A/n This chapter is dedicated to Vahalla1992 who helped me a lot when it came to this chapter. Also thank you to everyone who continues to read this story despite its flaws and slowness.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Like always all opinions are welcomed and the next update will be a slow one :)
There were only a handful of times Hermione ever made a fool of herself. The time in the second year with the polyjuice accident when she turned herself into a cat while trying to become Millicent Bulstrode or fourth year when she had tripped over her own feet outside of the Beauxbatons carriage in front of nearly half the girls present after her night with Fluer. But nothing then compared to what had transpired between her and Narcissa. So instead of sitting down and talking about the situation, communicating with the other witch like a normal person would so choose to instead avoid it altogether. For almost a week she had managed to skirt around Narcissa at every turn which was difficult considering their arrangement but somehow she found a way, yet it seemed like fate had a different idea on it.
Narcissa had the patience of a saint, she had to while being the youngest of three growing up in a household that held fast to the belief that pureblood was the royalty of the wizarding world, with a sister who despite in the end died was a trouble maker growing up always getting into fights and making life difficult for their parent's while the other was as stubborn as a mule when it came to what she believed. Even in her adult years that patience never wavered, not when Draco was growing up, not even when Lucius invited the dark lord into their homes putting not only her life at risk but their son's as well. However, waiting for the girl who had grown on her over the years through her son's letters and even in person had started to make her patience wear thin to the point where she had enough. She wasn't stupid she knew when someone went out of their way to avoid her having witnessed for many decades people doing exactly that but none of it mattered before yet when sighting Hermione became less and less almost to nothing during the week following the little incident between them it started to feel like something had been slowly pulling her heart out. So she gathered some of that Gryffindor courage her wife often showed and decided to confront the witch
"How long do you plan on avoiding me" Narcissa spoke keeping her voice calm and lowered slightly as she leaned against the door frame to Hermione's room wearing a black silken nightrobe that stopped just below her knees with a low cleavage cut showing off a little skin
Hermione had been working on a few important letters for the past couple of hours losing track of time when she heard Narcissa speak. She had been so careful in avoiding the older witch as was sure that she would be in her own respectful room however she had let her guard down by leaving her door open to the other occupants in the house which Narcissa seemed to take advantage of
"I've been busy"
"Do you want to try that again"
" I really have been busy Narcissa"
"Then you will listen while you do whatever it is you are doing since you are making it obvious that you do not wish to see me. You have been avoiding me for the past week, each time you get even a sliver of a sense of my presence you turn the other way, going out of your way just so you don't have to see me or be near me. Which might I say is quite impressive considering we live together but that isn't the point. I can stand here and point out the many reasons why I believe you are doing what you are or why you will not even look at me when I'm speaking but I wish to hear your reasons. I'm not naive Hermione and you know that too, so please do not lie to me and be truthful."
She sat there hand poised to continue writing as ink dripped down onto the parchment paper forming a blob where her quill hovered. Trying but failing to formulate even a single word. There was so much that she needed to be said but Hermione wasn't sure how. This was different compared to the other times she had spoken her mind, she didn't care if others hated her for speaking the truth because she had friends standing beside her supporting her no matter what but when it came to Narcissa the woman she had come to find herself attracted to it was another matter. Her thoughts were hard to arrange in such a way that every thought and everything she wanted would come out without sound so stupid which she currently was feeling at the moment.
Pushing off the wall with a sigh Narcissa took the silence as rejection so she did the only thing she was best "This was pointless, Do not come to me when you need someone to push your problems off on" her voice took on its familiar cold dead tone that she had spent years with before the end of the war. She turned to make her way down the hallway towards her own room feeling disappointed, she had managed to make it halfway to the room before she was stopped by the voice that had plagued her mind
" Please" It sounded so desperate so vulnerable that it made Narcissa melt just a little but she had yet to turn around to face Hermione, she couldn't because she knew if she did then she would cave into the girl and she couldn't have that
"Why" it was such a simple word one that meant a million words.
