Tuesday, October 14, 2003
"Mione," Teddy whined, "I wanna wead my piwate book."
Hermione sighed. She knew that taking him out early in the morning would result in constant complaining, but she'd promised Harry she'd think about the ball, and none of her old dresses were suitable.
"Come on, my little man," she urged. "You can bring your book with us. Here, I'll put it in my bag, and when we get to Twilfitt and Tattings, you can pull it out to read."
He grumbled but thankfully let Hermione put his robes and mittens on. She made sure he was all bundled before double-checking she had everything in her bag so they could apparate to the Alley.
"Alright, we're all set, love." Hermione said, lifting Teddy into her arms. "Hang on tight."
While Hermione usually hated shopping, she was relishing in finally being able to go out with Teddy again. He was meant to be in nursery school with Otto and Luna, but she had taken him out (much to his delight) for the duration of her time off work.
Now, as she apparated them to Diagon Alley and Teddy already began pulling her every whichway, Hermione realized again how much she had really missed Teddy.
"-right, Mione?"
"Sorry love, what was it you said?" Hermione looked down into Teddy's smiling face.
"I said, that after we get your pwetty dress, we can get ice cweam after, wight?" Teddy lisped at her.
"No, you goose, not today," Hermione laughed. "I know Harry already snuck you some when we saw him."
Teddy groaned and rolled his eyes, muttering about stupid uncles being too obvious. Hermione chuckled and picked him up to tickle him. He laughed joyously and leaned back in her arms, trying to escape her fingers.
"Love, watch it, you're going to- Oh," Hermione abruptly stopped tickling Teddy. He'd leaned back and bumped into a familiar woman with long platinum blonde hair. "Narcissa."
The woman looked up wide-eyed and looked taken aback for a moment.
"Er- what are you doing in the Alley today?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, Ms. Granger! Yes, I'm just getting some sweets for Draco." Narcissa replied nervously.
Hermione snorted, knowing about Draco's sweet tooth since their Hogwarts days, "I'm surprised he made you get them instead of a house elf."
"Misty's visiting her children, but yes, he's been whinging and bothering, so I've taken it upon myself to shut him up."
Hermione chuckled quietly, readjusting Teddy in her arms. It was nice to be on nicer terms with the Lady Malfoy, though she wished it had happened under better circumstances.
"What about you Ms. Granger? What brings you to Diagon Alley?"
"Ah well, Harry's blackmailed me into going to the Mystery Ball this year, but I need to find a new dress." Hermione explained, and as an afterthought added: "And please, call me Hermione."
"Very well. Hermione," Narcissa smiled. "Would you mind too much if I asked to come along? I so love buying dresses, and I haven't had anyone to do it with for ages."
Though they were on good terms, Hermione was hesitant to spend her day with Narcissa. However, after a moment's consideration, she realized that Narcissa was far more knowledgeable about the latest fashions and how to dress, and with her help, they would find the perfect dress much more quickly. Above all… Hermione's well aware that Narcissa has been shunned by all of wizarding society after the war, and though she tries to hide it behind a smiling facade, Hermione can see the pain and loneliness in her eyes; almost identical to those of her son's.
"That would be lovely," she replies.
Now, with Teddy asleep on her shoulder, and the quiet that settled between herself and the Lady Malfoy, Hermione realized that they've rarely been left in each other's company with no one as a buffer. Often during Sunday teas, Teddy would distract Narcissa with stories or questions and Hermione would defer quietly to Andy. However, never one to back down from a challenge, no matter how daunting, Hermione decided to make an attempt:
"How are you, Narcissa?"
"Oh," was the Lady's eloquent reply. "Very well, thank you."
The quiet became awkward. After another few moments of silence, Narcissa jolted slightly, "And yourself, Ms.- Hermione, how, ahem, how are you? And Teddy? Holding up with Andy's being in St. Mungo's?"
"Yes, well. Good enough, I suppose." She returned.
Hermione figured that as painful as this awkward encounter was, it was nice to have older company for once, company with no expectations anyhow.
"Ahem, Andy mentioned that you'd be returning to work in a couple of weeks," Narcissa started.
"Yes."
"Yes. Forgive me, but what is it you do at Lux?"
"Oh," Hermione said, a bit surprised that Narcissa was the one starting the conversation but relieved nonetheless, "well, I work with Blaise Zabini, and most recently we've been researching different aquatic species found in the Adriatic Sea. It seems they have some properties that may aid us in finding cures for illnesses like Mumblebumps and the Black Cat Flu. Which I still think is a ridiculous name for an illness that is technically, initially spread by rats and bats."
When no sound greeted her, Hermione turned to see Narcissa with a shocked but amused expression.
