2. True love stories never have endings. ~Richard Bach
The rest of the week was filled with Hermione's usual routine of work and home, sooner rather than later Friday was upon her like a bat out of hell, it was Ron and Lavender's engagement party later on in the evening and Hermione had planned to leave work early. Well Ginny made her plan to leave work early, so they could get ready for the event.
At twelve o'clock lunch time, Ginny showed up at Hermione's office to force the brunette up and out to go shopping. They apparated to Diagon Alley and went to Madam Malkin's for their dresses. Although the Weasley events were never usually lavishing Hermione was on a good, if not brilliant, pay roll so she offered to buy herself and Ginny a dress.
As they entered the shop Madam Malkin rushed over to the two of them and began quizzing them about what they wanted and what event it was they would be attending. Hermione offered for Ginny to go first.
Ginny was made to stand in the middle of the room on a platform as she was measured by the older witch. After her measurements were taken it was Hermione's turn, she stood on the platform and Madam Malkin began measuring her.
When they'd been measured the witches looked around the store at the dresses on show. Ginny found one straightaway that caught her eye and she went in the back to try it on after Madam Malkin transfigured it to her sizes.
The ginger witch walked out of the changing rooms to show Hermione the dress she had picked, it was a golden gown that hung off one shoulder, it was fitted to the waist and the puffed out for the rest of the way. It really suited Ginny and Hermione told her to buy it. With that Ginny changed back into her clothes and took the dress to the till whilst Hermione still looked around.
The brunette wasn't having much luck finding a new dress. She wasn't sure about some of the styles and then some of them looked weird, or too, overdone. Hermione discovered a black dress in the corner of one of the rails; she picked up to examine it further. It was the only descent looking thing she had seen during her browsing.
Madam Malkin transfigured it to her measurements and Hermione proceeded to the changing rooms to try it on. She exited to show Ginny.
"Wow Hermione that looks great on you!" The ginger smiled as she looked at the dress Hermione was donning.
"Really? Because I am sick of looking." Hermione hadn't really seen herself in the dress she just had a quick glance in the mirror before stepping out to show her friend.
The dress was strapless and was tight, hugging her figure all the way down to the floor. It had a slit up the left side revealing a lot of leg, right up to Hermione's mid-thigh. Upon deciding it was the best she was going to find Hermione went back to the changing rooms and took off the dress.
The brunette took it to the till and paid for both dresses, the witches left the shop and headed to the Leaky Cauldron for a spot of lunch.
"So are you looking forward to your brother's engagement?" Hermione laughed as she took a bit of her ham salad.
"Meh, I am, but I wish it was Harry and I that were getting engaged first! Five years we've been together! Five bloody years and he's yet to propose!" Ginny and Harry had been together since the War and even lived together at twelve Grimmauld Place. Sirius had left it to Harry after his death, and once the war was over Harry had redecorated it and moved in with Ginny.
Hermione couldn't help but giggle at Ginny's jealousy "Oh Gin, don't worry about it. Just don't let your mother throw your bloody parties."
"Hell no! A gazebo in the garden, I'd rather hire a nice theatre hall and have everyone inside, or just a quiet affair at home, but no, not at the Burrow." Ginny laughed and carried on eating her food.
"Do you know who's attending tonight?"
"Yes, Harry and I helped with the invites, some of the Hogwarts staff will be there, like Hagrid and McGonagall, oh and Slughorn, Harry insisted we invite him." Ginny didn't really appreciate Slughorn, he was a bit of a prat when he taught them, and as for the slug club, well that was a waste of time.
"Oh Merlin, not Slughorn!" Hermione chuckled "Who else is going?"
"Just the usual, family and friends, oh and Charlie can't make it to Ron's misfortune, he's overseas in a quidditch tournament." The ginger witch took a sip of her butter beer.
"Ah poor Ron. Well it will be nice to see familiar faces again." Hermione finished her food and pushed her plate to the side.
