Narcissa was still staring at the piece of paper long after the mediwitch had left her to herself. Madame Pomfrey had suspected her to already know of the reason for her anger – as if Narcissa could've somehow tricked the girl into getting her pregnant – but had lapsed into a long explanation about magical pregnancies after perceiving the startled look on her face.
Apparently, it was possible for two witches to create life if they were powerful enough and using fertility potions to enhance their chances. However, so Poppy Pomfrey had told her, it still only rarely led to success. Magical pregnancies were therefore only scarcely known among wizarding folk and research was slow and almost non-existing. The mediwitch had also explained that two witches could only produce a female child; rather logical, Narcissa thought, after hearing about the missing y-chromosome that made a boy into a boy and could only be offered by a man and his sperm. Muggle science actually seemed to be a difficult but highly interesting field of study. Her blood-supremacist parents had probably turned in their graves at that thought... They wouldn't have even bothered to disown her if they'd learned about her unborn child's 'father', a mere mudblood. She was certain they would've stoned her to death at the spot. It was a good thing they no longer had control over her life. And it was a good thing Narcissa had never shared their beliefs.
"This child is nothing short of a miracle," Madame Pomfrey had stated, curiously glancing at her mostly flat stomach. "Magical pregnancies themselves are rare enough. But an accidental one? That is unheard of."
Eventually, Narcissa moved the piece of paper into the drawer of her side table. With a sigh, she rested her hands on her stomach, careful not to accidentally touch the magical stitches on her side.
"I don't know what to do, little one," Narcissa whispered, a light frown on her face. She was grateful that her daughter wouldn't have to carry the burden of being HIS child, his heir. But the thought of Hermione made her shoulders drop. How could she do this to her? Hermione was a young, bright witch with a life full of possibilities still ahead of her. She didn't need the weight of a child and its damaged mother on her shoulders. She should be free to live her life to the fullest, free of the dead weight that she believed herself to be. If word got out… Everyone would laugh at her, maybe even hate her. No one would want to be friends with her. Maybe even Potter and Weasley would turn their backs on her… And her parents… that lovely, caring couple who loved their daughter deeply. Would they understand? Would they look at Hermione differently if they knew? Would they disown her like her own parents had done with Andy? She couldn't do this to Hermione, the woman she… But what about the child growing inside of her…
"Narcissa?" Hermione had observed the older woman for about a minute now, watched how sadness and uncertainty flitted over her face as she ran her hands over her stomach. She didn't know if she wanted her here – given their 'break-up' only a few days past – but she had to see her.
Blue eyes looked up and met Hermione's; the girl could clearly see the struggle beneath their depths.
She approached the bed, awkwardly stopping next to it.
The older witch studied her face and finally nodded, seemingly coming to a decision.
"There is something I need to tell you. Sit?"
Hermione was about to take the chair but sat down on the mattress instead when Narcissa raised a single brow.
She waited, unsure of what the blonde would tell her. Would this be another goodbye? Narcissa telling her she couldn't visit her anymore?
But Narcissa didn't speak. Instead, she opened the drawer of the side table, taking out a sheet of paper Hermione immediately recognized to be the one Madame Pomfrey had shielded from her gaze. Was there something seriously wrong with Narcissa or the child? Why else would she be holding it out to her?
With trembling fingers, Hermione took it and started to read. She smiled when she saw that the child was healthy and indeed a girl, just as Narcissa had thought. Then, her face fell and she reread the whole thing again. And again.
"How?" she finally managed, unable to say more, her brown eyes meeting Narcissa's.
"Madame Pomfrey said it is something called a 'magical pregnancy'," Narcissa studied Hermione's face, waiting for a reaction, anything. "It shouldn't have happened – but apparently it did."
"I am-" Hermione stared at the parchment once more. "I am the 'father'?"
"You are."
Narcissa was surprised to see a bright smile on Hermione's face when she looked up again. "I-"
"No Hermione, don't say it."
"I don't care what you say," she grinned at Narcissa. "We're having a child. And I... I love you. I really do. I don't care if you don't want me to but I love you. I love you both."
