A.N - Sorry for the late update its been a really hectic week. I received a couple of reviews mentioning StrongHermione's story and just wanted to add this note. Before writing or posting this story I had not read the story by StrongHermione. Any chapters I post up until Chapter 12 were already pre written. I have since read the story in question and must say it's a wonderful story that I enjoyed reading I would also like to say thanks to Tenshi-Writer who gave her the original brief for her story. I have spoken to StrongHermione to make sure she did not think I was copying her story. Thank you all for following and reviewing it means a lot.
kya
Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters. I just like to play with them.
HPOV
"Lily."
The name seemed to echo around the room and she was more than grateful that her father and Lucius could still be heard arguing in the other room. "But Hermione she's dead. I've been to her grave with Severus." Narcissa replied her voice now a whisper.
"No she is very much alive. It seems from the diary I have that when she stood between Riddle and Harry she wasn't just granted protection for him. In giving up her life for him the way she did. She was gifted life herself. From what she wrote. She woke up in the ruined house to find Harry already gone and she knew she had been meant to die. So she ensured she would be safe and one day found, and took the draught. She has been in that same place since under all manner of spells keeping her healthy until she can wake."
"Do you realise what this means Hermione?"
"Yes it means that I have to try and wake her. To give her the chance to see her son and the man she loved again."
"OH my dear I'm sure she will want to see you too, once she finds out who you are." She shrugged
"My main concern is Harry and Dad we shall see about me later. Please say you will help me. I don't know who else I can confide in. I haven't even told Draco because Dad can read him like an open book. I know you have shields that can keep him out as do I"
"Of course I will help, I don't know how we can get him to brew it however without raising suspicion" She smiles
"I have already thought of that. The bet earlier does it happen often?" She was glad when she heard Narcissa laugh
"Oh yes. That is perfect Darling. We can start an argument between my Husband and your father. It's happened before. They argue about this potion or that, then Lucius makes it a bet and it falls to me to take your fathers potion and have it tested and verified. Then of course tell my dear husband he has lost again." she listened for a moment but all noise had stopped "they will no doubt be in here very soon. shall we start it now?"
She nodded the voices had started once more but had moved now to just outside the door "Oh Yes, I remember his first lesson vividly. Bottling fame, Brewing glory and of course trying to get Harry to mess up with his question about the draught of living death." The door was open and all the men were listening now
"It was fascinating, I looked it up after that and was surprised at the time that something so powerful had such a mild antidote," she could almost hear her dad's brain ticking but she ignored it
"Oh yes. I do think you are right. Snarky or not you had a much better Professor in Severus than we had. I wish we had someone who put as much care in as him, rather than old Slughorn. But what ever made you keep looking, most your age would not have made it to the end of class before forgetting such things. Though now that you mention it, you are right it is a rather mild antidote to such a powerful draught. You would have thought someone would have tried to make it stronger."
"Oh don't be so daft Cissa, it's not possible is it old friend?" Lucius butted in. Narcissa had played her husband like a fiddle
"Of course it is, but why make such a thing when it's not needed?" her dad replied
"You can not be serious Severus. It's just not possible. The longest the antidote can be used is two weeks. That's the end of it. You can not make it last longer." she saw the look in her dad's eyes. The plan was working perfectly
"I will have you know I could make it last as long as I wished. Forget weeks or months, I could make it last years should I wish to." Lucius sneered
"Fine if that's so. One thousand galleons says that you can not make that antidote last ten years." Ten wasn't enough. Then thankfully her dad countered
"Ten years is nothing. Two thousand galleons says I can make it viable for Twenty-five years." they shook hands
"Done" Her dad had already turned to Narcissa "we will be needing your services to get the finished product verified if you will?" Narcissa smiled
"Of course as always. When should I expect a Product to have tested?" She couldn't have been more grateful to Narcissa for asking that very question.
"Well given that I have money riding on this I wish to ensure it is perfect. I would say a month given that I also have classes to teach."
"Very well I shall expect it in one month. then you two can settle yet another bet." She smiled at Hermione before turning back to Lucius "Oh and dearest husband of mine. Remember that when you lose as you so often seem to do. If you decide to moan to me about it you will regret it so much more than last time." Lucius paled
"Yes of course my darling dear. Severus, Draco? shall we leave these lovely ladies to their talk and go enjoy a rather fine brandy I have in my study.?" Both her father and Draco looked at her, but on her nod they followed behind Lucius. no sooner had they gone and she had turned to Narcissa
"I don't know what to say. I don't... I can't thank you enough for helping me with this."
"Hermione my sweet girl, there is no need to thank me. I am happy to help.
"I still wouldn't have been able to do it without you. Not without him finding out the truth anyway. And now with your help I only have to wait a month to have the antidote in my ..."
"Hermione?"
"What if it doesn't work? What if it does and she wants nothing to do with Dad or Harry?" What if Dad is angry for my not telling him?"
"Hermione, stop worrying it will all be just fine. You will never know the outcome if you don't try. Now come we have wedding plans to talk of."
They flooed to Narcissa's rooms and from there made their way to the study. As they drew closer she had to try not to laugh. They had decided to trick them and the plan was becoming clearer in her mind by the minute. Narcissa knocked lighty on the door before enterignto find the men well into a bottle of brandy.
"So have you lovely ladies come to any decisions on this wedding?" asked Lucius with a sly smile.
"well yes in fact we have." she said her face serious
"We have decided on charcoal grey and a variety of pinks as the colour scheme." She watched them all cringe. As she looked at Narcissa neither of them could keep from laughing
"And what is so funny?" asked her father. She could barely breathe from laughing
"Oh dad, did you really think I would make you wear pink or red for that matter. The colours are to be pale blues and greens as i have decided I would like a winter wedding held outside in the grounds here at the manor."
She could see the relief flood the faces of all three men and she could not keep from laughing again. It was Narcissa who spoke next
"Lucius, Severus I shall leave the mens robes to you. I will contact your tailor and give him the colour scheme. Once Draco has chosen his grooms men you can deal with the rest. I will aid Hermione with the other arrangements all I will require from the both of you is access to your vaults." they both nodded their agreement and then the conversation returned to brandy and bets.
