Hey Everyone,

There are a few things I want to clear up.

I'm not Ron bashing per say. If you recall he has always been rather frustrated with Hermione, and his bulling and comments are which drove her into the girl's bathroom on Halloween. I am just capitalizing on Ron's ignorance to create a strong bond between Draco and Hermione.

This leads me to the golden trio. Do we really need to have Ron as the golden trio, or why not a golden quartet? To be very honest with everyone I do not understand Ron's roll in the trio. II don't hate his character I just find him a bit useless.

Why would Harry want to be with a person who is so insecure with themselves that they have to pick on an innocent girl? Which again leads up to Halloween and the troll, and the bathroom.

Why does Hermione have to fall for the one person that's nice to her? If that's the case she should have loved Harry instead of Ron, right?

As I have stated I don't think I am bashing Ron as much as I am making him a clear shit to Hermione and she is a strong young lady who will not take it. Eventually, except for small snippets of Hogwarts mayhem, Ron will be phased out of the story.

I wanted to thank everyone for your kind comments and wonderful reviews. Again they fuel the desire to write and get you a chapter. Whether it is small or large you all have been wonderful. On to the story and thanks. This chapter will feel slightly weird from the last.

Thanks

Snow


Narcissa couldn't wait. Draco would be coming home for the Samhain rites after the Halloween feast being held that evening. Following her separation from Lucius, Narcissa had returned both her and her son to observing the more traditional ways for wizards. The Hogwarts charter allowed for these observances, particularly since Samhain was the only one that clashed with the school term.

Narcissa couldn't contain her excitement, she wanted to hear about everything in Draco's first month of school. His letters came frequently and she always advised him to be the most Slytherin he could be without being a complete prat. Narcissa sighed as Draco's words continuously went back to Hermione, and, not for the first time, felt that her son may be a little too much like herself. She was afraid he would be developing feeling for the girl and there was no legitimate reason to stop that. She promised to find Hermione. But Hermione never mentioned the possibility of loving another. Narcissa was afraid that her actions, however small, might have altered the future. Maybe in this future, Hermione would never love her. Instead love her son. She would let it happen. She would ensure their happiness, she would make their lives as wonderful as possible. For Hermione if that meant she was not in it as a lover, she would be more than happy to be there as a friend.

Narcissa thoughts were broken by a crack crack crack in her fireplace. Green flames burst forth and a face could be seen.

"Ms. Black, it is Headmaster Dumbledore. You are requested to come as quickly as possible to the infirmary at Hogwarts," the green embers urgently demanded.

"What has happened? Draco!?" Narcissa reached for her wand and a cloak.

"Please come through the floo network, I have connected you to the infirmary," Dumbledore's coal rendered face disappeared and Narcissa grabbed a handful of floo powered and shouted her destination. She felt the distinct sucking sensation as if she was fitted through tiny pipes and blew forth from the fireplace and looked around. She spotted brilliant white hair, and walked toward the bed. Her son lay on the bed, and she grimaced, it was the same bed she laid on in the past and pulled up a stool and held his hand. Madam Pomfrey was tending to another boy, conscious but howling in pain. She ran a diagnostic over her son. The nurse glanced at her and smiled, shook her head. His reading were 2 broken ribs, on sprained wrist, and a concussion.

She heard the door bang open but looked at her sons diagnostic then waved it away with her wand. She stood still as a bushy headed girl and a dark headed boy ran in her direction. Hermione skid to a halt as she looked up and saw Narcissa. Narcissa watched the girl as she walked slowly toward her and shuffle her feet.
"I am sorry Mrs. Malfoy," the girl shyly spoke to her, "He tried to save me."

"Black," Narcissa lightly spoke as she watched the girl round the bed and grasp Draco's hand. Her head tilted in question, "Narcissa Black, not Malfoy, and what was my son saving you from?" Narcissa felt her words stab into the girl and watched her flinch. The boy at the end of the bed shifted from one foot to the other apparently uncomfortable. Narcissa took a deep breath and closed her eyes and gestured to her gently.

"I was angry, and hurt. I needed to be alone, and went to the girl's restroom to wash my face and calm down. Soon I heard screaming and then something burst through the doors. I hid in one of the stalls. Immediately after that I heard Draco and Harry run into the bathroom and begin to battle. I opened the door and saw a mountain troll," Hermione clutched Draco's hands tighter as Narcissa's glance went between her and the boy who must be Harry.

