Chapter Ten

NARCISSA

As we reached the hospital wing I noticed it was quiet, the children would be home for summer at this point but it was eerily quiet. I hadn't felt it like that since the end of the war. As I was helped to the bed with my son and Hermione holding my hands, Poppy came into the room and her face beamed up at me.

"You are a sight for sore eyes Narcissa." As she started spelling potions into my stomach and healing my cuts and bruises I broke down. It was finally over and I just turned to Hermione and pulled her to me before pressing another kiss to her lips.

"I love you Hermione Granger, the thought of never seeing you again was too much." She nodded and smiled at me before a plate of vegetable soup and buttered bread appeared.

"Start slow with food, you lost a lot of body mass in such a short period of time so you don't want to upset anything. The nutrient potions will help but take a week of plain foods Narcissa." I just nodded my head at her before she told Draco and Hermione to come and get her if they needed her. Hermione helped me to the shower and washed my hair. I had scrubbed my skin as much as I could before she then proceeded to help me get dried and changed. We had a small amount of supper and Draco stayed for a few hours before my adrenaline run out and I got tired.

"I am gonna go and let Astoria and Aunt Andromeda know you're ok. I will come back tomorrow." I nodded at him as he came and hugged me as if his live depends on it. The feeling of my son in my arms was something I thought I would never get again, and it felt glorious.

"I love you my dragon." He reciprocated and left allowing Hermione to crawl into the bed beside me. Feeling her wrapped around me was like heaven. We just lay holding each other for I don't know how long and I wanted to kiss her, I wanted to do more than kiss her but I could still feel their hands on me and I knew it would be a while before I could even do that.

I was so angry for everything I was feeling and thinking, I was ashamed that the beautiful woman in front of me had seen everything that they had done to me, we hadn't had a chance to talk about it and I knew I didn't have the strength to right now. She leant over and pressed a small kiss to my forehead before leaning her own against mine.

"It's ok Narcissa, we can talk later." I nodded and held onto her for dear life before her hands tightened around my waist and almost instantly I drifted off to sleep and felt content and safe.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

HERMIONE

She had been asleep for a while and I couldn't stop my eyes from roaming over her body. I could see the cuts and bruises all over her and it was everything I could do to stop from crying. What she had endured over the past few weeks was disturbing. I took this time just to look at her, she has lost so much weight and looks kind of strung out.

I knew they were injecting her with something bad and I was waiting to see how she reacted now she was free of her captor. I just wanted to take away all of the pain she is probably feeling but I couldn't, she would come to me when she needed me and if she didn't and I can see her struggling then I will interfere.

"You should eat something Hermione. You have barely touched a meal in weeks." Neville was a good friend, as he and Minerva came into the room I realised how much he had grown up. Like all of us I suppose but the transformation from shy, plump little Neville to this strapping young man was extraordinary.

They set down a basket with some food for her and Narcissa when she wakes up, Neville went and sat at the opposite side of the bed and I jumped up to allow room for Minerva. I didn't realise how much of an appetite I had, I saw my two friends exchange a look and a smile but I just ignored them and continued with a sandwich.

"How is she?" I nodded my head and swallowed the last bite before taking a drink and looked up to Minerva. It always baffled me the relationship Narcissa and Minerva had, they had developed a sort of camaraderie throughout the years and I could see the worry and stress she had over the past few weeks for a woman who has became her friend.

"She is good I think, Poppy is taking good care of her." She nodded and took Narcissas hand in her own and popped a small coin in her hand. At my curious looks she smiled before looking sheepish and nodding her head at us.

"The first day I met Narcissa was at her sorting. I was obviously at her sisters sorting aalso and the stark contrast between them all was shocking. Bellatrix was cocky and full of hatred even as an eleven year old child. I can't blame her Druella was hardest on her and was not a kind woman. The looks she could give you, makes Walburga Black look like the Easter bunny." We smiled at her and I found it always cheered me up when she starts treating you like a friend and colleague instead of a student.

