Hello My Rabid Readers,

Me, myself and I would like to apologise for the delay in getting chapters to you all over the couple of years or so. Its been a tricky couple of years with lots going on but I'm not finding that I've got more writing time again and I'm submersing myself back into the story to try and happy my way through things and get all the wheels on this train moving.

So this chapter is all set in one night and contains a lemon. I've indicated the start and finish for all those who don't want to read that sort of thing (although I wish you luck as my story is going to be full of them ha ha) but this one is quite an important one for the story.

So please enjoy the chapter, thank you for still following and feel free to review, critique etc as you will.

Cheers & Mischief Managed

Craggle

Chapter 107 – The Plan

Just before midnight on Saturday 3rd September – Pulse Night Club, Ordn Alley, Banzai Bazaar, Tokyo

Harry and Hermione levitated the Jade Dragon members until they were seated back to back in pairs and applied another series of bindings to them so they couldn't move when conscious.

Approaching Harry flanked by the other members of the Quidditch team, the wizard Harry had last spoken with called, "Thanks for the assist. You and your companions helped that not become a stalemate."

"No problem. Do you know why they would want to attack you? I mean you're the National Quidditch team so surely they would be supporters of their national team?" Hermione asked moving to Harry's side and linking his arm with hers.

"It happens every now and again and I'd imagine that they wanted to knock us out and kidnap us in order to force our Quidditch teams and the National Quidditch Federation to ransom for our release." A witch in her late thirties explained.

"That's disgraceful, if this kind of thing happens regularly shouldn't you have some sort of security detail or bodyguards with you?" Harry asked, finding it baffling that the Jade Dragon would target their own National Quidditch team's players. "It would have made more sense for them to go after your opponents rather than you."

"They wouldn't have got as much money for their ransom as they would ours. Ide and myself were record signings for our clubs so they knew that they would pay to get us back," the wizard said.

"Still, Harry's right you should have some sort of security to help with this kind of thing. I mean what happens if they'd brought more of them and they outnumbered you. You could have all been kidnapped," Hermione argued. Several members nodded to what she was saying.

"It's just one of the problems with our profession here in Japan and across Asia. Its happened quite a few times before. Once the ransoms are paid the player gets obliviated of their captivity and capture and released somewhere in Japan none the wiser," Yusan Ninahara explained to the group.

"That's nuts. Maybe you should complain to the ministry to get some aurors or hit wizards to be around when you are out in public or something," Master Kuzuko said thinking that she could understand now why the Grandmaster and the Minister wanted Harry and Hermione accompanied into the Bazaar.

"The league tries every year, but nothing ever comes of it. Besides we can take care of ourselves. Anyway…thanks again for the assistance Mr..." Yusan said, holding his hand out.

"Erm Potter... Harry Potter," Harry replied. Hermione shook her head as he shook Yusan's hand. Harry had blatantly been watching James Bond films this summer after Hermione mentioned her dad being a fan.

"Buddha's balls. Harry Potter… Pleased to meet you Mr. Potter. Course I should have recognised you," Yusan said, shaking Harry's hand enthusiastically causing Harry to almost shake wildly at the muscular wizard's enthusiasm.

"So that would make you Hermione Granger?" the witch asked.

"Yes, pleased to meet you," Hermione replied, shaking the witch's outstretched hand.

The Quidditch team all introduced themselves and Harry and Hermione introduced the rest of their group. The Quidditch team consisted of members from seven different Japanese Quidditch teams and they all seemed very friendly except the team's star chaser called Nakajima Tsuyoshi who looked at Harry, Hermione and Master Kuzuko with a strange look that Harry didn't really understand.

The rest of the team though were really friendly and amongst those left assembled they started repairing the night club as best they could until the place looked like there hadn't been a fight in there at all.

The Quidditch team excitedly asked if Harry and Hermione would pose for some photos with them before the aurors and press turned up as no doubt word of the fight will have spread throughout the Bazaar.

Harry and Hermione a little reluctantly agreed but the team said they didn't want many photos, mainly just one large group photo, which Harry noticed that the wizard Nakajima Tsuyoshi was more than happy to take, rather than be in it.

Each player then had a photo taken with Harry and Hermione on Yusan's camera and before they were leaving Harry and Hermione had been offered to come and watch all of their respective Quidditch teams while in Japan and had been told that they'd send the tickets to them because it would be nice to meet them again.

Just as the first Aurors turned up and approached the Quidditch team to take statements Harry and his friends said their goodbyes and made a hasty retreat out of the club and into the street, which to Harry's surprise was filled with people that looked like they had just gone outside when the fighting had started but not dispersed.

"Has the fighting finished now?" A wizard called out to them as they emerged from the club.

"Yes the fighting is over but as you can see the aurors have arrived and are just taking statements, so it might be a little while before you can get back in," Master Kuzuko called out over the crowd.

"Who won the fight?" a female voice called out from somewhere amongst the crowd.

"The National team," Yuki called out. There was a collective cheer and all those assembled started singing chants and songs that Hermione and the others had heard throughout the Bazaar before tip off in the Quidditch stadium.

The group squeezed their way through the crowd until they emerged into a quieter section of Bazaar. "Well I think I've had enough excitement for one night. I think it might be time to go back home. I've got some work that I need to sort out for you both tomorrow. Thank you so much for today and for agreeing to work with us, it really is an honour." Yuki said to Harry and Hermione, who said that they were delighted to work with Yuki and Amy and they had a really good feeling about working together.

There was consent from the others that they think it was a good idea to call it a night. If the Jade Dragon were out that night causing trouble then it probably wouldn't be the only incident that happened.

Harry and Hermione asked if this sort of thing happened a lot and Kayleigh shrugged and said it happened on occasion, but the Jade Dragon going after the National Quidditch team was a bit of a surprise. They did however say that whenever something like the attack happens the rest of the Bazaar carries on as normal and aurors normally descend on the place where the attack happened. That told them that the night club will be open again once the aurors have finished and taken the Jade Dragon members into custody and that it seemed like such a casual thing to happen, which surprised Harry, Narcissa, and Hermione.

They all bid each other a good night and Yuki, Beth, Faye, and Kayleigh made their way to the nearest apparition point while Harry, Hermione, Fleur, Master Kuzuko and Narcissa made their way back to the Panama Palace without further incident.

As they made their way up in the lift to their floor, Narcissa quietly said to Hermione that if she wanted to talk just let her know and she would stay up.

Hermione gave the older witch a small nod and a smile in confirmation that she understood and then they all bade each other a good night as Harry and Narcissa got out on their floor and Harry gave Hermione a smile and a wink. She returned the smile with a "good night" before the lift doors closed taking Hermione and Fleur to the top floor.

Harry had set his trunk up in the living room area of Narcissa's room, or suite for want of a better word. They had chatted for about an hour on the balcony about what had happened between Harry and Lucy back in his trunk at school. Harry had been glad of the opportunity to talk to Narcissa about it without being interrupted.

Narcissa was absolutely raging by the time Harry had finished telling her what had happened and he'd had to take her hands, squeezing the life out of the balcony rail, to tell her it was ok and to calm down.

Narcissa had been angry not just that Harry had been taken advantage of and used but to Harry's pleasant surprise she was also outraged that Hermione's hair had been used.

"It's absolutely disgraceful Harry. I mean she effective raped you when you stayed in the capsule hotel and then she seduced you with another person's form and if you'd had sex with her and got her pregnant, she could then try and stake a claim on your houses," Narcissa said with a thump of her fist on the rail.

"WHAT?" Harry asked, not understanding what she meant.

"Yes… If she had conceived a child she could potentially try and claim some of your land or property as well as gold for producing a child for your family line as well as regular payments to look after the child. It's not a very common thing these days really except it occasionally happens between pureblood families with concubines." Narcissa explained giving Harry a little history about line theft in magical Britain.

"Hero mentioned that I could potentially get her thrown in prison for what she did, get her wand snapped and basically really mess up her future," Harry said more as a question than a statement and saw Narcissa nod her head.

"You could and as the head of four ancient houses you could probably do a lot more," Narcissa stated. "Do you think that's what she was intending to do? "

"No. Well I don't know for definite, but not according to Hero, who said he bollocked her about it, when he caught her getting thrown out my trunk. He doesn't think that's what she intended at all." Harry said thinking back to his conversation with his friend. "Then when I was leaving to come here I heard her crying and telling one of her friends about it and she did sound like she felt bad about what she'd done…" Harry said thinking about it.

"I think she was just a clever albeit silly girl who did something very, very stupid Harry, but she probably didn't realise the implications it would have on her life when you found out." Narcissa commented thinking back to how immature and stupid some of her classmates had been when she was sixteen.

"I really don't know Narcissa, but what am I going to tell Hermione?" he asked her and she noted the pleading tone to her voice.

"Well do you think you have to tell her at this point?" Narcissa asked. She thought it was the right thing to do but she wanted to hear Harry's thoughts on it before giving her own.

"I don't know what the best thing to do is. I think I have to. I mean I've never really kept anything important from Hermione and Lucy used Hermione's hair to trick me the second time. Plus, I told Hermione that someone was in my tablet at the Rack Shack but obviously I didn't divulge the full detail of what happened to her, because I…" Harry said before stopping himself.

"Because what?" Narcissa asked him.

"I thought it might have been Hermione that had snuck in. When I thought about what had happened and that the person would have had to override the rune cluster my mind instantly thought it must have been Hermione since she's the smartest girl I know," Harry blushed.

"You thought or you hoped?" Narcissa said with a teasing smile on her face.

"I hoped, I suppose, although if Hermione did something like that I'd like to think that she wouldn't need to sneak into my room and tie me up." Harry said in a small voice, getting a subtle smile from the older witch.

"And you didn't want to tell her in case your suspicions were wrong," Narcissa summarised.

"I guess" Harry said with a shrug, "plus when I questioned all the girls in the Turtle and Tiger clan the next day about whether any of them had been in my room a couple of them threw off a couple of things that made me change my suspicions. Then when I spoke to Hermione about it on the way to Kendo's wand shop she was ready to start a full investigation and then I knew it wasn't her," He explained.

Then he told Narcissa about his suspicions that it was June and some of the other girls and how he'd subtly questioned a couple of them but had just got to a dead end and was none the wiser until Lucy had admitted to it..

"Well I think you should probably tell Hermione. She's got a right to know what Lucy did, especially using her hair and form. But I'd suggest deciding what you want to do about it first before telling her. If and when you do tell her, maybe not mention that it was Lucy before you know what you want to do. So you can explain your thinking to Hermione and then maybe come to a decision together as you've both been wronged by this girl," Narcissa explained, putting her hand on Harry's shoulder.

"I don't know what to do Narcissa, but I get what you're saying. I mean it's pretty bad what she did in regards to the implications and knock on effects it could have still," Harry said thinking out loud, "but well I'd be a liar if when I thought it was Hermione that I denied I was enjoying it at the time" he said blushing and causing Narcissa to let out a light laugh.

"There's no shame in admitting that the act itself felt good Harry. It's a serious matter though and you need to give it some real thought. From what you've said do I think this girl did it on purpose? No. Was she really stupid and made some very big mistakes that she's going to have to live with? Yes," Narcissa said thoughtfully.

Giving a shrug of her shoulders she went on, "Do you need to make this a legal matter and make the school aware of it..." leaving that hanging in the air for a minute, deep in contemplation. "Honestly…I don't know. You'll have to surmise and judge that for yourself when you speak with her upon returning to school. You seem to be pretty good these days at judging a person's character and just know whatever you decide to do I'll stand by you all the way."

"That's not a bad idea. See whether I think she's genuine or not when she apologises, before I make any kind of decision on what to do," Harry said thoughtfully while he looked at Narcissa thinking how pretty she looked in the moonlight.

"I would say to think about it when you aren't distracted by anything else and decide what you want to do before discussing it with anyone else," Narcissa re-emphasised her point to think before he acted.

"I guess there is no point in upsetting Hermione before I have to." Harry said seeing Narcissa pull a little flinch at his words. "Wait… is that bad?" he asked her, confused.

"Well no, it's not bad," Narcissa said thinking. "I just don't want any blow back between you and Hermione. Is she likely to get angry when you tell her?"

"She'll probably go mental to start with but Hermione's the most mature person I know for our age and she will think about it, research what could happen to Lucy for impersonating her and the other stuff she did and then make a decision on what to do," Harry explained.

"Right well in that case I would say you should tell Hermione what's happened. Maybe do a little research yourself and talk with either Amy or Yuki first to get their legal advice on your options and information on what you can do legally. That way rather than having to speculate on what your and Hermione's options are, you can focus on supporting Hermione and her being upset," Narcissa said to him. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head as he thought about what she was saying.

"That's actually really good advice," Harry said looking at her.

"Don't sound too surprised Harry," she teased.

"No, I didn't mean it like that. So find out what my options are, speak with Lucy and decide whether I think she's actually sorry or not and then tell Hermione." Harry said to himself almost like he was confirming a plan of attack.

"I think that would be best. That way Hermione can't get too angry with you because you've had a sensible reason for not telling her straight away and also it shows you are taking this as seriously as you should," Narcissa said to him, getting a warm smile from Harry.

"Thanks Aunt Cissa," he said to her, getting a laugh from her.

"You're very welcome Harry. I told you I'm here to help. I think it's going to take me a long time to get used to you calling me that. It still sounds strange, but I'm sure I'll get used to it," Narcissa said, feeling a little flip of her stomach. "Anyway. You'd best get to bed since it's late and Hermione was saying she wanted to go to some theme park or something tomorrow. I don't know what that is but she seemed excited about it," she added. To her surprise Harry took a step forward and gave her an awkward kiss on the cheek.

"You're right. Early start tomorrow. We've that meeting with Parvati Patil tomorrow morning about what happened last year for Witch Weekly and we will need a good night's sleep, so night." Harry said as he backed away slowly towards his trunk.

"Good Night Harry. Sleep tight." she smiled. He gave her an awkward little wave before disappearing into the confines of his trunk.

Narcissa's hand touched her cheek where Harry's lips had touched her skin and a smile spread across her face. Taking her wand from her holster she gave a lazy wave and the lamps in the bedroom ignited fully and the sitting room lanterns reduced to a very subdued flame until she left the room and then they went out completely.

Narcissa made her way to the bathroom, closing the double doors to the sitting room behind her. Using her wand to undo the fastening on the back and side of her dress as she went, she kicked her shoes in the general area of the wardrobe and allowed the dress to slip down her stomach after pushing the material down her arms and over her bust.

As the fabric pooled around her feet she stepped out of the dress without breaking stride and kicked the dress towards the wardrobe hitting it with a sorting spell and a hanger jumped out the dresser as the dress suspended itself in mid air. The hanger slotted into it and then carried the dress into the wardrobe and her shoes followed shortly after resting on the bottom of the wardrobe and the door gave a silent click as it shut.

Left in her underwear Narcissa happily discarded the bra that supported her large breasts and sighed contentedly at the freedom she now had. Narcissa lightly stepped into her bathroom where the lanterns illuminated the room as soon as she walked in and she spent a few moments admiring her figure in the mirror. Her hands on her hips turning from side to side.

'Not bad for a woman my age' she thought to herself. She did a little turn and looked at her slender back and pert bottom in the mirror admiring its shape in her knickers. She placed her hands on her breasts holding them in place and did a couple of little jumps on the spot and smiled at her bottom giving a little jiggle.

She then started going about her nightly routine and getting ready for bed. She found sleeping naked now quite liberating rather than having to wear night dresses that Lucius insisted that a Lady Malfoy should wear unless her "better half" requested her to disrobe. Narcissa had hated them! They were not comfortable to sleep in, they only allowed restricted movement, and she much preferred the freedom of sleeping without them.

However with Harry's trunk in her room she didn't want him getting up early in the morning to find her in her birthday suit on the bed with the quilt kicked off her. She went to her wardrobe and reached into one of the drawers in the dresser and pulled out a pair of pyjamas that Nicole Parkinson had bought her when she had turned up on her doorstep.

Narcissa pulled the light cotton pyjama trousers up over her bottom and ran her hands over it, feeling a little thrill at touching her posterior. Picking up the cotton top that went with the trousers Narcissa looked at the garment thinking that her mother and aunties would have had a fit if she, Bella and Dromeda had worn things like this growing up when Sirius and Regulus had stayed in the summer.

Narcissa pulled the top over her head loving the feeling of her skin against the light cotton. She pulled the top down over her large bust so that her cleavage was on display with just the thin straps over her shoulders holding the top up. She ideally ran her hands over the material covering her bust and bit her lower lip as the temptation to be a little naughty was spiking in her nether regions.

Narcissa looked at the double doors leading to the sitting area, deciding whether to go and get her bag from The Witches Secret with Harry's trunk in the other room. She shook her head deciding that was silly and moved towards the bed but just as she got there her mind couldn't resist the pull and turned on her heel and padded across to the double doors. Her breasts jiggled in her top slightly as she opened the door as quietly as possible before going in and grabbing her handbag quickly and fishing out the bag from the shop before retreating back to her bedroom padding across the floor almost silently and closing the doors behind her with a soft click.

She moved over to the bed pulling the quilt back with one hand plonking her small but heavy Witches Secret bag on the bed with the other hand pulled the quilt over her lower body as she climbed into be and then got comfortable as she sat up against the headboard.

She grabbed her wand and cast a quick growing charm on the bag to return it to its original size. She placed her wand on the nightstand and made quick work of undoing the black ribbon holding the bag together.

Opening the bag she looked around inside through the items she had got until she spied what she was looking for and spied one the novels that Faye had told her about. She took the book out of the bag and put the bag on the floor by the side of the bed. She stretched out, making herself more comfortable on the bed, and turned on her side. She opened the book and began to read.

It was a story about a muggle who fell in love with a witch and how they came to be. There were a few chapters in there that made Narcissa's eyes bulge a little at the very descriptive love making of the characters.

Narcissa discovered that her hand had absentmindedly worked its way between her legs first for comfort but then she found it started moving against her mound of its own accord as she read, before she knew it she was rubbing herself through the thin material of fabric. Her eyes closed as her mind's eye started picturing the tale that she had been reading. She let out a little moan when she felt how wet she was. Her hand slipped inside her pyjama trousers and her middle finger danced across her swollen clit before pushing her lips apart and slipping inside with practiced ease.

She let out a moan as she started to work her finger inside herself, pumping away. A loud pleasure filled moan escaped her lips. She sucked in a breath as she found that special spot and a second finger soon joined the first pumping inside her quicker and harder. Her other hand squeezed her right nipple through her top while she fantasized about the character in the book taking her as he was the witch.

Narcissa was enjoying herself and allowed herself to get carried away in pleasure when she heard a light tap on the bedroom door. Her heart clenched in panic. Narcissa, like a young girl trying to hide things from her mother, pulled her hand from her pyjama bottoms and flipped the book closed, dropping it into the bag, and pushing the bag hastily under the gap beneath the bed. The next tap was a little louder and more persistent.