"Yeah, the only problem is of course Fred not being there, but he is with us, in our hearts." Ginny's expression changed to sadness as she thought about her older brother.
"He will always be with you Ginny." Hermione put a hand over Ginny's to reassure her.
The two wrapped up their dinner and said their goodbyes. They apparated to their homes.
Hermione arrived in her flat and set down her bags. She flopped on her sofa and picked up her book. The brunette had been reading for a fair few hours before she decided to begin getting ready, Crookshanks had perched himself on her legs as she had sat across the sofa.
"Come on Crooks, I need to get ready." She picked up the elderly cat and set him back down on the sofa. Hermione had owned Crooks since he was a kitten; the elder half-kneazle was now at a staggering ten years of age. He was doing well for his age and Hermione really couldn't imagine her life without him.
Crookshanks had always been there through everything. He was the first one to realised Pettigrew was acting as Scabbus, he had been there when Hermione was upset and needed someone to hold. Even when she hadn't been able to locate her parents Crookshanks seemed to feel her sadness and stayed by her side constantly. Her parents never left her thoughts; she hoped they were somewhere in Australia and safe, getting on with their lives.
The brunette regretted the day she decided to obliviate her parents and move them out of the country. It was one of the biggest mistakes of her life. Harry and Ron offered to help find them when they were both fully fledged Aurors. But when the Golden Trio searched the entire landscape of Australia and hadn't been able to track them down. They all gave up. Hermione wasn't strong enough at that point to carry on looking for them. She would go back one day. That she promised herself.
Hermione checked her appearance for the fifth time before leaving her apartment. She had worn her new dress. Her hair was long now and she let it fall down her back in curls that stopped at her waist. Her make up wasn't too over the top but it was more than she used to wear. She topped it off with red lipstick; hmm who did that remind her of?
She slipped on her black heels and apparated out of her flat and to the outside of the Burrow.
The gazebo was packed full of guests, Hermione had arrived there at seven fifteen, she didn't want to be too early! As she stalked up through the guests she spotted a very nervous looking Ronald Weasley. Gracing her face with a smile she walked over to him.
"Everything alright Ronald?" Hermione looked at him as he just surveyed her.
"Blimey 'Mione, you look—you look beautiful!" He pulled her into a hug.
"Thanks Ron you look very handsome, Lavender's going to be pleased." Hermione coughed as Ron squeezed her too tight. He held her like that for longer than necessary.
"I'm nervous." Ron said as he let go of her. "I really hope she says yes, what if she says no?"
"Ron don't worry, she loves you, of course she will say yes. She'd be stupid not to." Hermione winked at him as he blushed.
"I better go stand by the house, I need some time to think anyway, and she'll be here soon." Ron put a hand on her shoulder before walking off towards the house.
Hermione picked herself a drink up from the drinks table; she decided on champagne, it was after all a special occasion, one drinks champagne on a special occasion. The brunette could tell the Weasley's from the other guests. The ginger gene and all. She stayed stood in the same spot and scoped through the crowds.
Harry noticed her and walked over with Ginny. "Hermione! How are you?" He hugged her and gave her a kiss on her cheek.
"Hey you two, I'm good thanks, how are you two?" Hermione took a sip of her drink, Harry had also ogled at her appearance. Men, they always let their eyes linger for too long, Hermione didn't like being centre of attention but it wasn't all too bad.
"We're good thanks! You look great, you really do Hermione." Harry smiled at her and wrapped an arm around his girlfriend. Hermione had done well with age; he remembered when she was a bushy haired girl who knew too much for her own good.
"Good, so who have you seen around so far?" Hermione had only spoken to the three of them, she felt a little, out of place. It had been a long time since she had been at the Weasley's. The last time she was there was when she was dating Ron, so it was a good three and a half years ago.
"Oh the Professors! Hermione you should go see them Minerva would love to see her favourite student. Horace was stuck talking to us for a long time too." Harry pointed her to where her former Professors had congregated.
"So you're on a first name basis now aye?" Hermione laughed it was weird hearing Harry use their first names.