"Draco tried to distract it but only got smashed with the club. Then Harry climbed up the troll's back where he sat on his shoulder then Harry shoved his wand up his nose while Draco took control of his club and wacked him with it. The troll dropped to the floor as Draco slipped into unconsciousness" Hermione looked at her and tears began to flood her eyes and fell to her robes, "I'm so sorry Draco," then she looked up to Narcissa and straightened her shoulders, "I know I am a –a –a mudblood, and he is a pureblood, but I think of him as my most trusted and treasured friend despite our states of origin. Please accept my apology for placing your son in danger."

Narcissa reached across the bed and wiped away Hermione's tears and then brown met blue. She almost smiled when Hermione found her clear blue eyes and gasped. She looked at the girl fondly and then to the boy that still stood silently at the foot of the bed.

"That is Lucius's propaganda not mine. Muggle born or pureblood it does not matter to me. Thank You for befriending my son, both of you," Narcissa dropped her hand from Hermione's chin and stood to talk to Madam Pomfrey.

"Ms. Black, my name is Harry Potter and I wanted to say he was brave and we wouldn't have been able to save Hermione with his help," Harry said nervously. She nodded to the boy and then walked to the nurse.

What in the hell just happened? Why did she look at me like that? What does it mean? Hermione's thoughts flew around her as she watched the woman walk across the room to the nurse who has finished with the other boy. She was beautiful. In that classic aristocratic sort of way. She had high cheek bones, a medium nose that sloped to where it fit her face perfectly, her eyes were the color of ice in the Antarctic. That kind of blue just screamed majesty. Hermione felt immediately draw to the woman and then looked down to the boy.

Draco slept but she felt his hand grasp hers once in sleep then she realized his family was not the family of horror stories. The Malfoy's were not the ghouls of the wizarding world. They were a family, dysfunctional, loving, and loyal.

Narcissa Black came back to Draco's bed side and sat next to Hermione and touched his arm just to make sure he was warm, and he was alive. She felt Hermione watch her and just continued to look at her son. She wasn't ready for this closeness and she dare not look too intently at the girl trying to see the woman she would become. Narcissa took a deep anchoring breath and touched Hermione on the shoulder. She knew the girl was worried, and in shock but she wasn't expecting the girl to fling herself into Narcissa's arms. She looked up in shock and saw Poppy stifle a chuckle behind her hand and motioned her to comfort the child.

"She needs a hug Narcissa. She won't break dear," Poppy whispered. Narcissa closed her arms around Hermione's shoulder and rubbed circles into the girl's back just as she had done for Draco when he was in pain or hurt, or his father told him he wasn't good enough to bear the name Malfoy. She shushed the girl and she found she fell asleep with her tears still flowing down her cheeks. Narcissa motioned for a little help in the extraction of the girl and she and the nurse put the girl on a bed near Draco. They looked at the two children and worry finally hit Narcissa.

What in the hell was a mountain troll doing in the castle?!


In the morning Draco woke with a massive headache. Narcissa stepped to the medicine cabinet and administered a calming draught and pain potion. She looked down at the two vials and shook her head. She needed to talk with Madame Pomfery and see if she would like the potion she brewed those many years ago. She brewed it to this day, but not for the reasons she used to. She didn't have beating to escape from, but when you have a boy busting about the manor falling, bumping, or scrapping into something, she found it the best use for her expertise.

She administered the medications, then Draco fell back asleep. Then went to check on the red headed boy and noticed it was the youngest Weasley boy. She ran a diagnostic and found his broken wrist from last night has mended together but there was swelling. He should be waking up soon. She went back to the cabinet and found an anti-inflammatory salve and potion. She went back to the boy and sat down. She pulled off her robe and draped it over the coat hanger in the corner of the room with a flick of her wand and then rolled up her sleeves. She took a small dollop and rubbed her hands together. She took the boys wrist and rubbed the salve into his joint and hummed a tune. It was slow, and sad, but beautiful.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" screeched the red head as he snatched his hand from Narcissa's healing hands. She sat stunned but stood and summoned a rag to wipe her hands free of the salve. She went to Hermione and looked her over and placed a hand to her forehead. She didn't care about the Weasley brat. But since Poppy was resting and this was more than up her alley she checked on the students. She slept in the chair between Draco and Hermione anyways waiting for one or the other or both to wake.

