A/N Hello Everyone, sorry this is so late, I've started a new job and now that I'm finally settled I'm able to write more. Well that is now I've fixed my Microsoft Word, I wanted to get this chapter out earlier but tonight I've spent 2 and a half hours fixing the damn thing. Any-who mishaps out of the way and here you go, again I'm really sorry about the wait. I absolutely love all the reviews you guys have been leaving they're inspiring. Hope you enjoy this chapter I nearly had a break down when I couldn't get to it on my computer...
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The Leaky Cauldron was bustling with noise as customers came and went; it was definitely one of the pubs busiest days. Sat right in the middle on one of the longest tables in the pub were the Golden Trio. This was partly the reason why The Leaky Cauldron had picked up on business. Witches and Wizards had caught wind as they passed by and decided that they too wanted to eat and drink in the same place as the Wizarding World's most famous Trio.
Hermione had almost wished she had chosen to go into work. Fame still didn't sit well with her, even after all this time. The brunette had taken the day off to catch up with her friends and Lavender who had insisted on going with Ron. They rarely all got to meet up together at once so it was refreshing to all be in the same place at the same time. Bar Lavender Brown, who had serious attachment issues.
"Hermione what have you ordered?" Harry asked as he glanced over at the menu board yet again.
"I went out on a whim and ordered the House Leaky Soup." She chuckled, how strange the menu was, all she wanted was something light.
"Man this is confusing. Leaky Leaky Soup or Soup Leaky Leaky?" The dark haired wizard asked as he scratched his head.
"You'd think we'd be used to this by now." Ron laughed as he placed his order for Lav and himself.
"It better not taste like dragon fart Ron I thought you'd have taken me somewhere more extravagant." Lavender Brown squealed as she huffed in the seat next to him.
Ron ignored his fiancée and smiled at his two best friends. He hadn't wanted to bring Lavender but of course he couldn't say no to her, not if he wanted a quiet life. He had hoped that Harry would've brought Cho and Hermione with Narcissa, but it was supposed to just be something for the three of them, so the awkwardness was there in the form of his blonde haired fiancée.
"So Narcissa and I were discussing how I think it would do her good to get out of the house, get a part time job, maybe at the Ministry." Hermione smiled as she took a sip of her soup.
"That's preposterous!" Lavender almost choked. "Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard?" She bashed Ron in the arm and he almost spilled his soup down his checked shirt.
"Do tell me why?" Hermione asked shaking her head at Lavender.
"Well, first of all, now we all know why she's with you!" Lavender scoffed "to infiltrate the Ministry!"
Before Hermione could respond it was Harry that spoke first "pipe down Lavender, if you've nothing appropriate to say keep your trap shut!"
The blonde looked at Ron for him to say something but he put his head down and kept out of the fray.
"I agree Hermione, sounds like a good plan to me, would you like me to speak to Kingsley?" Harry put his arm around his friend.
"Not quite, she's still deciding what she wants to do I don't want to force her." The Brunette winked. "Thanks though."
"There will be such an uproar if she does! The people won't stand for it. I wouldn't want someone like her running things." Lavender still couldn't keep her word vomit to herself.
"It's not just us that have had to battle our monsters and start again to get on with life, people like Ms Black need to too." Luna Lovegood's voice drifted in as she took a seat next to Hermione, in her arms was a tiny baby swaddled in a pink blanket.
"Oh my Gods Luna! You had the baby?" Hermione cooed as she gave the witch a hug next to her, she placed her hand on the baby that smiled and grabbed her finger.
"I did, everyone meet Pandora, I named her after my mother."
The group had simply lost all hatred as the little baby brought them all together even if they hadn't noticed. Luna hadn't been seen swanning around for a while and Hermione now realised why. Neville was going to make a great father, and Luna a great mother.
"She's adorable" Harry chuckled as he began holding the baby.
"She likes you Harry! She's great for getting rid of Nargles too." Luna smiled as she gained awkward confused looks off everyone. "Still watch out for Wrack Spurts though."
"How's Neville keeping up?" Hermione asked as she changed the subject.
"Very well thank you, he and Pandora are inseparable when they're together! How's Narcissa? I really think she'd be great in the Ministry you know, she never attracts Wrack Spurts I've noticed. Strong minded that one."
"That's fantastic, I'm so happy for you two!" The brunette was next in line to hold Pandora as she gently took the baby from Harry she carried on "Narcissa is great, she's out and about with Andy today. She's not fully set on joining the Ministry but I'll be sure to give her your input."