Narcissa felt like she could die at the thought of her moan waking Harry up. She felt herself feeling flushed as she pulled the quilt up over herself a little better covering her breasts as her erect nipples pressed against the fabric as she rearranged her top. "Yes" she called out and the door opened a little bit. She saw a chestnut haired head appear from behind the door and saw a bashful looking Hermione peek her head in.

"I'm sorry to bother you Narcissa. Are you going to sleep? I was thinking we might be able to have a talk tonight because we won't get interrupted or overheard by anyone" Hermione enquired, biting her lip a little nervously.

"Erm no I wasn't asleep, I was just reading a book," Narcissa replied. She watched, embarrassed, as Hermione's eyes did a quick scan of the bed and the nightstands and seeing no book evident. "But I got bored of it and was just laying here thinking. How did you get into my room?" Narcissa added hoping that her cheeks weren't colouring and giving her away.

"Oh... erm Harry's trunk is connected through a corridor to mine so we can go to each other's trunks as long as we're on the same land mass . So I just snuck through his trunk's living room. He's warded it so I can access his trunk when I want. You don't mind, do you?" Hermione explained, worrying a little. She had just invited herself into someone else's hotel room without their consent.

"No, it's fine, come in," Narcissa answered, running her hand through her hair.

"Are you sure. I can always come back in the morning if you're tired. It's been quite an action packed day really." Hermione said not wanting to draw attention to what Narcissa had said she had been doing. Hermione couldn't see a book anywhere and felt she was interrupting the older witch. Narcissa's pale skin looked a little flush on her upper chest and on her face and from the times Hermione had seen Narcissa Black nee Malfoy, she had never been a woman who appeared to be flush ever and was normally in control.

"Yes it's fine Hermione," Narcissa said. "Come in," she gestured for the younger witch to enter and sat up in the bed, as Hermione said a quiet "Thanks."

Hermione moved into the room properly and Narcissa watched her take a beautifully sculpted wand in black and white wood and saw Hermione make some intricate movements with it seemingly casting some sort of privacy charms.

Narcissa didn't comment on the wand as she watched Hermione slide it back into a holster she presumed to be inside her dressing down sleeve. Hermione came and sat on the opposite corner of the bed to Narcissa, with her hand resting on the bed to steady herself.

"So…" Narcissa said clasping her hands together in her lap as she looked at Hermione, waiting.

"So…" Hermione parroted, nodding to herself but not appearing to want to start the conversation.

"So" Narcissa said again causing them both to giggle slightly at the awkwardness. Narcissa taking pity on Hermione decided she would bring up the assumed topic causing Hermione to be in her room and casting privacy charms on her bedroom door so late at night. "So Harry…" she said causing Hermione to look up at her.

"He asked you to the school's Halloween ball." Narcissa started, wanting to get to the crux of the matter. "Something you're happy about if the smile stealing onto your face right now is anything to go by,'' the older witch commented. Seeing a blush spread across her face before Narcissa went on, "And you've decided that you want to end things with Lord Weasley-Slytherin."

"Yes… I made a mistake kissing Ron during the battle and I don't really know what the hell I was thinking," Hermione replied, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ears while fiddling with her fingers in her lap nervously. "Naivety of youth or never having had a boyfriend, losing my mind in battle or what I don't honestly know."

"So are you going to write to him to let him know the bad news and how you feel?" Narcissa asked thinking how she would have loved to have gone back to her school days where her biggest worries had been boys and dating.

"I think that I owe it to him to at least do it face to face. I mean we've been friends since we were eleven and knowing Ron he will somehow turn this into Harry's fault and blame Harry for me finishing things. Plus sometimes sending things by letter just seems so impersonal," Hermione said. Her face blanched because she could foresee Mount Ronald exploding again and having a go at Harry.

"So I'm still failing to see what this plan of yours is that you've hinted at… Unless it's a plan to capture Harry's attention, but to be truthful from observing the pair of you, I don't think that has ever been an issue," Narcissa said as Hermione shook her head.

"Well I put the plan into action after we had been to the will readings at Gringotts where we inherited the family lines of the Hogwarts founders, myself the Dumbledore line, Neville the Longbottom line and then Harry the Potter, Black and Peverell lines." Hermione explained before telling Narcissa the story of the day of the will reading and how at the time she was with Ron and Harry with Ginny.

She went on to tell Narcissa all about the summer and how she had always told Daphne, Tracey, Susan and Hannah about Harry over the years in Runes class and what he was like. The real Harry and not the one they had read about growing up or the one who they had heard rumours about in school. Narcissa listened. Eventually the chill in the room started to get to Hermione, Narcissa told the younger witch to climb into the bed with her.

Hermione smiled and happily complied. It was something she had done with her own mother when she was growing up and during the school holidays. She got herself under the quilt with the older witch. Besides there was a slight chill in the room and Hermione was touched by the older witch's consideration.

"So go on then Hermione, tell me more", Narcissa prompted seeing Hermione look a little sheepish.

"Well... when Sirius escaped from Azkaban and had the Order of the Phoenix headquarters at his house, we went to stay there during the summer before our fifth year. Before Harry arrived, I happened to be walking by the parlour one afternoon and heard Sirius and Professor Lupin talking about how Sirius should be finding himself a good woman and settling down."

"Professor Lupin was saying that it was time that he started thinking about raising his own family and having children because it would be especially good for Sirius to find someone to spend the rest of his life with. He also stressed the point that Sirius would need to in order to protect his house and family name from dying out."

"Sirius came back with a quip about Professor Lupin maybe having his own cubs with a partner and Professor Lupin said that couldn't risk ruining someone else's reputation or future by being in a relationship and also that his kind don't breed."

"Well I couldn't resist stopping and listening in a little and that's when I heard Sirius start crying. Professor Lupin asked what was wrong and then Sirius admitted that he'd been tested by a former healer from St. Mungo's who used to be one of his classmates and could be trusted not to tip off the authorities or the media."

"He said that he had received a full examination and the healer had informed him that due to the amount of exposure to the dementors, the poor diet, and lack of exercise it was most likely that Sirius wouldn't be able to have children of his own." Hermione said sadly, recalling listening to Sirius crying and Professor Lupin trying to console him. The memory made her sad since Sirius was always a cheerful character.

"Sirius said that he had wanted to settle down and have a family before the first war with someone named Marlene McKinnon. Sirius said he knew he would never be able to truly love someone in his lifetime like he loved her after she had been stolen away from him by Voldemort and the Death Eaters. He was saying he was damaged goods and no other woman would want to be with a man who didn't even work properly as a man."

"It was horrible to hear him talking about himself like that. He was saying how no women would ever want him if he was broken, unless they were a gold digger and just wanted the Black family gold and title, and that the media had done a good enough job to make sure no woman ever wanted to be with him anyway." Hermione explained, seeing Narcissa look at her hands.

"I remember Sirius used to write to her every summer during school holidays when we were all at Hogwarts. Bella and Dromeda used to tease him something fierce about Marlene, but he told me once towards the end of his time at Hogwarts that he really thought she was the one." Narcissa recalled sadly, remembering how close she had once been with her cousin.

"I didn't know that being around dementors could really affect someone so physically, but I suppose it makes sense and I can't imagine the food in Azkaban is particularly nourishing." Narcissa said sadly thinking how much damage the place had done to her cousin and her sister.

"Well we never knew anything about this and I never told anyone after overhearing them. Not even Harry, I thought it would really upset him knowing that about Sirius, plus it wasn't really my truth to tell," Hermione said. Narcissa nodded understandingly.

"So you stayed and listened to Remus and Sirius," Narcissa encouraged her to go on.

"Yes, so Sirius was adamant that he'd never find someone as important to him as Marlene and he wasn't prepared to have a sham marriage when he couldn't rear his own heir. So it was pointless," Hermione explained.

"Remus told him that he knew that Sirius had hated his mother and Father, but that allowing the family name to die out would be a travesty to one of the oldest families in magical Britain," Hermione went on and Narcissa listened with rapt attention.

"That's something that I wouldn't have thought Sirius would want to happen. No matter how much he hated his parents I know Sirius was always kind of proud being a Black and the awe people used to give the name. Just like I was, or am I should say. The Black name has always been given respect and from being one of the sacred twenty eight, we've always been held in good standing and our family is integrated into most of the families of the sacred twenty eight as well," Narcissa explained.

"Well from what Sirius said next I assume that's how he felt about it, he told Professor Lupin that he had a plan to continue his family name through Harry. That he'd already gone, well arranged, to have a goblin from Gringotts meet and speak with him, the Black family account manager, and a magical solicitor in order to check the legalities of him naming a non-direct blood relation as his heir. When they said that it would be fine, he arranged for Harry to become his heir upon his death. The Potters were connected to the Blacks further up the family tree and so he had made his will out with the goblins and his solicitor there and then," Hermione said as she looked at Narcissa.

"It's not totally unheard of for the head of a house to give the headship to someone outside of the direct family line, so long as they are in the same family tree even if on a different blood line. Harry's linked through having Dorea Black further up his family tree."

"I assume that Sirius didn't want to have the next male heir in the Black family line be Draco. It would have gone to Andromeda's eldest son, then Bellatrix's and then Draco, but Dromeda having a daughter and Bella not having any children it would have meant Draco would have become the new head of the Black family," Narcissa said giving a shudder. "Something that I'm glad that Sirius had the foresight to avoid happening, because if Draco had got access to the Black family wealth the dark lord would have put it to use in hiring mercenaries to fight for his cause," Narcissa said thoughtfully.

"Well that makes sense and Draco and Harry really dislike each other as you probably know. Professor Lupin asked Sirius whether he spoke about it with Harry and Sirius said that he hadn't but he would be leaving his godson his reasons in a journal in the Black family vault," Hermione explained to Narcissa.

"Harry mentioned that Sirius had left him a journal in the Potter family home. Do you think that was the same one?" Narcissa asked but saw Hermione shaking her head.

"Harry said that the safe in the office of Potter Manor can only be opened by the head of the Potter family which means that he must have put it in there before James and Lily went into hiding. So I doubt it's the same one," Hermione explained getting a nod of understanding.

"So this is all very fascinating Hermione, but how does this relate to you making a plan?" Narcissa asked.

"I'm getting there, sorry. I just thought it important that you know a little of the how and why." Hermione explained before taking a deep breath. "So Professor Lupin told Sirius that he would be best telling Harry in person rather than beyond the grave in some book."

"I only half heard Sirius' response because I could hear someone moving around and I heard him saying that he didn't want Harry to hate him while he was still alive, but that he'd hopefully have plenty of time in the future to tell him in person and that the journal was just a back up," Hermione explained.

"I'm assuming you know the reason why Harry might be upset?" Narcissa asked a perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched towards the younger witch. Hermione nodded in return looking straight ahead.

"Well yes. I found out when Professor Lupin asked why Harry would hate him for naming him his heir. Sirius said in order for Harry to keep the title of Lord Black he has to marry a pureblood witch, therefore effectively limiting who Harry can marry and taking his choice away if he only wanted one wife. He said that at least with the Potter line it gave him the option of course of…" Hermione explained.

"Having two wives. One for the Potter line and one for the Black unless he only married a pureblood witch who could effectively take both titles if they were a pureblood," Narcissa finished for her getting a nod from Hermione.

"And Harry doesn't like being told what to do with his life," Narcissa pressed, getting a nod from Hermione. "And also it was at this point that you realised that he wouldn't be able to marry just you for example," Narcissa said kindly and quietly getting a sad nod from the younger witch who looked down at her hands in her lap.

"Well I actually knew that he'd need to marry a pureblood witch if he was to be the head of the Black family in fifth year. When we came to stay for Christmas after Mr. Weasley was attacked. I again heard Professor Lupin and Sirius up one night talking in the sitting room and Professor Lupin was again pushing Sirius to tell Harry about naming him his heir."

"Sirius was arguing that it really wasn't the time, what with Harry feeling like he had caused Mr. Weasley to be attacked and seeing inside Voldemort's mind. So when Harry was avoiding everyone, I started looking through the Black family history in the Genealogy section of the library at Grimmauld Place and found that the Black family line was always meant to be pureblooded," Hermione explained.

"I see and you've never told this Harry?" Narcissa asked thoughtfully.

"Well to take a page from Harry's book I wasn't sure what was going to happen with Voldemort and whether we'd even survive and I care about him and didn't want to affect his relationship with Sirius or the time they had together," Hermione replied knowing if it was someone who didn't know or was involved in the battle that the reply might have sounded dramatic but could see Narcissa properly understood.

"Well that's understandable and it shows just how much you care for that young man. So how did Harry react to finding out that he yourself, Lord Longbottom-Gryffindor can have multiple wives and husbands?" Narcissa asked.

"Well," Hermione said thoughtfully trying to remember any time Harry had brought it up. "He didn't really. React that is… Harry's not really talked about it other than to hint that he doesn't want to think about it. I think the only person who he's had any sort of conversation and opened up about it is Neville." She added sadly. She tried not to show her disappointment that Harry hadn't come to her about it. He always came to her first when needing help understanding something.

"He's not really given it any thought?" Narcissa asked. She sat up, a little concerned, but thinking how they were just turning of age so they probably didn't realise the importance of future decisions like that. "Have you given any thought to it?"

"Yes I've given it lots of thought, but I've not really discussed things with one particular person in its entirety. Truth be told I've thought about it so much ever since I heard Professor Lupin and Sirius talking about it that I think it's driving me mad." Hermione answered, pulling her knees up to her chin causing the quilt to rise.

"So what have you decided that you want to do Lady Granger-Hufflepuff-Dumbledore? Do you think you are going to have three husbands?" Narcissa asked, guessing the answer already.

"No definitely not," Hermione shook her head, "but it's only two family lines I have to worry about in the Hufflepuff and Dumbledore lines, so it's only two husbands," Hermione added seeing Narcissa shake her head.

"Technically you could have three, depending on whether you wished to be the Matriarch of the new Granger family line in magical society. I don't recall their being a Granger family line in the wizarding world and if you wish you could start that family line by having a husband to take your name. I can't imagine the Wizengamot or ICW wanting to say no to you. Plus I'm sure there would be plenty of wizards wanting to marry such an intelligent, beautiful, and powerful witch," Narcissa said.

"God no, I don't think I could handle the thought of three husbands when I only want one," Hermione replied honestly.

"You don't think you'd want more than one husband?" Narcissa asked Hermione seriously.

"I've grown up seeing my mum and dad only being together, so I guess I'm used to seeing a traditional marriage set up and everyone I've come across in the wizarding world only have the normal set up with one man and one woman," Hermione said honestly.

"Well it's not as uncommon in parts of the world for people to have multiple spouses, I believe you used to room with a Gryffindor who had two mothers and one father," Narcissa commented seeing Hermione look confused for a second.

"Who?" Hermione asked, thinking about which girl she used to room with that had three parents.

"You shared a dorm with them didn't you?" Narcissa asked with a smile before adding "And they are interviewing you tomorrow."

"Parvati. She only had one mum and dad though," Hermione said seeing Narcissa smile grow, knowingly shaking her head.

"No I'm afraid you're incorrect there. Mohammed Patil married Madhuri in an arranged marriage and they fell in love but after two years of trying for children they found Madhuri was unable to conceive and Mohammed took on a second wife Mati, who gave birth to both the sisters."

"Mohammed and Madhuri were in love though and stayed together and when Mati announced she was pregnant Madhuri got pregnant as well and had a son," Narcissa announced, much to Hermione's shock.

"Parvati never mentioned that her brother was born from another witch. She always just referred to her mum and dad," Hermione said completely shocked that someone she had shared a room with had never told her that.

"Yes, she was probably referring to Mati Patil and Mohammed because they are her and Padma's mum and dad. Abdul however is the son of Mohammed and Madhuri," Narcissa pointed out.

"I know Parvati has a brother named Abdul and I did always wonder why he never attended Hogwarts if they are all the same age, but just assumed that he maybe wasn't magical so I didn't want to cause offence by asking about him," Hermione stated, thinking about how many times Pavarti had mentioned Abdul.

"Well in the Patil family even though they are an English family the eldest son traditionally goes to Bazai Gonbad for their magical education. It is tradition and its part of something that keeps the family magic strong," Narcissa replied.

"How do you know more about one of my friends' families than me?" Hermione asked, surprised.

Narcissa laughed lightly, "Hermione I've been dragged to more magical events from when I was originally a Black and then afterwards as a Malfoy than you can imagine. I would say I've probably forgotten more about magical families around the world than you can probably imagine," she said good naturedly before the smile waned on her face.

"Lucius wanted to show off his little trophy wife after all. He wanted the world to know he'd snared himself a Black and was obsessed in trying to find the perfect companion for Draco. Plus he was always making new business contacts and deals at social events and I was left to my own devices or he'd assign me a task of getting information on people and families there," she said, seeing that Hermione was listening to her every word.

"But enough about all that. I only mention it because it isn't necessarily done in the last hundred years perhaps in Britain, but on the continent, Africa, South America, but in Arabia and Asia especially it's a fairly common practice. So long as a person is the head of various family lines or becomes heads of various families and has the wealth to support the families then it's doable," Narcissa said.

"So a wizard or witch would have to have considerable wealth in order to be able to support the families and not just be heads of family lines. Well I've certainly got money, although I don't think I really want more than one husband. I don't think I'm capable of loving more than one man wholeheartedly," Hermione said.

"Really? You can't see the perks of having two men sharing a bed with you?" Narcissa questioned while suppressing a giggle and arching an eyebrow. They both looked at the other for a moment before breaking out in laughter.

"Well in that regard maybe… but I don't know." Hermione said blushing a little and thinking that she'd never be able to talk that with her mum because she'd die of embarrassment.

"Yes it would have certain benefits. They could spoil you rotten and treat you like their queen." Narcissa said, giving a fake and little amusing misty eyed look. "But I suppose a lot of it comes down to wizarding tradition and I suppose given the senseless loss of life from the Grindelwald war and two blood wars the magical families will want to protect their family lines as much as possible." Narcissa said seeing Hermione nodding on and understanding what she was saying. "Perhaps that's why Albus Dumbledore made you his heir instead of Harry?" Narcissa asked with a shrug.

"I don't really know why Professor Dumbledore named me his heir, but do you really think it's because he thought I'd be able to protect the Dumbledore line? I mean Aberforth…" Hermione started to say before Narcissa cut her off.

"Aberforth Dumbledore wouldn't be able to keep the Dumbledore line going. From what I've heard he has more of a partiality for goats rather than witches," Narcissa teased before continuing, "From everything I've seen and heard over the years Aberforth always preferred to stay under the radar and out of the limelight for some reason. He never really lived up to the expectation of his family name. I don't know why, although Albus Dumbledore casts a very big shadow."

Narcissa thought for a moment, "There have always been lots of rumours and hearsay about the Dumbledore family, but it is quite telling I think that neither of them ever appeared to seek female companionship. So maybe between them they agreed to bestow their family name on someone who was knowledgeable and talented enough to keep bringing pride to the family name and not of the same inclination as themselves," Narcissa said thoughtfully.

