ODETTE

It was different with Narcissa, Hermione mused afterwards, softer but also more intense. She was lying on the pillows and held Narcissa in her arms. Narcissa's hair fanned out on Hermione's chest. There were both breathing heavily from their earlier lovemaking. Hermione stroked a strand of hair out of Narcissa's face and kissed the top of her head. "I've never experienced anything like this," she whispered.

"Me neither." Narcissa nuzzled against her chest, her hand resting at the swell of Hermione's breast.

For a moment, they just lay there, enjoying each other's closeness and being perfectly happy. Then Narcissa lifted her head a little. "We can't always keep it a secret, can we?" she sighed.

"Not likely, no. But let's just not think about that right now, shall we? I just want to lay here with you now, without worrying about the troubles that may lay ahead of us in the future."

"I never want this moment to end," Narcissa sighed again.

Hermione woke the next morning in a room she wasn't familiar with. The room was big and had elegant furniture against a wall with light blue wallpaper. The bed she was lying in was luxurious and soft. When she saw Narcissa lying next to her on the duvet and realised they were both naked, everything came back to her. They had made love the other night. A smile crept across her face as she recalled Narcissa's hands and lips on her face, her neck, her breasts, her abdomen, her most intimate spot… How beautiful Narcissa looked with her hair down and how they'd felt one together… She was getting worked up again just thinking about it.

She was about to rouse Narcissa, when reality crashed back in. It was a workday. Judging by the amount of light peeping in through the curtains, she had overslept. She'd spent the night having nothing with her but the frock she'd been wearing the previous evening. And she couldn't even begin to think what Ron would say about her spending the night elsewhere. She groaned. If it hadn't been a mess before, it most certainly was now. Beside her, Narcissa stirred and drowsily opened her eyes. "What's going on?" she yawned.

"I have to go," Hermione said panicking slightly. She got out of bed quickly.

"I see." Narcissa's face fell.

It took her a moment to realise why Narcissa looked a bit crestfallen but then she hasted herself to set the record straight. "No, it's not that I don't want to be with you, it's just… It's a workday and I overslept… "

Hermione's hands caressed Narcissa's face. "I'd much rather stay here with you, but I really have to go now," she said, apologetic this time. "Do you by any chance have anything suited for a workday for me to borrow? I'm afraid I didn't quite anticipate needing them when I came here last night," she grinned.

Narcissa laughed. "I might have something, let me check my closet." She slid out of bed and walked over to a large wardrobe Hermione hadn't noticed before. As Narcissa went through the rack of clothes, Hermione sneaked her arms around her naked frame and kissed her on the shoulder. "You really are beautiful, you know that?"

Narcissa turned in her arms and kissed Hermione. "You too."

Hermione's hands roamed over her body and she pulled her in closer for yet another kiss. Narcissa laughed. "I thought you were so eager to go to work?" she teased.

"Mmm, I'm already late…" Hermione murmured.

"We're making enough of a mess as it is already," Narcissa said softly. "I don't want you to loose your job over it too."

Hermione sighed and rested her head on the blonde's shoulder. "I guess you're right. But it will be increasingly difficult to make up excuses to be able to meet each other, won't it?"

"We'll find a way." Narcissa gently pulled out of the hug. "Here, I've found you a skirt and blouse," she said and reached inside the wardrobe. "We're about the same size, so I think this'll fit." She held up a chocolate brown skirt and a cream coloured blouse with a small brown lining around the collar and the cuffs.

"Is this silk?" Hermione asked when felt the fabric of the blouse.

"Hand woven," Narcissa smiled. "It's one of my favourites, actually."

"I can see why. Are you sure I can wear this?"

"Of course. It'll look beautiful on you as well. And besides, it'll give you something to remember me by when I'm not around," she winked. "Let me just find some matching shoes."

Hermione put on the skirt and blouse and the matching chocolate coloured pumps Narcissa handed her. The silk fell smoothly on her and it smelled vaguely of what she recognized as Narcissa's perfume, with a sweet undertone of cinnamon.

"You look smashing," Narcissa said and Hermione looked in the mirror. She had to admit she was right. "Thanks dear, I love it."

"Off you go then. The fireplace in the living room is connected to the Ministry's Floo Network, so you'll be able to Floo straight to the Ministry. Lucius uses it sometimes," Narcissa explained at her questioning look. She nodded in understanding. A couple of years ago, Lucius had started working as a Ministry employee. Instead of bribing his way in, like he would have done in the years prior to Voldemort's downfall, he had started at the bottom. If they regularly spent time here, then it made sense to have this fireplace connected to the Floo Network as well.

Reluctantly they said their goodbyes, with the promise to write each other soon and to meet again as quickly as possible.

