Hello Readers,
(I say as I look out from cover and find no one with a banana creme pie. I dust off my shirt and shorts, ahem…)
Thank you for sticking with me (lifts shield and looks around) Alright. Thank you for sticking around. You are the most amazing people on the planet. I know the story has been hard, gut wrenching, and hair pulling, but now the triad is sort of on the same page, there is nothing to stop them… except themselves.
As always, I hope you enjoy,
Snow
PS: We are out of the Flower naming chapters. I will name them as I feel them. ~ Enjoy…Snow
The Manor of Instant Confusion
"When?" Fleur asked, but Hermione and Narcissa smiled. Seeing them smile it was all she could ask, all she for push out past her lips as she felt her heard pound hard, and strong. Hermione smiled tiredly but full of warmth and love.
"A week ago, for me," Hermione said as if she understood the one word question, and then shook Narcissa's hand, "A few days for Narcissa," Hermione spoke for them. Fleur walked and then her legs wobbled like she was hit with a jelly legs jinx.
"Easy love," Andromeda said as she guided Fleur toward the pair.
Fleur finally got her legs under her and her feet carried her to Hermione and Narcissa. They slowly walked to her stiffly, and riddled with pain, but alive. They were before each other and Fleur reached out and placed a hand on Hermione's left cheek and her palm to Narcissa's right cheek and pulled them both to her. Hermione and Narcissa each kissed one side of Fleur's lips, and then Hermione slipped her arms around Fleur's waist, Narcissa cuddled them to her.
"I am so sorry I thought you were dead. I should have known," Fleur gushed with tears running down her face. Narcissa conjured handkerchiefs for the three of them.
"Sweet Love," Narcissa looked down to Hermione and she nodded, "We did die," Narcissa watched as Fleur's brow furrowed, "There was just enough given us to fight. And fight we did," Narcissa said as she leaned forward to kiss her lips. Fleur sighed into the action.
"Why, how?" Fleur asked and Hermione kissed her, and Fleur hummed against her lips.
"We are here all because of you, my love. We love you so irrationally, illogically, and completely, we held on. You held on for us, and too us. That is all the healers could say," Hermione ran a thumb over Fleur's lips, and then looked to Narcissa, "We had a will of iron, and reason for living," Hermione said softly.
Hermione and Narcissa took one of Fleur's hands each took her lover into the house. The women behind them followed. It would be a time of reconnections, truths revealed, and lives that could begin. All because they could never be a part of the other.
Narcissa slowly led them to a parlor with windows that made the room warm and rich with light. Narcissa slowly sat down and closed her eyes as Hermione curled up into her lap as she stretched out on one third of the sofa and Fleur sat on the other side of Narcissa. Fleur watched her lovers. They didn't look only tired they looked haunted. Fleur reached out to Narcissa and shifted on the sofa and pulled Narcissa gently to her own chest. Narcissa smiled and let herself settle against Fleur as Fleur's arms went around her blonde lover. Hermione reached up and grasped one of Fleur's hands near her head. Fleur had no idea this was the way her day would have ended, or turned, but she was forever grateful. Minerva, Poppy and Andromeda found seating that faced their girls.
"You look so tired," Fleur whispered but Hermione tensed, as Narcissa placed a gentle hand on Hermione's head, and ran her fingers through her hair.
"What happened?" Fleur asked softly as she kissed the back of Narcissa's head. And then leaned into the woman's neck with her cheek. Narcissa only took a breath and then it caught. And she shifted slightly. Hermione wrapped her arm around Narcissa's waist as she shifted toward the back of the sofa and then buried her face into her stomach. Fleur closed her eyes slightly, and kissed Narcissa's neck.
She remembered that blade protruding from her chest. She remembered her torso covered with blood, and the pale pallor of her lips and cheeks as Narcissa took Fleur's hand and begged for her to live. Fleur let a tear slip and Narcissa's hand came to the back of Fleur head slowly as she turned and gently took Fleur's lips. It was as if Hermione felt the bond between the two and squeezed Fleur's hand.
Narcissa's lips disconnected from Fleur's but the woman's eyes remained closed as she leaned into Fleur still stroking her Hermione's hair. Narcissa's forehead leaned into Fleur's and then she tilted her head back onto Fleur's shoulder, air shuddered past her lips as she tried to keep her tears at bay.
"Poppy took the best possible care of her, but it was Minerva that called me, and when I arrived, I followed our directions to the letter. I was not planning on having to do surgery," Andromeda said softly. She remembered seeing a catatonic Fleur as Narcissa was pulled from her, as Hermione was delivered to her… dead.
"But they died, how did they come back?" Fleur asked as she looked to Andromeda.
"I lingered," Hermione said softly then she nuzzled Narcissa's stomach, "Blake," she said and then the little elf Fleur saw around Hermione's hallway popped into the sitting room. His ears were bent at the tip, but his posture was proud. "Tell her," Hermione said, it almost seemed like and order and Blake's ears fell slightly and then lifted as he looked Fleur straight into her eyes.