Finally, a smile bloomed on the blonde's face as well and with a whispered, "I do love you, too", she pulled her down and into a gentle kiss that made both of their hearts beating wildly against their chests.
It was a cough that eventually pulled them apart, their eyes flying to the double doors of the hospital wing where Hermione's parents stood.
"I can't believe you had sex with her!" William Granger ranted, pacing in front of the hospital bed Narcissa was resting on. "She's- she's too old for you! She could be your mother! And you got her pregnant for goodness sake! I can't believe I am even saying that! I thought that's one thing I didn't need to worry about, with you being a girl! – You… uh, you are a girl, right?"
"Of course I am," Hermione shook her head in comical disbelief. "And it's not like we planned this! I didn't deliberately get her pregnant!"
"But you did deliberately sleep with her!"
"William-"
"No, Diane! I can't believe how I am the only one who's not okay with this!"
"I never said I was happy with the whole situation," Diane said, her voice soft as she placed a hand on her husband's forearm, making him stop in his tracks. "But Hermione is a young woman now, she's 17 and it was inevitable that she would fall in love and have sex one of these days…"
"Actually, I'm 18," Hermione sheepishly threw in. "Remember the time turner Professor McGonagall gave to me in third year? I explained to you back then how its frequent use had added a year to my age.."
"See," Diane threw her hands up into the air. "Our daughter is 18, Will. Did you expect her to play with her chemistry set forever?"
"But-"
"No buts, William Granger," Diane gently admonished her husband. "I would've liked to have had a few years left until I became a grandmother but as things stand, that is no longer an option." She looked at Narcissa and Hermione, who still sat on the blonde's bed, unconsciously stroking her hand. "She didn't know that such an accident was even possible – they both didn't – and she's taken the responsibility for the child. I for one am very proud of you, Hermione."
His wife's words finally settled in and William Granger nodded apologetically at his daughter. "Your mother is right. I just – it's not easy, letting go of your little girl. But I suspect you'll know that soon enough. It'll take some getting used to though. I never even thought about the possibility that you couldn't like men. But, as long as you're happy, I don't care."
"Thank you daddy," Hermione got up and embraced her dad before doing the same with her mother. "I love you both."
"And we love you, Hermione," Diane smiled, kissing her daughter's cheeks. Then she whispered in her ear, so only the two Granger women would hear. "I approve, you know? She might be a little old for you but she's loyal and protective of you. And she looks hot, that's definitely a plus."
Diane and Hermione Granger giggled as they parted, both Narcissa and William looking on with curious expressions at the exchange.
HGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNB
"So, I told Draco…" Narcissa opened the conversation when Hermione came to her the next evening. She'd wanted to come after her last class but Narcissa had asked her to wait, deciding she had to tell her son.
"About… about us? And the… child?"
Narcissa nodded.
"How did it go?"
Narcissa shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not certain. It definitely could've gone worse but he wasn't amused if you get what I mean… he was of course relieved that it wasn't his child but I think you come in as a close second on his list of people he doesn't want me to be with."
"I'm sure he'll get over it," Hermione said, wanting to comfort Narcissa.
"Oh he will," Narcissa chuckled. "I'm not worried about that. I think he'll be behaving like a royal brat around you though… But, I have told him not to use the m-word. And he was appalled I would ever assume he would. He's learned his lesson after last time. Don't think I didn't know you punched my son in the face. He complained to me about it and got a lecture instead of the reassurance he'd been looking for. He knows it was wrong."
Hermione nodded. "I appreciate it. But it was only this once he called me that. I knew he didn't really mean it back then but I WAS furious…"
"Hermione?"
"Hmm?" She looked at the blonde who's eyes were twinkling with mirth.
"I'd love a kiss, you know. Maybe two?"
"I think that could be arranged," Hermione grinned and leaned down to the other witch, claiming her lips in a gentle kiss.
Madame Pomfrey coughed upon witnessing the scene in her little kingdom. "No kissing in my hospital wing."
