Disclaimer: Despite my best efforts, everything but the plot line STILL belongs to the Queen JKR. I'll give her characters back to her as soon as I've finished :/

Rating: T for some language and usage of ridiculously sexy characters.

Pairing: Narcissa/Hermione. Don't like, don't read. The story is set the summer after the final battle.

I'd like to again thank everyone for their reviews, follows, favourites, and support thus far. Especially my lovely betas for this chapter: Aleah, Jessie, and Dave. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. I had a lot of fun writing it, and I feel like my writing improved a little with this chapter.

I'd also like to thank Violet-Pulsar (MysteryChris) for creating this beautiful pairing and allowing it to blossom through your incredible stories! I hope I do your girls justice ;]

3 months later.

She was consumed by darkness. Images of a lifeless Narcissa seemed to flash before her eyes, and there wasn't any way for Hermione to help. Shouts filled the air around her.

"Hermione…" called a voice in the distance.

Hermione knelt down, cradled Narcissa's body, and sobbed hysterically.

"Hermione!"

Bellatrix appeared and was attempting to seek her final revenge on her youngest sister. Hermione screamed. She screamed and she cried, pleading with the dark witch to leave them alone. She was trying her best to protect Narcissa.

"HERMIONE!"

Hermione's eyes flew open as she realized she was being shaken violently and shouted at. Beads of sweat trailed down her forehead as she tried to focus on what was going on around her. It had been a nightmare; another nightmare.

"You were screaming, Mione," said Ginny Weasely soothingly, brushing one of Hermione's brunette curls from her face, "It was another nightmare about her, wasn't it?"

Hermione's eyes began to focus. She sat up in her bed and pulled her knees up to her chest, allowing more are for her redheaded roommate to sit. Hermione hoped that she hadn't woken any other members of the Burrow during this nightmare; she silently nodded at Ginny.

"Hermione, none of that was your fault…"

Before Ginny could finish, Hermione interrupted her, "Ginny, she saved my life. I should have done more."

"It was Bellatrix-fucking-Lestrange, Hermione! There wasn't anything anyone could have done to help her, at least nobody who was there at that time. If you hadn't gone ahead of everyone, we never would have found her…"

Hermione hadn't been the same since the battle at Hogwarts. Yes, everyone had sustained heavy losses. She didn't even remember how she got through the funerals of her friends. Tonks, Lupin, and Fred, as well as many others, were gone. She couldn't get over what had happened in the forest. Narcissa had almost died right there in her arms. Hermione had tried to rationalize the situation, as she tried to do with everything. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Narcissa's. Perhaps it was because in that moment, that moment when she was holding a dying Narcissa, that she witnessed firsthand how delicate a human life truly was. Even though the two witches had never shared a single pleasant encounter together, Hermione couldn't shake that fact that Narcissa had risked her own life to save hers. Those eyes, Hermione thought, her pale blue eyes begging Hermione for the help she couldn't give her. A tear rolled down her cheek and others proceeded in its path.

"I think you should go see her, Hermione."

Hermione bit her bottom lip nervously and tried to mop up some of the tears that continued to cascade down her face with the sleeve of her shirt.

"Draco said she's doing a lot better since she woke up. I bet she'd actually like to see you, Mione. Now with her prat of a husband and sister on the run, I bet she doesn't get a lot of visitors. "

Hermione wished she could stop thinking for a moment. If there was one thing Hermione Granger hated, it was being confused. Until now, Hermione lived a very structured life; she was always in control. However, she had not a single clue what to do with herself since the battle, and she didn't even understand what was going on with her. Her life was beginning to spiral, and she couldn't put the pieces together as to why. She wanted to see Narcissa so badly. She needed to see for herself that she was okay, that she had recovered. Narcissa had almost died that night right there in her arms. Bellatrix had performed a curse she created herself, and Narcissa, beautiful and delicate Narcissa, had lost so much blood. The dark magic of the curse caused Narcissa to nearly bleed out. After arriving at St. Mungo's, the medi-witches weren't even sure that they could save her. It had taken almost three whole months to wake Narcissa, and Hermione was relieved to hear that she was doing well. She made a mental note to ask Draco about her improving condition now that he paid regular visits to the Burrow. If one good thing came out of this, it was that Draco Malfoy realized his wrongs over the course of his past. He had been putting in a great deal of effort to make things right. With all things considered Hermione couldn't bring herself to go and visit Narcissa. What would she say to her? Would Narcissa remember that night, or the way Hermione begged her to stay alive? Would she remember that she saved Hermione, or was that a mistake and she still wanted nothing to do with a witch of muggle parentage?

