Hey everyone, I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to update this story. I did lose the majority of it and start again. I write on my phone the majority of the time, children do not know that the delete button isn't a game.
So I will update as much as I can. Please leave me a review if you have a chance. Until next time, I will be trying to update all of my in progress stories so keep an eye out.
Chapter Three
Hermione
Today was my first full day working at Black Manor, having more than enough leave saved up I had wrangled the full ten weeks as a holiday, being able to put my full attention to this I couldn't help but feel excited.
The fact that Narcissa was injured was horrible but the selfish part of my brain was excited to have an interesting mystery. I suppose it was my own brains way of keeping Narcissa as a separate entity. For so long she had been this other worldly person, untouchable and fearsome.
Seeing her memories had shown me a whole other side to her, the drunken stupor she buried herself in following her diagnosis, the unimaginable pain that she felt everyday. The humanity that I seen in her when she was crying in the shower or telling Andi to let her go. It made the Ice Queen a little less scary.
Don't get me wrong as far as intimidation goes she has it in spades, being caught looking at her research made me feel like a school girl again being scolded by Minerva for breaking school rules.
Getting showered and dressed for the day it felt nice not to have to put on my full work robes, opting for a pair of skinny jeans, black tank top and converse aswell as my dad's university sweatshirt. Putting some coffee in my thermos I tucked my wand into its holster, mobile phone into my pocket and my bag with all my supplies and I made my way through the FLOO to My destination.
The library was quiet, not a potion brewing nor a, soul moving around. The house itself was not eerie but just had a certain desolation to it. Wasting no time I grabbed my bag and took out my notebooks and pens to set them onto one of the work desks against the back window. Taking a second to appreciate the view of the early morning sun casting a lightness to the grounds.
Knowing where to start I made my way over to the healing section, I know Andi probably already looked through everything but I needed to research myself. I already had a lot narrowed down at this point. Between St Mungos, Poppy Pomfry and Andromeda I had a better starting point for my own treatment plan because everything else has failed.
A small POP echoed through the room and Millie stood in front of me, she looked very serious for a second before a soft smile overcame her as she clicked her fingers and a coffee and cinnamon roll appeared.
"Mistress apologises for not greeting Miss Granger today. She is feeling under the weather and Millie has kept her in bed. I am available for whatever you need Miss Granger." I couldn't help but smile at the hospitable little elf. She has such a gentle nature surrounding her and I noticed it was my favourite dessert.
"Thank You Millie. Does Ms Black need any pain relief?" The little elf shook her head at me and seemed shy fora second.
"Mistress is self medicating with herbs from the garden and greenhouse." This woman has extensive gardens and I seen the massive greenhouse at the bottom of her path.
"Do you think she would let me have a look at what she has growing, I might have an idea for slowing things down." The little elf popped away and returned very quickly with a yes. Getting my notebook out I allowed the little elf to pop we down to the greenhouse doors.
" Mistress has keyed you into the wards but you cannot apparate around all alone. I can assist as needed, Mistress told you to help yourself to anything. I will be back when you call for me." I thanked the kind little elf and she popped away leaving me in front of a huge domed greenhouse.
It was the epitome of grandeur and yet I was excited to see the woman's gardening skills. As I slid the heavy door open the heat hit me, multiple smells filled the air, it was two stories this bloody greenhouse and instantly curious I made my way around.
Rare ingredients and plants aswell as some Marajuana plants of different strains from the looks of things, it made me giggle slightly. I mean Narcissa Black growing pot in her greenhouse is something I never would have believed if I hadn't seen it myself.
Picking the ingredients I needed and placing them in a conjured basket I made my way back out and seen more plants and fruits frowning all over the property. The curse is causing a magical fluctuation but her pain is physical not magical. Therefore some non magical pain methods should be required.
Turmeric, ginger, lemons and some other superfoods I can make into Smoothies for immunity and boosting health. An entire diet plan could help in prove skeletal health as I work to remove it.
I have never been very good at waiting. Even now sitting in the kitchen after getting all of my ingredients. I tinkered with soups and smoothies, tonics and superfood capsules, I was feeling brave and slowly made my way up to Narcissas bedroom.
