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The Joke Book Trap	By : TalisRuadair Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 10791 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Series (1997-2007) and any characters and original locations within the books belong to JK Rowling. I am not making any money from this fiction. Pride and Prejudice belongs to Jane Austen.

Chapter List
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Chapter Nine – Arrival at Rosings

Hermione watched as the events continued to unfold just as the book foretold. The morning after returning from the Netherfield ball, Lupin proposed to her. She followed the script and restrained her tongue from telling Mr. Collin’s what she really thought of him. Fleur was heartbroken from the letter sent to her from Ginny and Astoria. Including the part that basically states, Bill was fond of Miss Darcy, which Hermione couldn’t help but wonder who from her reality, was playing her. Draco was an only child and there is no one related to him who could fit the position. She didn’t have much time to think about it because she was busy consoling Fleur and hearing Molly complain that Mr. Collins had asked Charlotte Lucas to marry him when Elizabeth should’ve accepted. She was so upset that Longbourn would be Charlotte and Mr. Collins’ home once her husband died.

When Christmas arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner came to Longbourn at Molly’s request. Hermione couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in her eyes upon the sight of her parents. Herman and Jean Granger were standing in the rolls of Mr. and Mrs. Gardner, Lizzy’s favorite aunt and uncle. Hermione was overwhelmed with how much she still missed her parents and hoped the Order found them soon. The sight of them in the unreality left her an emotional wreck, which Molly attributed to her regret in missing out on marrying Mr. Collins. Hermione went toe to toe with her mother Jean regarding the violent state that Bill was in love with Fleur before he was persuaded by his friends and family to leave. However, it ended the same as the book with Jean offering Fleur to stay with them in Cheapside.

After staying a week at Longbourn, Herman and Jean Granger left with Fleur, and Hermione saw life continuing on with the absence of Draco. However, she knew that it wouldn’t be long before she was to visit Dora and Remus. She would then have to stomach being in the presence of the bloody prat, Draco Malfoy. Upon leaving after her marriage, Dora requested that Hermione visit with her father and sister Maria in March. As Mach grew closer, Hermione accepted the invitation to visit with Marcia and Sir William Lucas. She sat in the chaise with the empty headed Ted Tonks and his second daughter Maria who resembled Padma Patil, which was odd since she was far brighter being a Ravenclaw than the character she was portraying. They stopped on Greenchurch Street to visit with Fleur and her mother before continuing on to Hertfordshire to visit Dora and Lupin. While there her mother invited her to go visit the mountains with them that summer, which she of course accepted as she knew it would lead to her touring Pemberley and she couldn’t help but think that the house would say something about Draco Malfoy’s character.

Upon seeing the beauty that was Rosings Park next to the small parsonage home belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Collins, she gasped. It was as wondrous in its own right and her response was equivalent to her first view of Hogwarts in the boats her first year. There was a sloped hill upon the arrival and trees, manicured gardens, and green lawns as far as the eye could see. They went for their tour of the home. She had to listen to the veiled insinuations on the part of Mr. Collins trying to rub salt in the proverbial wound that she could’ve had everything if she had accepted his proposal. However, Hermione much like Elizabeth wasn’t interested in settling for someone she could never love or find agreeable. She believed in the power of love, and she knew that Tonks was meant to be with Lupin.

She listened to the words of Mr. Collins when he shared the knowledge that Lady Catherine was currently in the area. “Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honour of seeing Lady Catherine de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church, and I need no say you will be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, and I doubt not but you will be honoured with some portion of her notice when service is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying she will include you and my sister Maria in every invitation with which she honours us during your stay here. Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is charming. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed to walk home. Her ladyship’s carriage is regularly ordered for us. I should say, one of her ladyship’s carriages, for she has several.”*

Dora’s hair stayed the mousy brown it had been when she was morning Lupin’s denial of his feelings during Hermione and Harry’s sixth year. She smiled, “Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman indeed, and a most attentive neighbour.”*

Lupin smiled and his brown eyes twinkled, “Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is the sort of woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference.”*

The following day when the carriage appeared with Mrs. Jenkinson who resembled her grandmother Granger who was dead, and a sickly looking pug faced girl with dark hair. Hermione quickly recognized Miss Anne as none other than Draco’s old flame Pansy Parkinson. She couldn’t help but muse much like Lizzy had at how well the two would be well matched. She would be perfect as Draco’s wife, and she’d have to kindly point that out to him when they met face to face once again.

