Chapter 8 as promised to one of my lovely fans :-D hope this is to your liking. Tell me if you can find the lyrics to a song in here. . .
Her eyes flickered open. She could feel sheets against her skin, parts of her body that they never usually touch were being soothed by the fabric. The arm across her tummy was warm, her breath picked up in her chest, her other hand was linked together with the person in the bed. She knew who was beside her but still she didn't look, if she didn't see the figure she was about to leave it meant whatever had happened hadn't happened; but she couldn't help it she looked. Hermione's mouth was mere inches from her shoulder, brown locks hung down her neck and across her chest covering her pale skin. A pain erupted inside Narcissa's chest, she'd looked. Bad move. To look at the person in your bed you're acknowledging what happened between you. Carefully she raised Hermione's arm off her tummy, unlinked her fingers and slipped out the warm bed, the coldness bit her all over; the window was still open from the previous night. Gathering her clothes from the floor she tiptoed out of the room glancing back just as she left to make sure Hermione was still asleep; she was.
The moment the door closed behind Narcissa Hermione sat up, somehow she wasn't sad about the absence of the woman but accepting. She knew Narcissa would leave her, when she'd woken up before the first raise of sun left pink hues underneath the clouds she'd watched the sleeping witch and prepared herself for her departure. She lain there and thought of every possible way to ease the awkwardness between them later on that day, she'd come to her conclusion, she couldn't remember; drink what a powerful substance. She'd run her fingers tenderly over a golden strand that was touching her skin then slipped her hand into the older woman rested her arm across her tummy and fallen back to sleep knowing that Narcissa was still there even if she wouldn't be next time she awoke.
"Frappy?"
"Yes Mistress Black what can Frappy do you this morning?" Narcissa rubbed the side of her head and frowned
"A glass of water for a start please then something to eat I'm sure my son will be starving when he awakes, which is now so it appears" she turned to see a very hung-over Draco standing in the doorway his blonde hair sticking up all over the place, eyes puffy and still donned in the clothes he was wearing the night before. "Morning darling sleep well?" Narcissa suppressed a laugh, Draco merely nodded and covered a yawn. "Frappy I think you'd better make that two glasses of water and breakfast to go," the little elf nodded and trotted down the long kitchen to the sinks ran the icy water filled two glasses and brought then back to the waiting pair.
"Will eggs be ok Mistress Black?" She squeaked smiling up at the blonde woman,
"Perfect Frappy thank you, and you'd better make enough for our guest when she awakes." Hermione's name had got stuck in her throat.
"Morning everyone" came a bright voice from behind her, she tensed
"Morning Hermione" Draco yawn again.
"Headache Draco?" He nodded
"Can't remember anything past…" he stopped thinking "the drink being brought I'd say" he laughed,
"Thank goodness I'm not the only one who can't remember anything from last night." Narcissa turned
"You don't remember?" She asked a slight hint of relief tingeing her words, Hermione placed a hand against her temple
"Not past probably the 4th bottle I'd say"
"Oh…" Narcissa trailed off.
"Breakfast will be read soon Mistress Black would you like Frappy to lay the table?"
"Umm, no Frappy it's fine Draco can do that while I get glasses and drinks, Hermione sit down" she said not looking at her. Hermione sat feeling she'd made the right decision in saying she'd been so drunk she couldn't remember anything, it meant that Narcissa was free to live with the memory of their encounter and not tell her about it or approach her about it.
Breakfast was lovely and just what the three of them needed after the copious amounts of alcohol they'd consumed the night before. Draco chatted happily to Hermione, while Narcissa listened and stared off through one of the many windows of the kitchen, the snow was gleaming in the weak sunlight, the sky was clear but she knew that could change at any moment. "I'm going to go and have a bath" Draco said standing up and taking his plate to the work top "thank you Frappy it was delicious" the elf smiled and began running water in one of the deep based sinks.
