Hermione couldn't help but notice something was off after the two sisters returned from the rest room. Narcissa naturally took longer, but not long after sitting down she made her excuses, picking up the bill for everyone and had left. It seemed the act hadn't gone unnoticed, Andromeda had made her left after her, leaving everyone else to whisper throughout the table. She decided to owl Narcissa a couple of days later, Blaise was staying at Anita's while her family were visiting later that week meaning Hermione had the flat to herself seeing it to be a perfect opportunity to invite Narcissa for dinner.
"What's wrong" Andromeda asked holding her grandson in her arms and looking at her sister who had just entered through the green flames in her living room.
"Why do you jump to the conclusion something's wrong?" Narcissa asked shrugging her shoulders.
"We may have been separated 25 years, but I still remember that face when you use to come hide in my room from the wrath of our parents, or seeking council, so tell me whats wrong" she gave her sister a knowing look, before setting the young boy down who ran along to his new aunt hugging her knees.
"Your right, I'm falling for her"
"Oh Cissy, does she feel the same?"
"I don't know, I've never known love before, with lucious it was just expected of us"
"Has she given you any signs?"
"She's asked me to hers for dinner tomorrow night"
"Are you going?"
"I don't know I haven't replied"
"Cissy! I was the rebel one and even I know not replying an invitation is rude!" Andy looked at her younger sister in disappointment.
"Do you think I should go?"
"Do you want to?"
"Yes"
"Then you better send your reply" Andromeda answered handing her some parchment and calling for her owl.
Hermione fidgeted nervously, she glanced at the clock for the third time in several minutes. Narcissa was late. She picked up the almost empty wine glass pouring the last of the burgundy liquid down her throat. The familiar Crack of apparition could be heard outside the door, followed by a soft knock. She stood abruptly, straightening any invisible creases out of her blue dress before answering the door. She opened it to find the blonde standing in heels and a small black dress, her blonde hair pinned into a French roll.
"Hi" Hermione said shyly, realising she had spent too long staring at the blonde.
"Hi"
"Come in" Hermione gestured, smiling. She took the pale hand in her own, leading the older witch to the table that had been set ready.
"Would you like some wine?" Hermione asked picking the opened bottle from the centre of the table.
"Yes please" Narcissa took the glass gratefully, before seating herself. "I apologise for being late, I was delayed with some last minute business".
"It's not a problem, you're here now and hopefully hungry" Hermione smiled. The wine had already began to have an affect on her. She stood from the table quickly returning with two steaming bowls of pasta.
"I never knew you could cook"
"That's because I honestly can't it started as a Chicken Cordon Bleu, but disaster struck and pasta was my back up" Hermione confessed. Her kitchen in disarray a few hours earlier.
"Just as well I'm a fan of pasta" Narcissa chuckled.
"Thankyou that was delicious" Narcissa spoke standing as Hermione picked up their plates and took them to the kitchen.
"I hope your still hungry theres still dessert" Hermione shouted through as she placed the dishes back I nthe cupboard after a quick cleaning spell.
"And whats for dessert" Narcissa whispered into the brunettes ear huskily as she wrapped her arms around in a tight embrace. Hermione shivered in anticipation at the contact.
"Strawberries and cream, I hope you like that" she whispered. Her eyes closed, feeling fingers brush against her hair exposing her neck.
"Hmmm sounds good, but do you know what would make it better?"
Hermione felt her heart rate pick up. "what" she breathed. Narcissa lips now nibbling her neck.
"Eating them off of you"
Hermione twisted around connecting their lips hungrily, frantically locked In passion before they broke for air.
"My bedroom is on the left, I just need to grab the cream" Hermione breathed, grabbing the bowl of strawberries. She reached into the pantry grabbing the cream before running to her bedroom door, her eyes shining in lust, knowing she was in for a long night of fun.
"Draco, that's me ready to go" Narcissa announced standing by the doorway.
"Ok mother, have you got everything you need? I can still accompany you to the apartment I don't mind" Her son spoke, kissing her on the cheek
"Of course not, besides its ladies only this weekend, I need to make sure everything is perfect for Astoria" she turned stepping out the door and apparating on the spot.
Draco frowned at the area his mother had stood moments earlier before hesitantly closing the door. "are you ok darling" Astoria asked seeing her fiancée staring.
"I know shes hiding something" he spoke. "I still don't understand why she needed to go today"
"Draco, your mothers an adult and perfectly capable of looking after herself, maybe she just wants some alone time" she pulled him to her pecking him on the lips.
"Your right, but I'm still suspicious. so did you make plans tonight?" his attention turning back to his fiancée.
