Hello there, sorry it took so long to get the update up, but it is quite a long one. Plus I have been out on work placement. Oh and a note to Whispering-Lestrange I am currently working on a sixth chapter of Second Chances and hope to have it published tomorrow night. Well, hope you like, really appreciate the comments, so please continue and THANK YOU!
Hermione had thrown together an overnight bag as quickly as possible; it was clear from the desperate tone of Narcissa's letter that she needed her help, fast. Finally she had finished packing, she looked at the list she had made early and checked to make sure that she had ticked everything off. She knew it was probably the excitement but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was forgetting something.
Everything appeared to be in order, so she proceeded to lift her wand from her bedside table and place it in her coat pocket. She lift her bag and took the opportunity to look around the room one last time, she notice Narcissa's letter had fallen out of her bag and she bent down to retrieve it from the floor. She read it one last time and tucked into her pocket, then just as she was about to disapparate, she realised why it felt like she had been missing something.
"Come to the manor this evening and I will make it up to you."
The Manor, she thought, Malfoy Manor a place that up until a few months ago plagued her dreams or rather her nightmares. Images of Bellatrix Lestrange towering over her filled her head and she felt as though she was going to pass out. She looked down at her arm and peeled back her sleeve, revealing the still very red scarring left behind after Bella had meticulously carved the word 'Mudblood' into her arm.
She glanced up in the mirror and found the spot on her neck were she had pressed that blade down hard against her throat. Hermione had never known the Manor other than that night and the chaos and torture that had ensued during her brief stay hadn't had her itching to return. She sat down on the bed, she didn't have the heart to refuse Narcissa the help she clearly needed but she wasn't sure if she was strong enough to return to a place that held such dark memories for her. On one hand she was shaking due to the intense fear she felt about returning to Voldemort's previous residence and on the other she didn't want to let Narcissa down.
After much consideration and pacing of her room, Hermione decided that it was time she faced her fears. "Bellatrix is dead, Hermione and Lucius is in Azkaban, there is nothing to fear anymore. Other than making a fool of yourself in front of Narcissa." She told herself as she paced back and forth for about the hundredth time. "You are going to burn a hole in the floor if you continue like that." Hermione jumped and spun around to find Headmistress McGonagall standing in her door way. "Minerva, How long have you been standing there?" She blushed "Long enough...so are you going or are you not?" Minerva asked as she sat herself down on the bed.
"Oh don't know" Hermione groaned and she collapsed down beside Minerva with her head in her lap. "I just don't know if I am ready to face it yet." Minerva brushed the hair out of her face and smiled, over the summer they had become very close. Hermione had been a great help with the restoration of the school and Minerva herself. She had taken a few hits during the battle and spent a week in the hospital wing and Hermione had been at her bed side every day. She had taken very good care of her and made sure that all condolences were sent out and the funerals of all those who had been killed in the battle were attended.
"Hermione, there is no point rushing into it. If you are not ready then you are not ready. Don't push yourself." She advised as she played affectionately with Hermione's hair. "Plus you wouldn't want to cause a scene if front of Narcissa, now would we?" She smiled naughtily at Hermione, who groaned and covered her face with her hands, "Is there anything on this earth that you don't know?" Minerva laughed and pulled Hermione hands back from her face, "You really should know this by now, no there isn't."
"Aren't you going to tell me it is inappropriate to harbour feelings towards a teacher and give me a big lecture on boundaries?" She removed herself from Minerva's lap and turned to face her with a questioning look, which once again made the older witch chuckle. "Hermione dear, you are nineteen years old, I think I can over look a little crush, you are old enough to think for yourself" she noticed Hermione cringe at the word crush, "What is it dear?" At this point Hermione had once again taken up pacing back and forth across the room. "Well, if I knew what it was I probably wouldn't be pacing the floor. When I seen her in the great hall, it was the first time since the battle and...I... my heart was pounding in my chest, my knees were weak, and butterflies filled my stomach. I have never felt this way before."
Minerva approached Hermione who now stood by the window with her head resting against the frame; she wrapped her arms around the younger woman giving her a reassuring squeeze and then turned the girl round to face her. "It seems it is more than a little crush then! Forgive me Hermione but, if you don't go you might not ever know if there is something between the two of you. Besides there is nothing to be afraid of anymore, face you fears right!" Hermione wrapped her arms around Minerva and hugged her back she was right but she was still torn, "She was married...to a man for merlins sake...I mean she is not interested in women let alone me." Minerva shook her head, Hermione as smart as she was had an awful habit of doubting herself, "Hermione, trust someone who knew the Black sisters back when, and there wasn't one of them who hadn't been caught in rather awkward situations with another female from time to time."