"Save some water for the rest of us Draco please" Narcissa said as he gave her a quick kiss before walking out the door, she rubbed the spot where his stubble had grazed her cheek. The sound of Hermione moving made her look up,
"Ms Black I'm going to go and pack ready to leave this afternoon if that's ok?" Narcissa nodded watching the woman place her plate next to the working elf and walk out the door smiled briefly at her before disappearing from view. Did she really not remember she wondered, she herself remembered and Hermione hadn't had any more to drink then she had. I should really tell her about it she thought grimacing at the prospect of having to tell the young woman she'd taken advantage of her while intoxicated. It was odd but even though she was mostly relieved Hermione didn't remember their night of passion a small part somewhere deep inside her was desperately disappointed too. Making up her mind then and there to go and tell Hermione what had happened between them she abandoned the half eaten breakfast and left the kitchen.
Standing by the open window, her trunk open on the bed Hermione gazed out at the beautiful morning, everything was dead but alive it was complete contradiction but she didn't care for once. A knock at the door made her look round "Yes?" She wasn't surprised to see Narcissa enter and close the door securely behind her, Hermione smiled warmly at the woman Narcissa tried to smile back but it was forced. "Hello Ms Black I was-"
"Hermione I need to ask you something" Narcissa cut in, Hermione cocked an eyebrow was Narcissa going to try and explain the night before?
"Yes Ms Black what is it?" She asked walking over to the bed and picking up a few pairs of clothes to pack,
"Do you-" Narcissa swallowed "Do you really not remember anything that happened from last night?" Hermione smiled to herself time to come clean,
"Of course I remember Ms Black, you were amazing" Narcissa flushed deeply "It shouldn't have happened I know" Hermione continued turning to face the blonde woman who was staring very hard at the floor her hands gripping each other in front of herself. "If it was meant to happen it would have happened without the aid of alcohol, it didn't so it doesn't matter" Narcissa looked up incredulously how could this woman of only 18 years be so unbelievably mature?
"Hermione I'm so sorry I shouldn't have be-"
"Please don't apologize Ms Black you have no need, I'm the one who should be apologizing for making such a sceptical of myself."
"No Hermione you did nothing of the sort I…" she trailed off a silence feel between them, Hermione stepped forward
"Ms Black I said I didn't remember last night purely to save yourself the awkwardness of having to know I remembered, but you came to address the matter so can I ask you something?" Narcissa nodded Hermione moved a little closer a pair of jeans pressed against her body by her crossed arms "Do you regret it?" Narcissa 's eyes widened slightly her lips parted in surprise, Hermione looked at her patiently.
"I, I…" Narcissa breathed her heart was pounding Hermione was only a foot away, she looked down at her clasped hand, knuckles white "No" she whispered,
"Neither do I" Hermione spoke softly.
"But I should" Narcissa said desperately looking up at Hermione "You're my son's friend Hermione I should regret breaching the relationship we are meant to share, I should be so angry with myself, disgusted, something, but I don't. Hermione why don't I feel anything?" Tears were forming behind Narcissa's eyes she looked at the young woman who was staring steadily back at her a blush had appeared across her cheeks,
"I don't know Ms Black I truly don't know; for once." Narcissa shoulders dropped, she nodded
"I'll leave you to finish your packing, I'm sorry for making your last day so….uncomfortable, but I felt as if I should…." She stopped and sighed, the happiness that had been shining through her face over the past week had now vanished only to be replaced with a look of complete despair. Hermione reached forward hesitantly and rested a hand on Narcissa's shoulder she felt the older woman tense under her touch,
"Please do not worry, we shall never speak of this again, it's in the past like so much else" Narcissa turned away from her and left without a backwards glance a single tear rolling down her cheek.
Standing by the large front door Hermione waited for Draco to stop stalling and come and see her off, Narcissa hadn't come down from the third floor for hours, she hadn't been at lunch and Hermione wasn't expect her to be down in the next few minutes. "You could always stay a few more days" Draco said poking his head round the kitchen doorframe,
"Draco it's Christmas day in what three days" Hermione laughed "and I want to see my own family you know"
"But you'll come back another time wont you?" Draco asked,
"Yes alright but if I don't leave now I wont have to come back will I?"
