The Replenishment Decree

A profound silence fell as the shop door closed behind Narcissa. She looked around uncomfortably, feeling slightly out of place.

“Yes, may I help you,” a smartly dressed witch asked from behind a shining, glass display counter.

“Good morning, I’m Narcissa Black. I sent an owl yesterday requesting an appointment?”

The witch behind the counter nodded, “I received your owl with the post this morning. It’s unusual to do things that way here at Tiffany’s. Typically, wizards - or witches, in your case - just come in and look around. Is there some reason you don’t wish to do that?”

Narcissa, hands clasped behind her back, willed herself to remain confident. “I was under the impression jewelry was your area of expertise,” unfortunately, her attempt at confidence instead sounded condescending.

For a moment, it looked as though the shop employee was going to argue. Instead, she took a deep breath, inclined her head toward the back of the store, and waved her arm in that direction. “Miss Black, how about you join me at the table back here and we can discuss what you’re looking for. Then we both have a good starting off point to find exactly what you want. Yes?”

Narcissa nodded and followed her.

“Please, have a seat. My name is Katalina, pleasure to meet you, Miss Black,” she extended her hand.

Narcissa reached out and shook the hand in front of her, “Thank you, please call me Narcissa. I’m sorry for my shortness. I think I’m a bit nervous.”

Katalina smiled kindly. “Understandable. I assume, based on the announcement in Saturday’s Prophet, that you may be here looking for a ring or two?”

“I am,” Narcissa blushed. “Hermione and I have done things a bit out of order. We decided to get married before either of us proposed because of the Decree. So, now I’m shopping for an Engagement Ring.”

“Is Tiffany’s your first stop?”

Narcissa nodded before saying, “I’d prefer to purchase a ring from a local jeweller, I think it’s important to support our own London businesses whenever possible and...you are Tiffany’s, after all.”

Katalina smiled proudly, it would be great for business, especially with the Decree and all the upcoming weddings, if Narcissa Black purchased an engagement ring for Hermione Granger from Tiffany’s on Diagon Alley - she would love to outsell the flagship store on Old Bond Street.

“I’m certain we can find or make the perfect ring for your future wife here at Tiffany’s. All of our products are the highest quality in the world and our spellwork is done by Master Charmers.”

Smirking, Narcissa replied, “Katalina, there’s no need to sell me on Tiffany’s. As long as we can come up with the right piece for my Hermione, I’m going to purchase it here. I just don’t know where to begin looking at rings.”

“Alright, if you can tell me a few things about Hermione, her habits, her hand size, her finger length, her typical clothing and jewelry choices, I can come up with some general options and we can schedule another appointment in a few days for you to look through them. After you’ve narrowed down from those choices, we’ll make some more tangible decisions like cuts and settings. Does that plan work for you?”

“Yes,” Narcissa took a deep breath. “That sounds just right.”

“Let me get a bit of parchment and you start talking about Hermione. What does she like to wear? Does she prefer gold or silver? Does she wear a lot of jewelry?”

As Narcissa started talking about Hermione, Katalina scratched some notes on her parchment. After a few minutes, she had a good idea of what Hermione might like but there was likely one problem.

“Miss Black...Narcissa, will Hermione also be purchasing an engagement ring for you?”

Narcissa simply stared at Katalina.

“I apologize for the intrusive question,” the jeweler said hesitatingly, “I only ask because we want to make sure they don’t clash.”

“It wasn’t intrusive. I just haven’t a clue. I want to say I assume so, but I shouldn’t. Hermione might not even believe in engagement rings. She might find the whole thing distasteful and patriarchal. Oh, bollocks, what if this is a mistake?” Narcissa dropped her head into her hands.

Katalina’s eyebrows shot up. “Narcissa, I doubt it’s a mistake. You have some time before you have to make any final decisions. Why not use the next few days while I do this part to drop some hints around Hermione and see what she says?”

“Yes, I guess I must. Oh, I do hope she wants a ring,” Narcissa said, rising from her chair. “I have a very romantic proposal in mind,” she blushed. “Shall I wait for your owl or set an appointment?”

“I’ll have this ready by, say, Thursday morning? See you at ten?”

“Ten o’clock, Thursday morning. Thank you, Katalina, see you then,” Narcissa was off.

