Slightly longer than normal but only just hope you enjoy it i think this chapter while have to be dedicated to two of my BIGGEST FANS
Mysterious Flower (my affectionate Cissy)
Sum Sutton
They both read my mind so well over this chapter. :)
A light atmosphere greeted the students as they abandoned the Express to grab their trunks and eagerly find their parents. Hermione spotted Ginny through the crowd, leaving Draco's side momentarily she pushed her was towards her. "Gin wait a minute," turning Ginny raised her eyebrow as Hermione reached her,
"Mione what's the matter?" Giving a quick glace over her shoulder she watched Draco scanning the moving crowd for her,
"I just wanted to say Happy Christmas and I'll see you before New Year."
"But you always spend the weeks leading up to Christmas wit us why aren't you coming this year?"
"Well I'm spending it with Draco, that' s why I'm spending the second half with you instead of my family. Your mum knows, she got my letter last week." A funny look came over Ginny's face
"Well have a good time, I've got to go," turning she continued walking towards the exit
"Gin wait, what's the matter?" But she didn't answer, a flash of annoyance spread through Hermione why was Ginny being like this? Making her way back towards Draco she righted her intense glare and prodded him in the back. He spun around and raised his fine eyebrows in surprised
"Where did you get too?"
"I just had to sort something out that's all, come on lets move where's the trunks?" Retrieving their luggage from the end of the platform Hermione and Draco headed back to the middle and waited. The platform was practically deserted by now apart from the porters and conductors there was only one other person standing beside the dark bollards near the exit. Narcissa lifted her hand signalling that she was there, smiling Draco walked over to her,
"Hello Mother how are you?" Hermione watched as he gave her a kiss on the cheek and sighed happily, love was clearly there between Draco and Narcissa.
"I'm very well Draco but I'd feel better in I wasn't so tired. Fixing up the house had really taken it out of me."
"Oh Mother why didn't you tell me I would have come home early then come and picked Hermione up today, " Narcissa gave a weary smile and shook her head,
"No it's fine darling I couldn't have allowed you to do that it's bad manners." Her eyes darted quickly to Hermione a friendly smile curved her lips then spread to her azure eyes, they're almost hypnotic Hermione thought as she returned the smile. "Right well shall we get going it's meant to snow tonight and what kind of host would I be if I let me guest caught a cold while in my care?" A faint blush crept over Hermione's cheeks she certainly didn't want to be ill but at the same time she didn't want to be a burden to Narcissa. "You can apparate can't you Hermione?" Draco cut in before she could answer
"She was the first in our year to apparate weren't you Mione?" She nodded the blush on her cheeks deepening, Narcissa gave her a surprised look
"Like me then Hermione I was also the first in my year to apparate successfully as were my sisters-" A sudden tension gripped the trio the memory of Bellatrix torturing Hermione flashed through their minds, "I'm sorry Hermione that was tactless of me." Giving a small smile she shook her head
"Don't worry Mrs Malfoy no harm done, shall we get going?" Narcissa nodded then turned but before she walked away said
"Black Hermione I'm no longer a Malfoy." Draco placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and pushed her after his mother.
Letting o of Draco's hand Hermione allowed her stomach to settle after the sidelong apparition , darkness overwhelmed her after the bright lights of platform 9¾. Slowly her eyes got accustomed to the lack of light and soon she was staring up at a sky full of sparkling stars. "Oh Draco it's beautiful, where are we?"
"We're in Yorkshire and if you think that's beautiful turn around," doing as he said she felt her jaw drop there before her stood the most imposing house she'd ever seen. It towered above her so high it looked like the chimney pots touched the star dazzled sky above. At one end light flickered through human sized windows, the smell of cooking waited through the air.
"Maybe I was wrong about the snow" said narcissi from behind the two figures, "But we will still catch our death if we stay out here, by the smell of it Frappy has made us a little light dinner best not let it go cold." Following Narcissa and Draco round he gravelled path to the bright east wing Hermione looked up at the many floors of the Black Manson and wondered what the rest of the blackened building looked like. How much had Narcissa achieved over the last couple or months?
Blackness engulfed Narcissa as the scream ripped apart her lips, Bellatrix's words echoed round her mind as horrific emotions pounded through every vein of her body. Bolting up in bed, eyes full of tears scanned the room for forgotten memories, sweat trickled down through her thick blonde hair making it damp and heavy. Tears slipped from her eyes and fell one by one onto the rumpled bedspread, Bellatrix's face played over and over in her head the plaguing sadness haunting in her eyes. A loud banging on the door startled Narcissa Draco came bursting in a worried look plastered in his face from the doorway she could see a light shinning from the tip of Hermione's wand illuminating her alert expression. "Mother what's the matter you were screaming?" Feeling a fool Narcissa stuck on a composed mask and answered
"It's fine darling it was just a dream don't worry so. Look we've woken Hermione, I'm so sorry for disturbing you, I really should take to sleeping on the other side of the house." Hermione lowered her wand so the light wasn't so dazzling,
"It's alright Ms Black I'm a light sleeper so the blizzard had already woken me up."
