A/N: I'm so happy about all the positive response I'm getting. It's truly amazing. Thank you all so much!
I'm hoping I get to finish this story before my exams starts – I would hate not updating pretty much two times a week.
I am sincerely hoping that the story lives up to your ideas and hopes; I'm trying so hard to make everything happen without plotholes.
If someone wants to, you can contact me in a PM and tell me what you think I need to do – or if you have some constructive criticism.
As usual, a huge thank you to my beta, Seiftis-forevs-47 – go check out some of her things!
Disclaimer: All belongs to J.K Rowling – plot is mine.
LET'S GET IT ON
Draco woke up the next morning feeling more content than he had done before; after a while, he realized that he was lying with someone curled up next to him, deep breathing emitting from her. He sighed happily, not daring to open his eyes. After a while, the deep breathing became shallower, and she started to stir next to him. He kept his eyes closed.
"Good morning, Draco." She mumbled. He smiled.
"Good morning, 'Mione." He murmured back, his voice hoarse with sleep. She yawned loudly.
"It's the last day." She stated after a while. He finally opened his eyes and looked down on Hermione.
"I know." He simply said. She curled up closer to him, his arm free to wrap around her shoulder. They lay there, silently begging for their daughter's well-being, when they heard noises from downstairs.
"My mother is up." Draco said. Hermione groaned and sat up, Draco's arm sliding off of her shoulder.
"We should get up." She said and stood up, stretching her entire body. He groaned – her body in her pyjamas didn't do him any good.
"I best take a shower." He said, trying to sound nonchalant. She rose an eyebrow at him and smirked.
"Fine. I'll go down to your mother, then." She said and left the room – Draco fell back on the pillows, groaning slightly at his obvious boner.
"Leave it to you to ruin everything." He murmured to himself and finally stood up, walking to the bathroom.
Hermione descended the stairs, yawning lightly. She entered the kitchen, where a tired Narcissa sat at the table, yawning hugely. Hermione smiled.
"Good morning, Narcissa." She said and Narcissa's head shot up, looking at her.
"Good morning, Hermione. Did you sleep well?" She enquired as she stood up to hug Hermione. Hermione nodded and moved to the tea-pot as soon as Narcissa had let her go. She started making tea, rubbing her eyes slightly while she did so. It was silent; the only sound was the water boiling and the hushed sound of water running from the upstairs.
Hermione placed a cup of tea in front of Narcissa and she thanked her. They sat down silently, waking up as they drank their tea.
"Narcissa?" Hermione asked after a while.
"Yes, dear?" Narcissa answered, her blue eyes resting on Hermione's face.
"Why… How come you haven't got any problems with me living with Draco? You do know we aren't actually married and… Well, I'm what I am." Hermione asked, a faint blush colouring her cheeks.
Narcissa smiled. "My dear, I figured that part out as soon as I stepped inside this house. You both are very fond of each other, but you are not married. You would have another kind of chemistry if you were." Hermione smiled. "And I have never been a big fan of the whole Mudblood/pureblood thing my husband beat into my son's head. Trust me when I say that I'm very happy that you are here and not some bimbo." She coughed lightly.
Hermione looked worriedly at Narcissa. "I'm grateful for that. But.. I know you wouldn't tell Draco and for obvious reasons.." Narcissa laughed.
"Yes he might be a tad overprotective." She said.
Hermione smiled and continued. "I was merely wondering… what is wrong? You look and excuse me for saying so, like you're in bad shape. What happened on the trip?" Hermione enquired.
Narcissa looked at her questioningly. "Why are you asking?" She asked.
Hermione blushed. "I just.. I care about my daughter's grandmother. And to be quite fair, I dislike the fact that you might be feeling ill while you were here." She mumbled. "It's okay if you won't tell me, I completely understand." She finished off.
Narcissa smiled. "You see, my dear husband somehow escaped Azkaban. And of course, I thought to sought him out, which was, at the time, a wonderful idea. We tracked him down to different areas of the world – Brazil, USA and finally, Albania. Where I, unfortunately, was bitten by a snake. Normally, it would be something I would be able to heal, but I've never encountered that particular species before and I had no idea how to heal it." She sighed.
"Mr. Zabini tried to help and he did a wonderful job. But, much to my regret, we could do nothing to stop the venom travelling fast in my body. We've only slowed the process down, but it won't last. I will die and I will die before the year ends." She finally said. Hermione gasped and clasped Narcissa hands in hers.
"Can you show me a picture of it? Or draw me a painting of it? I might be able to help.." Hermione tried, but Narcissa shook her head sadly.
"No, dear, it's quite alright. I knew it would come. If not from the snake, then from something else. We all pass away – but sometimes, the process is just a little bit faster than we thought it would be." She smiled. "I'm just hoping to meet my granddaughter before I do pass away."
Hermione sniffled and smiled. "I'm so sorry, Narcissa."
Narcissa nodded. "So am I." They sat in silence, their tea all but forgotten, when the stairs creaked. They both looked up to see Draco standing in the doorway to the kitchen, looking suspiciously at them.
"What's going on?" He asked. The women in front of him smiled.
Hermione answered. "Just… Girl-things." She smirked. Narcissa laughed lightly. Draco shook his head and walked to the tea-pot to pour some of it for himself.
"So, do we contact Potter and Weaslette?" He asked. Hermione huffed.
"Harry and Ginny, thank you very much. And no, they'll come here at two o'clock." She answered.
He nodded. "Do you reckon they've discovered something?"
She shrugged at his question. "Maybe, maybe not. We won't know until they show up."
He nodded again. Narcissa suddenly started coughing violently.
"Oh dear." She gasped. "Hermione, do you have any soothing potion?" She asked, knowing that women normally kept a few bottles of it in their purse for lady-problems. Hermione nodded.
"Sure. I'll go get it." She stood up and caught Draco's eye. He raised his eyebrows as if asking her a question.
"You don't want to know." She said and winked.
He grimaced and coughed a bit to cover his embarrassment. "You're right, I don't." He said as Hermione left the kitchen, giggling. Draco turned to his mother. "You said we needed to talk last night. Bring it." He said to her and her face fell into a serious mask.
"Yes, we do." He sat down. "Your father apparently left somewhat of a legacy behind." Draco merely raised his eyebrows, in confusion. "You remember the floorboard in the saloon? And what was under it?" She asked. He nodded curtly. "Well, it's gone. And from what I gather, it's gone somewhere you know." He said nothing, rage boiling just underneath his skin. "Uhm.. I found some notes. And it seems as though it's been left in the care of Ronald Weasley." Draco growled.
"Are you telling me that the potion for endless sleep and pain is in the care of the man who stole my daughter?"