Hello guys, I'm back... Finally I know :) I'm really sorry, there's no excuse other than basically getting my life on track, I've also been stuck with writers block and for that I truly am sorry. Thank you for being patient with me and I really hope you enjoy this chapter! I loved writing this, as I always do! Anyway enough of me, let's get to our ladies!

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Granger and Black; A Frivolous Affair. By Rita Skeeter

The headline was plastered along the front of the Daily Prophet, as was predicated, the story however was not. Rita had clearly heeded Hermione's warning, there were some harsh, hypocritical comments but all in all the article wasn't too meaningful. Hermione had read it twice when the paper was given to her by Margret, her assistant, and the brunette felt no need in exercising her threat to hand in Rita as an illegal animagus. For now. All she cared about was that Narcissa wouldn't be affected by whatever was printed, Hermione had been through the Wars with Rita and whatever else the beetle wanted to print about Hermione she was welcome to, of course she would earn herself a spot of trouble with the Ministry, but if it meant Narcissa was not in the lime light then so be it.

Hermione felt a pang of pain in her heart as she thought back to how the papers had slandered Narcissa for months after the War, none of it of course was the blonde's fault, but Hermione just wanted her to be happy, she deserved to be happy, the older witch had been through quite enough as it was without Hermione bringing her down too.

Smiling to herself as she thought about the witch she loved, Hermione decided that she was going to try and get through her work load. Ginny's visit the day before hadn't gone a miss and they hadn't parted on good terms, Hermione understood everyone was entitled to their own opinion, but Ginny was supposed to be her friend, and after what the ginger had been saying about her beloved, Hermione couldn't let the mishap go. She had even slipped up by telling the youngest Weasley that she loved Narcissa and that was possibly one of the worst accidental moves, she had ever made.

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"A Frivolous Affair; I'm afraid I don't think it's one of her finest pieces." Andromeda snorted, she had met Narcissa at her home for a spot of lunch while Hermione was at work.

"No it's not quite what I expected, I thought my name would be run into the ground a little more." Narcissa sipped her tea. Her paramour had obviously knocked a bit of sense into the reporter.

"Almost like she wasn't even trying to upset you two." Andromeda pressed on, glancing through the arch way of the kitchen to check on Teddy as he played about with his toys.

"Yes." The blonde breathed, she knew what her sister was trying to do, Andromeda always had a knack for sensing when something wasn't quite what it seemed.

"Sooo?"

"So what?"

"Come on baby sister what did Hermione do to her?" As she raised an eyebrow she saw her youngest sister smirk.

"Why must you be so nosey?" Narcissa chuckled. "Hermione threatened her, she caught us erm… snogging in the book shop on Sunday."

Andromeda let out a rather Bellatrix sounding cackle as her sister flushed with embarrassment. "Oh you've become a bad influence on the young lady!"

"No I have not." Narcissa folded her arms in a childlike manner and huffed loudly.

"I'm kidding, she's had problems with that damn reporter for years, but still Cissa, no need to make her so Slytherin."

"She's doing that all by herself Andy." Narcissa smiled at the thought of her witch. "I honestly don't think I've ever been this happy."

"I don't think I've ever seen you this happy. Well, I didn't see you for years" Andromeda shook her head and laughed awkwardly. "but you do look very happy, I'm glad you're finally letting yourself be happy."

"Thank you, she's amazing Andy, when I'm with her, I feel so safe, I feel like I'm finally wanted for what's on the inside, not just what people see on the outside. I don't even know what I'd do without her anymore. Couldn't imagine it." Narcissa filled up her empty cup while her sister surveyed her.

"I don't believe it Narcissa." Andy smirked as she kept her eyes fixated on her youngest sibling.

"What? Teddy hasn't scratched my marble flooring as he?" The pureblood looked to where her nephew was playing soundly out in the hall.

Andromeda chuckled, "no you idiot, Merlin you and your things, I'm talking about you."

"What about me? Have I split tea on my dress? I haven't done that since I was a girl."

"Oh my, no I think you're in love, I was going to say with Hermione, but now I wonder if it's with yourself." Andromeda watched as her sister stared at her, wide cerulean eyes piercing as if seeping into her mind.

Narcissa put down her cup before she dropped it, Andromeda really did pick up on things that she wasn't supposed to. She brushed her hands over her knees as she thought of a retort, if Andromeda knew, did that mean she had to tell Hermione? The younger witch would think it much too soon for such strong emotions.

"Breath Cissa it's alright." Andromeda patted her sister on the shoulder.

"It is not, what am I going to do?" The blonde panicked. How could she have let this happen?

"Let it be?" Andromeda smiled. "I can tell with you two, how both of you hide it, she does love you back, she's afraid to say it, just as you are."

"No Andromeda you don't understand, this is much too soon, she does not love me. I hope one day she will but she does not at this moment. You cannot mention this to anyone. I've been wearing my feelings on my sleeve." She cupped her head in her hands.

"No you haven't ice queen, stop being so over dramatic, she loves you, you love her. End of story." Andromeda smiled at her sister's confusion. "Just let it be."