"They insisted! Didn't they Ginny?" Ginny just nodded, she was awfully quiet, but Hermione knew it was the jealousy raging through the ginger that was keeping her silent.
"Well we have five minutes before Lavender gets here so I guess I'll go speak to them." Hermione checked her watch and then began wading through the crowd to get to the professors.
Hermione was actually a little nervous to speak to them, Hagrid spotted her first and wrapped a large arm around her and pulled her into a giant hug. Minerva's eyes lit up when she caught sight of her, Slughorn had wandered off and Flitwick was smiling up at her.
"Ermione! Great to see ya, congrats to you and Ron!" Hagrid said as he patted her on the shoulder.
"Wait? What! Hagrid what are you talking about?" Hermione shot him a confused look, Minerva sniggered behind her glass.
"You and Ron's engagement." He looked so sure that she should know exactly what he meant. His eyebrows knitted together as she raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow back at him.
"Hagrid you doof! Ron's asking Lavender to marry him not me!" The brunette almost keeled over with laughter, how could he have not known?
"Oh er… woops, better just er." He screwed up the card he had in his hand and launched it out of the gazebo. "I was only told the other day! I just assumed it was you! Bloody Harry! He shudda been specific!" Hagrid turned a shade of red and grabbed himself a glass of booze.
"No worries Hagrid! That ship sailed a long time ago!" She turned her attention away from him and turned to Minerva, "it's good to see you professor." Hermione held out her hand for McGonagall to shake.
"You look beautiful Hermione! And please call me Minerva." She took her hand but made it into a hug. "I here you're the youngest head of department the Ministry as ever had." Her smile gleamed, she was so proud of Hermione.
"Yes! Zing! I did it, it was my goal to be head of a department and I made it!" Hermione took another drink of her champagne.
"Well congratulations. So did you bring a plus one?" Minerva was always a nosey witch, and now she was being even more nosey now that she had familiarised with Hermione.
"No did you?" Hermione didn't even know she could bring a plus one, but even if she did there was actually no one for her to bring.
"No I just came with the faculty. So you've got no one special you wanted to bring tonight?" What the hell was this? I say your first name now let's be best friends. Minerva grinned as she sipped her wine.
She's probably half-drunk already, "Nope no one, just me, by myself, as per usual." Hermione laughed but there was soon a clanging of glass as Molly stood on a chair and got everyone's attention.
"Everyone I would like quiet Lavender has just arrived down at the house and Ron is going to be on his way up here any minute." With that said Molly, who was clearly still a control freak, climbed down from the chair and awaited at the front of the gazebo.
Everyone waited in pure silence, whispers could be heard, but nothing much more than that, Hermione got a glimpse of Ron approaching with a very stunned Lavender Brown. When they arrived at the entrance of the gazebo Ron got down on one knee and asked the blonde to marry him in front of all the guests. Lavender jumped at the chance and cried 'yes' as Ron slipped the engagement ring onto her finger.
The sounding of applause and cheers filled the night's sky and fireworks, which were all lit by George, were set off, and the party began, music started playing and a dance floor was formed. Many people had taken to sitting down and grabbing some food, Hermione finished her conversation with Minerva, who asked her to meet for lunch sometime, the brunette happily agreed.
Hermione made her way over to Harry and Ginny, the two of them were stood near the drinks table, Hermione needed a drink, and she was able to have a little chat as she chose, win.
The brunette decided upon something a little stronger and opted for some Ogden's finest. She took a sip of the red liquid, as it flowed down the back of her throat, it burned a little but not too much that she minded.
She turned around a noticed Draco. He had two drinks in his hands. "Why is Draco Malfoy here?" Hermione was dumbfounded.
"He's a good guy 'Mione, he went through some rough patches, but he's fine now." Harry added, okay? What the hell.
"Oh really…" Hermione paused midsentence when she saw who the second glass of wine was for. Sat right there plain as day, was Narcissa; I didn't know she liked these type of gatherings. "He brought his mother?" This was getting even stranger for the brunette, not to mention how attractive Narcissa was looking. She was wearing a dark red dress that clung tightly to her amazing figure.