"Ok, ok" Draco said holding up his hands in mock defeat "I'll see you next term, remember to write to me over the rest of the holiday" he wrapped his arms around Hermione pulling her close he briefly kissed her on the head
"Bye Draco, I'll see you soon, say goodbye to your mother for me and thank her for allowing me to stay." Draco nodded opened the big door carried Hermione's trunk down the stairs and watched her apparate away. From a window on the third floor Narcissa watched the figure of Hermione disappear into the evening gloom, she couldn't have stood facing the young woman again not while everything was so up in the air like it was at the moment. Turning away from the empty sight, she made her way across her parents old bedroom and down the corridor to the room Hermione had been using, it seemed so cold now her presence wasn't there, she sighed and closed the door again. Her own room seemed just as cold but maybe that was because the window had been left open,
"Strange I'm sure I didn't leave this open" she whispered to herself, turning away from the widow she noticed a parcel lying on her bed. Picking it up she frowned it was heavy and hard, peeling off the brown paper a small gasp issued from her lips. 'Hogwarts: a history' in all it's blue backed glory lay in her hands, she fingered the leathery spine, a small note slipped from between it's covers. Stooping to pick it up she cocked an eyebrow the writing was unfamiliar,
Narcissa, I could see how much this book meant to you, I've restored it to how it should look. I hope you like it Merry Christmas, Hermione.
Narcissa's heart was beating hard against her chest gently she lifted the cover and felt a choke of tears there as plain as the day she must have written it was Bellatrix's dark elaborate handwriting. "Oh Hermione" she whispered "Thank you."
Christmas came and Christmas went and soon Hermione was travelling to the Burrow for new year. The weather had taken a turn for the worse in some parts of the country the snow was so deep houses had been snowed under, she knew that around Gloucestershire it wasn't that bad especially the area she lived in but in the Forest of Dean the roads were extremely dangerous. The sound of arguing greeted Hermione as she walked through the front door of the Burrow, Ginny was brandishing a finger in Ron's face. "I'm gone for what a fortnight and all hell breaks loose" she grinned as the pair turned to her,
"Is that Hermione I hear?" Molly's voice called from the kitchen,
"Hermione? Did someone say Hermione?" Harry came striding into the kitchen
"Harry" Hermione smiled enveloping her friend in a hug, "I've missed you all so much how have you been, how's the ministry, have you been on lots of training exercises-"
"Let the man breathe Hermione" Ron said from where he was still standing. Hermione grinned
"It's so nice to be here again"
"Hermione" Molly came bustling through the group and bring her into a crushing hug,
"Hello Mrs Weasley how are you I hope you had a Happy Christmas."
"Oh it was lovely dear just lovely Bill and Flur came round for the day they are expecting a baby in July-"
"Oh Ginny why didn't you tell me?" Hermione squeaked flashing the redhead a questioning look, Ginny shrugged. "I must go and send my regards" Hermione said grabbing her trunk "Am I still in with Ginny?"
"Yes, yes dear go right on up" Hermione smiled and turned on the spot, Ginny begrudgingly followed up the many flights of stairs.
"So had fun at darling Draco's did you?" Ginny sneered as she lent against the doorframe to her room and watched Hermione scribbling a note on a piece of parchment,
"Oh Ginny grow up Draco is not the person he used to be. And yes for your information I had a lovely time" and image of Narcissa's naked body flashed through her mind, she shook her head and continued writing. Ginny didn't notice the reaction and continued in the same manner
"Oh I bet you had fun cuddling up with that scum"
"Ginny I'm not going to say it again stop insulting Draco. I was not cuddling up with him at his house, I was there as a guest and I'm insulted that you'd think I'd cheat on your brother." Ginny shrugged
"I'm sorry Mione but you've been acting so strangely this past term I have to wonder that's all," and with that she turned and left Hermione sitting on the floor.
