Please be gentle on this chapter. Its short, and grammar is probably at an all time horrible, 1:30am update, and I am probably seeing double not because of the beer, but because of staring at this dang computer all day.. OH YEAH...Her first interaction with Fleur. eek Im gonna try to do titles in this fic. Lats see how it goes.

Lemon Germanium ~ Unexpected Meeting

Hermione's class went as they usually did. Brilliantly well, academically. The class work was easy, the tasks simple, but the atmosphere shifted drastically. She was used to the stares being Harry's friend, but now they were focused solely on her. It came to a head when she was leaving Transfiguration class, and McGonagall asked her to stay behind. Hermione tensed as eyes fell on her and the professor but whispered words, teachers pet, suck up, and McGonigal's pet where thrown at her. The last one the professor heard.

"Mr. Finnigan! Detention with me after school, and 50 points from Gryffindor," Professor McGonagall growled at the boy. Hermione stood straight as if she didn't heard her classmates words, as if she didn't notice a 50 point loss to her house because off... Well because of a stupid cup spewing her name into the air.

"Miss Granger, how have you been?" The professor asked as she folded her hands in front of her. She watched the girl. Over the past three years the young lady has grown into a very independent, powerful, cunning and brilliant witch. But once Hermione's name came from the cup, the girl took on and edge. Yes, she was a reserved witch before, but this was a very visible change for her. She knew of her fellow lions picking on her because of her knowledge, and the way she gobbled up every bit of information she could. Hermione was positively pleasant but to be able to approach the girl was difficult as her nose was always in some book.

"I am managing," the girl stated flatly. McGonagall noticed the tension in her shoulders, the set of her chin, and the clench of her jaw. However, even with all of those noticeable changes it was the girl's eyes. They shifted left and right. They were on guard. McGonagall stepped forward but Hermione shifted placing desks between them.

"Talk to me, Miss Granger," McGonagall said softly as if to a soothe or calm a scared child.

"I will be late to the infirmary. I should be going," Hermione turned to leave after a tight respectful nod.

"We are here for you, Hermione," the professor called out to the girl. Hermione paused at the door gripped the edge, knuckles turning white. The professor hoped, then those hopes where dashed. Hermione only nodded and left the worried professor behind.

Hermione sped to the infirmary. Her head was on a swivel, and her wand in her hand. She listened to her steps but tried to regulate her breathing. No sound other than her shoes on stone floor could be heard. Almost to the infirmary, she heard an echo behind her. She turned her head but still sped to the infirmary approaching a corner.

Pain. Ever freaking pain shot up her back in a lancing pierce as she landed on her tail bone after crashing into something… soft. Hermione even in her pain, rolled into a crouch with her wand drawn. There was a groan and muttering under the other persons breath. Hermione watched light blue fabric unfold and stand up gracefully. Slowly Hermione rose from her position as the other began to right their dress, wipe dust from their knees. Finally, the girl laid eyes on Hermione, then blue eyes slid to the wand in Hermione's hand. Hermione simply moved to the door as she lowered her wand never taking her eyes off blue irises specked with a lighter blue about the pupil. When she opened the door, Hermione nodded her farewell and turned to the world of magical first aid, and medicine.

Narcissa heard the door close and then a deep expel of air. Pomfrey was in her office doing regulation forms to request more supplies for the influx of students. She knew the infirmary could make it until November with their stores, but no further if something big happened. And something must have, because the witch had not come from the office as she talked to suppliers from all over Britain. It didn't help that Potter always seemed to find his way into a jinx or a hex. Hell, he was in here at least two times a week from quidditch alone. For someone who is the Dark Lord's downfall, and a seeker for his house team, he is an uncoordinated little fellow.

Narcissa placed vials into the medicine cabinet silently and then turned to the sound of the weary. When she found the newcomer, she was surprised. Hermione Granger stood there leaning against the door's eyes closed, chest taking deep measured breaths, but her wand shook in her trembling hand. Narcissa walked further into the room, hoping she wouldn't startle the girl. The way Hermione seemed to gather her wits and then settle her composure told of the girl's strain.

They had been working together for weeks and Narcissa was beginning to pick up on the younger witch's quirks and today Hermione's entire body radiated an unpleasant aura of fear, and paranoia. Narcissa cleared her throat. Brown eyes flew open and found her blue. Hermione didn't move but her body tensed tighter than a bow string.

"I will be your teacher today, Miss Granger," Narcissa said calmly but with her usual high-born sneer. Hermione closed her eyes, pinched the bridge of her nose, and then opened them with new purpose. Hermione nodded to herself more than to Narcissa determined, but determined to do what?

Narcissa paid very close attention to the girl. Hermione's mind was glorious and ever adaptive, and quick. She was a phenomenal student both with literature and practical aspects of her independent study. She attacked books and learning like a starving man at a Christmas banquet. Today though the dark circles under her eyes, the frustration bubbling just below the surface off set her normal interactions with Narcissa. Sure, they never were warm to each other, but Narcissa saw it for what it was, teacher and student relations.