"I can't Ginny…" she mumbled.

"Mione. I don't know what's going on with you, but you've changed," spoke Ginny, giving her a stern, but concerned look, "And while everyone else may be completely oblivious to it, including my idiot brother, I am not. I'm worried about you. I listen to you toss and turn in your bed night after night, and I know that it's because of what happened with Narcissa in the forest. You can lie to everyone else, but don't lie to me, especially when I can see through it."

Burying her head in her hands, Hermione sighed, "I can't get it out of my head, Ginny. I can't get her face out, either. It was like I was holding onto her life as it was about to slip away… I feel guilty. I feel confused."

"It's so obvious Hermione. I don't know why you don't see it, but I think it would ease your mind if you visited her."

"Absolutely not, Ginny! … And what's obvious?"

A smirk spread across Ginny's lips as she laughed quietly, "Hermione, you have to figure that out on your own, but I can tell you how and where you can start."

"Okay, how?" ask a confused and curious Hermione.

"By going to see her," responded Ginny.

The next day, Hermione did her best to avoid Ginny and any conversation that could lead to Narcissa Malfoy. Harry and Ron had left in the early hours of the morning to help the Auror Department hunt down Lucius and Bellatrix. The Burrow, for once, was actually quite empty and quiet, much to the liking of Hermione. She enjoyed spending time alone these days; it allowed her to think more freely. Whenever Ron was around he constantly tried to smother her. It was clear to everyone that he wanted Hermione, but she just didn't feel the same way. That was something Ron could not understand. He couldn't seem to take any hints that Hermione was not interested. Thankfully though, the mission the Auror department was sending him on made his presence less frequent. The department was keeping them very busy, seeing as the end of the summer was nearing, and the Aurors wanted to find the two Death Eaters before the start of a new Hogwarts term.

The Burrow was still rather empty that evening. Mrs. Weasley's usual dinner table was filled with members of the household, and then some, but tonight it was just Ginny, Hermione, and Draco. Hermione stared down at her plate, playing with the homemade macaroni and cheese. It was her way of trying to delay the awkward conversation she knew was inevitable at this moment. Suddenly, she wished the other members of the Burrow were present so she could sneak off to her room without being noticed.

"So, Draco, how is your mother doing?" asked Ginny, who stared directly at Hermione.

"Much better, actually! She's been awake for almost a week now, and most of her wounds were able to heal. Her memory is coming back very quickly; she was a bit foggy in the mind when she originally woke up, but she remembers most things now," he replied, while taking a Ron-like bite of macaroni.

Hermione's stomach dropped what felt like thousands of feet. Could she possibly remember what happened in the forest? She continued eyeing her dinner and nervously shifted in her chair.

"That's really great to hear, Draco. I'm so glad she's doing better. Do you know when she will be able to be released?" asked Ginny, who was still looking in Hermione's direction.

"Thank you, but unfortunately, we don't know when she can come home yet. I purchased a small flat in London for us to stay, because the Malfoy Manor is no longer safe for either of us, but for now, St Mungo's will just be our home away from home. I'm going to visit her after I've finished here."

"How LOVELY…" emphasized Ginny, who now was trying to hide a devious smirk, but before she could finish, Draco said exactly what was on the red head's mind.

"I'm sure she'd like to see you, Hermione. Perhaps you'd accompany me tonight?"

Hermione's fork fell to the floor with a loud clank. Filled with shock, she looked up at Draco and for the first time this evening, their eyes met.

"She has actually been hoping to see you. It's like she has been hoping you would visit. I assume she'd like to thank you for everything you did for us. You know, that night…" his voice trailed off.

Before Hermione could decline, or come up with a reasonable excuse, Ginny spoke up excitedly. "Hermione and I were actually discussing if it would be appropriate for us to pay your mother a visit. I'll get some macaroni together to take to her, and perhaps we could all go together?"

"I'm sure she'd appreciate that very much," smiled Draco.

"Yeah…sounds lovely…" said Hermione, whose mind was racing faster than a Firebolt.

Hermione tried to make her mind blank as they apperated straight to St Mungo's after dinner. She barely had anytime to freshen up, let alone prepare herself. Her heart raced and pounded, as the three entered the hospital. Draco led them down a long, white and brightly lit hallway, and then to a closed door. Hermione had never felt so vulnerable, or so likely to vomit, in her entire life.

"She's right through here. Hermione, would you like to go in first?" Draco asked.

Palms sweaty, and without any other options, Hermione gulped and pushed the door to Narcissa's room. She slowly walked in, not knowing what to expect.

"Well, hello there, Miss Granger," whispered the weak voice of Narcissa Malfoy.