Hey everyone! Just a small chapter today, I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and a happy New year.
Please keep the reviews and PMs coming I enjoy reading them so much. Hope you enjoy reading the next installment. Rated M as always.
Chapter Nine
Ever since Harry's birthday I had been avoiding the castle, I had been sending Minerva all of my yearly lessons I had been working on via Owl. After my last interaction with Narcissa I have been so embarrassed and have managed to avoid the castle. It seems my good fortune was going to run out now.
Today we were headed to Costa Rica to meet Harry's sister. Apparently she had been working with an Animal Charity over the summer to vaccinate animals in Central America. From what we had managed to find out she lived predominantly in the Muggle world but has had Magical education.
Harry, Severus whom surprisingly I got on very well with, Narcissa and Draco Malfoy were going together. Apparently the Malfoys were the closest thing Severus had to family and so we were Spending the next two weeks together in a Tropical Paradise.
All I had to do was just avoid being alone with her at all costs and maybe is will make it through this unscathed. I cannot be trusted not to put my foot in my mouth when it comes to that woman. The resort we were staying in had enough rooms so I didn't have to share with anyone, although Harry had requested an adjoining room because the nightmares had started filtering in again.
"Hey. You ready? Portkey leaves at two." Speak of the devil and he shall appear, I nodded to him and counted my lucky stars I was magical because I don't think I could handle the long flight we would have had to do as a muggle.
Closing up my beaded bag I couldn't help but get excited though. I had my money card from Gringotts which is sort of a type of Mastercard. It has been a long time since I have been on holiday, this would be good for Harry as well I think. Other than Australia he had never been out of the country and was like an overly excited child to see more of the world.
"OK, let's go then." I had sent my last and final Fifth year lesson plan to Minerva and I would be back a week before classes Started on Third of September. Almost everything was bought and sorted for my next year except my teaching robes. Harry and I had completed some Newts in the Ministry before we left and if all went to plan I would only have to take Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Herbology and Transfiguration. Harry would only have to do Care of Magical Creatures, Potions, Herbology and Transfiguration.
"Come on Hermione." I swear to god he is going to get bitch slapped. I grabbed my beaded bag and swung it over my shoulder and made my way out the hallways and down into the kitchen.
"Fucks sake Harry I don't wanna have to tranq you! Calm the fuck down." As I looked up from the ground whilst walking through the door of the kitchen Snape and the Malfoys stood half smirking at me.
"Colourful Granger." I glared at Draco and just accepted the cup of coffee Harry handed me. Draco had a black Satchel attached to his side and he was dressed in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. He looked nothing like I thought he would and my eyebrows must have been up to my eyebrow because he winked at me.
Severus stood in a pair of black linen trousers and a white shirt which surprised me. My eyes immediately landed on Narcissa though. She had on a linen dress which was a sort of light grey colour with blue flowers on it.
Her hair was long, like really long, her blonde tresses were down her back and I could see it sat at just above her arse. I really wanted to run my fingers through it to see if it was as soft as it looked. As her small smirk I tried to ensure my shields were up and my thoughts were not being projected.
"Listen I would leave you behind at this point if you were late." I scoff at him and shake my head at his childish excitement.
"Says the person who is always late to everything." He shook his head and glared at me before handing me my magical passport as well as all of the things we needed.
I lifted the travel wallet I used with my parents and it brought a sadness to me. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think of them and my heart will be forever broken and completely responsible for everything. Unfortunately I can't go back and change that so I just had to live with the memories I had already.
I shook myself out of it and placed all of our paperwork together before taking a bite of my French toast that Kreacher had made for us. Such a strange group we were, I mean two years ago I would have laughed in your face if you had told me about this.
"OK everyone, two minutes." I rinsed my cup and held tight to my breakfast before heading over to the small circle as the front door slammed open and who should swannie in but Blaise Zabini.
"Drake man where you at?" I glared at Draco who looked confused for a second before he was pissed. Narcissa looked disapprovingly at her son and he at least looked just as pissed as she was.
"Blaise why the fuck are you here?" He bounced into the kitchen and smiled at us all before coming over to me and plucked the French toast from my hand.
"Please, did you really think I was going to miss this? The Golden Duo, Bat of the dungeons and Malfoys! This is going to be so fucking entertaining. You need a wing man." Draco snatched the French toast from his hand and slammed it down on the plate beside me before glaring at his friend.
