Alludes to DV and non-con relations. Nothing explicit, I just wanted to make my readers aware.


Hermione's POV

He's gone. Lucius.

Just like that they both are. Draco has disappeared as well. Since their return, Draco has stuck close to his father. I think he even slept in the room with him. I can't help but find it odd. Lucius has never struck me as the doting father type.

If Lucius's plan is to diminish suspicion he's doing a poor job of execution. He's on my radar more than ever. Snooping has become a hobby of mine and from the way Ron is at my side as we look around the manor he's in full agreeance.

He's been egging me on at times of low morale.

It's been a week. No sign of her. I'm concerned. My mind has been pre-occupied with Lucius. The job. That Narcissa has temporarily taken a back seat. Or rather with Lucius's return I figured we wouldn't have time together.

I wanted to distance myself before she ended it.

We look around a first floor office. Nothing. We have found absolutely nothing. Ron sighs checking the clock.

"Hermione, what exactly are we looking for?"

I am surprised he's ready to end our little scavenger hunt.

I pause.

I've flipped through this date book twice hoping the mundane healer's appointments and laundry pick ups morph into something more. A lead. The proverbial needle in a haystack. Defeated, I fall into the leather chair.

"I don't know." Sighing I close the leather journal.

"Surely with us here he has moved things. Maybe even removed them from the house. We can pick up tomorrow." I know when to call something off. Or at least I have learned now post war. No more working to exhaustion, chasing ghosts and imaginary leads.

"Well, Hermione I'm out. I should be back in a few hours." He doesn't wait for a response before he crosses the room and exits.

I chuckle. Who would have thought Ron would be the first to leave a search. Especially of Lucius Malfoy's things.

Narcissa is on heavy on my mind. I rise heading in the direction of her room.

Narcissa's POV

The knock is faint. Delicate. I relax. He would have barged in. Not knocked.

"Narcissa? It's me."

My heart clenches. I take a look at myself in the mirror. I don't want her to see me like this.

"I'm not feeling well." My voice comes out hoarse.

The door knob jiggles. She's trying to get in. Aside from locking the door, I have done nothing else. My wand is on the vanity I could grab it. Barricade myself in but I don't. I allow her to undue the lock. To enter.

I need someone. I need her. I miss her. I hear footsteps approaching and I close my eyes.

She stops. Then a gasp.

Hermione's POV

Rage. That's the only emotion I can process right now.

I'm going to kill him.

I take in the degree of bruising on her face. It looks painful. Slowly, I come and stand directly behind her.

Narcissa's hands fly to her face. She's starting to sob.

"I'm going to make him pay for this." I hiss. She's drops her hands and now is holding my gaze in the mirror.

"No. Hermione, this is...normal. It's nothing. It's..."

Narcissa's POV

I trail off shuddering at my words. Normal. It's noting. I shudder at what my next words would have been. It's my fault. Just the thought alone is atrocious. I've truly turned into my mother.

I turn to Hermione.

"Will you hold me. I just need you to hold me."

"Ok." Her answer was simple. That's part of the reason I love her so. Everything is just so simple with her.

She helps me stand. Once I am upright she takes my hand leading me toward the bed. I stop.

"Not here."

Her eyes are full of understanding as she leads me toward the door. I try to move faster. I want to hurry and leave.

I hiss. I forgot. My thighs.

She stops. Looking at me.

Her expression has changed. It's unreadable as she lowers to her knees.

Hermione's POV

She moves slowly. Anger clouded my gaze and I didn't see at first. She's walking slightly wide leg her hand is at her lower abdomen near her...

I know the signs.

The hiss stops me.

I fall to my knees. I disassociate. I have to. I need to be impartial and I part the lower half of her robe. The once pale unblemished flesh of her thighs are covered. The bruise is a deep purple. It extends upward toward her core. Lucius did more. When I stand and look at her, she closes her eyes.

"What did Lucius do to you? Tell me everything."

Narcissa's POV

Her voice chills me. I shudder although her anger, the rage, isn't directed toward me I can't help but recoil slightly.

"He does what he always does," I sigh wrapping my arms around myself, "I don't want to talk about it."

