Chapter 14
The next morning found Hermione and George at the Ministry at a ridiculously early hour. They were at the international portkey office filling out the last of the paperwork required. It was mid morning when they finally arrived in Paris and after even more paperwork, they were led to the main atrium of the French Ministry.
A beautiful young witch was standing chatting with the guard at the front desk, she looked around and her eyes lit up with recognition when they landed on George.
"George! Bonjour! It is lovely to see you again," the young witch said in a very accented English.
"Hello, Gabrielle," George said with a friendly smile as they hugged hello. "You remember Hermione."
Gabrielle greeted Hermione just as enthusiastically and Hermione took a moment to reconcile the scared eleven year old she remembered at Bill and Fleur's wedding to the young witch standing in front of her now. It was easy to see the beauty of Fleur in her younger sister.
Gabrielle led the pair through the atrium to the front entrance, never letting up her excited chatter in her stilted English. She assured them she didn't mind acting as guide for them and was happy to have an opportunity to practice her English. She continued to babble as she led them down a few streets to a large hotel. Hermione was happy for the distraction as she had been getting more and more nervous the closer to the meeting time with Narcissa Malfoy. Gabrielle left Hermione and George at the hotel to freshen up, promising to see them later that evening for supper with her parents.
Hermione was pacing around her hotel room when she heard a knock at the door. She wasn't surprised to see George standing there looking a bit sheepish.
"Granger, if you don't calm down, your hair is going to start shooting off sparks," George joked lightly walking into her room. He promptly began pacing the same circuit she had just done and she smiled lightly.
"This could be it, you know, the answer we didn't know there was. We had all just resigned to the fact that this was our life now. That he would just get sicker and sicker until… but you wouldn't hear of it. If it weren't for you we would never be this close to saving him. I can never thank you enough. Even if it doesn't work, thank you for trying, for making us all try again."
"Now who needs to calm down?" Hermione asked from her perch on the bed. George looked at her and smiled at the truth in her words before sitting next to her. "Malfoy said that if anyone can help it will be his mum. What's the deal with him and Harry? They seemed almost like old friends."
"I don't think friends is exactly the right word," George answered. "After the war was over we all spent months going to trials. Harry more than anyone, he was the one who could identify the Death Eaters who were with Voldemort that night in the forest. Anyway, it was Harry who fought for Draco and Narcissa the hardest. If it weren't for him, they would have both been sent to Azkaban with Lucious.
After Draco was sentenced, he wrote Harry asking to talk. I don't know what all was said, but from then on Harry visited fairly often. All Harry will say about it is that they came to an agreement, they buried the hatchet. Personally, I always got the feeling it had something to do with you."
"Me? What about me?" Hermione asked, startled by his answer.
"Not sure exactly, but I asked Ron about it once. He went off, raging that just because he helped you that night in the manor doesn't exempt him from being a no good Death Eater."
"I don't remember a lot about that night, not after Bellatrix got a hold of me anyway. I remember Draco wouldn't identify Harry when asked, but nothing having to do with me."
"I think that will have to be a discussion between you and Harry, or Malfoy," George said simply, squeezing her hand gently.
"I really have missed a lot haven't I?" Hermione asked a bit sadly.
"Nothing that can't be fixed," George reassured gently. He caught sight of the clock on the wall and sighed heavily. "Let's go and get this over with, shall we?"
"Now or never," Hermione nodded and they both stood to leave
….
Narcissa Malfoy sat at the vanity staring off into space. She was meant to be preparing for her day, but she was still in very much the same state as when she woke an hour earlier. She'd had another nightmare, though that was hardly uncommon these days, for years really, but this one was more troubling than usual. She knew it was because the subject of her nightmare would be arriving in a few hours.
Narcissa's nightmares revolved heavily on the dark time that madman had taken control of her home. Visions of violence and murder intruded into her subconscious. The annoyingly optimistic Muggle Studies professor, suspended in the air before being attacked by the snake, the odd little blonde girl, bruised and dirty in the dungeon, the pile of broken lifeless house elf bodies meant to serve as a reminder of the expendability of the creatures. The underfed muggleborn whose frailty was evident with the way she was thrown so easily against the wall without magic, the glassy terrified eyes that saw nothing as her sister sliced into her body, when the disgusting wolf pawed and sniffed at the girl.
The Granger girl had been strong for sure, never breaking through physical, mental, magical torture. Narcissa had been impressed, tried to help how she could, though it had never been enough. She had ordered the elves to steer clear of her deranged sister, to feed the prisoners, assure they had clean water and warm blankets. She had done what she could to keep her husband's 'friends' from the underage prisoners, she knew what vile things could have occurred. She had admonished her sister, chastising her for the dirty blood she was spilling on her floor, put her foot down when the wolf began making his threats and promises to the 'pretty mudblood'. Draco too had attempted to help the three of them, refusing to identify the Potter boy, shouting at the werewolf to distract him from the girl.
None of it was enough, she saved none from the horrors that occurred under her own roof, though it could have truly been much worse. She had been able to save Draco from having to commit some of the more heinous crimes, saved his soul from becoming as black as her husband's. It was a small victory indeed, though one she clung to when the nightmares kept her from any relief at all. Now that tentative peace was going to be disrupted, all because she had never been able to deny her Draco anything.
