Ok ... take sympathy upon the drunk, sleep deprived, caffeine deprived... and all of the above deprived. Insert something, and I might be deprived. That is why this work is going out and I am not working properly at 530 am. LOL all problems with grammar blame it on 9 apple ales, and Pinot Grigio. hahaha. Forgive me guys. of you hate it I understand.
Striped Carnation ~ I can Not Be With You
The Night
Narcissa stayed in the infirmary with both Fleur and Hermione even though Fleur could technically go back to the Beauxbatons carriage for the evening. The young witch refused to be parted from Hermione. Narcissa knew why. Fleur was Hermione's mate, and Hermione was hers. As she looked to the two cots, she could not help but see how perfectly they seemed to fit together. Narcissa placed a hand over her stomach as a gnawing clawed at her insides. Fleur and Hermione. Hermione and Fleur. It was strange when the two were separate and in Narcissa's presence, Narcissa always felt a draw to the two witches. Narcissa just hoped, and prayed it wasn't what she thought it was. For the love of all that was holy and sacred in the world, no, she hoped it wasn't that.
Poppy came into the infirmary for her turn at watch. She smiled to Narcissa as she sat down and Narcissa didn't move from her spot. Poppy gave her a vial of flowing blue wisps. Narcissa nodded and palmed the clear tube and placed it in her robes.
"Are you sure you want to see that?" Poppy asked, "Draco looked pale as he gave it to me," the older with said softly. Narcissa took a deep breath and exhaled evenly and smoothly. Her posture never changed, and she was as tight as a bowstring waiting to let loose an arrow. She knew Narcissa was holding back for an appropriate target.
Narcissa let her eyes drift from one young woman to the other. Her thoughts heavy, and her heart torn, and her stomach rebelling. The physical discomfort was unbearable. She could have lost her little witch today. The worst part about this entire farce was Hermione was supposed to die. Hermione was supposed to be offered up on a platter to the Dark Lord, served preferably cold and rotting. Narcissa put her hands on the arms of the chair and pushed her feet under her and stood. She went to Fleur first.
Narcissa ran a diagnostic and frowned. She was running a little fever, but she supposed it was from the stress of the day. She summoned a fever reliever and woke her just enough to swallow the potion. Narcissa was gentle, and when Fleur's eyes hit hers, Fleur reached up in her near unconscious state and stroked her cheek with the back of her hand. Narcissa reached up and clutched the girl's hand with her own. She held it and waited as eyes closed once more. She let the hand fall slowly to the cot and then she stood straight and swallowed. Her heart hammered in her chest. It was the little Veela's unguarded eyes, and the softness of her caress that made Narcissa's insides plummet at the hellish possibilities. Narcissa pulled the blanket up to Fleur's chin and then turned around.
Hermione lay there, pale, but breathing. The spike lay on the table side. The witches would give it too her. Anything dragon related had amazing properties for healing and protection. Poppy and Narcissa even cut part of the spike at the base to make a potion with Severus to heal the girl. He said he would get back to them as long as he could have half of the ingredients for the concoction. They sighed and nodded. Hopefully by morning Severus would have something for Hermione.
"I can't," Narcissa whispered. Poppy looked up at Narcissa and Narcissa found Poppy's eyes. Narcissa folded her arms on her abdomen and one hand went up to her mouth. She tried to keep her tears at bay, but she broke. This little witch, broke her. Not long ago she was the Ice Queen of the Death Eaters, she was a force to be reckoned with. But no more than three months with Hermione almost every wall had been demolished, not to mention Fleur, oh Merlin, if her walls were not bombarded she would have scaled them.
"Do you need me to ask Albus to give you a few days?" Poppy asked. Narcissa took deep breaths and walked from between the two beds, away from the two people that seemed to have rendered into a sobbing wreck.
"I don't know," Narcissa said as she began to pace the ends of the beds. "I don't know, I don't know," she mumbled over and over. Then hands were on her shoulders. Wise, kind eyes looked into hers.