Her expression softens but her eyes are dark. Deadly. I'm taken aback. I didn't know Granger had it in her. Hatred.

Hermione's POV

I will let it go. For now.

In silence we head toward my room. I put her to bed and climb in behind her wrapping my arm loosely around her mid section.

I sing to her. She cries the small drops of liquid falling on my hand.

Narcissa's POV

I'm not sure how long we've laid like this. Her breathing is steady. She's fallen asleep. I take this opportunity to ease myself from her arms. Quietly, I leave the room shutting the door. I hear footsteps.

"Why are you leaving Hermione's room?"

It's Mr. Weasley. I pause not bothering to turn around.

"I had something to discuss with her."

"Really?"

"Yes, really Mr. Weasley."

He's coming closer. I quickly release the doorknob and head in the direction of my own room.

"Wait."

He has rushed forward and grab my upper arm.

"Wait." He repeats himself. His tone soft. I nearly turn around but stop for fear he will see them.

"May I have a word."

I sigh and turn. Anticipating the questions. The reaction.

His mouth falls slightly agape.

"Bloody hell!"

"Mr. Weasley, please. What did you need to discuss?"

"Umm, I..." he trails off running his gaze over the bruising.

"Were you making a report? To Hermione, about..." he only waves at my face not bothering to finish.

"Don't worry yourself Mr. Weasley, occurrences like this have been quite frequent throughout my marriage. No, I was discussing other matters with Ms. Granger."

"Oh, I see. I see."

He doesn't believe me. I can tell by the way his eyes narrow and that familiar look he wears when I am around is back. Mr. Weasley would be surprised at the similarities between himself and Lucius. It's eerie.

He still has a hold of my arm.

I pull back gently expecting him to remember his has it in his grasp and release me. But he only tightens his hold. Only a little pressure. It's a power play. One I am all too familiar with. It's his subtle way of showing me who has the upper hand. That he has the power here. That if he unleashed the monster within, he could break me.

Hermione's POV

She's gone. But I hear voices outside the door they're muffled but still recognizable.

Narcissa. Ron.

I rush from the bed to the door.

"Is everything alright here?"

My gaze immediately falls to where Ron has her arm.

"Ron let her go."

"You're very protective of Mrs. Malfoy." He releases her and places his hands in his pockets.

"Saw her coming out of your room. Then I saw Mrs. Malfoy's face and became concerned. Was she making a report?"

I keep my face neutral.

"I have already explained that I wasn't making a report but discussing another matter." Narcissa cuts in. They are both watching me.

"If you don't mind Mrs. Malfoy, I'd prefer to hear that from my colleague." He raises his brow expectantly. "What was she doing in your room Hermione? It's pretty late to be discussing other matters." An allegation lingers in the air.

He has a look of disgust on his face.

"I don't have to discuss what Mrs. Malfoy and I talked about. She had questions about the investigation of the death threats and the intruder in her home."

"Hmm. Really? Without the lead auror present? That's not by the book. You should know better Hermione." He tisks. This is something he knows that I don't. Something he has yet to tell.

"Lead auror? I'm the lead here Ron. What are you talking about?"

"Well, if you would actually engage with me and perform the daily check ins. You know all of the by the book stuff you'd know that a dispensation was issued and arrived by owl the other day. Since you've been occupied, I've been in direct contact with Kingsley. I've been giving him updates, and I wrote the biweekly report."

"You did what!? Without consulting me?"

He laughed. "Yes, you heard correctly. The report was due three days ago and had I not written it then we would be before the Wizengamot right now."

I had no rebuttal. He's right. We would have been pulled from the assignment and no doubt Woods and Gingham would have been assigned.

"You've been speaking to Kingsley? Without telling me?"

"I would have told you, but ever since we've gotten here you've been hard to find. You always disappear."

Narcissa's POV

Dark irises shift to me. I grow uncomfortable. At not only the exchange but at the feeling he knows more than he's letting on.

"I've been patrolling. Gathering notes." Hermione's fumbling and from the growing smile on Mr. Weasley's face he knows it as well. I hate to admit but he does have the upper hand here.

