Wounds That Seem Not to Heal
Poppy and Minerva flooed in and found the quartet of women in the same sitting room as yesterday. True Minerva and Poppy came over earlier, but the rather interesting sounds from the room earlier made them take Andromeda's list and raid the Infirmary stores. Andromeda was right, they had everything they needed except for the muggle meds.
"You three…" Andromeda pointed them like they were pre-teens, "No Funny business while I am gone," Andromeda went to Fleur, kissed her forehead, same to Hermione but lingered, and then paused at her sister. Blonde glared at Brunette.
"Love you Cissa," Then the woman practically bounded off for Minerva and Poppy, "The sooner I can get those other supplies the better. With any luck I can get them today," Andromeda sighed looking grim. Minerva smiled and gave her friend a golden fluid.
"Then use it well Lass," Andromeda smiled and took the luck potion from her friend and jetted to the floo. Green flames gobbled up to energetic woman.
"Hermione, my love, please explain to us how your relationship with my sister works again," Narcissa said softly and Hermione rolled her eyes and stood up and walked to the kitchen.
Narcissa looked over to Fleur as Fleur looked at her. Fleur sighed and stood to talk to her lover but was stayed when Hermione came back with cool drinks as the heat was beginning to seep through the windows. She opened the windows and let a wonderful breeze into the parlor. Hermione sat down between Fleur and Narcissa, but she wasn't leaning or touching her lovers.
"I will say this only once. Andromeda and I are friends. She used to and still teases me relentlessly because we clicked when the Weasley family dinners and gatherings were held. She became a spectacular friend. Do I believe her and her claims of wanting to steal me away? I have no idea. Its Andromeda, she will do whatever she wants when she wants. Narcissa you know this better than most," Hermione took a breath and then sank into the cushions and sipped on her lemon water, "Sometimes I don't fit in, even though I thought the Weasley's were like a second family, I just didn't fit. Ron," Hermione swallowed and then it was automatic, like twin motions as Fleur and Narcissa placed a comforting hand on her thigh. Hermione sighed and looked from one to the other.
"Ron would tease me all because I liked books, and learning," Hermione looked to Minerva and Poppy and smiled, "Quite honestly, I was bored," she chuckled and the room laughed softly, "but when Andy was there she was always engaging me in an intellectual conversation, debate, and she reveled in the collection of new knowledge just as much as I do. So, we gravitated to the other. Nothing happened with your sister," Hermione said looking to Narcissa, "And nothing will EVER happen with your sister. However much I find your jealousy adorable, I don't want you to fight with your sister when she is simply trying to make your blood boil," Hermione reached out and ran her finger down Narcissa's jaw and looked into her blue eyes, "Your crazy ass sister gets the biggest kick out of making you pissed off, and the quickest way to do that is to use me to get to you," Hermione said.
Narcissa sighed and nodded.
"It will take some time for me to get used to her… advances no matter how fruitless they will be. I am not used to being possessive. I will try to curb it in the future," Narcissa promised.
"Oh no lover," Hermione said and Narcissa looked into a slightly darker mocha eyes, "I like it when you are possessive, not controlling, willing to fight for me, but yes, I love knowing I am yours, and I like it when people know it. I am not embarrassed by this relationship even though I know we will have to hide it. You are undeniably sexy when you are possessive over me," Hermione said then her eyes softened, "No one has ever wanted me like this before," Hermione blinked when she felt a stir on her mind and cocked her head as she saw Narcissa furrow her brow and they both looked to Fleur.
"Oh," Fleur blinked, "You guys heard that?" Hermione and Narcissa smiled and nodded.
"You are gorgeous too, my love," Narcissa said as she reached across Hermione and squeezed Fleur's hand.
"I find your protective nature over me absolutely…" Hermione shivered and smiled and breathed out, "wonderful, I find you both amazing," Hermione said and then looked from one to the other.
