Hermione spent most of the next two weeks concentrating on her studies in preparation for her N.E.W.T.s. The examinations would be in late April, and she didn't want to leave anything to chance. And once the baby came, her opportunities for uninterrupted study would be limited for a time, so she intended to make the best use of the time she had available now.
Draco and Luna had hit it off after they'd come to the penthouse for lunch and had seen each other several times before he returned to Salem. Plans had been made to continue their relationship once he returned to England and, in the meantime, would stay in contact through letters.
"I got an owl from Luna yesterday and it was all about Draco," Hermione told Lucius one day as they were eating breakfast. "She's crazy about him."
"Draco seems quite taken with her as well, if his letters to me are any indication," Lucius said. "It seems as if I have a talent for matchmaking."
"Apparently so," Hermione agreed, smiling happily at him.
"I wouldn't be surprised if there's a wedding by the end of the year," Lucius predicted.
Before Hermione could respond, Breezy appeared at her side with an owl message. "Thank you, Breezy," she said as she opened the message to read.
After she finished reading the note, she turned to Lucius and said, somewhat nervously, "It's from Narcissa. She wants me to come to Malfoy Manor for lunch."
"Yes, she told me the other day that she'd be inviting you over at some point," he said. "I think she's going to ask you to donate some time at the orphanage. She and Andromeda have been going around looking for volunteers."
"I'd be happy to help out," Hermione said. "It will be good practice for when our baby comes."
"Yes, it might prove useful," Lucius agreed. "But I don't think you should volunteer for any more than one day a week. While you're pregnant, I don't want you to overtax yourself."
"All right," Hermione agreed. "I'd not planned on more than that, anyway, as I've got my N.E.W.T.s coming up, anyway."
"I'll be flooing over with you," Lucius said. "I'll leave you and Narcissa to lunch together privately, but I need to pick up some papers at Malfoy Manor. I have an appointment at Gringotts this afternoon to review my investments and I'll just have something at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch."
"I don't mind if you eat with us," Hermione said.
"I'm glad you feel that way," Lucius replied. "But I suspect that much of the conversation will be "girl talk", and that's best done without any men around."
She laughed merrily at this. "Are you afraid we'll both gang up on you?"
"Something like that," he agreed.
Four hours later, Lucius and Hermione stepped out of the library fireplace at Malfoy Manor, where Narcissa sat waiting for them.
"Welcome, Hermione," Narcissa said. "I'm so glad you were able to come."
"Thank you for inviting me," Hermione said, with a small smile.
After giving Narcissa a kiss, Lucius told her, "I've got an appointment at Gringotts today to go over my current investments. I need to get some papers, then I'll be off to leave you ladies to have your lunch in peace." Without waiting for a response, he disappeared through a door that led to his private office.
He reappeared a moment later with a folder of papers in his hand. "I'll see you both later," he said, smiling, first giving Narcissa a kiss and then Hermione, before stepping back into the floo.
"Gringotts!" he called out as he threw the powder just before disappearing in cloud of green smoke.
"Lucius tells me that you're having a girl," Narcissa said to Hermione a few minutes later as they were seated at the dinner table.
"Yes," Hermione said. "We're both delighted."
"I have to warn you that Lucius will try to spoil her shamelessly," Narcissa told her. After a pause, she sighed, then added, "He's been waiting so long to have a daughter."
Hermione understood Narcissa's unspoken reference to her inability to have more children, but didn't quite know what to say.
"He also told me that you plan to name her Lucinda after him," Narcissa said quickly, saving Hermione from having to respond to her previous comment. "I think that's lovely. And I have to say that Lucius was inordinately pleased with himself that you saw fit to honor him this way."
"Yes, he was," Hermione said with a small laugh. "But I'm glad it means a lot to him. I get a lot of pleasure when I know I've made him happy."
Narcissa realized then that Hermione was in love with Lucius. Oh, she'd suspected it when she'd seen the young woman's eyes light up every time she looked at him or spoke his name, but this just confirmed what she'd been thinking. And while Narcissa was quite certain that her marriage with Lucius was secure and that he loved her, she belatedly realized that he loved Hermione, too, though he didn't seem to be at the point where he'd admit to anyone, least of all himself. That would come, however, and would probably occur when their baby was born, she suspected.
The older woman reminded herself of something her mother had once told her when she'd first realized that Lucius was not a strictly one-woman man: Love multiplies, it doesn't divide; that the way to make it grow is to share it, not jealously hoard it.
Returning her attention to Hermione, Narcissa told her, "It would have been nice to name Draco after Lucius, but I'm sure you've noticed that this isn't usually done in the wizarding community, especially among purebloods."
"I hadn't really thought about it before," Hermione said. "But now that I think about it, you're right. All those Weasley boys, and not a one of them named Arthur." Taking a sip of tea, she continued, "It is rather common among muggles to name the first boy after his father, however, though it is by no means a universal practice. Girls, on the other hand, are almost never named after their mothers."
"Lucius also told me that you and he got a surprise visit from his harpy of a mother," Narcissa said, moving along. She shuddered at just the thought of her unbalanced mother-in-law.
"Oh, she was awful," Hermione agreed. "I hope she doesn't turn up again."
"I've been married to Lucius for 20 years and I've been fortunate to see her less than a dozen times during our entire marriage," Narcissa told her. "And she was perfectly dreadful each time. She's never cared about being a grandmother and, frankly, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if we never saw her again."
"Really," Hermione agreed. "But my mother is more than ready and able to be a grandmother, so Lucinda will not lack for that. And my father is thrilled about becoming a grandfather. And they like Lucius."
Narcissa's face betrayed no indication of how she'd been raised to view muggles. And after seeing how intelligent and well-bred of a young woman Hermione was, Narcissa was willing to entertain the idea that some muggles were better than others.
Smiling at the younger woman, she said, "There is that. Lucius did tell me that they've been accepting of your bond, even though such a thing is not done in the muggle world."
"They only want what's best for me," Hermione said. "And they can see that Lucius has only my best interests at heart."
"I'm glad they have more sense than Molly Weasley," Narcissa observed dryly.
"That's the truth," Hermione agreed.
"Now, then," Narcissa said, changing the subject. "I'm sure Lucius has told you all about the orphanage that Andromeda and I have started."
"Yes," Hermione replied. "Lucius said that you would like if I could help out there."
"That's correct," Narcissa told her. "Andromeda and I have spent the week looking for capable volunteers." Giving the younger woman a smile, she said, "And I thought it would be a good way for us to get to know one another better. It should also be a useful experience for when you become a mother in a few short months."
"That's what I told Lucius," Hermione said. "I'll be delighted to lend a hand."
"Wonderful," Narcissa said, smiling. "Would you like to visit the orphanage this afternoon."
"That would be very nice," Hermione said.
--
A/N Thanks again to all my wonderful readers! I appreciate you.
A/N Blog post: Photo of Narcissa From Half Blood Prince
A/N Next Chapter, Narcissa Defends Hermione