"You look good with children Hermione, have you ever thought about…" Harry was cut off as Hermione shook her head.
"No, not for me, career first, children don't come into the equation."
"Plus Narcissa is ancient she can't become mummy number two, she'd be decrepit by the time the child was ten." Lavender cackled and received a sharp look from Ron. "Well it is true."
Hermione bit her tongue. She knew her and Narcissa weren't going to have any children nor had she ever thought of siring a child with the Blonde, it wasn't something the two had ever wanted, they had discussed it briefly but that was it. Just a brief subject.
"Career first I'm sure that's what Narcissa is thinking now." Lavender was relentless. "Steal your job at the Ministry then get back with Lucius and start running the show. How terrifying."
"What's terrifying?" Behind Lavender stood Narcissa Black, clad in a black body con dress, that hugged every inch of her sublime figure, she donned a black fur coat and pointed black heels her nails a deadly shade of red.
Lavender froze in her seat and Hermione refrained from chuckling. It was purely on accident that the pair had come to cross paths, Narcissa was out with Andy and Teddy running errands probably spoiling the boy, they had said their goodbyes in the morning then gone their separate ways ready to meet at their home again in the evening.
Narcissa had caught her name and only the end of Lavender Brown's sentence as she made her way through the Leaky Cauldron, seeing Hermione from a distance made her weak and she wanted to steal a word or two from her witch before her and Andy went back out into London to finish their annual shopping trip.
"You look amazing Ms Black." Luna nodded. She waved at Andy who wasn't far off her sister's trail holding a very chirpy Teddy Lupin.
"As do you my dear, child birth has done you good." Narcissa gazed over at Hermione holding the little bundle of joy and her heart skipped a beat if not two.
Hermione looked amazing as Mocha eyes met her own. The two couldn't keep away from each other that's for sure. Seeing Hermione blush as Narcissa licked her red ruby lips only brought the sexual tension up to impossible levels.
"Now I know why she dragged me all this way, she saw you from a mile off!" Andromeda said putting Teddy down so he could go and see the new baby.
Hermione's blush deepened as she avoided eye contact with Andromeda, she wasn't sure why the witch was hell bent on making them feel awkward but whatever the reason it always worked. The brunette took her attention to Teddy as he hugged her and began talking to the baby.
"Narcissa, Andy! You joining us?" Harry said as he cut through whatever was going on.
"No Harry, Narcissa has only hit half the shops down on Camden, we came here for some respite so I could rest my feet but its jolly full. Then of course love bird over here saw Hermione and she left me to hoard all her bags over amongst trying to get through the sea of wizards that have plagued this place. Couldn't you three meet somewhere more secluded I love the Leaky Leaky Soup here that's what I came for. No seats!" Andromeda rambled making them all laugh at her Leaky Soup infatuation.
Lavender cleared her throat and Andromeda frowned for a second before she realised what the witch was doing. "Oh sorry Lavender didn't see you there, you're like a little rodent hiding under the floor boards, only letting yourself be know when you want something."
Hermione tried her hardest not to laugh at the pipe bomb Andromeda had just dropped. That witch would never fail to amuse her. It came at the perfect timing seen as though Lavender had been running Narcissa's name through the mud all throughout their luncheon.
"You also never clarified what was so terrifying?" Narcissa arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow as she bore daggers into the younger witch.
Narcissa was being deliciously alluring to Hermione as she intimidated Lavender, the way her stance was so proud and so matter-of-fact was literally killing her, she'd already shooed the baby back to Luna as she watched her witch dominate the conversation. If there weren't Witches and Wizards everywhere Hermione would've dived on Narcissa by now and taken her there and then.
"Nothing you'd find noteworthy." Lavender defended, Harry shook his head and Ron was almost swimming in his soup trying to get as far away from his fiancée as possible.
"When one hears one's name, they are certain it's something they'd like to know." Narcissa pressed on. She knew Hermione liked this side of her, the cold Ice Queen that would make a man fall to his knees at the very mirth of her words. It was captivating to know Hermione was squirming in her seat ready to just run out and take her with her.
"I feel threatened Ron it's time to go." Lavender said as she held onto her Fiancé's arm in fear.
"Little girls shouldn't play with fire." Narcissa smirked. "Hermione a word before I take my sister for food elsewhere."
