Another year had passed, and Narcissa and the boys were still living peacefully in their house in the suburbian area of London. It was a rainy day and she and her two sons were spending it playing board games, Narcissa teaching them how to play wizard's chess. Or trying to. Because every time the chess pieces started to argue or insult each other, Draco and Harry would break into fits of giggles.
Eventually, she gave up on explaining the rules to them and decided to take them to the nearby shopping mall instead. Both of them had grown and could use some new clothes.
She told them to get dressed – they were still in their pyjamas – and went to change out of her own, exchanging them for a pair of black chinos and a dark green blouse.
Twenty minutes later, she had even managed to comb Harry's unruly hair into short-lived submission, they were ready to go.
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"Can we go to the toy store?" Harry asked his mother, carrying a bag with two new shirts and a pair of jeans. Draco's pleading look soon joined his brother's.
"Later, promise," she told them with a smile. "First, the two of you need new winter jackets. It is October already and temperatures will drop any day now."
They entered a children's clothing store and Narcissa browsed through the various jackets and coats, the boys running through the racks, playing hide and seek and sneaking up on other customers.
Narcissa merely shook her head at their boyish behavior, deciding to let them continue with their game as long as no one was bothered by them. As things were, most people were observing them with a warm smile on their faces, some even playing along and pretending to be scared.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" A young girl with beautiful brunette curls was pulling at Narcissa's long coat, her brown eyes somewhat frightened.
"Can I help you?" Narcissa asked, giving the child an encouraging smile.
"I lost my mom," the girl stated, looking quite forlorn between the tall racks filled with jackets.
"Well, I shall help you find her," the blonde took the girl's hand into her own and gently squeezed. "I am sure she isn't far. – What is your name? Mine is Narcissa."
The girl scrunched up her nose at the difficult name before a weak smile lit up her face. "Your name is as silly as mine," she said, her brown eyes peering into blue. "I'm Hermione."
"Well, Hermione, let's find your mother."
Narcissa quickly paid for the two jackets she'd chosen for Draco and Harry before she called the boys back to her side.
"This is Hermione," she introduced the brunette girl. "She has lost her mother and we are going to help her find her." Then, turning to Hermione: "These are my sons, Draco and Harry."
The three children shyly said their hellos and then the four of them left the store, walking the hallways of the mall, looking for Hermione's mother.
"Hermione!" a brunette woman with a friendly face ran up to them when they neared one of the mall's many bookstores, her face instantly filling with relief at seeing her daughter unharmed. She pulled her daughter into her arms and held onto her for what seemed like minutes. Then, she took her hand and straightened up to thank the woman who had watched over her.
"Thank you so much for returning her to me," the woman gratefully beamed at the blonde, quickly shaking her hand. "Hermione sometimes wanders off without realizing it when she sees the windows of a book store," she explained with a small chuckle. "I am Diane Granger, by the way."
"Narcissa Mal- Black," Narcissa corrected herself. She might still be married to Lucius but she'd never felt like a Malfoy. Not even for a second. "These are Harry and Draco, my sons."
The boys politely greeted the brunette woman.
"It is nice to meet you," Diane smiled at the two sharply contrasting children. "I would really like to thank you properly," she then began. "Maybe we could meet up for coffee or tea and some biscuits? We live at no. 8, Harlington Street. I am sure Hermione would be happy to see you all again."
Narcissa pondered it for a moment and finally nodded. It would do her boys good if they met and played with other children their age. Plus, Diane seemed nice and she hadn't talked to another adult safe Andromeda and Ted in a long time.
"Next Saturday, maybe? At 3 p.m.?"
"Sounds perfect."
"Well, we'll be looking forward to seeing you again."
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The week passed quickly and soon Narcissa found herself sitting at the Grangers' coffee table, talking to Diane and her husband William as the children were running through the garden, enjoying the last rays of sunshine before the winter. The boys and Hermione were getting along well and Narcissa found that she genuinely liked the Muggle family. They lived only three streets apart, not even 10 minutes walking distance, and both families knew this wouldn't be the last they'd see of each other.
The children grew and became close friends, Narcissa forging an easy friendship with the girl's parents herself. She'd explained to Harry and Draco not to speak of flying brooms or chocolate frogs whenever they were around one of the Grangers and so far, the Muggle family remained unsuspecting.