"Andromeda was quiet but as cunning and managed to hide her true self and feelings from everyone. Narcissa well, she was this little waif of a girl and yet she carried herself with the most grace and decorum I had ever seen in any child." It always felt strange for Hermione to hear about Narcissa from other people and yet she was hooked and needed to know more.

"I remember when she stood up to get sorted a small coin fell from her hand and I instantly picked it up and saw it wasn't a coin but a necklace that must have snapped at some point. It was a small locket, I didn't open it but she held it in her hand the whole way through her sorting and wore it throughout her entire Hogwarts career." I was confused where she was going with it but it seems there is point to her story.

"Wearing it in the castle for so long embues the magic of the castle. She gave it to me two years ago when I had that little health scare, anyway now she needs it more than I do." I thanked Minerva and instantly Narcissas hands were wrapped around the chain in it. Narcissa was awake or at least partially awake through the end of the conversation.

We sat and talked for another while before they excused themselves and I saw them out. I didn't want to leave Narcissa so I used my wand to extend the bed slightly and climbed in beside her. I don't know if it was on purpose or not I needed to be close to her and feel her under my skin to make sure I know she is ok. I can't even imagine how or what she is feeling but for me I just need to be close to her. Getting comfortable I just drifted off nice and gentle.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

NARCISSA

My internal alarm clock had woken me up and it must have been around five am, Hermione was still sleeping and I could see the worry and stress of my disappearance had took its toll on her.

Her clothes were slightly baggy and there was huge dark circles under her eyes,she probably didn't look much better that I did to be fair. Her arm was lying across my stomach and I could make out the faint scar on her arm and looking between my own and hers I couldn't help but think back to when I was captive and Lucius found it on my body.

FLASHBACK

I didn't even know what day it was, I didn't know how long I had been kept but they had me strapped to a table of some description and I had noticed they were using as much muggle methods as possible to restrain me and it threw me for a loop to be fair.

"Ah you're awake! Good. Now my dear wife, imagine my surprise when I came across something rather interesting." He walked around the table I was lying on and I couldn't help but shudder as his fingers trailed down and across my half naked body before landing on my arm. The glamour was gone and the red angry words in my sisters handwriting was out in the open for all to see.

"You helped that stupid mudblood that night in the manor didn't you. She should be dead by the curses hand and instead you said the spell to share the pain didn't you?" My silence must have been enough for him because he just shook his head and climbed up and onto the table before straddling me and I just sat as emotionless as I could.

"Now you sully yourself with the filthy girl and stoop so low to shag her? Are you that desperate for human affection that you need to turn into a whore for the Gryffindor Princess?" His hands were pinning my arms down and he was looming over me. There was nothing he could do to me that I couldn't handle so I just looked directly into his eyes and smirked slightly.

"I would rather be her whore than your wife Lucius." He backhanded me again before unbuckling his trousers and nudging my legs open. I tried to build up my Occlumency shields, it was the only way I was going to survive this.

"You always were beneath me Narcissa in every sense of the word. Now your little Gryffindor Princess will get to see the real you. The you that needs to be put in her place. Smile to the camera my darling it's showtime." He forced my head to the side to where the moonstone was sitting and again the sense of shame that filled my body there and then was enough to make me want to die.

END OF FLASHBACK

A soft hand on my cheek broke me out of the memory and I could see Hermione sitting looking up at me and held onto my cheek. I cannot let this whole thing get into my head. I have a future and it was an incredibly bright one.

"Hey, your safe, you're home." I nodded my head and held onto her for grim death, I refused to cry any more tears over this. I knew I couldn't just sweep everything under the rug and pretend it didn't happen but I am not going to let this ruin my life.

"I am ok, just a bit jumpy, they pumped my veins full of something and I think I am going through some form of withdrawal." She nodded her head at me just as Poppy came through the door with Minerva.

"Ah you're awake, I thought I heard voices." I smiled at the two women and the Headmistress gave me a huge hug and whispered into my ear.

"Don't you worry Lass, we got you." I nodded before turning my face back to the nurse whom smiled at her partner.