"Yeah well, she's his plus one, but I am glad she decided to show, she's changed a lot, since her divorce." Harry continued.
"She's gotten a divorce!" Hermione almost yelled. Did no one think to tell her about this?
"Hermione don't you read the profit? They got divorced ages ago! Her names even changed back to Black." Ginny spoke for the first time this evening.
"No, when Rita Skeeter is sacked maybe I'll get a subscription." Hermione said icily, she hated that witch for all the stories she wrote about her in her fourth year.
"Oh well yeah, there she is Narcissa Black, attending a Weasley gathering." Ginny mumbled, she felt out of place too, this should've been her engagement party!
"Hmmm, well at least she has the audacity to prove that she's changed." Hermione couldn't take her eyes of the older witch.
Hermione was gazing over at Narcissa and Draco's table regularly now. She had kept herself planted next to the drinks table. She was having an internal battle with herself, should she go over and talk? Would the beautiful witch even want to talk to her? Would Draco get in the way? The stalling wasn't helping the brunette she had drank three glasses of wine just stood there battling herself.
Hermione faded out in a daze of confusion and misinterpretation, maybe it was the wine that was making her want to speak to Narcissa, she had distracted herself fully that she didn't realise who had walked up to the inks table and was pouring themselves a drink.
"Miss Granger, everything alright?" Narcissa turned to her and took in the younger witches stunning appearance; black had always been her favourite colour.
"Huh?" Hermione turned to look who had just spoken to her and found herself trapped in the depths of icy blue shining eyes. "Oh Mrs Mal—er Black, I'm fine, just a little hot headed." Hot headed? Really Hermione hot headed? Why don't you just tell her how much wine you've actually had contemplating over her!
"Would you like to sit down, I've noticed you've been stood over here for quite some time. Please join us?" Narcissa smiled warmly towards the younger witch, she wanted to get to know her, Hermione seemed like forbidden fruit that she had been taught to avoid all her life, well it was true, she was told to keep away, even hate the muggle borns, but no one had that hold over her any more.
"Sure—erm of course." Desperate much? Hermione followed Narcissa to her table and took a seat opposite the older witch.
Draco looked shocked that she had joined them at first; he was also shocked that she was so stunningly beautiful; his mother was making amends for all the wrong choices she had made in life. Draco's turn had now come; he was going to try wooing her.
"Miss Granger it's nice to see you again." The platinum blonde haired young man now spoke as he held his hand out for her to shake.
Well Hermione decided they had actually changed for the better. Draco was being polite, as was his mother, and she was so enchanting and… Hermione needed a clear mind if she was to be conversing with the two pure bloods. She didn't want to show herself up. Hermione decided to lay off the wine for now.
Hermione shook Draco's waiting hand and smiled pleasantly to him, "Nice to see you too, it has been a while." It had been five years, Hermione hadn't ran into him at all, she knew he was around, but she didn't know what he did or even if her worked for the Ministry, if so he had been good at hiding it.
"So what do you do now Draco?"
"I got to the University of York; I am studying muggle History, in a Muggle university. It's great!" Hermione almost had to pick her jaw up off the table. He really had just said he went to a muggle Uni, what was happening?
"Wow, that's, that is really great Draco." Hermione asked, "What made you so…"
"Muggle friendly?" He laughed as he cut her off. "You see with everything over and done with my mother and I have really been able to live our lives, all those things I said to you in Hogwarts I am truly sorry for, I was brainwashed by my father, my mother was too by her parents. Now we a free to do whatever we want." He took a sip of his, well what looked like butter beer, and smiled at her.
Hermione could tell she probably looked stupid but she couldn't help being astonished! This was a rather large break through, two pure bloods being so openly friendly with a muggle born, and not to mention the brunette could tell none of this was acting or a façade.