The thought of lying to them weighed heavily on her conscience, especially as one after the other the three children turned 11. Soon, she'd have to tell the Grangers that she'd sent her boys to boarding school and that they would only be home over the summer and during winter break.
The relief she felt at spotting a familiar looking letter on a table in the Grangers' house was immeasurable. A wide smile on her face, she grabbed the letter with the broken Hogwarts wax seal and took it into the kitchen where Diane and William were sitting around their dining table, waiting for Narcissa to return from the bathroom.
"So Hermione's a witch then."
That evening, Narcissa and Hermione's parents sat in the living room, the Pureblood explaining to them everything they wanted to know as well as revealing part of her past and her reasons to live among the Muggle world. They were accepting of the fact that Narcissa preferred women to men, awed and unbelieving at hearing about Harry's parentage, and shocked about the fact that she'd had to go into hiding because of a fallen Dark Wizard and her husband's ties to him.
She told them of her intention to take the boys to Diagon Alley for their books and school supplies the day after and Diane and William eagerly agreed when she offered to go together.
Tomorrow, Narcissa and her sons would have to come out of hiding. She just prayed they wouldn't run in with her eldest sister. She knew she'd have to face Bellatrix sooner rather than later but she'd prefer to do it with her boys out of range, safe.
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Diagon Alley _ August, 12th, 1991
So far, they had been at Gringotts – Narcissa getting money from her own vault and helping William exchange some pounds into galleons and sickels – and at Madame Maulkin's, where the three children had been fitted for their required school robes.
Now, they were at Flourish & Blotts, standing in the queue for the first year's school books.
"Bloody traitor scum!" A tall brunette witch hissed at Narcissa when she walked past, deliberately bumping into her side.
Narcissa angrily gritted her teeth but stayed calm, ignoring the other woman. It would not do to draw even more attention to them even though her proud Black blood demanded revenge.
"What was that about?" Diane asked in hushed tones, looking at her friend with concern.
Narcissa waved it off with her hand. "Terese Parkinson. We went to school together. She obviously doesn't approve of the fact that I had a child with a Muggleborn, especially not Harry, the boy-who-lived."
Four years back, Narcissa had met up with the headmaster of Hogwarts and revealed her and Lily's secret to him. Dumbledore had been shocked that Harry wasn't James Potter's son but otherwise he hadn't looked as surprised as one would've thought. It was highly probable, that the old wizard had always known of her and Lily's relationship. Not much happened in Hogwarts that he wasn't privy to.
They'd talked for a long time, finally deciding that it would be best to slowly let the wizarding community know about Harry Potter's true parentage. Because Harry, even though there wasn't anything Potter in him, had chosen to keep the name his mother had died with. And Narcissa understood the boy's wish. The surname they shared was one of the only things that remained from his red haired mother.
Albus Dumbledore had invited Severus and Professor McGonagall to join them and together, they'd explained everything to the two teachers. Soon after, they'd started spreading the 'rumor' that Harry Potter was the biological child of Narcissa Malfoy née Black and Lily Potter née Evans. Before Harry turned eight, the whole wizarding world knew. It was better this way. When Harry left for Hogwarts next month, it would take some focus away from him; his lineage was no longer news.
"They really call him that?" William wanted to know, nodding towards Harry who, together with his brother, was browsing a book about flying techniques, Hermione standing next to them, excitedly checking the titles of each and every book on the wall. "The boy-who-lived?"
"They do," Narcissa confirmed, her gaze following his. "I am afraid the fact he survived the darkest curse of all time will never be old news, especially not with the scar."
"Well, he won't be alone," Diane reassured her friend. "He has Hermione and his brother. They will do just fine as long as they are together."
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A while later, the group of six sat in front of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, a bowl of delicious ice cream in front of each of them.
"Let's check," Narcissa looked at the list of things first years needed to bring to Hogwarts. "We ordered your robes and will be able to pick them up tomorrow. – We have your textbooks as well as the Potions supplies and the two cauldrons. – Now, the only thing we still need to get are-"
"Our wands!" Harry finished his mother's trail of thought.
"Olivander's is right over there," Narcissa said, pointing to a store farther along the street. Seeing as the boys and Hermione were nearly finished with their eyes, a thought came to her mind. "How about William takes you to get your wands?" She mouthed something to Mr. Granger who nodded with a smirk appearing on his lips.
