The single glass panes rattled loudly in their fragile wooden frames as the howling wind and skin biting rain crashed mercilessly against the windows. Hermione jumped groggily out of her dreamless sleep as the unforgiving weather batted the old building threatening to collapse.
Licking her dry chapped lips and wiping away the sleep from her eyes, the brunette blindly thrust her arms out to find her wand.
"Tempus." The eerie green glow flashed through the darkened room announcing five am.
Rushing through her extremely cold morning shower and wrestling with her trunk for fresh robes, she was finally ready. Hermione snatched up her treasured beaded bag on the way down to the main level, ordering a small fruit breakfast and a cup of steaming coffee, she sat tucked away in the corner by the stairs reading the daily prophet.
"Ah Lady Malfoy a pleasure."
Lowering the paper slightly, Hermione was surprised to see the tall beautiful blonde sitting across from her with the most unpleasant witch she had ever had the misfortune to meet Madam Umbridge, both witches sipping from their cups, eyeing up the other. My, my how the almighty has fallen.
"Dolores it's Madam Black as well you know" Narcissa sharply replied, annoyance leaking through. Resisting the urge to hex the pink monstrosity sitting before her.
Madam Umbridge leant forward disturbing the table. "My apologises Cissy. I forget you are divorced. How very modern of you." The disgust evident in her voice.
The blonde clenched her jaw at the casual usage of her nickname, her crystal orbs flashing dangerously. Gripping her china cup to steady her shaking hands, the witch became aware of being watched, glancing up she swept her gaze around the room till she met the brown eyes of a very familiar bushy haired witch. Rude manners indeed.
Hermione gasped as blue eyes stared back into hers. Look away Granger, look away now. Reverting her attention to the discarded paper, hiding her embarrassed blush from view.
"So what do you think dear?"
Narcissa calmly turned back to her unwelcomed visitor, confused at the question. A perfectly manicured hand with ridiculous pink nails came to rest on her thigh, she desperately tried to not flee from the unpleasant intrusion.
A sudden welcomed commotion from three drunken wizards clashing loudly at the front of the pub gave Narcissa the time to elegantly detach herself from her over friendly acquaintance and standing up straight, using her full height to imitate the other woman. "As charming as this has.. been Dolores I do have a prior engagement that I can not miss." Nodding once she turned on her heel sparing the muggleborn one last sharp look before sweeping out for the day.
Hermione followed the high rate woman's departure, quietly stalking the stunning beauty in the drenching downpour through the empty streets of Daigon Alley. She watched as the older witch, dressed in her erotic form fitting black robes that appeared to stay dry, would occasionally pause when something in the passing shop windows caught her eye before continuing her leisurely pace.
The last time Hermione saw the Malfoy Matriarch was during her trail in the bowels of the ministry where she and Harry testified on her behalf and the blonde witch after her few days stay in azkaban looked ill; her once perfect skin was shallow with yellow purplish bruises scattering her exposed arms and face accompanied by a black eye and a split lip, her golden hair hanged limp and dirty in her haggard face and her robes barely held together, destroyed beyond repair. Even looking at her worst the regal witch sat straight in the prisoners uncomfortable chair, metal cuffs holding her wrists and ankles tightly to the wood, with her head held high and her face an emotionless mask but the thing that gave her away was her stiff posture and her blue eyes that shined with fear of the unknown. Hermione wasn't sure if the fear was for her uncertain punishment or her only child's fate but she did know that her heart went out to the youngest Black sister which is why she took the stand pleading with the Wizengamot to pardon Narcissa Malfoy of all charges.
Shaking her head from her thoughts, Hermione looked up the street realising that her target had disappeared, quickening her strides she turned into Knockturn Alley when a hand shot out grabbing her by her upper arm pulling her into a dark alcove of the narrow alley.
A wand dug painfully into her throat. "Why is the golden girl of the trio following me?" Narcissa's hood dropped from her head, a sneer present on her pale features. "Did McGonagall forget to tell you not to play with death eaters little witch?"
Hermione swallowed hard, wincing as the wood stabbed further into her sensitive flesh. She nearly lost herself staring into the neverending pool of blue crystal eyes. "You are not a death eater so your question is irrelevant. I wasn't following you." Good one Granger lie to the pureblood, might as well have liar tattooed on your forehead in with flashing block letters.
"Do you have a death wish? I could of killed you and no one would of found your body mudblood." Her wand trailed down Hermione's throat to her heaving chest.
A cold bucket of water fell down her spine at the slur of her blood, anger flickering to life deep inside of her, her blood boiling. "At least I'm not a alone. Where's your husband or son? Huh. I can now see where your brat of a son gets his arrogant, stick up his ass personality from. Your husband dearest finally had enough of a cold frigid bitch like you then?" The words tumbled out her mouth before she could stop them. Shame burned into her cheeks.
The murderous glare and a well earned slap to her face so forceful that the back of her head collided with the brick wall dazed her into silence.
Narcissa loomed over her, her once angelic voice wavering slightly. "You will not mention my son. You are unworthy to speak of him."
Hermione briefly saw hurt and regret swimming in her orbs before her cold mask slammed back into place but not before a singular tear escaped down her cheek.