"I DO know," Poppy whispered and waved her wand. Surrounded in a soundproof bubble. "I have taken care of you since you were eleven. I know you, your family, and all the history in between and before," Poppy cupped Narcissa's chin, "I know, Little Cissa," the medi-witch took her hands from Narcissa's space. Narcissa closed her eyes. She did not reach out. She did not want to show that weakness, she did not want to show her need. Black's nor Malfoy's didn't show weakness and need. They were strong, they were survivors. Narcissa took a deep breath and then lifted her shoulder's back. She steeled her resolve, and she looked on the woman before her with a clenched jaw.
"I will report in tomorrow morning. Thank you for relieving me Madame Pomfrey," Narcissa turned from the woman and to the floo in the nurse's office.
"Narcissa, come on," the healer pleaded exasperated. But the blonde witch kept walking. She flooed not to Malfoy Manor but to Black Hall. She kept the grounds, it was essentially hers until Bellatrix returned, which was unlikely.
She snapped her fingers and an older house elf walked to the foyer.
"I need a pensive in the library," Narcissa said and the little elf popped off and met the quickly walking Narcissa in the library.
She took the memory from her pocket. She looked at it and she poured the memory in to the bowl. She did this here by herself, and then she would destroy the memory. No one needed to know she needed to know what happened. As Narcissa rolled back her sleeves she placed her face in to the blue wisps. Draco's thoughts zoomed by her, and then it focused on the trial.
She watched Cedric, and the dog idea. Clever. Then she watched a Fleur, oh god. She was completely engulfed in flames. It was a wonder she didn't come back blackened by the ferocity of those flames. And then she was ever graceful as she tried to soothe the dragon asleep, even in pain she was glorious to behold. Then she got the egg but was chased around the arena and then flew through the tent. Safe. She watched Krum almost slay his dragon to the point in which the dragon recoiled back in pain and crushed its own eggs. Poor dragon. He cast a conjunctivitis spell and blinded the beast and ran to steel the golden egg, not caring he was trotting on lost lives in the process.
Narcissa readied herself as she watched from Draco's eyes Hermione's trial. She saw her little witch come out of the tent and then the dragon nearly clipped her and she practically dove for the low ledge. She watched as Hermione thought, she looked around. She assessed her space. Good girl. She did something phenomenally foolish and oh so Gryffindor. She popped up, just to get caught by the dragon, then blinded it with a flash. Narcissa smiled as she watched the girls plan come to fruition. Then that tail whipped out for Hermione and you heard the piercing scream from her. Narcissa watched her little witch holding on with all her might to a dragon tail, all the while being impaled in her upper bicep close to her shoulder. Narcissa gasped as Hermione let go, cast another spell, freezing its wings, and then Her mouth dropped open as she blew the ledge apart, and blasted the dragon into a hole. Her throat caught with unshed tears as Hermione stumbled to the egg carefully so as not to disturb the other eggs and got her golden prize. Each step she took, she nearly fell over, and each foot she got closer to the tent Narcissa could see the trail of blood on the ground left in Hermione's wake. Narcissa knew the rest. She pulled from the memory.
She cast a levitation spell and then burned the memory. Her entire body felt heavy and light at the same time. There was a pinch in her heart, as if someone reached into her chest and clutched at her stull beating organ and squeezed. Her legs collapsed. She hit to floor in a heap of shocked tears and gasps. She wasn't even crying, not even sobbing and yet her eyes over flowed and rivulets flowed over her pale cheeks as she tried to breathe.
She sniffed and then clutched her chest getting ahold of herself. One more reason to come to Black Hall. She walked to the books on the back wall. Dust covered and forgotten. She opened the magically charmed book to update automatically. Only Black blood could open many of the tomes in this library and this was one, for the information in this one book could be damning to all of the Blacks in Magical Britain. Narcissa ran a finger over the names, and then she sighed, defeated. There in black ink Michele Sabine of the LeBlanc. Narcissa put the book down and opened one of the books hidden and tiny, and once again only those with Black blood could see the inside.
Michele Sabine LeBlanc 1767 to 1815- married into the Rosier family. Noble Veela Clan of LeBlanc. No other information given.