"No, I owled Hermione but she couldn't make it. I'm just going to have an early night I think." Astoria had been surprised that Hermione had owled her saying she was having quality time with Blaise, since Anita was still with her parents.
"You made it" Narcissa jumped from her loveseat as the brunette stepped through the floo
"Yes" was all Hermione could get out before lips pounced onto her own. She felt the blonde stripping her cloak and other layers of clothing as she felt herself pushed backwards and guided across the room never once breaking the kiss.
"Good" Narcissa said, kicking the door closed behind her and unzipping her dress, backing the younger witch onto the bed.
Astoria had been packing for her trip to Paris when she heard the door bell, confused as she had not been informed of any company tonight she made her way downstairs as one of the house elves answered the door.
Blaise Zabini burst through the door strutting towards the games room Draco had installed in his cellar.
"Blaise? What are you doing here?" Astoria asked looking confused.
"Boys night!" he grinned holding up a large bottle of fire whiskey. Draco came into the hallway hearing voices.
"Have you never learned to be punctual Zabini? You were due 15 minutes ago!"
Blaise grinned, knowing it would further annoy Draco's minor Obsessive compulsion to timing.
"So where's Hermione?"
"She's giving her presentation on her findings in Berlin then joining you in Paris tomorrow. Don't you remember?" Blaise shrugged before heading back towards the games room.
Draco turned towards his fianceé "you ok?"
"Yes fine, guess I just forgot" she shook her head heading back upstairs. Knowing fine well there was no meeting, she would question Hermione tomorrow about her odd behavior.
Hermione stirred when something cold appeared on her chest, and positively squirmed when she felt a warm velvet tongue licking against the cold substance. She raised her head slightly, taking in the delicious sight of Narcissa lavishly licking between her breasts. The blonde noticed the younger witch looking at her in awe, her lips twisting into a smirk as she slowly moved up the brunettes chest before taking her lips.
"What was so cold?" Hermione moaned against the blondes lips.
Narcissa pulled away holding up a small dish of freshly whipped cream.
"Breakfast arrived" she smirked placing the cream next to a jar of fresh strawberry jam.
"Hmm I guess we best not waste it then" a mischievous smile came across Hermione's face as she spoke dipping her index finger into the jam and stroking a sticky line down between her breasts as she lay back down. Narcissa quickly catching on to the brunettes intentions.
After far too much playing with food rather than eating it and a long shower washing the excess stickiness, Hermione took her leave going to meet Astoria from the port key destination while Narcissa went ahead to meet Monsieur Charron.
Astoria arrived seeing Hermione waiting and smiling in front of her. Stepping forward as she hugged her friend. Following closely behind was Astoria's older sister and gave the older sibling a civil nod, despite befriending slytherins some had still been unforgiving such as Daphne who had always been close friend of Pansy Parkinson, who to this day was still a nemesis of Hermione. "mrs Greengrass" Hermione acknowledged the eldest greengrass. The older woman gave Hermione a curt nod. "did Ms Black not see fit to meet us?" her voice void of any emotion.
"I told you mother she is meeting us with Monsieur Charron" Astoria rolled her eyes out of her mothers view answering the query.
"me and Hermione have some things to take care of first, our appointment with Monsieur Charron is at 1pm, we will meet you outside" Astoria called taking Hermione's arm and leaving her family on the sport before they could complain.
"Sometimes I don't know how I'm related to them!" Astoria giggled as she looked back at her mother and sisters shocked faces as they were unceremoniously abandoned.
"I'm glad you are yourself" Hermione chuckled.
"Why did you say we had errands? We made no plans for anything did we?" Hermione asked as they walked down the cobbled street. Astoria had spotted a small tea room and pulled Hermione into it, they took the corner table.
"No but seems you have been making different plans!" Astoria muttered behind the menu.
"Excuse me?" Hermione looked confused.
"You lied to me" Astoria said in a harsh whisper.
"What are you talking about?"
"You told me you were staying home because Blaise was cooking you dinner, only he instead marched into my house saying it was boy's night in and you were in berlin for work purposes"
Hermione, gulped. Shocked for a moment, before trying to compose her face. "I don't remember saying anything of the sort"
"You always were useless at lying Hermione, are you seeing someone?"
She said nothing.
"I thought we were friends, you know you can tell me anything, what could be so bad you could hide it, especially if it makes you happy"
"Why do you assume I am seeing someone?"
"I've never seen you look so relaxed and smiling so much in years, only love does that to someone, also that's a nice hickie on your neck"
"I can't tell you . . " Hermione whispered.
"Why? Don't you trust me?" Astoria looked hurt at her friend's reluctance.
