Disclaimer:-I do not own HP etc
This is an idea that came into mind one night, more things will be revealed later on in the story.
It was that time of the year again. Christmas was always something she never really looked forward to. Sitting in the window bay with a cup of hot cocoa, Hermione leans back against wall, watching the tiny people bustling in and out of shops getting their last bit of shopping done. She watches as a couple walk pass laughing and the man puts his arm around the woman. Sighing to herself she subconsciously touches her locket. It has been five years since he had gone to Azkaban, in those five years, she had only been able to slip in to see him twice.
"Why aren't you open?" A voice behinds her make her jump
With her wand in her hand, she had jumped in a flash only to see a tall dark haired man smirking at her with his hands in the air
"Blaise...you scared the shit out of me" She sighs lowering her hand
"I'll say...you didn't even hear me apparate in" He chuckles
"Sorry...I was somewhere else" She shakes her head and goes in for a hug
"I'm sorry I haven't been in a while" He replied feeling guilty, kissing the top of her hair before he lets go her.
"It's alright, I understand" She gives him a small smile
"Theo and Pans sends their love" She hears him say as they make their way into the kitchen
"So, any updates?" Hermione asks while making them coffee
"Oh no, not before you tell me why you're not open" Blaise replies, taking a seat at the breakfast bar
"I wasn't feeling well morning, so decided not to open She shrugs, walking over with the cups
"Yeah.. sure" He raises an eyebrow at her
"Oh stop, I'm fine. I just needed a little 'me' time" She snaps, taking a seat opposite him
A ring from Hermione's floo bell made the pair of them jump, Blaise quickly stands up and pulls out his wand, but Hermione stops him as he was about to leave.
"You haven't given me any update yet!" She says lowly
"There isn't much to update, nothing is moving, the next attack is Christmas day, which you already know" He hisses at her, eyeing the doorway
"What about meetings?"She quickly asks him. "I haven't heard of any yet, but I will notify you when there is" He says, he sees her face scrunch up a little, he knew what she was asking about, but for the time being, he had nothing. Sighing out loud, he gives her a kiss on the cheek
"I'll be in touch okay?" He says looking at her, she nods as a reply
"Mione?!" They hear a female voice call out from the floo
"Coming!" Hermione shouts out, giving Blaise a squeeze on his arm before letting go, with a pop he was gone before her eyes.
Straightening herself and putting on a smile, Hermione strolls into the living room with her cup of coffee to find Ginny's head in the fireplace waiting. Clearly not happy that Hermione had not been there sooner.
"Hi Gin, everything okay?" She asks casually sitting down by the floating head in the fireplace
"Don't hi Gin me, why aren't you open today? Are you okay? What took you so long?" The red headed babbles on.
"I'm fine Gin, I just wanted to rest today, that is all. I was in the kitchen making a cup of coffee" Hermione replies to her questions, bringing the cup to her lips to take a sip.
"Hmm..are you sure you are okay? Not like you to close randomly" She asks, not quite believing her
"Just feeling a little under the weather Gin, nothing major" Hermione brushes her off
"You know, Harry mentioned that there is this position opening in the Auror department.."
"I do not want to be a Auror Gin, I told you this already" Hermione sighs, the conversation has came up quite often
"Not an auror position" Ginny rolls her eyes, she watches as Hermione huffs but not replying giving her the chance to explain
"It's just paper work, they need a filing clerk, it's easy work. Since you turned down the position in the legal department because you said you can't be bothered with anything too stressful, this is perfect. It's just filing, and the odd typing job" Ginny says excitedly
"I'm not interested Gin, sorry. I just don't want to work there" Hermione says
"Right.." Gin huffs, once again failing to persuade her friend.
"I'm happy with my bookstore, I like the way things are" She hears Hermione replying
"Sure...are you coming for Christmas this year? Mum's been asking about you. So has Ron.." Ginny asks nonchalantly, slipping her brother into the sentence
"Sorry Gin, I have plans, give them my love" Hermione replied taking another sip of the now luke warm coffee
"What plans? What do you do on your own, every year!" Gin snaps at her
"I visit my parents grave and spend some time with my muggle relatives" Hermione snaps back at her, of course it was only half truth.