Hermione mouth hung open, "Wow I guess you only think you know someone!" Shaking herself from the shock, she walked back across the room and lifted her bag. Minerva was right there wasn't anything for her to be afraid of. "That a girl. Now try to enjoy yourself and don't do anything I wouldn't do." Hermione rolled her eyes and laughed. "You know that leaves very little that she can't do, Minerva." Both women spun round to find the owner of the voice and both smiled when they realised it was Rosemerta. "Good evening Rosemerta, How are you?"
"Never mind the how are you's, get out of here and go get your girl. Take it from someone who waited too long and nearly missed their chance. Isn't that right sweetheart?" she smiled down at Minerva and placed a small kiss on her lips, "Yes, I thought was going to die waiting on this one making her move." Both gazed loving at each other seemed the war was just the kicked up the bum Rosemerta needed and she finally told Minerva how she felt about. Hermione smiled they really were in love and it warmed her heart to see both women so happy.
"Well in that case I shall be off. Please be gracious enough to leave my room before you two decide to jump each other." Both women sat opened mouthed at the young witch's insinuation. With a pop Hermione disapparated and she arrived at the gates of Malfoy Manor, not a moment later.
The wrought iron gates stood tall like she remembered, they had been greeted at the gates that evening by Bellatrix herself. Hermione shuddered; she pressed her hand to the gate and pushed it open. It creaked loudly as Hermione opened it and as she stepped through it closed by itself making her jump. With a quick intake of breath she forced up the courage and made her way towards the front door, which she lightly tapped when she was close enough. She waited and waited for someone to answer but no one came, she figured she couldn't have knocked loud enough, with another quick breath and her chested puffed out she knocked again this time with much more force. The door then swung open to reveal a tall dark haired fellow, who reminded Hermione of Lurch from the muggle programme the Addams Family. "Good evening Miss, how may I help you this evening?" He was very polite and Hermione smiled. "I am here to see Mrs..." She was cut off by a familiar voice.
"Well if it isn't little Miss Granger, don't you have studying to be doing." She rolled her eyes as Draco came into view, she was shocked by his next move, as she stepped into the house he wrapped his arms around her in a rather awkward embrace. "It is awfully nice of you to come, you were the last person I expected but none the less I do appreciate it. My poor mother hasn't stopped in two days." With that Narcissa appeared at the top of the staircase,
"Who is it Draco, this really isn't the time for guests?" Draco smiled back at his rather flustered Mother, "Oh, I don't think you will mind this guest." He said as he stepped back from the door allowing Hermione further in to the foyer and Narcissa's line of sight. "Hermione, Thank God! It is so lovely of you to come on such short notice. I do apologise but I really do need help and he is bloody useless. Hermione smile d at the faked look of insult that had spread across Draco's face, "Come in, Come in dear, I will make us some tea. Draco be a dear and show Hermione into the drawing room."
Hermione followed Draco through into the room she assumed was the drawing room, the Manor looked so different, brighter, and warmer almost. Hermione remember the cold colours that dressed the walls and how poorly light it had been, but this time it was different, this time there was life in the old building not death. "Well, Granger have a seat." Just as she settled herself in the chair a voice sounded outside the room, it seemed Astoria was having a little crisis of her own. Draco smiled awkwardly and excused himself. Narcissa appeared a second later with the tea, "He didn't leave you all alone did, sometimes I don't know where that boys manners are!" Narcissa fussed as she poured out the tea. "Oh no, I think Astoria needed him for something and he excused himself." Narcissa smiled and took a seat opposite Hermione in an armchair.
"So, I hear you have been quite busy," Hermione joked, "Well you heard right, a few unforeseen obstacles have reared their ugly heads." Both woman laughed nervously as they sipped their tea, "Well, what is it and maybe I can help." Hermione was dying to know why the woman had needed her so much. "Well, there are about 100 guests arriving here tomorrow and this place is a mess, the caterers have pulled out at the last minute and Astoria's dress does not fit." The blonde witch sighed as she placed her head in her hands. "Right well, tidying and decorating not a big problem, as for catering a know someone who owes me a favour and quite frankly would be glad of the work. As for the dress, did they make a mistake in the measuring?"
"Not quite, it was a perfect fit two weeks ago when I brought it home. However there was something my son and daughter-in-law had failed to tell me...Astoria is pregnant." Hermione was shocked, "Although she is not far along, she has gained a little weight and now the dress does not fit." Hermione didn't quite know whether this was the appropriate time to congratulate someone or just keep her mouth shut. "Not that I am not happy for them, I am over the moon but I don't know what to do about the dress."