"I saved them," he said, and then he lifted his hand. Two little jars appeared in his palm, "Do you know what these are?" he asked and then Fleur shook her head. Blake strode to the table before everyone and placed the two nondescript jars onto the table.
"They are soul gathering jars," Blake said softly, but the edge remained in his voice, "She gave me the job of getting her back to the castle. I promised her I would protect her. Before the Dark Lord almost hit her with the killing curse I took as much of her soul into the jar as I could, just in case. When Hermione used her last bit of magic to reach for the cup, I helped her retrieve it. She actually got us back to Hogwarts. I did not, I only got her the cup," Blake stood back and looked to Hermione as she looked away from the little elf, and Fleur noticed how her indifference pained him.
"When we landed, I found Mistress Narcissa there ready to fight for her, for the love she had for both of you. The soul I placed in the jar was the last bit Hermione had left. She died, Narcissa held her dead lover in her arms and faced a maniac like a proud warrior," Blake said and sounded awed by Narcissa's heart, "I took another jar, and did the same for Narcissa as I saw the blade. I could not stop it. It was propelled by magic. But I could help save a piece of her soul," Blake stopped and then sighed, "I was there when you wailed like your soul died with them," Blake walked to Fleur and then held out his hand. In his palm was a shard of a slightly orange piece of quartz on a leather rope. Fleur looked to the little elf.
"What is this and why do you want to give it to me?" Fleur asked and Narcissa smirked and Hermione chuckled.
"Smart one we are bonded to my love," Hermione said as she kissed Narcissa's stomach. Fleur looked on with affection and a little bit of confusion. They were not bonded. How could they be?
"This is a crystal, citrine," Blake said as he held out his hand to her with the gem in his hand. Fleur looked at him then nodded to the jars on the table.
"I can see that your actions had harmed my loves, even though they were in their best interest, but I want more information before I trust a person whose name I just learned," Fleur said and Blake placed the gem on the table and stepped back.
"May I ask a question Mistress Fleur?" Blake asked and Fleur narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brow. He held up a hand, "On problem at a time please, Mistress," Blake requested, and Fleur nodded. It was a good plan. She didn't have chance at multitasking.
"Have you had nightmares in your month apart from her lovers?" Blake asked and all three of the women looked at him intently. Apparently, this was first hearing it from the little man. Fleur blinked at him. In the past month her entire life was ripped from her. That should be nightmare enough. Then… She blinked.
"No, I had no dreams at all," Fleur confessed and then the air in the room changed as Hermione sat up and looked to Narcissa as Narcissa closed her eyes. Hermione walked from the room. Fleur's eyes looked panicked.
"Where is she going?" Fleur asked frantic, but Narcissa held her arms around her, grounded her.
"She is getting a salve and a potion for Narcissa," Fleur looked over to Andromeda as she spoke and then Poppy smiled as Hermione came back immediately. Hermione sat in front of Narcissa.
"She was stabbed in the heart, Love," Hermione said softly, and Fleur's breath cracked past her lips. Hermione pressed a potion into Narcissa's hand, and Narcissa looked onto Hermione's eyes with the love of ages. Not the newfound love of frantic wonderment. Fleur felt left out, as if they began the adventure she wanted to take with her lovers.
Narcissa took the potion and then shifted in her placement and looked to Hermione. Fleur watched as if an entire conversation happened between the two, and then Hermione tilted her head and gave Narcissa the small jar, took the potion vial, placed it on a table, and then walked to Poppy and Minerva. Minerva smiled at her student, and the two women stood as Minerva slammed two pieces of furniture together and made a three seated chair. Hermione, small as she was, draped herself over Poppy's legs, but Minerva's hand caressed her brown locks as Poppy smiled as if the sun simply sat in her lap as she rubbed circles in Hermione's back.
Fleur was brought back to Narcissa as Narcissa gave Fleur the jar. Narcissa unbuttoned her shirt and let it fall around her waist bra less. Fleur swallowed. Narcissa lifted a hand.
"Every woman here has seen me in some state of undress, it is essentially your turn, but more importantly, I trust you to help me heal," Narcissa whispered and Fleur and Narcissa leaned forward and then let their lips meet. They knew every woman watched. It was strange to be on display, but it was a caress of magic from across the space that made the two women pause and look. Hermione smiled at her lovers, but they felt her, and they felt that she wanted them.
Fleur was at such a disadvantage as she took from the jar and Narcissa smiled.
"A little goes along way, Little Love," Narcissa smiled and Fleur ran her fingers along the rim of the jar and brought about a quarter of the initial blob of salve. Fleur looked down at the scar before her. It would never cure. It would never heal. The impact would was purple and red, and the veins about the wound stretched out.
"It looks like Hermione's dragon spike injury," Fleur said as she looked at the wound closely and then fell into analyzing the wound.