It always took a long moment for Harry’s eyes to adjust to the darkness inside the Owl Emporium. There were quite a few customers already inside so he and Hermione looked around as they waited.

“Do you think I should get an owl, Harry?”

“Hermione, I know Crookshanks staying at Hogwarts was tough on you but I’m not sure you’re really an owl kind of person, are you?”

“Harry! Yes, I’m sad about Crooks but I think he’ll come stay with us at the Manor when I move. The flat’s just not quite right for him, he really is part kneazle. And that has nothing to do with getting an owl. I just thought it would make for better and easier communication if I had my own,” she finished, sounding a bit cross.

“I’m sure it would make for better and easier communication...with your fiancée,” he teased.

Hermione blushed and wandered away to look at the owls in the back. She came back to Harry after a few minutes, “Oh, Harry! There’s a clutch of Spectacled Owls that are almost through the fledgling stage, they’ve said. They’re so cute! Come see!” Hermione dragged him to the back of the shop where they’d magically expanded to put in a tree for the owlets to learn from.

The two watched the Spectacled Owls practice flying for a while, laughing at their antics and commenting on the obvious cuteness. Eventually, though, they headed back to the front of the shop so Harry could speak with someone about the owl he was waiting on.

As the two walked to the front of the shop, Hermione smiled. When Harry questioned her she said it was nothing, she had just thought of Narcissa. They stepped around a large cage holding a family of Tawny Owls and found themselves faced with a nearly empty shop save for one customer at the counter. Her back was to them but there was no mistaking Narcissa Black.

“Well, yes, she does like a good rescue but I think I’d like to get her an owl that could be just hers. Is that...am I being silly?”

“No, Miss Black. There are benefits to both situations. A rescue owl can offer their new human companion true loyalty because they’ve known loss. A brand new owl can build that relationship from the start with their human companion.”

“Maybe I should ask Hermione which she would prefer before I just buy her one,” Narcissa doubted her impulse.

The clerk at the counter glanced back at Hermione and Harry and smiled, saying, “I happen to know she is quite interested in the fledgling Spectacled Owls in the back. They’re practicing flying as we speak.”

“Are they? Can I go take a peek at them?”

The man behind the counter nodded and watched Narcissa turn towards Harry and Hermione, the latter of which had an uncontainable grin on her face though she was clearly trying to keep it in. Once Narcissa was facing her, Hermione wiggled her fingers in a little wave.

“Oh! Hermione?” Narcissa smiled and stepped toward the other woman.

“Hi,” she answered with a shrug, gravitating immediately to Narcissa.

As they reached one another and their arms wrapped around each other, they pressed their foreheads together for a brief moment.

“Was this one of the things you wanted to take care of this morning?” Hermione asked.

“Actually, no, this was an impulse buy because I thought I saw a young woman who looked remarkably like you walk in here as I was on my way to attend to a previous...task,” Narcissa laughed.

“And Harry thought he saw a woman who looked remarkably like you entering Gringotts not long ago. Even when we aren’t spending the day together, we spend it together,” Hermione grinned.

They heard the clearing of a throat from nearby before Harry spoke, “Narcissa, good morning.”

“Hello, Harry,” Narcissa said letting go of Hermione and leaning over to place air kisses on Harry’s cheeks.

“Well, I feel like a proper gentleman now. Hermione, Narcissa, I must be off to the Ministry. We’ll chat later, ladies,” he squeezed Hermione’s hand and tipped his head to them as he started toward the door.

“Bye, Harry! See you tonight!”

“I started my day at the Ministry,” Narcissa said darkly, “a most unenjoyable experience.”

Harry stepped back toward the women and quietly asked after Narcissa.

“Nothing unusual. The security wizard at the wand weighing station didn’t believe a word I said. If Mafalda Hopkirk hadn’t arrived when she did, I’d still be standing there waiting, wandless, not allowed to move.”

“Oh, Narcissa,” Hermione wrapped an arm around her fiancée’s waist.

“Why are they doing this? They’re just making things worse,” Harry was disgusted. “Who was it, Narcissa?”

“Burbage? A younger man, early twenties likely.”

Harry and Hermione, wide eyed, looked at one another and quickly around them.

“See you later, Harry,” Hermione said with false cheer, encouraging her friend to leave.

