3

A life with her neighbors

at Richmond upon Thames.

The first people she met that day were Draco and Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa's family. Lucius was a tall man with straight features and a smug face, but despite that, he had a charismatic smile and was very well liked. A good host, who chatted a bit with everyone, although he did not seem to have any interest in engaging any of them in depth. His son Draco was quieter and more withdrawn, yet he did not come across as insecure or shy. He was sixteen years old, already taller than his mother, as big as his father, but with smaller shoulders and slimmer arms. Both men had similar hair, short and slicked back, with blonde locks that were less platinum than Narcissa's. Draco didn't look much like his mother, beyond his nose.

"And after that, we added several more security cameras in the restaurant area," Rosmerta explained.

Hermione took a sip of lemonade. For some strange reason, almost as if the weather wanted to obey the Malfoys, it was hotter today, nice enough to be out on the patio.

Rosmerta, who Hermione was talking to now, was a very talkative woman. She was not very interested in being answered, but in telling all the anecdotes she had experienced. Unfortunately for Hermione, as she was not so talkative, she ended up alone often and consequently Rosmerta took the opportunity to bend her ear.

She knew the woman already but never imagined that the two lived so close to each other, enough so to be neighbors and meet at the barbecue. Rosmerta worked and owned a fairly large business, which was divided into sectors for eating, drinking, dancing, and they even had a sector for games, such as billiards. She knew her from there, because that was one of Harry and Ginny's favorite places to hang out. Sometimes they would go dancing together there for a while, and Hermione took the opportunity to breathe a little and drink... until Rosmerta came over and spoke to her at the bar, possibly thinking that like her, she wouldn't like to go five minutes without engaging in conversation.

She caught a glimpse of Draco talking to a girl who looked his age. From her appearance she assumed that she must be the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson, who worked in a bank and were quite serious in personality; she didn't know much more about them. She searched for another blonde head, wanting to find Narcissa, but found Lucius again instead. He was at the grill, talking to Albus Dumbledore, Tom Riddle, and Gellert Grindelwald while he cooked.

Albus and Gellert were the oldest of that group, having gray hair already. They were both principals at two different schools in the neighborhood. Albus from a public one and Gellert private, and they used to argue about politics all the time. Tom, on the other hand, worked in an orphanage, and was a very quiet man. Hermione didn't like talking to those three very much, as they made her feel like they were hiding things from her, or like she was too young to understand everything but rather, what Hermione thought, was that they were just smug. Possibly corrupt, as well, their numbers did not add up to her at all. Maybe that's why they were getting along with Lucius? She brought the lemonade back to her mouth, stifling a laugh.

"Are you alone? Won't you get bored?" Someone asked, and Hermione turned around.

Narcissa was very well made up today. Her lips were thus more attractive and her eyes more impressive.

"Rosmerta was talking to me. I didn't realize she had left."

"Are you often lost in your thoughts, Miss Granger?"

She gave a nervous laugh, remembering the day before, when she had lost herself intensely staring at Narcissa's face and forgot how to make her ears work.

"And you? Are you having fun?" Hermione asked.

"Well," she sighed, "Lucius invited most of the neighbors over."

"You don't like them?"

"I don't think a good hostess should say this, but no, not very much."

"I'm not surprised. No offense, but most people with enough money suck."

"Well... But aren't you someone with enough money?"

"I would like to think I'm not included in the group that sucks," she joked. "Not you, of course. It's not that we're rich here either, but you know... we're not surrounded by humility."

"What's your job?" She asked.

"Finance department at Jaguar Cars," she replied. "I am in a high position because my grandfather is one of the CEOs. I do my job well so I don't think I don't deserve it, but I certainly didn't have the experience to climb that high so quickly."

"I didn't imagine you as a numbers person."

"A book person? I suppose I follow the saying: don't mix work with pleasure."

Narcissa laughed in response and sipped the drink in her hand.

"I really like the economy, actually. I enjoy my job."

"That's good."

"Did you always want to be a mother?" She asked now.

"I worked before I had Draco, but then I preferred to focus on motherhood. It's a beautiful thing."

Hermione nodded, just as she always did with Ginny. She couldn't understand it, but she could pretend to.

"Of course it's not for everyone," Narcissa continued.

"No?" She was taken aback.

"Do you think otherwise?" Narcissa's brow arched.

"I... I've never heard someone who was a mother say that."

"I guess everyone tells you that you should have children?"

"Exactly. My mother, my friends..."

"Some people are fine alone with a partner. Or without even that, preferring to be alone."

Hermione frowned.

"Did you add that 'alone' for me, Mrs. Malfoy?"

"You said yesterday that you prefer solitude."

"So it's okay for you to be single and childless for life?"

"It depends on what you want, not what looks good to me."

Hermione lowered her eyes to her glass, took a sip.

"If you can't find other neighbors you like," she began, slowly and in a low tone, but sounding sure. "Maybe we could go for coffee some day? Or something else."

Narcissa's face showed her surprise at the idea.

"Yes, we could," she managed to respond.

Hermione didn't look at Narcissa, but she felt like she was being scrutinized up and down, as if she were a strange and unintelligible thing.

She did not regret her impulse, which also worked out for her. Narcissa was nice to talk to, maybe because of her age or just the way she was; she was not someone who imposed her beliefs. She was so used to hearing other people make demands as to how she ought to behave and think that right now she felt fresh and renewed.

