Author's Note:
This Chapter is unbetaed. It got late and I hope she forgives me for not letting her see it first. (I'm sorry Roxanne!) Thank you all who reviewed, followed, and favorited this story. I'm glad you liked it and I hope you continue to like it. If you have any questions, or suggestions feel free to PM me and I will do my best to answer, or incorporate what you say. I hope this Chapter answers a few questions any of you had. Drop a review of you liked it or even if you didn't. If you find any mistakes, then let me know that too!
Disclaimer: Not Mine. Harry Potter belongs to the lovely J.K Rowling
As Ron was storming out of the hospital room dramatically, he ran right into Draco. There was an 'oomph' sound, followed by a "Watch it, Weasley", a growl, and then the door slamming. That was eventful. I'm not sure that I was even aware of what had just happened until the door actually closed.
"Odd," Ginny and I said simultaneously. Harry just nodded his head dumbfounded. We didn't have much time to process what had just happened before a voice interrupted us.
"What are you lot doing in my mother's room?" It wasn't asked with any malice I but with genuine confusion. Malfoy looking confused, hah.
I pointed to my bed with me on it and his face changed to one of realization. He looked down almost embarrassed. I tried my best to hide the small giggle that escaped my mouth with little success as he glared slightly at me. I smiled prettily.
"Wait, did you say Narcissa was in this room? Where?" I started to look around wildly.
Then I heard a muffled voice callout, "I'm behind the curtain, dear." Narcissa heard all of what just happened. Just peachy.
"Harry, move the curtain aside please?" before he had a chance Draco had already crossed the room to see his mother. As he moved the curtain away, I got to see Mrs. Malfoy for the first time since the attack. Actually, how long have I been out?
"Gin, how long have I been out?" I inquired.
"About three days, "she answered hesitantly. Three days?!
"Three days? Are you serious? I wasn't seriously injured, I wasn't injured at all!" It just made no sense. I couldn't remember getting hit. I dodged and kept up my shield charm. He never laid a hand on me.
Harry gave me a look, a look that said don't dispute what I'm about to say. He was good at those. "It seems on top of you exhausting your magical core, you also haven't been 'receiving proper nourishment and have been seriously sleep deprived' I quote. Care to elaborate?"
I opened my mouth to defend myself when Ginny gave me a look that said tell the truth now. She was good at those. I shut my mouth and stalled by looking back at Narcissa who was having trouble keeping her laughter to herself.
"Don't bother trying to explain yourself, dear. I've told you too many times to stop getting that awful take-out, start taking your prescribed dreamless sleep potion, and join me at the manor for nutritious meals. I even tried to appeal to your emotions by playing the lonely mother, " here, Cissa gave a pointed look to Draco, who had the decency to look ashamed. I harrumphed knowing that she was right and there was nothing I could say in my defense.
"Prescribed dreamless sleep potions?! Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed. I winced because a tongue lashing was in my very near future. I could feel it. I could also feel my Harry-Is-Having-Emotional-Problems senses going off, so I looked at him and no surprise he looked upset, concerned, and guilty all at the same time. If I knew him like the brother he is, and I did, then he was already trying to blame himself.
"You've been having nightmares again, haven't you? " he asked quietly. I sighed inwardly wondering where his fiancée was when I needed her. She was really good at making him forget about the war and realizing he was to blame for none of it. Only Voldemort was to blame. I looked to Ginny and I could tell she inwardly sighed too.
"Harry, listen to me. What I dream of has nothing to do with you in any way, you conceited prat. Please believe me when I say that if you are feeling guilty for anything, I will hex you. Better yet I'll tell your fiancée you are blaming yourself again. Do you really want Luna to be the one to sort you out? She'll probably try to feed you some rare fruit from Merlin knows where, to cure you. Again," I tried to turn this humorous so he'd let it go. I saw him close his eyes and shudder, so I knew I succeeded. For now. Draco cleared his throat looking very awkward.
"Yes, Potter is a hero and is needlessly blaming himself. I could have told you that. What I can't tell you is why my mother knew about her nightmares and you two didn't. I would very much like to know, wouldn't you?"
"He has a point 'Mione you two seem rather friendly and I would like to know why," I could sense no accusation in Harry's voice just bewilderment. I sighed out loud this time and looked to Narcissa for support. She shrugged and said, "The cat's out of the bag, I guess."
"It's a bit of a long story. I would say we first started speaking when she came to my office wanting to know how to get House Elves to accept monetary payment. Hers were just refusing and wailing about not being liked and that they were bad elves. She really looked at her wits end," I started with, but had to pause to laugh. The way she looked that day was too funny.
"Hermione just gaped at me like a fish. I'm pretty sure I rendered her speechless," Narcissa chimed in.
"You did, you stunned me. I can remember not even being able to think. I said something along the lines of 'I will talk to them personally to better fully understand their predicament.' Though I am sure it came out a lot less articulate than that."