The door was open an inch and I politely knocked and waited, soft shuffling came from inside and the there she was. Stood with that impossibly long hair of hers, not a strand out of place.
"Miss Granger. What can I do for you?" I gently lifted the tray which caused a small smile to flicker across her face.
"There are a lot of natural remedies for bone health growth and rejuvenation. I figured we could start there."She opened the door for me and allowed me entry, setting the tray down she peered into each culinary delight as if it was going to erupt all over her.
" What exactly is it? " Considering my mother could burn water I was half glad I got my culinary skills from my father. After he left the army and went into dentistry he always looked after himself.
"So I made you a Buddha bowl, plenty of calcium and antioxidants too and also a super food smoothie." She lifted the glass up and hesitantly sniffed it and must have deemed it acceptable and took a drink through the straw.
As she nodded I lifted the small glass jars with the superfood capsules I had made. Freeze drying and grinding into a powder and putting it in a capsule.
"These are tablets, they will help with inflammation and swelling. Also I hope you don't mind that I helped myself to a little bit of two strains of your marajuana plants. Northern Lights and White Window are used to treat pain in cancer patients. I have made you an oil from those two strains, this stuff will knock you in your arse so use sparingly. " She hadn't said a word throughout my whole rant and was surveying me and what I was showing her.
" Miss Granger what time did you begin working?" I glanced at my watch on my wrist and was confused but acquested.
" About six hours ago." She sat down on the edge of her bed and I had to stop myself from noticing her long luscious legs.
"You made all of this, in that time frame?" Upon my nod she just threw her head back in laughter, I think it was the most human I had ever seen her.
"Magic helped speed some of the process." She seemed to settle down somewhat and nodded.
"All these years I thought all of the attention around you was fabricated by people who were Golden Trio followers. I have never been more wrong in my life, you are extraordinary Miss Granger. Truly incredible. Your mind is a gift and I thank you for trying to help and for feeding me it seems." I nodded and stood up to give her some privacy.
" Miss Granger...for my future meals utilise Millie a little bit. She likes to help. "I nodded my head at her before smiling in a way that I hope was nicely.
"You know, you can call me Hermione, I don't think the earth will implode." She smirked again in that dangerous way she does.
"Well then, informality it is. You may call me Narcissa. Thank you Hermione." I was interrupted from saying anything else as my phone rang and I ducked out excusing myself from Narcissa and left the door in the same position I found it.
"Hey mum, how's things?" I walked down the corridor and got caught up on my parents lives which seemed a lot more fun than mine at the moment. Updating me on her yoga class and apparently my dad had started to learn how to surf.
Spending twenty minutes on the phone before telling her I had to get back to work. Sitting in the library of Black Manor I found myself unable to keep still.
My leg bounced restlessly, the ends of my pens were chewed beyond all comprehension and the parchment on my lap remained for the most part unread.
As my wand sat perched in front of me on the desk it may have been a million miles away.
All I could think about was bones, Narcissa Blacks bones, the way this curse reacts to the skeletal system is cruel. I had seen cursed wounds before, my own being just as problematic as this one that Narcissa has been struck with.
I had fought in a war, stitched up flesh, reattached limbs with trembling fingers and emergency spells. But I have never, not even once seen a curse so precise. Bellatrix had planned this somehow, she was mad but was magically brilliant.
The curse itself was so insidious in nature, like a quiet betrayal rotting her from the inside out, leaving not a drop of blood in his path. I heard footsteps, not Narcissa-too brisk. Not Draco-too feminine.
As Andromeda came around the corner I couldn't help but smile at her. A large vat of coffee and a pastry from my favourite bakery in her town. Setting it down on the table she took one look at me and shook her head.
"You didn't sleep did you?" I tried to offer a smile but it felt hollow and fake, my relationship with Andromeda was a strange one. I grew quite close to Tonks prior to the war, she was a good friend and Andromeda seemed to have stepped into the friend role for me and the mother figure for Harry.
Both of us spent quite a lot of time in her home when she was raising Teddy, I loved Andie she was probably one of my best friends which is why I agreed to do this.