So, this woman was her Great Grandmother, and this is what she was afraid of. Diluted how ever much, it was still there, that blood. Her blood was not pure, it was…
Narcissa snapped the book back onto the Shelf. The Malfoy's weren't any better, Merlin look at Draco and Lucius's hair. Veela blood ran strong in that family. Narcissa rubbed her temples and called the elf to make sure her bedroom was fixed. Every one in a while she would sneak back to her childhood grounds, her childhood bed, and slept where dreams could still come true, where the future was measured in days, instead of years, and where the weight of the world was lifted from her shoulders and hung on a rack along with her coat.
She gave not a care as she magically whisked her clothes from her body. She cared not for bed clothes. She did not want to feel constricted. She needed the freedom, for tomorrow the weight of her findings will hit her. Her acceptance of her family's discretions before she was ever even thought of would be dwelled upon tomorrow. Just for tonight, she will feel like she had her own life in her hands, and not tied to the twisted hands of fate.
Morning…
Hermione woke and grimaced. She slammed her eyes closed as her whole body screamed at her. She slowly slipped her legs off the bed and rolled as her legs fell to the floor. She breathed heavily as if her lungs were not working, and her shoulder burned, as if on fire. Her feet hit the cold floor and then buckled. She felt to the floor with a thud, and a sob.
"'Ermione!" Hermione cradled her shoulder in her other hand with the arm around her waist as if to shield it from further injury.
"Ma Chere, come 'ere," Fleur slipped to the floor and Held Hermione to her chest. The doors opened and In came a frantic Madame Pomfrey. The healer shooed Fleur back but Fleur gave her a look, and Poppy looked at her and blinked. She sighed.
"Help me get her up then," the medi-witch instructed.
"St-stop, please," Hermione begged and both women placed her back on the floor.
"Make sure she does not move," Madame Pomfrey told Fleur and Fleur nodded and slipped behind Hermione and placed her hands back behind her and Hermione leaned into Fleur's front. She knew if she put her arms around her Hermione could not stand the pain.
"You are so brave," Fleur cooed as kissed Hermione's temple and Hermione seemed to calm against Fleur. Fleur waited for the healer to return.
"Don't stop talking please," Hermione whispered looking out into the space in front of her, "I can block it out if I can concentrate on something," Hermione explained in a pained. Fleur snaked her left arm around Hermione's waist and pulled her tight and Hermione fell into the blonde.
"I was so worried. Your heart stopped, and your breath seized, Oh Ma chere," Fleur's voice cracked. Hermione moved forward but Fleur kept the girl to her chest.
"Non, please, let me have this," Fleur whispered pleading into Hermione's ear Hermione nodded. Fleur hugged Hermione with her one arm as best as she could and spoke into her ear in French and English. She shed the weight of the tournament from her shoulders in French, and then told the girl in her arms how frightened she was when she saw her on the cot beside her, then in French she told Hermione how her own heart stopped as Hermione's stopped. She felt her own heart die along with the girl, and when it began to pump again, Fleur knew for certain Hermione was hers for always. In English she told her how worried everyone has been.
"Hermione, I want, non, I need to tell you…" Fleur was cut off by a banging of the great wooded doors flying open. Before the girls Narcissa Malfoy flew to them both. Fleur clamped her mouth shut and held her chin up.
"Madame Pomfrey told me to not let her move, we could not move her without pain," Fleur said with a clip to her voice. Narcissa looked up and cupped Fleur's chin. Fleur blinked at the gesture and Narcissa's eyes bore into her own. For the first time since they met, they were unguarded.
"You did well Little Flower," Narcissa whispered. Fleur felt something click in her chest, she swallowed. No, not this woman, then she looked down to the girl in her arms, what of Hermione? She felt the click with her too, she felt her own heart die. Something is wrong.
Narcissa cast a feather weight spell, suddenly Hermione sighed. Narcissa smiled as Hermione began to breathe easier and slid into Fleur's body succumbing to the softness of her body.
"Come, Little Flower, we can move her now," Narcissa went to Hermione's side and whispered into her ear, "I'm here now little witch, we have you, but you have to work with us," Narcissa got a slight nod. On the count of three they slowly lifted Hermione as best they could, Narcissa taking the injured side, while Fleur eventually slipped Hermione's good arm over her shoulder. They finally got her back on the bed sitting on the edge.