"Blizzard?" Narcissa asked, Hermione smiled
"You turned out to be right about the snow it started just after we went to bed, it's got to be at least a foot deep by now." Pulling back the bedspread she slipped out and crossed the room to the window opening the drapes a gasp escaped her lips,
"Oh" she breathed. Joining Narcissa by the window Hermione looked out over the sparkling white blanket and felt the ethereal moment invade her. She was standing in the Black Family Manson with Narcissa Black herself mere meters away from a winter wonderland. A snore broke the moment, glancing back both women stifled an amused snort, Draco was sitting on the bed his head resting against one of the posts snoring away contentedly. "This isn't the first time I've woken him due to my dreams," whispered Narcissa, Hermione looked up at the woman,
"Ms Balck would you like me to wake Draco and for us to leave you to go back to sleep?" Narcissa gave a tired smile and nodded
"Thank you Hermione I would be very grateful for that but leave him I'll sleep in his room for the rest of tonight, it seems silly to move him now he's already asleep."
"Ok well I'll just move him into the actual bed or he'll end up slipping off the side," taking Draco into her arms she gently slid his body under the bedspread. He gave a disgruntled grunt, rolled over and began to snore quite loudly much to Hermione's amusement.
"He doesn't usually snore that loudly he must be relaxed," whispered Narcissa from the doorway as she watched the tender gesture from the young woman. Closing the door behind her Hermione was surprised to find Narcissa still standing behind her,
"Goodnight Ms Black sleep well,"
"Sleep well Hermione see you in the morning." Quietly Narcissa made her way down the corridor and into a room at the far end leaving Hermione alone in the now dark passageway.
The next morning felt strange to Hermione, waking up in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar building with oddly enough familiar people. The snow lay untouched outside the kitchen window like a picture postcard, she sat and marvelled at it's pureness as the smiling house elf continued to load pieces of toast onto her plate. She only realised when Draco asked if she was planning on sharing or going to eat the whole loaf herself? He had teased her royally after she had blushed so deeply her face matched her red jumper. Narcissa merely smiled to herself at her son's happiness. After breakfast Draco and Hermione took a walk in the grounds of the estate, made a bewitched snowman, and got soaked through due to an unplanned snowball fight. Falling through the kitchen door laughing loudly they found Frappy cooking dinner her big ears slightly pink from standing over a boiling pan for a period of time. "Hello Frappy" Draco laughed elbowing Hermione in the side "have you seen my Mother anywhere?" The little house elf nodded
"Yes Master Balck, she is in the Basement seeing if people have stolen anything over the years." Draco snorted
"Oh yes" he mocked "I've come to steal a cobweb take me away for it is a Black's cobweb." Hermione couldn't help but laugh at his wittiness,
"Draco I'm surprised at you," the smiling face of Narcissa appeared in the doorway. "I thought I'd taught you to protect everything that is yours, even if it is a cobweb." Hearing the same wittiness from his mother Draco dissolved into fits of laughter, Hermione giggled a little as did Narcissa they all stopped though when Draco could hardly catch his breath.
"I'm soaking wet and starting to get a bit too cold for my liking I'm going to have a bath is that ok Mother?" Narcissa nodded
"Just so long as you're not in there all afternoon you have a guest to entertain remember."
"Oh" Hermione started "Ms Black don't worry I'll just read until Draco finishes." Narcissa turned her attention towards Hermione a calculating look in her eyes,
"Hermione how would you like to come and have a look at the library? I need to see if any books up there are salvageable would you like to help me?" Hermione's jaw dropped
"I'd love to Ms Black truly I would," Narcissa face broke into a satisfied grin.
"Good well then off you go Draco I'll look after Hermione from here, just make sure you do get out before dinner." Rolling his eyes he nodded and swaggered off to run his bath.
Following the straight backed figure of Narcissa up the very grand staircase Hermione watched how the candlelight bounced off her blonde hair. Even now she thought the manner in which she which she carries herself oozes sophistication, how long has she had that image drilled into her? Reaching the top they turned left down a beautiful plain boarded corridor, windows too the right looked out onto a ruined courtyard, an empty cracked fountain stood in the middle of it. Hermione stopped to look out, sensing the sudden lack of movement Narcissa turned "Hermione?" Looking up she smiled
"Sorry I was just thinking,"
"What about?" Asked Narcissa coming forward, Hermione blushed
"It doesn't matter it's none of my business."
"Please tell me, what's on your mind?" Narcissa insisted her azure eyes boring into the young woman's, Hermione averted her gaze there was something about the way Narcissa looked at her.