"Well, how about you show me the dress and I will see what I can do." Narcisaa couldn't help but smile at young woman's enthusiasm. "Ok, follow me." She got up from the seat and followed Narcissa out in to the corridor, a corridor she found eerily familiar, and she was heading for a room that gave her a horrid sense of déjà vu. Narcissa pushed the door open and the room became visible and it was in fact the room in which she had been tortured by Bellatrix. Hermione's heart sank as she entered the room and everything came rushing back to her. She saw the spot where Bellatrix had pinned her to the floor and carved that awful word into her arm.
She was so spaced out she hadn't even noticed Narcissa talking to her, "Hermione, are you alright...Hermione can you hear me?" Narcissa followed the girls gaze around the room to find what she was staring so intently at. Hermione's stare was directed at the floor by the rug. Narcissa was terribly worried about the younger woman but couldn't understand what had happened, and then she watched as the young woman's eyes rolled in her head she began to fall backwards. Narcissa quickly caught her before she could hit the ground, she gently lower herself to ground and guided Hermione down allowing her body to lean against her own. She yelled for Draco and gently shook Hermione, before Draco even heard his mother Hermione began to come round, but she didn't do it gently.
As she came around she flung her arms out to fight off whatever had hold of her, forgetting where she was and when, she lashed out screaming, "Let me go you monster, let me go...I was never in your vault Bellatrix, I swear," Narcissa dodged Hermione's flying fists as much as possible but she froze upon hearing her sister name and she herself was transported back to that night. "Just let me go." Narcissa eyes filled with tears as she remember what her sister had done to the poor girl and she failed to notice Hermione's fist come flying at her face. It hit her square in the jaw and knocked her backwards breaking her grip of the young witch.
Ignoring the fact that she had just been struck she leaped forward and grabbed Hermione once more, "Hermione, calm down, it is ok you are alright there is no here to hurt you...Hermione, Hermione please look at me." The woman stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face the older witch, she realised what she had done and tears burned her eyes, "Narcissa, I am so sorry...I just...Oh my god, did I do that?" She reached up and gently grazed her hand across the now blackening spot on Narcissa jaw. "Hermione, never worry about that, I am sorry. I should have never asked you to come here, after everything you went through the last time. For which I am most deeply sorry to, my sister was a monster. Are you alright?"
"Oh, it was my own fault, I knew it was still too soon to face something like this but I didn't want to hurt your feeling or let you down. Now I have hurt you physically and made a fool of myself." Narcissa leaned forward and wiped the tears from Hermione's eyes, "Nothing a little concealment charm won't fix," she took out her wand and gave it a quick flick, "see , can't even tell it is there" At that point Draco flew into the room, "Is everything ok in here? I heard yelling" He looked down at the ground to find his mother on the floor with her arms wrapped around Hermione, and both women looked to be on the brink of tears. "So sorry Draco I..." Narcissa cut her off, "Hermione here fainted on me, hasn't eaten a bite all day, and nearly gave me a heart attack. We are fine now, nothing to worry about."
The young man shrugged and left the room with a rather large smile on his face; Hermione looked up at Narcissa and whispered a quick 'thank you.' Narcissa nodded her head in acknowledgement. She got to her feet and offered Hermione a hand up, "Maybe I should take you back to the castle, this was perhaps a bad idea." Hermione took the older woman's hand and Narcissa pulled her to her feet with surprising ease. "No, I mean unless you don't want me here, I said I would help, and I truly do want, just maybe not in this room."
"Of course I want you here Hermione, how about we take the dress down to the drawing room instead and we can have some more tea." Hermione smiled, "I would like that very much."
A few hours later Hermione had mended the dress with a quick and easy alteration spell. And even though the wedding was only a day away she made sure the dress would grow with Astoria. Then she moved on to finding a caterer, it didn't take long, she had a friend in the business and as she had said previously said they were happy of the work. Hermione had ordered Narcissa to go to bed and rest for a few hours, the woman had been hesitant at leaving Hermione on her own, she knew she needed it.
When she returned, the she found Hermione putting the final touches of decoration in the dining room. She gazed around the room at all the beautiful decorations, then her green eyes meet a smiling pair of deep chestnut. "Well, what do you think?" Hermione asked, "Oh Hermione it is wonderful, but did you do this all yourself?" Hermione laughed, "No, Astoria and Draco helped to," Narcissa was relieved they hadn't left the poor girl to do everything herself, "Thank merlin, it was crazy for me to think you had done this all yourself in just one hour."
