A/N: …so I really did try to make this one a longer chapter, but once I finished it, I just couldn't bring myself to add on, it felt like the right ending point. However I will be working on trying to make the next chapter longer, as I think it will suit the direction I'm taking the story. I hope you guys enjoy!

Oh yeah and note for the life of me I can't remember the Bellamione fic that I absolutely adore that had The character Tenty. I am loosely basing my character on that one. Imitation is the highest form of flattery as they say and I loved that fic to pieces. Just wish I could remember the name to give proper thanks for writing such an amazing story, alas I am very forgetful…on with the show!


'So I guess I should explain the water…'

An almost imperceptible nod was her answer

'I wasn't having a laugh at you, honestly... I tried everything to rouse you. It was a last ditch effort. You were convulsing, mumbling nonsense and at one point you stopped breathing.'

A shutter was all the response she received.

After several long minutes of silence she responded

'It was all I could think to return you to the land of the living.'

Hermione blinked long and hard. She took stock of where she was and how she got here.

She had woken up in the arms of an angel after…

Sleep had come surprisingly easily in Narcissa's arms. Dreams of cascading green highland hills and the bluest skies she had ever seen. She had laid on her back with her head on the blonde's stomach looking to the horizon. This must be what awaited her in the afterlife. A peace like she had never known before.

Safe.

They had eventually woken up and silently gotten ready for the day, Hermione mindlessly had left soon after breakfast presumably to the library for the remainder of the day and had not emerged until the evening meal.

Narcissa knew that Hermione had been dawdling since dinner, and had tried to evade sleep once more. She took pity on the girl she had been falling for and lead her outside through a hidden corridor in the dungeon that opened up to her most favorite spot at Hogwarts. After a walk around the large lake to give them the privacy she knew the brunette needed, they sat down staring at the giant squid underneath the surface lazily floating his tentacles in an almost waving manner.

The moon was full in the sky above the pair. A comfortable silence held between them after last night's happening, staring off in their own thoughts for a long while until Hermione finally broke the stillness of the night.

'There are things I can't tell you'

'I know'

'There are things that I will know, that I can't explain to you.'

'I know'

'I haven't been 100% truthful, it's not that I don't want to, believe me I want to…'

'I know'

Tears were flowing down the brunette's face as she spoke again.

Narcissa cupped the beauty's face before her leaning in for a sweet kiss, so close she could almost taste her lips when she felt the brunette pull back slightly.

'There will be consequences, if we..if I…the greater good…I shouldn't…'

'Me too, I don't care'

At those words blonde surged forward kissing the somber brunette solidly, but softly. Breaking the kiss Narcissa kept her eyes closed but pressed her forehead to Hermione's

Narcissa then whispered lightly

'I know you, and I know you haven't been truthful, but have had no malicious intent. I trust you beautiful.'

'How?'

'Hermione I may not know you, but I know you, the real you. The one you hide from everyone else, that sweet little girl hurting from whatever it is that injured you. I don't know how I know, I just feel it here.' She said as she placed her small pale hand on top of where she knew Hermione's heart to be.

'Life is too short, life is cruel, and yet life is everlasting. It goes on and on without us telling it to, without our permission. Unrelenting is the March of time that we are powerless to stop. My own life story was written for me before I was born, who I was to be, whom I was to marry, what I was to do with my life all decided for me without my consent. I felt powerless to stop it, that was until you stumbled into my life. You, just you, you Hermione are enough for me. I would go through Tartarus just to be with you. Your smile, your grace, the way you care for every being. You have ruined me for anyone else's affections.' Narcissa said as she cupped the now smiling brunette's cheek.

'I have known since that first night you are more than what you seem, and for some reason you cannot share it with me, that the burden is yours alone. You are haunted by your past, so early in your life to have a haunted past, what must you have endured sweet girl?'

She kissed the silently crying girl's cheek and pulled back to look deep in her eyes

'You never have to explain anything to me. Look, I know there are consequences, I know our time is limited, but I don't give a damn about consequences. Not when I can have you now! I don't care how long, because I know you will always be here.' She said as she took Hermione's hand and placed it to her heart.

'In me, with me. You have shattered my defenses, I know I'm young, that we are young, but I do know what I want, do not doubt that. What I want is you.'

Narcissa said surging staring deep into chocolate orbs that held her world. Seeing a deep soulful smile in return of her declaration she surged forward capturing Hermione's lips with hers again and again.