. . .

"Are you sure, Hermione?" Ginny asked for the third time.

Hermione moved the phone, squeezing it between her ear and her shoulder so she could pull a box from a piece of furniture.

"Yes."

"I don't know when I'll be able to leave Albus and James with their grandmother again," she warned, and the phone also caught Harry's voice in the background, saying, "Leave her alone, she won't."

"I made other plans before," she repeated.

"Oh yes. Some guy who might soon join us?"

Hermione shook her head to herself in exasperation, taking advantage of the fact that Ginny couldn't see her. But she did not correct her assumption, it was easier to say that she had a couple of dates with a boy who later stopped liking her, than to say that she would rather be with her new neighbor than with her best friends.

"But you're coming to the wedding, right?" Ginny insisted.

"Yes, I am. I'm going to Ron's wedding. There's a long way until then, anyway."

"Two months fly by."

When they said goodbye and hung up the call, Hermione took out of the box an Italian coffee pot that her mother had given her when she moved in.

In the end, Narcissa suggested getting together at her house for coffee instead of going to a shop. She had an electric coffee maker in her kitchen, which was handy and kept the drink warm while she showered in the mornings, but Narcissa had said the coffee tasted better in these more rudimentary coffee makers and... well, it was no problem using this one if she liked it better. It was great to be able to dust it off for a change.

The doorbell rang and Hermione smiled this time: at last there was no unexpected knocking on her door.

"Mrs. Malfoy, come in," she invited her. "I'll go make the coffee for a second and I'll be back. Make yourself comfortable."

Hermione went into the kitchen, and as she poured water into the coffee pot, she spoke to her:

"You can call me Narcissa."

"Really?" She breathed out; a mixture of surprise at the voice behind her and joy seeped into her question.

"I have a feeling we could be good friends."

"I think the same, Narcissa."

"So Hermione," she said, once the coffee cups were filled and they sat down on the couch. "Unlike me, do you have many friends?"

"I don't think there are many, but they are good friends."

"I'm surprised I don't see you coming out more," she admitted. "People, unless they have children and a partner, usually spend little time in their own home."

Hermione snorted after drinking some coffee.

"Most of them live at the other end of the neighborhood, or even further. Only my friends Harry and Ginny are close. And they are parents, they are busy, just like those who live further away."

She could also have said something about Luna, who lived too close. But neither was looking for the other's company, so it would be meaningless information.

Narcissa raised her cup to her lips and seemed to be thinking.

"And you enjoy the solitude," she added, in a tone that bordered on mocking.

"I have a social life," she defended herself, "although perhaps this last year I reduced it significantly."

"Hm? Why's that?"

"I... um," she stammered. "I got a little bored with dating and stuff."

Narcissa's brow arched, along with one edge of her lips. Hermione considered it a rather predatory gesture, although she didn't know if she should see it as the curiosity of a fox or the threat of a wolf.

"Was your heart broken?"

"No," she murmured, in a low tone of disappointment.

For never having felt a broken heart? Or because she hoped that Narcissa was not just another friend, in love and with a happy family, who thinks and cares a lot about those things? She had some more coffee.

"Shouldn't you be happy?"

"Can I tell you a little secret?" She asked, ignoring what the other had told her.

Maybe it wasn't the best idea to say this to her neighbor she barely knew, as she might well tell everyone in the neighborhood what Hermione said in this room. Even if it turned out that Narcissa did not have the vivacious glow that she thought she sensed at the barbecue from her words. But not having a deep relationship with this woman also made it the perfect opportunity to speak...

"Your words will not leave this house."

"I've never fallen in love, never loved anyone."

Narcissa didn't answer right away, she took her time savoring the coffee and her words.

"And that was what put you off?"

"No, it was the issue. Like having children, I am supposed to have someone to love with all my heart."

"And like motherhood, you are not interested?"

Hermione nodded, and drained what was left of the coffee in her cup.

"Are you worried about what other people think of you?"

A chill ran through her, Narcissa was sharp. She knew she should have a boyfriend, not be promiscuous. There was a constant struggle in her mind, between what she wanted and what she should. Without going any further, wanting Narcissa when she shouldn't because she was a married woman, was a good example.

"Did you ever live downtown?" Narcissa asked.

"No. Where I lived with my parents was even quieter and smaller than here. Richmond is already crammed with civilization for me."

"Oh, Hermione," she said, followed by a giggle. Everything there is much more varied and bold...

She narrowed her eyes at the words, but Narcissa didn't notice, since it took her a few seconds to return from her memories.

"I met a lot of people. Most like our neighbors. But some others, a few, although quite hidden and unnoticed, were more special... Different, like you."

"Maybe you're just underestimating me," Hermione dismissed, staring at her coffee cup. "I'm just another ordinary neighbor."

Notes:

Hey! Happy Easter. :D

I think we should all thank Majere616. The translation was so fast!

In Spanish I told my readers a play on words about Hermione being anything but a saint, so today was an ironic day to post a chapter of her fanfic. XD
But I think that in English the joke is lost since for us this week before Easter is called "Semana Santa", and in Spanish a way of saying that a person is "morally correct" is "Santa".
Anyway, eat chocolate. And if you don't have one, steal the chocolate from a close cousin, brother, or unknown child. 3

OH by the way I think I forgot to mention it here - I post every Sunday.