In the hall of the Ministry, she ran into Kingsley, whose eyebrow shot up in surprise on seeing her. "Overslept, Hermione?" he boomed.

"Yes, sorry 'bout that," she apologized. "I'll stay an extra hour to make up for it."

"No problems, I hope?"

"No, no problems. I just woke up to late."

"Well, it can happen to all of us I guess," Kingsley replied. "You're always meticulously on time, so I'll overlook it this time. Sorry about keeping your husband at the Ministry that long yesterday." This time he was the one to apologize.

"It's alright," she said, while her thoughts went to Ron. She would have a lot of explaining to do tonight, something she wasn't at all looking forward to.

After having greeted Kingsley, she quickly went to her office and started doing the paperwork for a case she'd been working on for over a week. It was a dull job and occasionally her thoughts would drift off to Narcissa. Each time she thought of her, a smile spread across her face. She hadn't felt this good in a very long time.

She continued working for a couple of hours and just when she had decided to take her lunch break, there was a knock on her door and Ron peeped in. He looked dishevelled, like he hadn't slept enough. Immediately, there was a knot in her stomach. She did not want to discuss her nightly absence here, at work.

"What is it Ron? I haven't got much time," she said rather brusquely. Oh please take a hint and leave, she thought frantically.

"I know you're mad," he said softly, "I should have written you a letter, but it was already so late that I figured you would be sleeping."

She blinked. What the hell was Ron talking about? Ron mistook her silence for disapproval and elaborated his apology.

"It was already past three when we were finished with the meeting and I didn't want to wake you. And when Gregory offered Harry and me a couch in his London apartment, I figured it to be the best option. But I should have realised you would be worried if I weren't there in the morning. I'm sorry."

Hermione exhaled slowly. She had not realised she had been holding her breath. So Ron had not spent the night at home either? That meant he didn't know about her sleepover at Narcissa's. She could not believe how lucky she got; she had prepared herself for a fight already.

"Hermione? Will you please say something?" Ron's voice brought her back from her thoughts.

She sighed. "It's fine Ron." She had a part to play and at this moment it was that of slightly frustrated wife. "Just, send an owl next time, right? Even if it's just in the morning."

"Yes, of course. I'm really sorry."

"You already said that."

"Yes. Just to make sure I'll remember it next time."

My dear N.M.B.,

I was really sorry to leave you this morning. It was wonderful waking up next to you and having you wrapped in my arms. I think I've fallen in love with you, which is something I had never expected to happen. Yet it did and I'm really happy about that. I haven't felt like this in a long time.

I think we've dodged the bullet this time by the way: as it turns out, the last-minute Auror meeting Ron had yesterday evening ran rather late and he and Harry spent the night on the couch of a colleague. So he has not been home at all last night.

I hope I can see you again soon. I'm already missing you.

Yours,

H.W.G.

After a moment of thought she sealed her letter with a kiss and placed it in inside an envelope before sending an owl on its way to deliver it. She knew she had to wait until she got home to read Narcissa's reply because a secretary often opened her mail at the Ministry when she was busy. So, the first thing she did when she got home was to check if there was any mail. There was, but not the letter she had been anticipating. She opened the envelope addressed to Hermione Weasley. It was a letter from Astoria.

Dear Hermione,

Just a little note to remind you we'll be expecting you for Swan Lake next week on Friday at half past seven. Not that I think you would have forgotten, but you never know. I'm really looking forward to it.

Kind regards,

Astoria

She let out a groan. Right, Swan Lake. How would they ever be able to keep up the appearances of being just friends after what had happened last night? She was sure Astoria was bound to notice something. Cancelling now, after being very enthusiastic earlier on, would be suspicious, so they would have to find a way to hide their feelings.

An hour later, the letter she'd been hoping for finally arrived.

My dear H.W.G.,

I've missed you too today. I liked being in your arms and just being close to you. I had not expected it either, but I think I've fallen in love with you too. You turned everything I knew so far upside down, which is confusing, but in a good way if that makes any sense. I'm afraid Lucius is rather suspicious; he saw you in the Ministry today and he recognized the outfit I lent you. Perhaps it was not the wisest idea to lend you one of my favourites after all. I think I have convinced him that I lent them to you a while ago, but we'll have to remain cautious.

On that note, I think we should keep to letters until next week. Have you gotten a letter from Astoria as well? It will be really difficult not to show anything when I'm around you, I don't think she would approve.

I'm sorry we can't meet earlier. I will count down the days until I can see you again.

Yours,

N.M.B.

Hermione was disappointed. She knew Narcissa was right, but next week Friday was still ten days away and that seemed like an awfully long time. When at last Friday arrived, they had exchanged many letters. It was harder being around Ron now that she couldn't be with Narcissa and she knew Narcissa experienced similar problems with Lucius. It was a little awkward before she left to see Astoria and Narcissa. Ron still wasn't happy with her friendship with Narcissa – If only he knew, she thought – and Hugo had picked that day to catch on to the flu that had been going around the wizarding world for weeks now.

