Narcissa was nothing like Hermione expected when she walked into the Three Broomsticks. Still poised and surrounded by an aura of wealth and privilege, but she no longer looked like the severe woman she had come to see in her nightmares. Her long silvery blonde hair was down, pulled back into a long braid. Something in her face had changed, and it took Hermione a moment to realize what it was. The woman who sat in front of her now looked drained, and she seemed to have aged at least five years since she had last seen her at her trial in August. Her blue-grey eyes were warmer than she had ever seen them, but the expression on her face was one Hermione easily recognized; fear and regret.
Although Hermione saw her right away, Narcissa didn't see her. Draco and Ginny had agreed to let her come alone, albeit after hours of argument. They were trying to protect her, in their own ways, but she wanted to face her…face the woman whose home she was tortured in. Her face was all too similar to her sister's, and for a moment Hermione almost ran. But then she forced herself to see the resemblance between Narcissa and Andromeda, rather than Bellatrix. Hermione had lived at Andromeda's house over the summer, minding Teddy and helping out around the house. Narcissa was the spitting image of Andromeda, the only differences really the hair color. Now with the age the war seemed to have caused, they looked like they could be twins, rather than sisters.
"Mrs. Malfoy." Hermione greeted, keeping her tone level. She didn't want to reveal herself too soon, after all she wanted Narcissa to be honest with her.
"Ms. Granger." Narcissa greeted, propriety insisting that she stand to greet the girl. Her sing-song voice was high and reminded Hermione far too much of her demented captor. Swallowing the unease that came to her, she forced a smile and shook the older woman's hand. "I must admit, I did not know if you would come."
"Neither did I to be honest, but I believe in second chances, however flawed an ideal they might be. I know it's a very Gryffindor thought, but my father always told me kindness and forgiveness are two underappreciated traits." Hermione had calculated her words carefully. Spending so much time with the snakes had done her some good, as she was much more prepared to speak with a viper. Mentioning her muggle father had elicited a small cringe from Narcissa, and Hermione was glad to see that she could make the woman uncomfortable.
"All the same, I am…appreciative that you came. I understand that you have never had an enjoyable experience in my company." Hermione declined to respond, simply pouring herself a cup of tea from the China set that was on the table. She added milk, stirring her spoon methodically before bringing the cup up to her lips. Curling them in a smirk of expectation, she raised an eyebrow as if to say, go on.
"I will not apologize for everything now, since it would be artificial on my part. I am trying to relinquish the prejudice and hate that I was raised in, but it is slow going. My age betrays me as I find my instincts still react in ways I do not approve, but for one thing I can apologize with my whole heart." Narcissa steeled herself, taking a sip from her cup as if the words she was about to speak were poison and her tea was the antidote. "Your torture in my home, in front of my family. I'd never experienced the torture or the murders. I won't pretend I didn't know of them, but seeing a young girl writhing on my floor…" Her voice cut off quietly, and for all her fighting, tears dwelled in the corners of her stormy eyes.
"It is not my biggest regret. My biggest regret is ever allowing my husband to bring my family into this. Letting that demented madman live in my home, letting him mark my son. These are my biggest regrets. You are next."
Hermione's eyes widened at her admission. This was more honesty than she had expected from her, and she wasn't prepared to deal with it. "I appreciate your regret, but it does not change the fact that you watched me bleed. Your sister dug her blade into my arm and carved into me the reason you all hated me." She grabbed at the fabric on her sweater, pulling the soft wool up to reveal her scar. It was faded, but still apparent. She didn't bother putting a glamour on it, not anymore.
"Draco tells me you re-did the whole wing. Was it because my filthy blood stained your precious floors? Or was it so you never had to look at the evidence of your failure?" Hermione knew she was being cruel now, but something deep within her relished in the fact that Narcissa looked like she'd been slapped. The woman had re-done the house, but that didn't erase the evil that had occurred there.
"You're right. It changes nothing, but I couldn't look at it. I couldn't walk through the doors. My own home became my prison. Every time I so much as glanced at that wing of the house I couldn't breathe. I was a coward, and I was afraid; more afraid than I've ever been in my life. Draco was all I lived for, and then when Mr. Potter informed me Draco was alive, that was the only brave thing I've ever done in my life. I couldn't save you when it mattered, but I had to do something." The desperation and grief in Narcissa's eyes was too familiar to her, and Hermione could feel her anger drain away to empathy. The same look of loss and suffering had been one she'd seen in the mirror for months after she protected her parents. It was the look of someone who had done what was right instead of what was easy.
