Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. I just happened to come up with the plot for this ship. All credit to J.K for her amazing universe that she allows us to play in.

Warning: Rated M. Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead. Basically what you would expect from a romance novel nowadays.

Eternal love and gratitude to my Beta, Ihrin who is taking over this story for me. Thank you so much!

Music is my muse:
Song for this chapter:
I Love Paris, Ella Fitzgerald.
Lyrics:
I love Paris, why oh why do I love Paris / because my love is near.


Love of a Mate

Chapter 4
Oui, Paris!

Hermione shook her head. She had filled Ginny in on her notes with Draco today but she wasn't sure how she could tell her about this.

Ginny, clearly getting annoyed with the lack of a reply, walked over and jerked the letter out of Hermione's hand.

Hermione groaned and sank down at her desk. "That woman is a seer. How could she know how much I adore Paris?"

Ginny was chuckling in amusement. "You can go tomorrow afternoon easily. Let her know right away so she can get the portkey, 'Mione!"

Hermione groaned. "Poor Hermes is cold. I can't send him out again tonight."

Ginny deflated a bit and then said, "Well, send him first thing tomorrow and you better bring something back for me! I am so jealous... Paris!"

Hermione nodded. "I know!"

They smirked at each other before someone bustled in, needing their attention again.


oOOoooOoo

Draco looked up as Hermes flew in through the open window of his bedroom.

"Well, your mistress is up early, isn't she?" Draco said, smirking at the bird who flapped his wings and dropped the letter.

Draco opened it quickly.

Dear Draco,

I would be delighted to go to Paris with your mother.
Please tell her I can meet her this afternoon at two, if she doesn't object to meeting me at my office.

Hermione

Draco grinned at the note. Also, for his mother were directions to her office and her thanks for the lovely invitation.

He wanted to shout in glee at the small battle he had obviously won with her. She had called him by his first name, no "Mister" beforehand.

He quickly finished getting dressed and went off to find his mother.

Narcissa smiled widely as she read the note from Hermione and looked up at her son. "I told you everyone makes time for Paris, son."

Draco chuckled. "I will have to remember that, mother."

She waved at him, walking off. "See that you do. Secure our portkey, dear. I need to go get ready."

Draco shook his head at her, retreating backward, and moved off to do just that. Hermes was waiting for him, so he sent the bird off with the request for the portkeys, first and foremost. He would need one himself in order to take them to dinner. Next, he sent Hades off with a note for Hermione to let her know his mother would meet her at two.

Then, he moved off to floo a request for reservations to a well-known restaurant in Paris that he took his mother to every few months. The manager was always willing to fit them in when they were in Paris.


ooOoOOooOo

Hermione was rubbing her damp palms on her linen slacks. Although she knew they would portkey into a wizard establishment, Narcissa had told her that she shouldn't bother with robes, which meant they would be shopping in Muggle Paris.

She was wearing her winter white linen slacks and a deep plum silk blouse with her light wool coat. She had on a dark green cashmere beret and scarf that she had gotten for Christmas two years ago, as well as her best leather gloves. She was even wearing her best boots.

At precisely two, Narcissa Malfoy waltzed into the office with a wide smile. She was in a beautiful, deep blue suit that was wool and tailored to her to perfection. She had boots on herself as well and was also bundled for the cold.

"Oh Hermione, dear, you look lovely. What a beautiful coat."

Hermione smiled weakly and walked forward, kissing the woman on both cheeks. "Thank you very much. My mother got it for me last year."

"Well your mother has a good eye. Are you ready to depart, dear?"

Hermione nodded and watched as Narcissa pulled out a coin from her purse and looked at her watch. On her nod, Hermione put her hand out and she was sucked out of the room. They arrived just outside a large estate and Hermione looked around in surprise.

Narcissa waved absently. "Oh, this is one of our homes just outside of Paris. If you just grab my arm, I will take us into town now."

Hermione did with wide eyes and after a moment of blackness she was standing behind a shrub in an alley and Narcissa smiling, looking at her watch.

"Now, we have an appointment in twenty minutes, just enough time to walk there and see some sights. Have you been to Paris before, dear?"

Hermione nodded, flushing, as she moved to walk beside Narcissa. "Yes, my parents have taken me a few times over the years. I took French as a child."

Narcissa raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Did you really? Is that common for muggle children to learn French? We taught Draco, of course, as we have properties here."