As they walked up the grand steps into the hall of Rosings, Hermione noticed the nervous fidgeting of both Padma and Ted; however her Gryffindor Courage remained in tack. She had an inkling of who she’d soon be face to face with, though she feared who was the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She listened to Lupin’s appraisal of the hall, as she tried to keep her courage intact. Ted seemed to be at a loss of words as he gave a low bow and took a seat without speaking. Padma sat on the edge of a chair and looked from left to right showing her fear. It was apparent that she was sorted into Ravenclaw because she lacked the courage of her twin. Hermione took her seat in an attempt to appraise the three ladies before her much like Elizabeth did in the book. Her eyes first rested on the daughter wanting to verify that she was a sickly Pansy Parkinson. She tried to keep the smile at bay when her first appearance had been correct. She then turned her vision to Mrs. Jenkinson, whose appearance was so close to her late grandmother that she had to stifle the tears that formed in her eyes. Last, and apprehensively her eyes landed on the Lady Catherine who was busy using her authoritative tone. Her eyes went wide as she saw none other than her former torturer Bellatrix Lestrange. When dinner arrived, Hermione robotically answered the questions asked of her regarding her sisters, what carriage her father kept, and what her mother’s maiden name had been. Hermione tried to keep her attention to the scene in the book so that her mind wouldn’t return to her reality and the type of woman Bellatrix really was.

Hermione refused to look at her as Bellatrix observed, “Your father’s estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your sake,” Hermione didn’t have to look up to know that she was looking over at Dora, “I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. It was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s family. Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?”**

“A little.”**

Hermione felt her heart quicken as the woman continued in that all too familiar voice of the woman that carved Mudblood into her left forearm. “Oh! Then—some time or other we shall be happy to hear you. Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to—You shall try it some day. Do your sisters play and sing?”**

“One of them does.”**

“Why did not you all learn? You ought all to have learned. The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as yours. Do you draw?”**

“No, not at all.”**

Hermione cringed as she realized she was being judged by the same woman as before, except this time it was regarding her lack of accomplishments rather than her blood status. However, it felt all too similar for her and shivers ran up her spine. “What, none of you?”**

“Not one.”**

The woman’s voice grated on Hermione because she knew the flashbacks were coming, and there was nothing she could do to stop them. Just being in the vial woman’s presence was enough to set her off. “That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters.”**

Hermione decided to do what she did best as a Gryffindor. She made eye contact with the woman and allowed her courage to shine. “My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London.”**

“Has your governess left you?”**

Hermione rolled her eyes defiantly, “We never had any governess.”**

The woman’s heavy lidded brown eyes shone with something too similar to the woman’s likeness before her, “No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education.”**

Hermione assured the woman that wasn’t the case.**

“Then, who taught you? Who attended to you? Without a governess, you must have been neglected.”**

Hermione sighed, “Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wished to learn never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle, certainly might.”**

Hermione’s grasp on the reality of Pride and Prejudice slipped. As the woman went on about governess and the delightfulness of Mrs. Jenkinson, Hermione’s mind slipped back into another dark night where that woman belittled her in different ways. Hermione was in the middle of the parlor at Malfoy Manor. Bellatrix had just saw the sword of Gryffindor and was adamant that they had stole it from her vault. Hermione showed her true red and gold colors by not giving into the Cruciatus Curse. She continued to have nightmares from the pain she experienced that day, as the effects of the curse lingered. Hermione ran her fingers along the scar on her left forearm, as her mind replayed the pain of each stroke of the blade in the woman’s hands. Her breath quickened and soon she was unable to catch it. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as the woman’s words came back to her. “Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?”**