"Harry can I talk to you please?" Hermione's voice was thick and her nose was slightly pink, clearly she'd been crying,
"Sure Hermione shall we go for a walk?" She nodded and followed him out of the house picking up their coats before they left the house, more snow had fallen and their boots made deep prints in the snow as the crossed over to the frozen pond. Night was drawing in a few tiny stars began to twinkle in the midnight blue sky, "What's the matter Hermione, have you been crying?" She nodded and sniffed
"Truthfully Harry do you think that Draco is a bad person?" Harry made a blowing sound
"Ummm, I guess not I mean I don't like the guy but his mother saved my life so it's cancelled out everything from the past few years. Why?"
"Because both Ron and Ginny think that I'm cheating on Ron with Draco and they just can't seem to accept the fact that me and him are friends good friends. He's changed and I just wish they'd stop insulting him in front of me." Harry shoved his hands deep in his pockets
"Mione, no offence or anything but it is Draco Malfoy and-"
"Black, Draco Black" Harry blinked "Narcissa's divorced Lucius and taken back her old name Black"
"Oh ok, well it's Draco Black and he's not been the nicest of people in the past is it any wonder that they are finding it hard to adjust to your choice of company?"
"It's just so typical of a Wealsey though" Hermione muttered kicking at the snow a small ball rolled picking up more flakes as it moved.
"Don't worry about Ron he'll come around and that letter he wrote before the holidays was just because he panicked, he knows deeo down that you'd never cheat on him," Hermione blushed as another image of Narcissa lying next to her in bed flashed through her memories.
"He said you agreed with him" she said raising an eyebrow at Harry,
"I didn't agree with him, you know what Ron gets like when he panics you have to say you agree with him or he'll take it personally even if you don't agree at all."
"Yes I guess so," they both lapsed into silence and looked at the sky, a pair of flashing light moved across the darkness. "Harry, can we pretend that aeroplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?" Harry frowned in confusion
"Sure Mione we can pretend but why?"
"I could really use a wish right now. That's all."
"Oh ok, then sure we can pretend as much as you like" Hermione closed he eyes and wished on the moving machine miles above them. Harry eyed his friend curiously "What are you wishing for Mione?" She opened her eyes
"I can't tell you Harry otherwise it wont come true"
"Oh right course I forgot…..Shall we go back inside?"
"Yep."
There was only a short time left before Hermione and Ginny were to return to school, although Ginny had apologized to Hermione for accusing her of cheating on her brother their friendship was still a bit stick. Ron on the other hand was just blissfully happy to have his girlfriend back, so she could wait on him hand, foot, and finger before he went to the Ministry and when he arrived back. Both Harry and Ron still had to work because they were only first year Aurors and needed to complete training, true they only worked from 9am to 2pm every day but once they completed their first year they could take the weekends off and have longer holidays. Being an Auror in Ron's words was "Bloody tiring."
"Tiring?" Hermione had said incredulously "we had school longer than the time you work, five hours is not tiresome Ronald."
"Yeah well it's more work than we had at school" Ron and replied leaning back in his chair and putting his feet up on the low coffee table Molly had thwacked him over the back of his head with a tea-towel.
"Ronald Weasley don't you start complain about hard work you've only been at the Ministry for four months just you wait until they start putting you on night shifts then you'll know what hard work is." Ron had muttered darkly about his mother putting her nose in to his business then crossed his arms and sulked for the rest of the evening before going to bed.