Hermione smiled and then said, "Well, it's usually taught in muggle schools- yes. I was sad that I had to stop learning it when I went to Hogwarts. I tried to keep up with it when I was at home- my parents even got me a tutor for a bit- but then things became so complicated, um, the war and such."

She flushed now and looked away timidly but Narcissa Malfoy just nodded, her eyes going a bit darker but her smile staying in place.

"Yes, I imagine you had rather a lot to worry about. How is your French now? Should we speak it?"

Hermione smiled gratefully. "I attended classes once I finished school. I am pretty fluent now," she replied in French.

Narcissa's eyes widened and her smile was remarkable. She really was a stunningly beautiful woman. Perhaps they had been wrong to assume the Veela heritage wasn't on her side.

"Oh, this is simply wonderful. I don't believe Draco knows you speak French, dear. Let's not tell him yet."

Hermione smirked and then chuckled, nodding. "Where are we going?"

They chatted as they walked. When they got to the shop it was apparent that they knew Narcissa Malfoy very well. They had champagne and cakes waiting for them and already had someone ready to measure Hermione and a selection of dresses to choose from.

Hermione fell in love with three and Narcissa had her try on each one, spending about ten minutes discussing the dresses as she moved around in the room.

"I think we shall go with the pewter one." Narcissa said with a simple nod as Hermione turned in the last one, which was red.

Hermione sighed and nodded in agreement. "Yes, it was lovely. And I have a soft spot for that color. The first formal dress I wore was a pewter blue."

Narcissa smiled and sipped her champagne. "Shoes next, and then to the tailor."

Hermione changed quickly and when she walked out it was to find Narcissa carrying the dress in a formal garment bag. She winked at Hermione as they left. Then, after attaching the measurements, she walked into an alley and discreetly waved her wand, sending the dress off to the tailor.

"Wizard tailor dear, she's brilliant. The dress will be sent to your office tomorrow. Come, it is time to find your shoes."

Hermione smiled and they rushed off to find shoes. Narcissa had charmed a piece of parchment to match the color of the dress perfectly and they swept through three different stores before they found a pair of shoes they both loved.

"Not too large of a heel," Narcissa said happily, "After all, you will be rather busy that night."

Hermione nodded her thanks and then said cheekily, "A cushioning spell always helps too."

Narcissa smirked back at her. "A girl's best friend!"

She looked down at her watch and said, "Lovely! We have time for dinner. Our family is good friends with a simply brilliant cook at a restaurant here. Shall we, Hermione?"

Hermione nodded and then watched as Narcissa shrunk the shoes, putting them in her bag, and then held out her arm. Hermione took it and they apparated into a lobby of a simply stunning restaurant. A wizard in a tuxedo walked forward, kissing Narcissa on both cheeks and looking at Hermione curiously.

"And who have you brought with you today, Cissy dear?"

Narcissa smiled and said proudly, "This is Miss Hermione Granger, Raul. Geoff will wish to meet her."

Raul's eyes widened and he bowed over her hand. "The Hermione Granger from the war?"

At Hermione's hesitant nod, Raul threw back his head in delighted laughter. "Oh, he will be so pleased, Cissy!"

Hermione followed a still chuckling Raul to a table that was in a corner decorated with potted ferns, allowing for privacy. Narcissa smirked at her and winked as Raul fussed over them.

"Oh! bring a bottle, Raul. Draco might be meeting us. He had business in the city."

Hermione's breathing hitched and her heart rate tripled. She hadn't expected that! She suddenly wanted to rush off and check her hair! It had been under a hat, after all.

As if she sensed Hermione's distress, Narcissa said, kindly, "You look lovely, dear."

Hermione gave her a short nod and took a long sip of water.


Notes:
I am so sorry its just this short bit. I am too knackered to edit the full bit as it would be over five thousand words. But I wanted to give you this lovely shopping trip!
I am still in recovery mode. I have not done this mode well. So if you just give me time I will work towards weekly updates again soon. I adore you all for sticking with me and all your kind comments. The surgery went fantastic, it's just my immune system is compromised so I am not healing at a normal rate. Love to you all for you kind words.

What did you think of the chapter? I think I like how calm Narcissa is in all this. We shall see if that lasts.

Up Next:

Draco arrives…. And sparks fly!