"I don't know what happened," Narcissa said. She sat on a stool in the kitchen with her elbows on the counter. Her head was dropped into her hands, her fingers rubbing her temples in gentle circles.

"She tried to kiss you," Andromeda replied. She was leaning against the counter, arms folded across her chest. Narcissa couldn't tell if Andy was about to start tapping her foot or scold her.

"She tried to kiss me," Narcissa agreed, lifting her head. "Why would she do that?"

"Why would anyone try to kiss anyone Cissy? She likes you."

"But that doesn't make sense," Narcissa said, letting her thought slip free as she remembered the conversation she and Hermione had in the Slytherin common room.

"Why?" Andromeda said. "I can think of plenty of reasons Hermione would have feelings for you. You've been a life saver for her."

"No, no. It's not that Andy," Narcissa said. "While I don't believe that I would be deserving of that affection, it's not the reason Hermione's feelings don't make sense."

"Well then," Andy pushed. "What is it?"

"She told me she has feelings for—well," Narcissa paused unsure how much of Hermione's secret she should reveal. Probably none. Hermione wouldn't appreciate Narcissa announcing her feelings to Andy. "She has feelings for someone else?"

"Someone else? Who?" Andromeda asked trying to ignore the drop in her stomach which reminded her of the emotions she tried to keep dormant. She watched as Narcissa avoided her eyes. They instead focused on her hands which were now folded on the counter. She feigned interest in the cuticles on her right hand and chewed lightly on her lip—a habit Andromeda remembered from their time at Hogwarts, a bad habit that Narcissa tried hard to break.

"Cissy?" Andromeda said. "Who is it?"

Narcissa's blue eyes raised from her hands and met Andromeda's own and she understood.

"Oh… Why didn't you tell me?"

"It wasn't mine to tell," Narcissa said. "And now she must be more confused than ever. She told me several weeks ago that she had feelings for you, but now she's dating and trying to kiss me?"

"Sounds like you're the one that's more confused than ever," Andromeda said with a sad chuckle.

"Should we talk to her?" Narcissa asked. She felt so lost. "Should I talk to her?"

"I guess that depends. What would you say to her? Do you have feelings for her too?" Andromeda asked as if she wasn't dying to know the answer to that question.

They held each other's eyes for a second before Narcissa spoke. "I don't if you don't want me to."

"Cissy…" Andromeda sighed before moving across the room and pulling her younger sister into a hug. "What I want doesn't matter. In fact, what I want is for you to be happy. Would Hermione make you happy?"

Narcissa thought about the woman in question. Hermione was an amazing woman. She was so intelligent and so caring. And she understood the guilt that Narcissa felt over the war. But she didn't deserve someone as good as Hermione. Hermione would think she was ridiculous for thinking that. She'd tell Narcissa that they were all a little broken and a little guilty, but that didn't mean no one deserved happiness because they made mistakes. Narcissa agreed for everyone, but herself.

Typical, really. She finds out she has a chance with a woman she has been damn near pining over, and she doesn't feel like she can take it because she isn't deserving of it? Hermione was right. She didn't give her that scar. But Narcissa can't get over the fact that she just stood there and watched as Bellatrix carved a knife into Hermione's skin.

But Hermione already made her so happy, and they weren't even together yet. They were just… roommates? Hermione lived with her, but they weren't more than that. But she wanted them to be, so why shouldn't she be allowed to go for it?

Narcissa looked up. Andromeda. Of course. She knew her sister had similar feelings for Hermione. And Hermione had told Narcissa that she too had feelings for Andy, how could she forgive herself for standing in the way of them. Andy was much more deserving of Hermione's love.

"You're thinking too hard," Andromeda said. There was a small smile on her face, affectionate. No, Narcissa would never forgive herself for standing in their way. "Cissy, would Hermione make you happy?"

Narcissa sighed in response. "Andy it doesn't matter."

"Why?" she said stubbornly.

"Well what about you?"

"What about me?"

"You love Hermione," Narcissa said.

"And she has made no sign to reciprocate those emotions," Andromeda said. "But she has shown interest in you."

"Andy, she loves you too," she said.

"Then why hasn't she done anything about it?" Andromeda asked.

"This is Hermione we're talking about," Narcissa said. Andromeda nodded her head with a sigh. "This is the woman who can't make any decision without creating three pro and con lists first."

"This is the woman who doesn't believe she's worthy of love," Andromeda continued. "Because she thinks she's the reason her parents died."

"Maybe we do need to talk to her," she said.

"Do you think she'd listen?" Andromeda asked. Hermione wasn't exactly known for keeping her cool in stressful situations, but then again, she'd changed a lot with the death of her parents. She was acting more spontaneous, more reckless.

"What about Fleur?" Narcissa said reluctantly. Andromeda looked at her like she'd grown three heads.

"Why would we involve Fleur?" Andromeda asked. "I don't like how close she is to Hermione."

"I don't like it either," Narcissa said. "But think about it. Hermione listens to Fleur. And we never had a problem with her until she was single again."