"I need to go to the bathroom," Hermione said gritting, and Fleur and Narcissa looked at the other.
"I will take care of that," Poppy said coming back into the room, "Thank you Lady Malfoy for getting to her so promptly," the healer smiled graciously. Narcissa stayed where she was but let the healer take Hermione to the facilities.
Fleur and Narcissa were left together.
"We need to talk, " Narcissa said watching Hermione.
"Oui," acknowledged the younger woman.
Narcissa looked at Fleur and took her measure. She looked into the woman, past the face, past the eyes, and hair, she looked as far as she could without looking into her eyes. Fleur was genuine. This little Veela was more powerful that the whole of her clan. Now that Narcissa accepted the truth of the matter, she could feel the subtle changes in her own blood. Would she ever bow down to her, submit? Never, but she could respect her.
Fleur felt her heart flutter as she felt Narcissa gazing at her. She finally found blue eyes. She did not feel the tale sign of Legilimency. Not at all. She felt the telling sighs of a fellow beast. Fleur's eyes shot open; she knew something was familiar about Narcissa. She felt it, she could almost touch the almost their thrall of a diluted Veela now that she knew what she was looking at.
"I guess the Black's are not as pure at the world thinks," Fleur said with a soft, gentle smile.
"I guess not," Narcissa said as she and Fleur leaned against Hermione's bed.
"You know we both want her. We are both drawn to her as a mate, don't you?" Fleur said as she looked to Narcissa.
Narcissa took a deep breath and a heavy sigh. She still looked to the direction the girl went. Narcissa finally after everything, nodded. It was then that Fleur looked at the witch beside her. She was gorgeous. But more than that, she was ethereal in Fleur's eyes. She was bed ragged, as if she just fell out of bed as Madame Pomfrey roused her from a deep sleep. Her eyes were red, and her make up… wasn't was nonexistent. Her hair was thrown into a loose bun, and streams of loose hair lipped from the bun, and Fleur could not help but want to stroke those flyaway hairs back behind her ear. Then Narcissa looked to her. Half of her heart literally melted into a puddle on the stone floor of the infirmary.
"I do not envy a woman with two mates," Fleur whispered, and Narcissa closed her eyes, pursed her lips tightly then looked back to where their girl went.
"I do not envy any person in our situation Little Flower," Narcissa said and then swallowed and looked back to the direction Hermione had gone.
"What will we do?" Fleur asked her heart in her throat, and there was a beat like tribal drum so close to her ear, where she almost missed what Narcissa said.
"I will do nothing," Narcissa said as if her heart clenched in her chest and froze, "You will make her happy if you can," Narcissa said and then Fleur saw the pieces of Narcissa's heart crush to crystalline powder. Fleur reached out.
"Non," Fleur rebutted, and then looked at Narcissa, eyes caught, and fire blazed between the two of them, "Your heart will never be cold if you accept that I am half of it," Fleur whispered, not knowing where her declaration came from but knew that it was the truth. Narcissa placed a hand on Fleur's hand that clutched her arm in a grip. Narcissa let their fingers intertwine, and then looked down at their hands. Then to the beautifully young face of her little flower. Her little Veela. She knew she was ripping half of the girls heart out, but she could not subject her to a life with dark magic, and death eaters. Subject her to a life with prejudice, and hate.
"Oh little love," Narcissa whispered her small admittance, "I can not bring you into my life," Narcissa pulled her hand from Fleur's soft fingers, "I can not lead Hermione into it either. I will teach her what I can and then I will depart, as nothing more than a mentor for a year," Narcissa said as she looked to the next couple of months as if they will be the best of her life. Fleur reached out once more.
"Please, Fleur, do not touch me," Narcissa let a tear slip, as she felt the coldness of her choice take hold. It was as if she could feel it begin the grow colder from the top of her heart then slowly make its way to the bottom. It will freeze, and she would be the Ice Queen, the frozen hearted, of the Death Eaters.