"Well I was just wondering why the house is so dilapidated?" Turing to look out the window just like Hermione Narcissa sighed gently,
"It's been empty for many years since my Mothers death, when people found out about Bell-" she stopped breathed and continued "my sisters following they broke in an reeked havoc to prove some point about faithfulness. Being married I had no use of it so it has remained this way ever since. Still it looked a lot worse before I started work on it." Hermione stood beside her and said slowly
"It looks beautiful Ms Black I wish I could have how it use to look," Narcissa glanced down at her.
"I'm hoping it will look as close to how it use to, but it will take time."
"Mmmmm" Hermione mused
"The library's just down here do you still want to have a loo of would you rather go back downstairs?" She shook her head vigorously
"No I still want to come with you," Hermione insisted, Narcissa smiled
"This way then, I haven't been inside it yet so I don't know what to expect."
Opening the dirty door Narcissa sighed deeply the room was covered in books, shelves hung off the dark green walls, dust danced in the light beans coming through the grime covered windows. The floor could hardly be seen under the destroyed volumes of various magical writing, pages lay crumpled in corners others half in half out of their bindings. A large ash pile stood in the middle of the room clearly when the house had been invaded someone had started a fire. "Looks like I've got my work cut out for me, are you sure you wish to help me?" She asked the stunned figure of Hermione, who merely set her jaw and nodded. "Right well first of all I think we need some light," with a flick of her wand Narcissa conjured floating candles, it appeared the chandeliers were too clogged with old wax to risk forcing new ones into the brackets. "Next I think the best way to approach this is by removing that eye saw," she pointed at the ash pile, it disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Now the trickier part if you start that end just pick up the pages that can be salvaged and place then in piles we'll deal with them later. The ones that are too far gone to be of any use put in the centre of the room, I'll start over there and meet you in the middle, ok?" Hermione nodded and picked her way over to the corner by a large grimy window sat down and began to sort through dirty pages of book she had never heard of. Although they had been brutally ripped from their binds none of them seemed to be unreadable of drawn over. Glancing up she saw Narcissa wiping her brow leaving a dirt streak across her pale skin, she smiled when the older witch sensing her gaze looked up.
"Ms Black have you noticed that even thought he pages have been torn out they are still perfectly readable?" Nacissa nodded
"I have yes. Have you found any that you have read?" She asked smiling at the dust covered Hermione
"No, not yet but then again I can't really tell having not seen the covers."
"Well that will be our next task, pick up all the ones on the floor an sorting them into categories. The shelves will be easy I hope." They continued to shift through the pages before suddenly finding their hands reaching for the same brown sheet, Hermione withdrew hers. Standing up she looked back at the semi-clean floor, dust had left prints over the floorboards.
"I think we've done quite well in such a short space of time," Narcissa nodded looking up from the floor "do you want me to start on the books?" Again Narcissa nodded,
"I'll come and work with you down that end." Moving down to where the books began both started flicking through the many hard backed volumes, word caught Hermione's eye sparking her interest and setting her mind buzzing. Piles of books began to form beside the tow figures, a contented silence lingered between them broken every so often by Hermione leaning forward and asking what word meant to which Narcissa would happily explain. The hours slipped by soon the floor was almost clear, dust was swirling thickly in the air around them. Towers of cracked spines stood at intervals around the darkening room, the candles burned quietly above the pair. Hermione was reaching the end of her side when she flicked open a faded blue cover to find elaborate writing in the front of it…
To my dearest Cissy enjoy your first year at Hogwarts. If you memorise this book I guarantee you wont be too surprised by what you find. All my love. XX
Turning the book over a small smile appeared on her lips, this book she did recognize and had read many a time. Flipping 'Hogwarts: a history' back open she held it out to Narcissa "Who gave you this Ms Black, it's lovely? It's also one of my favourite books." Taking the old book from Hermione's hand she scanned the inscription a pained expression coming over her smooth features,
"It's one of my favourites too although I haven't read it for many years now." Narcissa's voice was thick as thought she was trying not to cry
"Did your Mother give it to you?" Hermione asked carefully not wanting to sound as if she was prying, Narcissa shook her head running her elegant fingers delicately over the faded writing.