Hermione knew the reason why Aberforth had never stepped into the spotlight so to speak because he'd been angry for so long with Professor Dumbledore about what happened between Grindelwald and his sister. However she didn't say anything to Narcissa because that was family business. She felt a little flutter in her stomach as she thought about how that was a family secret now and couldn't stop the little smile that reached her face that she was part of a magical family line now.

"You do know that Aberforth and I are technically family now don't you?" Hermione asked teasingly as she willed the Dumbledore family ring to show on her thumb. "I should really defend my family's honour for spreading rumours like that," she laughed at Narcissa's expression. The elder witch's mouth fell open as that thought sobered her amusement instantly and taught her that she shouldn't engage in gossip and rumour mongering like she'd used to.

"You're quite right, that was completely stupid of me. I apologise, Hermione, and I suppose I should remember my teaching and think before I speak. I should know better. I know how much I had to defend the Black family name before I was married," Narcissa said mortified at her own stupidity.

"Seriously it's fine Narcissa, I know you're only repeating the same rumour I've heard myself and I'm hardly going to challenge you to a duel or anything. I guess I will have to get used to defending Aberforth and the family reputation now though. We'd probably be dead if it wasn't for Aberforth sheltering us before the battle," Hermione said reassuringly. Hermione sat for a few moments reflecting on what she was meant to do regarding the family lines she had inherited. Being from the muggle world, she wasn't well versed as she should be in what was expected of her.

"I just don't really know what I'm supposed to do regarding my family lines. My account managers could only advise me in the business sense because they are goblins and don't really value wizarding traditions and customs. I mean I've got friends that know about these things, but the only ones who knew that they were going to have to step up and take responsibility for the family and know what that entails is Neville and Susan and they are probably going to be so busy with their own situations to advise me with mine," Hermione said a little despondently while she aired her concerns to Narcissa.

"Well if you wish I can help advise you in family customs and wizarding traditions and things if you like, as I am with Harry. He's my head of house after all and I know he would want me to help assist you as well," Narcissa said kindly.

"Really? You'd be alright me peppering you with questions and things about wizarding and family traditions. I've read everything I could about them in the Hogwarts and Hufflepuff library but the books in the Hufflepuff library are all very old and I don't know if things in them conform with modern standards and expectations."

"Did you know that a Lord or Lady was meant to sponsor and pay for an annual festival for any witches or wizards that happened to live on their lands and could give their blessing or rejection to any union for any magicals living on their land? I don't even know if things like that are still a custom in Britain but I'd imagine not," Hermione said honestly.

"Of course, I'd be happy aiding you Hermione. I want to help you as much as I want to help Harry. I know how important you are to him and therefore you're important to me. I know that if you hadn't counselled Harry the way you did then he might not have taken me back into the Black family. I won't ever forget that and this can be just the start of me repaying you for that kindness and for forgiving me," Narcissa replied, giving her a warm smile, which she could tell Hermione greatly appreciated.

"Besides, while yes Lady Bones and Lord Longbottom-Gryffindor are able to give you information and help with things they aren't the only ones of your friends who are next in line to become their heads of house. For example Pansy is in line to inherit the title of Lady Parkinson, when Peter finally leaves this world," Narcissa explained.

"The same goes for Daphne Greengrass being the eldest daughter in her family. Fleur with the Delacour line as well being the eldest daughter, and in France Veela are able to inherit titles as well. So there's three more of your friends who can help and I won't bog you down with it all now as things work a little differently when a Lady who is head of the family takes a husband, as opposed to when a wizard takes a wife or wives," Narcissa explained seeing Hermione listening with rapt attention.

"Anyway we've kind of got off track a little here. We can talk about your family lines, but I need to discuss this plan of yours in more detail, while we have some privacy," Narcissa said, pulling them back to focus. "So you were saying after finding out that Harry in order to keep the Black family line would have to marry a pureblood and you cultivated a plan to do what exactly?" Narcissa asked.

"Well… Remember at the time I was with Ron and didn't know whether we'd be staying together and Harry having just split from Ginny," Hermione started explaining to Narcissa's eager nod and hand gesture for her to carry out and stop procrastinating over the point and get on with it.

"Well after Harry had been officially made head of House Black at the will readings, I knew that he was going to HAVE to take a pureblood wife, so I kind of told my friends to go after him..." Hermione said cringing at the surprise on Narcissa's face.

"Oh… Um ok… carry on," Narcissa said a short time later looking thoughtful as she thought about Hermione putting that important piece of information into place.

"Well I would never try and do something that would cause Harry any pain or problems, because I only ever want him to be happy." Hermione started to explain in earnest. "Plus I know that the thing Harry has always wanted was a family of his own and that he's such a big heart that he would want as big a family as he could ever have and well…"

"To be honest, I just thought if there was ever a chance of me and Harry being together and knowing that he would have to take a pureblood wife…" she said before hesitating and Narcissa watched as the young witch tried to force the words out.

"Well I reasoned that it may as well be someone who I know was a good person, would care about Harry and be good for him, especially if I had no chance of ever being with him, but if Harry and I did ever have a chance I'd want the other witch in his life to be someone who I considered a friend." Hermione finally concluded.

"So, you told your friends to pursue Harry? You sort of let the pack loose on him so to speak. Knowing that he would need to take at least one wife then he would need to choose a pureblood and you wanted it to be one of your friends because it couldn't be you. And secondly if he wanted to take a non- pureblood wife as well for another of his family lines then you wanted it to be you." Narcissa concluded. Hermione looked at her hands in her lap, fiddling with her fingers nervously.

"Yes" Hermione replied in a small voice, feeling very stupid. "He's going to hate me for it. He's going to think I'm trying to control his life," Hermione lamented. A tear was stealing from her eye and running down to the tip of her nose where it hung for a moment before a second tear joined it, causing it to drop.

"Nonsense Hermione," Narcissa said shaking her head. "You aren't trying to control his life and it's up to Harry what he does or doesn't do with anyone else and who he wants to be with." She said putting a comforting hand on the younger witch's hand.

"But I've basically thrust my friends onto him. I've been telling them for years about him and how amazing he is and telling them about the real Harry," Hermione argued.

"Are there not plenty of witches already interested in pursuing him?" Narcissa countered.

"Well yes, but I didn't set them on him," Hermione said shaking her head.

"You hardly sent a pack of werewolves or dementors after him, Hermione. Just a bunch of horny teenage girls, who you consider friends I might add," Narcissa said, chuckling to herself.

"I wish I had sent Dementors instead. They would have been less successful because he would have just driven them off," Hermione said dejectedly. Narcissa barked out a laugh that reminded her of Sirius and she looked up thinking how it might be a Black family trait to laugh just so.

"I know you don't mean that," Narcissa said earnestly, seeing the situation through a slightly amused perspective wishing she could have those teenage years back herself as she flattened her legs under the quilt.

"No. I'd never do anything to harm Harry. I love him." Hermione admitted thinking about her friends and couldn't stop herself from smiling as she thought about him and felt that warm feeling spread through her as it always did whenever she thought about him and how he made her feel. Her tears instantly disappeared. She didn't see Narcissa's warm smile at hearing the young witch admit that she loved Harry.

"I know you wouldn't do anything to harm him and that you want him to be happy," Narcissa said, turning in the bed so that she was on her side facing towards Hermione with her head and shoulder resting against the headboard.

"Hermione if your plan was to try and get one of your pureblood friends with Harry then there isn't anything there that he would be angry with you about. After all I know Tracey, Pansy and Daphne and all three are lovely girls just like yourself and I've only ever heard good things about Susan Bones as well." Narcissa said, shrugging honestly.

"So you don't think he will think I was trying to control his life?" Hermione asks, feeling childish.

"No of course not. What he does is up to him. After all, Harry could have told them all to leave him alone and that he didn't want to talk with them," Narcissa commented.

"Exactly and that's where my plans backfired massively. Instead of just one of them being of interest to him, because of this stupid thing with him being Lord of four Families he can be with all of them now under a different title and I'm going to get pushed out. They are all far better looking than I am and, as much as it pains me to admit it, probably more fun than me as well," Hermione said a little despondently at admitting that.

"Hermione that's complete nonsense. While I understand why you might think that, I can honestly say that it's obvious that Harry finds you attractive and feels for you a lot more strongly than anyone else in his life," Narcissa said, causing Hermione to look up and meet her eye. "Especially after what you told me he said to you when asking you to Mahoutokoro's Halloween ball," she said, giving the younger witch a nudge with her elbow.

"What he said to me was incredibly sweet. I had only ever dreamed him saying some of those things he said to me," Hermione replied, a girly little smile spreading across her face as her cheeks coloured a little.

"Well he's an incredibly sweet and sincere man. I do fear that sometimes he's got a people pleasing complex where he doesn't want to make anyone unhappy. But I'd imagine that's possibly from so many years of feeling so miserable and lonely himself. He's told me some of the things that happened when he lived with his muggle relatives," Narcissa practically hissed out the last sentence.

"I always knew that Harry didn't like his relatives but he's still not told me the worst of what they did to him. I don't know whether that's a good or a bad thing because I think I'd actually kill them if I knew the truth of it all," Hermione commented.

"Oh they will get what's coming to them believe me and I'm finding that it's a subject that's going to take Harry some time to open up about but I'll be certain to include you in any retribution that goes their way," Narcissa replied while thinking about how his relatives basically treated him like a house elf and forcing him to sleep in a small cupboard.

"Please let me know Narcissa. I never want to make Harry think about his past other than the good things that happened to him but if anything ever happens to those relatives of his, I want to know. Just don't do anything without Harry agreeing first. Harry can hold a grudge like no one I've ever seen." Hermione warned honestly because as much as she wanted retribution for Harry that was Harry's choice and she wouldn't act without Harry's agreement.

"I won't do anything until I have both Harry's and your agreement first," Narcissa replied. Hermione gave her a smile and nod of thanks.

"So before we get into the ins and outs of being head of a magical household and all these things that entails. I think it's important we talk about something that you need to really think about without anyone else listening into the conversation. I can tell you all about magical society and the rest of it at the same time as Harry," Narcissa said happy to see Hermione perking up a little.

"Ok. What do you want to talk about?" Hermione asked with a little uncertainty.

"Alright well, let me ask you some important questions and just try and answer as honestly as you can and don't be embarrassed, ok?" Narcissa said kindly and saw the younger witch gulp and start fiddling with her fingers nervously. Narcissa put her hand on Hermione's and gave it a gentle reassuring pat, "If I overstep the mark then please tell me and I'll stop questioning you about things, but anything you say here will be between me and you." Narcissa hoped that the young witch wouldn't feel the need to clam up if she asked something embarrassing.

"I'll try my best," Hermione replied, suddenly feeling nervous and mirroring Narcissa's position in the bed so she was facing the older witch.

"Ok," Narcissa started. "You love Harry and you want to be with him yes?" she asked Hermione, thinking the direct approach would be the best route to take.

"Yes more than anything. I know we're still young to be thinking about marriage and things since we've not even dated yet and for all I know it could be as big a disaster like it is with Ron. But I don't believe Harry would be anything but perfect," Hermione said feeling her cheeks colour a little.

"Well that's good and I'm sure you are correct in that assumption. Now this is important but have you considered the full implications of a third person in a relationship with you and Harry? If it happens," Narcissa asked knowing that they had been over some of this, but not as direct. It was easy to say a thing in passing, but Narcissa wanted to see and make sure that Hermione had thought about this completely.

"What do you mean by the full implications?" Hermione asked thinking that she knew the answer to that question and what Narcissa was driving at.

"I mean in a normal couple you only have to think about yourself and the other person. If there are more people involved in the relationship then you have to take their thoughts, opinions, and most importantly their feelings into consideration if it is ever going to work," Narcissa said studying the young witch.

"Well yes. That's why I thought that if one of my friends had a relationship with Harry as a pureblood in the relationship then at least I would already like and care about them and it would make things easier," Hermione replied honestly.

"And what about in regards to intimately? What if Harry decided that he wants to share his bed with both his wives. Do you think that you can be intimate with another witch?" Narcissa asked, seeing the younger witch's cheeks fully colour and Hermione looked at her hands.

"I… erm," Hermione started to say, finding that the words were sticking in her throat.

"I don't mean to embarrass you Hermione but it's easy to talk about other wives or concubines as an off hand comment but there is a seriousness to this all in that you would potentially have to share your bed with Harry and another witch... or witches given his four titles," Narcissa explained watching the younger woman's reaction.

"I know and you're right. I suppose I've been thinking about who I thought would be good for Harry and who I would like to be around if I did have to share him." Hermione said, still looking at her fingers and biting her bottom lip nervously.

"I get that and I think I would be the same if I were in your shoes. But How would you feel being with another witch, sexually?" Narcissa asked.

"Oh god," Hermione said, burying her face in her hands and letting out a sigh.

"You see this is the problem Hermione in that a lot of pureblood witches have prepared for a life where they know that the wizard they are in might want to have another woman in their bed and have grown up with the possibility of that being a reality. Say for example your friend Susan, She's head of the Bones family and she will have grown up with the reality of knowing that she could marry a wizard who is head of a family also and that they might decide to take her name in order to keep her as head of the Bones family. Then he might take another wife to keep his other family line alive but he would effectively have two wives although Susan would be head of the Bones household," Narcissa explained. Hermione looked up at the older witch.

"So you're saying that if I married Harry for example and he also married Susan then Harry could become Harry Potter-Black-Peverell-Ravenclaw-Granger-Bones?" Hermione asked, pulling a face. That was even more ridiculous than what his name was already!

"And choose to take on wives for the Ravenclaw, Black, Potter and Peverell titles as well if he should so choose," Narcissa nodded. "However he wouldn't be able to take the name Granger as you are the first of your magical line and would remain the head of that household until you passed it to your children," Narcissa explained.

"God this is even worse than I thought," Hermione shook her head wondering what the hell these adults had done to them. She just wanted to be with Harry. Her Harry. Just her and him alone. "What if I married him as a Hufflepuff or Dumbledore instead?" Hermione asked thinking how best she could get rid of one of her titles.

"You could. Although you might be better off in this scenario to take Harry's name and not continuing the Granger line. Although that's completely up to you. Depends whether you'd prefer to be Lady Potter-Dumbledore-Hufflepuff or have Harry take one of your names," Narcissa pointed out.

"That's just horrendous. What happens if Harry wanted to marry other witches for his other titles, but they were already heads of house? He could end up with so many wives I'd never get a look in and spend any real time with him," Hermione felt the panic rising up in her chest.

"It's a problem I can't remember any wizard having in the last century at least but I'd have to research it a little more. It's crazy that you and Harry, as well as potentially Lord Longbottom-Gryffindor, could end up having more than two or three partners each," Narcissa said while trying to remember the last time a witch or wizard in Britain faced this problem.

"Why is nothing ever normal with me and Harry?" Hermione questioned despondently. "I just want to be with Harry and if I have to have another witch involved as well then I wanted it to be someone I liked," she added feeling more at a loss with things than she ever had.

"Well they say that people who plan never have them come to fruition and that you should just focus on making yourself happy," Narcissa commented. She reached and put her arm around Hermione's shoulders, "Listen sweetheart. I know you put things into action with your friends and suggested that they pursue Harry but do want to know what I think you should do?" Narcissa asked, feeling a little closer to the young witch and feeling happy to be able to talk to her like she could with Harry.

"Please" Hermione responded, nodding enthusiastically and with pleading eyes.

"Well I think you have spent too much time worrying about titles and family lines and everything else and I think you should concentrate on being a young woman in love and just focus on how you feel and what makes you happy," Narcissa explained, giving her a little squeeze into her side.

"But there's all these witches interested in Harry now and…" Hermione started to say but Narcissa cut her off.

"Hermione, you and Harry and famous, yes him more so and you are both attractive young people admired by everyone. Now and in the future you'll both always have wizards and witches after you both and wanting to be with you. That's something you aren't ever going to stop and you need to decide whether you can handle other witches coming on to Harry and trying to capture his attention, and whether you trust him to not stray if you're in a relationship with him," Narcissa explained.

"I do trust Harry. I trust him with my life and he's always excelled and justified my faith in him. I guess I'm just surprised that he's got so far physically with Susan, Pansy, Daphne and Tracey and all he's done is kiss me as part of a game," Hermione sadly lamented.

"How do you know that he's got so far with your friends? Physically, that is?" Narcissa asked.

"Because they've told me in letters that they've written to me," Hermione replied, not meeting the older witch's eye.

"Have they written to you gloating?" Narcissa asked knowing how teenage witches could be.

"No. They've not gloated to me. They've just told me what had happened with him and said that they hoped I was ok with it," Hermione summarised vaguely.

"They've asked if you are alright with what happened between them and Harry?" Narcissa asked, raising a perfectly sculptured eyebrow.

"Yes," Hermione answered a little quietly.

"And why do you think that they would do that?" Narcissa asked, thinking this was encouraging.

"Because we're friends and they must know how much I care about Harry," Hermione said with a one shouldered shrug.

"And perhaps they all know that Harry loves you by the way he acts around you." Narcissa countered, causing Hermione to look at her. "Hermione if you look objectively at what you and Harry have accomplished with each other over the years, how you've put your lives on the line with and for each other. Look at the things he does for you like your birthday or getting your parents found and their memories restored as an example." She said clocking those examples off on her fingers.

"These aren't the actions of someone who just thinks of you as a friend, in my opinion. When I watch you two interact you remind me of couples from the past I saw truly in love like Andi and Ted, Fabian Prewett and Amelia Bones, Sirius and Darlene McKinnon for example.

Harry's parents also. Even though they got together late in Hogwarts, it was obvious how much they loved each other and when they were Head Boy and Girl they were apparently inseparable and couldn't keep their eyes, or their hands, off each other especially after they were married." Narcissa said smiling thinking back to those happy couples.

"That's very nice of you to say and I know Harry isn't like normal men his age as he's so selfless and does loads of things for others. Have you told Harry about his parents and Sirius?" Hermione asked, taking in Narcissa words and thinking how she was right and how Harry did in fact treat her and look after her without ever asking for anything in return and she saw other people and their friends and best friends and none of them treated them like Harry treated her.

Narcissa shook her head slowly, suddenly looking quite sad. "No not yet, it will be a bit painful to hear about them from me. I was close to Sirius and Darlene for a time until circumstances changed and my life went in a different direction. I meet Harry's parents a few times after they'd left Hogwarts and had known James from various functions our families attended." Narcissa sadly looked down at the duvet thinking.

"Do you want to talk about it? You seem… upset," Hermione asked, wondering why Narcissa Black would seem so upset and not want to talk about James and Lily Potter.

"Maybe another time," Narcissa replied, giving her a sad smile and Hermione noticed that Narcissa's eyes looked a little glassy. "Tonights about focusing on you and your problems," She added kindly. She used her resolve to shove the thoughts swirling around her head down deep.