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Hermione had finished work, but her feet took her to Harry's office, she had to speak with him about her mess up with Ginny. The ginger had haunted her since she ended up telling the incorrigible witch she was in love with Narcissa. Harry probably knew the youngest Weasley better than Hermione ever truly did. There had to have been a reason he cheated on the wench, was it a fault in personality? Or had he just plain had enough?

She knocked on his door and stepped in to find him sat flicking through sheets of paperwork. He looked up at her and smiled before clearing his throat to speak.

"Hello Mione, everything alright?" He pushed his glass further up his nose and sat back into his highly over expensive swivel chair.

"Actually Harry, I have a problem." She took a deep breath. "Ginny came to the office yesterday…"

"Oh hell, what does she want from me now?" Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"What? Nothing. I may have told her something by accident." The brunette shifted uneasily in her seat.

"Told her what Mione? I'm sure everyone knows about you and Narcissa now. What else is there to tell?" Harry folded his arms and stared at his best friend trying to read her worried expression.

"Er well you see, she came all guns blazing, yelling at me, telling me I was making a mistake, she said I had betrayed Molly and everyone else who survived the war."

"She's changed Mione. I'm sorry she was saying those things. I'm glad I got away from her, even if she found out in the wrong way. What did you say to her?"

"I defended Narcissa of course. I told her she can't talk about her like that. She can't say those things about the one I… love." Hermione watched as it took a few minutes for her words to actually sink in, the Boy Who Lived suddenly snapped up and looked at her wide eyed.

"Merlin's saggy balls you love Narcissa Black!" He yelled and jumped to his feet. "Oh Mione!"

"Shush Harry keep your damn voice down, no one else knows and, neither does she." Hermione gestured for him to retake his seat.

"Go bloody tell her you nim wit!"

"I can't, she doesn't love me back, at least I'm not a hundred per cent sure, I'm scared of scaring her away Harry." The Muggle-born sighed loudly and cupped her face in her hands. "Ginny's going to end up telling the world and Narcissa's going to get up and leave."

"Ginny won't say a damn thing, she doesn't have the balls to Hermione. Look at me." He leaned over his desk and took the brunettes hands away from her face and held them in his own. "Narcissa loves you back. A fool like me can see it, the way I saw you at my party, it was magical. I hope Cho and I have something like that one day. She cares for you more than you're willing to let yourself believe. Listen Mione, she loves you, go home, sit down, and just tell her what you feel." Harry let go of his friend's hands and smiled widely as he watched her gleam at him.

"Thankyou Harry." Hermione stood up and hugged the dark haired wizard before using the floo in his office to arrive at her final destination of the day. Home. Narcissa's home.

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When Narcissa heard the floo sound in her hall way, she bit her lip and brushed her hair behind of her ear in a nervous action. The blonde had been thinking profusely about what her sister had said to her. She wasn't quite sure how she would tell Hermione her true feelings, so instead she opted for the coward's way out for tonight. She had something planned for the brunette, but it wouldn't be confessing her undying love. Narcissa had been a nervous wreck the entire day after Andromeda had ended up telling her to just tell the younger witch how far her feelings had gone for the brunette.

"Hey love." Narcissa was pulled from her thoughts as her lover walked into the room and kissed her cheek.

"Hello Hermione, how was work?" Narcissa asked, her voice came out a little shaky as the brunette sat down on the sofa next to her.

"Is everything alright?" Crookshanks purred in rejection as he slinked past the pair letting his tale slide along their calves. Hermione smiled down at him before turning her attention to Narcissa.

"Ye- yes why wouldn't it be?" Narcissa smiled vaguely, she watched as Hermione studied her ire.

"You sound a little off." Hermione smiled sadly and let her hand brush through the older witch's hair. "You can talk to me, I'm not going to go anywhere."

"Everything's fine." Narcissa took the hand from her hair and kissed it before regaining her composure. "I wanted to ask you something."

Hermione's heart was pounding so hard in her chest she could've sworn Narcissa could hear it. She had no idea what her paramour was going to ask her. She hoped it wasn't anything about Ginny. Her mind was racing. What if that Weasley bitch has already said something, what if she wants me to leave?

"Would you like to live here, with me, permanently?" Narcissa smiled cautiously as she watched Hermione closely.

"I-I oh gosh Narcissa" Hermione launched herself into her lovers arms as they fell back onto the sofa, she kissed ruby red lips with force and then looked deep into cerulean blue eyes "of course I would."

"That's wonderful, I can have Bengt go and fetch the rest of your things from the apartment if you would like?" Narcissa's smile was beaming as she felt the brunette sit back up and pull her up into an embrace.

"Thank you that would be lovely." She whispered against the blonde's ear making Narcissa shiver in her grasp. She didn't intend on receiving that reaction from the older witch but she wasn't going to argue.

"Bengt" Narcissa called as the little elf popped up in front of them, "please will you go to Hermione's apartment and bring the rest of her clothes and books." She turned to Hermione "Is there anything else you want from there love?"

"Erm I can't think right now, I'll go back there at the weekend." She smiled and snuggled deeper into Narcissa's embrace.