"It wasn't articulate at all, sweetie."
"Yes, well, I went with her back to the Manor to talk to them myself. They truly did not want payment of any sort no matter how much we pleaded. They were punishing themselves left and right. They even threatened to go on strike if we pressed the issue, so we gave up. I was really upset about being unable to do my job, so Narcissa asked if I wanted tea. I said yes and we just started chatting, she was genuinely interested about what I did as a Junior Head of the Regulation and Care of Magical Creatures department. I found myself really excited to talk about it to someone who really wanted to know what I did, so I entertained her with stories of some of my past assignments. Ron, he never wanted to know. He assumes I do paperwork all day. She told me that she spent most of her time volunteering at various places, donating to charity, and organizing charity fundraisers. That War Orphans fundraiser ball we attended last month was one of the ones she put together. She especially loved the orphanages and the children's department at St. Mungo's. I expressed interest, so she invited me the next time she was volunteering at the orphanage. I had to go back to work at this point and she said Draco was coming home soon. I promised to be there and then I left. We met about three days later at the promised time. Those kids loved her and I could see why. She's fun, loving, and made of patience. I started to volunteer regularly as well. Then we decided to meet each other outside our volunteer work for tea, or brunch. We became really close friends. I could tell her anything and vice versa." I finished and everyone in the room looked shell shocked. Cissa had tears in her eyes though and a bright smile on her face. I smiled back.
I looked at everyone again and just waited. I seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. Ginny seemed to snap out of it first. This didn't surprise me. She was always the most reasonable person I've ever met.
"You didn't tell us because?" Another sigh. I knew this one was coming, but I really didn't think they would like my answer.
"I didn't know how you would take it. The war had been over for about eight months by this point. Many people still looked down upon the Malfoy name and Ron was vehement in his proclamation that he didn't think they really changed. Which he is right. They haven't 'changed' because they were never 'evil' in the first place. Narcissa never believed in blood purity like her family, or Lucius. They are all still the same people they were, but Draco now has more tolerance for things he doesn't know about. At least, that's what Cissa tells me. I'm getting to know Narcissa as she has always been. I also didn't want you all to jump to conclusions, or think she was just using me as some sort of publicity stunt. We tried very hard to stay out of the media the Wizarding World does not need to know about our personal life. I was going to tell you all, but I never knew how to bring it up out of the blue, and eventually three years passed and it was just awkward to tell you about it after such a long time," I admitted sheepishly. I felt awful about not telling them, but at the time it just seemed the better choice.
"I'm upset that you didn't trust us enough to tell us. I can understand why, though. The war still fresh, I probably word have thought you were under some sort of spell, or potion," Harry admitted.
"You are not off the hook with me, Hermione. I am engaged to Blaise and you still didn't tell me! How more open minded could I get? I see the Malfoy's often because they're practically Blaise's family. I will find a way for you to make this up to me, later. For now, I'm just glad you both are okay. I have a feeling it would have been devastating had one of you not been," Ginny said with a stern expression, right hand on her hip, and one finger pointed at me. She really looks like her mother sometimes. She did have a point that I couldn't deny, however.
"To be honest with you Gin, I really didn't think of that bit. I do know that I never want to think about what it would feel like if Narcissa hadn't made it." That sounded pathetic even to my own ears, but it was the truth and all I had. Gin just raised one eyebrow at me while I smiled sheepishly again.
"And you, mum? Why did you never tell me about your friendship with Granger? I wouldn't have thought you bespelled, or been upset," Draco asked sounding a little hurt. Narcissa just smiled indulgently and patted his hand.
"You were always complaining about the 'Granger girl' in school. I didn't want you getting needlessly jealous. You did always hate it when my attention wasn't solely on you. I didn't know how you would react to my attention being on the girl you were always jealous of. You also told me to stop bringing my friends' daughters around I didn't want you to think I was setting you up again," she answered with a slightly vindictive smile. I wondered what he'd done to deserve the embarrassment. He flushed a bright red and I heard Harry snicker. I saw Draco's left eye twitch and Ginny thankfully didn't react.
"This is about your rose bushes, isn't it?" If anything I would say Narcissa smirked at her son. He rolled his eyes and then turned to me.
"Just because I hugged you out of gratitude and you are friends with my mum does not mean you and I are friends," He stated firmly. He even puffed out his chest a little.
"Now Son, just because I embarrassed you in front of your little enemies does not mean you can try and reassert your macho-ness by being rude to Hermione. I won't allow it," Narcissa said patronizingly. Draco blushed again and made a strangled sound of frustration.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Malfoy," I said smiling sweetly. He scowled and sat down. After a few beats of silence, we were all laughing and I could not have told anybody why.
The Witch Hunter sat back in his chair and contemplated his next move. His original plan to get rid of Narcissa Malfoy failed, and now Hermione Granger was going to complicate things. He needed a new plan and soon. He really hated unfinished business.