"Yes well… my problems are mounting. I know Harry cares about me and I love him, but I don't know what's going to happen with all these family lines of ours and what or who is going to be in his life." Hermione's thoughts dragged back to the topic of her and Harry and their titles.

"Well here's my advice. You need to stop over complicating things. Stop focusing and worrying about everyone else and what they might be trying to do and focus on you and your happiness, and if at the end of it all, that's Harry and you together then great," the older witch explained. "Once you and Harry are established as a couple then you can discuss the titles and everything else out from there."

"But there is no getting away from the fact that we both have loads of family lines," Hermione countered.

"So? Why can't you focus on being with the man you want to be with and even though it's not necessarily my thought but so what if the Dumbledore, Hufflepuff, Peverell and Ravenclaw lines die out?" Narcissa firmly countered.

"The Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Peverell lines have been gone for over a thousand years anyway, so is it that big deal your both, if you and Harry decide to not continue the lines? It's up to you two, what you do with your family lines and other people can go to hell," Narcissa said thinking about how she didn't want Harry's life or Hermione's life dictated like hers had been through her Black family loyalty and the Malfoy pureblood obsession.

"What if Harry decided not to continue the Black family line. What would you think of that?" Hermione asked.

"Honestly I hate the thought of Draco becoming the Lord Black because he would inherit the title if Harry didn't keep the family title and married. But..." Narcissa let out a sigh "If he decided that, and it's his choice to do that, then I would have to try and find a wizard to marry me so I could take their name and not be under Draco's charge. I've already been under the hands of his cruelty and I vowed to myself that I'd never let him or anyone else hurt me again," She answered soberly as the emotions crashed against her, making her chest feel tight.

"I don't think Harry would ever let Draco near you again. I know he has told me that if Draco ever even so much as looked at you the wrong way that he'd kill him and I don't doubt Harry's resolve on that for a second. He's already enjoying the relationship you are building together," Hermione said. Narcissa looked up and met her eye.

"I am too. It's weird but he acts more towards me like a son would than Draco ever did. I just love being around him and seeing his reactions to things that he sees or discovers. He's got such an innocence about him sometimes, but I see that with you as well. Maybe it's because you've both been brought up in the muggle world that you see things in the magical world as different and everything is new," Narcissa concluded with a smile.

"Well I'm sure when we take you into the muggle world and you see how they do things you'll have the same look," Hermione teased.

"I can't even begin to imagine how the muggles do things. I've never really stepped into the muggle world except going to Severus's house but even then that was for a flying visit," Narcissa commented. Hermione's curiosity peaked but decided to store that information away for another time.

"Well we will get to see you on the tube in London in the future, I'm sure." Hermione countered cheekily thinking about how the former pureblood trophy wife would cope on the underground in London.

"What's the tube?" Narcissa asked curious as to what Hermione meant.

"I'll tell you about it another time," Hermione replied, trying to stifle a yawn.

"You're right. Priorities." Narcissa laughed lightly. "I never thought you'd be so easy to talk to and that we'd keep rolling off on tangents." Narcissa said honestly surprised about how much she was starting to really like the young witch.

"I know, I feel the same way." Hermione said with a smile. "So back to Harry and I. I suppose you're right. I've been thinking so much of family lines and wizarding tradition that I've been losing focus on what's important and that's me wanting to be with him in a relationship." Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Exactly. I'd say first focus on you and Harry. See how that goes and how it develops. The next most important thing is that you have to think about whether you could be with another witch or witches." Narcissa said to Hermione, "You're young and this is the time in your life to experiment and discover yourself first and foremost because if you don't find other witches attractive or don't think that you can share Harry then, maybe you and Harry aren't meant to be." She watched the other witch's reaction to that comment.

"No one else ever comes close to Harry. He's so special and I want him to be happy. I want to be the one that makes him happy," Hermione said, "I guess it's always just a dream or a fantasy that Harry and I might get together one day just the two of us." Hermione said.

"It can still be as you want it Hermione. I'm just saying that you need to think about whether you are prepared to share him and whether you could be with another witch. Let's face it Harry, as wonderful as he is, is still a horny teenage wizard and I remember from my youth that they all dream of sharing a bed with multiple witches." Narcissa said feeling Hermione nod against her while she leant on her shoulder.

"Well I've already given that some thought," Hermione whispered.

"Oh?" Narcissa asked, turning her head and looking at the young witch as best she could.

"Yes, well I've had some experiences that have opened my eyes a little bit to what it would be like to be with a witch." Hermione commented, her cheeks were burning in embarrassment.

"Some experiences with the same witch or an experience with different witches?" Narcissa asked surprised that Hermione had been experimenting with other witches in a sexual way.

"Two experiences with different witches," Hermione shyly replied.

"Well that's a positive thing if you've experimented with other witches but not if you are just doing it for Harry's sake. Remember that this is your life Hermione and has to be what you want as well. I'd hate to see you go down a route in your life because you want to be with Harry and then not be happy." Narcissa said as Hermione nodded along to what she was saying thinking.

"I've had experiences with being with another witch a few times in my past. In fact my last encounter of a carnal nature was with a former Gryffindor you went to school with." Narcissa smirked to herself as she thought about the drunken crazy afternoon with Alicia Spinnet.

Hermione sat up bolt upright whipping her head round quickly as she looked at the older witch. "What?!" She exclaimed a little louder than intended. "With who?" Hermione asked, wide eyed.

Narcissa laughed and shook her head, "I can't say. We agreed not to tell anyone but it was an interesting, unexpected, and pleasurable experience." The memories of that afternoon played through her mind.

"I'm not letting you off the hook Cissa and I have my ways of finding things out. You can ask Harry and he'll tell you. I'm tenacious and will find out eventually," Hermione said with a determined smirk.

"Well we shall see," Narcissa countered with a confident smile herself. She was not going to let the younger witch wittle the information out of her. "Anyway enough about me. You said you've had a couple of experiences with the fairer sex." Narcissa enquired, "Anyone I would know?"

"Well you'd know both of them, but you know one of them pretty well now. You see her almost every day," Hermione said with a smirk.

"Fleur," Narcissa said instantly thinking how the young French witch just oozed sexual charisma and how her allure would easily reduce most people to mush. "She's probably the most sexually alluring person I've ever met and has a naughty mind and seems to have very few inhibitions about her," Narcissa explained thoughtfully.

"Yep," Hermione responded.

"When did that happen? What happened?" Narcissa asked pulling her arm back from around behind Hermione and turned herself towards her in the bed supporting herself with her arm under her pillow. Hermione sighed and let out a little laugh and mimicked Narcissa until they were both lying in bed under the quilt facing each other.

Hermione started telling the older witch about how she'd had her crisis of confidence after finding out about Harry and his kiss with Susan, how Fleur had explained to her that just because someone kissed someone else doesn't mean that they are going to end up together and how Fleur had locked lips with her in the bathroom at the Ministry ball.

"And was it just a kiss then?" Narcissa asked with a wicked smile on her face.

"Yes, it was just a kiss," Hermione blushed a little.

"And… How was it?" she asked the younger witch.

"It was good. Nice. Soft." Hermione explained as she recalled the kiss. "But nothing like kissing Harry. That was just magical and while it was nice kissing Fleur, kissing Harry was amazing. It was like having a total out of body experience at the same time as having the complete inner body experience, if that makes any sense," Hermione finished looking at the older witch who was smiling and shaking her head.

"No not at all, but your smile tells me everything I need to know about how you feel about your kiss with Harry because you're practically glowing," Narcissa said grinning at the younger witch.

"Well it was a hell of a kiss. I ended up straddling him in the bath and got so carried away that I only stopped things getting more heated because of an angry house elf." Hermione smiled at the memory as she told Narcissa about them playing Pocky.

"Sounds like a very interesting game and that you are allowed a lot more freedom at Mahoutokoro than you were at Hogwarts. Can you imagine Professor McGonagall letting a bunch of randy seventh years have a communal bath together? I can only imagine the trouble we'd have got up to with that game if we'd played that in the prefect's bathroom," Narcissa chuckled to herself.

"It certainly made for an interesting night. Although I didn't kiss anyone else like I kissed Harry and he didn't kiss anyone else like he kissed me. We just sort of had a laugh with it with the others but I could tell he had reservations because of Ron as we got closer. Thankfully it happened and was really incredible." Hermione mused.

"So tell me about the other experience that you had that makes you think you might be ready for a possible three way relationship with Harry and another witch?" Narcissa asked, pulling them back on point.

Hermione's cheeks coloured a little. "Erm. Yes. Well that is a little more than a kiss." She said quietly while Narcissa studied her. Hermione couldn't quite look the older witch in the eyes.

"Don't be shy," Narcissa saw that Hermione was a little reluctant to spill the beans. "Tell you what. How about I tell you about a time I was with another witch first and then you don't need to be as shy about it?" She suggested to Hermione and laughed as Hermione's eyes widened and then she nodded.

"Alright ok," Hermione replied thinking that it might help break the ice a bit more and hid her surprise well that Narcissa had been with more than one witch in her time.

Narcissa then proceeded to tell her about not one but two incidents that happened at a Slytherin Quidditch victory party when they won the Quidditch cup in her fourth year and how she had ended up snogging, and getting pretty hot and heavy with a girl in the sixth year girls dorm after a session of firewhiskey that had been smuggled into the school.

The story only involved them touching each other over their clothes but still had Hermione feeling a little tingly and turned on listening about it.

The second story had shocked Hermione a little more when Narcissa had said that she'd actually had oral sex with one of her best friends from school, who she was still friends with to this day. She explained this was during her final year when they had got a bit carried away when her friend was comforting her after finding out that she was being entered into a marriage contract with Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa had been really upset.

Narcissa had confessed to Hermione that she had been in love with another boy in their school and that he'd had a girlfriend but that the witch who he was with had been willing to share the boy with her because she knew that Narcissa and the boy in question had a thing before they'd got together.

Hermione had asked if she'd had anything of a sexual nature with the other girl if she was being accepted into a three way relationship. Narcissa had just smiled and said that she'd already given Hermione some dirt on her adventures with the same sex. She's said that Hermione would have to balance the scales a bit and tell her about her other incident before she shared any other information with Hermione about her own adventures.

"You're mean." Hermione pouted playfully, not quite believing what was happening and how open Narcissa was being and more surprisingly that Hermione Granger was sharing a bed swapping girl on girl sex stories with Draco Malfoy's mother.

"I'm not mean. I'm fair," Narcissa countered laughing lightly. "Don't pout at me young lady. It's time for you to fess up a little," she enjoyed the openness with the younger witch feeling an almost deep friendly bond forming between them. "Although if you mention anything I've said to Harry then I'll hex your boobs off," she teased.

"I promise I won't say anything to anyone. Witches code and all that." Hermione said getting an approving nod from Narcissa.

"So… quit stalling and spill," Narcissa suggested teasingly. "You've got a busy day tomorrow and are going to need to go to bed soon so don't start trying to deflect the conversation," she said seeing Hermione bite her lip nervously.

"Oh alright, fine. I'll tell you this then I really need to get to bed as I want to get as much time as possible at that theme park." Hermione said, stealing herself.

"Alright well it happened in the summer when I invited some friends to a barbeque that's like an outdoor picnic but there are meats prepared on a fire and a grill," Hermione said, feeling the need to explain the muggle cooking method to Narcissa.

/FLASHBACK /

16th July, The Badgers Nook, Valley Broad, Wales

The girls all sat around a small circular table on the patio of the Badger's Nook. Luna was sitting next to Hermione and was quite nervous meeting the rest of Hermione's friends for the first time.

Luna had been happy when she was in her fifth year Hermione had confided in her towards the end of the year that she had friends in other houses but was surprised when Hermione has asked her to keep it a secret. Luna had found it very sweet that Hermione had asked her to look after herself and to look out for her friends at the end of Luna's fifth year at Hogwarts because Hermione, Harry and Ron weren't coming back. They had something to do away from Hogwarts.

Luna had readily agreed but other than Hannah and Susan she didn't really know the Slytherin girls very well. Because the Slytherins had mainly stuck to the Slytherin common room most of the year when not in classes. She was unable to keep tabs on them and make sure they were safe.

Luna had already got to know and had missed the two Hufflepuff girls over the summer after she'd got to know them much better in her sixth year. She had got to know them during the DA and she had cemented a friendship with them a little better while she, Ginny and Neville were leading the resistance in Hogwarts during her sixth year. That was before she had been captured in a corridor going to Care of Magical Creatures by the Carrows. Apparently Voldemort and his followers weren't happy with some of the things her Dad was writing in the Quibbler in support of Harry.

As she looked around the table at her new friends, she felt that now familiar warmness in her tummy as she listened to them bantering back and forth and was again struck by the thought that Hermione and Harry had voiced during a DA class, that the house system in Hogwarts helped create barriers between the houses rather than bringing them down.

She was curious to see what Hogwarts would be like for her this year with so many of her friends older than her and finishing their education abroad.

Luna got a warm smile from Hermione's mother as she put a tray of drinks down on the small table between them all and started passing them out.

Firstly she passed a glass to Hannah and Susan who were sitting on Hermione's left as they offered their thanks for the drinks. Then Tracey and Daphne reached forwards for their drinks giving a 'thank you' to Mrs. Granger as they lent back in their chairs and started sucking slowly on the straws.

Then Mrs. Granger held out a glass to both herself and Pansy who was sitting on her right. Given that Pansy had never been to a muggle born house before either, Luna felt a little bit of comfort that she wasn't the only one to experience new things she'd never known about.

Not that Hermione's house was even remotely muggle. Luna and Pansy, along with the others, had been fascinated to explore and be shown around the house of Helga Hufflepuff.

Frieda had given them all a tour of the house with Hermione as they both rattled off a lot of the history of the house and things that it could do. Daphne, Tracey, and Pansy hadn't been in the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts, so were amazed at how the house could change to its owner's desire.

Luna and Pansy had taken their glasses and had sniffed the reddy orange coloured liquid wondering what it was that Mrs. Granger had given them. Casting an unsure look at each other Luna and Pansy then both took a tentative sip on their straws.

"Oh my. It's lovely!" Pansy exclaimed. She took another sip on her straw.

"It really is and it's like there are bubbles in it making it fizz and it's lovely and sweet. It's like nothing I've ever tasted before." Luna said, impressed and looking at Emma. "Excuse me Mrs. Granger but what is this?" she asked, holding up her glass.

"It's a drink called Fanta but it's a fizzy drink that muggles drink and the flavour is fruit twist which I think is a mix of strawberry and peach flavours." Emma explained, "Although don't go drinking too many of them because it's full of sugar and sweetners and bad for your teeth." Emma, ever the dentist, decided to add.

It never ceased to amaze her how magical people seemed so shocked at how muggles managed to find ways of making and doing things. It was endearing in a way because it made them all seem more child-like. Hermione had told her what Luna especially had endured.

"How do they make it bubbly?" Pansy asked, stirring her drink with her straw watching the bubbles rising to the surface. Hermione gave them a quick explanation about aerating drinks to give them a fizz and Pansy thanked Emma and said that she really liked it.

"Mum, where's dad?" Hermione asked her mum while taking her own drink.

"Oh, he's made a break from having to do the cooking. I said I'd be doing the barbeque so he doesn't have to listen to girl talk. He's said he's going to go and tune up and wash the cars." Emma said thinking how funny her husband had almost sprinted from the house getting the opportunity to avoid being waiter, cook and bartender for the group of young girls.

"He does know that the cars are charmed so that they are self cleaning, doesn't he?" Hermione enquired, raising her eyebrow. She suspected her dad had snuck into the garage and was reading about cars that he wanted to look at for Harry's garage or more likely snuck off to Harry's house to talk with Paul Potterton about them in the Potter Arms.

"I'm sure he does dear, but let him have his fun. Frieda wants to know whether you want any wine with your meal?" Emma asked the girls, who all looked to Hermione.

"Well I got left Hufflepuffs wine cellar so we may as well put it to good use I suppose." Hermione responded getting a rousing approval from the girls assembled as Emma nodded and said that she'd leave the girls to it and start making the food.

The girls spent the next couple of hours sat chatting away as Frieda and Emma flitted back and forth between the kitchen and the grill that Emma and Dan had bought Hermione as a late birthday present. Who, with the help of Lancelot, had been made magical so that it didn't need to run off gas or charcoal and would cook on magical fire.

They talked about a great many things such as the boys they went to school with, the most attractive list and naturally the conversation had moved towards a particular jade eyed wizard in particular that more than half the girls assembled were interested in romantically.

"So, Daphne you never said where you took Harry on that date you won against him in poker?" Hannah asked, causing the other conversations around the table to go quiet.

"What is poker?" Luna asked airily and Hermione gave her a quick explanation about muggle card games and poker in particular, to which Luna said that it sounded fascinating and Hermione agreed to go and get some playing cards later so they could show it properly.

Daphne was thankful of the time Hermione took explaining what poker was because she needed a moment to get herself together. She'd given Tracey all the details of her date and Pansy had told her that morning that she would be getting all the details out of her today, no matter what.

Daphne knew that was down to the mindset of Pansy and she wanted to know exactly what she was up against. Daphne had done her hair that day in a simple ponytail that went down to just between her shoulder blades and she pulled the hair around over her shoulder the same way Susan did as Hannah looked at her expectantly.

"Oh well we went to Silverstone and then went into muggle London for a meal," Daphne tried to keep the information to a minimum.

"Silverstone... that muggle racing track you and Tracey have been to?" Susan asked, surprised that Daphne would choose to go so muggle on her date with the most desired wizard in the country.

"Uh huh" Daphne replied, giving a little nod. "He's a really good driver and we set the fastest lap times there against some older muggles who thought that we'd be no competition. It was so funny seeing their faces when the instructors announced the lap times," she added with a little smile at the memory.

"What made you decide to go there with him?" Hannah asked thinking along the same line as Susan. "Why not go somewhere in the magical world together?"

"Exactly, why not go to a nice restaurant on Diagon Alley so that you could be seen with him?" Pansy asked, finding it strange that Daphne wouldn't have taken the opportunity to be seen publicly with Harry and have it make The Prophet.

"Well…" Daphne said looking towards Hermione who was suddenly finding the fork on her plate very interesting. "Hermione suggested that Harry might prefer somewhere out of the spotlight." All heads turned to Hermione.

"What?" she asked with a shrug as she met their eyes.

"You giving Daphne dating advice to enjoy a day in private with Harry?" Tracey asked, pointing out the obvious, the surprise clear on all their faces except Daphne's and Luna's. The latter looking up into the sky and making a comment about a cloud above them looking like a pixie playing a saxophone.

"Well Daphne's my friend and Harry's my best friend. I just suggested that he might enjoy that. I know he loves his cars and might want somewhere he could enjoy just being Harry without people approaching him and asking autographs or worse the press grilling them both about them being out together or about last year and the battle." Hermione replied honestly, although omitting that she wished Daphne hadn't been clever enough to get Harry on a date.