"Draco that's amazing, and thank you, for your apology, I forgive you. There's no need to dwell on the past." Hermione took a glance at Narcissa who was smiling at her son and then caught Hermione's brown orbs.
They stayed for a few seconds longer looking into each other's eyes before Draco interrupted them.
"So what do you do now Hermione?"
"I am head of the misuse of muggle artefacts, in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement." Hermione donned a smirk; she had gotten to where she wanted to be in her line of work.
"Brilliant! You must be the youngest ever head of department!" It was Draco's turn to look shocked, Hermione nodded and giggled before her attention was turned to Narcissa.
"That is quite something, I read it in the Daily Profit, and you have been head for almost four years! That's a great accomplishment for someone your age." Narcissa saw Hermione looking at her; it felt like her eyes were burning a hole through her, she liked having Hermione's attention on her. It was alluring.
"Well they don't call me the smartest witch of my age for nothing!" Hermione laughed, she also earned a laugh from the pure blood opposite her, and Narcissa's laugh was one of the sweetest things she had ever heard! Draco just sported a smile. Hermione wished he needed a drink or something, so she could focus all her attention onto the beauty opposite her.
The three of them sat talking for a while; they particularly discussed topics that appealed to them, like the Ministry, or other related studies. Hermione enjoyed talking to Narcissa, the woman was very knowledgeable like herself, and she was very easy to converse with. Draco was a little quiet or he just agreed with the two witches, he didn't seem intent on talking about certain topics. Hermione noticed is sole interest was her.
"Oh I love this song!" Draco said very gaily as he stood up and took off his blazer. He proceeded to put it on the back of his chair and then held his hand out to Hermione, "would you care to dance?"
No certainly not. "Erm I'm – I'm not much of a dancer I'm afraid." Hermione blushed a little but she didn't want to dance with the platinum blonde.
"Aw come on, it's my favourite song." Draco still held his hand out to her, the brunette took it and stood up, she gave a small coy smile to Narcissa before letting Draco lead her to the dance floor.
Draco put his hand on the small of her back and she put her right hand on his shoulder and he took her left hand in his own. They began to dance to the music, he had pulled her close to him, she wasn't fond of the closeness, and she could feel Narcissa's eyes burning a hole in her back as she watched her dance with her son.
Hermione wondered why the woman was constantly staring at her, or trying to get her attention, maybe Narcissa was just being friendly in her own way? It couldn't have been the same reason Hermione would want her to.
After the song had finished Draco led them back to the table to sit down, Hermione politely smiled and took her seat. Now she needed her wine. There wasn't any reason not to at this point, she definitely didn't want another dance, and if she was drunk she'd be unable to.
"You lied to me Hermione, you are a good dancer." The platinum blonde laughed and Hermione just shrugged.
"Everyone has their own opinion I suppose." Hermione wasn't enjoying is smartness; she decided to turn her attention back to the witch in front of her. "Miss Black, where are you residing now?"
Narcissa looked like she had been caught off guard but in all honesty she wasn't expecting the younger witch to make conversation with her, she was sure at this moment she was interested in her son. "Oh a rather large town house in muggle London, it's quite big for one person, but I do like my space." Her eyes gleamed as Hermione nodded showing her understanding.
"I live in London too; I have an apartment in Belsize Park." Hermione swivelled her glass around to swirl her wine.
"Really? My house is situated in Belsize Park." Narcissa felt heat rise in her cheeks, how had she never seen Hermione out in town? Well this was certainly music to her ears.
Hermione laughed, what were the chances really? How could this woman get any more irresistible? The brunette was also caught in the moment; she had never seen the older witch around the area. "There's some great book stores don't you agree?"
"Hmm have you been to Daunts? I've always enjoyed going there." The pale witch grinned as she saw Hermione agree. It was completely nuts that the two had only bumped into each other at the begging of the week in Flourish and Blotts.
"Yes Daunts happens to be one of my favourites, I can sit in there fir hours reading before I actually decide to get up and buy something, the shop owners must hate me by now." The brunette laughed as Narcissa chuckled. Draco laughed too but it was a somewhat awkward, trying to get into the conversation, laugh.
