A/N:
Thank you all for the kind support. This story is beginning to take a life of its own, which is terribly fun.
A special thank you to my beta, who is content to follow me throughout the many pairings that catch my eye. Uniquely Named, you are the best.
The first inkling of dawn roused Hermione from a peacefully dream free sleep. The lingering effects of the potion and the softness of the bed tempted her to stay where she was. When she did open her eyes it took her mind several seconds to process the bright blonde hair on the pillow next to her and the securely possessive arm around her waist. Her first reaction was to jump out of the bed and attempt to gather her thoughts. As though reading her mind, which was entirely possible, the arm tightened gently.
"Get up if you must, but go carefully. You can walk on your leg, but it will still hurt some," a sleep heavy voice said. "Of course you could also stay here for a few more hours. It's quite comfortable."
The young witch paused in the middle of her near freakout to stare incredulously at the warm body next to her. She gently squeezed the hand resting against her hip, resisting the desire to nuzzle against the pale neck in front of her.
"I just need a bit of space to think."
"I can't say I am surprised. You know where the bathroom is. I suspect you would like to go down to the kitchen yourself." Narcissa snapped her fingers causing an elf to appear. "Would you please take our guest downstairs with you. She would like breakfast and a bit of quiet."
"Yes, Mistress. To the sunroom?" The question was squeaked back at her.
"That will do nicely, thank you." The blonde turned back to the young woman sitting on the edge of her bed. "I need to go tend to Draco. We will come downstairs in a bit. Take your time downstairs. If you need me simply ask one of the elves. They will help you find me."
Hermione nodded mutely not knowing how to respond. She didn't turn around to look at the bright blue eyes she knew would be carefully evaluating her. She couldn't bear the scrutiny this morning. Her instincts made her want to run directly into the arms of the beautiful witch in hopes of understanding and security. But it was that very desire that terrified her. Her feet hit the cool wood beneath her feet causing her to gasp. The small elf standing at her side shook his head and snapped his fingers. Warm slippers appeared on her feet instantaneously. She slowly rose to her feet testing the strength of her leg. Narcissa was right about the pain. There was considerable stiffness, but she found she could put weight on it. She shuffled to the door happy to be under her own power. She could feel eyes on her back, but dared not look back. She feared that everything she felt might be visible in her face.
The elf gently took her hand leading her through the hallways and down the stairs. They didn't speak, but from time to time the elf looked back at her smiling brightly as though he knew everything going through her head. She was pleasantly surprised when their journey through the house ended in a bright kitchen. She could hardly believe that this was Malfoy Manor. She presumed that there were no bright pleasant rooms in the location that bred such gloom throughout the war.
"Miss would like tea," the elf said finally breaking their silence.
"I can make it myself."
"No no. Hokey will make. Miss needs rest. Yesterday was bad."
"You don't have to serve me."
"Miss is right. Hokey does not have to, but wants to. Mistress wants Miss to be comfortable and cared for."
"I'm not used to letting others care for me."
"Hokey knows," the elf answers certainly, putting a kettle magically on a burner.
"Can everyone see how bloody tired and broken I am?" She immediately regretted the frustrated tone, but the elf seemed undeterred.
"Hokey isn't everyone. Hokey thinks that those who care about you can see it."
"Why do you care? I'm not a pureblood."
"Hokey serves Mistress Malfoy. She doesn't care about such things."
"I am a bit speechless. I really thought that…. well. I've been mistaken about so many things about her."
"Don't feel bad, Miss. There are not many that know Mistress well. Hokey thinks that she does not hold this against you."
"Shit. This is all such a mess."
"The terrible dark man is gone. The mess is less," the elf said turning away to finish making tea.
After a few minutes of silence a platter of tea and pastries were hovered in front of her.
"Hokey will take you to the sunroom now, Miss."
Hermione followed quietly attempting to take in the insanity that was the world she woke up in. She was ushered into a large comfortable chair with an ottoman to prop her feet on. The tray of tea and breakfast was placed on a small table at her elbow. Hokey smiled warmly and disappeared with a small pop. She took a hot cup of tea in both her hands and brought it to her nose. She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. It was the single most comforting smell she knew. Breathing out again she opened her eyes looking out onto the grounds of the large house. Sitting where she was felt incredibly surreal. A woman until 12 hours ago she genuinely believed to be her enemy, had healed her body and soothed her soul without expecting anything in return. Every movement and look from the blonde had been laced with unnerving kindness and generosity.