Hermione quickly berated herself for letting the past get the best of her. She managed to catch her breath and curtly responded, “Yes, ma’am, all.”**

Hermione stared over at Dora’s familiar face as the woman continued on her verbal rampage, as she tried to keep her mind away from the vial woman who sat before her. “All! What, all five out at once? Very odd! And you only the second. The younger ones out before the elder ones are married! Your younger sisters must be very young?”**

She felt her composure return and her courage was once again intact, “Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be much in company. But really, ma’am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and amusement, because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. The last-born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth at first. And to be kept back on such a motive! I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind.”**

“Upon my word,” Bellatrix sounded astonished, “you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. Pray, what is your age?”**

“With three younger sisters grown up,” Hermione smiled, “your ladyship can hardly expect me to own it.”**

Ted Tonks only stayed a week before returning. Easter was approaching two weeks after Hermione came to stay with the Collinses. She soon heard that the party would increase for the holiday and she wasn’t surprised to hear that Mr. Darcy would be joining them. On the day the carriage made its ways up to Rosings, Mr. Collins was quick to arrive to pay his respects. Upon his return, Draco, and the other gentleman accompanied him back.

Dora rushed into the room where Hermione sat and announced, “I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me.”***

Hermione didn’t have time to respond before their arrival was announced by the doorbell. While Draco paid his complements, she only curtseyed to him without saying a word. Hermione was a bit shocked to see the familiar face of her best friend Harry Potter in Colonel Fitzwilliam’s place. He was quite gentlemanly, much like the character he portrayed. He soon asked about the health of her family, which Hermione happily gave the required response, “My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see her there?” She knew just as well that he never would’ve meet Fleur; however she knew that he’d be later telling her about how Darcy saved his friend from making a grave mistake.

Easter arrived a week after the gentlemen’s arrival. Harry had called upon them several times; however they’d only seen Draco at church. On the day of Easter, they all joined the party in Lady Catherine’s drawing-room. Bellatrix only showed the civility required and was in deep conversation with Draco. Hermione could tell that he was just as uncomfortable in her presence as she was. She couldn’t help but wonder if her previous accusations at the Netherfield ball might have been a bit too harsh. Harry was his usual joyful self and was delighted to see them. However, as soon as Draco’s attention was drawn toward Hermione and Harry, Bellatrix demanded, “What is it that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking of? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is.”**

“We are speaking of music, madam.”**** He smiled and his green eyes twinkled as he wasn’t able to avoid responding.

Hermione rolled her eyes as the woman went off once more, “Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music. There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed delightfully.” She turned her attention back to Draco, “How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?”****

Draco smiled, “She is quite musically talented.”****

“I am glad to hear such a good account of her and pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel if she does not practice a good deal.”** With the more frequent time she spent in Bellatrix’s company, Hermione had grown accepting of her presence as she was different as Lady Catherine than she was in her reality. The crazy look in her eye was missing, however she still filled a despicable role within the book and Hermione almost looked forward to her confrontation with the lady in the middle of the night. Perhaps by standing up to her in this reality, it would assist with her daemons from her own.

Draco quickly spoke his part, “I assure you, madam that she does not need such advice. She practices very constantly.”****

“So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write to her. I shall charge her not to neglect on any account. I often tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times, that she will never play really well unless she practices more; and though Mrs. Collins has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told her, to come to Rosings every day, and play on the pianoforte in Mrs. Jenkinson’s room. She would be in nobody’s way, you know, in that part of the house.”****

Draco looked properly ashamed of his aunt’s ill-breeding and didn’t answer. Hermione simply raised an eyebrow to say that every family has a black sheep, and apparently his aunt was the one in his family. Sure she may have more in the presence of her gossiping mother and silly youngest sisters. As soon as tea was over, Harry reminded Hermione that she promised to play for him. She took her seat at the pianoforte and started to play a rather difficult piece that she still remembered by heart, even though it had been a year since she touched the piano in her parent’s home. Bellatrix listened to half of the song before continuing to converse with Draco until he walked away from her.