"Poppy, there was something they kept injecting and forcing down my throat, it tasted sweet but smelt like arse. I think I am going through some form of withdrawal from it." She nodded her head at me and produced a vial of blue liquid before setting it on the table.

"The aurors found these in potion form and cut with the muggle heroin, it is highly addictive and we have to wean you off of it. Now there is two ways that we can go about this, you can just go cold turkey and let your body flush everything out of the system or I can give you small drops of the stuff and slowly wean you off the dosage." I honestly didn't even know what to say.

"Neither one is going to be too pleasant but we can only work with what we have right now and that's the options." I turned to look at Hermione held steadfast onto my hand as I nodded at her.

"What will the process be? What way will my body react to the withdrawal?" She sat down at the bottom of my bed as Minerva took a seat at the side.

"You will have some headaches, shakiness, irritability, mood swings, excessive sweating and vomiting. It will be tough but your magical core should help and if you do it here then I can monitor your progress and hopefully find some potions that will help you. Your apprentices Zoe Morley and Peter Banks took your classes for you except for Seventh Year. That class all banded together and basically set up a study session to pass their NEWT's. You would have been proud of them Narcissa but your two apprentices are still in the castle and are creating all of the potions I am gonna need for next year and Zoe presented me this." Another small vial was placed in front of me and I looked up in surprise because it didn't look like something I recognised.

"It was a joint project they submitted to the Mastery of Magic Committee for acceptance into the Mastery Program. They created a Potion to help the effects of PTSD. A lot of the effects that you body goes through when your experiencing flashback or whatever is similar to that of someone going through withdrawal. Sweating, headaches, irritability, panic attack and well the potions helps to ease they effect they have on a body." I was always impressed with them both. They had been a pleasure to teach and they were excited about learning.

"I would like to see them both if possible." She nodded her head at me and we came up with a treatment plan and I was in no way prepared for what was going* to happen. It took ten days of crying, screaming, sleeping and vomiting before I began to feel better. A little bit at a time, Hermione and Draco stayed the whole time and with their help I managed to get through it.

It was another full week before Poppy let me leave the hospital wing and I couldn't wait to get some freedom. Hermione had made plans to go away to the South of France the following week. I was going to come back and teach in September because I really and truly enjoyed it.

We were leaving in a week and it gave us time to sort out our classrooms for the new school year starting. Zoe Morley was accepted into the Mastery Program and I was acting as her Master come September. Peter Banks took him name out of the running and wanted to peruse a career in healing instead.

Poppy was quick to offer him an apprenticeship under her come September which he gratefully accepted. They were packing up their belongings to go on holiday till the First of September and there was a bet to see how long it was going to take them to get engaged. They had really stepped up into a leadership role when I went missing and I would be forever grateful to them both.

As I walked into my classroom they both froze and smiled at me. You could see they looked shocked before Zoe came over and went to hug me before restraining herself. I just shook my head and hugged her back. Whilst they spent their year under me until I was kidnapped Zoe was a true genius.

"Thank you both, for stepping up and teaching the children in my absence. I really, really appreciate it. I am sorry I haven't talked to you before but withdrawal is a bitch." She released from the hug and nodded her head at me.

"We are just glad you are ok Professor." I thanked them and we spent the rest of the day packing everything up for September. They already had the majority of it done and so by dinner time everything was done.

They bid me farewell and I walked to Hermione's classroom hopefully I will catch her before she leaves for the Great Hall. I still felt a little bit twitchy every now and again and I just think it will always be there. The nightmares were getting to be too much and I have barely been sleeping.

I could maybe start researching a potion to help with the effects of that, now I had to get back on the research for the Longbottoms. I was close but I didn't know what ingredients I was still missing. The Arithmancy was correct, the charm was correct I just needed to get to he bottom of why the potion isn't.

As I peeked in through the door I could see Hermione sitting at her desk hard at work. She had seven stacks of parchment she was going through and as I walked further into the room she didn't even look up. It wasn't until I came up behind her and kissed her neck she nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Shit! You scared the fuck out of me." I just nodded and she pulled me by the hand and sat me down on her desk in front of her chair. Seeing her now I could tell the toll of me going missing had taken on her.

