Hermione held the letter and stared at the seal on the back of it. She recognized it of course, the House of Malfoy wasn't discreet or secretive and she ran a finger over the deep shimmering silver of the wax.
Her mind was turning over what it might say and what she might do. Open it and read it of course but what might it say?
Narcissa Malfoy and her were not friends. Many things had happened in the eight months since the war ended though and they had spoken several times. It began when Harry came in from his newly started Auror training two months after the war ended, raging about Narcissa Malfoy being put on sealed house arrest, in Malfoy Manor. The dead tones when he said the name of the home and the way his eyes kept flicking to her and away had been too much for Hermione.
NEWT studies kept her busy and she was taking one every two weeks for two months. Still she had no problem finding time and then resources, knowledge. Then she had hired a lawyer, Preston Greengrass. He had been surprised to see her but eager once she explained what she wanted.
Greengrass had escaped the Mark, just barely and was only saved by the war ending when it did. Her blood mattered little to the man, she was fighting for purebloods. Narcissa had been first and it had ended after a month of her unceasing efforts and campaigning.
Then trials and she demanded sentences be just. They were trying to shove Malfoy in there for twenty years and Nott for ten. It was insane and she just kept fighting, kept finding things to keep her, and her now three lawyers, busy.
Hermione had gotten a flat and then moved into another one a couple of weeks later. Then a cottage in the forest and finally back into Grimmauld. Harry didn't want to live here but was happy to have her do so and so she was.
It wasn't by choice really, she liked it here well enough but it was Harry's. She couldn't sleep peacefully anywhere else and now she was having more and more dreams. It wasn't acceptable and she was sure it was magical. Dreams that indicated you should do something, that felt compelling, weren't to be taken lightly and finally she had caved and wrote the only Black alive.
Well the only one other than Andromeda, who even after all of this time, didn't like to speak about her family. Hermione would ask her if Mrs Malfoy couldn't help. It had been a hard choice but hurting Andromeda at all was the last thing she wanted to do. With that thought she broke the seal and read the short note.
Miss Granger,
I was surprised but not displeased to receive your letter. It was a departure from our usual correspondence regarding issues.
May I come there? This isn't something either of us will be comfortable discussing in public, or so your letter conveys.
Narcissa Malfoy
Daughter of the House of Black
Hermione stared at the words under the witch's name. They had written several letters and this was a new addition. Narcissa knew, knew something about what was happening.
Hermione hadn't actually said anything. Merely asked if the witch knew any of the history of this house, if it were sentient. It wasn't unusual for a magical home or building to be so after absorbing the magic cast and used over hundreds of years. Maybe she should have asked before, when the curtains covering Walburga Black couldn't be opened. It took Harry and her a while to try but it was so strange, no one understood.
Now she thought again that she didn't actually know what was happening. Told herself firmly that there was no reason to panic, yet.
Scenebreak replace and remove.
Apparition to a specific place wasn't new to her but spinning into being directly on the steps of Grimmauld Place was a challenge. Especially since she hadn't been here since she was in her early twenties. Narcissa Malfoy was a witch in her prime, or would have been without the recent years. Determining firmly that she still was, she wrapped on the door knocker with her wand.
There she was, the curly hair pulled away from her face and opening the door herself. It was unusual and so out of place in this residence that Narcissa didn't know what to think of it. The younger witch's smile was tentative and Narcissa tried to smile politely in return. It was hard, what had happened and then what the young witch had done after.
Hermione Granger was surprising and she knew that Draco had been right at thirteen. Angrily speaking to her about the witch and her brilliance. How kind she was and how it wasn't fair that he couldn't be her friend. That had been useless adherence to a custom both her and her husband knew was merely that, custom and not based in fact.
"Will you come in?" The witch asked quietly and Narcissa nodded and let her thoughts go. This was Family business. Ignoring her less than usually stable mind and thought control she followed the witch into the small front parlour. It was completely changed. Light and clean, it felt wonderful in this home. She remembered the gargoyles that were in here before and couldn't help flicking her eyes to the corner behind her.
"They are gone Mrs Malfoy. In the attic." The witch clearly understood and this small smile was more genuine. Hers was too, clearly the witch was going to carry on politely and gloss over other things. This was by far their most private interaction.
"Harry named them but I felt like they stared at me." Miss Granger's smile fell and Narcissa scanned the witch. Looked into her eyes and there was something hard there.
"Would you prefer to speak and then I can answer or add my thoughts?" Narcissa asked her and watched the witch openly consider that.
"Perhaps it is easier for you that way. This is after all your House and it's business." Narcissa nodded once and the witch poured. The ritual took some minutes but eventually they were both comfortable and Miss Granger was looking her over now, differently than Narcissa had experienced before.
"I can not sleep anywhere else. Not even at The Burrow or Harry's place." Narcissa felt the flare of hope at the witch's words and hid it carefully.
"This home is changing. I have found rooms and more frequently, shelves or cabinets. Kreacher isn't here and I use basic cleaning spells of course, still the change in the amount of light in rooms is suspicious. Things are convenient. Two way closets that weren't before. We spent months fighting with this house and now, it is as if the hostility is gone." The way the witch looked around the room and waved her free hand told her a good deal. It was significant, a noticeable change.
