Hermione winced watching Narcissa pace the length of her study. The regal woman had remained tight lipped ever since she revealed that she told Lucius her true feelings.
"Does it come at a surprise to you that my husband already knew. Lucius knows everything that happens in this estate and with who I spend my time with."
Her breath was stolen away in those few precious seconds when her lover smiled her deviously smile. Her eyes shining brightly.
"He knows about us? Why.."
Narcissa sauntered over to Hermione, her silk robe dropping to the floor. Her firm breasts glistening under the flickering candle light, she crooked her finger at her young lover.
Their lips touched and Hermione submitted to her dominance. Allowing Narcissa to strip her naked.
"I love you."
Narcissa gently rubbed Hermione's cold arms coxing the warmth into her shivering form.
"When did it start?" Andromeda inquired from her seat by the fire.
Turning her head, she looked her older sister in the eye. "Shortly after the trial was concluded both Hermione and Draco went back to Hogwarts once the repairs where done, they became close. At the time I thought they were dating until I saw them for myself. Draco invited Hermione over to the manor for dinner at Yule that year."
Hermione nervously smiled, politely accepting the house elves help of removing her outer robes. Barely a second out of outerwear to be scooped up in a tight embrace by Draco, her former rival and childhood bully.
"Sorry Granger." Draco sheepishly let the brunette go. An embarrassed flush coating his pale cheeks.
"Draco as we are friends perhaps you can call me Hermione but only if you don't call me Mione. I absolutely hate that name."
Draco genuinely smiled at her, non of his previous prudence was seen as he yet again embraced his muggleborn classmate. "Gladly. Personally I never could understand why people have the need to shorten ones name."
Hermione relaxed as she followed Draco into a comfortable looking room. She stiffened slightly at the sight of his parents lounging on high back arm chairs by an open fire. While she no longer feared them she did feel drawn to the beautiful stunning woman that even at her worst kept herself and her family together.
"This is the recieving room. I know ridiculous name but never mind." Draco commented leading Hermione towards his seated parents. "Father, mother let me properly introduce to you my new friend Hermione Granger."
Lucius smirked at Hermione's nervousness while Narcissa gathered Hermione into a less than socially acceptable embrace.
"I must properly thank you for saving my family Miss Granger."
"While I have had the pleasure of meeting Hermione before the dinner many times it was at the dinner that I truly appreciated her." Narcissa softly explained. Her fingers tangling in the soft curls of Hermione's hair.
"I thought Draco brought Hermione over a lot before that?" Andromeda asked confused.
Narcissa nodded. "He did and she was around a lot but I suppose we were playing a cat and mouse game. I knew I was attracted to her and I enjoyed making her flustered but it wasn't until that dinner that we gave in to our desires."
"How did you do it?" Lucius asked.
Narcissa shot her husband a sharp look, clearly she wasn't impressed with his blunt attitude. "Have you forgotten who you are speaking to husband?"
The Lord of the manor shrugged his broad shoulders, his eyes twinkling with mischief earning a slap to the back of his head by his wife.
"How did I do what Lord Malfoy?"
"Good grief Hermione don't help boost his ego it's already far to large for father to handle." Draco groaned good-heartedly.
Narcissa's angelic laugh caught Hermione's attention. She found it adorable the way the sophisticated Pureblood placed her glass over her mouth to hide her giggles. Not much success by the way her husband was glaring daggers at his wife.
"Come now son I'm just trying to get to know your friend." The way the man said friend made Hermione think they were discussing a business contract.
Andromeda listened quietly to her younger sister. She could see the affection the woman had for the young muggleborn, it surprised her that no one had realised their relationship before now.
"Lucius was trying to see what Hermione's agenda was. The man couldn't understand that she helped us out the goodness of her heart."
"Of course not, Lucius like us had grown up around pureblooded society that only offered their services when they knew they would get something out of it." Andromeda replied watching the flames lick the stones around the heath.
Dinner finished with less drama than she had expected. Hermione followed Narcissa to the ladies parlour while Draco and Lucius went off to an prior engagement.
"I must apologise for Lucius's behaviour.."
"It matters not Lady Malfoy. I can understand why your husband is suspicious of my help."
Narcissa narrowed her eyes, clutching her wine glass far tighter than she should. "Call me by my name Miss Granger, I do believe I have asked you before to call me Narcissa. I feel too old as it is to be called by my stuffy title."
"Only if you grant me the same courtesy of calling me by my given name Narcissa. You usually do anyway." Hermione smoothly replied, experimenting with the uncommon name. She enjoyed the way the sophisticated name rolled off her tongue.
Hermione smiled at Narcissa. The blonde lady sat close to her, their thighs touching, their warmth mingling. She felt safe with Narcissa and that feeling felt strange after all this woman was the sister of the woman that tortured her in this very manor.
She started to hyperventilate, her chest tightened and her vision blurred. The awful memory of her torture came to the front of her mind, playing on a loop as if in a Muggle theatre.
The next minute the regal woman was on her knees between Hermione's legs. Her hands on her knees rubbing circles on her flesh. That position they were in alone helps Hermione come down from her panic attack.
"It's okay Hermione deep breaths. That's it." She smiled, her hand on Hermione's chest.
Both frozen till Hermione leant forward and placed her lips upon Narcissa's. The blonde was stock still till arms desperately tightened around neck coxing her to kiss the young woman back.
"I... I'm sorry I shouldn't of done that I.. I just.. it felt right." Hermione stumbled over her words, unable to meet the woman's eye.
Narcissa laughed, tinkering and angelic that Hermione had no choice but to kiss her again and this time Narcissa pulled her flush up against her chest.
Andromeda laughed. "I have forgotten how you could charm even the most frigid of our society Cissa."
"It wasn't like that. I mean it was but when I realised Hermione had the same feelings for me well all ration thoughts abandoned me."
"So what happened next?"
"Our affair began and it was then I realised that I loved her."