"Narcissa," Fleur said her name and Narcissa nearly spun into her embrace, but they were too young, to … Different from her life. She would protect them this way.
Their moment was broken as Hermione gingerly, with a lot of help from Madame Pomfrey, shuffled back into the infirmary. Hermione looked up. She looked clean, and healthier. Her hair was wet, and Madame Pomfrey had wet spots about her apron. Hermione smiled slightly and then saw the two women she had to admit she could not imagine her life without. Then she saw them together. Hermione blinked and frowned. Both women saw this shift in expression and helped her into bed. Narcissa backed away, letting Fleur dote on Hermione, love Hermione. Poppy stood with her.
"You watched the memory?" the Healer asked. Narcissa nodded then gathered some bit of bravery, "You looked at your family registry and tree?" Poppy asked softer. Narcissa nodded.
"So, you know," Poppy looked to Narcissa. Not one flinch. "No, it was a confirmation of your rather educated guess. Yes, dear Cissa, you are part, no matter how small, Veela, just like that girl doting on the girl you are in love with, mated to. I have seen you rub your fingers," Poppy said and then Narcissa felt her heart fall out as she whipped to Poppy with wide eyes.
"Soul residue, or loves touch, happens when diluted mates can't recognize their destined one," Poppy said and then watched Narcissa whipped her head to the witch's voice.
"What does it say about that reaction with two different people?" Narcissa asked and then Poppy's eyes flew wide.
"Unfounded, or shall I say undocumented, especially with a muggle born and…" Poppy paused and Narcissa looked to her, "All being female?" Poppy smirked at the end of her question but wished she didn't. OH damn. It was all three of them. Poppy sighed, she literally deflated next to Narcissa who was wound up tighter than a spinning top watching Fleur dote on her little witch, and her little witch look into Fleur's eyes as if they were the sun. Narcissa turned from the sight. To the girl they probably were.
Hermione however never lost track of where Narcissa was. Fleur was wonderful, she helped her, stayed with her. Then as she spoke to her, she soothed her, gave her something to focus on. Hermione smiled as she watched the girl's lips move, and the brightness in her eyes glow as she claimed how excited she was that Hermione was alright. There was something though, a dim spot. Hermione reached out and cupped Fleur's cheek. Fleur stopped speaking. Shocked. Hermione monitored Narcissa from the corner of her eye. She did not want to cause jealousy, she simply wanted answers to questions she was too much of a coward to ask.
"Fleur," Hermione stroked under Fleur's eyes, "Why are your bright eyes so dim, just there beyond where I can touch?" Hermione asked and Fleur pulled back as if a force shoved her slight away.
"I do not know what you mean," Fleur said, and Hermione looked to Narcissa, and then to Fleur. She sighed, and then furrowed her brow. "I guess I would not understand. I am tired, and wish to heal, would you like to talk to me as I fall asleep? It was soothing earlier," Hermione asked letting the moment slide, but knew something was wrong, she could feel it in the air, and in her chest. It was suffocating.
"Oui, well it has been a wondrous time," Fleur was paused by Hermione reaching out.
"In French please," Hermione said and then Fleur nodded.
"Once there were three women and they all mated to each other. One woman, tried to protect the younger two by never claiming them as her mate, and the actual Veela was unsure if it was wise to begin with. She would leave the youngest you see. She never wanted to leave the younger alone, but she knew the older of the three would leave the youngest to save her…." Fleur made their tale into a bedtime story.
Hermione listened as far as she could. She loved the sound of Fleur's voice. Fleur watched as her English Girl, slipped off to sleep. Fleur settle back and waited for a few moments, and then stood. Narcissa looked busy and Poppy did paperwork on all the champions so she could replenish her stores. Narcissa looked up and caught Fleur's eye. They caught, and blazed like the sun, then Narcissa looked away. Fleur went back to the carriage to bathe, and then to change into something much warmer. Narcissa looked to Hermione. Sometimes she hated being fluent in French.
Saved and Departed
She woke to the soft stroking of a rough thumb across the back of her hand. Hermione opened her eyes. Pain is all she felt, and then she looked and found dark hair and a boy with a book in his lap.