"Ok. But still I would have thought you'd have wanted to save a great date for Harry and yourself?" Tracey asked seeing that Hermione had made a good recommendation to Daphne and that it was down once again to protecting Harry. Hermione met her eye and Tracey gave her a knowing look.

"Why would I be going out on dates with Harry. I'm with Ron." Hermione said trying to smile at that announcement but feeling a stab of jealousy in her stomach.

"Pffft ok" Tracey, Daphne, Pansy and Hannah all said at the same time.

"What do you mean Pffft?" Luna asked.

"Oh for Merlin's sake." Susan said shaking her head, "please not this again." She rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes in resignation to what was coming next.

"What?" Pansy asked looking at Susan.

"The whole we know Hermione loves Harry thing," Susan replied looking at the chestnut haired witch who looked down, shaking her head slightly.

"Well she does," The Slytherin girls chimed in together, grinning at each other.

"I've got a boyfriend. You know Ron and I are dating?" Hermione responded lacking complete conviction.

"You've got a boyfriend, but I'd hardly say that he's trying properly to date. Besides we all know you're mad about Harry and have been for years." Tracey argued.

"Oh can we not do this today? It's Luna's first time with us and she doesn't want to listen to this. Right Luna?" Susan asked hoping her younger friend would change the subject.

"Oh I don't mind and it's been obvious to me that Hermione's been in love with Harry since the first time I met her. Well since the first time I saw her and him actually," Luna replied spearing a cherry tomato and popping it into her mouth.

"Really! How did you know Luna?" Pansy asked, figuring Luna was another ally on their side of the argument.

"Just by the way she looks at him." Luna said, shrugging her shoulders. "I could see that she was captivated by him whenever I saw them together and while they got on well Hermione's aura has always suggested she wants more than just a platonic friendship with Harry. Probably because he cares about her so much as well."

"I am not captivated by him," Hermione argued feebly.

"Bollocks!" Tracey firmly countered before leaning forward to rest her elbows on the edge of the table. She interlaced her fingers before resting her chin on them. She looked at Hermione who, like a true Gryffindor, bravely looked up and met her eyes.

"Plus in my first year when Hermione had been petrified I'll never forget the end of year feast when the exams got cancelled. Seeing Hermione enter the Great Hall and Harry instantly spotting her even though everyone was eating. Watching the two of them run towards each other and embrace so enthusiastically it was obvious then that they loved each other and that neither wanted to let the other go," Luna added to the general amazement of the rest of those around the table.

"I'd just been unpetrified and hadn't seen him for ages so of course I hugged him, he's my best friend," Hermione tried to argue looking around but seeing no takers for her argument.

"That's right. That was so cute seeing your frizzy hair bouncing along behind you as you rocketed towards each other and held each other for ages, not letting go," Pansy said remembering the scene in their second year and finding it so cute.

"It was adorable but it was obvious that you two cared for each other more strongly than you thought. You didn't hug Ron afterwards. You just did this awkward handshake thing and even he looked like he knew he was out of place," Daphne added to Susan and Hannah's agreement.

"Mione,'' Tracey said a bit more softly. "It's alright... We can all see how much he loves about you and we're not stupid or blind. We know that you love him. He wouldn't have done all the things he has done for you and what you've told us all over the years and you for him if you didn't care so much for each other."

"Trace what I do or do not feel towards Harry is irrelevant. I'm in a relationship with Ron, remember and as we've already discussed he's potentially going to end up with a load of wives so I'm not kidding myself that I'd get to be one of them," Hermione said firmly giving the others no doubt that she wanted this part of the conversation to move on.

"But you are in love with him." Hannah interjected flatly, "It's alright to admit it Hermione. You're amongst friends and we aren't going to say anything about it to him or anyone outside of the seven of us."

"That's not the point Hannah. The point is that I've…" Hermione started to say as the rest of the chanted together "Got a boyfriend." Hermione could swear that her mum was chuckling herself at the grill.

"Who you aren't in love with," Hannah pointed out.

"And who isn't as mature, caring or committed towards you as Harry is," Pansy chimed in.

"Who doesn't make you feel special," Daphne added.

"And is more obsessed with Quidditch rather than spending time with his amazing girlfriend," Susan added getting a "not you as well" look from Hermione.

"Who doesn't even just pop round to see you," Tracey said, having seen throughout the summer how Ron hadn't made any effort with Hermione.

"Who doesn't spoil you or your mum and dad with their dream cars," Emma teased from behind, letting her daughter know that she was listening and getting laughs from the other girls as Hermione whipped her head round.

"And who you don't really want to bump uglies with as you love another man and would rather do that with him instead," Luna added. Hermione whipped her head back round the other way to Luna for some reason, shocked at her blonde friend's bluntness if not surprised.

"Just admit it!" Tracey encouraged Hermione whose cheeks were colouring from Luna's comment being made in front of Emma, who at that moment seemed to be pretending to have gone temporarily deaf.

Hermione growled, "Fine! Yes alright I love Harry. Are you all happy now? Can we get back to reality and move on now." Her cheeks coloured as the girls all hooted, whistled and clapped at Hermione's admission.

"Finally she admits it," Daphne teased holding her hands up to the sky. Hermione couldn't help but smile at her friends and be amazed how weird it was knowing that most of the girls she'd been secretly friends with for years liked Harry as well but all seemed to be happy that Hermione loved Harry as well, which got her thinking more.

"And the bumping uglies thing?" Tracey asked about getting a death glare from Hermione causing them all to laugh out loud.

"Come on Tracey we all know that she wants to do the wild thing with Harry." Hannah joked. Hermione buried her head in her hands and then heard her say "I'm not discussing that in front of my mother," causing the rest to all laugh as Emma responded casually, "Nothing I wouldn't already know dear. Foods nearly ready," she was amused at her daughter being teased by her friends.

"For Merlin's sake. Anyway like I was saying Harry and Daphne are my friends and knowing Harry's becoming a car nut I thought he'd enjoy it and I already knew that Daphne liked cars and driving fast. It was just a suggestion to go to muggle London afterwards," she explained, crossing her arms over her chest and sitting back in her chair.

"Yes Daphne, tell us where you went after you raced?" Susan asked interested and catching Hermione's eye as her friend mouthed "thanks", which Susan knew was Hermione relieved to be away from the line of questioning about herself and Harry.

Daphne reluctantly started telling the others about her date with Harry and Daphne and told them all about their meal and time in Las Iguanas and the Mexican food that they tried and how delicious it was.

Hannah had then made a comment about Neville going to experience a lot of Mexican food while he was away at Castelobruxo and asked the others about whether she should ask Neville to take her to Las Iguna so she could experience a little of what it was like.

Luna, Hermione and Susan noticed, looked a little deflated at that and Susan didn't miss Hermione reaching for Luna's arm under the table and giving it a little pat. Susan noticed the look they exchanged and that Luna perked up a little bit after Hermione quietly made a comment in the younger witch's ear that got a shy smile and nod in return.

Daphne has told them about how she had made the first move on Harry and they had all wolf whistled and cheered after Daphne had told them about herself and Harry kissing along the embankment in muggle London and getting honked by the boat passing.

"So you just straight up kissed him?" Pansy asked, surprised at Daphne's boldness.

Her blonde friend grinned, "He was just being so adorable I couldn't help myself and we ended up sharing a few lovely kisses before I got home." Daphne was not used to talking so openly about a boy she liked and with such a big group but she felt relaxed enough to talk about it.

Susan, ever observant, had stayed relatively quiet watching the reaction of their hostess while they all talked about Harry. She saw that Hermione's smile at their stories about him didn't quite reach her eyes and she laughed and joked with them but she grew quieter as they ate.

Frieda and Emma had cleared away the dishes for them all as they chatted and Frieda had brought them all out a couple of bottles of wine as they talked and laughed together.

"Luna I swear to Merlin, if I knew you were this funny in Hogwarts I'd have tried to get you to transfer to Slytherin," Pansy laughed after listening to the younger witch finish retelling them a story about herself and her dad going looking for the crumpled horn snorkack in Sweden. Which had resulted in Xenophilius Lovegood ending up trapped down a small cave and covered in Bat droppings when trying to smell the walls for signs of the Snokack being there.

"Well that's very nice of you to say, but I don't think I would have been too welcome in Slytherin. Most of Slytherin called me Loony quite a lot," Luna commented airily.

"Well if we had known that, we would have certainly put a stop to it. Your stories about magical creatures crack me up," Tracey said smiling kindly at the younger witch thinking how Hermione had done a good thing introducing her to the group.

"Absolutely. I wish you had been in our year Luna," Daphne agreed.

"Well that's very nice of you all to say. I'm just glad that Hermione has introduced me to you all. It's nice to make new friends and you aren't at all like I'd imagined you to be," Luna replied honestly and genuinely happy to have made their acquaintance.

"How did you imagine us to be?" Hannah asked from next to Susan.

"Well I've only ever heard that Pansy is a bitch and after being with Draco Malfoy for so long I didn't expect you to be so nice. But if you were in a betrothal contract for so long then it would make sense that you acted that way because of compulsion charms and anything else written into the contract," Luna said thoughtfully.

"Yes, well I'll tell you another time why I was acting that way and how I got out of the contract," Pansy said, feeling her stomach tighten in sadness thinking about how she had a reputation for being a bitch in the other houses. "But I'm not a bitch Luna. Not really," she added.

"Yeah, only sometimes," Tracey jokes. Pansy leant forwards and swatted her arm.

"Yeah, only when she wants to be" Daphne chipped in as the others laughed as Pansy then swatted Daphne.

"You've no room to talk, Ice Queen," Pansy teased back.

"Is it true that you got that nickname because you cast a freezing charm on a boys penis when you were in second year?" Luna asked turning her eyes to Daphne who was sat on the other side and couldn't help choke on her drink as she spluttered and laughed at Luna's comment.

"Alright, yes it's true that I cast a freezing charm on his bits. But he was like four years older than me, the sick perv," Daphne said, amused at the memory as Pansy and Tracey started wanting to tell the story that Hermione and the others had heard a few times before but it never got any less funny with each telling.

Daphne wasn't a complete bitch though and noticed as they listened to Pansy and Tracey taking turns to tell the start of the story that Hermione was almost deliberately avoiding eye contact with them all. Daphne looked around the table to see if anyone else had noticed and she caught Susan's eye. She knew what her red haired friend was thinking and mouthed "I'll do it" to, to which Susan shook her head kindly and mouthed back "No I will" and gave Daphne a comforting smile.

Susan managed to catch Hermione's eye at one point and subtly gestured with a tilt of her head towards the house. Hermione nodded as Susan said "Right well I think we need to have some more fun, so Hermione and I will go and set up cricket on the dart board that I saw in the games room and then after that we can teach Luna to play poker."

"Good idea as we can all play in teams and maybe get Emma and Frieda to play."

"Alright sure. Just come and get us when it's all set up. It's lovely out here although it's getting a little cooler now," Tracey said. She reclined a little in her seat and leaned back and pulled her wand from her bra holster and cast a floating fire spell around them as she noticed that the sun was starting to wane a little. Six tennis ball sized orbs of fire floated from the end of her wand as she made a circle with it above her head.

The balls of fire spread out around them about four feet in the air and a couple of feet back from where they were all sat. Tracey willed the small balls of flame to grow until they were the size of a football in order to keep them all warm from the residual heat coming from them as they spaced themselves far enough away to not be too hot.

"Come on Hermione, let's set it up and leave this lot to tell Luna all about Daphne's frosty reputation and why she got it." Susan winked at Luna and stood from the table grabbing Hermione's hand as she passed her seat.

As the others started to tell Luna the story about how Daphne got her nickname of the Ice Queen of Hogwarts, Susan linked arms with Hermione and started leading her inside. "Are you alright?" Susan kindly asked her friend.

"Yes I'm fine." Hermione replied, not sounding thoroughly convincing and causing Susan to bump hips with her playfully.

"Hermione how long have we known each other? I've seen you at your highest and I've seen you at your lowest so please don't pretend I don't recognise when something isn't right with you." They stepped in the patio door of the Badger's Nook that led to the dining room.

"I'm fine Suzie alright. It's just all a bit much to take at the minute and I am just a bit confused about things at the moment." Hermione explained while letting out a sigh and thinking that she should have guessed that if any of them saw through her happy fake mood it would be the loyal redheaded former Hufflepuff.

"I'm not having that. You're going to tell me what's going on, Hermione Granger or there is going to be trouble." Susan tried her best to sound like her Aunt Amelia whenever Susan had tried to play things off as being fine and her Auntie saw right through it.

"Seriously it's fine Suzie," Hermione attempted again to try and placate her friend.

"Don't make me draw my wand to get the information out of you," Susan countered sternly.

"There's no need for wands to be drawn," Hermione countered. Susan guided her into the sitting room at the front of the house and pointed to a sofa near one of the portraits of the four founders.

Hermione looked at the sofa like it was made of spiders and snakes and was the last place she'd want to sit. She pulled a face because she didn't want Susan trying to draw any information out of her where the others might overhear. "Do we have to do this Suzie? Seriously I'm alright... I'm... I'm just trying to figure things out a bit in my head." She pleaded to her friend trying to play on Susan's considerate nature.

"So there is something wrong!" Susan said triumphantly, causing Hermione to roll her eyes.

"It's no big deal," Hermione countered, lying and biting her lower lip as she tried not to meet her friend's eye.

"Hermione." Susan said softly, turning and taking her friends hands in hers. "It's me, alright? You should know by now that if there is something you want to talk about with me privately that you can and I won't tell a soul. Not even Hannah." She said trying to look at Hermione's eyes that were pointed to the ground.

"I don't think it will help discussing it," Hermione said looking up and seeing that Susan was about to say something and got in there first, "But if you are not going to let this drop, then at least let's not talk about it in front of the others. It's not really something I'd find easy talking about and it's not straight in my mind anyway. I'm so confused about things I don't really know what to do anymore," Hermione reluctantly admitted to her friend.

"Right then. Let's go up to your room and talk in private" Susan said, taking Hermione's hand firmly in hers and leading her friend up the stairs and towards Hermione's bedroom. "It's this one isn't it?" Susan asked, pointing to the door she assumed was Hermione's room since they didn't really spend a lot of time upstairs when being given the tour.

"Yes that one there." Hermione confirmed glumly as Susan entered the room first and guided Hermione in before closing the door. Hermione let go of Susan's hand noticing how her hand felt a lot cooler without Susan's warm hand no longer holding it and made her way across to her bed and sat down on the edge.

Hermione watched Susan lock the door with her wand and start casting wordless spells on the door and wall next to it. Hermione recognised the wand movement for some of the silencing and privacy charms Susan was putting up and not recognising others.

Once satisfied that she had the room secure and so they wouldn't be overheard, Susan turned and took the opportunity to look around the bedroom. The furniture was lovely and made of warm honey coloured woods and all the furnishings and fabrics on the bedding, chairs and walls were all in Hufflepuff colours.

Susan felt right at home in the room. Having been a Hufflepuff at Hogwarts, it instantly put her at ease. The large windows showed the rolling Welsh countryside and Susan appreciated the view for a couple of moments before her attention turned towards her friend.

Susan made her way over to the bed and sat on the bed so she was sitting next to Hermione. She half turned putting one of her legs up onto the bed so she was facing Hermione and put her hand on the bed to support herself.

"Right then. It's just me and you, so don't worry about being overheard or anything. Tell me what's going on. You were perfectly happy and the normal Hermione earlier and then you went really quiet when we started talking about boys in our year and Harry especially. So I'm assuming this is Harry related?" Susan surmised correctly.

Hermione let out a sigh, "Yes." Balling up her courage to talk about it she added, "But I've no right to be thinking or feeling what I'm feeling about things. I'm with Ron." Susan could see that her friend was hurting a little and really wasn't happy.

"So tell me what's going on." Susan said, wanting to help Hermione focus on the problem.

"I feel kind of stupid because I know I told you all that it was fine if you wanted to ask Harry out after he and Ginny split up. I guess I'm just having a hard time dealing with it because I didn't think that it would be going so well for you guys.. For all of you." Hermione admitted feeling foolish.

"What? You mean because he went out on a date with Daphne and because I kissed him at the ministry ball?" Susan asked, getting a nod of the head from Hermione who was making a very conscious effort not to look Susan in the eye.

"And you aren't happy about it?" Susan ventured.

"I'm not unhappy about it," Hermione replied. "Well… I don't really know what I feel. I want Harry to be happy just like I want you guys to be happy. I just didn't think that he would have kissed Daphne when he barely even knows her." She started playing with a loose piece of cotton on her cardigan.

Susan nodded after hearing Hermione admit it. "And how do you feel about me kissing Harry?" She asked, fearing the answer.

"Well Harry knows you more," Hermione replied looking up and meeting Susan's eye.

"Right… but are you angry with Harry?" Susan asked. Hermione didn't answer her and looked away from her. Susan thought she was avoiding answering the question.

"Oh I see. So you're angry with me. Well that's fine if you're going to be angry with anyone then you should be angry with me because I kissed him. He just reacted to it," Susan said not thinking it fair to blame Harry for herself and Daphne kissing him.

"I'm not angry about it Suzie. Just a little confused about how easily Harry is reciprocating and I'm trying to process how I feel about it," Hermione replied honestly.

"Well you did say to us that we had your blessing to try and get his attention after he split up with Ginny," Susan pointed out.

"I know that I said that. I just didn't think that you'd both have so much success straight away. I guess I'm just scared of losing him. You and Daphne are really pretty and any wizard would happily get together with you both. I suppose I just hoped that Harry might have somehow wanted to be with me. I guess I'm always just going to be a friend to him," Hermione buried her face into her hands for a moment.

"Hermione that's rubbish. Listen I know and that lot all know, that you've been in love with Harry since second year and don't go interrupting me but that boy loves you too." Susan said honestly. "There's no way that anyone, if his circumstances were normal, would have a chance with him compared to you and he knew how you really feel about him." Susan said more kindly and not as sternly.

"But you're all really pretty. I'm just the bucked toothed, frizzy haired bookworm tomboy," Hermione argued. "You've all got great bodies, really pretty and every guy who sees any of you almost instantly fancies you. I've only ever had Viktor Krum ask me out properly. No other boy in Hogwarts looked twice at me." Hermione finished.

"God you are so annoying sometimes. I swear to god you're the dumbest smart person I've ever met. Have you heard yourself?" Susan asked, shaking her head and letting out a light laugh.

"What?" Hermione asked looking at Susan.

"Oh poor me, I have only ever been asked out by one of the biggest Quidditch stars in the world, that had crowds of girls swooning over him and following him around the school," Susan mimed holding the back of her hand to her forehead as she mocked her friend.

"You've been asked out by Viktor Krum to the point where he even invited you to go on a summer break with him and meet his family in Bulgaria and you've had Harry Potter arguably the most famous wizard in Britain trying to protect you and look after you for seven years and staring at you all the time when you aren't looking," Susan pointed out.

