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.

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.

"So, the food isn't made with any type of magic?" Ron asked, once again looking over his shoulder toward the swinging kitchen doors.

"Muggles don't use magic," Hermione half laughed before scootching her seat forward. "I honestly don't know how to make it any more simple."

"Yeah, yeah, no, I get that, but, then, what does it taste like?"

"Relax, mate," Harry laid a heavy hand on Ron's shoulder, pushing him into his seat. "I'm sure the food will be just fine. Nothing like your Mum's, but it will be fine."

Ron smiled, "No one cooks like Mum." He picked up his menu and began reading through all the different choices. "What is lovage?"

Hermione took the menu from him and said, "Just get the lamb. You'll like it."

The redhead shrugged and began looking around the restaurant again. "These eclectic lights are barmy."

"Electric," Harry corrected, looking over his own menu.

"Right, that's what I said."

"What are you getting, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"The other lamb," She pointed at the menu to show a dish with lamb, mushrooms, and anchovies.

Harry nodded a few times before deciding on the risotto dish. The waiter came and they ordered, all clearly avoiding any type of liquor to go with their meals, and relaxed. Ron still commented on random things in the restaurant, like how the pictures weren't moving but still seemed to follow him with their eyes.

When their food was delivered, Harry lifted his glass of water high and toasted, "To 25 days sober!"

"Here, here!" Ron called out happily knocking his glass into Harry's.

Hermione laughed and joined her own glass in the toast. "To Ron's new apartment!"

"And to Harry footing the bill!" Ron laughed, and the other two joined in.

By the time dessert came along, Hermione had shared the beginning of her date with Tommy Maher in great detail.

"And to you, Harry," She pointed at him with a fork full of vanilla custard. "A warning should be sent to Ginny."

"Oh?"

"I'm going to cast a hurling hex on her broom before her next big game!"

Harry burst out laughing, luckily having just finished his bite of custard. Ron was not quite so lucky and ended up spitting water across the table. The action caused Harry to laugh harder and almost fall out of his chair.

Hermione noticed the anxious look in Ron's eye, and a realization came to her. "Wait, it wasn't, was it? You couldn't have! Merlin's beard, it was your idea?"

Ron shyly smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "I thought it might make you laugh."

Hermione stared at him for several beats before bursting out in laughter, her guffaw so loud the waiters began to give them strange looks. Harry laughed along, and Ron finally relaxed into some giggles of his own.

The older witch wiped tears from her eyes and admitted to Ron, "That was actually a perfect prank."

Ron smiled and asked Hermione if she enjoyed any part of the dinner. Ron himself had had to sit through a dinner with Tommy Maher and it had taken over three hours. The brunette mused, a small smile seemed to light up her face. She felt a blush cover her neck.

"I was actually saved a half-hour into it."

"Oh?" Harry asked. "By who?"

"Narcissa and Draco," Hermione fiddled with her fork before adding, "Narcissa managed to convince Tommy to leave of his own accord, and we had dinner together."

"You had dinner with Draco?" Ron asked, his face flushed in either rage or embarrassment, Hermione wasn't entirely sure which.

"Technically?"

Harry snorted. The dinner ended soon after, and Ron left a little miffed, but Hermione figured he'd get over whatever was bothering him.

Harry watched as Ginny climbed into bed next to him. Her hair had grown to well past her shoulders and was pulled back in a braid. He reached out and stroked the back of her neck, smiling as she hummed and leaned against him.

"How was dinner?"

Harry laughed and said, "Really excellent."

"I feel like there's a story involved here."

"Well, you remember how I said Ron wanted to use your name and set up Hermione on a blind date?"

"You didn't?!"

"Oh, we did." Harry laughed. "They went out last week ago, and it was completely worth it. He set her up with Tommy Maher."

"He didn't!"

Harry pulled his girlfriend back into bed before she could escape to write up a howler. "Wait, wait, it gets better. Hermione went and, obviously, it didn't work out. Tommy is just too…"

"Much of a prat?"

"I was going to say loquacious but sure. He's pretty inconsiderate." The two shook their heads and smiled. "But she said Narcissa and Draco showed up and ended up breaking up the date. Tommy left and Hermione ate dinner with them."

"So, wait, Hermione had dinner with Draco?"

Harry nodded slowly before stopping. "Well, she had dinner with both of them. It wasn't like a date with Draco."

"Sure."

Harry laughed and wrapped his arm tighter around Ginny. "Although, it may not be a horrible idea of Hermione to go on a real date."

"Not with Draco."

"Not with Draco. Draco is with Astoria."

"Well, then with who?" Ginny asked, turning toward Harry and snuggling in close. "I'm pretty sure most people in our circle are taken."

"Well, you know, I was thinking about that."

"Always a great way to get into trouble."

Harry ignored Ginny's commented and explained, "Susan Bones just recently broke up with Orla Quirke."

"So, you want them to rebound off each other?"

Ginny laughed as Harry began tickling her, she squirmed and tried to get away, but he pulled her close and kissed her neck. The younger witch sighed and pulled him in closer. The two sufficiently forgot what they were talking about.

A/N: I've never written anything that had Harry and Ginny together, but they are kind of a fun couple to write about. They're both so laid back but also fiercely protective of their friends and family. I also enjoy Ginny's temper, especially with Harry's amused reactions. Also, the trio as friends is seriously golden.

I'm so giddy from all these reviews!

[tattooedsappho] Imaging Andy makes a hilarious face makes me laugh because I imagine Bellatrix making the same face!

[Angelwolf2319] I'm so glad you love this story! I love it too; it's a lot of fun to write.

[Saoirse820] Haha, yeah, sorry about the short chapters, but at least they're being written and posted quickly!

[JenDamn] AAAAWWWWW! I shall have to try and beat it with an even better chapter. You'll have to let me know if I ever succeed!

[nanonano] Humor is definitely the goal of this story. Next chapter will have some more budding relationship interactions, I promise.

[Gina] I do not habla español so I hope I didn't completely screw that one up! :-D

[LuisaHoffman] I hope this remains to be your new favorite read and welcome to the party! Slow burn is still moving slow but it is moving.

[Yanana] Events, emotions, and feelings are so much fun to explore!

[DutchDreams] Haha! Hermione was being innocent but that's not to say she didn't figure out what she'd said a few hours after the fact, lol.

[Parseltongues] Each chapter is setting up a different event, and (I'm hoping) it will all come together in beautiful ways.