They decide to sleep on the floor in the drawing room their first night, which is the cleanest room they can find. The house isn't in the same state of disrepair that Grimmauld Place had been, and it won't require anywhere near the same amount of effort to clean it up, but they are tired, and even casting a few spells to make the beds usable is more than they are willing to do.
"It's for the best anyway," Ron says, carrying some clean bed sheets he found tucked away in the laundry room. "We don't want to be caught off guard if we're attacked."
Narcissa looks like she wants to argue with Ron - perhaps with the implicit implication that Bellatrix is not trustworthy - but Hermione touches her arm gently, and she huffs out an aggravated breath but says nothing. She fishes through the bag Kreacher brought instead, laying out the contents on the floor in front of them, and leans back against the couch. Bellatrix had packed them some simple sandwiches and some flasks of water along with some bandages and poultices.
Hermione stares at the flasks with furrowed brows. "Is something wrong with the water here?"
Narcissa frowns thoughtfully. "No. I tested it earlier, when we first came in. I rather suspect this is Bellatrix's attempt to make sure I rest." She smiles. "When I was sick as a child, I would use the excuse of needing water to get up when I should have been resting."
Narcissa laughs, a genuine one, and there's a spark in her eyes Hermione has never seen before. "One time, I woke up to no less than twenty glasses of water in my room. Bellatrix and Andromeda had gotten so tired of me using that excuse."
Hermione smiles. "Good to know. How many glasses of water do you think are in these flasks? I don't think we have enough."
Narcissa nudges her playfully with her shoulder then grimaces in pain. She reaches for the poultice container. "I should - "
Hermione scoops it up. "Let me. Just hold your shirt up. I'll put it on. It'll be easier."
Narcissa hesitates. She glances at Ron who is determinedly making up beds for them using the sheets he found and beating the dust from throw pillows. When he keeps his eyes fixed on his task, she complies with Hermione's request.
Hermione hisses in sympathy when she sees Narcissa's side. It had not looked good before, the bruising as only darkened and worsened. She gingerly rubs the poultice over Narcissa's side. Any other time, she might be distracted by the feeling of Narcissa's soft skin under her fingers - but for now, she focuses only on trying not to apply too much pressure and on evenly distributing the poultice over the entire bruise. When she's done, she helps Narcissa wrap bandages around her torso, careful not to pull them too tight.
"I hope that helps," Hermione says. She's a bit worried the injury might be more serious than they think, but Narcissa relaxes against back against the couch with a sigh of relief, tilting her head back and closing her eyes.
"Is it working?"
"Yes," Narcissa sighs. She opens her eyes and looks at Hermione. "Thank you. I appreciate the help."
"Anytime," Hermione says with a smile.
She helps Narcissa over to the couch. Narcissa lays down, and Hermione drapes the blanket over her, grabs a throw pillow and tucks it under Narcissa's head. She can practically feel Ron's gaze burning into the back of her skull. Her cheeks feel hot, but she ignores him. Narcissa falls asleep almost immediately, and Hermione wonders if there might be something added to the poultice to aid in sleep or if Narcissa is simply exhausted from the day's events.
Hermione picks one of the makeshift beds Ron created by pushing chairs together. As she settles down, Ron finally speaks.
"Is there something going on between you two?" He doesn't sound accusatory, merely cautious. Curious.
Hermione pulls a blanket tight around her and closes her eyes. "She needed help. Go to sleep, Ron."
Ron doesn't move for a long moment, perhaps wanting to say more. Hermione is thankful when he finally sighs and goes to bed.