"Harry doesn't stare at me," Hermione retorted.

"Yes he bloody does! You never noticed in class because you had your nose buried in a book. I saw it all the time in the Great Hall during meal times but you never noticed it because he was really subtle about making sure you didn't see him stare," Susan pointed out.

"Rubbish," Hermione started to say before Susan cut her off.

"Is what you're talking
. Stop arguing." Susan commanded. Her fiery temper started to bubble up. "I'm not going to sit here and let you start bad mouthing yourself or pretend in any way that you aren't as attractive if not more so than Daphne, me or anyone else, alright? You don't have to believe that Harry's attracted to you physically and emotionally. That's your prerogative and has been for years but I'm telling you the truth." Susan said as Hermione looked at her.

"So like I was saying you've had Viktor Krum want to date you. How many witches do you reckon would give their left nipple to go on a date with him?" Susan inquired with a little scoff.

"Do you think Viktor is attractive?" Hermione asked. Susan had never really mentioned what she thought of Viktor in the past.

"He's not my cup of tea but I can see why people find him attractive. You know me though I fancy the person not the fame," Susan blushed a little.

"Yes I know." Hermione said, feeling a little better about herself.

"So anyway like I was saying if you're angry with us about trying to get to know Harry better, then I get it but…" Susan started to say but Hermione patted her leg to stop her.

"No I'm not angry with any of you or Harry," she admitted. "I told you all that you should get to know Harry better and I can't be surprised that things have happened and gone the way they have," Hermione said causing Susan to tilt her head and look at her curiously.

"Go on." Susan said, feeling that Hermione was finally getting to the crux of the matter.

"Well we're all a bunch of horny teenagers, still learning about ourselves emotionally, psychologically, physically… sexually." Hermione blushed a little. "What's going to happen when an attractive boy and a beautiful girl get time alone together."

"That we are." Susan said with a laugh, "although it's nice to hear you admit that. You're normally the more mature one out of all of us." Susan said as they grinned at each other.

"I don't know about that, but we're all in a situation where we can't have normal lives except for Tracey and Hannah," Hermione said a little sadly

Susan looked at her thoughtfully and asked, "What do you mean by normal lives?"

"Well you know. Boy meets girl, they date, fall in love, get married, have babies and raise a family," Hermione summarised briefly.

"Who says that the rest of us can't have that?" Susan asked.

"Well you're head of the Bones family so there is a certain amount of pressure to revive and continue your family name, Daphne, Pansy and Luna are all like you and are due to inherit the headship of the house and Professor Dumbledore has done a job of making my situation completely different to how I wanted things to be… And Sirius of course," she added. She knew she was including Harry in this as well.

"Well who says that just because we've got titles that we can't all find happiness? Being a female and being a head of house means you actually get to pick who you want to be with rather than someone else being able to choose. So really I'm the only one with the real advantage in that regard because I'm currently head of house. Pansy, Daphne and Luna all have fathers who are heads of house and can arrange a marriage for them. Tracey too, to an extent, but I can't imagine Agatha and Ben would do that to Tracey. It's Roger that's next in line to inherit." Susan explained with a shrug.

"Well we all fancy the same guy, so it's not a normal situation is it? The last thing we want after being friends all these years is to fall out because we all fancy the same guy but it's inevitable," Hermione said dejectedly.

"In any normal situation I agree that would be true. Say Harry wasn't Lord Black, Peverell and Ravenclaw and was just Harry Potter," Susan explained getting Hermione's attention, "What would probably happen is that you and Harry would get together eventually, get married, have some children and like you just said go through things normally."

"Yes, I mean ideally that's what every girl wants, but in the magical world titles, Lord and Ladyships, arranged marriages, marital contracts etc. all still exist." Susan explained to Hermione who knew all of this but decided not to interrupt Susan.

"I know you might not think it when you talk to the likes of me, Daphne, Luna and Pansy but we have all been brought up with our eyes open and knowing that we could have an arranged marriage or potentially be one of two wives depending on the wizard that we married," Susan explained.

"Yes, I get you might have been told it might happen, but it doesn't quite prepare you for the chance and reality of it happening, does it?" Hermione countered. Susan shrugged her shoulders.

"It's something all pureblood daughters have to do and prepare themselves for. But yeah, some things are harder to prepare yourself for than others. As a result, lots of witches form close friendships and bonds with other witches and it's most likely a result of subconsciously thinking that if you end up in a marriage where there is another witch involved that you will like them," Susan explained.

"That's kind of what I thought when I told you all to get to know Harry. If I couldn't be with him then I'd hope he would be happy with one of you and if he was going to have to take on two wives, one pureblood, then it might be one of you. I'd have been alright if it was Ginny who had been the pureblood wife and he wanted to be with me as well." Hermione confessed and was a little surprised to see Susan nodding along like she was in agreement.

"But then again Ginny and I are close, but I always found her a little immature and she's pretty fiery and gets jealous really easily, so how she, Harry and I would have lived together would have potentially been interesting or potentially dangerous. She's quite the temper on her and I have as well. I don't think Ginny would have ever wanted to share Harry and technically wouldn't have had to because she could have taken both Potter and Black as her name," Hermione concluded.

"Well yes, she could have done that but like you said Harry might have wanted to be with you and Ginny to keep both lines going," Susan said. "Before we found out about the multiple titles you all had, that's what Hannah and I thought could happen. That you and Harry might have gotten together while you were on the run and then when the war was over if we all survived you and Ginny would have shared Harry and the three of you would have been together."

"Really? You thought that?" Hermione asked shocked. "Why had you never mentioned that before in all the time we've been friends?"

"Because you've never actually just openly admitted that you were in love with Harry and want to be with him before," Susan deadpanned back. "When we were in the Room of Requirement last year we thought about it. If Voldemort managed to stay in charge he would have wanted magical lines to continue but with the death rate going up on both sides of the war the likelihood of me having to have a marriage with a wizard who was already in line to inherit the head of house looked very likely."

"That's partly why Hannah really fancies Neville so much, because she and I discussed what would happen if Harry didn't survive the war and I couldn't be with him. We started looking at other pureblood wizards who we thought were at least nice and would treat us right and thought that Neville would be a good choice so we both started getting to know him a lot more last year in case that happened." Susan explained unashamedly.

"Really you fancy Neville enough to want to marry him?" Hermione asked.

"No" Susan said aghast. "Well Neville's not a bad looking wizard now that he's grown up and all that work in the greenhouses for extra credit over the years has toned him up nicely. Seeing him become more of a powerful wizard under Harry's tutelage certainly doesn't hurt either." Susan explained before looking a little sheepish. "But he's not Harry." She said simply knowing that Hermione would know what she meant and smiled to herself when she saw her friend nodding along.

"But how would you have felt if that had happened and Neville wanted to share a bed with you and Hannah?" Hermione asked her friend who laughed.

"I'd have been fine with that." Susan laughed louder as Hermione's cheeks coloured as that hit home. It was a welcome change for it to be Hermione being the one to blush for once.

"Seriously? You'd have "relations" with Hannah?" Hermione asked a little awkwardly.

"Hermione, stop talking like you're a hundred years old. Its sex!" Susan teased her friend, who rolled her eyes.

"I was trying to not be blunt," Hermione explained.

"Why beat around the bush?" Susan asked her eyes narrowing mischievously, "Especially when we are talking about spending time in it" She added and burst into a giggle as Hermione's mouth dropped open at her crudeness.

"Suzie!" Hermione said shocked at her friend. "That's the sort of thing I'd expect to come out of Tracey's mouth, not yours." She said, shaking her head in wonder.

"Maybe she's rubbing off on me." Susan said innocently before her eyes opened and their eyes met and they both burst into a fit of giggles at the innuendo.

"Suzie what's got into you?" Hermione asked chuckling to herself.

"I dunno... maybe it's the drinks or maybe I'm just trying to relax you a little. Its ok for girls to talk about sex with one another. That's how you learn things a lot of the time," Susan explained calming down from her giggle fit.

"But in regard to your question about whether I'd have sex with Hannah if I was in a three way marriage with her and a wizard, then of course I would. We'd be wives together and it's not only something that our husband might request or it might be something that's expected really. Hannah's my best friend and I love her. It would just mean that we'd be even closer than we are now," Susan explained like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"So are you saying that you fancy girls?" Hermione asked bluntly.

"I can appreciate a female body probably more so than a male body in a lot of ways because I know how hard it is to stay in shape. Plus a woman's body can be really sexy as well. Women, I think, are better at being seductive than men are." Susan replied after a few moments though.

"I wouldn't say that I necessarily "fancy" girls. I've always fancied Harry and boys. But I can appreciate a girl being attractive and being attracted to her. Can't you?" Susan asked.

Caught on the back foot a little, Hermione nodded. "Well, yes I suppose I understand what you're saying and yes I notice when another witch is attractive or has assets that are different and attractive." Hermione said covering her face with her hands and speaking through them. "What is it about you that makes me open up in these awkward conversations Suzie?" She asked before dropping her hands to her lap and looking sheepishly at her friend.

"Because I'll always be straight with you and that's something you can appreciate. No pun intended. If you and I ended up married together with Harry, I'd happily share my bed with you as well or Daphne, Tracey, or Pansy for that matter. You're all really attractive and it would mean getting to be with Harry potentially and that the most important thing for me." Susan said thoughtfully.

"And what if it wasn't Harry? Say Harry met another witch or witches and didn't want to be with any of us and we'd only be able to be friends with him. Would you still be happy to share a wizard with one of the rest of us?" Hermione asked, interested in her red headed friend's response.

"Well it's different. I still find you all attractive but now with Voldemort being gone and the Death Eaters not being in control at the ministry I'm not going to be forced into a marriage where I have to share a husband since it's my choice," Susan replied.

"Yes but just hypothesise with me for a minute. If Daphne, Luna, Tracey and Ginny ended up with Harry and Hannah said that she was going to marry Neville and she wanted you to share him with her, would you?" Hermione asked.

Susan sat there thinking for a moment, "Well it would be difficult you see because Hannah would probably take the Longbottom name and we'd still have to keep the Bones family going and the Gryffindor name as well." Susan said thinking it through.

"Alright fine so say Hannah became Hannah Longbottom-Gryffindor then and she said that she'd give a child to both those lines but she wanted you, her and Neville to be a family and you be with them and let him help rebuild the Bones family line would you do it? Would you be able to have sex with Hannah when its not sharing Harry?" Hermione asked, wanting to take away the option for Susan to evade the answer.

Susan smiled a little knowingly. "I would, yes. I've a duty to protect my family line and do what I think is best for it. Neville is a good man and I know he would try his best to look after me. Hannah is my best friend and she and I have always had a little bit of a closer relationship than most anyway, so it really wouldn't be a problem with me."

"Well I appreciate your honesty Suzie," Hermione replied. She thought about what Susan was saying. "What do you mean you and Hannah have a closer relationship than most?" she asked, cocking her head slightly to the side studying Susan and she saw the familiar blush spread across the redhead's pale skin.

Hermione had always found that cute about Susan and that was one of the reasons she liked her so much. Susan was so honest and caring she couldn't hide her emotions sometimes as her cheeks gave away when she was embarrassed or trying to tell a fib.

"Ah well," Susan said looking at her hands for a moment before shifting uncomfortably on the bed. "That's maybe a bit more of a secret to tell," she said feeling a little warm as she felt Hermione's eyes on her.

"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I was just curious as to what you meant. I was going to ask what if it was me or one of the others who talked to you about being a second wife with us." Hermione said, giving a shrug.

"Well I would seriously consider it with any of us Rune girls but with other witches, I'd really have to get to know them before deciding whether I could do that and it also really depends on the wizard involved. I honestly don't think I'd want to if it wasn't Harry that I'd be with," Susan explained to Hermione as she turned towards her more.

"You really do like Harry, don't you?" Hermione asked, studying her friend.

Susan nodded, "I really do. You know him better than me obviously but getting to know him through you and then speaking to him in the DA and more in class just made me like him even more. I never expected to ever get a chance with him because to be honest with you Hermione, you're too fierce a competition and no one else would stand a chance." Susan said before gently scolding Hermione.

"Don't look at me like that. You're incredibly intelligent, hard working, loyal, caring, beautiful and just a brilliant person. It's no wonder that no one will ever get above you. That's why one of the happiest days of my life was when you told me, Daph and Trace, that we had your blessing getting to know him and about the pureblood rule on his Black Family title. It meant one of us has a chance to be with him and you," Susan explained and Hermione sat thinking about what she was saying.

"The kiss I shared with him was just the most incredible feeling I've ever had. It was like being in a freezing cold day and having been out to the point where your fingers and lips are freezing cold and then the sun is warming you slowly making you feel all warm and..." Susan didn't have the words to finish describing kissing Harry but got a delightful little shiver as she felt all tingly thinking about it.

"That good huh? I guess I might never know." Hermione said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Stop thinking so negatively. The way we all see it is that it's you and Harry who will get together after you wise up and realise that, as good a bloke as Ron might be, he isn't right for you or who you love. With you and Harry, eventually one of you will wise up and just tell the other how you feel and you'll get together."

"Then it's just a case of the rest of us and everyone else hoping that we might get to be with Harry as well. So long as you're willing to share because for all we know you and Harry might decide to give up all your titles and just be together like a regular couple," Susan said as Hermione looked at her.

"What do you mean give up our titles?" Hermione asked, not having given any thought to herself or Harry abdicating titles and having the chance of being the only woman in Harry's life due to her confidence that Harry would want to keep the Black family name on behalf of Sirius.

"Well Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Peverell have been inactive family lines for years. If yourself and Harry decided not to continue those lines you can't be forced to. You'd probably have pressure in order to do so from the Ministry and Wizengamot but ultimately it's your choice as the Head of a House to decide whether you wish to continue your line after you are gone," Susan explained seeing Hermione was really thinking about this.

"So what about if we decided to name someone our heir like Sirius did with Harry and have them continue the lines?" Hermione asked, deciding there and then that she needed to research this a lot more.

"Well I'd have to check the legalities of naming someone an heir. I thought you said that Harry was distantly related to the Black family line through his Grandparents or something?" Susan asked Hermione.

"Yes, Harry's great-grandfather Charlus Potter married Dorea Black. Harry is still technically on the Black Family tree by birth, but Dorea Black was the youngest daughter of Cygnus Black II"

"Cygnus Black II's oldest brother was Sirius Black II so he was the oldest Black and head of the family. He had three children Acturus Black III who was the eldest son, a middle daughter Igceris Black and a younger son Regulus Black I," Hermione started explaining automatically regurgitating the findings that she made while researching the Black family at Grimmauld Place.

"It's alright I don't need a full run down on the history" Susan said trying to stop Hermione's flow unsuccessfully.

"Now Igceris and Regulus Black apparently died young from different diseases and never married. Arcturus Black III however had a Daughter Lacretia who married someone in the Prewitt family and was cast off the family tree and a younger son Orion Black who was Sirius' father."

"So Harry technically being named heir by Sirius made him the first branch heir."

"The next in line should actually be Teddy Lupin because Andromeda Black is older than Narcissa Black on Cygnus Black II's line. Draco would be third in line for the Black family title from being from a younger sister on the same line as Teddy." Hermione said not appearing to have even heard Susan as she rattled off the information.

"Hermione stop!" Susan said laughing lightly as her friend went full Hermione on her giving her a run through of the Black family inheritance line.

"Then Harry would, or should be, fourth or third if Sirius hadn't bumped him up and then, believe it or not, the next person who should be next to be the Lord Black is actually Neville. His Great Grandfather Harfang Longbottom married Callidora Black who was the oldest daughter of Arcturus Black II." Hermione said rattling the family history off as if she was giving an answer on how to cast a reducto charm.

Susan just looked at Hermione with a knowing smile on her face as she saw how her friend had looked into everything in a lot of detail as usual "Erm right, so you've done some research into the Black family tree then?" she grinned.

"Yes well, when I found out that Harry was going to have to marry a pureblood witch in order to continue the line, I did a little research to see if there was any way that it can be avoided," Hermione explained, blushing slightly, as she realised that Susan was teasing her for verbally spewing out a bit more information that Susan had asked for.

"So since you've done all this research already tell me why can't Harry just abdicate the Black Family title, let Teddy Lupin inherit it and then Harry can do what he wants and be with whoever he wants with no stipulations?" Susan asked mentally kicking herself for suggesting it.

"Well Sirius didn't take the stipulation out of his will about Harry having to marry a pureblood witch for a reason, but I don't know what that reason is for definite. Although I've done some research into the family lines and because Andromeda had her child when she was ostracized from the family tree, Teddy doesn't count so the Black inheritance order technically should now be Draco, Harry and then Neville and Teddy only inheriting if none of them have a son," Hermione explained.

"I see, so Harry would have been behind Draco if Sirius hadn't named him his heir." Susan explained to Hermione's nod. "And you don't think Harry will allow Draco to become Head of House Black by abdicating the title?" She studied her friend.

"Not a chance in hell. At least I don't think Harry will. He and Draco really dislike each other. For Harry, Draco has been more of an annoyance over the years or like a bad smell hanging around. Draco however hates Harry with a passion," Hermione explained sincerely.

"Probably because Harry is everything Draco wishes he was," Susan said thoughtfully.

"More than likely and Harry has always bested him and now Draco owes Harry for saving his life when Crabbe set off the Fiendfyre in the Room of Requirement, I can imagine that Draco is even more bitter about it."

Hermione shook her head, "No I don't think Harry would ever let Draco become Lord Black. They don't like each other, Harry loved Sirius like a father for the short time they had together and honestly I don't think Harry ever expected to break up with Ginny so it wasn't really an issue since Ginny is a pureblood, so she would meet the stipulation of the will."

"I see. So now he is going to need at least one pureblood witch for the Black family. Do you think he's going to seek out witches for the other titles or bestow them onto one or two witches?" Susan asked, wanting Hermione's thoughts.

"To be honest, I've no idea," Hermione replied.

Susan scoffed sceptically, "Hermione you know him better than anyone. I mean I'd even say you know him better than he knows himself. You must have some idea what he's thinking."

"No, I honestly haven't got a clue what he's thinking. I think he's probably not trying to think about it and is just trying to live his life and adapt to the changes in it and the freedom he now has," Hermione replied honestly.

"And getting used to living without thinking of someone trying to do him in," Susan said thoughtfully.

"Right," Hermione said with a nod. "I don't think he ever really planned for life after Voldemort and knowing Harry he will try putting off making life changing decisions about titles and family lines for as long as he can. I can hardly blame him, I mean we're eighteen. We shouldn't have to think about titles and line continuation. We should be having fun, making mistakes, dating, discovering who we are and what we like, and not taking life too seriously."

"Quite frankly Harry deserves not to think about stuff like that. He's had such a hard life already and so many harsh and horrible things happen to him. He deserves to enjoy the rest and do what he wants," Hermione admitted.