"What are you working on?" Hermione asking in a cracked and ragged voice. Harry sputtered and turned. The book fell to his feel.
"Harry, books have souls too. Pick the book up and treat it with respect," Hermione chastised and smiled as Harry bent over and pick the book up and placed it on Hermione's cot. He looked at her and his face looked weird.
"I thought you died," He said as he broke into tears clutching her hand, then Luna and Ron walked in with Ginny. They all looked the same as Harry … weird.
Well I'm not dead, sorry Luna you still have a roommate," Hermione quipped lightly with her rough voice. Luna simply smiled with glistening eyes.
"Luna, how did you know I was going to have to Hungarian Horned tail?' Hermione asked as she thought back to her drawing for her challenge. Luna simply smiled and looked away as if she was tracking something.
"Don't mind her, we are here now," Ron said and dove for her hand that Harry let go of. Hermione politely took her hand from his and his face fell into a frown.
"I do not like to be touched Ron, I am sorry, but I am ever grateful you came to see me. Thank you," then Hermione looked to Ginny who had narrowed eyes and had a mischievous smile. She slipped to the other side of the bed. She looked to her brother, and slipped a kiss to Hermione's cheek, and whispered in her ear.
"Only the famous Fleur Delacour can touch the mighty Hermione Granger," Ginny said and pulled away with a laugh as Hermione turned red.
"Yes, well…" Hermione cleared her throat and put her hand across her lap folded, and then very dignified, "I have no comment," Hermione eyed Ginny, and the girl zipped her lips with her fingers. Hermione reached out for Ginny and the girl took her hand and then reached out for Harry.
"Thank you, guys. I promise I will be back as soon as I can. I am, hoping for tomorrow, but they may extend it. Can you bring me our homework Harry?" Hermione asked but Harry laughed.
"I had Ginny go through your workbooks, and scrolls. You are weeks ahead. Take it easy," Harry said.
"But I am bored," Hermione replied. Harry patted her arm.
"Then I will bring you your class work 'Mione," Ron exclaimed valiantly chest puffed out and smiling as if he won the quidditch cup. Hermione sighed.
"I appreciate my FRIEND, giving me my HOMEWORK that I MISSED," Hermione said to Ron, and yet he still smiled with a rosy tint to his cheeks and then shot off yelling her he will get it now.
"Guys, he has no chance in hell, does me not know this?" Hermione looked to her friends. The chuckled.
"I told you I would let the nargles lead you to the other one. Your situation is once in a millennium, and yet so very difficult. Be patient Hermione, it will work out. By the way they are serving roast, carrots, and red potatoes. I know they are your favorite. Would you like some?" Luna flabbergasted everyone in attendance but Hermione.
"Yes, little waif, I would love that, but maybe half the regular portion, please," Hermione said to the elfish girl. Luna smiled and shot off. Her task was to get dinner, half proportioned, she could do that easily.
Harry and Ginny were felt.
"So, I will tell you I am angry I was not chosen to be in your dorm, but I get Luna," Ginny said with a half-smile, but a bit of anger.
"I told McGonagall my choices and she agreed that Luna was having a hard time of it. We all know you can hex the balls off a gnat, Gin," Hermione laughed as Harry shifted slightly. Harry smiled and Ginny laughed.
"Na, I am happy you are both sort of taking care of each other. You seemed to be at ease around her," Ginny said.
"Well, at first I thought is was shite, and then she predicted the dragon I would be paired with, among other things," Hermione trailed off thinking of Narcissa and Fleur. Hermione squirmed with minimal pain. Ok a lot of pain , but she still wanted the hell out of this bed.
"She is fun, and very accurate, you just have to listen to her," Ginny said.
"I want her as a friend Gin, not an oracle. She is sweet, and wholehearted, in her own way," Hermione stood up for Luna.
"Hey, Hey, I know. We are friends. I never thought she would be rooming with you," Ginny said and Hermione clasped Ginny's hand.
"I miss you too," Hermione said to her friend, and then turned to Harry. He was pale and looked as if he almost lost the world. Ginny left to get to class.