Frowning and disappointed, the two parted. They weren't too eager anyways, to have the old witch as an audience.
"You know, I was wanting to ask… Why did you break up with me? Made me believe this was all about the sex and nothing else? It isn't, right? All about the-"
"Hermione, no!" Narcissa rushed to reassure the student, clasping her hand and intertwining their fingers. "It's not just about the sex, Hermione. I don't think it ever was… I just. I was… afraid," she whispered the word, still uneasy to admit to a weakness. She'd been raised to be strong and cold, taking everything that came her way without shedding a single tear. And she realized that needed to change. She needed to be alive, vibrant and honest. For both Hermione and their daughter. She continued with a stronger voice even though it felt difficult for her. "I was afraid. Afraid to let myself feel, knowing – or rather believing – it was futile. I would've never thought that someone like you could find it in themselves to love someone like me. I don't fit into your world Hermione. We're different from the color of our hair to the way we take our tea or the way we act in public. I was raised to be a Black and I became one. I am proud, I am selfish, I never admit to my mistakes and I definitely do not admit to any weaknesses I might have. I fit in with the high society of the Wizarding world without blinking an eye. But with you? Everything's new, foreign ground. And it doesn't come easy to me."
"Well, if that is what makes a Black, you definitely fell far from the tree."
Narcissa raised a single brow at Hermione's words.
"How could you be selfish? You are loyal and true and courageous. You saved me then, knowing someone could find out it was you who killed Ark. And you saved my parents, people you didn't even know from certain death, facing your own. You're as much a Gryffindor as you're a Slytherin. And that's why I love you."
"I still am all these things, Hermione. Two good deeds don't make me a hero and they definitely don't change who I am. Don't think you know me better than you do – I don't think I could handle your disappointment once you realized I was a whole different person."
"Then let me get to know you. All of you," Hermione said passionately, her eyes glowing.
"You are so beautiful and you don't even know it," Narcissa whispered, placing a small kiss on the corner of the brunette's mouth.
"I think it's you who makes me beautiful."
HGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNB
9 days after Narcissa had arrived, bloody and unconscious in Hagrid's big arms, she was well enough to be released. The ripped tissue from the splinching was finally starting to heal and the wound didn't ooze blood any longer. Still, Narcissa wasn't as relieved as she should be since leaving Hogwarts also meant leaving Hermione.
She knew that her departure would be better for both of them though. Hermione's friends were getting suspicious about her frequent visits to the hospital wing. She'd told them she was studying healing magic with Madame Pomfrey but they knew Draco's mother was still there and she'd lied to them about the blonde once before.
"Where will you go now?"
Narcissa looked up from the book she was reading in; Hermione had gotten it for her from the library. It was a rather ancient tome called 'The modern witch and her offspring' and had a short but interesting chapter on magical pregnancies she was longing to read.
Diane Granger was looking at her with a weak smile that didn't quite reach her eyes and Narcissa wondered what was up with the other woman.
"I will move into my family's house," Narcissa answered, a queasy feeling in her stomach about returning to Black Manor. Of course, she didn't let it show. "I am the youngest but since Andromeda was cast out and Bellatrix went to Azkaban, I am the new heir of the family Property and heirlooms." Azkaban was a place with no return and her sister's breakout didn't change that fact. The house had gone over into her possession the day Bellatrix was taken away. The lawyer who helped their parents with their last will couldn't have known that Bellatrix would do the impossible and break out of the Wizarding prison.
"But aren't you being persecuted?"
"I am," she said almost nonchalantly. "It doesn't matter however. The wards around Black Manor are strong – they won't even let Bellatrix pass if I don't want her to. And if they should managed to break them after all, I will floo out." Narcissa raised a brow, seeing the other woman's sincere concern. She placed a hand on her belly and smiled. "We will be fine. I promise."
Diane nodded, at least somewhat relieved. "Hermione told me that Dumbledore and the rest of the faculty know about the child. Do you… do you think they'll treat her differently? She says everything is fine but I don't think she really is and I don't know what is bothering her."