"Well I agree." Susan said looking at her friend and studying her. "But obviously you've been thinking about it. Well at least from Harry's stand point if not your own."

"Yes I have." Hermione said nodding to herself.

"So does that mean that you decided that if you had to share Harry you'd be happy to go to bed with me, Daphne or Tracey?" Susan asked Hermione feeling her pulse quicken saying the words out loud.

Hermione looked at the floor and out of habit brushed the hair that was already behind her ears back over her ears again to buy herself time.

"Well like I said, I have given it a lot of thought and came to the conclusion that if Harry and I ever happened and I wanted a longer term future with him and even to be married one day that wizarding law would make me have to be ok with him having another witch in his life," Hermione said balling her courage and looking at Susan.

"Well that's good. I can imagine that as a muggleborn it must be a completely whacky idea to be in a polygamous relationship," Susan said to Hermione's agreeance.

"So does that mean that you are comfortable with having, shall we say "experiences" with other witches?" Susan asked, starting to feel her pulse quicken and tingly all over like her magic was charging around her system igniting her senses.

"Well I wouldn't say I'm comfortable with it," Hermione blushed. "I mean I've only ever had one experience with another witch." She admitted seeing Susan's eyebrow arch at that little revelation.

"Oh and who was that with?" Susan asked.

"Fleur. I was freaking out a little after finding out that you and Harry had kissed at the ministry ball and she followed me into the loo. I was going on about how you and Harry were going to get married and... well it wasn't my finest moment. Fleur was just trying to make me see reason, that just because someone kisses another person doesn't mean that they are getting married or are going to have a relationship," Hermione explained.

"Well she's right that is true and I'm sorry if I caused you to freak out. I just had an opportunity to kill a couple of birds with one kiss and I had to take the opportunity," Susan apologised.

"I know. I was overreacting and Fleur brought me back to reality with a bump and she kissed me and then pointed out that just because we'd kissed it didn't mean she and I were entering into a relationship," Hermione explained.

Susan laughed lightly, "Wow so you snogged a part Veela?"

"Yes," Hermione said, meeting her friend's eye.

"So you've been asked out by a famous Quidditch player and snogged by a part Veela? You don't do things by half Hermione." Susan said, nudging her. "So how was it? The kiss?" she asked eagerly.

"It… it was nice. Different from kissing a boy," Hermione blushed furiously.

"It's a lot softer isn't it? A witch's lips I mean." Susan inquired, getting a nod from Hermione.

"Who did you kiss then? Hannah I'm assuming." Hermione asked, getting a nod from Susan.

"And Tracey although it was only a kiss with Tracey, but she's a very good kisser," Susan admitted, feeling the pulse between her legs start to throb a little.

"How did that happen?" Hermione asked, surprised. She'd never heard this story from her Runes friends.

Susan started telling Hermione about the night when they were younger and she, Hannah, Daphne and Tracey were all at the House of Bones after Aunt Amelia had been called out on a raid of Malfoy Manor just before the start of their sixth year.

They'd all been a bit giddy and talking about boys and their experience and Tracey had been talking about catching a Slytherin Prefect and a Hufflepuff prefect snogging in the prefects bathroom the year before. This hadn't been big news to any of the girls present at the time but then Tracey had informed them that they had been two girls snogging and no wizard in sight.

"So then Tracey asked us if any of us had ever kissed another witch before and Hannah and I confessed that we'd learned to kiss with each other." Susan said, running her fingers over her ponytail and pulling it back over her shoulder to rest against her chest.

Susan hid the happy smile she felt coming up as she noticed that Hermione took a quick peek at her cleavage as the action drew the dark haired witch's eyes to it.

"You and Hannah learned to kiss together?" Hermione asked wide eyed.

"Uh huh and Daphne confessed that she and Tracey had as well," Susan said to Hermione's shock. "Well you were always off with Harry and Ron in the summer and we all thought you might have practiced with them." Susan said laughing at Hermione's shocked face before getting to her feet and then climbing onto the bed on her knees before sitting back on her ankles facing Hermione.

"Well I didn't learn to kiss with Harry and Ron. I ended up having to read and watching muggle films to try and learn." Hermione confessed. "So how did you end up kissing Tracey?" she couldn't help asking.

"Well Tracey said that as she'd kissed Daphne and I'd kissed Hannah she wanted to find out who was the best snog, so Tracey just got straight up and straddled my lap pushing me back onto the sofa and kissed me," Susan recounted.

"Then Hannah looked at Daphne and they both let out a laugh and then they kissed each other as well. It was all a bit of a joke but it really turned me on. Tracey was a really good kisser and I felt her boobs crush against mine and it really got me excited," Susan confessed with a blush.

Hermione was processing this when she remembered something Susan had said, "You said it was only a kiss with Tracey? Does that mean that you've done other… things with Hannah?"

It was Susan's turn to blush. She held a finger out towards Hermione threateningly. "If you breathe one word of this to anyone I'll hex your lips together and I'm not talking about your mouth," she said laughing wickedly as that threat hit Hermione's ears.

"You know I won't," Hermione reassured Susan. She moved on the bed to mirror the way Susan was sitting as she wanted to hear what her Redhead friend had got up to with Hannah.

"Alright well you'd better not as its nice to have some secrets from those Slytherins out there and you're one of my best friends and well I suppose it's important and relevant to what we are discussing." Susan said, taking a long breath to steady herself.

"Ok. So do you know what an exhibitionist is?" Susan asked Hermione who nodded and instantly started blushing.

"Well you could say that over our time at Hogwarts I kind of discovered that I'm a bit of an exhibitionist under certain circumstances and that Hannah has a strange combination of both exhibitionism and voyeurism depending on what kind of mood she is in." Susan explained.

"This should be a hell of a story." Hermione said making herself more comfortable and studying her friend. "How did you find this out?"

"Ok but remember you promised not to tell anyone" Susan said to Hermione again warningly and Hermione responded "I won't tell a soul I promise Suzie."

Letting out a sigh Susan balled up her courage inside her "I can't believe I'm telling you this as Hannah will literally kill me," She said before beginning.

************ ****Start of Lemon**** ***********

"Right well remember the night of the Yule Ball and Justin had been sick all down my dress?" Susan asked, getting a nod from Hermione. "Well I was so upset I basically went straight to my dorm, looked in my trunk to see if I had anything else I could wear to the ball but couldn't find anything. So I took my dress off and started trying everything I could to clean the murlap off my dress."

"Nothing was working so I called for Milly, one of the elves that clean the Hufflepuff common room to see if anything could be done for my dress and they took it off my hands and said that they'd do what they could but that they would have to prioritise cleaning up after the meal first."

"So I knew Hannah was going to be ages, so after a little cry on the end of my bed about having my night ruined, I chucked my dressing gown on and saw as it was really early and the dance was only just starting after the meal. I decided that I was going to have a hot bath and then get one of those romance novels you lent me and have a night to myself and try and forget about what I was missing out on in the Great Hall." Susan said looking at Hermione to see she was listening quite intensely.

"So I had a long soak in the bath, washed my hair and Milly came back with my dress and said it was ruined beyond her capabilities. She couldn't get the stain to completely fade because it was a magical animal's essence that had caused the stain."

"So I got on my bed and started reading that Fifty Shades of Grey book that you lent me and well I started getting really into the book and thought because I had the dorm to myself I was going to have a little me time." Susan said blushing but starting to feel herself get turned on more and more remembering what had happened.

I was getting really into it, like really into it and I confess I was probably being a bit louder than I normally would be but I thought sod it, I've the dorm to myself and I kind of always had this little fantasy of getting myself off in the dorm when no one was there." Susan said.

"Me too. I managed it in sixth year because I spent so many nights going to bed early rather than watching Ron and Lavender trying to swallow each other's faces." Hermione said a little bitterly. "Sorry for interrupting," she added.

Susan nodded that it was fine and continued. Hermione noticed that Susan was starting to look a little flushed and couldn't help her eyes being drawn to Susan's breasts as her nipples were becoming more visible the more she reminisced.

"So anyway, like I was saying, I was really getting into it and had pulled my robe open and was really going to town on myself when I noticed the door to the dorm open slightly and Hannah stuck her head in."

"I think Hannah was a bit shocked at first, but instead of pulling her head out of the door in a panic like I thought she would she stepped inside and just stood watching me. I was so turned on with what I'd been reading I didn't want to stop because I could feel myself getting closer."

"Looking at Hannah watching me from the door just made me almost cum there and then. I could feel her eyes looking me all over and I heard her gasp. I decided to try and speed things up and I put a finger inside myself and my eyes slammed shut as the pleasure went through me. I was so turned on and rather than shy away, my legs seemed to automatically spread making it easier for her to see me," Susan said absentmindedly running her hand up the side of her neck as she gazed into nothing.

"I heard Hannah's heels clicking lightly on the flooring as she came closer and I opened my eyes to see her standing at the end of the bed playing with her boobs through her dress. She was really squeezing her nipples hard and she was watching my hand working away between my legs." Susan said her chest rising and falling a little as she was getting really turned on.

Hermione was watching Susan and had to admit that she was getting aroused herself picturing what Susan would look like naked on her bed playing with herself and what Susan's face would look like when she saw Hermione watching her in a similar situation. The throb between Hermione's legs was becoming more prominent.

"So then what happened?" Hermione asked her breath catching in her throat a little as the question came out almost as a croak.

"Well I was so turned and I moved my other hand off my neck and I held it out to Hannah to take. I don't actually know what made me do it, but I could feel her eyes looking up and down my body and seeing her playing with her boobs made me kind of want to do the same to my own as my nipples were really hard. Just like now." Susan admitted as she looked into Hermione's eye and could see her friend getting excited by the story and smiled as she saw Hermione look at her chest.

As Hermione looked up, looking a little embarrassed at Susan looking at her, Susan looked her dead in the eye and she guessed that her friend was getting aroused by listening the story as well from the look on Hermione's face and Hermione's chest rising and falling the same as her own. "It's alright for you to look… I like people looking really especially if I'm attracted to them."

"You're attracted to me?" Hermione asked not really sure what to do or say next.

"Mmmm hmm" Susan uttered naughtily. "Are you attracted to me?" she asked Hermione who looked away and the blush spreading across her cheeks gave Susan the answer she needed.

"I don't really know. I've never really thought of you or anyone else in that way," Hermione said, not meeting her friend's eye although she did find Susan very attractive.

"Until you knew Harry would need a pureblood wife for the Black line and then I bet you did," Susan said quietly, feeling the tension building between them a little more. "It's ok to admit it. I've thought about you like that ever since the Yule Ball. You looked gorgeous that night."

"What, really?" Hermione inquired, adjusting herself a little on the bed and putting her hands beside her knees as they knelt facing each other.

So Susan decided that it was time to be bold. Reaching out between them slowly she took Hermione's right hand in hers causing her friend to look at her suddenly. Looking at her chestnut haired friend she gave Hermione a sexy little smirk feeling naughty and said "So anyway. I was really turned on by her watching me but I took a bold step and I took Hannah's hand and I moved it to my breast," Susan explained.

Hermione thought she was having an other worldly experience. She couldn't believe what Susan was doing as she reached for Hermione's right hand. Holding her by the wrist, she moved her hand to her left breast. Hermione felt like her hand was having electricity sent through as Susan's soft fingers moved almost like a teasing dance along the back of Hermione's.

Hermione felt herself become a little rigid. She was a little shocked but felt herself flooded between her legs as Susan, whose hand was atop of hers, closed her fingers over Hermione's hand causing her fingers to close on the soft fleshy orb and a little satisfied moan escaped Susan's lips as their eyes locked onto each other.

Hermione's mouth opened a little but the words stuck in her throat as she felt it stupid to ask what Susan was doing. It was pretty obvious that her redhead friend was turned on by recalling the story and obviously wanted Hermione to join in Susan's naughtiness as well.

Hermione wasn't sure whether Susan was just testing her to see how comfortable she was after all the talk about Hermione potentially having to share Harry if that should ever be a possibility. Hermione was really turned on and had to admit that Susan's breasts felt amazing under her palm. She didn't know how her friend could cope with having such large breasts but could understand why all the boys at Hogwarts had been so fascinated by them.

She smirked to herself as she imagined Ron, Seamus and Dean's heads exploding if they knew Hermione was squeezing Susan Bones' boobs. Susan took the smirk that Hermione wasn't going to freak out in touching her boobs and was happy to see Hermione not backing off. Feeling that she didn't want to lose the moment, Susan ploughed on with the story.

"Hannah asked if I was sure and I just nodded as she squeezed my breast the way she was squeezing hers and I nearly came when she pinched my nipple." Susan said, biting her lip and running her hand up along her bare thigh. Her thumb came to the edge of her skirt and she allowed it to tease the soft flesh on her inner thigh.

"I was so hot from her looking at my body and seeing me pleasure myself that I just started losing control." Her breath came out a little more raggedly as she was getting hot recalling the details.

She moved closer to Hermione, watching her friend, and keeping her hand held against her breast.

She came to a stop closer to Hermione and with her legs on the outside of Hermione's, knelt back again on her heels and they were a lot closer now. Close enough that their breath was able to reach each other's face.

"Suzie what are you doing?" Hermione's courage faltered for a moment. She didn't know where this was going but her heart was pounding. She could feel Susan's ragged breath tickling her nose while they looked at each other.

"I'm just getting more comfortable so I can tell you more about what happened," Susan said huskily.

"Do you have to sit so close?" Hermione bit her lower lip as she looked at Susan's full lips. She jumped a little as she felt Susan's other hand on her thigh.

"I want to sit close to you." Susan said sexily, a naughty smile on her face as she allowed the tips of her fingers to press into Hermione's thigh and ran them up her friend's bare thigh a little as they reached the hem of Hermione's skirt.

Susan watched Hermione bite her lower lip and a little stifled gasp came from her friend, but Susan was encouraged that Hermione still hadn't pushed her away. "Just relax ok? If you want me to stop, just say so," Susan said leaning in closer to Hermione and planting a gentle kiss on her friend's cheek.

Susan was so wet at this point she really hoped Hermione wouldn't freak out or lose her courage. "I'm really turned on Hermione and I think it's important that I show you that I've no problem being in a situation like this. Just imagine Harry is sitting at the other end of the bed if it helps," Susan explained. She caressed Hermione's thigh and got a quick nod from Hermione who couldn't quite meet her eyes.

"Go on with the story," Hermione said excitedly. She was wondering, and excited, where Susan intended to put her hands next and saw Susan's eyes narrow in a sexy predator like way as she started to carry on.

"Hannah was hesitant at first as well, I thought I had to be the one in charge as I helped her break through her hesitancy." She took Hermione's other hand and put it on her thigh in place of her own. She could feel Hermione's hand shaking a little as she placed it on her thigh but caressed the back of Hermione's hand and let out a purr from her throat at feeling the former Gryffindor's touch sending waves of pleasure up her leg.

"Hannah seemed so reserved as she looked into my eyes. Torturing my breast with her touch. I wanted her to kiss and lick my nipple so badly." Susan said, squeezing Hermione's hand on her breast again and couldn't stop her head going backwards under the unfamiliar touch of Hermione's fingers through her bra.

Susan was guiding Hermione's hand enjoying the pleasure coming from it and slowly she started feeling Hermione squeezing and touching her on her own at certain times without Susan guiding her or manipulating her fingers.

"As I felt so good I told Hannah to just kiss me," Susan said. She couldn't hold it back anymore and captured Hermione's lips with her own as she softly and hungrily kissed her friend's lips.

Taking her hand from Hermione's and leaving it on her breast, she reached for the back of Hermione's neck and pulled her into their kiss more hungrily.

Hermione was reluctant to kiss Susan back at first just as she had been with Fleur although Hermione had to admit that it felt more comfortable with Susan. More natural and feeling Susan pressing her breast more into Hermione's hand showed Hermione that Susan was really turned on and enjoying her touch.

Hermione had Susan's soft lips kissing hers and was wholly conscious that she had one hand on the former Hufflepuffs large breast, that she was caressing and squeezing now of her own accord while the other hand was on Susan's thigh just on the edge of the short loose skirt that Susan was wearing.

Susan's hand on the back of her neck was tickling and gently pulling her into the kiss. Hermione felt tingly all over both from touching Susan and especially from Susan's touch.

Susan was loving Hermione's hands on her skin and between planting soft kisses on her friends lips, her breath was getting more ragged as she had Hermione pawing her breast so deliciously. She swallowed a little squeal of delight when Hermione pinched her nipple and gave it a little half twist. Susan couldn't help it and pressed her tongue to Hermione's lips begging for entrance. Hermione, not knowing what had got into her, felt Susan's tongue press against her lips and found them opening. Susan's tongue entered her mouth like a tsunami crashing through an open doorway as their tongues started caressing against each other and then settled into an unfamiliar rhythm against each other while they passionately kissed.

Susan slowly raised herself up from sitting on her heels as her bottom left the bed and she towered over Hermione slightly, enjoying their kiss that was growing in passion as Hermione's hesitance seemed to stop.

Neither of them could say how long their kiss lasted but it was obvious to them both that they wanted more. Susan and Hermione pressed their foreheads together as they tried to catch their breath. "Fuck you are a good kisser Granger." Susan practically meowed. Hermione replied a little breathless, "You're not so bad yourself Bones. Am I better than Hannah?" Hermione asked, causing a giggle from both of them as their physical condition and positioning wasn't lost on either of them.

"Let's find out because I know you like being top of the class," Susan salaciously replied. She lowered herself a little so that their faces were more level and matched her movement with her other hand on Hermione's thigh. "So like I was saying I just wanted Hannah to suck my nipple, but then Hannah did something that completely surprised me," Susan said slowly. She held Hermione's hand on top and moved it slowly up the inside of her thigh as they breathed against each other's face.

"Hannah, looking straight at me, gave me a naughty smile and kept one hand on my boob. She moved her other hand down my outstretched thigh like this." Susan moved Hermione's hand with agonising slowness up her thighs closer towards her pussy. She felt Hermione's hand shaking a little, which echoed in her breathing.

"It was sending shock waves through me like your fingers are doing to me right now," Susan said huskily. She moved Hermione's hand higher and higher along her thighs and she swallowed seeing Hermione gulp as well. Hermione's thumb moved across the elastic leg of her panties.

Hermione gulped as she realised where Susan was putting her hand and found her breath catch in her throat as the soft silkiness of Susan's underwear brushed against her thumb. She felt Susan move her mouth next to Hermione's ear and Hermione's heart hammered in her chest. Susan gave her earlobe a little bite as she pressed Hermione's fingers against her sex.

She moaned into Hermione's ear as she felt Hermione's fingers press against the wetness of her panties where her pussy lips were. "Oh god," Hermione moaned throatily. Susan guided Hermione's fingers against her pussy through her panties and Hermione felt so erotically charged at that moment as Susan let out the most sexy moan against her ear.

