A/N – I want to thank people for reading and leaving reviews, and I'm pleased to see most people are enjoying the story. There's been a lot of questions about Harry's money, and some about why doesn't Hermione go back to the muggle world. All I can say about that is patience, people, patience. This story is only just beginning, and there is still plenty to come, including both of those issues, which people seem to be questioning the most.

Less than half an hour before she ran into Hermione, Narcissa Malfoy could be found sitting by the bedside of a comatose Severus Snape. After being bitten by Voldemort's snake, Nagini, during the final battle, Severus had been in a coma, only barely clinging onto life. The healers at St Mungo's were doing all they could to help him, but they weren't specialists in the area of venomous snake bites and they were rapidly reaching the limit of what they could do for him.

What Severus really needed was expert treatment, which was something Narcissa's husband, Lucius was trying to organise. The only problem was all the experts resided in foreign countries and Lucius was finding it hard to persuade the Ministry to allow him to leave the country in order to talk to these experts and persuade them to help Severus. Following the war, the entire Malfoy family had been hit with restrictions on their magic and movement abroad, and while it was preferable than a prison sentence, it was frustrating at the moment when all they wanted to do was help their friend and they had to go through so much red tape. All Narcissa could do was hope that her husband could make the Ministry see sense, and they would allow him to leave the country and find the expert that Severus so desperately needed.

"He will do it," Narcissa whispered to Severus, hoping that she was right and that her husband was able to do enough to prove to the Ministry that he had indeed turned over a new leaf.

Although to be honest, it was a vow all three of the Malfoys had made following the war. Given their experiences during the war, they were all more than willing to change their views and try a new way of life. Although Narcissa knew that of everyone she would find it the easiest to adjust. And if anyone was going to really to struggle, it would be her husband.

Both Narcissa and Lucius had been raised by staunchly pureblood parents with old fashioned ideals, but Lucius's father, Abraxas, had been even stricter than Narcissa's parents. She knew Lucius had never formed any opinion of his own in regard to muggleborns and their place in the wizarding world as growing up his father's word had been law and he had just accepted what Abraxas had taught him. And in a way it had been the same for Draco, who had grown up idolising his father and taking everything Lucius said as gospel.

But for Narcissa, she'd never really given much thought either way to muggleborns. She'd been raised to look down on muggleborns, but to be honest they had never really featured much in her thoughts. Not until she'd witnessed first-hand the perils of getting involved with one when her sister, Andromeda, had been disowned by the family. However, she'd never known if she herself would have followed in her sister's footsteps if she had fallen in love with someone her parents hadn't approved of as she'd started dating Lucius in his sixth year at Hogwarts, and since he was a respectable pureblood her parents approved of their romance and she'd never looked back. But maybe if she'd found herself in her sister's position she would have done the same thing and followed her heart, even if it meant losing her family.

"I guess we'll never know," she muttered to herself, shaking her head to rid herself of old memories and queries that could never be answered.

All Narcissa did know was that the old days were gone. Her parents were gone, Lucius's father was gone, and it was time they changed their ways and adjusted to the way the Wizarding World was now. It was time they stepped out of the dark ages, admitted their previous mistakes and opened their hearts and minds to a new way of living. To be honest it was a rather exciting thought, and while Narcissa didn't think for one minute it would be easy, she was looking forward to the challenge of turning their lives around and once again making the name of Malfoy stand for something special in their world.

"And we're going to start by helping you, Severus," Narcissa vowed as she got to her feet and brushed a gentle kiss on the sleeping wizard's forehead. "We will get you your specialist, even if I have to personally beg the Minister for his help."

Saying goodbye to Severus, Narcissa left his room and headed down to the reception on ground floor, which was where she bumped into Hermione. Narcissa recognised Hermione the second the young witch went flying into her and tumbling to the ground. However, she was surprised by how upset and shaken Hermione looked, and she was even more shocked by the leaflet she picked up for the younger woman.

With Hermione being so visibly shaken, Narcissa didn't feel right about leaving her, so she'd pressed her into joining her for a drink. She knew Hermione had only agreed to be polite, but Narcissa didn't really care. She wasn't letting the younger witch leave until she was sure she was okay.

Narcissa wasn't a huge fan of the café in St Mungo's, but since she knew the only other places nearby were muggle, and despite her newfound vow to change she hadn't ventured into the muggle world before, she settled for taking Hermione to the top floor where the café was located. Settling Hermione in a corner of the café, where they could have some privacy, Narcissa ordered them a pot of tea to share.

"You really didn't have to do this, Mrs Malfoy," Hermione said as she sipped appreciatively on her tea.

"You look distressed, and I didn't want you travelling in that state and ending up losing something," Narcissa replied. "Apparition is dangerous when the mind isn't focused, and floo travel can be perilous if you're not paying attention and you say the wrong address."

"I didn't realise much could go wrong with floo travel," Hermione admitted, thankful that she hadn't entered the floo and made a mistake, which could have easily happened in her distressed state.