"So, when it comes to Andromeda, she is not to be killed," Hermione said to Narcissa and the woman smiled and nodded, then to Fleur, "Or maimed," Fleur nodded with a smile, "Good," Hermione looked to Minerva and Poppy, "I think we deserve the whole story now," Hermione said as she settled back and sipped from her glass. Her mates looked on and smirked at their discomfort.
"Poppy was married to Malcolm McGonagall, my brother, and they had a beautiful boy. One thing you must know is that Malcolm was a squib, and reared a squib son, but Poppy and Malcolm loved Daniel with their entire heart," Minerva reached out for Poppy's hand, "They were out and there was an attack. There were still skirmishes from the war with Grindelwald, and Malcolm died," Poppy swallowed but Minerva continued for her lover, "Daniel went missing," Minerva sighed as they got through that.
"You see I was promised to Malcolm before I even received my Masters, and by that time Minerva was taking the ministry by storm and becoming a trailblazer in transfiguration. We didn't meet until after the wedding. She tried hard to get there, but she missed it due to the ministry being threatened for attack. They shut it down, no one in, no one out. People were ordered to stay put and she could not get out of the ministry," Poppy seethed slightly but Minerva placed a hand on Poppy's shoulder.
"Yes, well long story short on that, I didn't meet my soul mate, yes we are one of the luckily fated people to find our match, until after the wedding for many months after actually," Poppy swallowed and paused taking a breath and a sip of her lemonade.
"So your missing Daniel, is Dan, my father, I got that, but I did not know his father was Minerva's brother. I should have with the last name but I like to be told the facts," Hermione blinked and looked from both of the witches and took a deep breath, "I always thought you were the best teacher on campus, and felt it so easy to talk to you, now I know why," Hermione looked back.
"My grandfather died, and you two became lovers?" Hermione asked and both of the older women blinked, and Minerva took a deep breath.
"No lass," Minerva looked to the woman beside her and squeezed her hand, "I knew I loved her the moment I met her, but I would never encroach on the memories my beloved had with my brother, a man she did love and the child they bore," Minerva cleared up.
"When did you two…?" Narcissa asked and Hermione smiled and nodded, Fleur paid attention nodded wanting to know the same thing.
"When you died, we decided life was too short, and to take things slowly," Poppy said. The silence that fell over the room was heavy.
"Wait, are you telling us you waited decades to be togezer? Working side by side, loving the other, but never once gave in?" Fleur asked. Hermione stood up and walked to the two women.
"Are you together now? In love and in life?" Hermione asked softly.
"When you were declared dead, I finally gave into your grandmother, and my own ever crumbling resolve to respect your grandfather," Minerva said. Hermione put a hand on her shoulder.
"Do you plan on tell in my father?" Hermione asked as she walked to the open window and stood before it.
"I don't know," Minerva said, and Hermione sighed and shook her head.
"Don't," She said firmly and hear a round of gasps, then Hermione turned around arms crossed and then shifted to hug herself, "He doesn't understand this world. He doesn't know this world. He never once thought he was given up. He regales his 'parents' as heroes who died in a terrorist attack and the state had to take him as a ward. I don't know what would happen if he knew the truth," then Hermione looked to Poppy and saw her face drop, "But if you want to chance it, go for it, but my Dad is happy. He had always sought to find the silver lining in every situation. I would never keep a mother from her child, but this is a grown man, not a child. But what would I know? I don't have a child," Hermione said her piece. And took a deep breath.
Fleur got up just as she felt it and went to fetch the potion for Narcissa. Hermione winced and looked to her lover. They skipped a dose that morning.
"Aside for me having to choose what I will do with my son," Poppy said with a small fire and looked at Hermione and Hermione simply sighed, "Do you accept this? Us?" Poppy asked as she held Minerva's hand.
Hermione chuckled and shrugged.
"Honestly, I could care less as long as you are happy and healthy Gran. Seriously, I should have no bearing on your relationship. This just adds a whole other layer to our dynamic," Hermione smiled as she saw Fleur come in and give the vial to Narcissa.