"Well neither have you." The dark circles under her eyes were enough to tell she had also had many restless nights since this whole thing stsrted.
"Touche, so what have you found out?" As she handed me my coffee I took a, sip and threw my pen down on my notebook.
"From her xrays, scans and tests which were very thorough thank you for that. I can tell the point of impact wasn't actually her leg. The curse struck her in the chest but traveled to her leg marking the path for later. This wasn't a whim for Bellatrix this was something she needed. The curse was keyed to Black Family blood. She was planning something, Narcissas blood is the key and I can't figure it out." Her eyes, were so much like Bellatrix and yet the demeanour was more gentle. She nodded once, no surprise from her or dramatics, just a quiet resolve I envied.
" It is bone specific, a varient of Mors Tabescue curse, only this adaptation bypasses muscle and blood rich vessels. Now Poppy gave her extra time but this curse is patient, it's like it waiting for something." Andromeda just nodded her head at me and sat back as I picked at my croissant.
" It targets all of the calcium rich bone marrow, cartilage and spine. It is rather brilliant in a, way... "She, looked horrified for a second and her brow lifted in that same way Narcissa does and it was scary.
"It's horrific and terrifying but I have never seen a more precise curse on the battlefield. It is designed to prolong suffering, collapse the skeletal system slowly and leave the victim aware but helpless. It is really old magic deeply imbedded, I think Bellatrix has spent years modifying this curse, I just need to figure out a way to help without pulling all of her effected bones out and replacing them Terminator style."She smiled at me and took a sip of her own coffee before she closed her eyes for a split second with her mouth tightening.
" That is why I, asked your help Hermione you understand curse lore more than anyone and you understand Bellatrix curses better than anyone. Also your muggle upbringing helps you think outside the box. Do you think you can undo it?" She asked gently, I wanted to lie but I respected her too much.
"I don't know, maybe. Maybe not. I might not be able to get the curse removed fully but, I might be able to stabilise it. I just need some things from the Muggle world. I was going to reach out to my parents and see if they can help." She, looked confused for a second before taking another sip, are all these Black Women so bloody methodical?
" What all do you need? How would you parents help?" I lifted out my list and handed it to her, she blew out a breath.
" They're retired now but I think they could tell me where to find these. I need a High Energy Medical Radiation, possibly a marrow graft... Probably other things too." Andromeda just nodded and it showered she trusted me.
"I am also working on making a magical compatibility serum." Snorting lightly I couldn't help but glare at her.
"She has agreed to that?" Truthfully I only hope she doesn't hex me.
"She hasn't said no, which I am assuming is practically consent from Narcissa Black." She didn't ask me for specifics and trusted me, I couldn't help but feel like I am missing something with this. What did Bellatrix gained from Narcissas death. There has to be another connection I. Not seeing.i suppose it will come with time.
-/-/-/-/-
The following day I made my way back to the Black Library, I hadn't seen Narcissa since yesterday. Millie had informed me that Narcissa was still quite sore. Banana Muffin in hand her door opened with a creak. She was lying with her back to the door, that elegant spine curving gently beneath layers of silk and warming charms.
"Narcissa?" No reply and not a flinch, her body was practically rigid, she, must be in pain at the moment. I stepped closer to the opposite side of the bed and looked at her. Eyes closed, face pinched in discomfort and fingers wrapped tightly around the blanket.
" Narcissa, wake up." Gently touching her shoulders I was taken off guard when she practically bounced back from me and did some sort of weird Ninja move to pin me to her bed beneath her body.
"Whoa! Narcissa it's me!" Her grip instantly slackened and she fell off my body and collapsed beside me.
"I'm sorry Hermione. I am not used to people touching me." God I don't know what was more heartbreaking, the fact that she was so starved of touch she was still using her war instincts. Or the fact that no one had noticed what this woman was dealing with.
Her voice was low. Hoarse and raw as if she had been screaming. I couldn't stop myself and just lay beside her and gently touched her arm. Another flinch. God she was heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time.
"I brought some potions of my own making, they helped with the symptoms of my curse." Slowly she turned her body around and was laying on her side looking down at my own faded scar.