"What?" prodded Hermione. "Yes, I know I prattle on sometimes, but that's the quickest I could think to explain it."
"You're quite passionate about what you do, that's all," said Narcissa. "It's refreshing, really."
"Oh."
"Yes, well I always knew you were brilliant."
"Really?" Hermione snorted, feeling a spark of irritation. "Well, it didn't seem like you held me in high esteem when I was growing up."
At that, Narcissa flushed a deep red, "Yes. I was foolish."
Her head was down and she twiddled her fingers beneath her robes. She was ashamed, Hermione realized. She said nothing else until they reached Twilfitt and Tattings.
"Hermione," Narcissa called out from a mountain of dresses. "Are you sure you don't want to wear this one?"
The dress in question was a tight number that revealed the expanse of her back until a finger's width above her arse, "Yes, I'm quite sure, Narcissa. I told you, I'm hopeless to shop with."
"No matter, dear," was her reply before the lady twittered about a new rack.
Hermione rolled her eyes at her reflection as she tried on dress #187 (well, it felt like it anyhow). Orange was definitely not her colour.
She peeked out past the dressing room curtain to check on Teddy: still asleep, drool dripping onto the loveseat he was laying on. Checking her watch, Hermione figured she had about a half hour before he awoke and demanded food, entertainment, or to go home. Or all three. Stepping back into the room, she began to unwrap the orange pouf from her person, intent on getting Narcissa to surrender for the day.
But before she could so much as shout out, the dressing room curtain opened, exposing her top to the wide-eyed Lady Malfoy.
"Narcissa!" Hermione exclaimed, her cheeks flushing.
"Oh, my apologies, dear!" Narcissa said, waving her hand in apology. "But you must try this one on, it's perfect!"
"Narcissa," Hermione repeated, trying to nudge the lady past the curtains, "please, I-"
"Oh, don't be embarrassed, Hermione, I've seen it all before. Here, try it on."
And with a whoosh of the curtains, Hermione was left alone again, "Narcissa… I think it's enough for today."
"Nonsense, try it on."
Sighing in defeat and hoping soon she could be in bed with a warm cup of tea, Hermione began slipping the long blue dress over her head.
"Oh, it's beautiful," Narcissa gasps. "You must buy this one."
"Narcissa!" Hermione turned around quickly, almost tripping over her own feet. She'd barely pulled the dress down all the way before the lady was in her space again, "I'm glad someone is enjoying themselves, but honestly, I must insist-"
"Hermione Granger." Narcissa interrupted, "Look at yourself."
She did.
And she was slightly taken aback. The dark blue dress had a layer that draped across her shoulder down to her hip and had a subtle glitter to it. The sleeves were a soft, transparent fabric that billowed when she moved her arms. It dipped low enough to be suggestive but modest and hugged her at the waist until it flared out, giving it a modest aire.
"Oh."
Narcissa smiled at her wetly through the mirror, "You look beautiful."
And Hermione? She felt beautiful.
"Dear, I've had the most wonderful day with you today. Thank you for inviting me."
"It's my pleasure, Narcissa. I didn't think we'd have that much to talk about, but I had a good time."
"I was wondering if you wanted to come with Teddy this week for dinner. Misty would be so happy to make you something special."
Hermione froze. It was one thing to spend the day with a Malfoy, it was another to go out of her way to visit her. And at the place where she was tortured at that. There was a part of her that felt embarrassed at being unable to move past it, but another part, a stronger part, felt hurt. Hurt at being invited to a place that still held terrifying memories for her. Hurt at still not being offered an apology. Hurt at feeling so alone except in the company of few and of one of those being a former torturer's mother. Hurt that a day spent with Narcissa Malfoy made her feel more alive than she had in a long time.
"I-I'm sorry, but I can't." Narcissa deflated at that. "I mean no disrespect, but I'm just- I can't."
Narcissa nodded sadly at that, her head hung again in shame, "I understand, Ms. Granger. No need to explain."
Hermione felt bad, but her nightmares were already eating at her; a visit to Malfoy Manor would surely make it worse.
"I suppose I'll see you on Sunday then?" Narcissa asked her, eyes still downcast as though expecting another rejection.
Hermione softened, "Of course, Sunday is perfect. We can have tea again before we visit Andy."
"Right," Narcissa replied, small smile on her face. "Lovely, I'll see you both soon then."
She nodded before continuing on down the Alley towards Sugarplum's Sweets Shop. Hermione continued to stare at her back until she disappeared, wondering if maybe one day, she'd be courageous enough to brave her haunted past.
A/N: Wow, I'm super glad to be back, and I hope you enjoy this new (and slightly rushed) chapter.
Much love & thanks, Frankie