"Ohhh yes" Susan said in a quiet voice. Her pulse raced as she felt Hermione's fingers touching her most private area. She pressed firmly on Hermione's hand and started to guide Hermione's digits on how she liked to be touched. "Hannah put her hand below mine just like yours is and started teasing my clit mercilessly." Susan said. Her mouth dropped to the crux of Hermione's neck, which she nuzzled against.

"She told me that I was a naughty girl exposing myself like that where anyone could have walked in," Susan moaned delightedly as she felt herself getting closer.

"She asked me whether I'd have carried on if it had been Megan or one of the others that had come into the dorm," Susan explained. She guided Hermione's hand further up her sex and gave a shiver as Hermione's fingertips travelled over her clit.

Hermione could feel Susan shaking against her. She felt the hard little nub of Susan's clit against the pad of her middle finger. Hermione let out a little moan herself as she felt Susan moan against her neck and kiss Hermione's skin hungrily. 'I can't believe this. What the hell are we doing? Is this going to change everything between us?' Hermione thought worriedly to herself before all concerns were ripped from her mind. She felt Susan quickly push her hand up Hermione's dress and press her fingers to Hermione's pussy as well.

Hermione instinctively clamped her legs closed quickly but not before Susan had reached her goal. "Oh shit." Hermione quietly exclaimed. She felt Susan's fingers massaging her pussy through the lace of her underwear.

"I told her that I didn't know, but was glad it was her," Susan said, trying to not bite Hermione too hard as she fought to retell the story although Hermione's hand was now proving a difficult distraction.

Susan could feel Hermione's wetness through the cotton and lace of her underwear and kissed up Hermione's neck hearing her friend suck in a breath as she pressed her middle finger against Hermione's clit and wiggled it from side to side as best she could with Hermione's thighs clamped around her wrist.

Meanwhile, Susan had guided Hermione's own fingertips to the waistband of her own panties. As she kissed her lips along Hermione's cheek to her mouth, she pushed Hermione's hand inside the elastic feeling the silk press against the back of her hand and the stickness of it pull away from her soaked pussy as their hands separated the fabric from her sex.

Their lips met again and Susan started planting hungry kisses on Hermione's lips and found Hermione eager to reciprocate. As Hermione's own lips searched Susan's out, she found herself rising with Susan on the bed and her legs not clamping around her friend's hand as hard. Susan's fingers were sending shockwaves through Hermione's pussy and going all over her body like she had electric charged ants running all over her skin.

As felt the soft pubic hairs at the top of Susan's pussy, Hermione felt Susan's fingertips moving up to Hermione's waistband of her panties as well and soon felt the cotton gusset of her panties pulled tightly against her pussy by Susan in a surprising move of aggression from her friend as she pulled the gusset of her panties against her clit. This caused Hermione to moan out loud "Ohh shittttt." Unrelenting, Susan let go of the fabric in order to push her hand quickly and fully inside Hermione's panties. Hermione's body started shaking against her friend as she felt Susan pushing her own hand deeper against her wetness.

Susan and Hermione were completely carried away in the moment and Hermione's own need for satisfaction found herself raising herself higher on her knees to speed up Susan's hand going down along her clit and to her swollen pussy lips.

Susan matched Hermione's movements and in a heartbeat they had their fingers pressing against the wet molten heat of each other's core. Their tongues like magnets sought each other out.

Susan plunged her fingers through Hermione's swollen pussy lips as Hermione mirrored her and twin moans came from the pair of them as the fingertips of their middle fingers found the wet velvety entrance of each other and both slipped a finger inside at the same time.

Susan's hand left Hermione's wrist to grip the other witch's bottom through her dress as she pushed her finger fully inside Hermione.

Hermione let out a pleasure filled moan and not to be outdone pushed her middle finger easily inside Susan's wet core. As their tongues danced, their fingers started to move inside each other and Hermione couldn't say who was moaning into the others mouth more. Susan fully pushed inside her and Hermione felt herself tightening and flooded as Susan started to create a regular rhythm with her finger that she had only ever done herself. "Holy shit" Hermione squealed, breaking their kiss and throwing her head back.

Her hand left Susan's breast and grabbed at her friend's wrist in a hungry need to speed her up. Hermione's hips acted on their own and started slowly moving in time with Susan's plunging as she started to move herself in rhythm against her friend's finger, chasing her orgasm. Susan understood and Hermione felt a second finger join the first causing her mouth to open and a gasp to escape her mouth.

"MMMMM MORE" Susan moaned against Hermione's cheek as she felt Hermione's hand move and a second finger enter herself. It was all starting to get to be too much. Hermione picked up the pace of her movements and trapped Susan's clit against the heel of her hand while she quickened the pace of her fingers.

Both their heads dropped to the others shoulders as they worked away at each other and it was Hermione who broke first. "God don't stop," Hermione said raggedly. She felt herself clench around Susan's finger and her hips gyrated and shook violently as Hermione came on her friend's hand.

Hermione's eyes opened unseeingly as she orgasmed really hard on her bed, trying to thrust herself on Susan's fingers as she rode out her orgasm. Susan kissed the top of Hermione's head and through her orgasm fuelled haze Hermione felt Susan start to push against her own hand that was buried inside Susan's underwear.

Hermione, determined to make Susan feel as good as she had done, started fingering her friend faster, feeling her juices coating her fingers. She could audibly hear how wet she was.

Susan was teasing Hermione's clit with her soaked fingers and Hermione applied more pressure with the heel of her hand on Susan's clit as her fingers plunged harder and faster into her red haired friend.

"Are you close Suzie?" Hermione asks, shocked at her own words and her actual desire to see her friend cum. Hermione lifted her head and looked at Susan whose eyes were scrunched closed in pleasure as a smile kept trying to steal across her face but the pleasure Hermione's fingers were causing was making the redheads mouth keep forming a silent 'O' as she got closer. "Uh huh" Susan replied.

"Do you want me to watch you cum?" Hermione asked, surprised at how naughty the idea was and to be voicing it out loud.

Susan's eyes snapped open seeing Hermione staring at her and she bit her lip and nodded enthusiastically almost like a little girl. She didn't trust herself to be able to talk instead of moan at the pleasure running through her. Hermione smiled at her and softly almost like a whisper commanded, "Cum for me then Suzie." She wordlessly cast a spell Penelope had told her about and pushed a little bit of her magic towards her fingertips causing them to vibrate.

This had the desired effect as Susan let out a long pleasured filled moan. Hermione felt Susan's pussy clamp on her fingers and soak them as she shook uncontrollably against Hermione. She seemed to lose her balance and fell against Hermione crushing their breasts together.

Susan rode out the orgasm that was pulsing through her. Hermione didn't let up on her magic and Susan was left wondering where the hell Hermione had learned to do that and make her fingers vibrate as the pulse between her legs started to slow as Susan convulsed against Hermione.

"Holy shit I've not cum that hard in ages," Susan said trying to catch her breath. She managed to compose herself enough against Hermione to move her lips back towards Hermione's where she gave her friend a soft kiss as they both started to pull their hands out of each other's underwear.

"Nor me," Hermione said, cancelling the spell that she'd used on Susan and feeling her panties snap back into place and finding she was missing the warmth and magic of Susan's hands touching her.

************* End of Lemon ******************

They rested their foreheads on each other's, panting to get their breath back. Susan, not wanting any awkwardness between herself and Hermione, couldn't resist joking, "Well I think it's safe to say you're top of the class still Hermione. Where did you learn that thing you did, that really set me off?" she asked, licking her suddenly dry lips.

"Penelope told me about it as it was in a book in the Head Girls quarters at Hogwarts as a relaxation technique to relieve stress from NEWTs and Head Girl's duties," Hermione chuckled.

"Well remind me to send Penelope a big thank you for that. This was sort of what happened between me and Hannah. Hermione…" Susan said leaning back and looking at Hermione's eyes.

"Ummm" Hermione said, still feeling the afterglow of her orgasm.

"It's good to see that you might be able to share Harry with another witch. I'm sort of sorry that I pushed you into that, but I was really turned on and I'd be lying if I said that I hadn't thought of me, Harry and you together in bed since you told us about the need for him to marry a pureblood as well." Susan said a little shyly all of a sudden, which was ironic considering what had just happened.

"You don't need to be sorry," Hermione replied, looking Susan in the eye. "I've got to confess that I've kind of thought about it once or twice over the years, but I never expected this to happen." She studied her friend. "I don't really know what to say or how to feel about this happening," Hermione admitted.

"Don't say or think anything. This was really lovely Hermione and I've shared a wonderful experience with you just like I did Hannah. It has not affected my friendship with Hannah in any way and it won't affect ours negatively either." Susan said reassuringly.

"In fact if anything it's made mine and Hannah's friendship stronger as we learned a little something about each other and our fantasies and allowed us to confess things to each other that we wouldn't have done if we'd not had the experiences we'd had together over the years," Susan said. Hermione tilted her head to the side slightly.

"Experiences?" Hermione asked her imagination running wild with what Susan was implying.

"Well what happened at the Yule Ball was just the first thing that happened between us, but I think I've spilt enough secrets for now and besides the others will probably be wondering where the hell we've got to." Susan explained, causing Hermione's eyes to open widely.

"God I completely forgot about the others. They're probably all sitting around downstairs wondering where the hell we are." Hermione panicked as she quickly climbed off the bed.

Susan did likewise as they both rose quickly and started straightening themselves out. "Can I use the loo before we go down?" Susan asked Hermione who nodded and pointed towards the ensuite.

Hermione watched Susan from behind as she made her way to the bathroom as a thousand thoughts started attacking her brain at the same time wondering how things were going to be from now on after that. She saw her friend stop at the bathroom door before looking over her shoulder.

"What's the matter?" Hermione asked as she thought Susan looked thoughtful.

"Nothing. I just wanted to say that no matter what happens going forwards, Hermione I'm glad that I got to experience and confess something so personal to you."

"I think it's going to help me be a lot more open with you in the future and if what you want to happen does come off with Harry. Well I think what's just happened will really be of help. I really enjoyed it and I don't want you to feel shy or awkward or have this change anything between us. You're still one of my best friends and always will be… This has just brought us a little closer, that's all." Susan smiled at Hermione.

"I've no regrets either and thanks for sharing that with me Suzie." Hermione said before a naughty smile spread across her face, "I guess we've our own little secret together now," She said, getting a warm smile and a nod back from Susan.

"Now hurry up. I need the loo as well and we can go and get the games room set up like we were meant to," Hermione commanded. Susan giggled and disappeared into the bathroom pushing the door closed gently behind her, leaving Hermione with a smile on her face and a more relaxed feeling in her heart knowing now that if it came to sharing Harry with Susan that she could do it.

Also to Hermione's surprise another flutter between her legs wondering what Susan and Harry would look like together.

/ End Flash back /

"Wow," Narcissa said, her eyes bulging a little after Hermione had finished her story. "So I guess Miss Bones has got you thinking that a relationship with herself and Harry might be possible in the future then?"

"Yes. I mean I'm not going to lie and say that I don't think that my friends from Runes class are unattractive because I think they are all very attractive. I thought if there was a chance of me being with Harry then I should make sure I'm at least friendly or attracted to the witch as well," Hermione confessed as Narcissa nodded along.

"I see and it makes sense as I'd think the same way if I was in your shoes," Narcissa said thoughtfully. "So your friends have had varying degrees of success getting to know Harry and trying to form their own relationships, Harry's told you more about how he's felt about you and asked you to the ball." She went on watching Hermione. "It sounds like your plan is falling into place," she said seeing that Hermione was nodding to herself.

"All except for the predicament and mess that's going to happen when I tell Ron that I don't want to go out with him anymore and his predictable reaction if Harry and I get together," Hermione confessed.

"Well take one thing at a time Hermione. From what you and Harry have told me about Ron Weasley in the short time that I've known you both he doesn't seem to have always been the best of friends to you or Harry," Narcissa said with a shrug. "But I also surmise from what I've heard that he's not a bad lad just a little slower than you and Harry but he eventually comes around."

"Well yes he's never been the sharpest knife in the drawer but he's a good heart but is completely hot headed and ignorant at times. But he's also Harry's first ever friend as well and one of mine as well if I'm honest," Hermione admitted.

"But not boyfriend or husband material. Well not for you at least." Narcissa said more as a statement than a question.

"No he's not. He's been utter crap as a boyfriend and just never seemed to want to spend time with me or make any effort. He didn't even come around to meet my parents the first time we arranged for them to meet him," Hermione prickly replied. She was still annoyed with Ron for that. "But he is our friend even with his flaws, without which Harry would never have rescued me from that troll in first year and I might never have had the friendship with Harry that I've had."

"Well that's fair enough," Narcissa said as they looked at each other. "Is that the main thing that's bothering you? You worry about what will happen when you break up with Ron and tell him how you feel about Harry?" she asked.

"Mainly. That and the ever increasing competition with witches for Harry's attention. Now that he and I aren't in the same clan I don't get as much time with him as I wanted. I really wanted to come to Japan and spend all my time with him," Hermione confessed.

"Well Harry and you are celebrities Hermione, and not just in Britain but internationally. You both will always have the attention of witches and wizards, but you've got to have faith in each other and if you end up together then you will be happy together because you love each other. You've got to put your trust in Harry and he will put his trust in you as well and if it's meant to be, it will be," Narcissa said to her.

"Professor McGonagall pretty much told me the same thing in a letter she put in with our school offers," Hermione said recalling the very touching and heartwarming letter of praise she had received from her old head of house.

"Well she's a smart woman, Minerva McGonagall, if she said the same thing as me," Narcissa said good naturedly causing Hermione to laugh with the older witch.

"I guess so." Hermione said with a teasing smile. "She said to make sure that I didn't lose myself in books and learning completely while I'm here and that I needed to maximise my time alone with Harry and to not let my head get in the way of my heart as I've done before," Hermione said. "I think Professor McGonagall would like me and Harry to get together. She said that she could see how well suited we were for each other and she had an eye for who would make a good couple between students over the years," Hermione said fondly.

"I think anyone who knows you both can see that Hermione and I'm glad you both seem to be noticing it with each other," Narcissa commented, not seeing the delighted smile spread across Hermione's face. Narcissa was distracted by the lights outside her window going darker as they were turned off in the street below indicating that the shops, bars and stalls below were shutting for the night. She reached for a watch that she had bought herself on her bedside table and looked at the time to see that it was approaching one o'clock in the morning.

"Wow it's near one o'clock," Narcissa said. "Not that I want to but I think we need to wrap this up for tonight. You need to get to bed because yourself and Harry have a big day tomorrow and you need your rest," Narcissa put her watch down and turned in her bed to face the younger witch. "I'm not kicking you out, Hermione, it's just I think that tomorrow will take a lot out of you both and you need to be as fresh as possible."

"Merlin is that the time? Yes, I suppose I better get to bed. I know Harry won't be looking forward to tomorrow, even less so than me." Hermione admitted not wanting to leave the confines of the warmth of the bed but agreeing that she needed to sleep and there is nothing like sleeping in your own bed.

"Well Harry and I have lined up a surprise for you and Miss Patil tomorrow that Harry thinks you'll be happy about," Narcissa commented. She watched the young witch flick the duvet back and shimmy across the bed before putting her feet on the ground and her hands braced against the bed ready to push herself up.

"He's full of surprises these days. I don't suppose you can give me a clue what he's been cooking up behind the scenes, can you?" Hermione asked, turning her head as Narcissa shook hers, with a playful smile just like Sirius' across her face.

"He says the same about you. That you are full of surprises yourself these days in the things he's learning about you he never knew. But no, I can't say what he's organised. I've been sworn to secrecy but let's just say it will make telling the story of what happened a little easier and I'm glad Harry thought to set this up the way he has," Narcissa said seeing Hermione's brow furrow.

Hermione stood up and turned back to the bed and put the cover down back in place. "Thanks Narcissa. It was good to talk about things with you and get another adult's point of view on some things. It's going to be a long road to figuring everything out but I think it's going to be really helpful having you to talk to." The older witch gave her a warm smile and leant forwards in the bed and took Hermione's hand in hers.

"I'm here if you need me and I'll make sure that we have plenty of time to talk and you can write or contact me any time you like, ok?" Narcissa said, getting a nod from Hermione.

"Thanks. That means a lot and I'm so impressed to see how seriously you are taking what I said about wanting you to look after him. I didn't think that you'd extend that to trying to help look after me as well." Hermione said feeling Narcissa give her hand a little squeeze like her mum does whenever she's telling Hermione how much she loves her. It was the first pang of homesickness Hermione had felt since she'd been in Japan but Hermione was touched that Narcissa was using a little bit of her maternal instincts on her.

"Harry is my family now, you mean the world to Harry so therefore you are important to me. You've both been through enough and make each other happy so why wouldn't I want you both to be happy?" Narcissa kindly inquired. "Besides. I can't be the only intelligent witch in Harry's life so it will be good to have another one to talk to," she said, getting a light laugh from Hermione.

"That's very true because as much as I love all my friends and they are intelligent they are still horny teenagers and most of the time their thoughts on the Harry and Ron situation normally range between and revolve around "Just shag him. Write to Ron and split up with him and bonk Harry's brains out and just take things as they come and try not to over think it and snog his face off."

"Let me guess. Tracey, Pansy and Daphne said that advice," Narcissa said with a laugh at Hermione's nod that she was correct.

"How did you know that?" Hermione was surprised that the older woman had guessed that straight away.

"Because Agatha, Nicole and Isabella are my friends and their daughters are more alike than they think," Narcissa replied with a light hearted laugh.

"Well if that's the case then I'm glad I confide in you as you clearly know what I'm working with." Hermione grinned as Narcissa seemed to know how her Slytherin friends would answer if she could suss that out without Hermione telling her more than what each said. Narcissa could be an emerald in the rough since the older witch had already proved to be a good person to confide in.

"Anytime... Except for now." Narcissa said, giving Hermione's hand a gentle squeeze. "Go on now, off to bed, and I'll see you in the morning." Narcissa said as to her surprise Hermione placed a knee on the bed and before she knew what was going on had received a proper hug from the young witch before they separated.

"Sweet dreams Hermione," Narcissa said as Hermione moved to the door of the living room and gently opened it and turned her head to Narcissa and whispered "Thanks again Narcissa and good night."

As the door to the room clicked closed and Narcissa barely made out the quiet padded footsteps of the younger witch before silence. "To be young and in love again." She said thinking about what Hermione had told her and what she had confided in Hermione. It felt strange but nice to be so open with someone else after years of having to constantly have her Occlumency shields up around Draco, Lucius and their other "guests" when living at Malfoy manor.

It made Narcissa realise how much she missed having her friends and her sisters in her life and decided that she would need to write to Andromeda and try and arrange a time to meet up with her and try and rebuild some bridges. "But for now. I think I'll read a little more of that book before turning in. After all it's not me in the spotlight tomorrow and doesn't matter if I'm tired," Narcissa thought to herself naughtily. She turned over and looked for the book she'd been reading before Hermione had interrupted her.