Draco, who was imprisoned in that same home, forced to live with the daily reminders of the dark times. Narcissa had tried to stay there, but Draco had insisted she leave. He could see the toll it was taking on her, how many rooms she refused to enter. He told her there was nothing to keep her there, for her to leave and never return, he would if he were allowed to. She had argued at first, saying that him being there was a tether to the depressing home, but he was adamant and she eventually agreed.
Draco had written her, said he wanted her to help the Granger girl, to make right something Bellatrix had done. She'd been wary to accept, but the memory of the young witch broken and bloody propelled her to agree. Now she was to meet with her and one of the Weasley boys to try to find a cure. Narcissa would do what she could, for Draco if nothing else. It was with Draco on her mind that she shook herself out of her trancelike state and readied herself for the appointment.
…
Hermione and George looked around the restaurant in their hotel. They were early so they sat quietly sipping water while they waited for Mrs. Malfoy to arrive, neither had very much to say. They weren't waiting very long when the host led her to the table, they both stood in greeting as the host slipped away. George was looking warily at Mrs. Malfoy, but shook her hand politely nonetheless.
"Mrs. Malfoy, thank you for agreeing to meet with us," Hermione began once they had been seated and given their drink order.
"Yes, well, Draco insisted," Narcissa allowed, her cool demeanor firmly in place. They sat in an uncomfortable silence as the waiter returned with their drinks, then took their order.
"Draco has filled me in on some of the finer points of your problem, but I'm unclear as to what you think I can do about it. What is it exactly that you need from me?" Narcissa asked as soon as the waiter was out of earshot.
"We need to know as much as we can about a spell that you sister invented, it works its way through the body like a poison. So far it's been working slowly, but Fred has been staying unconscious for longer periods of time every time it hits him," George explained.
"I really don't know what spell that is," Narcissa said slowly, thinking about her sister. "I can tell you that while Bellatrix was ruthless, cruel and entirely loyal to the Dark Lord, she was not extremely creative, nor was she nearly clever enough to come up with her own curses. Before the madness took her completely, my sister was an avid reader, she would spend hours in the library, both at home and at Hogwarts."
"You mean she stole someone else's spell and claimed it as her own? That's cheating!" Hermione squeaked out. George chuckled softly before rolling his eyes at her.
"That's hardly the worst thing she's ever done, surely you of all people should know that, stupid girl." Narcissa seemed to have no patience for Hermione's outburst.
"There's no need for that," George said sharply, all the humor gone from his face.
"No, she's right, George," Hermione said quietly squeezing his hand in appreciation. "That was silly, I don't know why I was surprised. Where are the books? I already have access at Hogwarts."
"They are at the manor, with Andy disowned and Bella in Azkaban, I inherited everything."
"Right," Hermione said looking a bit sick at the thought.
"I'm certain Draco would be more than happy to assist you in whatever way you need," Narcissa replied airily.
The rest of the meal was spent quietly, no small talk or further pleasantries were offered, though Narcissa did give them a few ideas on where to start. After the bill was paid George helped Hermione to her feet and thanked Narcissa for her help. Narcissa looked at them with an uneasy expression before her face looked resolute once more.
"Miss Granger, could i have a word with you alone?"
"I'll just send word to the Delacour's that we're finished here," George said after Hermione nodded it was alright.
Hermione smiled when she saw he chose to stand a short distance away instead.
"I never have been very good with apologies, but I owe you one," Narcissa said.
"I let all of that go a long time ago," Hermione told her.
"Yes, well, it would appear I haven't. I won't give you excuses, or downplay what happened that night, it was a horrible situation, most certainly for you. I do regret that it happened in the first place, but also that I could do nothing to stop it."
"I don't remember much about that night, honestly. I remember that you attempted to reign her in somewhat, so thank you for that," Hermione said.
"Well, that was always a bit of a fool's errand, trying to rein in my sister, but I did do what i could, not just for you but for all the prisoners they brought. It was hardly enough, I understand that, but there you go. Draco and I did our best.
If it's not too much to ask, would you mind sending me an owl, if you do spend any time with Draco. I worry about him, but he only ever tells me he's fine. I know the two of you must have had some sort of relationship at some point."
"I'm sorry, what do you mean relationship?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Oh," Narcissa said looking a little flustered for the first time. "I just assumed… How he reacted when… It seems I was mistaken. Forget I said anything."
"Is this about that night? George said Draco had done something for me. I don't remember. Please tell me," Hermione said in a rush, grasping Narcissa's forearm gently.
"It would appear," Narcissa said, shaking Hermione's hand off her arm, "that you and Draco have more things to discuss than Bellatrix's old spells."
Hermione watched Narcissa turn swiftly and walk out of the restaurant without another word. She stood looking at the door Narcissa had just left through trying to figure out what had just happened. It was like trying to put a puzzle together with pieces still missing. With a resigned sigh Hermione realized that her life was full of missing puzzle pieces at the moment at it was starting to grate on her nerves.
"You alright?" George asked.
"I think it's time to start finding some bloody puzzle pieces."