"I do that sometimes." Narcissa was about to continue when Ron flung himself in the seat next to Hermione, opposite Draco, and donned a very drunk smile.
"Ronald, are you enjoying your party?" Hermione smiled at him as she swigged his beer.
"Oh yes, I—I just wanna say 'Mione, I'm glad you came!" Hermione's suspicions had been brought to truth, Ron was indeed very drunk.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Yeah but we never see you anymore 'Mione, you're always working your arse off! Harry was just saying—how happy he is—is that you've come." Ron was beginning to slur his words.
Hermione laughed to try shrug off the comment he had just made, it was true, she had gained some distance away from them, the only reason being that it was sometimes awkward with their past. "Was he now? I shall have to be having words with that boy."
Ron smirked and put his, very sweaty, hand over hers. Much to the rest of the table, Draco and Narcissa, they listened to the two talk. Not wanting to interrupt but also being rather nosey.
"Hagrid tried to congratulate me on being your fiancée. Does Harry always leave important pieces of information out when he's inviting your guests?" Hermione raised her eyebrow, she was of course just playing with him, but she saw Ron's face turn a little, he looked slightly… melancholy.
"Oh—I am sorry." The ginger laughed to cheer himself up a bit. "Please don't tell Lav, she's always been somewhat jealous of our relationship Hermione, I don't want to give her any cause to live that up." He looked down into his glass.
Well this couldn't be more awkward "Of course, don't worry, I can keep my trap shut when needs be." Hermione looked at Narcissa who was giving her a rather odd sympathetic look.
"Yeah, anyways thank you all for coming, it's getting a little late but there's still a lot of people here mingling, so I'll go take my drunken ass around to see the others." Ron gingerly stood himself up and made his leave.
Hermione felt a little odd, especially after Draco and Narcissa had to hear that, it was clear Ron did still feel strongly for her, that much she could tell, but his behaviour had been somewhat off scale. Hermione pulled all her long hair to one side and brushed it through with her fingers.
Narcissa watched the young witch; she knew that Hermione didn't really expect a drunk Mr Weasley, so she saw the awkwardness in the woman's actions. The sight was rather alluring as Hermione revealed her neck, the dark witch couldn't help but stare, her skin was pale but not as pale as her own, and there was not a blemish to be found. Narcissa bet she felt like silk, but as hot as fire at the same time. They ended up locking eyes again. The women had lost count how many times they had done this tonight.
As Hermione took her wine a downed the rest of it she noticed Luna and Neville across at the drinks table, excusing herself rather courteously she went over to speak to them. As Hermione got closer she noticed Luna's small baby bump, the eccentric witch was pregnant.
"Hermione! Come here, it's bloody great to see you!" Neville nearly dropped his drink in surprise. He launched his arms around Hermione.
"It's good to see you too! And you Luna!" Hermione released from Neville and hugged Luna. "Wow look at you, all pregnant and stuff." All pregnant and stuff, blimey the wine has really hit you tonight Granger.
"Yes! You should come to my baby shower, I will owl you when it's all set in stone, my father is throwing it for me." Luna was oddly wearing a long crème gown that was quite fitting, it showed off her pregnancy belly quite well.
"Your—your fathers throwing it for you?" Hermione stifled her laughter; trust Mr Lovegood to throw his daughter a baby shower.
"Yeah he was so happy about it!" Luna added.
"So Hermione I how's work?" Neville knew about Hermione's line of work, he had read about her break through to the head of department when it was published in the profit.
"Great thanks, how's teaching?" Hermione asked. Neville had become a professor of Herbology at Hogwarts, he had briefly worked in the Auror office but he had come to terms that it wasn't for him.
"I love it! It's so exhilarating to know I'm teaching students things they have never even known about." Neville had grown into a strong confident man, and he was going to be a father, Hermione foresaw another engagement party somewhere down the line.