Her months on the run had her looking for the catch. The patronus and Prophet were compelling evidence that it was no trick. But the revelation that Narcissa and Draco Malfoy were supporters of the Order would shock and anger many. The entire family had been the poster child for pureblooded hatred and bigotry. And yet, Hermione saw no evidence of such beliefs in the sleepy affectionate voice she heard first thing in the morning. In her time within the Manor not a single derogatory word had been spoken towards her or anyone in her presence. Even the elves were spoken to with respect. It hardly seemed like the same place Bellatrix had so abused her.
She could accept that she had been wrong about Narcissa. After all she had few interactions with her before yesterday and knew her only by reputation. One thing Hermione learned being one of Harry's closest friends was that reputations rarely matched the person underneath. What had the young witch up so early in the morning was how she felt towards the blonde. In her state of exhaustion she unintentionally allowed the older woman to see her blossoming attraction to the woman. Though it wasn't widely known, Hermione could not deny her desire for beautiful witches. And she had always been drawn to powerful older women. There was something about the way they carried themselves. From the way they moved, to how they constructed sentences, to how they made others around them behave. Hermione found it simply delectable.
But she had not seen this coming. She hardly noticed the blonde before. She knew the woman had been present when the Golden Trio was captive within the walls in which she currently sat, but they hadn't interacted. And now, she couldn't seem to shake the woman from her thoughts. She still felt the lingering soft touches on her skin. And she desired to be touched again. Confusingly it seemed that the blonde shared her desires. The older woman hadn't asked for more than Hermione offered, even insisting that no further progress was made until they were rested and rational. Narcissa had been positively chivalrous. It only fueled Hermione's interest.
There were so many reasons why the Gryffindor shouldn't want to pursue the blonde. There was a significant age difference, a socioeconomic difference, cultural difference, and not to mention the amount of press any relationship would no doubt get. And yet… her instincts were screaming to see what this was. Parts of her that she rarely listened to were begging that she ignored these challenges. Even more surprisingly, she wanted to listen. Her own rationality had served her so well these past few months, but it hadn't brought her any happiness. And this had the potential for so much more than she was ready to admit. A soothing voice broke the silence in which she was sitting.
"Hermione, may we join you?"
The brunette spun to see two identical blonde heads with slightly nervous looks on their faces. "Yes, of course. The pastries are wonderful. And it is your home, not mine."
"True, but it we are the ones intruding on your morning," Narcissa said gently.
Hermione suppressed the urge to giggle, opting to smile a little instead. She was having a pajama party with Narcissa and Draco Malfoy. It was perfectly ridiculous. "I don't mind. There is only so much quiet contemplation that is healthy after everything."
Narcissa sat in the chair closest to the young witch and Draco next to his mother. Hokey came with them delivering another pot of tea and a larger serving of breakfast.
"Refill, Granger?" the blonde wizard said quietly without looking up.
"Please." She paused to study him. He was nothing like the arrogant young man she knew last year. He was sullen and broken. "Thank you, Draco."
At the sound of his name he looked up. Surprise at the kindness painted across his face.
"And I think in light of everything, you could try calling me Hermione."
He smiled slightly and nodded in agreement while serving his mother.
"This is quite the situation, isn't it," Hermione asked breaking the slightly awkward silence.
"I dare say, none of us ever imagined we would be doing this," Draco added with a smirk.
"No. It isn't. However, we must move forward," Narcissa said with a hint of accusation in her voice.
"I didn't say it was unpleasant, mother. I am not my father. I agree with this path," he said with certainty that made him look a shade of his former self.
Hermione smiled to herself while drinking her tea.
"Are you grinning beneath that tea cup, Miss Granger?" the blonde witch said in a light tone.
"I am. This situation is so far outside of anything I ever considered, yet here we are. And it's nice to see blondie acting a bit more like himself."
"So long as you don't feel compelled to punch me again, I will take that as a compliment."
She put up a hand as if in surrender. "I have no such intention. I could do with a lot less fighting."
There was a long pause. Even the subtle reminder that they had been on opposite sides of the war stopped them all in their tracks. After a few moments, the wizard spoke quietly.
"Do you really think it is over this time, Mum?"
"It feels different. And no one attempted to come back here last night, which is a very good sign it is. The Dark… Voldemort," she said in a wavering voice, "must have fallen or we would have been over run. And the Prophet seemed quite clear."
"Do you think the wizarding world can put this behind it and move forward?" Hermione asked.
"I hope so. This has been no way to live these past few decades. It has been miserable for so many. For some of us, integrating back into society will be challenging. But in time and with a bit of forgiveness, I have hope."