"When I told you of this trip, it wasn't a bloody invitation and I don't need a wingman. The last thing I need is you helping me with anything like that! You got slapped by Daphne and Tracey Davis in the same night when they found out about each other." I caught Narcissa eyes which looked entirely too amused at this conversation, at this point the vein was about to burst on Severus forehead.
"This is not entertaining, Mr Zabini. This is going to be an emotional time for Potter and I and the last thing we need is commentary from you like it's a fucking peanut gallery." Before anything else could be said the port key started to vibrate and we all grabbed onto it, Zabini included with a wink at me to which I rolled my eyes.
" You do know I am a lesbian right? Ten seconds. " He waggled his eyebrows at me as the air around us changed as Narcissa caught my eyes.
"Lesbians need wingmen right?" I didn't say anything and he held tight onto the port key and away we went. As we landed I instantly felt the rise in temperature and Harry beemed at me.
An older woman dressed in a a long floaty red dress greeted us and took the hula hoop away from us and handed us a fresh coconut with a straw in it.
"Welcome to Costa Rica. My name is Amara and I am the Magical Representative for the Consulado de Magia. I am here to escort you to Finca de Vida. Farm of Life. If you will follow me I have transport for you." We followed her outside and I could see two jeeps sitting waiting and Draco grabbed Blaise and Harry leaving me with Severus and Narcissa.
Severus walked to the front of the car leaving me to climb into the back seat with Narcissa. A small smile from her as we settled in the back seat and we were on our way to our destination.
Narcissa had a large handbag with her and as she opened it I was surprised to see her pull out a camera. It looked big and expensive and completely above my head but as we proceeded to drive further into the rainforest she started snapping the trigger a few times.
"I didn't know you were a photographer." She turned to grin at me and placed the camera on her knee.
"Well I like to take photos, I don't know if it is enough to make me a photographer." She turned the lens to me and I ducked away from her but she placed a hand to my chin and aimed it to the side. She clicked a few times and then dipped my head down.
"Look up at me." I swept my eyes up to lock into hers and I couldn't stop the smile overcoming my face. She pulled the camera away from her face and pursed her lips as she glanced at me up and down.
"Be careful little witch, I might have found my muse." She turned her attentions to the sights and I caught Severus rolling his eyes at her before I put my sunglasses on.
We drove for a while but eventually the jeep came to a stop at the top of a huge mountain. The landscape around us was gorgeous. The boys jeep stopped behind us and I was in awe.
"Hello everyone! Welcome to Finca Da Vida. My name is Jody, this is my husband Brian. We have your rooms all set up and it's five rooms correct?" Draco mentions Blaise last minute invite and she had assured him there was an empty suite.
"Now the Farm is closed to No-Maj for the next few weeks. Feel free to use your wands, we have wards in place to stop people from finding us. All meals can be provided on site but I only ask you let us know if you don't want any food that evening and are going somewhere else." Upon everyone's nod she took out a, form for everyone to fill out.
"We feature an organic, vegetarian, vegan and raw food communal kitchen. We eat directly from our own thriving, organic greenhouse and fruit orchards, and we source from local farmers. Lacey is our head chef and offers some hands on learning also." I was never a big meat lover and it didn't seem to bother anyone at that present moment.
"Your other companion has already checked in and is exploring the grounds." Other companion? When Harry booked this he didn't mention anyone else. He looked just as clueless as a throat cleared behind us.
"Did you really think you were going to swanny away to Costa Rica and I wasn't going to come. I know its rude I invited myself but we have been without each other for so long. We need togetherness at this time and if anything you Griffyndors need a buffer amongst the Slytherins." Andromeda stood in a pair of Jean shorts and a loose flowing tank top, little Teddy asleep in his buggy with an umbrella shielding him from the weather.
"Andromeda, you should have told us you were coming we could have all travelled together. When you told us about this place you said you didn't want to come." She walked up to Narcissa and hugged her before turning to us all.
"I know this is a mission to find a lost member of your family but I have missed out on so many birthdays Cissy. I'm not missing anymore." I narrowed my gaze at Narcissa who was looking anywhere but me.
"When is your birthday?" Andromeda and Severus smirked at her discomfort and realistically the small blush on her face was gorgeous.
"Saturday. I was talking to Lacey and she is going to make you a cake." Brian and Jody came over and handed us keys. They were proper keys that had a number on it. They all looked like Skeleton Keys.