"I don't really like taking pain potions Hermione. They mess with my mind, make me sleep through nightmares. I need to feel some semblance of pain. I need to know it is, still there, otherwise I might forget my body exists at all." Fuck! This woman, the Malfoy Matriarch, now a ghost in her body was refusing pain relief.
Not out of pride, but necessity. Pain was the only anchor she had left. I just continued to sit and hold her hand in what I hoped was comfort.
" Let me ask you something then." She gave me the faintest hint of a smile and I had hoped she was starting to relax.
"Why did you say yes? To me as your healer. I mean we don't really know each other never spend time together so what was it about me that made you say yes?" A flicker passed across her face and then she paused.
"My sister trusts you." She finally said and I realised that a woman like Narcissa isn't usually one to sensor her words or lie to make someone feel better.
"There has to be more to it than that..." My impulsive mouth winning out against my self control.
"I admire intellect. For so long I have had to stifle my academic pursuits. Hang on Lucius arm and have no opinion. Have no skills except having children and throwing galas. You for such a young age have accomplished so much." I imagine I looked a sight with my mouth hanging opened but I think my brain short circuited.
The sarcastic smile when she was ranting about her house duties, the words were genuine and more than I ever would have gotten from her.
" What? I don't think..." I didn't even know what I wanted to say, my brain and my mouth were getting jumbled up. She sighed before taking a tin from her table and a lighter.
"Do you mind?" I shook my head at her and let her work away with whatever strain was in that joint she was smoking. I don't know why but the image of her flicking her hair over her shoulder. Fancy, posh lighter in hand, metal with a Narcissus flower etched on it.
This wasn't one of the plastic ones you buy from a petrol station, this was a gift. Taking another sip of the smoothie which seemed to be good if shd keeps going back to it.
"You're logical, competent and brilliant they say..." My head shot up to see a slight bit of mischief in those eyes.
"They? Who's they?" Taking another draw she sat back down and fiddled with her lighter in one hand and kept going through her smoke.
"My son, and others." I could see a flicker of amusement dance across her lips as she undoubtedly knew how much of an idiot ai was making myself. Not very competent being tongue tied around the most beautiful woman in the world.
"Draco...calls me brilliant." That amusement was slowly turning to smugness and I hated feeling off kilter.
"Well not in so many words but the implication was there, he was impressed with all of the new spells you have patented. Was actually considering trying to poach you." A flicker of something warm and respectful spread across my chest.
"You are wasting your time and talents in the ministry. Drowning in red tape and bureaucracy, imagine what you could do with unlimited funds. Here and now you basically have free reign to treat me like a guinea pig and you're alive." My mouth suddenly felt dry and hollow. I hadn't told anyone of my struggles with the ministry and my proposals being shut down.
The only reason they haven't fired me is because I bring alot of attention with my patents, golden trio bullshit and the fact that I was excellent at my job. At this point I have given up trying to push so hard because all I get met with is resistance.
If push come to shove and they had good enough reason, maybe illegal experimentation on a human being. They would fire me and probably make an example somehow.
"How do you even know that? I haven't told anyone I hate it. You picked up on it in a matter of days." She finished her joint and vanished it and the smell before taking another sip of the green smoothie.
"Darling, I picked up on it when I caught you snooping at my work. You're full of life and vigor and excitement for a mystery. You have been glowing with purpose and freedom as if every moment matters." Yup that did it. Feeling the heat rise up my chest and across my face I stood abruptly, incredibly hot and needing to leave because she was saying things which are causing a reaction that I usually only get with men.
"You blush when you're flustered." I need to get out of this room, god I think I might need to limit exposure. I mean technically I am her healer and she is my patient.
"I am not flustered..." She just quirked and eyebrow and I felt like she was going to pounce on me. Does she have any idea what she is doing right now? What is it about this woman, pheromones or something either way I felt like her lips looked utterly kissable. And a I am so fucked. Darling kept echoing in my head for the rest of the day, torturing my dreams.How am I going to let her die if I can't figure it out?
-That's us folks. I hope you enjoy please let me know your thoughts.