"Gods, I can't wait until I don't have to take those anymore," Narcissa said and Fleur banished the vial to the kitchen sink.
"Soon, Amour," Fleur said and then looked around the room, tension filled the air like a foul stench, and she moved to the kitchen, "How about an early lunch?" Fleur shot over her shoulder and then began to get busy in the kitchen.
"I will always be grateful for the opportunities you have given me, and I will love you both now with a whole different light, but please be happy," Hermione said and then Hermione walked to their room and closed the door. Narcissa sat there before the two older witches.
"Sometimes I forget how removed from the world, our world she is. And Asking her to be alright with something as your love, when you are decades her senior was putting a lot of pressure on her," Narcissa said watching the women, "It wasn't right, you should be setting the example, not asking for permission from a 15 year old to be in love," Narcissa said to the other two women.
"I should be asking YOU if I could love your granddaughter. I should be asking YOU if you will accept my love for her," Narcissa shook her head, "Your role reversal is strange. Why would you do this?" Narcissa asked narrowing her eyes. Poppy sighed.
"I guess I just don't want to lose the girl, when I just found her," Poppy said with a sigh.
"I can understand that, but don't think you will lose her over love. Think of how much you could have lost if she died and she didn't have you there to be her grandmothers," Narcissa stood and walked to Fleur.
Fleur felt her lover's turmoil, and then her other lover's exasperation. She was placing batter on a frying pan for crepes, when Narcissa's hands slipped around her waist, and her lips kissed just behind her ear.
"I will go check on Hermione. I love you my Little Veela," Narcissa proclaimed as she held to French witch to her and molded her front to Fleur's back.
"Go, before I can't concentrate and I destroy lunch," Fleur said as she turned and stole a kiss and then Narcissa smiled and walked away. Then she eeped when Fleur swatted her backside. Narcissa's grin grew as she gave Fleur a look as she narrowed her eyes, then with a smile then blew her a kiss and walked to their room.
Narcissa opened the door and found Hermione on their bed. She simply lay on her back with her hands behind her head in the middle of the bed. Narcissa smiled as she slipped over the bed and hovered over the brunette.
"What do you need?" Narcissa asked as she felt Hermione trying to dampen their connection, and she was getting good at it. Hermione opened her eyes looked into blue, and then pulled Narcissa down on top of her. Her head to Hermione's chest, and Narcissa slipped her arms and hands under Hermione's back. Narcissa basically covered her in an embrace listening to her lover's heartbeat.
"This is nice," Hermione said and then Narcissa hummed, "They are strange asking me that question," Hermione said, "I am about to bond, physically with a woman old enough to be my mother, and a Veela cooking in the other room. Seriously strange question," Hermione said and Narcissa sighed.
"Does it bother you that I am so much older than you and Fleur?" Narcissa voiced one of her concerns.
"Never," Hermione said simply and as easily as if she was commenting on the color of the walls. It was the truth, her truth, and Narcissa felt it and she let lose a tear she didn't think she would shed on the topic. Hermione lifted up Narcissa's chin and she tenderly, lovingly took Narcissa's lips with her own. Moments later she heard the door open and Fleur came in and slipped onto the bed and Narcissa slid off the other side of Hermione making room for Fleur. Fleur took Hermione's lips tenderly, telling her with that action that she would have her side, love her entirely. Fleur then took a kiss from Narcissa's lips but this time passionately.
"Your age will never her an issue between us, mon Coeur," Fleur whispered before Narcissa letting the air of her words ghost over Narcissa's lips. Narcissa let her head drop to Hermione's chest and buried her face into her shirt. She would not let them she her, but she would not shove them away.
"I put a stasis charm on the crepes, let us rest," Fleur said, and she received twin nods. They used Hermione as a pillow, and Hermione said nothing as her arms came around both of her witches. Sleep took them. For the first time in a month, dreams were good, and sweet.