"No, it was a gift from…Bellatrix." The name seemed so much louder that how it had been spoken, feel Narcissa's pain Hermione reached out a hand and tenderly placed it over one of Narcissa's. Feeling the warmth she looked up into the dusky eyes of Hermione,
"I'm sorry Ms Black I truly am, I know…" she trailed off not sure whether or not to continue "I know you loved her very much, and clearly she loved you very much too." Tear swam before Narcissa's vision she couldn't believe the complete empathy and acquaintance this young woman had. "Thank you Hermione I appreciate your words," she sniffed taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. The sound of the door opening stopped their comforting, Draco's voice rang through the room,
"Mother Hermione dinner's ready Frappy says she's set the table even though I said I would do it." Hurriedly wiping her eyes Narcissa stood up and stepped into Draco's line of view Hermione followed carefully hiding the book on one of the shelves. Draco smiled and walked towards the pair, "Mother have you been crying?" he asked frowning at the slight pinkness of her eyes,
"No of course I haven't Draco it's just eh dust that's all come on lets not keep Frappy waiting." She answered giving him a small push towards the door, scooting back round he grabbed Hermione by the arm and began pulling her along behind him. Unfortunately he wasn't looking where he was stepping as he grinned over his shoulder at her and tripped over a pile of books. Letting go of her arm Draco feel sideways into a large bookshelf that slowly tipped back and crashed to the floor sending tremors through the whole west wing.
"Draco are you alright?" Hermione cried out peering through the deep billows of dust and debris,
"I'm alright are you alright?" Draco answered coughing
"I'm o-" a loud cracking noise stopped her mid sentence a sudden memory flashed through her mind. The sound of a chandelier falling matched the noise above, "Move to the side both of you one of the chandeliers is going to fall" she shouted into the dust and growing gloom. A loud ominous snapping sound marked the splintering of the ceiling, time sped up one moment the ceiling was breaking the next a dark shape was falling through the dust to wards her. Arms wrapped themselves around her waist and pulled backwards, the sound was deafening as the chandelier hit the floor mere meters away from her. Dirt, dust and wood Soured up her nose as the room disappeared, shutting her eyes against the attacking elements the Hermione held her breath.
A pounding against her ear made Hermione open her eyes a fraction, a pale blue blouse was underneath her cheek and a secure pair of arms were wrapped tightly around her waist and upper back. Slowly she became aware of her body position, she was half kneeling half sitting on the hard floorboards of the library, dust was still swirling around but the thickness had cleared. Her arms were pressed close to her body, she heard the pounding in her ear again and felt the soft swell of breasts against her own. A mysterious smell as heavy as Lilies but as dark as the Black Lake penetrated her senses, she could feel a pair of legs alongside hers and smooth hair against her neck. Groaning she tried to push herself away from the commodious embrace but the arms didn't loosen one hand began to rub her back as a gentle voice soothed, "Don't try to move Hermione Draco's gone to make sure the floor isn't going to give way beneath us."
"What happened?" Hermione breathed relaxing into the curve of Narcissa's figure, "All I can remember is the chandelier falling and someone pulling me out of the way."
"You fainted the moment I got you away I had to make sure you didn't hit your head, you've been unconscious for about ten minutes." Narcissa spoke quietly rubbing Hermione's back, the feeling sent a pins and needles effect up and down her spine.
"Is Draco ok?" Hermione asked trying not the think about the way Narcissa's breasts felt against her own.
"He's fine a few bruises and a little embarrassed about his clumsiness but no serious damage,"
"Are you ok?" The words were barely more than a whisper but the hand stopped and the pounding increased,
"I'm perfectly fine just a ripped skirt, it'll take a lot more than a falling chandelier to effect me so don't worry. It's yourself you need to be concerned about not me." Narcissa slowly breathed in and out taking in Hermione's light sent, gently she began to rub the young woman's back again. Shifting away from the warm body Hermione looked into Narcissa's azure eyes, she watched her pupils dilate and their colour darken,
"Thank you Ms Black." Feeling the blood and heat rushing through her body Narcissa looked away
"For what?" Hermione placed a hand on the woman's forearm Narcissa's dark blue eyes looked back into Hermione's,
"For saving me from being crushed of course."
"You do not need to thank me Hermione,"
"Ms Black…Narcissa you do not need to keep punishing yourself a good deep should never go unthanked or praised." A deep blush spread across Narcissa's cheeks at the sound of Hermione speaking her name, where her hand was touching her skin heat prickled. She was becoming increasingly aware of the way Hermione was sitting between her legs and how close she was body wise. The sound of footsteps broke through her thoughts, Draco came hurrying into the room his eyes worried,
"Hermione you're alright thank Merlin." Moving slowly away from Narcissa Hermione took Draco's out stretched hand, the abrupt removal of her body made Narcissa frown in a pained way. Standing up she placed a hand on Draco's should who was now hugging and apologizing profusely to the silent Hermione. "Draco darling maybe you should take Hermione back to her room I'll go and tell Frappy to take some dinner up to her, she needs to rest. Draco nodded and carefully led Hermione out of the ruined library grabbling all the time, glancing back a small smile curved her lips Narcissa watched her a confused look in her now azure eyes.
"Thank you" Hermione mouthed before disappearing leaving a shaking Narcissa in the dancing dust trying to control her racing heart.
Is this what you wanted?