"Why don't you come with us?" Draco wanted to know, looking from his mother to Diane.
"Girl talk," Diane said before Narcissa could think of a reply.
"Uh, gross," Draco said and everyone laughed at his mortified expression.
After finishing their ice cream and paying Fortescue, the group parted ways, Narcissa pulling her friend over towards the Magical Menagerie.
Diane gave her a questioning look.
"Hermione seems like the cat kind of girl. I thought you might want to get one for her?"
The brunette Muggle smiled and nodded, looking at the various cats. In the end, she chose a red tomcat with a slightly crooked back and a scar across his face. She knew her daughter would've chosen the cat if she were with her.
Narcissa smirked at her choice but knew better than to protest. The Granger women liked to take in lost cases. In a way, she had been one as well.
They paid for the cat and went to their next destination, Eeylops Owl Emporium.
Narcissa quickly found a beautiful female Snowy owl for Harry and a black Barn owl for Draco.
Then, she helped Diane pick a quiet, small Tawny owl, so she and William could send letters and parcels to Hermione whenever they wanted to.
She herself had Craven for that job, a pitch black crow she'd found and nursed back to health – he'd had a broken wing –just before giving birth to Draco. When she tried to set him free months later, the bird always returned to her. So one day she'd decided to just keep him.
"They will be so happy," Diane beamed at her blonde friend, carrying the tomcat's box and the owl's cage. "And William will be over the moon once he sees our new pet. He's so fascinated with your world."
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September, 1st, 1991 _ King's Cross
Soon the dreaded and looked forward to day came and the two families found themselves standing on Platform 9 3/4. The Hogwarts Express was already there, waiting for the students to board the train and begin their journey to Hogwarts.
"Are you alright?" Diane wanted to know from Narcissa, noticing that the woman looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Merely nervous," she admitted, checking her watch. "Lucius must know that Draco will be going to Hogwarts this year."
"You think he'll turn up?"
"Oh, I know he will," a cold male voice came from behind the two women, raising goosebumps on the witch's pale arms.
"Diane, go and join William and the children. Tell them to board the train if I'm not with you in ten minutes," she urged the Muggle woman to leave, to protect her sons.
Diane nodded, squeezed her shoulder and walked off in search of the others, sending a glare at the blonde haired wizard as she went.
"Lucius," Narcissa coldly acknowledged his presence, not letting him see her anxiousness.
"What a surprise to see you here, my lovely wife," Lucius sneered, moving his hand around her right upper arm in a tight grip. "But – maybe it isn't. After all, you have two sons going to Hogwarts for the first time. One of them being mine."
"Draco is not your possession," Narcissa spat at him, struggling and failing to free her arm. "Nor am I," she glared at her husband, casting a wandless burning jinx at his fingers.
Cursing, Lucius let go of her, his expression furious.
"Draco is still my flesh and blood. You can't change that!" Lucius shouted after her as she walked away. "He is my heir and I will take him back!"
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"Mom," Draco and Harry charged at their mother, hugging her and asking if she was okay.
And for now, she was. The boys would be safe at Hogwarts – no one would be able to reach them on the castle grounds.
"I am perfectly fine," she reassured her worried sons, lovingly placing a hand on their cheeks. "Now, kiss your mother goodbye and get into that train before it leaves without you. And don't forget to write."
"We won't," Draco said, kissing his mother.
"We love you," Harry added, kissing her other cheek.
Smiling, she ruffled through their hair for a last time and gave them a gentle push towards Hermione, who was already waiting for them. "I love you, too. Look out for each other and Hermione."
Then, Narcissa joined Diane and William Granger and together they watched as their children boarded the train, waving until the Hogwarts Express eventually disappeared in the distance.
AN: New friends, first meeting of our two favorite witches, some drama, and Hogwarts on the horizon.
Next chapter will change our point of view to Hermione's and maybe even Draco/or Harry. Narcissa as well of course.
I am also still uncertain of what to do about Bellatrix. I love her and I know she dearly loves her sister but I'm unsure if I can reunite them. Her character needs the darkness and she does work well on Voldy's side. However, I'd also love it if she chose her family instead of her Lord.
Thoughts?