"Did Poppy finally spring you then?" I nodded my head at her and she smiled a megawatt smile at me.

"Clean bill of health, do you need any help?" She shook her head at me and stood up to press her body against me. We had kissed small chaste kisses so far and I couldn't bring myself to bring up the subject of sex with her. There was nothing more I wanted than to make love to her right here in the classroom but I couldn't do it.

The thing I love about Hermione was the fact that she could almost read my mind, her small hands held gently onto my hips and she looked into my eyes and pressed a small kiss to my lips. It was over quicker than it began but the look in her eyes let me know she knew I wasn't ready.

"We can go as slow as we need to. I just want to hold you all the time, everything else is at your pace ok?" I could only nod shyly at her and she took my hand to allow us to go to dinner. We made small talk the whole way down to the great hall and when we reached it there was only Daphne, Neville, Minerva, Poppy, Hagrid and Mr Potter at the table.

"Narcissa!" Neville jumped up upon seeing me and flung his arms around my waist. He really had turned into such a kind man. Everyone was smiling at his actions and each greeted me with enthusiasm also.

"Did you hear the news then Narcissa?" Daphne smiled at her friend who looked confused. Harry blushed at his new girlfriends actions.

"Ah yes I almost forgot. Zacharius has left to live in America with Dean. He got a job over there and so Minerva has offered the job of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor to Harry. He will be starting in September." It suited Mr Potter and from the smile it seems he accepted it. Everyone welcomed the young man and Hermione was so excited that her best friend was going to be teaching along side her.

"It will be good to have you on the team Mr Potter, I will no longer be the newbie." Everyone smirked at that and thankfully nothing was mentioned about my ordeal the whole way throughout our food. Before we left three owls came flying into the table and dropped numerous copies of the Daily Prophet in front of those who had subscriptions. I caught the headline and my stomach dropped, there on the front page was two photos, one of Hermione and I lying sleeping in the Hospital wing, and the other with us kissing outside Hogwarts that first night I got back.

"THAT BITCH!" All of the staff turned and looked shocked at Hermione and I couldnt understand what was going on. The article had exposed our relationship but how could Rita Skeeter have seen us?

'Golden Girl enthralled my Slytherin Ice Queen' It went on to explain my ordeal again and how it had brought me closer together with Hermione. I was corrupting her and it even went on to accuse me of being with the Death Eaters and having faked the whole thing.

"Rita Fucking Skeeter has snuck into Hogwarts in her Animagus form and took photos." I wasn't even aware Rita Skeeter was an Animagus. Everything she had done was illegal and she would not get away with it if Hermione's expression was anything to go by. She looked lived and I just pressed my hand to her knee to try and calm down.

"How do you know this Hermione?" She looked nervous and slightly guilty before Harry nodded his head at her and she withdrew a large sigh.

"At the end of my fourth year when Cedric died, I found out that Rita was an Animagus, a beetle to be precise. She was spying in the hospital wing after Harry finished the fourth task. I kind of, sort of kept her a jar with a charm to stop her from transforming. I obviously didn't think the bitch was stupid enough to try it again. Even if she did register, what she was doing was a breach of the law." Everyone was looking at Hermione with different expressions.

"You kept her...in a jar...as a beetle." She nodded at Daphne before the entire table started to laugh. I too found it amusing but seeing them all laugh like hyenas was rather concerning.

"Look let me talk to Kingsley, I am still technically an Auror but I am subbing for The School this upcoming year. If they need me for a bust of whatever I am still on the team." It was smart to do it that way, Kingsley didn't want to lose Harry's Political clout and yet seen it to be a good idea to have someone at the school to keep an eye on things. One by one everyone started to trickle out, Hermione bid farewell to Harry and Daphne who left hand in hand before it was just the two of us along with Minerva and Poppy.

"I heard you were heading away somewhere? Anywhere nice?" Hermione started into detail and I just smiled at her enthusiasm and explained we were going to France to unwind. We finished and left the room before taking a walk around the grounds. This day turned out to be a colossal shit bag. Holidays can only make it better.