"We will heal her later my love," Hermione said and Fleur smiled and nodded looking up into Narcissa's eyes.
"It is worth a shot," Narcissa said as Fleur took painstaking gentle strokes and caressed over her wound, "Nothing else had worked between Hermione and I," Narcissa said and then Fleur tensed and sat up. She looked between Hermione and Narcissa. Their bond was almost complete, and it was as if they could feel the other, read the other. Hell, it was as if they could read the others mind and know the others wants and emotions. They… They…
"You..." Fleur said slipped from Narcissa but clenched her jaw and looked away, "I am glad you could partially heal the other," Fleur said diplomatically. Narcissa reached up and Fleur let herself be dragged into those eyes.
"We didn't take from the other, we didn't make love, oh sweet Fleur," Narcissa brushed her index finger over Fleur's nose playfully, "We could not for you were not here. We needed you, wanted you, and could never live a moment with out you. These wonderful women before you pushed for a meeting, but you never let them have your attendance," Narcissa smiled softly as Fleur let it dawn on her.
"They knew you were alive," Fleur said.
"In a coma," Poppy interjected. Fleur smiled lightly and then she shook her head. She was an idiot. Narcissa reached up.
"You are here now," Narcissa said and Fleur wondered if she could read her thoughts.
"I am not leaving either of you, never again," Fleur said as she stood and placed the jar on the table and then Narcissa looked over to Hermione and Fleur looked between the two.
"STOP THAT!" Fleur caved and then took a breath. When she was calmed-ish she opened her eyes and Hermione and Narcissa looked to Fleur but looked to the side of her, as if they both tried not to look to the other. Fleur inwardly groaned as she slumped on the sofa next to Narcissa. Narcissa placed a hand on Fleur's thigh.
"We can't, my love," Narcissa said, and then Fleur looked to Hermione and was on her back eyes closed letting Poppy now run her fingers through her hair. Fleur watching. It was the most relaxed yet unrelaxed she had ever seen Hermione. She looked back to Narcissa. Everyone has changed!
"What happened?' Fleur asked as her voice cracked wanting to know the whole story. Narcissa kissed Fleur and Fleur looked over to Hermione. She smiled as if the kiss was upon her very own lips. Fleur looked to Narcissa asking.
"Take the stone," Narcissa said flatly and then Fleur tensed.
"Why?" Fleur said and then Narcissa placed another palm on Fleur's cheek, and then looked into her eyes, she tilted forward, but she winced. Fleur held her shoulders. Narcissa smiled as she eased forward slower.
"Think about it," Narcissa said as she watched Fleur and then finally looked over to Hermione and then Hermione smiled. The damn little witch was always more In tune to the two of them and Narcissa narrowed her eyes.
"Hermione," Fleur addressed the younger witch and the girl hummed, "Would you trust this elf with your every life?"
"Yes," Hermione answered quickly.
"Would you trust him with our lives?" she asked.
"Yes," and Hermione just as quickly answered but in a much more softly subdued tone as Hermione's voice filled the air.
"He is mine. But it is more than that," Fleur looked over and saw that Hermione looked to Blake and let her hand reach into the space between them. He reached out and took her hand, "I am his as well. I will be his mistress, and therefore by proxy so are you and Narcissa, but I am his. I am His mistress, his friend, and ally," Hermione said and saw the words wash over Blake, "No matter how it hurts, he does everything for the betterment of our house," Hermione said and then Fleur's ears peaked again.
"House? Who's house?" Fleur asked. Then Hermione smiled.
"You need the full story but suffice it to say Grandma and Granny have given me their letters from you. They shared your thoughts," Hermione indicated to Minerva and Poppy. They wore smiles of near absolute happiness. Then Hermione looked to Narcissa and Fleur.
"The House of Delacour-McGonagall-Black," Hermione said and then Fleur blinked so rapidly she thought she had something in her eye.
Fleur breathed in deeply. She looked at Hermione then to Narcissa and then her hand stretched out to her lover as her fingers worked the buttons of her shirt and preserved her modesty. Holy hell listen to her, she sounded like and English woman. Fleur closed her eyes and her breathing became shallow her.
"Narcissa get her," Hermione said and then hands touched her face, and then another set of hands touched her chest and then the back of her head.
"We have you sweetheart," Hermione said as soothingly as possible as Fleur felt her body ease down uncontrollably. She tried to open her eyes and look at her lovers, but they would not cooperate. She panicked and then Narcissa and Hermione hovered over her, curled into her, and let Fleur take what strength they had.
When Fleur woke, she woke to a string in her hand. She looked at it as she lay back in a canopy bed. It was the gem Blake gave her. She refused to touch it. She didn't want the nightmares. She felt a twitch and looked to her right and there where two bodies curled into the other, fighting memories, fighting nightmares, and Fleur gritted her teeth. She put the stone aside. She would wrap her love around her women, around her loves. Soon, she would know them as they knew each other.