"I guess we could try," Andromeda said. She scowled at the idea, but she had to admit that Narcissa was right. They'd always liked Fleur before. That shouldn't change just because she is close friends with someone they care about.

Narcissa jotted out a quick letter to Fleur and sent it off with an owl asking her to come for a visit sometime later in the week, as they had something dire they needed to discuss with her. A letter returned later that day agreeing and letting them know Fleur would be over the next afternoon, when she knew Hermione would be out harassing the Minister of Magic for a job.

It drove Narcissa nuts waiting like this. Andromeda at least had Teddy to take care of and keep her mind off of Hermione, but Narcissa felt cooped up in this big house with nothing to do but boss around some house elves. An act she didn't even enjoy anymore, now that Hermione and her had discussed, at length, house elf rights.

Even when Hermione was in the house, Narcissa avoided her for fear that Hermione would change her mind about the entire thing before Andy and her even had a chance to talk to her about it. And thinking about Andy just made the entire situation even worse for Narcissa.

What was she supposed to do? Andromeda was closer to Hermione than Narcissa was. Andromeda would be better for Hermione than Narcissa could ever be. Narcissa and Hermione had a turbulent history. She would never be able to get over the fact that she had watched Hermione be tortured and done nothing about it. She had restrain herself from flinching every time she saw the angry white lines that marred her otherwise perfect skin.

If it came down to it, Narcissa knew she would step aside for Andromeda. Andromeda was the good sister. The sister that fought on the right side of the war. The sister that comforted Hermione after the deaths of her parents. Narcissa was a coward. She would never deserve someone like Hermione.

Fleur arrived the next afternoon only ten minutes after Hermione had told Narcissa she was going out. Their interactions for the last day had been minimal. Three or four words max, and never any weight. It was beginning to weigh on Narcissa after having gotten used to the long, spirited debates that the two would have on a semi-daily basis.

Fleur swept into the house like a whirlwind, and Narcissa tried not to hold it against her. It was like the Veela knew exactly why she was there. If Hermione and Fleur had done any talking recently at all, then it was likely she did know exactly why she was there, which is the first thing Andromeda asked when they settled in.

"Yes, I know why I'm here," Fleur said and almost laughed. "Hermione finally got the nerve to do something about her feelings and then, managed to entirely muck it up."

Narcissa felt herself relax as Fleur spoke, realizing that Fleur was less of a threat than her subconscious wanted her to think.

"I told her that date with Luna was a mistake, but she wouldn't listen," Fleur continued.

"Wait? Luna?" Andromeda asked. "Like Luna Lovegood?"

Fleur nodded. "They apparently talked for a long time the day after Dumbledore's party. Hermione asked her out before she could even stop herself. Luna, typical Ravenclaw, saw right through it, but accepted it anyways. They apparently had a heart to heart on their date, and Hermione reached some sort of realization. I haven't the slightest idea what that realization was though, as she won't tell me."

"Did she tell you what happened two nights ago?" Narcissa asked quietly.

"That she tried to kiss you? Yes," Fleur said. "She's driving herself absolutely crazy over it. She thinks she must have come down with some kind of delirious fever to have ever convinced herself that was okay."

"Why does she regret it?" Andromeda asked. She saw the way Narcissa sunk in on herself at the realization that Hermione regretted trying to kiss her.

"I wouldn't say she regrets it exactly," Fleur answered. "It's more that she feels guilty."

Fleur leaned forward in her seat opposite the two women and clasped her hands together in her lap. "Look, you both obviously know that Hermione has feelings for the both of you right?"

Both women nodded unsurely. "We didn't outright know, but you've now confirmed it."

"Yes well, she thinks she is wholly undeserving of any love ever, and so the idea of being with either of you makes her feel guilty because of her—"

"Her parents," Narcissa finished. They knew all of this already, what they need was help. They needed to know how to approach her.

"Yes… so let me ask this," Fleur continued. "Do you both have feelings for her?"

Narcissa and Andromeda looked at each other before nodding together at Fleur. "We do," Andromeda said.

"Then what do you plan to do about that?"

Both women looked confused at Fleur. Wasn't that why they had asked her here today, to figure out what they were going to do about that?

"We don't know," Andromeda said. "We need help."

"You know her best of all," Narcissa continued. "She trusts you with everything."

"She'll never listen to me about this stuff," Fleur replied. "She isn't going to believe either of you care about her that way unless you tell her. To her face. No more of this background, we're trying to show we care through action garbage. She needs to know how you feel—without all questioning of what your actions mean."

"You're right," Narcissa said. "But that brings us to another problem."

Fleur thought for a second. "Polyarmory is quite common among Veela, but it is lacking in acceptance in Britain's wizarding community. She may not want to be with both of you. She may not be able to choose at all. If it comes to that, are you both willing to stand aside so that she can be happy?"

"Of course."

"Yes."

"Good, then regardless of what happens, you both have my blessings," Fleur said. "But you have to tell her. It's the only way anything will ever be resolved."

A/N: This is a bit of a filler chapter, but just wanted to let you know, the next chapter will be the last one.