Narcissa was extremely confused...and she didn’t like it one bit. “I feel as though I’ve missed something.”

“Narcissa, do you want to go window shopping with me?” Hermione smiled, forced and fake.

“Okay,” she answered, dragging out the word.

“We’ll be back to look at those Spectacled Owls tomorrow! Maybe the little one will be ready to go soon,” Hermione said kindly to the shop clerk.

“I’ll put a hold on her for you, Miss Granger.”

Once in the street, Hermione tucked her arm around Narcissa’s waist and drew the woman close to her side.

“Hermione, this is rather improper for a daytime public display.”

Hermione giggled just a bit, “Narcissa, please. It’s not 1898. We’re going to be married in three months and two weeks.”

“Tell me what I don’t understand. What do you and Harry know?”

Hermione used their closeness to speak directly - or as directly as her shorter stature would allow - into Narcissa’s ear, “Do you know who Charity Burbage is?”

“No.”

“Oh, dear,” Hermione let out a deep sigh, “Narcissa she was the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts starting our first year.”

“Okay, so her family hates me? Because my son didn’t take Muggle Studies? His father refused to allow it and I just couldn’t fight every battle so I let that one go.”

“No, Narcissa. Her son treated you that way because, as far as we can tell from reports from Snape, Charity Burbage was kidnapped by Death Eaters last July, held captive, tortured, and murdered by Voldemort before being fed to his snake Nagini on the dining room table at Malfoy Manor.”

“Oh, Merlin,” Narcissa gulped and pressed a hand to her stomach. “That is...absolutely atrocious. I think I might be sick.”

Narcissa ducked quickly into an alley and unfortunately her stomach rebelled. Hermione followed performing a quick Notice-me-not charm and keeping a supportive hand on Narcissa’s back. The older woman straightened up, still facing away, and started to turn back but quickly stopped herself, retching again.

“Narcissa, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry to have told you that. Just breathe through your nose, okay? In through your nose and out through your mouth. Slow and steady,” Hermione kept murmuring to the other woman, rubbing her back.

When Narcissa finally turned to look at Hermione, her face was decidedly pale and her eyes suspiciously red.

“No wonder,” she whispered, holding back tears, “no wonder he hates me. He should. His mother was...that happened to her in the place I called home. Hermione-”

“If what you’re about to say has anything to do with us not getting married, don’t say it. Three months and two weeks. We have a lot to do before then but first let’s get you some ginger sweets at Sugarplums.” Hermione wrapped her arms as tightly as she dared around Narcissa’s neck and held the other woman to herself. “Three months and two weeks, Narcissa, and I can’t wait.”

“Merlin knows, Hermione, I lo...lucked out with you,” Narcissa tried to calm her breathing.

“I feel the same about you, Cissa. Let’s go get you that ginger.”

They left the alley, arms around each other once more. “I know we’re supposed to be at Andromeda’s for tea in a bit but would you mind terribly getting some tea now? Cassiopeia and Calliope’s on Knockturn Alley has a really soothing Ginger Honey Tea that will help settle my stomach - and get this taste out of my mouth.”

“Of course, we can do that. Is there such a thing as too much tea?” Hermione teased, trying to lighten the mood a bit. “You know I’ve never actually shopped on Knockturn Alley.”

“I’m not all that surprised. Your parents wouldn’t know about it and they met the Weasleys rather quickly who would’ve told them to avoid it. It’s a shame, really, that the whole street has such a poor reputation with people. There are some wonderful, upstanding shop owners with delightful shops there. Cassiopeia and Calliope’s being a perfect example.”

“It’s a tea shop?”

“Mmhmm, all kinds of teas. They sell locally sourced teas but also specialty options from around the world and beautiful tea cups and strainers. Hmm,” Narcissa seemed to lose herself in thought at the end of her statement.

“Where did you just go? Are you okay?”

“Yes, darling, I’ll be okay. Just a bit queasy. I had a thought about our wedding, in fact,” she smiled.

Hermione squeezed lightly with the arm around Narcissa’s waist, “tell me, please.”

“I was just thinking that if we plan on our wedding reception going late into the night, perhaps we should supply each overnight guest with some tea from Cassiopeia and Calliope’s. It would be a lovely gesture to leave a gift bag as part of the wedding favors in each room and it would support a local business that doesn’t get much foot traffic.”