Evening
Lunch was left to the side as desert and a small fruit platter tided them over until dinner. Hermione smiled at her lovers as she listened from the kitchen. Poppy stayed until Andromeda returned and Fleur and Narcissa peppered to woman with questions. Some justified concerning their conditions, other ridiculous concerning sex with the Professor. Poppy blanched and narrowed her eyes on the latter topics but Fleur, ever the mischievous little witch loved getting a rise out of the older witches, and sometimes Hermione.
Hermione thought on many of their conversations, and she noticed her lovers let her make the first move on many things, and they would not push her. That also goes with teasing. Sure, teasing kisses and hands were more than welcome, but they seemed to know the words would make her shy away from them. She was by no means delicate, but herself esteem wasn't the greatest.
"Dinner's up," Hermione said as she began to dish out green beans, carrots, and Lemon baked chicken. There was a bang as the floo flared and Andromeda stumbled forward with a large backpack and a dazzling smile.
"Oh sweetheart, I a home just in time," Andy said as she walked over and kissed Hermione's lips as she took a plate of food. Fleur caressed Narcissa's thigh as Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"Andy, hands off from now on or I will cast a stinging hex on your ass and watch it blow up like a bee sting on steroids," Hermione said lightly as she took some carrots into her mouth and munch as if she didn't just threaten one of the Black sisters.
Andromeda sighed and looked to Hermione and then the two women. Andromeda took her for and smiled alluringly at Hermione.
"Let me guess, the little sister or the Veela didn't like me touching their plaything," Andy said with a dark smiled.
A shock flew through the room. Hermione slammed her fork onto the counter and a blast of raw magic soared out with Hermione as its epicenter. The other four women in the room blew back off their bar stools that surrounded the island in the kitchen where they have been taking their meals. Fleur helped Narcissa to her feet as she held her hand to her chest and looked pale. Poppy ran a diagnostic as they sat her on the stool. Andromeda looked at Hermione, wide eyed and a spark of fear.
"She has proven herself to me and has fought with you and your recent advances. It is my turn to right an egregious wrong. The wrong that I have not fought for this. The wrong where I have not fought for Narcissa. I told you once Andy if you did not stop the jabs, or at least calm them down you and I are through," Hermione felt her magic swirl around her, and clenched her teeth as Andromeda swallowed, "Stop it now," Hermione said hard pointing her finger to the top of the island, and then she walked to the backdoor to the grounds but spun around, "Also, I am no one's play thing. You of all people should have thought before you spoke and said that to me," Hermione growled and then slammed the door shut behind her.
"Narcissa what happened?" Fleur asked as she looked over Narcissa's pale face, and white lips.
"It's alright my love, Hermione's blast of magic went through us, but my core is not up to snuff yet," Narcissa said with a weak smile clenching Fleur's hand. Fleur took her hand to her lips and placed a gentle caress on her knuckles. Fleur turned to Andromeda about to tear into the woman and her childishness. But the look on her face made her pause. Andromeda pushed her plate away, but Fleur pushed it back.
"Eat, judging by your previous mood, and the bag, you have our additional supplies. You perform surgery tonight," Fleur gritted, and Andromeda nodded and took the food that just a moment ago tasted wonderful, now tasted like ash.
"I will go to her," Poppy said and then both Narcissa and Fleur reached out at the same time and caught the healer's arm. They shook her their head, and Narcissa took a deep breath.
"What happened today?" Andy asked quietly.
"You pushed too far, one too many times," Narcissa said to her sister. Andromeda looked up to argue when she saw the look on her sister's face. The pain, the grief, the sadness, and worry, she did that. Andromeda nodded.
"I will be mindful of my words in the future," Andromeda said but Narcissa reached out.
"You only need to be mindful of how you are trying to always give me a heart attack by touching her in a way that is very well verging on a way a lover would. How would you feel if I tried to playfully seduce Ted when he was alive?" Narcissa asked and then Andromeda clenched her fork and her jaw.
"Exactly, Andy. You have been doing that in front of both of us. You have been fucking with both of our heads. Be her friend. Be one of her best friends, but stop with the mindfuckery," Narcissa said. Andromeda nodded and walked from the island and out of the door.