"When he was younger, Draco was once stuck in a bricked up fireplace in one of my parents old houses in Ireland for an hour when he mispronounced our destination," Narcissa said, sipping delicately on the tea which wasn't a patch on what her elves could prepare at home. "Lucius and I were frantic with worry as we tried to find him. And needless to say, after that he wasn't allowed to floo on his own for some time."

Despite her current situation, Hermione couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the thought of a young Draco ending up stuck in a fireplace. She'd never really given much thought to what his childhood might have been like, but from Narcissa's anecdote the Malfoys seemed like any other family. In fact the story could well have been told be one of the Weasleys, as it was something she could picture happening to a few of them.

At the thought of the Weasleys, Hermione's smile faded and she was gripped with a sense of loss. She still wasn't used to the fact the family were no longer part of her life, and it still hurt her when she thought of them in such a casual manner, and was then reminded of their absence in her life.

"Is everything okay, dear?" Narcissa asked in concern, noting the swift change in Hermione's mood.

"Yes," Hermione answered quietly.

"Now why don't I believe you," Narcissa said with a soft smile. "I know we barely know each other, and I know that given the past this might sound mad, but you can talk to me. I promise you, anything you say to me will stay between us. I won't go gossiping about you."

"I doubt anyone would be interested in me," Hermione snorted. Initially after the final battle the press had tried to get her to talk, but when she continually refused they grew bored and hadn't bothered her in weeks.

"I'm interested," Narcissa said. "I'm very interested in what makes such a vibrant young woman so down heartened. I know you lost someone you loved, but I doubt he would have wanted you to mourn him forever. Surely he would want you to be happy."

"He would," Hermione admitted.

It still hurt to think of Harry, but she knew Narcissa was right, and she knew that Harry would want her to make a good life for herself. And for their child. However, without Harry around to support her, she was lost. Everyone had abandoned her, and she'd never felt as alone since she'd started Hogwarts and struggled to make friends.

"Although I doubt this is just about your friend," Narcissa remarked sagely. "I'm guessing it's also to do with that leaflet I picked up for you."

"Yes," Hermione whispered, feeling the tears bubbling up again as she thought about the leaflet she'd been handed by the counsellor. "I don't want to do it, but I might have no other choice but to give up my baby."

When Narcissa reached across the table for her hand and offered her comfort, Hermione found herself pouring her heart out to the older witch. She told Narcissa everything, including who the father of her unborn child was, and what the reaction of the Weasleys had been when they'd found out the truth. She also confided in Narcissa about the struggles she was having with money, and her inability to plan for the future.

"I just feel like such a failure," she confided in a whisper, wiping away the tears that had fallen as she recounted her story. "All through Hogwarts all I heard was how smart I was and what a bright future I had. Now look at me, pregnant with my best friend's child, unable to find a decent job and with so little money I'll likely have to give my baby away to do what's best for it."

"I guess our world doesn't really cater for single mothers," Narcissa admitted. A lot of the problems Hermione was facing were new to her as she'd never had the same issues in her youth as she'd never expected to work, and she'd always had Lucius by her side.

"Not when they have no money and no family," Hermione sighed.

"And is your family really lost to you?" Narcissa checked. The younger witch had briefly mentioned her parents not being around, but she hadn't gone into great detail regarding the entire situation.

"At the moment," Hermione replied. "I had hoped to be able to go over to Australia and find them, but it's not possible now. Right now, I'm on my own."

"No-one should ever be on their own," Narcissa said firmly. "And I will not let you deal with this all by yourself."

"I don't mean to be rude, but how can you help me?" Hermione asked. "It's very nice of you to give me some of your time, but it's not like you can fix things for me."

"I can't fix things," Narcissa agreed. "But I can give you something you so desperately need. Some support. I know what it's like to shoulder a heavy burden on your own, and it's not something you should have to do at your age. Please Hermione, let me help you."

"But why would you want to help me?" Hermione questioned, genuinely baffled by the offer. "I'm nothing to you."

"You're a brave young girl in need of a friend," Narcissa replied. "There is no ulterior motive here, Hermione. I just want to help you."

"Thank you," Hermione whispered, touched by what was clearly a genuine offer of friendship from Narcissa. "I need a friend right now."

"And you've got one," Narcissa said, offering the younger witch a smile. "And if I can offer you some friendly advice, don't rush into making any decisions. I know right now things seem bleak, but you never know what's around the corner. Don't make a decision in haste which you might regret at a later point."

"You mean the adoption?" Hermione queried.

"I do," Narcissa replied with a nod. "There's no rush to decide anything, Hermione. And if I may also say, I'm sure the Weasleys were not your only friends in our world. In time they're likely to come around and see how rash they're being, but in the meantime I'm sure you'll have other friends. Maybe it's time you looked some of them up."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully at the mention of her other friends. To be honest she hadn't seen anyone since Harry's funeral, but Narcissa was right, she did have other people in her life other than the Weasleys. After all, the very first friend she made in the wizarding world was Neville Longbottom, and unless Hermione had totally misjudged him, she didn't for one minute think he would turn his back on her. Maybe what she needed was to reach out to some of her other friends instead of wallowing in self-pity. It was time she got back out there and proved that there was more to her life than the Weasley family.