CRASH!

Narcissa witnessed the girl nearly fly out of her skin, and then in a split second her hand zipped to her wand. Narcissa's hand flew out to Hermione's wand hand. Gentle, yet firm, Narcissa wrapped her fingers around Hermione's wrist. Narcissa's eyes clashed with Hermione's. She couldn't stop it. She didn't mean to dive into Hermione's mind. She was drawn in. Jinxes, Hexes, horrible words, pranks, then down right abuse. The children in her own dorm treated her with such disdain. Then there was one, cloaked, tall, they slammed her into the wall in a dark alcove. Fist, hands, even teeth, then a shock wave through her gut.

"STOP!"

Narcissa flew from Hermione. The stool she sat on rolled back nearly across the room. She didn't even know when she sat down, all she knew was the force in which she was thrown wheeled her into the middle of the room. The pounding in Narcissa's heart, the clenching in her chest took over all her senses. Her eyes flew to Hermione. She sat there breathing rapid shallow breaths. Her eyes unfocused, then tears streaked down and uncrying face.

Narcissa did the only thing she could think of. She stood and walked straight up to the girl. Some thing clicked as Hermione's eyes seemed to catch her movement, and she raised her wand gain in a trembling hand. Narcissa, no fear for herself, took the hand with the wand, moved it to the side, and wrapped her arms around the frightened girl. She took Hermione's head to her chest, one hand rubbing circles on her back, while the other dug spindly fingers into the mass of curly hair to keep her cradled to the witch.

Hermione was a fighter; oh, Merlin was she a fighter. She tried to push against the older witch, but Narcissa would have none of the young girl's protests. Then as if the will to fight slowly seeped away, Hermione clenched on to the robes of the pureblood witch protecting her.

"You had no right," sobbed Hermione softly into Narcissa's shoulder. Narcissa paused but did not let Hermione go, would not give up this child to the whims of her house, or her school.

"I suppose not," Narcissa whispered softly. Hermione slowly detached from Narcissa and sat down on an infirmary bed as Narcissa pulled the rolling stool back to their location. Hermione fidgeted, with her wand. Narcissa slowly went to take the wand from Hermione but the girls grip on the instrument tightened. Narcissa swallowed.

"Hermione please listen to me," Narcissa implored and then only got a tilted head and narrowed eyes as a response, "I am going to take a diagnostic," Narcissa said softly.

"You don't have to. Nothing is broken, just severe internal bruising along the left side, and bruises along the kidneys. You need not do it, Lady Malfoy," Hermione rambled off.

"Please," Narcissa asked placing her fingers on the girl's knees, "Indulge and old witch," Narcissa tried to smile but was sure it came off as a grimace. She was not used to consoling, being warm, and endearing. Only ever with Draco had she been tender. Hermione sighed and then looked away.

Narcissa cast the spell and swallowed. The girl lied, bold faced lied to her. Three cracked ribs, internal bruising, and a tear in her rectus abdominus to her left oblique.

"How are you still standing my Little Witch?" Narcissa whispered shaking her head.

"I am not your little witch, Lady Malfoy," Hermione gritted and then stood making Narcissa edge back on the stool. Hermione made no attempt to look at the woman as she walked from Narcissa.

"Hermione," Narcissa called out and Hermione stopped and turned around with eyes cold as ice.

"Lady Malfoy, there is no need for further assistance. I would not want to dirty your hands with the likes of a mudblood," with those words Hermione snapped back around and out the door. Narcissa too shocked by Hermione's words had no time to react. She went to stand, chase the girl down, make sure she was safe.

"She will be back tomorrow. Let her be," Narcissa turned to Madame Pomfrey's voice.

"You did not see what I saw," Narcissa gritted as she took a breath.

"No, I didn't, but think about it, Lady Malfoy. Your son had tormented her since before her sorting. He led, and still leads, a group of jackals that nipped at her heals daily just for being muggleborn," Poppy saw the blondes hackles rise at the mention of her son, "I saw it firsthand, Narcissa. She isn't stupid. If her son treats her as if she is a plague, then why not his pureblood mother and father who are actively see in the press spewing forth Pureblood Supremacy rhetoric?"

Narcissa watched the door, hoping the girl would return, but she sighed when the door never opened. Her job wasn't to heal, it was to gain intel. Her guts dropped. Even if it was a cause she didn't believe in.

"I guess I will have to show her that one of Draco's parents isn't a lost cause," Narcissa said as she went to go for a walk. Hopefully she would run into the girl.

"What cause would that be, Lady Malfoy?" Poppy shot after Narcissa. Narcissa paused, then shook her head. Unable to make that decision at that moment. As Narcissa walked her thought wondered. She went over and analyzed those moments in the infirmary. It might be time to talk to McGonagall, then take an apprentice of her own.