"Can't you go another day, you've missed Christmas with us ever since we left school" Ginny whines
"And you mention that every year too, I'm sorry Ginny, I'm not available" Hermione wrinkles her nose
"Fine! Do what you want, not like we are friends or anything" Ginny replies with a huff, then disappears.
Sighing out loud, Ginny was always trying to guilt trip her into doing things, once again, she has to pretend to be sorry later. Standing up she closes her floo, not wanting any more unwanted visitors or calls. Christmas was only a week away, she wanted to get it done but for the first time in years, she was not going to be alone on Christmas day. It wasn't the ideal Christmas, but at least she gets to see a few people she misses, even if it was going to be for a brief moment.
She was tired of the apartment, not wanting to stick around, she quickly changes into something casual, grabs her black cloak and a couple of vials that were in her desk. She heads downstairs to the shop, checking that all her wards were still up, she goes into the back room, putting her cloak on she sniffs it a little and smiles, the cloak had a scent of her love that never fades. It was specially enchanted for her. Putting the hood up she lifts up a cellar door and heads down, closing it slowly behind her.
The cellar was dark and dingy, not much around except some boxes that looked like old books. She moves a few of the boxes aside with her wand, revealing a fireplace that was made of marble, it looked very much out of place. However, this is one fireplace that was not registered, and was specially built to a couple of connections. Grabbing some floo, she heads off to find one person that she knew who would be just as lonely as she was.
Landing in the large dark sitting room, she wonders if anyone was home. Then hearing voices speaking, she quietly tip toes towards the closed door. A small pop makes her jump, looking down she sees a female elf bowing towards her, before the elf could say anything Hermione signalled her to stop. Not wanting to anger the witch, the elf wriggles her hands and shuffles side to side.
Listening to the voices, she could make out two women talking, it sounded like a disagreement of sort, but she was not able to make out the conversation clearly. The voices stopped as she hears footsteps clacking around and the front door slams. Not wanting to make any noise in case there was still people around she turns to the elf who had her head hanging low, still fiddling with her hands.
"Mimsy, go check if there is any other visitors around before you announce me" She ordered the elf
"Yes miss" The elf squeaks and vanishes with a pop
A couple minutes later, the doors swing open, making her eyes squint as bright lights suddenly blind her.
"Hermione" She hears a warm voice of a woman and felt herself get engulfed into a hug
"Hi Cissa" She smiles, as she hugs the woman back
"It's so good to see you" Narcissa smiles, letting go of her
"It's good to see you too" Hermione says undoing her cloak and taking it off, Mimsy the elf was already by her side to take it off her.
"Come, let's go get some tea" Narcissa says linking Hermione, feeling her being hesitant, she smiles at the girl
"Don't worry, I won't be having any more visitors today" She says to Hermione reassuringly
Narcissa leads her to the sun room as tea was prepared by the house elves, the room was enchanted to stay warm giving her a cosy feeling inside. Hermione looks out at the garden that was covered in a neat blanket of snow.
"How are you dear?" Narcissa asks her as the elves pop in with the tray of tea and biscuits
"Oh you know, the same as usual" Hermione replies casually with a smile
"You look thin Hermione, have you not been eating well? I can send an elf over to prepare meals for you" The woman frowns as she scans Hermione properly.
"Oh now, that won't be necessary. I wouldn't be able to keep a house elf anyway, it would be suspicious if people saw. Thank you though, for the kind gesture" Hermione replies
"I guess you are right" Narcissa sighs taking a sip out of her cup
"Have you visited them lately?"Hermione asks taking a sip out of her own cup
"No, unfortunately. They said being this time of year, paper work takes longer to complete for visits" She replied bitterly
"Sure. Like that's believable, it's just a few boxes that need ticking" Hermione replies just as bitterly
"Indeed, however as Weasley is the one that grants permission to see certain prisoners, one does not need to imagine why he's putting it off" Narcissa say with a bite to her tone
"I'm sorry Cissa" Hermione says sympathetically
"Oh, don't be sorry dear, it's not your fault. I should be the one to say sorry..I've at least been able to see them more than you have" Narcissa replies sadly
"I miss him so much.."Hermione says with a lump in her throat, she couldn't help the tears filling her eyes
"I know dear, I know" Narcissa quickly sits next to her and pulls her into a hug, she could hear quiet sobs from the girl and felt a pang of guilt.
