Title: 500 Hours

Author: pantheradraconis

Rating: T

Pairing: Hermione/Narcissa

Summary: Hermione, unexpectedly crashing and burning after the war, finds herself in community service with nonother than Narcissa Black. Through the course of their mandatory 500 hours, the two slowly find a mutual understanding which eventually blossoms into a relationship.

"You know, it's been a long time since I've seen Mother use her persuasion like that."

Hermione turned to watch the blonde, who was making her way back inside, a smile of satisfaction covering her face. The brunette realized she was blushing and turned back to the counter.

"She was pretty amazing."

"I have to say, that was pretty amazing of you last night," Hermione said when Narcissa joined her at Andy's counter. "I had no idea what I had gotten myself into."

"I'm sure your date had a charm all his own," Narcissa mused.

She had spent the early morning looking through Teddy's chocolate frog card collection, in which he had ten copies of Harry Potter. When Narcissa asked him why he didn't trade away some of them for cards he didn't have yet, Teddy became quite argumentative (for a three-year-old) that Harry Potter was his favorite and he would rather have 100 of him than any other. Narcissa found herself somehow arguing about the need to have Hermione and Ron's cards, but Teddy was quick to show he had five of Hermione and three of Ron, so it was okay.

"Hopefully he'll find someone who enjoys that particular charm," Hermione replied, taking a big drink of her tea and smiling up at Narcissa.

"Who exactly thought you would be a prime choice?"

"Ugh, Ginny! And don't get me started on that. She will be hearing quite the earful from me later. I'm just so glad you were able to stay for dinner. I'll be honest, I was pretty hungry by then. We still hadn't ordered!"

Narcissa noticed her sister watching the two interact and quirked her eyebrow in question.

"So you two spent the evening together?" Andy asked, attempting to be nonchalant. Narcissa barely held a laugh back but Hermione didn't seem to notice the awkward tension in Andy's voice.

"We did end up having dinner together."

"Oh? Just the two of you?'

Narcissa coughed but once again Hermione was oblivious.

"No, Draco was there too. He got the smoked mackerel jungle curry, which he certainly couldn't handle. I'm pretty sure I saw steam blowing out his ears."

Andy seemed to deflate from the comment causing Narcissa to smirk. A part of her wanted to mess with her older sister, so she decided to add some commentary of her own.

"You didn't find your Laotian Salad to be too spicy? You seemed a bit warm, maybe flushed. It did have quite a few chilis in it, after all."

"Oh no, it was fine. The aubergines calmed all the flavors down to make it quite delicious. But you know that, you had a bite."

"Yes, I remember it leaving a bit of a tinge to my tastebuds."

To her delight, Narcissa noted Andy's wide eyes and slightly opened mouth.

"Well, some of us like it hot," Hermione said in the most innocent voice. Narcissa couldn't help but laugh. "What?"

"You should really go deliver your baskets now!" Andy squeaked out, not realizing just how high her voice had gotten.

Narcissa, as smooth and silky as ever, grabbed all three baskets and swaggered her way out the front door. She barely heard Andy whisper to Hermione to stop staring and watch her back.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione replied in confusion, her own voice quite comfortable and loud. She didn't hear anything else but in another moment Hermione had followed Narcissa out.

Andy began to watch the two women. She watched them very carefully.

When the community service started, they were complete strangers that happened to know everything about one another. They butted heads and argued; their strong personalities seeming to stall any chance of actually being productive. Andy had figured she would have a very long summer ahead of her.

The first week had been hell, with having to deal with a hungover or drunk Hermione and a stuck up Narcissa. But then something seemed to happen. Andy still wasn't entirely sure what exactly had happened but for whatever reason the two somehow became close. It was completely illogical. They were both headstrong, arrogant, and outspoken; of course, they showed these traits in completely different ways, but they were the same at the core.

Hermione was intelligent, book smart. She did her research, made sure everyone else did their research, and worked hard when a task was given to her. This was true in the community service and it was true with her alcohol addiction. Once Hermione decided it was time, either through a solid push or her own choices, Andy wasn't positive which, she worked extremely hard to stay sober. Andy saw it in her tired eyes and often mismatched outfits. She saw it in the way she stared into her tea and poured all of her interest in the basket delivery.

"The baskets are designed with a replacement spell." Andy found herself explaining one day. "Once the original basket is delivered the ingredients continue to replenish after they are used. If an item is not used over the course of a few days, shorter for the older members, or if a pattern presents itself and then is broken, a house-elf from St Mungo's visits the home to check on the wizard or witch."

"What a fascinating idea! I'll be honest, I'm a bit embarrassed it took me this long to make the connection that we never went back to the same house for another delivery." Hermione laughed and pulled her hair back into a large bun.
Narcissa reached over and tucked a loose strand behind the younger witch's ear. Andy noted the action wasn't seen as odd by either of the pair.

Her little sister, Narcissa, had a completely different intelligence than Hermione. Narcissa knew people, she could read a person up and down within the first handshake. After a dinner date, the blonde would be able to sell sand to someone who lived in a desert. When she had a plan in mind, it was a guarantee the plan would see its way through, in its entirety, no matter how long it took. Andy knew it was that skill which honestly changed the tide in the Second Wizarding War.

"I've noticed Teddy has started counting his blocks when he builds up towers. I'm not sure when but he learned to count to 20 in three languages?" Andy questioned her sister one early morning.

"I thought introducing him to French and Spanish was a good idea." Narcissa nodded as she added honey to her tea. "I was a bit surprised he didn't already have a tutor in the home. That is, not to overstep or be disrespectful. I'm sorry, my words have gotten away from me again."

Andy nodded slowly. She knew Narcissa said exactly what she had meant to say and she was annoyed it worked. "That would explain his jungle adventure yesterday."

"Hmm?"

"He was pretending the floor was lava, the couches were jungle ruins, and he kept saying, ¡Ay, caramba! ¡Nosotros necesitamos un plan!"

"It is good to always have a plan."

And then the door opened and Narcissa naturally turned her full attention toward Hermione. Her body turned, her face lit up, and she had all but forgotten Andy. For once, Andy wasn't entirely sure her little sister had complete control over her actions. Perhaps it was even a good thing, the older witch wasn't sure.

And so Andy continued to watch and wait and listen and see.

A/N: Yes, yes, a short chapter. But was it a good chapter?

[tattooedsappho] What's your favorite tattoo? I'm so glad the purse bit made you laugh. I was pretty proud of that quick moment.

[Saoirse820] Thank you! You're awesome!

[homohistoricus] How on earth did you think of that name? Are you a science geek? I love science geeks. I am having a blast writing this fanfic and I desperately hope it shows in my writing. Living in the same building will come and it will be important, I promise!

[DutchDreams] That! Yes! Exactly! Thank you! I am trying very hard to build up these characters, and all the side characters, in their personalities and their experiences. I find that a solid foundation brings characters together with very little effort. I know it's been long (and we've still a long way to go) but I really hope it will all be worth it in the end.

[Yanana] I'd be right there behind you, never you mind!

[nanonano] You didn't have to wait long. :-)