"Telling Voldemort Harry was dead is something for which you deserve my thanks, however selfish the reason. I understand how it feels…to make decisions to protect those you love. Draco told me that he only took the mark to protect you. If there is anything I trust about you, it is that you love your son. That's why I'm here today." Hermione took another sip of her tea, realizing that her cup was now empty. She poured herself another, stirring her spoon as Narcissa started to speak again.
"My son has been infatuated with you since he was a boy. His father assumed that it was hatred that burned between you, but I see things more clearly. Letters would come every week detailing what Granger was up to. Oh, how he hated coming in second to you, to someone he had been told his entire life he was better than. Something changed in your fourth year though, after the tournament. He stopped writing as much, and when he did it never mentioned you. I think he knew that it wasn't safe for either of you. At the time I assumed it was a phase that had come to an end, a brief moment of childish rebellion…I was wrong. Lucius forced him to take the mark and then I think that seeing you tortured in our home showed me exactly why he had been afraid." Grey eyes met honey, and both women tensed as the air between them seemed to fill with something, something Hermione couldn't place.
"Mrs. Malfoy…" Hermione began, uncomfortable with the thickness of the silence that now rested over them. The older woman interrupted, "Narcissa please." The curly haired witch bit her lip but nodded smally. "Narcissa then. Do you miss him? Lucius." Narcissa reached her hand across the table, placing it over Hermione's to comfort her. There was a hesitation in her movement though, as if she was afraid what touching her would do.
"There is something you must understand about me. I spent my entire adolescence falling in love with my sister's betrothed. Lucius…back then he was handsome, ambitious, charismatic…everything that a pureblood girl would dream to have. Whenever he came over to the house, he would shower me with compliments, and he was so gentle and kind. Andromeda did me the biggest favor of her life when she ran away with Ted. Finally, I could be with the man of my dreams. Then one day he came home rambling about a dark lord and the chance to rid the world of the scourge of muggles, and I was pregnant so I didn't say anything. He was still the love of my life, the man I had dreamed about marrying, and it was clear enough to me that Lucius believed in his new master, so I chose to believe too. It was easier."
Narcissa paused, taking a long sip from her tea before continuing. "Then, after Draco was born and the Dark Lord demanded more and more from him, I watched the man of my dreams turn into a man from my nightmares. I spoiled Draco and filled his head with the ideas that he was the best child in the world and that he was above everyone, especially mud…muggleborns and muggles. The day Lucius brought Draco in front of the Dark Lord, promising his service when he was still a child. A piece of me died that day. My perfect boy, my only child, looked too much like his father in that moment. It was then that I decided that I would do anything to keep him alive. I was a coward, but I did what I had to to keep my son alive. That was the moment that I knew that I hated the man I had once loved. I don't regret that he's in Azkaban, in fact I have never felt more strongly that a punishment was owed."
"Narcissa…do you think I'm not worthy of your son? Do you hate that I'm a mudblood?" The word slipped from her lips like extra strength cough syrup, and she found her mouth drying as she waited for the answer. The blonde woman stared at Hermione with shocked eyes and a scowl on her face that reminded her so much of Malfoy. It was so easy to forget in the eerie resemblance to his father just how much he took after his mother as well.
"I don't want to…its what I was raised to believe, what I raised Draco to believe, but I don't want to believe it anymore. You are the most brilliant witch I had ever met, so how can I logically think that muggleborns are inferior and believe that. I really am trying. You owe me nothing, and for helping to stop the Dark Lord, I owe you everything. All I ask is that in time, you will allow me to get to know you. I see in that photograph from the Ball a look in your eyes that I've only ever observed once. It was how Andromeda looked at Ted when she told us she was running away to marry him. You would do anything for him, and he will do anything for you." Taking a sip from the teacup that she now held so tightly her knuckles whitened, Narcissa continued. "Ms. Granger, all I ask is that you give me a chance. Let me get to know you. Let me be a part of the life you will make with my son. I will try to be better, to do better, but after everything I've done for him, losing him now would kill me."
Hermione's breath escaped her body, which alarmed her because she didn't even realize she'd been holding it. Instinctively, she grabbed Narcissa's hand as it retreated away from hers, soothing her by drawing small circles with her thumb, the way she had done for Draco so many times. "I can give you a chance Narcissa, but you have to do the work. I'm not sure how long Draco will be in my life, but I'm hoping it is good and long. I will not be the one to keep you from him, but you're right; I will do anything for him, to protect him, even from you." Hermione moved her gaze to Narcissa's and pulled her lips into a thin line. The blonde was uncertain, but soon met Hermione's look with a smile. Feeling like they had reached an understanding, Hermione pushed back her chair, preparing to return to the castle.
