It's here! I'm sorry it's been such a long time, life has been a whirlwind and I've barely had time to write for weeks!
As usual, any mistakes are mine but the rights are not.
Enjoy!
Narcissa smirked as she sidestepped the fuming brunette. Heading back in the direction of Andromeda's table, she wondered when the last time was that she had gotten so excited about beating someone in a duel. While maneuvering around a large man with a tankard of ale in his outstretched hand, Narcissa was forcibly spun by the shoulder to face an irate looking muggleborn.
"What's your problem?" Hermione hissed, stepping into Narcissa's space.
Eyeing the younger woman, Narcissa leaned forward to answer.
"I could ask you the same thing, Miss Granger," she uttered, peering into the younger witch's hazel eyes. "I believe it was you who started this exchange, I am merely responding to your obvious attempt to get a rise out of me."
Hermione gaped at the blonde, before raising her chin defensively.
"I did no such thing!"
"Didn't you?" Narcissa countered, taking a step further into Hermione's space. "Mentioning my sister, suggesting that I watch you so that I might 'see what I'm up against', what would you call that?"
Not backing down, Hermione poked Narcissa in the chest to add emphasis to her words. "I would call it friendly banter! I would never blatantly try to get a rise out of someone in such a way!"
Narcissa balked at the nerve of the woman to poke her physically. She slapped the muggleborn's hand away and leaned even closer. The air crackled with tension as the two witches stared each other down. Other patrons of the pub had started to notice their exchange and conversations died down around them. Taking a calming breath, Narcissa removed herself from Hermione's space.
"Call it what you like Miss Granger. We'll settle this in the arena."
She spun on her heel and continued in the direction of Andromeda's table. As she sat down, Andromeda stared at her, perplexed.
"Cissy, what on earth was that about?" she asked, turning to watch Hermione stride across the bar and sit down across from Harry.
"I don't want to talk about it Andy," Narcissa replied before taking a generous sip of her wine.
She hated to admit it, but the brunette across the bar had completely riled her up. She took another sip, willing her flushed cheeks to calm and her pulse to slow. Something about the younger witch was both infuriating, and yet enticing. She couldn't wait to duel her, watch those sharp hazel eyes as they read the space between them, and then widen in surprise as she backed her into a corner before taking her.
The duel! Taking the duel! She took another sip before looking up at Andy, who was watching her with curious eyes.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" she asked, taking a sip of her own drink. "You look quite flustered."
"I'm not flustered!" Narcissa snapped, placing her wine on the worn tabletop. "I don't want to talk about it, stop pestering me woman. Now, how is young Teddy doing?"
Ooooh, tensions are building! Thank you all for your patience. Please review and let me know what you think!
AndeB