"That's really great Neville." Hermione poured herself another glass of wine and turned back to the odd pair.
"Hermione, I don't mean to pry, but you've been sat with the Malfoy and his mother for most of the night." He looked a little uncomfortable asking but Hermione knew people were bound to ask.
"Harry told me they had changed." And his mother is one hot piece of ass "and I had to check it out for myself." The brunette gulped some of her wine.
"Ah I see, Harry told me that too, but to me, the two of them are still snakes in the grass, whether Black's divorced her husband or not, I don't agree with any of them having freedom." Stunned by Neville's outburst Hermione just smiled and nodded. She wasn't going to go into full detail about how Narcissa had in fact saved Harry's life that night. Neville knew that already, he was just being as stubborn as a mule.
Hermione said her goodbyes to the pair and went off to find Ron and Lavender. Hermione had come to the conclusion that it was getting late and she needed to go home, she found Ron and Lav, they said their goodbyes as well. She also told Harry and Gin she was leaving before going back to where Narcissa and Draco were sitting.
"I'm going to get going, I didn't realise how late it was." Hermione put her now empty wine glass on the table. She was a little un-steady on her feet but no one noticed. Or so she thought.
"Are you okay to apparate home Miss Granger?" The seductive voice could be heard from near where Hermione stood she looked down at Narcissa, this was torture, and how could she want someone so badly? Narcissa was someone she could never have.
"Oh I'm quite alright." Please let me go… you torturous wench.
"Mother I can apparate her?" Draco piped up.
Oh great that is even worse, I can apparate myself, what is this? Take advantage of a tipsy Gryffindor day?
"No son I'll be leaving shorty anyways, you say are goodbyes, and do tell Mrs Weasley she put on a lovely…" Narcissa looked around to find the right word "spread."
"No I am fine I…" Hermione found it had to keep her composure.
"Nonsense we don't want you going and splinching yourself. Please allow me?" Narcissa gestured for the opening in the Gazebo and Hermione led the way out.
It was then that she realised she was more pissed than she realised. But they were walking through a bloody field and she was in heels. "Merlin this is hard work." Hermione muttered out loud to herself. She actually thought she had said it in her head.
Narcissa chuckled as she snaked a hand and held Hermione's arm helping her walk. The touch was like liquid fire to both of them. They hadn't had skin on skin contact, Hermione stared down at the hand that was around her arm and looked up to meet her helpers blue eyes. Hermione shook her head if the thoughts that were beginning to build up there and smiled.
"You know, if you hadn't of drunk so much wine you would be fine I'm sure." Narcissa counted as she helped the girl onto a flat piece of grass. "Where is it that you live in Belsize Park?"
"Oh on erm…" Oh God now you forget your bloody street name… her skins so soft, she smells like fresh roses, and pull yourself together woman! Hermione was closer to Narcissa and was deeply inhaling her scent, her perfume was pleasing and before long Hermione realised she had yet to tell the older woman where she lived. "Haverstock hill."
Narcissa smiled at the brunette, "we do not seem to live far from each other. Tell me, were you sceptic about informing me of your street name or did you just forget?" Narcissa raised her right eye brown and smirked.
"None of the above." Hermione chuckled and then she felt the familiar tug in her stomach of apparition.
When their feet landed back on the ground Hermione took in her surroundings, her flat was five minutes down the street, she then realised that Narcissa had was still around her arm. The brunette quickly turned releasing the grasp on her.
"Thank you Miss Black, I guess I'll see you around?" Hermione didn't wait for a response she had to get herself as far away from the older witch as possible, if not she would have her pushed up against the nearest wall and ravish her where they stood. That is the wine talking.
The youngest Black sister watched Hermione walk down the road and to her flat before apparating two streets away and entering her home. Narcissa knew the brunette had taken some sort of fancy to her by now, but even under the influence she hadn't acted upon it. In a way the pure blood believed this to be the only way. Hermione was the forbidden fruit.
Hope you guys enjoy the second instalment :)