"Do you think it was smart letting her go after Hermione?" Poppy asked and Narcissa nodded.
"She needs a clear head for later and she loves Hermione. She can't stand the little witch angry at her. It will weigh on her unless she fixes this," Narcissa said. The other two witches nodded.
"Narcissa, where are your wands?" Fleur asked and Narcissa looked to Poppy. Poppy pointed at the cabinet with the wine glasses.
"We kept the wands from them so they don't use magic and deplete their cores for healing. Why?" Poppy asked.
"Has she always been able to cast wandlessly, or shone that type of raw power?" Fleur asked. Narcissa took a breath and thought.
"She has always been powerful, but since she woke up, she has been erratic in her magic, and has been having bursts of accidental magic, but nothing like this," Narcissa said. Fleur nodded, they were not even completely bonded yet, and yet Narcissa and Hermione are going through leaps and bounds in the power and thrall department.
Fleur finished her food and watched to make sure Narcissa did the same. She would need the energy for what she was about to go through.
Outside
Hermione went to the middle of nowhere far from the house and wandlessly conjured a small building of stone. She slashed with her hands and punched out with her arms. She didn't know what magic she was throwing at the rock, but she unleashed her fury on the stone. She heard a snap and spun around and threw a blast of her magic at the intruder. Andromeda hastily threw up a shield and blinked as it shattered. She held her hands in the air, a sign of surrender and truce.
Hermione watched her friend.
"Why do you have to push her so far, or both of them for that matter?" Hermione asked.
"It's a game Hermione," Andromeda shrugged, and Hermione walked to Andromeda, and by the time Hermione breathed next her hand stung.
"YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU DO!" Hermione screamed as Andromeda stood in front of Hermione shocked that the girl actually smacked the shit out of her.
"Every time you tease them, every time you USE me for your games, they suffer. Their heart twists into doubt, and in your sister's case, self-loathing. Did you know she thinks I couldn't possibly love her because she thinks I have an issue with her age?!" Hermione yelled beginning to pace.
"Then there is Fleur, who thinks she is not as caught up in the healing bond as we are, and she thinks she is a third wheel. She thinks we don't love her completely because we are waiting for to catch up to us. The you come in and flirt openly with their mate, their fucking soul mate and I have done nothing to stop you except for our small chats. I am at fucking fault for this Andromeda. I know this. I know I should have laid a more solid line down on our friendship but damn you! I love you too much to change you!" Hermione continued to scream at the older woman before her.
"DO you have any idea how all of this makes me feel? ME!?" Hermione stopped and finally faced her friend. Hermione felt her heart clench as she saw a small line of blood at the corner of Andromeda's mouth and swelling and redness on her cheek. Hermione waited for her friend to respond, but she didn't. Hermione threw her hands into the air and turned around. She lifted her hands up once more to bombard the rock.
"Please, don't," Andromeda begged in Hermione's ear as she came to her and threw her arms around Hermione's body. Andromeda molded her front to Hermione's back and Hermione took a breath and sighed. She gently broke from Andromeda's embrace. Pain etched in Andromeda's eyes as she looked at Hermione's knees unable to meet her eyes.
"You have been one of my best friends, Hermione. I seem to always forget you are only 15 when we sit and talk about everything from House Elf Rights, to how Divination sucks," Andy smiled slightly but winced as her mouth hurt.
"Why do you do this if you know it hurts so many people?" Hermione asked, "I want to know the real reason this time Andy," Hermione said softly.
"I can't stand seeing Narcissa get someone so unbelievably wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, and loyal," Andromeda looked away from Hermione's knees, "She doesn't deserve you after everything she has done Hermione. She is just as bad, just as guilty as Bellatrix. Cut from the same cloth those two are," Andromeda sighed. Then there were fingers on Andromeda's chin. She was pulled to look into Hermione's brown eyes.