Harry watched Hermione carefully over the next few days she looked distant as though part of her had been left behind somewhere and she was trying to remember where. Hermione's hands although linked often with Ron's weren't exactly holding on, her fingers were limp between Ron's and her eyes were devoid of emotion whenever she smiled at him. Kissing between them looked almost painful as if she didn't really want to be on the receiving end of Ron's lips. Something was different with his friend and he couldn't fathom what it was, although she was a woman and he wasn't expected to understand the workings of the females mind, but still it left him feeling at a loss at what to do. Ron oblivious to everything went to bed every night and said without fail "She's the one Harry she's the one" of course not wanting to worry Ron he'd merely said he was happy Ron had found the perfect girl. Ginny on the other hand was not as oblivious as her brother was, the day before she was due to leave for school she'd pulled Harry to one side and revealed her concerns about Hermione being so out of sorts recently, he'd agreed. They watched her sit by the window and stare out at the lumpy snow drifts and dug out pathways, her fingers tracing her lips deep in thought.
The journey to Kings Cross was silent Ginny didn't speak to Hermione and Hermione didn't speak to Ginny, Mr Weasley drove in the front humming tunelessly to himself and ogling the muggle sights. They arrived in plenty of time to catch up with people waiting and grab the best compartments, the moment they reached the platform Ginny left Hermione and her father to run across the platform and grab Dean round the neck. "You don't think my daughter's going to end her relationship with Harry do you?" Mr Weasley asked a little hint of concern in his voice
"No Mr Weasley I don't think so, Ginny just needs her friends round her that's all I think she's afraid she'll loose them if she turns her back too long."
"Ah " Mr Weasley said bouncing awkwardly on the balls of his feet, "Well anyway Hermione it was lovely to see you and I hope you will come and stay at Easter too"
"I'd love to Mr Weasley thank you for having me, have a safe journey home." She left him standing looking up at the impressive engine reaching Ginny she tapped her on the shoulder
"You're father's going now I'm going to get on the train ok?" Ginny nodded and left to say goodbye to her father.
"Hermione" a voice called over the steadily grow of babble "Hermione" she turned a grinned at the site of Draco pushing his way through the crowd to meet her.
"Hello you how was your new year?"
"Good, a bit lonely mother has gone all quiet again but it was enjoyable we had a few drinks and saw the new year in but nothing fancy," Hermione blushed a faintly was she the reason for Narcissa's quietness?
"Is she here? Your mother?"
"Yes she's right over there" Draco pointed to the pillars at the back of the platform Narcissa was watching them, Hermione felt her heart clench in her chest "Come and say hello she did ask after you the other day but all I could say was that you were being kept very busy at the Weasley's." Hermione swallowed
"Ok" she followed him back through the crowd,
"Hello Hermione how are you?" Narcissa's voice was formal and devoid of emotion
"I'm very well thank you Ms Black how are you?" Narcissa's eyes locked with Hermione's
"I too am very well Hermione thank you for asking" Hermione could see the pain flicker behind the azure eyes. She was lying. Hermione's eyebrows twitched "Draco go and find a compartment for you and Hermione, I just need a private word alone with her." Draco nodded
"Ok I'll be back in a minute" the two women watched as he walked back towards the train,
"Hermione your gift it was….well touching and thank you, thank you so much." Hermione smiled at the blonde woman
"You're welcome I could see what it meant to you and out of all the books we restored I think that one was the most important don't you think?"
"Yes it was very important to me," Narcissa's eyes glistened
"Why are you upset?" Hermione asked moving closer,
"I can't explain that Hermione it's inappropriate" Narcissa said looking away. Feeling a sudden impulse Hermione reached out and cupped Narcissa face making her look at her,
"We agreed we'd never discuss this again, it wasn't meant to happen we both understood that." Narcissa leant into the warming touch
"I know but it's a little more complicated than that Hermione, there are parts of me that you don't understand and you added another part to me that night." Hermione blushed
"It shouldn't have happened should it?" Narcissa shook her head,
"No it shouldn't.." The whistle blew "You'd better go or it'll leave without you, tell Draco I'll see him soon," Hermione's hand slipped from Narcissa's face as she moved away, just before she disappeared through the barrier she turned and gave a sad smile. Hermione felt a wave of confusion wash over her as she turned and hurried towards the slamming doors, did Narcissa have feelings, unwanted feelings?
Well?