Narcissa stood motionless, her arm wrapped around her middle, starring out into the blackness of the night. For so long she had been Narcissa Malfoy, wife of Lucius Malfoy, stuck in a marriage of convenience and not of love. But even still, she loved the man on a deeper level than just a husband, he was her best friend.

Love was never on the table, so to speak, with the exception of Draco. They had both known the marriage was one of an arranged type and considering the circumstance of what was happening at the time, neither saw a fitting way out of the marriage and through that, they had gained strength in each other, a mutual respect, and a relationship that always felt like more of a friendship than an actual romantic relationship.

But now, the dark lord was gone and they were free. Lucius had wanted to teach at Hogwarts, not for the students, but for Draco, to make up some time with the son that he had ultimately led down a path that he never should have taken, and beyond Draco, was Severus Snape, a man who she had become friends with and had also figured out, shared a relationship with her husband as well. She didn't mind since it brought him happiness.

She started to walk back to her bedroom, once the room where she and Lucius had shared the marital bed, and now the room that she shared with her lover whenever Lucius was at Hogwarts.

Lucius had known about the relationship after having accidentally walked in on them, lying in bed and talking like lovers would. She had jumped up, ready to protect the man and hopeful avoid a blood bath, but when Lucius smiled, she had to admit, she got a little worried.

Like a true friend, Lucius had held her as she cried, remorseful for bringing another man into their home, but Lucius continued to smile and assured her that he was just happy she had found happiness, and pretty much left it at that.

But now the situation was different. She and Dominic had been a secret item for quite a while and with the death eaters no longer around, the dark lord no longer around, they both had an itch to make it a permanent thing, the problem was how would Lucius take it?

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As Lucius and Severus waited, both were filled with confusing thoughts. One the one hand, both had pretty much decided that they were still interested in the notion of a relationship with the girl they had met so many years ago and under such strange circumstances. One the other, each man fought the same, and yet a separate battle about what was to become of the three of them.

Severus, despite knowing the relationship they had once shared, was still wary about her age. Twenty years was a big difference and even though he had known back when it all started, he felt a little odd and slightly unhinged now that he had seen the girl grow up and blossom. But that wasn't all. The other kicker of the matter was the fact that she still looked like she did twenty years ago , while time didn't stop for Lucius or himself, they had aged and grown into men who had more baggage than a flight full of passengers. It was a scary situation and he didn't find himself in many of those.

As for Lucius, he also battle the same notions as Severus, but added to that was the fact that he had been against her kind, her blood, and served a man who was a bigot in his own right. How was it ever supposed to be the same? Yes, she had known what he would become, but looking back at it; she had been tortured in his house. He had encouraged his son to try and knock the witty little mudblood off of her game so that his son could have the best grades. And to top all of that off, he was still a married man. Both men were sure that the fates were having a good laugh at the both of them.

"What time is it?" Lucius asked as he continued to scan the horizon.

Severus pulled his time piece, "11:30… it should be any time now."

Both men grew silent once again, watching and thinking, trying desperately to figure out the best way to handle everything. It was a daunting task.

Severus was the first to notice a small house elf, running so quickly that his ears were flapping through the breeze he was creating with his speed. He looked over just in time to see Lucius about to point out the same thing. She was back, she had to be.

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Hermione hit the ground with a loud thump. The spell apparently didn't come with any extras like cushioning charms.

Luckily, she didn't black out this time. She laid as still as she could, trying to get her thoughts together and to allow her inside to catch up with the speed she had just traveled – she felt like she had left them behind and were coming back as a swirl of gooey mush inside her.

"Miss?" Tibbs asked as he slowly approached the girl who had claimed him as her own, her family.

"Tibbs? Is that you?" she asked weakly, her vision still blurry and a loud ringing in her ears.

Tibbs couldn't verbally respond. He had been waiting years for this moment. Years he had sat on the sidelines wanting nothing more than a hug and a conversation from his Miss, and she was finally here, finally back to him. He took off and sprinted the last fifteen feet to her, almost knocking the rest of the wind out of her as she sat up and he practically jumped in her arms.

"Tibbs mist yous while yous was gone." He said with a shutter, wiping his eyes with his ears while always keeping one arm around her so she couldn't leave him again.

Hermione smiled and hugged the little elf, glad that one of the three people she had been anxious to see was actually anxious to see her too. She winced a little as she realized how hard she truly hit the ground, the twinge leading from her neck through her legs reminding her.

"Tibbs, I think I need to get to Poppy, I'm not feeling so hot."

Tibbs need no further instruction and with a small pop, he and Hermione were on their way to the medical wing.

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Severus and Lucius were half way to the area where they saw the little elf running when they heard the pop.

"Oh, for fucks sake!" Lucius yelled, slightly out of breath from running, "We get all the way down here just so the elf can whisk her away."

Severus chuckled but then it dawned on him. Yes, he was out of breath too, but the elves don't just apparate away, something must have been wrong.

"Lucius, I think we need to get to the hospital wing… I have a gut feeling that she is there."

Lucius looked the Severus and sighed, raising an eyebrow, "Do you think?" he added sarcastically, before sighing again, "Look, I'm sorry, I just… I want…"

"I know Lucius, I know" Severus replied, patting the blond on his back before the pair started to make their way back up to the castle.

By the time they had arrived to the hospital wing, Poppy was fluttering around like she was truly in her element, Dumbledore sat in the chair next to her bed, his hand wrapped around her smaller one, Tibbs was standing next to the bed, looking worried and protective, pacing back and forth like a soldier on guard, and Hermione was laying in the bed, still as the water without wind, looking up at the ceiling.

The two men ventured to walk closer and noticed as her eyes suddenly adjusted to their direction. They slowed their step, watching as a parade of emotions passed across her face, happiness, sadness, uncertainty, and finally, the last and most disturbing, a look of resignation.

"Hello professors." She said in a small voice, afraid of what their thoughts were, wishing she had learned to read peoples thoughts, and lastly, not ready to know.

"Ms. Granger." Snape said with a nod, second with a nod by Lucius.

"I trust she has made it back in one piece?" Lucius asked, still unsure of even his own feelings.

Dumbledore smiled, "She has had a bit of a rough trip, but will be good as new in a day or so." He replied.

Snape once again nodded, "That is good to hear, sir." He shifted uncomfortably, "Ms. Granger, I am happy to have you back, but as of the late hour, I'm afraid I must go back to my rooms as I have lessons in the morning."

And with a hurried goodbye, Severus left the wing probably a bit more quickly that he had realized, not seeing the slight glimmer of hope vanish from her eyes.

Lucius, slightly less uncomfortable with the situation, walked over to the resting girl and patted her hand. "Do rest well Ms. Granger, I hope to see you back to your normal self in the next few days."

Hermione gave Lucius a weak smile, "Thank you Professor, I hope to be back soon as well."

"Good night." He finally stated with a slight bow, following in Severus' footsteps, leaving the girl that had changed their lives, to rest and recover. But before he went to his own rooms, he needed to visit with the dear old potions professor who scurried from the room like a whipped dog with his tail between his legs. Why couldn't any of this be easy.

Hermione looked over to Dumbledore, "Sir, if you don't mind, I think I am going to go to sleep as well, it has been a long day."

Dumbledore rose, patted her hand, and started to walk away. As he got to the door, he paused and turned back to Hermione, "Things will work out how they should, these things need time."

Hermione nodded quickly before turning on her side, not sure what the next day would bring, but finding some comfort in the little elf that was now taking the chair of the headmaster, laying his head down on the bed and taking the hand of his Miss.

"Thinks will be oks miss, Tibbs knows it."