"I know what it is like to be discriminated against," Hermione said eyes glued firmly on the floor. She didn't want their pity or remorse. "You can count on me to stand with you. It is incredibly brave to break away from your family and everything that is familiar to stand up for those who could not stand up for themselves. It doesn't erase the past, but you are both deserving of the opportunity to make it right." She finally looked up to meet Narcissa's gaze. The blue eyes were misty and a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. Draco stared out the window clearly emotional. "I'm sorry," she continued, "if I overstepped my bounds. Narcissa, I am extremely grateful for your assistance last night. I should go."
Hermione could think of nothing but retreating from the feeling of not being wanted where she was. She nearly managed to get to her feet before a hand rested on her shoulder.
"We will go together. There is nothing that needs to be done here that cannot wait. Our magical abilities will be needed to help at Hogwarts. We will meet back here in 30 minutes."
Draco stood and nodded. He strode from the room with purpose. Hermione noted that he somehow seemed more alive than he had a few minutes prior.
"Come, Hermione. I have some clothing I think will suit you for the day." Narcissa reached out a hand to help her up.
The young witch took it hesitantly, but couldn't resist the temptation in the end. Once on her feet, she almost didn't release the hand, enjoying the warmth of the fingers tangled in her own. Her pause was rewarded with a gentle smile from the blonde.
"How is your leg feeling?"
"It's sore and a bit stiff, but I can walk. I am greatly indebted to you."
"You owe me nothing, Hermione. I could spend the rest of my life attempting to make up for not protecting you from my sister and I would not come anywhere close."
"Rationally, I am beginning to understand the situation you were in. And I obviously survived it. I think…" She faltered slightly at the memory. "I think that it will be a defining moment that ties us together for the rest of our lives. It is my hope that we can make something positive out of it."
"Why are you giving me a chance? You know that others will not understand, at least not at first. They will say terrible things about us both. They will accuse me of using magic to influence you. Perhaps even of kidnapping you."
"It won't be the first time that rumors have been spread about me. I have no intention of letting fear run my life. I never have before."
"I've known nothing but giving into fear." The blonde sounded thoroughly defeated.
"Then I will have to show you how to be a Gryffindor. A bit of brashness would wear well on you."
The blonde turned to look at her raising a sculpted eyebrow. "And you could do with a bit of Slytherin. You have to take your own well being into consideration."
Hermione mumbled in response.
"Sorry," Narcissa said touching her wrist lightly. "I couldn't hear that."
"I'm not all that important, really."
"Then we disagree. You are incredibly important. Perhaps you have something to learn from me after all," the blonde said opening the door to her room. "Let's see if we can find something suitable for you to wear."
Narcissa strode across the room and waved her wand. One of the walls dissolved into a closet that seemed the size of her parents' house. Hermione gasped loudly.
"We ought to be able to find something," the blonde commented knowing what the young witch had to be thinking. "Start with these." She handed over a decidedly lacy set of underthings. She smiled when Hermione's jaw dropped open.
"They are new. And you can transfigure them into whatever style you prefer," she continued with a chuckle.
"Oh no," Hermione said with an edge of defiance in her voice. "I will wear them just like this."
"Is this an attempt to distract me today?"
"Is this your way of telling me you find me distracting," she fired back playfully. "And if I was, I would let you see what they look like on me. That would be distracting."
It was Narcissa's turn to stare openly at the young witch. She had not anticipated the girl being so openly flirtatious. It was far outside of anything Narcissa ever experienced. She could think of nothing appropriate to say in response, so she turned back to the clothes magically pulling a few items to her.
"These should do nicely, I think. Not quite the same as you are used to wearing, but it should work."
She handed over a stack of clothes: black form fitting pants, a light colored fitted shirt, a robe, and knee high soft leather boots. Hermione took them and went to dress. Though she was quick, when she returned, the blonde was already dressed and ready to go. The woman was beautiful inspite of the exhaustion that seemed to radiate off of her. As she approached, Narcissa got to her feet. The young witch wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around the trim waist and bury her head in the crook of Narcissa's neck, but couldn't think of a justifiable reason for her actions. She knew that she had been caught when a decidedly mischievous look crossed the blonde's face. With a single bent finger, the blonde beckoned her forward. Slender hands grasped her shoulders and pulled her into a warm embrace. She sighed into the hug, relaxing into the surprisingly strong arms.
"Today is going to be just fine," Narcissa whispered against her hair. "We will get through it together, ok?"
"Ok," she mumbled against the soft neck. "Thank you. I promise I won't let anyone do anything to either of you."
"That I believe. I have seen you with a wand in your hand. I would not challenge you."