Hermione couldn't believe this was happening. Yes they had been flirting endlessly, but one never knew the truth behind the sly smiles and stolen glances. She should have known those ice blue eyes would have held the truth of the universe in them.

To hell with the war, to hell with everything. This mattered. Narcissa mattered. Merlin's beard she had been tortured, nearly died, she should have died. Fate spared her, and she would no longer worry about details and the future. She would worry about the here and now, whenever and wherever that may be.

They spent a good amount of time snogging, cuddling, and talking out in the moonlight. The weekend was a blessed thing as they still had Sunday together. A deep yawn by the brunette had Narcissa full on laughing. That was until she was not so gently shoved into the very lake they had been around. A sputtering, angry eyed blonde struggled in the water until a slimy tentacle pushed her onto the dock with a blubbery chuckle.

'Thanks Squidward'. Hermione laughed, the giant squid's eyes shine brightly at the nickname

She rushed to her fuming and now slightly gooey, girlfriend?

'Uhhh…you see…ahhh'. Hermione stumbled as she walked closer

An evil glint in her eyes took over Narcissa's features as she sultrily walked up to Hermione

She wrapped an arm around the taller girl's waist, placing her thigh between the brunette's eliciting a soft moan

'You know what I want from you love?'

'Hunggghh'. Hermione mumbled out incoherently, lust clouding her now hormone riddled brilliant brain

Narcissa leaned in to whisper in her ear to speak one word

'Retribution'. She said as she placed a slimy kiss on her cheek. She slightly stepped back and pushed with all her might propelling the dazed girl into the murky water.

This caused Hermione to wake up treading water coughing up water. Squidward apparently thought it was the funniest thing he had ever seen and decided to enjoy the playtime. He lightly began making small waves with his tentacles letting out bubbly laughs as the waves got bigger and splashed so much that Narcissa was knocked back into the water to the joy of a laughing Hermione still treading water.

The noise from Squidward's over exuberance was so much that a small tabby cat made its way over to the commotion.

Sensing the deputy headmistress's presence the giant squid slowly stopped its motions quickly pushing out the two soaked girls onto the shore, face first with a giant wave and push of two of its tentacles before sliding deeper into the depths of the lake hiding from the formidable Scottish witch.

'Hmph. It seems you two are out past curfew and soaked to the bone.' Professor Mcgonagall spoke in her Scottish baroque with one eyebrow raised. 'And just what were you doing!?'

'…ummm you see Auntie I ahhh…dropped a quill in the water and I ahhh…'

'Oh hush it Mia you are a horrible liar.' The professor chided gently 'you will do well to follow the rules set forth and best return to your quarters for the evening.'

Laughing Hermione responded evil glint in her eye 'Touché Tabby, but what do you say about giving your favorite niece a big hug!'

The professor looked at the sopping wet girl and put two and two together turning and fleeing with a 'gahhhhh!'

'Oh come on now Tabby, its just a little water!'

'Cats hate water!' Minerva responded before she shifted to her feline form letting out a hiss as she lithely made her way up to the castle doors. All the while a laughing soaked slimy Hermione following.

Narcissa shook her head at the two's antics and stood finally ready to head back to the castle

'Eeck! Nasty slime. I'm bloody covered in the muck!' She spoke to herself while trying to slide it off her arms.

The moon suddenly was blacked out and she looked up just in time to see a huge wave converge on her location. She was knocked onto her back as the water engulfed her and retreated just as fast as it had come upon her. She looked around and saw a giant squid head pop up out of the water smirking.

Narcissa looked over herself and finally laughed at the giant squid's antics. She was indeed cleared of the slime and stood up.

'Thanks Squidward, I owe you one, good night sir.'

A small wave of a tentacle was her response.

Shaking her head she walked up the path back to where her girlfriend was still chasing her aunt.

She paused in her walk and let a hope and a prayer out to whatever deity might be listening

'Please help me protect her, help me save her even when I don't think I can. I can see my future in her eyes, I don't care how long it takes or the hardships it may cause, but I give my love willingly to that girl. Great spirits heed my prayer.' Narcissa closed her eyes and bowed her head in prayer. Taking in a deep breath she raised her head and walked happily after the pair in the distance.

If she had kept her eyes open she would have seen that a complete constellation in the far northern sky lit up in response, burning a bright red until it fizzled out back to its original color.