Hermione noticed him standing in an area where he had full view of her playing. At the first pause she decided to use her scripting, “You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear me? I will not be alarmed though your sister does play so well. There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”****

Draco didn’t seem to desire breaking script either, “I shall not say you are mistaken because you could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your own.”****

Hermione laughed and turned toward Harry, “Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of me, and teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky in meeting with a person so able to expose my real character, in a part of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all that you knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire—and, give me leave to say, very impolitic too—for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such things may come out as will shock your relations to hear.”****

Draco smiled, “I am not afraid of you.”****

“Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of,”** Harry requested, “I should like to know how he behaves among strangers.”****

Hermione couldn’t help but find the humor in having Harry request dirt on Draco, even though the two were relations in good standing within that reality, there still seemed to be some competition between the two of them. She smiled, “You shall hear then—but prepare yourself for something very dreadful. The first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire, you must know, was at a ball—and at this ball, what do you think he did? He danced only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain knowledge, more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a partner. Mr. Darcy you cannot deny the fact.”****

“I had not at the time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly beyond my own party.”**** Draco furrowed his brow as if something struck a chord with the statement.

Hermione took noted of his facial features as she continued with the banter, “True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room. Well, Colonel Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fighters wait your orders.”****

Draco interrupted, “Perhaps I should have judged better, had I sought an introduction; but I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers.”****

Hermione kept her attention on Harry, “Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this? Shall we ask him why a man of sense and education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers?”****

Harry smiled, “I can answer your question without applying to him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble.”****

Draco sighed and Hermione couldn’t help but see strong emotions in his gray eyes that resembled storm clouds, “I certainly have no the talent which some people possess of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often seen done.”****

Hermione kept eye contact with him and smiled, “My fingers do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women’s do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and I do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I will not take the trouble of practicing. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman’s of superior execution.”****

Draco smiled an actual smile and not his trademark smirk, “You are perfectly right. You have employed your time better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers.”****

Upon that moment Bellatrix interrupted their conversation once more as she demanded to know what they were conversing about as she wished to participate. Hermione did the same as Elizabeth and started playing once more. She knew that Elizabeth was supposed to be average with her talent; however Hermione enjoyed piano lessons from the age of three years old, as her Dentist parents always found the arts important for the developing mind. She continued to practice regularly up until she received her letter for Hogwarts; however she’d play whenever she was home from school.

Bellatrix approached before sharing her opinion with Draco. Hermione noticed him cringe for a moment as she approached him and spoke, “Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practiced more, and could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne’s. Anne would have been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn.”****

The following morning Hermione was busy writing a letter to Fleur when the door bell sounded. She answered the door to find only Draco standing there. He smiled at her and remarked, “We know very well from this book that you and I would be alone to converse. Perhaps we could take this time alone from the other characters to converse outside of this reality.”

Hermione took a seat in a chair and Draco sat on the sofa across from her. She smiled, “I think there are a few things we need to speak of outside of the scripting about you quitting Netherfield so soon. Perhaps we could discuss your reaction to your dear Aunt Bellatrix or you agreeing with Darcy’s statements of his shyness. Which topic would you prefer to tackle first?”

His eyes widened and he let out a mock sigh, “Here I thought you wished to speak about my horrible acts as a Death Eater and continue with your accusations.”

