Once Horace was able to deduced that his former students were in league with one another in teasing, his demeanour immediately uplifted and rose to properly hug their hostess with delight that she was accepting the teaching position. Narcissa decided that a celebration was in order to honor the professor's legacy and broke out a bottle of Superior Red from her personal wine stock. An hour quickly passed with Horace reminiscing, keeping the two witches entertained with stories, which eventually included them.
"And you my dear!" he raised his wine glass and curled a finger out, pointing at Narcissa. "So close in brewing that Draught of Living Death in your sixth year. Was so sure you had it!"
Nikole snickered, remembering how put out her friend was. "And she wouldn't shut up about it after class. Constantly reciting the steps, trying to figure out where she went wrong. Like that leaf personally offended her for not disintegrating."
"Well, it did offend me." She sniped playfully, gently swirling the contents of her wine glass. "I lost my opportunity to obtain a vial of Felix Felicis. That was enough cause to be crossed at failing."
"Crossed?" She laughed. "Crossed? You were so upset that throwing your book wasn't beneath you."
Narcissa pursed her lips. "Hm. That's because I was throwing it at you. Didn't count against proper manners."
"Oh good heavens, no! " Horace replied, aghast at learning this. "You didn't!"
"Oh she did alright." Nikole confirmed with a wistful smile. "I did deserve it though."
"No one deserves a book thrown at them!" he screeched in disagreement.
"Well …" She awkwardly pulled her shoulders up, scrunching her neck tightly, looking quite guilty with her confession. "I was rather mocking towards her."
"Yes you were. Charming your voice to sound like mine as you exaggerated my failure down the hall? I seriously questioned the sorting hat's placement of you as a Hufflepuff that day," Narcissa asserted.
"Nikole! I never would have thought you so rude," admonished Horace.
"Oh don't think the proper princess here is innocent." She held Narcissa's gaze, daring her to deny it as she continued. "Couple mornings later she got me back. Wasn't sure why classmates were snickering and pointing at me after a bath. Not until I saw my hair turned purple in the mirror that is."
Her hair was fine when she left the Prefects' Bathroom so whatever charm Narcissa managed to use in sabotaging her was timed for maximum effect.
She leaned forward to point an accusing finger at her old friend. "You never did tell me how you managed it, Cissa."
"And I never will," she said with a haughty smirk.
Horace's eyes looked comical as he processed this new information. "Oh my word. The things we learn years later. Your vintage makes for loose lips, Narcissa. I'm half tempted to deduct points for old times sake! I'm not officially retired yet!"
The trio shared a laugh as Narcissa waved her wand, summoning parchment and ink. "A fact that I'm to remedy right now. Care for another glass as I take care of this?"
"Oh no, thank you! I've reached my limit. It's getting late as it is and one shouldn't drink and Apparate in fear of being splinched!" He pushed out his chair to stand, Nikole and Narcissa following suit.
"It truly has been a pleasure catching up, Narcissa," he said, clasping her hands before pecking her cheeks in goodbye.
"The pleasure's all mine, Horace. Just promise me you'll enjoy your retirement and not be a stranger," she asked.
His tired eyes found renewed vigor and felt his body straighten with purpose. "You can be assured I will. Be lovely to see you and Draco more often."
Her smile pure, it softened with rare uncertainty as Narcissa regarded Nikole. "Are you taking your leave as well?"
Nikole shrugged, feeling like she needed an excuse to stay. "Bottle's not empty, right?"
"Never in this home."
"Then I suppose it'd be rude for you to drink alone. Unless you rather Draco keep you company?"
"Draco keeps me company more than he should," she replied coolly. "A fact that pains me to admit, but he's a good son. And I rather we go over the letter together before I send it to the Headmistress."
Looking between the two witches, Horace was well versed in polite excuses and these two were the master at saying so little with so many words. He clearly had overstayed his welcome!
"I'll see you back at the castle, Nikole. Goodnight my dears." He saw himself out as they offered their goodnights as well, humming happily as he closed the door.
The clock above the fireplace mantel didn't have a chance to tick away once in silence as both women jumped on the chance to speak.
"Cissa, I'm so ha— " "I can't believe it — " they both began immediately.
Nikole softly hung her head down in amusement, missing the soft color that accentuated Narcissa's pale cheeks. "Perhaps you should go first?"
"Only if you'll look at me."
She briefly closed her eyes before doing as requested and studied the youngest Black sister across the table.
Narcissa's ability to conceal her emotions were legendary amongst the wizarding community. Her cold features betrayed nothing of her true intent, blue eyes focused on her surroundings to absorb fine details and catalogue gossip and fact to ensure that her family would prosper. Suggestions over dinner with Lucius were truly tiny manipulations to coax her husband into believing he came up with clever ideas that increased their already immense fortune. The beauty of using the presumptions that she was a complacent housewife amongst arrogant wizards. She was a Black afterall. Raised to bring honor to her lineage, which included accepting the arranged marriage to Lucius with dignity. She had no voice in the matter, but how she handled the situation into creating an advantageous one for her, and eventually Draco, held endless possibilities.