"Harry," Hermione said and then Harry turned around and looked at her, clutched her hand, and then sobbed.
"Never, ever, can I lose you Hermione," the boy sobbed. Hermione couldn't do anything but feel the discomfort of tears on her hand.
"Harry, I am fine, well in a manner of speaking," she said. She didn't forget. Ginny made it apparent, her right hand functioned, but there was no feeling as of yet, just small tingles in the fingertips.
"Hermione, you almost bloody died," the boy said, and then she pulled her hand from him and placed it on his head.
"You will be there for me right?" he asked and he glossed up with bright open eyes and nodded fervently," Then all I can ask for is you shelter me in your arms when I need it," Narcissa looked from around the curtain and stood there watching. Hermione saw her and then addressed Harry.
"I don't know what is happening, I don't know what WILL happen, all I know is we can do this together. You have my back, and I got the research as always," Hermione smiled, and Harry nodded as she stood. He sniffed into his Hogwarts sleeve.
"I will always have your back," Harry said, and he moved to walk away but Hermione held him fast.
"Could you please explain to Ron that I am not his type, seriously not his type," Hermione asked, and Harry smiled rakishly.
"That I can do, Lady Hermione," Harry kissed the back of her hand, and floated off.
"You are lucky I don't have my wand you twit," she called after him to a chorus of laughter.
Hermione smiled as the door shut and then her smiled slipped into a mask. She tried for emotionless yet inviting. She didn't want to push anyone away, but they didn't need to see her emotions, and how much of her life had been ruled by them. She looked back over to the curtain and Lady Malfoy still stood there.
"Could we talk?" Hermione asked softly as she broke her gaze from Narcissa and looked to the wooden doors of the infirmary.
Narcissa could do nothing more than walk toward Hermione. Just as she could do nothing more than to look into Fleur's eyes, and if Fleur would but ask, just as Hermione she would never deny her witches, except for one thing. Her. She would never be able to give herself to them, ever just to keep them safe.
Narcissa sat beside Hermione's bed side. She sat straight, ridged, as if this were their first meeting ever. Narcissa looked as if she was a stuck-up snob from hell, simply playing at healer.
"I know," Hermione said as she looked at Narcissa. Narcissa gave no indication of having heard except for the small I know.
"I don't think you do Miss Granger," Narcissa said coldly.
"Bugger this!" Hermione said and threw the covers from her body and threw her legs to the other side of the bed, "I can bloody well take care of myself, I don't need…" she was cut off. Hands pulled her back into a body that sat on her bed. Then the body swiftly placed her on the cot.
"You need to recover," Narcissa said as she moved and tucked Hermione in. Hermione saw it, she freaking felt the spark. It was the same spark as Fleur when she settled against her body this morning. Hermione threw the covers back and stared down the woman before her. Blue on brown, challenging. Waiting for the next moment, and to see who would move next.
"I will leave this room, Narcissa," Hermione said in a low growl. Narcissa felt the stirring inside of her at the growl. Could this be her Veela, her beast?
In her contemplation Narcissa didn't see the girl wandlessly accio her wand, and then magically get dressed in her clothes. She was adamant. Narcissa watched this with a bit of fascination, and then her head snapped too.
Hermione began to shuffle to the door.
"Stop, Miss Granger," Narcissa called out. Hermione paused for a split second, grit her teeth, and clenched her jaw and then moved forward.
"Hermione, stop," Narcissa said close to her ear, and yet not touching her as she was halfway to the door. Hermione huffed and then walked further, and finally reached the door as a hand landed on her own as she landed on the huge doorknob to open the great wooded doors.
Narcissa practically enveloped Hermione. Hermione took in the way Narcissa breathed in her hair, and the way Narcissa's thumb slightly moved over her own skin. Hermione sighed, and pulled on the door. She stepped out and turned around brown on blue.
"I understand perfect French," Hermione said, "Tell that to the other half of our heart. I'll see you at 3 o'clock today in the regular scheduled tutorial avenue," and Narcissa was blasted back from the door, not by a spell, but by the depths of her soul.
Narcissa looked on a Chronos spell. That was in four hours.