"Just those then please Bengt." With that the elf nodded and left.

"Narcissa, there was something I wanted to tell you…" Hermione trailed off as she loosed their embrace and sat back against the arm of the sofa.

"Oh?" The blonde raised her perfectly sculpted eyebrow and straightened up her hair that had gone amuck after Hermione's dive.

"I erm. I don't know how to begin." She blushed copiously, and looked around the room to try and find her Gryffindor courage.

"Hey mother I got it!" Draco came bounding into the room with his cell phone. "The house is mine!" He leaped about and sat in between them. "Guess what Hermione, I'm moving out."

"Oh, well that was good timing." Hermione mumbled as she tried to get rid of her blush.

"What? What you talking about?" He said as he pulled her into a hug giddily.

"Your mother asked me to move in." Hermione pushed him off as Narcissa sat on the end of the sofa watching the pair.

"AH! Bloody good timing. I'm going to the pub to celebrate. Cheerio love birds." Draco bolted out of the room yelling something incoherently.

"Sorry about that, he's wanted to move out for a long time. He has a lot of money from his father, so it was only a matter of time until he found the right house." Narcissa moved closer to her witch.

"Ah don't worry, shall we get something for dinner? We could order in tonight?" Hermione stood up and tried sorting her hair out that Draco had so kindly messed up.

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The weekend was upon the pair of witches in a flash. Hermione had planned on visiting her apartment and clearing some things out ready for it to go up on the market to sell. She was ecstatic at the fact Narcissa had been so forward in asking her to move in. Not to mention the blonde's house was just beautiful, it would be a wonderful home for the two of them, Narcissa was definitely savvy in the decorating department.

It still dawned on her that she had to deal with Ginny Weasley, her former best friend, but she wasn't going to let the wench ruin her happy moment. If Ginny were to ever say anything to Narcissa Hermione was simply going to deny said accusation and move on with her life. Because it was the right thing to do… Or so she thought.

"Hermione I do wish you'd stop getting lost in your thoughts." Narcissa chuckled from across the dining table as she looked down over the Daily Profit that sat comfortably in her hands.

"What if said thoughts are about you?" Hermione winked.

Narcissa blushed frivolously. Hermione new just what buttons to press with her. How she loved her witch. How she wished she could tell her without scaring her away. She hoped Andromeda was right and that Hermione did too love her back. But she doubted herself.

"Look who's talking anyway!" Hermione giggled as Narcissa snapped back to reality. "You seem lost there too."

"I was thinking about you my dear."

"What about me?" Hermione smiled.

"Nothing for you to worry about." Narcissa winked. The blonde thought about their day ahead and decided on asking Hermione to do the one thing she had wanted to do for years.

The blonde knew that their plans for today would be to go and clean out Hermione's apartment, but she had something else on her mind too. It had been plaguing her for days. She felt like now was the right time to do it.

"Hermione?" Narcissa questioned.

"Mmm?"

"Instead of going to your apartment today I have another idea. I have somewhere I need to go. If you want to get your apartment over and done with I understand but I really think you'd like this." Narcissa was hopeful that her witch would agree.

"Now you've got me all interested, sure we can go where ever it is you're wanting to go." The younger witch nodded. She had all these thoughts running precariously through her mind. Where could her paramour want to take her?

"Well stay interested because it's a surprise." The older witch smirked and stood up from her seat. "Bengt" She called and the little elf popped right beside her.

"Yes mistress." He smiled.

"Please clean up these dishes for Hermione and I, if Draco calls tell him I won't be home for some time today." Narcissa patted the little elf on his head and gestured for Hermione to follow her into the hallway.

"I love it when you take charge. So demanding…" Hermione pulled her in for a seductive kiss.

Narcissa blushed to high heavens and sank into the brunette as they began slowly but passionately kissing one another until, the blonde pulled apart and licked her lips, and caught her breath.

"Thank you. Now take my hand, close your eyes, and don't open them until I tell you to."

With that Narcissa apparated herself and Hermione from their home to her desired place. This day was going to be one to remember.

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When their feet touched the stone gravel Narcissa took a sharp breath in. It was just as she had remembered all those many years ago. Nothing had changed. Not a stone was unturned, the ivy was still prominent. Narcissa was surprised, she felt a slight nausea coming on, and it wasn't from apparating.

"Can I open my eyes yet?" Hermione asked as she kept a tight hold of Narcissa's soft hand.

"Yes love. Go ahead."

Hermione's eyes fluttered open as she began to drink in the scenery. They stood in front of tall cast iron gates, that were covered from head to toe in ivy and thorns, Rose bushes flooded the front of the grass met by charcoal gravel. Through the gates lay an enormous Manor, set with black brick work and columns leading to the large black oak wood door. It was gloomy yet had a homely Victorian feel.

Ferns and other mystical bushes could be seen in the surrounding area of the Manor, it felt like they were in the middle of nowhere. Hermione looked up to the top of the gates and gasped aloud.

"Are we..?" She trailed off as Narcissa squeezed her hand.

"At Black Manor? Yes."

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Dun Dun Dun...;)