"Ms. Granger…" Narcissa called after her as she turned to leave. Hermione faced Narcissa, a triumph in her stance, the two having reached a level of understanding. "You asked me if I think you're worthy of my son…you are perhaps the only witch in the world who I could say my son needs to worry if he is worthy of you." There was a moment of silent communication between the women. Hermione found herself smiling at the elegant woman in front of her. Nodding her head slightly, the curly-haired witch made her way back to Hogwarts, trying to make sense of everything that just happened.
Her arrival back on the grounds was too soon, and she quickly decided that she needed more time to think. The crisp fall air felt nice against her skin, and she found her favorite spot on the grounds. Near the Black Lake, there was an old tree that was almost as old as the castle itself. The changing of the seasons had changed the leaves into a beautiful mix of red, orange, yellow and green. It was moments like this, when the loudest sound in the world was the breeze rustling the branches, that Hermione found herself missing her parents the most; it was the quietest moments that made her sad.
Narcissa had not done what she had expected. Well the meeting could only have gone two ways; the older witch could have tried to keep her from Draco, or she could accept her. She had been hopeful for the latter but had fully expected the former. The wind blew her hair that hung in soft curls around her face, and she closed her eyes. It was in this deep state of relaxed contemplation that she first noticed footsteps approaching.
"A lovely day for communing with nature, don't you think?" The voice carried in the wind, hitting Hermione moments before the person. Her eyes shot open, and she catapulted to her feet to wrap herself around the newcomer.
"Luna!" Her arms wrapped tightly around the smaller girl's neck, bringing her in for an extremely tight hug. The Ravenclaw had been exploring the world doing magizoological research pretty much steadily since the end of the war, and Hermione knew that she was bound for Africa the next week. "What are you doing here? How did you know where to find me?" The blonde took off her signature glasses and smiled brightly at her friend.
"I came to visit everyone before Rolf and I head out to Africa; I had some news to share. Also you are surrounded by Nargles, it was fairly easy to find you. You must be thinking extremely hard, that's when they like to cluster around you the most. The only question left is what has you thinking so much?" Luna's words left Hermione the way they always did; relieved and confused. Once she had given up understanding Luna, it became easy to just like her.
"I met Narcissa Malfoy for tea today." Hermione was unsure how much more to say, remembering that Luna had been held in Malfoy Manor much longer than she had.
"Oh isn't she lovely? I've met her for tea once or twice myself; truly one of the only people I've talked with who properly appreciate gardening magic." Luna's blonde hair blew in the breeze, her expression bright as if what she said was perfectly normal.
"You've…you and Narcissa Malfoy…what?" Struggling to form a coherent sentence, Hermione twisted the ends of her hair like she always did when she was anxious.
"Oh well I ran into her in Diagon Alley shortly after her trial. She was very eager to apologize, of course I can't blame her for what happened during the war. After all, my own father tried to hand over you, Harry and Ron to save me. We all do what we think is necessary to protect those we love." Hermione cringed away from Luna as her words sunk in. She couldn't blame Xenophilius, even when it was happening; Luna was all he had and they had her as a prisoner.
"That…well…She was different than I expected. Nicer." Keeping her comments succinct seemed to be the only way she could function while processing the fact that Luna and Narcissa Malfoy had met for tea.
Luna didn't respond, instead just taking Hermione's hand and pulling her along for a walk around the lake. They used to go on walks around the lake each spring when the weather was nice. The breeze was gentle, and the sun was starting to go down, filling the air with a pleasant warmth. As they moved towards the light, Hermione caught a glint of sparkle on Luna's left hand and stopped abruptly.
"You're engaged?!" Hermione asked, her voice shooting up at least a full octave. Without hesitating, the curly-haired witch commandeered Luna's hand, closely examining the beautiful ring. It was non-traditional, which Hermione decided was just perfect for her Ravenclaw friend. A slim gold band balanced out a diamond cut opal that glittered all different colors depending on the light. "I'm so sorry. I've been such a rotten friend. I didn't even know you were seeing anyone. Is it Rolf?" Luna nodded, her normally comforting absentmindedness replaced by a warm smile. It was so clear that she was thrilled and in love, which Hermione was incredibly grateful for. After the war, everyone deserved some happiness.
"We're planning an eclipse wedding. Mother always told me when I was a little girl that they named me Luna because I was born during a lunar eclipse. She would be pleased for my wedding to be on such a magically powerful occasion." Luna glanced up at the sky then, holding her hand up to block out the sun.