"Keep it down will you Weasley?" Draco croaked as he held a hand to his head. Narcissa winced as she knew his head would feel like it was splitting for at least another hour or so. Narcissa ran a diagnostic on Hermione and just as she thought shock effected the girl. She looked at the girl's forehead and saw a small scrape. She summoned a bowl of water, a clean rag, and some murtlap then dipped it into the bowl. As she was about clean the wound with the water and murtlap mix her hands where slapped away. She looked up coldly at the child before her. Her icy blue eyes blazed into Ron's deeper blue. The boy seemed to shrink from her scowl as she took the rag again and placed it once more over Hermione's head and once again her hands where slapped away.

"Mr. Weasley if you do not move, and allow me to treat this patient I will have you forcible removed from this infirmary," She gritted through straight teeth barely louder than a whisper but the meaning held more than enough threat behind it to have been a yell.

"You won't touch her you Slytherin snake," Ron yelled, and Draco winced.

"What does it matter that it is I who will help her? Draco is a Slytherin and he had defended this young lady. I am a Slytherin and I am treating this young lady. You are a Gryffindor, and share her house, her dining table, her classes and yet you treat her with such disdain. Why? She has done nothing but been born to muggle parents and highly intelligent. What is your reason for loyalty now young Weasley?" Narcissa questioned him, and she eyed the boy down she saw his mind tick. She had to agree with Draco he wasn't the smartest boy in school, but his protectiveness, and valor over his housemate made Narcissa pause and take his measure. He is stupid yes. However, his loyalty was endearing.

"I almost killed her by saying something horrible all because I was threatened by her power and her smarts. She can do anything. Do you know what it's like to be a pureblood wizard, brought up to protect those who need help the most, only to be shown up by the people you are supposed to protect? I felt useless. She doesn't help with her know it all attitude but she never deserved to be treated the way that I have done. I only know now I have been a bastard because she was almost killed," Ron looked away and sat down next to her bed. Narcissa took the rag and held it out for Ron. She felt the boy needed to know that the world is about decisions.

"Her friendship might be what saves your life one day Mr. Weasley. Cherish it," Narcissa whispered as she walked to the cabinet and turned looking at the children watching. She summoned the empty headache medicine vial, and Ron's anti swelling potion and replaced them. She turned when she saw movement. The thin nurse stood there with her arms over her chest and watched the children with Narcissa.

"I wish you would have picked me and healing instead of Horace and Potions. You still have a wonderful gift for healing Ms. Black," Poppy watched as the witch waved her hand back and forth, "Narcissa then. I will tell the headmaster about your skill here in my clinic and see if I can't set up for retirement in the next few years." The nurse joked.

"Oh Poppy, you humor me. You do realize that I am here only because my son was attacked by a mountain troll, almost killed, and I have only the headmaster to blame? These children are his responsibility. If he allowed a troll through to penetrate the castle what other big awfuls out there are able to sneak into these walls and do what to our children? No, he is lucky I'm not pulling Draco now to enroll in Durmstrang," Narcissa whispered to her old would be mentor.

"Why don't you take him then?" Poppy said tightly. She was a firm supporter in the light and the light side but had never felt that Albus Dumbledore could do no wrong. He was a powerful wizard but still human, and just as likely to make mistakes as the rest of them. The only difference was the scale of the consequences.

"You see that girl? She is the only reason why Draco will stay. I don't think I could pull them apart at this moment if I tried," Narcissa smiled to her son and his friend. Then Ron Weasley came to her with the bowl and rag and handed it too her with a nod of his head.

"Thank you for allowing me to help my housemate. I will try to be a better person to Hermione. Draco is lucky to have her friendship."

Narcissa placed a hand on Ron's shoulder, "Give it time Mr. Weasley. She might be your friend too."

With a nod to Poppy and a smile upon her lips she banished the materials in her hand. This was not the way Narcissa wanted to spend a traditional Samhain midnight rite with her son but it would have to do. She definitely prayed last night for her sons protections. Aside from the headache he would survive another day.

She grabbed her cloak, bid Madam Pomfrey farewell and used the floo to return home. Once there she stripped of her clothes, and dropped into her bed. Too many factors, too many people, and too many conflicting emotions served to be Narcissa downfall that morning as she collapsed into her sheets and pillows. She didn't notice an envelope dropped onto her desk waiting for her.