" I want to say so much, To explain everything but words escape me because You make things difficult. You make my mind run a million miles an hour unable to make sense of a single thought, usually, I can formulate what I want to say no matter what the situation but when it comes to you I can't. But you deserved the truth. I know you didn't deserve the treatment I put you through this past week, it was unfair, selfish, and foolish. I was scared, afraid, and embarrassed to approach you after what happened in my emotional haze after i... um made an advance Towards you. I want to blame it all on the anger and lust that came with it but that isn't the truth. In the short time that we have been together you've been supportive and accepting of the situation you found yourself in with everything including our marriage, you defended me against Ron and even allowed me to vent my frustrations out and I am very thankful for it all. But somewhere along the line, I found myself enamored with you. Beautiful, fierce, protective, and strong, and willing to do anything to protect those you hold dear how could I stop myself from falling for you. What I'm trying to say is that I did not know how to approach you after that night and I sincerely apologize for how I acted after" Hermione had to take a deep breath in and out halfway through, to stop her voice from shaking and to stop herself from crying because she knew as she stared at the back of her wife she didn't deserve the woman's attention especially after ignoring after all this time even more so when Narcissa gave her a chance to explain herself. She had no intention of blurting everything out to the woman in front of her but before she could think her feet had carried her into the hallway chasing after the witch who had been patient enough with her actions because she was afraid that Narcissa would hate her.
Narcissa listened tentatively to Hermione as she spoke never once moving from her spot because no matter how much she wanted to just leave to save her the heartache of the young witch ignoring her even further, she found herself frozen. Silence surrounded both witches allowed to the subtle sound of shuffling to be heard. Taking a deep breath in and out to steady her beating heart Narcissa turned around her eyes landed on Hermione she could see the younger girl shuffling slightly from foot to foot as she fiddled with the last button on her button-up shirt with nerves, her head tilted down slightly almost like she was afraid. Deciding to take make her way towards her young wife Narcissa took slow, steady steps giving Hermione enough time to realize that she was approaching her allowing her to turn the other way and run if she desired, and the closer she got the more Hermione seemed to fidget and avoid looking at her.
"Darling look at me," The blonde said in a soft tone causing her partner to flinch slightly.
When there was no movement from the brunette Narcissa grabbed Hermione's chin, gently tilting it up so that she had no choice but to look directly at her.
"There are those big beautiful eyes of yours my dear. So you find yourself falling little old me a woman years your senior" She let her thumb rub against Hermione's jaw slowly.
Hermione went to say something along the lines of Age didn't matter to her but was stopped when she felt her jaw being caressed softly with such tenderness that made her heartbeat with such fondness for the older woman.
"You are not the only one who find themselves enamored with such a woman" The words were spoken barely above a whisper but both witches could hear what was said
"Is that all you got out of my ramblings Cissy and here I thought you were a good listener" Hermione couldn't help but crack a joke smiling brightly at her wife trying to calm her beating heart
" Now now darling I may just have to retract what I just said. On a different note, we need to work on our communication if we are to make things work whatever that may be which means no running away from problems that arise and if things get too bad we both have to agree to sit down and take a breather. I know this will be a new experience for the both of us for different reasons which I may just share at a later date but for now, I propose a deal of sorts if you would be willing to listen"
"It's too late to take it back, I should know and if you had cornered me earlier I would have disagreed with the whole sitting down and working things out however after what just happened I would have to agree it should be important going forward. I think it's my turn to listen for once so please go ahead" Hermione said letting out a shaky breath reaching up to where Narcissa's hand lay and moved it so it was resting against her cheek wanting to feel her a little more.
" We take a couple of days to ourselves's to think about what we want going forward and come back and talk about what we have decided then we can go from there." Suggesting some time to gather thoughts was something Narcissa wanted for both of them because she knew when it comes to emotions and feelings both of them tended to compartmentalize things especially when it came to emotions and feelings. Hermione couldn't say anything to that so she just nodded in agreement hoping the other woman would understand.
"When you think your ready ill be here" Pulling her hand away from Hermione's face Narcissa allowed it to fall to her side as she took a step back with a small smile on her face, turning around reluctantly making her way towards her own room but not before stopping briefly to wish Hermione goodnight.
Hermione stood for a few more moments staring at the spot Narcissa previously occupied before making her way to her bed forgoing writing the rest of her letters to lay down where she eventually fell asleep with the blonde on her mind feeling better about things.