"Really? I'd like to see these...notes."

His eyes drift toward my breast before falling lower. He re-focuses on Hermione.

"You know, so I can make comparisons. That's all."

"Ron, what is this really about?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "Just trying to get to the bottom of this. You know Narcissa's death threats. The intruder. You know, what we came here to do."

"What are you playing at Ron?"

Hermione has stepped closer now.

"Nothing. I'm just noticing patterns. Your absence. Her absence. Just trying to make sense of everything." He laughs, "it's too coincidental. What's really going on Hermione? You're in the enemy's house. The same house in which you were tortured. Branded. At yet you are at ease? Calm. Peachy, even. Cuddling up to the missus of the manor. Taking private meeting."

It's the way he lingers on the word that causes my breathing to become uneven. Mr. Weasley continues. He's goading her. From the way she's squared her shoulders I am afraid she will take the bait.

"But, if rumor is correct, you've never had an appetite for cock. Your Knockturn Alley whore isn't as discreet as you think."

He looks at me, "she likes them blonde. About your age," his focus has returned to Hermione, "Explains why you were always so frigid in school."

He's smug. It doesn't last long.

I gasp.

Her fist has collided with the side of his face.

Hermione's POV

Damn. I reacted without thinking.

I've given him what he wanted. He has cause to go to Kingsley and have me removed.

He stumbles back quickly regaining his balance. The smirk I have attempted to remove has only deepened. He dangled the carrot and I took it.

Ron doesn't bother wiping the blood slowly slinking its way from his left nostril.

"You assaulted me mate. That's a suspension."

He speaks to Narcissa, "you two have a good night."

Ron doesn't acknowledge me as he spins on his heel and heads down the hall.

Narcissa is my only focus as I grab her hand and pull her into my room.

I quickly lock the door and place a silencing charm.

"What the hell was that?"

She's angry. She has every right to be.

"I don't know. He, Ron has always pushed but never like this. Do you think he knows about us?"

Narcissa's POV

She's frantic. Pacing. It's starting to scare me. If she's frighten then I am terrified.

"He goaded you, and you fell for it."

"I know. I know."

She sounds so sad. I want to comfort her but I am not sure how.

"I have to go to Kingsley."

"And tell him what?" My nerves are rising.

She stops pacing staring at me, "the truth. I guess."

"The truth? When has the truth helped Hermione? Be sensible here."

"I know being honest in not normal for you but the truth always wins out."

"The truth always wins out? What fortune cookie did you pull that from? What are you going to tell Kingsley? 'Hey, I apologize but I was fucking a victim prior and while I was staying in her home for the past month.'"

"Yes, if it helps."

She rushing over dresser opening drawers and pulling out clothing. They're bawled up but she shoves them in her bag.

"Helps who Hermione?"

She stops and looks up at me.

I continue, "it won't help me. If you tell Kingsley word will get out and Lucius will kill me. I have already shamed him once when I lied to the Dark Lord. He will not stand for the humiliation of his wife fucking a woman. Fucking a..." I had to use this word but she has to understand. "A mudblood. He will kill me." I break down at stating this revelation aloud.

Hermione's POV

I'm not shocked. That word. One would think I would recoil at the slur. But I feel as if the shoe I was waiting to drop actually did. I rush to her. I didn't think that far. As a matter of fact I haven't thought much at all. Being here has clouded my mind. Made me overlook things. Underestimate. Become sloppy.

I had become careless and in doing so put everything at risk. Including my love's life.

"I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I...that word I hate it. And, I don't think of you that way. I don't. I never did."

"No. It's not your fault. I'm sorry. I will fix this."

Narcissa's POV

I feel awful. How could I not? She takes me in her arms and I hold on to her for dear life.

She holds me for seconds. Minutes. I'm not sure. But it's too short.

Hermione pushes me to arm's length.

"I'll talk to Kingsley. But I won't tell. Not about us. I'll fix this my love. I may be a way for a while."

She stares at me a moment then releases me.

"I love you."

Before I can respond she disapparates. I can only whisper to an empty room.

"I love you too."