Hermione looked at her rather confused, "An Hour, it is three in the morning, Narcissa. You have been asleep for nearly five hours, haven't you looked at the time. I told Draco and Astoria to go to bed about an hour ago." Narcissa was in shock, it certainly hadn't felt like she had been asleep for five hours but when she looked at her watch; sure enough it was three O'clock. "Oh for Merlin's sake, why didn't one of you wake me?" Hermione giggle, "Well Draco warned us it was like waking a bear, so both Astoria and I thought it best just to let you sleep."
Narcissa nudged her playfully, "Well now I am wide awake but you need to get some rest, I will show you to the guest room." As Narcissa turned to lead her out of the room Hermione spoke up, "You know, I am really not that tired. How about that fire whiskey?" Narcissa turned around and smiled at the younger witch, "Well only if you think you can handle it." Narcissa lead her back into the drawing room and opened up a cupboard under the bookcase, revealing a rather wealthy supply of the caramelised brown liquid. She excused herself from the room and went to find a glass for them both. She re-entered the room to find Hermione sitting by the window gazing out at the stars.
From there they moved to a more comfortable seat, where they sat side by side on the sofa, sipping on the appropriately named golden drink, Narcissa couldn't help but giggle each time Hermione took a sip and cringed. They talked to each other in fond voices, a scattered conversation of new beginnings and new friends; while the air around them wondered if they would soon be more. Thoughts of the wedding had been banished to the back of each of their minds.
There on the sofa, their hands met, Hermione's right to Narcissa's left; the bodies' first admission that they wanted each other. It wasn't really planned or spoken, it was Hermione seeing those finely shaped, shy fingers and that strange way hands come to life, almost animal, separately expressive from the rest of itself. It really isn't a surprise that hands create the character of the puppeteer or that in the movies they have imagined them moving independently, spiderlike, across a room. Hermione noticed Narcissa greet her hand with her own, stroking it, covering it and finally holding it in a half clasp. It was a declaration. I am here. We have touched.
Narcissa was quiet, her gaze never meeting Hermione's, but her hand held hers, too, returned the embrace with its own strength, so she knew that the blonde witch was with her, though she was sheltering in some wordless privacy. Hermione allowed the silence to continue for as long as possible, until her nerves got the best of her, her nervous heart was stretched taut, too taut to breathe. "Narcissa?" she finally forced out. The question was everything. It was in fact, the only question. To Hermione's surprise, when Narcissa looked up to answer it, her eyes seemed darker. With lust, and with something else, too - like grief. Or doubt. She didn't say anything, but she nodded. That was all Hermione needed.
It was her thumb she moved across Narcissa's mouth then. Slowly. Following the curve of her lips up to their sweet peak, and back down the gentle slope of the other side. Hermione felt like she knew this mouth already, she had lived with its shapes and sounds in her imagination, but she had not felt it yet. Her blunt thumb made its first intimate acquaintance. "You have the most beautiful mouth." Hermione whispered to Narcissa. And then she did what she had been waiting to do her entire life. She kissed her.
They kissed in the drawing room first, because that is where they'd come modestly to enjoy a late night, early morning drink. It was the night they tasted. And each other. Starting slow, and slowly faster, their mouths met; first polite and refined, then affectionate, curious; and finally, as their tongues wandered and hungered, their mouths became wide and their desires wider, and they began to find each other with a an urgency that summoned to mind the word 'devouring.' Hands moved through hair chestnut and fair, and gradually their bodies drew closer, a pillow was moved, a body shifted. Yet still there was a kind of demureness, almost, a riding side-saddle, and their legs adjacent, until finally Hermione stood up from where she sat and straddled Narcissa, leaning into her, gripping her with her thighs and feeling through their two pairs of trousers, the heat and the wetness.
They kissed like that through clothes and shudderings, in a light adequate enough to capture the startled lust on each other's faces, to watch each other grow more mussed and wild and finally to see, that they were going to have to go somewhere else, away from the drawing room, where their skins could touch.
The next morning it was a lake-blue- sky that filtered through the window, filled only with the low sound of lovebirds. Sweet husky calls, a cooing almost, a pleasure chuckle, some creatures' shared mutual delight. And it wasn't their sounds now. (It might have been earlier; it would be again, later.) Hermione smiled as she felt an arm snaked around her waist and pull her close, she could think of how the night could have been more perfect. She turned around in the other woman's embraced and she was met by emerald green eyes and a soft nervous smile. Without thinking she stretched forward and placed a small lingering kiss on the woman's lips and smiled as she heard her moans into it. Neither one noticed a figure watching in the door way in shock.
WELL...