"Please do continue, I am sure there is more." As she had thought, her words got the younger witch's attention and she waited the small silence out. This blend of tea was excellent. This conversation, the idea behind it, was also diverting and the small flicker of hope was beginning to grow. Narcissa ignored it and tried not to think about what this would mean.
"The dreams." It was clear that these were significant and the tone of near desperation was alarming.
"Miss Granger." Narcissa spoke and wondered if she had ever seen such open eyes. As if the younger witch hoped she understood, could fathom the dreams. She couldn't but that was part of the lore. The Calling. The Called.
"Please call me Hermione, Mrs Malfoy. This feels personal." Gryffindor, pretty and smart but a Lion and that was hard, she preferred the smooth dealings among her peers.
"Of course, Hermione. First I would like to say that there are many things I would like to speak with you about and I appreciate you having trusted me with this. Your polite manners and token words aside, I am aware you have little reason to trust me beyond my own interests." As she had thought, the witch nodded and was attentive.
"I'm sure you have surmised that I would consider the House of Black my business, regardless of my having married." Narcissa sipped while the witch gave a small wry smile.
"I spent as much time with Tonks, Nymphadora, as I could. She was great and so different from anyone else I've ever met. She used to tell me that nothing could take her blood from her. She didn't want the money, she'd rather the power and spirit she got from the House of Black." Narcissa knew most of her feelings at that didn't show.
The tearing feelings in her magic and heart when Bellatrix screamed what she had done. The relief later, she had been unable to kill her sister. Unwilling to try and then fail. What would happen to her son, what did happen to Andromeda's daughter. Her sister had killed her niece. No amount of disownment or arguments could change how far the House of Black had fallen.
"Would that we could choose again." Was all Narcissa could say and the nearly broken look in the light brown eyes across from her told her that this witch agreed, understood. Despite her age, she could see the loss.
"Would you like to know what I do? You can not undo knowing. It will not make it better, it may make it worse." This was the best she could do. The least she could say and if she hadn't watched this young woman be broken on her floor, she might have told her exactly what was happening and set it in motion.
She would have told her and set the magic in play, damn the consequences. Sent the witch with instructions to find her and convince her. No doubt the witch could. Legilimency if nothing else, anything. If it was in her own lifetime, she couldn't see why it wouldn't be, then it would not take much to convince her.
What she might be able to do was limited by when but Narcissa knew Draco would understand. She had told him the tales of her family from birth and it was something they shared. The grey eyes of the Blacks.
"Can I make it stop if I don't know?" The question was smart and the witch had both hands in her lap and all of her attention on her.
"You might wait it out. Leaving here is a good idea as well, should you decide to do so. Surely limiting contact with me and Draco will be needed." It was hard to answer this and the stiff tone was heard. She could see the curiosity and the defensiveness in the eyes meeting hers.
"Mrs Malfoy, is this a big thing?" The words were insignificant but the eye contact said something else. It said enough that she answered honestly.
"Certainly Miss Granger, Hermione. If you had not recently faught a war involving soul magic I would say it was bigger than anything you had dreamt possible." It was the least she could say and the most she could say.
It was also true and something about the way the younger girl's eyes narrowed and a small frown puckered her brow, told her that she had some idea of the scope of magics that might be involved. Maybe this family's specifically, as she had been here with the library. Most of Black Manor had been emptied in here after Arcturus died. Leaving Walburga alone to stand Matriarch, a poor one certainly.
"This is a crazy question and you may think me daft or just an alarmist to ask. As you said, soul magic and the war." All Narcissa could do was gesture with her hand and it was enough for the witch to lean forward and grip the edge of her seat.
Narcissa Malfoy née Black had lived through two wars and many smaller surprises and events. This felt as momentous as anything she could remember and her magic felt nearly alive under her skin. More than she had felt since her marriage.
"Could we save them?" The words were quiet but she watched the girl force them out. Make herself ask the real question. So she did know the scale of magic involved and Narcissa was impressed. Even with the hints and dreams, it was far from probable to encounter such things.
"Everyone? I doubt it. Not we Miss Granger, but you." Certainly this was the most important discussion she had ever been part of. The most momentous and unfathomable ramifications.
"I don't. Harry." The witch stumbled over her words and Narcissa made herself be still and calm. This young woman had loved and cared for that boy since they were eleven. She knew more than most maybe, due to her son's interest in the witch and young Mr Potter.
Narcissa wanted to answer. To say that at the very least, if it was after the first war then Sirius could take the boy from his terrible relatives. It wasn't a good situation, she had made sure to know. The witch and her both knew Potter hadn't been treated well. She couldn't though. Couldn't say that, it would certainly activate the pull and she was surprised it hadn't, if the witch knew so much. Had even thought about it.
"Could you come back tomorrow?" Hermione asked her and she thought of the witch that way for the first time. It was all in her eyes. Narcissa felt badly for her, it was a choice she personally didn't want to make. Still, the witch could save her House and her son. Certainly lives, many. Change the whole world they lived in and the progression of events.
"I will have questions I am sure." Something in Hermione's tone was calculating and Narcissa wondered if the witch did know, had actually asked her here after the Calling was in effect.
All she could do was nod and thank the witch politely for tea and the conversation. The young witch was polite but lost in thoughts and she did understand that.
Author's note: My google drive is bursting with stories. Here is the beginning of one of them. Hope everyone is well. All canon information and events belong to JKR.
-maybenotahufflepuff