"Dumbledore as well as McGonagall and Severus came to see me two days ago, yes," Narcissa confirmed. She was still surprised that they'd even waited for so long. "They thought our daughter was his – a severe threat – so we had to tell them the truth. I'm not sure Professor Dumbledore would've stopped from hurting our child if she really was his. He seems to be the wise, grandfatherly type but I assure you, he isn't." Narcissa stopped, thinking about what could possibly be bothering Hermione. "As to Hermione. I'm not sure what's eating her but I've noticed it as well. I think it might have to do with the fact that I'm about to leave. On top of that, I wouldn't put it past Professor Trelawney to be dropping hints in class. They don't get along well because it's the only subject Hermione doesn't care for. It's a shame they made it obligatory for seventh year."
"That's the Divination teacher, isn't it?"
"The one and only."
"Well, I shall be exchanging a few words with her then."
Narcissa smirked. She would love to witness this, Sybille Trelawney at the mercy of a muggle. She didn't envy her the place on Diane Granger's hit list.
"Where will you be going?" Narcissa asked after a short pause where both women were deep in their own thoughts. "I know your house isn't... well... And you wouldn't be able to go back anyway."
"Professor Dumbledore offered us to move into one of the Order's safe houses. We would be under constant protection by two aurors."
"But?" Narcissa asked, clearly hearing the but in Diane's tone.
The slightly older woman sighed. "I don't know how I feel about being watched by two strangers 24/7. Plus, we won't be allowed or able to contact Hermione until the war is over. And it's not like we have a date on that, do we? It could be years!"
"I uhm…" Narcissa was sure she was going insane when she really thought about what she was going to suggest but if she was – so be it. She wouldn't allow them to separate Hermione and her parents from each other, no matter how noble the reasons. "I think I have a different solution."
HGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNBHGNB
"I really don't know how I feel about my parents moving in with you before I ever get the chance to," Hermione frowned but her eyes were shining with happiness. "But I really love you for what you're doing. I don't think they would've accepted Dumbledore's terms, they'd rather put their lives in danger than agreeing to not contacting me at all."
"I get it, Hermione, trust me, I do. The portraits of my parents will be a real pain once I bring two muggles into the house and introduce them as the grandparents of their future grandchild." Narcissa darkly chuckled at the thought. "I might've to threaten them with taking them down and locking them in the back of my wardrobe."
The Gryffindor laughed, wrapping her arms around Narcissa's waist. "I'll miss you, you know."
"I will miss you, too," Narcissa quietly admitted, burying her nose in Hermione's untamed hair. "But maybe," she smiled into Hermione's neck before pecking it, "Maybe we can see each other in the Shrieking Shack. Not often but maybe at least once or twice until the school break?"
"That would be great," Hermione sadly smiled at the thought of having to let go of the woman she loved, even if it would only be temporary.
"I'll write to you as often as I can, girlfriend," Narcissa grinned, softly kissing Hermione's pouting lips. "I have to go now, your parents are probably waiting."
"Wait!" Hermione called out as Narcissa was already striding towards Pomfrey's office where they would use the fireplace to floo to Black Manor. "Did you just call me 'girlfriend'?"
"I was."
"I didn't know we were, you know..."
"Last I checked that was what people used to call their significant other if they weren't married." Narcissa cheekily grinned at Hermione, knowing full well the girl had been too nervous to ask her. "Or do you not want to-"
"No! No no no! Of course," Hermione ran to her, pulling her in for another kiss. "I love you. Girlfriend," she tasted the title on her lips and was sporting a wide grin as she walked back to Gryffindor tower.
AN: I really loved everyone's reviews, so thank you for taking he time to right them. I do appreciate it even if it's only a "I love your story" ;) If my story sucks, you can obviously tell me too but please give me a reason.
So, did people react differently from what you expected? What did you think about Narcissa's generous offer? And there are still some reactions we have yet to witness, Harry and Ron...
Also, I'm sure people are curious about how our two witches even got together in the first place. You still remember that letter Hermione wrote? We'll pick up that storyline again in the next chapter.