"I know that, and I will tell you it's just not the right time"
Astoria wiped her hands over her face in frustration, letting out a slight groan.
"Merlin what's going on in the world, between Draco's constant suspicions of his mother and now your sneaking around I don't know what to think" Astoria noticed Hermione shift uncomfortably at this statement
"What, you going to tell me you're screwing Narcissa now?" Astoria joked.
She looked at Hermione who had begun to blush and yet hadn't said anything. Astoria looked at her confused at such a reaction for a second or two before he face morphed into shock at a realisation.
"Hermione, please tell me it's not"
Hermione continued to stare at the table. Astoria took a deep breath looking around before leaning in to the brunette.
"Are you fucking kidding me? How did this even happen?" trying hard to keep her voice to a whisper.
"It happened in Prague" she mumbled
"Prague! You mean. . Fuck. ." Astoria shook her head before composing her next question.
"Do you love her?"
Silence
"Hermione, do you have feelings for her?"
"I don't know, it's just so crazy, I . . . I can't explain it" Hermione whispered breaking into a sob, overwhelmed. Astoria stood up and walked around next to her friend comforting her in a hug.
"I'm sorry, it's a shock, but something like this is gonna get a reaction like that."
Narcissa sat sipping another cup of tea as she waited for the rest of the party to arrive, she had come early to find the young French assistant constantly bothering her with tea and anything else she could assist with. The small bell of the glass door rang, allowing Narcissa to sigh in relief that they could finally begin. Astoria stepped in first followed by a rather pale looking Hermione. This was not missed by Narcissa. She was about to speak up when the bell rang again, through the door with as much grace she could muster was Caris Greengrass along with her eldest daughter. By now the legendary dress Designer had stepped through into the entrance.
"Ahhh Perfecto, now which one of you is ze beautiful bride to be!" Monsieur Charron chirped his arms wide as he greeted all the women. He looked back and forth between Hermione and Astoria.
"That would be my daughter Astoria" the ice cold tone of the eldest Greengrass rang from behind.
"Ahhh magnifique!" he reached for Astoria's hands clasping them in his own and leaning forward kissing her on either cheek.
"And this is Hermione my maid of honor" Astoria announced, smirking as she heard the huffing sound from her elder sister behind her. Hermione smiled and leaned forward as she was also kissed on both cheeks. "Merci Monsieur" Hermione spoke. "Please call me Pierre!"
"And you must be ze mother of ze bride!" her placed a kiss in the stiffened hand held before him.
"Yes" she answered before pulling her hand from his grasp.
"Would you ladies like refreshments before we start? Maria! More Tea and Bring Ze Cakes too" he bellowed through to his assistant before shuffling his clients to sit before him.
"Now tell me mademoiselle, tell me your dream for your wedding and I will do my best to bring it to life!"
They spent the next hour being measured and tested with various materials, silk had been picked as the main material, for the wedding dress and brides maid dresses. Narcissa finally saw her chance to speak to Hermione as Astoria was being fussed over along with the Brides Mothers outfit which was being argued over what colour to be.
"Are you ok you look pale" Narcissa whispered in concern. Hermione jerked slightly from being startled.
Hermione looked before her to make sure everyone else was distracted before pulling Narcissa's hand and leading her down the corridor. She looked over her shoulder making sure they weren't noticed before eying up a door. She pulled it open and promptly shut them both inside. She felt around for a second before finding a switch realising they were in a restroom.
Narcissa smiled. "I don't think now is really the time to be sneaking around when my future daughter in law is only feet away, despite the thrill the thought is giving me" she whispered huskily into Hermione's ear leaning forward.
"Now's not the time Narcissa" Hermione's tone was serious.
"What's wrong?" the blonde eyed her realising something was off.
"Astoria knows about us" Hermione whispered.
"WHAT! How?!"
"Shhh!" Hermione placed her hand over the blonde's lips after her screech.
"She guessed it this morning, she knew I lied about my whereabouts last night and figured the rest out"
Narcissa pinched her nose in frustration. "SHIT, is she going to tell Draco?"
"I don't know she hasn't said anything . . . I'm sorry this is my fault" Hermione burst into tears.
"Don't cry" Narcissa reached forward place the young witch in a tight embrace and placing a kiss to her forehead.
"We'll figure it out, we have got this far, maybe it's time to take the next step" Narcissa whispered into Hermione's hair.
"What do you mean" Hermione asked looking up into blue eyes as a pale hand lovingly stroked her cheek.
"No more sneaking around, let me take you to dinner?"
"I would love to" Hermione answered smiling and brushing her lips up against the other.
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SlytherinEnigma