"Don't you think it is my choice who I love and who I find worthy of me?" Hermione asked, "Have you actually had a conversation with her without trying to get into her head? Have you given her a chance to explain herself, and her actions?" Hermione asked her friend and Andromeda's eyes closed.
"I can't forget what she has done to me. To her sister. I pray she doesn't hurt you," Andromeda lifted her hand to Hermione's and then kissed the palm. Hermione pulled it away.
"I am not yours, Andy. I will never be. I have tried to be gentle with you, but damn you woman, I am not your 'play thing' to use to fuck with your sister," Hermione placed her palm once more on Andromeda's chin and cheek and thought as she funneled some of her magic into her hand. Andromeda gasped as her pain faded, "I thought I was your friend," Hermione said and then pulled her hand away fixing her physical outburst.
"You are," Andromeda said with a crack.
"Then be my friend and let me make my mistakes. If something ever happens, I will come to you. I will seek your arms for comfort, but never love," Hermione said and then took Andromeda's hand and began to walk them back to the house, "Besides I will be bringing Fleur with me if it ever goes that far, and you are lucky she is as mischievous as you are," Hermione cracked an awkward smile at her joke.
"Wonderful, I love Fleur," Andy said cheekily. Hermione smiled nodding. There was her old friend, but before they got to the house Andromeda pulled Hermione's hand and stopped them, "Are we alright?" she asked.
"Yes, if you can stop using me to pick fights with my lovers," Hermione said.
"I never meant to hurt Fleur," Andromeda said.
"So, you confess to wanting to hurt Narcissa?" Hermione asked raising an eyebrow.
"She and I will have a long road to get through, but yes, I wanted to hurt her. For you I will stop," Andromeda promised. Hermione nodded.
"Good let's eat, you have to be a healer, and I have to heal," Hermione said, and Andromeda nodded.
When they came into the door Hermione walked to her plate and took a bite of her food. She smiled to Fleur for casting a stasis charm on the plate keeping it warm. Hermione looked to Narcissa and noticed she looked a bit better but they needed to heal her, and soon.
"I am sorry love," Hermione said. Narcissa smiled and shook her head.
"It was not your fault," she said, and Fleur clutched her around her waist as they sat with the last two remaining dinners having finished their meal while they were outside.
"Truce?" Andromeda said and all eyes were on her, but her eyes bore in to Narcissa's as she lifted a hand to seal her request. Narcissa looked down to the hand, then into Andromeda's eye and shook her head. Andromeda dropped her hand, but her eyes flew open as Narcissa slipped her arms around her.
"Always," Narcissa whispered. Andromeda looked to Hermione and saw that smile. She would be friends with Voldemort if it meant keeping that smile on her lips.
Once dishes were done, Hermione and Fleur were escorted to their room by Narcissa. She kissed them both and then took their vials from them as they gave her their empty potions bottles. Narcissa walked back into the kitchen and hefted herself on a flat table under the lights. Minerva arrived and transfigured the island of the kitchen into an operating table. Poppy and Andromeda told her what they would have to do, and once finished would be levitated into the room with her lovers. Narcissa drank her potion and the effects were immediate, she didn't have time to marvel because her eyes closed, and she was lost to dreams.
Poppy and Andy preformed their surgery carefully, slowly, and meticulously. They packed the potions around the wound of Narcissa's heart, and then packed the entire area with the paste. Andromeda magically sutured her sister and then placed a fine layer of the paste over the wound. Now it was all a matter of time, Andromeda looked at her baby sister and sighed. It was Poppy that placed a hand on her arm.
"Get cleaned up. I'll levitate her where she needs to be. When I come back let's share a bottle of Minerva's family reserve Scotch," Poppy said and then levitated Narcissa and left with a small smile for the woman.
Once back into the parlor, Andromeda, Minerva, and Poppy sat, and waited.
Blake, the ever-invisible Blake, stayed and watched over his mistress. She had not bonded with him in a blood pact, but she is his mistress in every other way. He would now and always be her protector, even if it is from the shadows.