Hermione almost flew off her seat as she took the outstretched hand of her paramour, Narcissa led them into the back of the room to a secluded spot covered by a wooden separator, Hermione pulled her flush against her body as lips crushed together in a fiery kiss. Hands roamed every inch of each other they could touch, not wanting to let go, but realising they were still in a very public place. At any moment someone could walk around the corner and catch an eyeful.
"You really don't know what you do to me woman." Hermione breathed as she captured Narcissa's ruby lips.
"I think I do." She winked. "Now I will see you at home unfortunately, we're going to have to cut this short if not I won't be able to stop myself."
Hermione laughed against Narcissa's shoulder and gave her one last peck before the two began making their way back to the group. Harry was playing with Teddy and Andromeda was now holding the baby.
"They were probably having a feel back there." Andromeda snorted as Luna just looked at the two in awe.
"No that brings back memories." Ron said then he clasped his mouth to stop himself from spilling the beans.
"What memories?" Lavender huffed as she cowered as Narcissa got closer. "We will talk about this later. Don't look her in the eye I want to keep my life."
Harry laughed at Lavender, and he gave Teddy a pat on the head before letting him go back to Andromeda.
"Right well if you two have quiet finished, I'm starving and Narcissa owes me food. Let's go! See you all later!" Andromeda waved and grabbed her shopping bags along with Teddy's hand.
"Goodbye." Narcissa pouted and followed her sister out of the pub swaying her hips as she walked. Hermione nearly died. The things she was going to do to that witch later on, were just a dream waiting to happen.
"That was electric!" Luna chuffed, "you guys are so into each other. It's like a fantasy world, except you two are the real deal."
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Andromeda and Narcissa had settled for a nice quiet restaurant not too far into town, Teddy was occupied with his new toy dragon as he sat in the chair next to his grandmother.
"So I'm guessing things are still fantastic between you and Hermione then?" Andromeda asked prying ever so slightly.
"Hmm, quite." Narcissa muttered, she wasn't stupid, she knew where this was going.
"I suppose nothing's changed then?" Her sister laughed.
"Nothing needs to change, but I know what you're getting at Andromeda." Narcissa took a deep breath. "I told Hermione I was in love with her…" Wait for it.
"HOLY SHIT BALLS YOU DO HAVE GUTS!" Andromeda shrieked making Teddy stare at his grandmother wide eyed. Narcissa also flinched a little as her elder sister almost knocked the table over as she bounced in her seat.
"Yes well, if you've quite finished causing a scene, I'll fill you in." Narcissa straightened out her dress. "I caught her dancing around the kitchen the other day singing, but it was different, I know Hermione, and to me it sounded as if she was proclaiming something. So I watched her from the entrance way, and it was then I really listened."
"Listened to what?" Andromeda asked confused.
"Listened to the song." Narcissa blushed as she went on. "The lyrics fit perfectly. So without thinking twice I walked up to her and I told her that I was in love with her."
"And?"
"And she said she felt the same way. It was like I suddenly burst into realisation that what I was most afraid of saying, was the thing she was too afraid to say. I was hell bent that I'd lose her but in that moment I knew that she wasn't going anywhere, now I know what it feels like, to be in love and to be loved by someone else. It feels infinite, powerful, limitless. I feel as though that with Hermione I can do anything, she gives me strength, she gave me hope, she still does, because every day that I'm with her I cherish, because I have hope of a new better life away from the past. I haven't looked back since I laid eyes on her Andromeda."
The elder witch had tears threatening to spill from brown eyes as she listened to Narcissa, she was unbelievably happy that her sister had found love, someone to give her hope, someone that she can make dreams come true with. Andromeda had always wanted that for her. It was like Narcissa was finally living again.
"She told me I should look at joining The Ministry, although I'm not too sure on it I think it would be beneficial for me to get out more and for The Ministry to gain someone with experience." Narcissa watched Andy's smile become even cheesier, she chuckled. "I knew you'd like that."
"What are you waiting for do it!"
"I still have to go through it, maybe I will, but if it weren't for Hermione I would've never even thought it possible!" Narcissa smiled.
It was true, Hermione had brought her so many things in life that she thought weren't even possible, like love, and a future, Narcissa felt as if her path was clear, no weeds or bushes to stop her in her tracks, just a nice clear walk way through life. That was all she had ever wanted, a quiet life. Maybe she was finally getting what she had always dreamed.
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