"OK, Mr Snape you are in Treetop 2, Miss Granger and Mr Potter you are adjoining in the butterfly suites. Mr Malfoy and your newest guest are at Mountain 1 and Miss Black you are adjacent to your sister in treetop 1. Let us show you to your rooms." Taking us past the large communal building at the front of the property, they dropped us all off at our rooms and left us to get settled in.
"Lunch starts in one hour. Dress casual." I went into my room and it had a, direct view of the pool overlooking the mountains. It truly was a paradise, I caught something in my peripheral and I was greeted by the Blonde on her own balcony who noticed me immediately.
She really was one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. There is certain people that command attention and she was certainly one of them. After our conversation the last time she had been a frequent visitor to my dreams. They were usually pretty pleasant and very erotic but that night was one of my more terrifying dreams.
I was holding her hand and standing close to her, when I went to kiss her knuckles Bellatrix interrupted us. That's when the nightmare took over, instead of myself getting tortured it was her. Narcissa Malfoys screams will haunt me now.
"Little witch please calm down." I practically jumped out of my skin when I heard her in my head, she was leaning against her balcony railing looking directly at me. Even from here I can could tell she had a knuckle white grip in front of her. A crack of thunder sounded around us and when I looked back at her again her hands were glowing. Slowly my breathing started to slow down and I finally caught up with my mind in that moment.
"Narcissa?" She slowly released her grip on the railing and stood straight again, a small almost imperceptible nod from her made me kick myself for not putting my shields up.
"Why were your hands glowing?" I could practically hear her amusement as she smirked at me and ever so elegantly she placed her hands by her sides as if nothing was wrong.
"That is a long story." Fuck it's one step forward, six steps back with her. I mean she is the most private person I have ever met and yet she reads people's fucking minds.
"I honestly don't know if you are humouring me, making fun of me, genuinely like me or are just bored and have decided to do some sort of social experiment." It was slightly jarring to talk to her through my mind instead of using my mouth.
"Hermione, I do like you. I enjoy our conversations. I am not bored, never, not around you. Please believe little witch I am just as confused as you are about our connection." I was even more confused right now, the feeling I had been having around her was so intense I felt like I needed to dunk my head into an ice cold barrel.
"It hasn't all been in my head has it? I mean the tension between us hasn't been imaginary right?" I saw her from across the valley looking almost hurt at me. I instantly regretted this conversation and I should have just walked inside when I saw her.
"I have been married to Lucius for nearly twenty years. In that time frame I have never loathed someone as much as him. My father in law Abraxus Malfoy set up a marriage contract between us when I was just Fourteen. As soon as I graduated Hogwarts I was married, I still am married Hermione." I still don't understand what she was trying to say.
"Pureblood marriage contracts have certain stipulations in them to dominate a certain amount of control over what they would deem to be an unruly spouse. I hated Lucius and didn't want to marry him, I should have done what Andromeda did and ran away." I instantly filled with dread at what she has had to endure all of these years because of a fucking contract signed by two men.
"I don't understand our connection, I have never been with anyone sexually other than my husband because my marriage contract forbids it. I have danced on the edge of the abyss already." She must have noticed my confusion and smiled before asking to pop over. Once I nodded she disappeared and landed less than a foot in front of me.
"Whoa! Hi." She smiled at me and turned to look at the view I had from my balcony. She didn't elaborate any further but slowly she reached her hand out and threaded her fingers through my own and my heart was in my mouth.
"My marriage contract has an anti infidelity clause. I am not allowed to be intimate with anyone other than my husband. I don't know what the repercussions are of that but it would not be pleasant." I slowly nodded my head at her and I couldn't stop my fingers from tightening on her hand and I pulled her down to sit on the edge of my sun lounger.
"I am sorry if I have made you uncomfortable. It was not my intention." She shook her head and gripped tighter running soft fingertips across the back of my hand.
"You didn't Hermione. I promise. I just cannot act on what I want." This is probably the cruelest thing ever, for her to want me in the same way I want her but neither one of us being able to do anything was gut wrenching.
"This is so unfair to you. Not being able to live your life after all this time? Can't the ministry hurry it along for you?" She smiled at me and shook her head at me.
"The process is what it is I am afraid, if Lucius continues to refuse divorce papers then I am stuck. The only way they interfere is after a certain time until I am allowed to ask for Ministry help. I am the last surviving member of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Divorce is scandal and many of the ministry still believe that." She went to pull her hand away and I just shook my head and held her hand tight. We stood for the next hour until lunch and made our way down hoping for the future.
That's us folks. I will hopefully be posting a longer chapter soon. Please Review.