"You can't leave when he's sick!" Ron protested for the umpteenth time.

Just like the other times he had said this that evening, she had clacked her tongue in irritation. "Ron, all he needs is to sleep and drink enough. Sure you can manage that on your own?"

"Of course I can. I just thought you'd wanted to stay with him instead of pursuing your own fun. After all, he's only two years old and you've never left Rose's side whenever she was ill. So does Hugo mean less to you than Rose does?"

His words felt like a slap in the face. She had a feeling as if all the air was suddenly punched out of her longs and she felt slightly dizzy.

"You're being unfair," she said hoarsely. "You know I love them both very much."

"Yeah? It doesn't seem like it."

She sat down. Every want she had had to go had suddenly gone. As much as she hated to admit it, Ron was right. She was being a terrible mother to Hugo. It was not his fault that she had fallen out of love with his father.

"I'll write them," she whispered. She scribbled a note to Narcissa and sealed it with a kiss to soften the message that she would not be coming when Ron wasn't watching. With a heavy heart she sent the note on its way. Narcissa would probably be thinking she was having second thoughts.

She went upstairs to check on Hugo. He was awake, his feverish eyes looking up at her, as if pleading her to make it go away. She felt a pang in her heart. How could she ever have thought about leaving him when he was so ill?

"Hush darling, it's okay. Mummy is here. You want something to drink?"

Hugo nodded and she placed his training cup that she had filled with water at his lips. He drank eagerly and she put him back to bed when he was finished. She soothed him with a lullaby and it didn't take long for his fever made him fall asleep. She checked if he was tugged in and then went downstairs, leaving the door slightly open.

"Well, this is actually rather cosy," Ron remarked when he came back from his check on Hugo later that evening. "Just the two of us at home on a Friday night. That's been a while." He shoved over to where she was sitting on the couch, putting his arm around her and trying to kiss her.

"Ron, stop it," she said annoyed.

"What, you don't want to cuddle with me?" he said quasi-hurt, thinking she was joking. He tried to pull her in for a kiss again. She pushed his arm away.

"I said stop it," she repeated irritated.

"We haven't really been close lately," he said, also a little annoyed.

She snorted. "You've never cared about us growing apart before. So what makes tonight different?"

"Growing apart? What are you talking about?" This time he was actually looking hurt.

"Oh come on Ron, it's been like this for over a year now! Don't tell me you haven't noticed that love slowly seeped away from our marriage."

The silence that followed her words was heavy. Then Ron said softly: "I guess I've just been trying to ignore that."

"Ignoring it doesn't make it undone Ron. I stayed because of the children, not because of you." She had said it without thinking. Her words could be interpreted as if speaking about that evening or as if speaking in a larger context. Only after she had uttered them did she realize both of them were true.

"I refuse to believe that," he said boldly.

"I'm sorry. Look, can we talk about this another time?" she sighed. "I really don't want to pick a fight with you tonight."

"But can't we work it out, now that we both know what's going on?" He was pleading and she felt really guilty when after a brief silence she said softly: "I don't know. I think it might be a little late for that, don't you think?"

As she had expected, there was a rather angry note from Narcissa the other day, stating that if she 'didn't want to go out with her anymore, she should have just said so'. Just that. She had not even bothered to address or sign it. She tried to contact Narcissa, but no one answered her Floo call, neither at Malfoy Manor nor at Malfoy Mansion. She wrote Narcissa a page-long letter telling her a sorry she was to let them, to let her down and that she really didn't want to stop seeing her. I feel like Odette, she wrote, in a reference to the play she was supposed to see the other night. When I'm with Ron, I'm like her swan form: on the outside everything seems fine and wonderful, but it's really a mask. I didn't realise something was missing, until I met you. When I'm with you, I feel like I can be myself and that I can show the real Hermione. Despite her plea, there was no reply from Narcissa for several days. She could now totally understand how Narcissa had felt when she hadn't replied her letters.

She had the most terrible week ever. She was desperate for a reply from Narcissa, letting her know that everything would be okay between them. At the same time, Ron kept trying to fix things by bringing flowers and taking her to dinner, which did nothing to change her feelings. She felt miserable. How had she ever gotten herself into this situation?

A/N: Sorry to disappoint you guys if you had been expecting a lovey-dovey happy ending chapter. I had really planned for Hermione to go see Swan Lake, but then Hugo fell ill and I just couldn't have her leave him, right? And seeing as it is not the final chapter yet, there will also be no ending yet. ;-) I hope the next chapter will answer some of your questions that might have arisen in the course of the story.