Hermione’s eyes moved to the floor as she wasn’t prepared to see what emotions were alive within his gray orbs, “I must admit that I was a bit unfair to you. I know that you were forced to do what you did during our sixth year and that I mustn’t judge you based upon what you did under duress. Also, I mustn’t hold you to the courageous standards of a Gryffindor as you were sorted into Slytherin for a reason. I guess you just did what you had to do to make sure you and your parents survived, but still it’s hard to believe that you’re shy, and I know why I’m uncomfortable with Bellatrix, but I thought you’d be fine with her.”

Draco shook his head, “You assume once again. I never knew Bellatrix until after she escaped from Azkaban our fifth year. The more I got to know her, the more I was afraid of her. Also, you may not have realized it, but being in the same room watching her torture someone you’ve gone to school with for six years does tend to cause an impression.” He looked away from her and she could swear she saw tears forming in his eyes, “I was powerless. There was nothing I could do to stop it because I was afraid of what she and the Dark Lord would do to me. At the same time it was like watching a broom accident, I couldn’t take my eyes off of your face. You were so brave and you never broke down. It was as if you were willing to sacrifice yourself for the survival of your friends.”

“Draco, I can understand your terror and your inability to stop her from torturing me, but at least you were strong enough to deny knowing for sure if we were who they suspected us of being. You still lied though you knew that who we were and that they had succeeded in capturing Harry.”

He looked away from her running his hand through his hair in what appeared to be frustration, “I was terrified that you were caught. I knew that Harry was our only hope. He was the only one that could rid the world of the monster that was Voldemort. I was sick of being frightened in my ancestral home, the home I’d known since birth. I was tired of being forced to punish other Death Eaters at the threat of my life, but in the end they’d get me when he wasn’t present. I don’t know how many times I’d experienced the Cruciatus. I was broken by the time you were in front of us, I was terrified, and I’d been tortured at school. The Carrows never liked me and saw me as a threat, so they found reasons to punish me. Crabbe, bloody Crabbe, died because he lost respect for me and refused to listen. It was his fault he died and if it weren’t for you and Harry, Goyle and I would’ve burned in there as well. All because the oaf cast a dark curse he had no skill to control. He should’ve never been taught that curse but apparently they didn’t see the need to keep them out of the Dark Arts class when he and Goyle both failed their O.W.L.s twice in Defense. What about when one discovers that the people one’s grown up with are so quick to turn on you.”

“I admit that I was wrong to say those things to you. I guess I was just trying to provoke you. I wanted to see if there was more to you than what I saw in school. I baited you with hopes that I’d see more to you much like Eliza finally sees in Darcy, but I instantly regretted it when I saw the tears in your eyes. I knew I’d gone too far in my judgment of your character. However, you still haven’t answered my question about your shyness.”

Draco simply nodded, “I’ve never been that talented with conversing with strangers. I tend to stick around with those I know. I guess it stems from my fear that strangers are only interested in me because of my family name, blood status, or our wealth. I just don’t trust people, and I really don’t trust women because they’re all after me. They all hope that I’ll make them my wife. I’d rather not meet anymore women motivated by shallow prospects like wealth and appearance.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the appearance of Dora and Padma. Draco explained his mistake and stayed for a bit without conversing with the others before leaving. Upon him leaving, Hermione couldn’t help but wonder if Draco had changed since the war. Was he really no longer the vial, loathsome cockroach he once was?

A/N: So, we’ve got some great interaction here. I wanted to skip over some of the scenes from the book. Hermione knows the story, so things without the wildcard Draco, will continue as expected. The next chapter will be from Draco’s perspective and we might just see him give his own proposal for marriage. Something tells me that Hermione will take as much offense as Eliza did to Darcy’s. We’ll have to wait and see.

*All dialogued marked is quoted from chapter *twenty-eight, **twenty-nine, ***thirty, and ****thirty-one, of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice(1813). The scenes are also derived from those chapters. The only things original to me are Hermione's thoughts. The last scene occurs outside of the story, as Draco decides to make an appearance when Darcy does not within the book.
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The Joke Book Trap