"He misses you too. He tells me when I have been able to see them" The woman says stroking Hermione's hair in a motherly way.
They sat in silence for a few minutes as Hermione cries into the woman, something that she really needed. Picking herself back up, Hermione sniffles, and wipes her eyes with a tissue that Narcissa had handed her. Thanking the older woman, she composes herself again.
"So, I hear Christmas day is a big day" Narcissa says changing the subject
"Yes, Blaise has told me already, but I don't know any fine details yet" She says sighing
"Honestly, whoever thought of voting Theodore Snr as lead for now is beyond me" The older woman huffs
"Nott Snr isn't so bad...just...a little..clumsy..and.."
"And no co-ordination, awful at planning anything, as lazy as one can get" Narcissa finishes her sentence.
"I'm not disagreeing with you" Hermione says with a giggle, Narcissa smiles as she sees the young woman finally perking a little.
"I brought some more of these for you" Hermione says, pulling out a few bottle of vials, inside was and silver liquid swirls.
"Oh thank you dear, I have been running low lately. His feeding time is coming up, would you like to join me?" She asks pocketing the vials.
"Yes, of course!" Hermione replied instantly.
It wasn't often that she was able to be involved with the feeding, normally she was either already too late, or too early, and she never had the time to stick around. Narcissa calls the elves to clear up the empty cups and links onto Hermione again. Leading her to Lucius's study, they stand in front of a painting, Narcissa carefully taps the painting in in a few different places and stands back. They watch as the painting swings open, and the wall behind it start melting into a shape of a doorway. Stepping in, they made sure that the wall was back in place before heading down the cobble steps, opening a wooden door, Hermione could feel the many wards around it as she walks through.
As soon as the lights come on, she rushes towards the bedside of the frail man. Gently stroking his hair, she could just make out his breathing, it was very weak. She felt Narcissa's hand squeeze her shoulder and turns to see a vial in front of her, gratefully taking it off the older woman, she turns back to the frail man. Gently cupping his face with one hand, she tilts his head back and pours the vial into his mouth, then closing it and lifts his head gently back a little letting the liquid slide down his throat. Satisfied that it was done gently lays his head back down.
"I promise, I will wake you one day father" She whispers to him, kissing his forehead before standing up again.
"He would be proud of you" She hears Narcissa say gently
"No, he wouldn't. I have not found a way to wake him, he would scold me for taking too long" She replied jokingly
"I should get going before anyone wonders, it's getting late" Hermione says as they made their way back up to Lucius's study.
"I will let you know as soon as anything changes" Narcissa replies
"Can you do me a favour on Christmas? I won't have much time spare" Hermione asks putting her cloak back on
"Of course, what is it dear" Narcissa asks
"Would you be able to put flowers down for my mum and dad please, I will be back on Christmas night to check on father" She says
"Of course I will, you take care dear, and good luck" Narcissa says giving her a hug.
Flooing back to the shop, she puts everything back in order and heads back up to her apartment. After showering and putting on her pj's, she decided to get some research done, grabbing some snacks from the kitchen she goes into her study and pulls out some books and notes from her locked cabinet. Getting comfortable in the armchair she opens the book to the pages she had marked and started taking notes.
One way or another, she swore that she would wake her god father, pulling her arm sleeves up, she felt the scar on her left forearm, frowning at the sight, she takes her wand and mutters a spell, slowly the words 'mudblood' start disappearing and black marks showing, revealing the dark mark.
I hope this was a little enjoyable at least, I have a lot of back story but they get revealed bit by bit through the story.
I'm not quite sure if it's something I should carry on, so reviews would be helpful.