She was also a very attractive woman that had only grown more prominent years later, Nikole reflected. Yet she was not naive, or witless like many a man that were blinded by Narcissa's beauty, and knew since they first met that her Slytherin friend was not to be underestimated. Echoes of upheaval and plots in the shadows had forced their paths to diverged with reason years ago. Even with how easy they slipped into old ways tonight, a lot of damage created by the bigotry passed down from the Black family had not been forgotten. Narcissa could have chosen a different path like her sister Andromeda, but she was lost to familial duty. And lost to Nikole.
Narcissa could see that the fondness shared between them had abruptly shifted to discretion in Nikole's eyes. She couldn't fault the change and was equally proud and hurt by that realization.
"I'm not even sure what I was going to say. Something worded delicately in a roundabout apology probably," she admitted. "But you deserve better than that."
Nikole blinked, her bravado disappearing as eyes shifted to anything else but Narcissa as the lady of the house continued with a slight addendum. " Everyone deserves better after all the pain my family has caused. You being here has at least opened my eyes that despite who I am and what I allowed, that there's a chance I can do some good in this world."
She wanted to cross the distance between them and grab onto Nikole's shoulders as she pleaded her case to see just how serious she was. Yet, a Black did not beg. Not even when they had wronged someone as deeply as the witch before her.
"Isn't that right, Nikky?" she inquired dryly, pushing back her insecurity. "Or was it all a show for Horace a bit ago? Being so warm and charming."
"Bloody hell," she muttered under her breath and rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. "Of course it wasn't a show! I was relieved when you were all cheeky with me. Least I knew where we stood to a degree, ya know?"
"And now?" Narcissa pressed quickly.
She shrugged. "I dunno. Lots happened as you said. Things will take time."
It was an honest, as much as a painful, answer that Narcissa had to accept with a yielding smile. Her crimes may have been forgiven by the courts, but she had a lifetime of atonement to make up for.
"They always do," she agreed, taking her seat once more with an air of finality that the Dark Arts professor was accustomed too.
Nikole did the same and sipped her wine, watching Narcissa pen her acceptance letter. One evening was not going to erase the years of affliction between them, despite the ease of happy company that they appreciated. Alone they were guarded and hopeful after their intense exchange. The two of them were going to be teaching together and watching over their young charges as their respective Heads of Houses. There would be plenty of time to become reacquainted and for Narcissa to earn her place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Moonlight was obscured by the gloomy overcast over Hogwarts Castle, barely showing signs of life during the summer months. Where the torches made the castle beautifully glow during the term, they were scattered throughout the towers and halls for the teachers that made the school home. It made the grounds by the greenhouses pitchblack if not for the sconces lighting the castle walls, helping two teachers move between Greenhouse One and a repurposed wooden planter, with wand tips bright with the Lumos Charm. Large stacks of carefully tied up knotgrass floated between them.
"Aberforth really needs a lot of knotgrass, Neville. Did Hagrid drink his stocks dry or something?" pointed out Hermione, knowing the groundskeeper's love of a particular mead. "Just odd he doesn't order some more of it."
She looked thoughtful. "Does he brew drinks in the back now?"
"I've haven't a clue," chuckled the Herbology professor. "I just try to not ask too many questions with him. Safer that way."
His companion chuckled in agreement. The Hog's Head Owner was just as terse and grumpy as ever, and it wasn't like knotgrass was anything dangerous. Unless you were making Polyjuice Potion, which was a preposterous thought! She banished that idea, claiming personal paranoia with that potion years back with the forms she had to take, and released the magic holding the bundles. The pair watched them drop into the wood box.
Neville took over and with a small flick of his wrist, waved his wand. "Locomotor Planter."
The large box hovered off the ground in waiting as he looked quite cheerily towards Hermione. "Glad you could come along, Hermione. Nice seeing you out and about."
"Thanks, Neville," said the witch brightly. "I get so focused on problems that I forget that there's a world outside my office. So here I am, walking to Hogsmeade with you. Trying very hard to not think about all the work I've put off today."
They shared a laugh together, both knowing that Hermione's was always anticipating what work needed her attention. Neville began leading the way off the greenhouse grounds and through the nearest gate to the well used path that led them wizarding village. They debated on heading to the Three Broomsticks for a Butterbeer after the delivery when the shadow of an owl in the night sky caught their eye.
Hermione's gaze darkened, knowing who's owl that probably was, but Neville missed it and continued their conversation. It was all one sided as Hermione bristled with what had to be confirmation of Narcissa Black's acceptance. Her thoughts went back to the conversation she had with Minerva earlier today and began to sift through her emotions of outrage then belief that even someone like Ms. Black deserved a second chance.
After a few moments, Neville realized he was talking to himself. "Hey?" He gently elbowed his fellow professor in the arm with concern. "You alright?"
"Oh! Yes, of course, Neville." She flashed him a brilliant smile that spoke volumes of her trying too hard. "Got stuck going over my to-do list in my head."
He cast a dubious glance her way. "You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
No, she wasn't, but this wasn't the time for that conversation. Instead she leaned against him and slipped an arm around his. "Now let's finish up this little errand so we can get that drink."