Hermione went to the carriage slowly and asked for Fleur. After a while Fleur reluctantly came out, but upon seeing Hermione she ran to the girl. Hermione luckily transfigured her tank top from the trial, since that's what she wore then not having a chance to go to her dorms, into a walking cane.
"You, and I am not taking no for an answer, will meet at 2:40 at bottom of the steps of the Grande Stairway," Hermione demanded.
Fleur was taken back by this assertiveness by Hermione. She liked it, a lot, but what was wrong? Hermione seemed to sense the girl's hesitancy.
"I am Hermione, we shared a breakfast of French bread and bananas on the day of our trial. I laid back and you went to take the bread from my stomach, but I stopped you telling you I was saving it for later because I couldn't keep food down easily," Hemione said.
"Smart way of detection, it was way too many facts that I would need but I appreciate it," Fleur said as she walked to Hermione and with her eyes asked, and Hermione nodded. Fleur put her arms around Hermione.
"Meet me there, please." Hermione said and then Fleur nodded as she let her go and then the girl hobbled to the doors of Hogwarts.
"By the way, non ange, I can speak French," Hermione added. It was the look in Fleur's eyes that spoke volumes. Fleur's, spoke of hope, and love and forgiveness and despair. Hermione investigated Fleur's. She narrowed her eyes. Fleur realized she had taken advantage of the fact that the girl might not have known French. Stupid! Of course, she knew French. Only her mate would be intelligent enough to learn multiple languages. She would not be surprised if she was halfway through Bulgarian.
"We have a lot to talk about love," the Hermione turned and walked to the castle.
Hermione was strong, she was capable and then she felt her body, she was doomed. She collapsed as a herd of Slytherins walked by. Someone lifted her shoulders. She stared into grey no silver, no... bah… blue grey shifting eyes.
"Draco, you would be filthy by handling a mudblood, put me down now," Hermione jested not in the mood for hexes or jinxes. Draco paid no heed to the people around him. She bested a dragon after all. It earned her points.
"I'm tired Draco," Hermione said as she curled into his chest as he carried her. She was unconscious by the time he burst through the door. Draco met his mothers' eyes and she saw his burden and she jumped to him. She laid Hermione out the cot she just vacated, maybe she will get used to the view, snapped the dark side of her.
It was her son that stood there, shifting from foot to foot, hoping, and wondering.
"Mother, she is a wonderful witch for a mudblood, but why is she so important to you?" Draco asked and Narcissa looked to him. He saw something there that was never before present. He stepped back and looked to Hermione and Narcissa.
"Love?" he whispered, and Narcissa dove for him, on her knees.
"Draco, stop," Narcissa pled, "Someday when you find a person that wracks your brain, enthralls your mind, and makes every part of your body and soul ignite, all upon meeting them, let me know. We have much to talk about," Narcissa looked at her son as he nods and swallows.
"That sounds… painful," he says. And Narcissa smiled as she looks at Hermione.
"Sometimes, sometimes it is only the touch of a wrist," she says, and then she began to tuck the girl in. Hermione only needed more rest and that damnable potion from Severus.
"Draco, would you like to learn the dark arts and apply it into a dueling aspect?" Narcissa asked hoping her son said yes.
"Yes, but who would teach me?" Draco asked and Narcissa smiled softly.
"Be at the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy. When you are there I will explain more. At three every afternoon," she gave to her son.
"She will be there won't she?" he asked.
"Yes," Narcissa answered, looking on the girl.
"I will keep your secret. No, I will keep our secret," Draco said honorably.
"My Little Dragon, it is much more complicated than Miss Granger dear love," she confessed, and her son lifted his brow.
"Your secrets are mine. I will protect you, always," Narcissa lifted her hand and palmed his cheek. She cast a Chronos spell.
Less than three hours, damn.
"Meet me there at three love," Narcissa said and then dismissed Draco. She watched Hermione, she loathed seeing her like this, but those damn threads of fate.
As she looked, as she watched, they dug their claws into her heart. She moved away. A heart of ice can help the girl the most. So, a heart of ice she will be… with the buffer of her son.