stay and chat. For galleons, they'll hunt for the entire train ride. Now, you never told me your last name. Are you trying to irk me?"

"No," she replied. "I'll tell you at the end of the train ride."

"Alright, so you're playing the mysterious card?"

She nodded. "You're going to get in trouble wearing your tie around your head like that, not to mention the combat boots. By the way, how did you get your tie, since we haven't been sorted yet?"

"This is my father's tie. Also, I won't get into trouble. Hogwarts' rules state that the school uniform, including one's house tie, must be worn during class and academic activities. The tie must be displayed so professors can discern which house students belong to. However, the rules don't state that the tie must be worn around the neck. Also, there's nothing in the rules about footwear."

"So you've read the rules as well?" she queried.

"Of course, so I can exploit them." He smirked. "That sort of thing amuses my father."

She gasped in horror. "If you get in trouble, your house will lose points."

"First of all, exploiting loopholes that I find and will clearly point out, will not lose my house points. Besides, it hones my business acumen for when I become a tycoon like my father. Second, if we are to be friends, stop pretending to be my mother, because I can take care of myself."

She felt taken aback by that statement but he did have a point. However, she knew they wouldn't be friends once he found out what she was. Now, though, curiosity about purebloods got the better of her. "Would you like to talk about books or something?"

They chatted about all the books they read for a bit. "It's been nice talking to someone who's read as much, well more, than I have." Then he opened a box of Italian chocolate truffles. "Take one, they're delicious."

"Thanks. Don't you hate it when people make fun of you for being well-read and stuff?" She bit into the truffle that melted in her mouth.

"Dumb people make fun of intelligent people so they can bring them to their level because they're jealous, just like everyone else. When they do, I slash them with my razor sharp tongue, which ends their babbling. That's something I learned from my father as well. The next time someone harasses you, insult them to their core. Not only will they stop, but it's great fun. Try it next time, I promise it'll work. If you need any practice, I'll spar with you, all in jest." Then he ate a truffle. "If we're to be friends, I need to know you last name?"

"Granger," she replied, slightly ashamed. "I'm a Mudblood, so I guess we won't be friends."

Draco's jaw dropped. "But Moodbloods aren't supposed to be as smart or as powerful as purebloods!"

"Funny, but I'm as well read as you and figured out your riddle. I'm sure the friends you fooled were pureblood." He nodded. Moments later, he started shaking and had a terrified look on his face. Then he scooted into the corner of the seat. "Are you alright?"

"My parents," he mumbled. "Something horrible has happened to my parents. I feel it." Now, he hung his head and his voice shook. "Please lock the door behind you. I'm sure someone will be along to get me. Until they come, I don't want anyone to see me like this."

Even knowing how he felt about Mudbloods, Hermione empathized with him. She locked the door and sat next to him. "You shouldn't be alone now." Seeing the desolation emanating from him, she held his hand and leaned against him in sympathy. Not long after, the train stopped.

Dumbledore, who both children recognized because of his flowing grey robes with hair to match, glasses and long pointy white beard, stood outside their train car, looking very somber. In their peripheral vision, they saw that he spoke to someone, but couldn't quite see who. "I'm sorry." Dismally, she exited.

A few days later, Hermione heard about the tragedy that befell the Malfoys: a tragedy she wouldn't wish upon her worst enemy.