"What about your father?" Hermione asked, shifting uncomfortably on her feet. Xenophilius had been sent to Azkaban by death eaters after they failed to capture her, Ron and Harry at his house. He had since been released, but from what Sirius used to say, Azkaban never really leaves a person.
Luna seemed unphased, but her smile dropped slightly. "He's been progressing. Not nearly as many Nargles as usual. I think its taking him some time to forgive himself, of course I've forgiven him, but he promised my mother that nothing bad would ever happen to me. Suppose he thinks he failed her." It was one of the most serious things she had ever heard Luna say, and Hermione's protective instincts had her wrapping her arms in a comforting hug around her friend.
The sun had started to make its descent, painting the lake gold and red as it reflected the sky. Dusk was Hermione's favorite time of day, and she stood for a moment, relishing the beauty of nature. "Promise you'll write while you're gone? I wish you would've stayed to finish. You and Ginny are the only ones from your class I know."
"I will write whenever possible, of course we're going to study wergroms, and they are notoriously elusive, but I should be able to write during the day when they're sleeping. Also I'm not surprised you don't know anyone else, you were rather occupied keeping Harry and Ron from perishing during school." An owl hooted in the distance, and the sun sank even lower in the sky, prompting Luna to lead them back towards the castle. "Rolf will want to leave soon." They walked a large portion of the way back to the castle in a companionable silence, Hermione's arm clasped around Luna's waist.
"Give her a chance Hermione. She's not nearly as plagued with wrackspurts as she used to be. And you are nothing if not fair. If Draco deserves a second chance, then don't you think she does too?" Hermione just nodded her head, knowing that Luna was right. There was no reason after meeting with Narcissa to think that she wanted to harm her.
Luna and Hermione parted ways at the castle entrance, with Hermione heading to the Great Hall for dinner and Luna meeting up with Rolf in the Headmistress's office to utilize the floo to get back to London. It was bittersweet to see her friend go, but she was thrilled that she was happily engaged and one of the world's most accomplished magizoologists.
Glancing quickly at the already seated students in the Great Hall, Hermione took a deep breath and did something that took all of her Gryffindor bravery. All eyes in the Great Hall stared at her as she deviated from her normal route to her house table and approached the Slytherin table at the opposite end of the Hall. The only pair of eyes she concerned herself with though were the cool grey ones that locked onto hers the moment she entered the room. Luna's words had hit her hard and she realized that she owed it to herself and everything she fought for in the war to give the Slytherins, all the Slytherins, a second chance. Kissing Draco's cheek, she sat down in the seat next to him, which Theo had moved down to open up to her.
"Hermione, what are you doing? Not that I'm not happy to see you." His voice was level, but she didn't miss the glint of uncertainty and concern that hid in his eyes.
"Having dinner. I believe that is what is expected when one sits at a dinner table." She made sure to smirk at him, and she could sense his tension lift. Blaise broke the uncomfortable silence first by laughing at Hermione's sarcastic remark.
"Well Granger, welcome to the snake pit." Blaise offered, pulling the corners of his lips up into a mischievous smirk. If one thing could be said about Blaise, it was that he loved chaos and drama. Pansy, sitting at Blaise's side, leaning into his shoulder, gave Hermione a tight nod of respect and went back to eating her food. This seemed to be a cue to the younger years to pretend like nothing was happening. The Great Hall slowly resumed its movements, although Hermione never stopped feeling wandering eyes staring at her.
"How was tea?" Draco asked her after finishing the chicken he had picked for himself. Hermione considered as she chewed on her bite, before carefully swallowing and turning to look more fully at her boyfriend. "Honestly it was awkward at first, but I believe her that she is trying. As long as she is trying then I have no problem being around her. We all did what we had to to survive. I won't fault her for that." The smile Draco responded with was perhaps the most happy she had seen him in a while. There was relief in his shoulders, and Hermione could feel tension leaving his body. It was like he hadn't taken a breath since she had left that morning.
"You don't know how much that means to me. I don't deserve you." Hermione rolled her eyes at his dramatic statement, but the fact he believed it made her chew her lip. One day she hoped that he would see that he made her happy and that's all that matters. Closing the gap between them, Draco placed a chaste kiss on Hermione's lips. She lingered with her face close to his, thinking about how different her life was then she'd always imagined. There was someone shouting near them, but Hermione was too wrapped up in her own little world that she paid it no attention.
Had she been paying closer attention, she would've noticed the flash of movement to her right, a wand being removed from its holster. Had she been paying attention, she might've heard the incantation being spoken. Had she been paying attention, she might've see the flash of light coming directly at her back. But it was all too late, and the last thing she saw was cool grey eyes getting further and further away.