“Absolutely. That is a brilliant idea and I love it! Now explain to me how a tea shop manages to survive with no foot traffic.”

Narcissa chuckled, appreciating once more Hermione’s brain. “Advertisements and mail orders. They advertise in the Prophet and Witch Weekly and list their location as London based. They never tell potential customers they’re shop is actually on Knockturn Alley.”

“Smart...but frustrating. Let’s add it to the list,” Hermione said, only partially joking.

Rounding the corner, the air seemed cooler and the sky darker as they stepped onto Knockturn Alley. Hermione realized it was only the building facades being darker and the blackened windows but it was eerie just the same.

“We need more businesses to come in here and open up shop. All these closed storefronts will never help Knockturn Alley sales increase,” Hermione said.

“You’re very right, dear, but most potential business owners have no interest in opening on such an infamous street. It would need quite the overhaul to make that happen.”

“Well, look, you still have the tea shop and Twilfitt and Tattings. And over there is Borgin and Burke’s, right?”

“Mmhmm,” Narcissa nodded, noting to herself that the few shops she had a hold in were all open.

“What else survived? Is that a small apothecary shop? That’s good, right?”

“Well,” Narcissa leaned over to look like she was pressing a kiss to Hermione’s ear and whispered, “they mostly carry illicit materials and illegal potions. They’re only still open because the old hags on the Wizengamot buy their face creams there - half the old wizards, too.”

Hermione chuckled, “Narcissa!”

“Knockturn Alley will never be able to completely do away with its poor reputation because there are shops here that people will always associate with the seedier side. The most used wizarding undertaker is here, the tattoo shop, the necromancy shop is still doing a lot of business, and the prophesier is here. Interestingly enough, I found out today that I have a business holding on a few of these shops.”

“What? Which ones? That’s...I have so many questions!”

“I know, I didn’t expect it either. Lucius liked to buy into businesses that were struggling and encourage people to shop there. It was kind of a game to him, I think? Some of those holdings have been transferred over to me. Like Twilfitt and Tattings, for example, and, oddly enough, Markus Scarrs Indelible Tattoos. I think, if I read correctly, I’ve just been bought out of a few shares in the White Wyvern Pub over there.”

Narcissa reached out with her free arm and pulled open the door to the little tea shop, hoping the women she had come to appreciate were still there - and still brewing the ginger tea that would settle her stomach upset. She and Hermione had barely stepped inside when they were noticed.

“Oh, Morgana! Cass get out here!” the purple-haired woman at the counter shouted.

“What? What is it?” they heard from the back followed by racing footsteps.

“Narcissa Malfoy in the flesh!” the first woman said, clearly happy. She came around the counter, arms outstretched toward Narcissa who smiled shakily and released Hermione to embrace this woman.

“Shut it! Narcissa? It’s been over a year! Oh, Morgana’s tits, it is you!” she too reached out and wrapped her arms around Narcissa. The three stood hugging for a long moment.

When they stepped back, all three women had tears on their cheeks. Narcissa reached blindly for Hermione and pulled the younger woman almost completely in front of herself. She wrapped her left hand around Hermione’s hips. “Cass, Cal, it’s Narcissa Black now. I’d like to introduce you to my fiancée, Hermione Granger. Hermione, darling, the one with no sense of proper hair colour is Cassandra and the foul-mouthed one is Callista.”

“Fiancée?” the shopkeepers asked in unison.

“Pleasure to meet you both,” Hermione said politely.

“I think this calls for some tea. Close the shop, Cass, I’ll set the water to boiling. Gotu kola with lemon balm, Narcissa?”

“Actually, I’d like some ginger honey tea if you have some.”

“The Mum’s Tea?” Callee asked, staring hard at Narcissa.

“Yes but neither of us are pregnant, I assure you. I just have a bit of a sour stomach.”

Callista nodded and started pulling out various assortments of leaves and spices, cups, saucers, and strainers.

Cass put out a sign reading “Be Back Soon”, closed the curtains, and pulled a cozy table down from the wall.

“Brilliant,” remarked Hermione, “I like the way you utilize your space.”

Cass simply nodded in response. Hermione got the point, her opinion here was unappreciated.

“It is amazing, isn’t it, darling, what creative shop owners can do with a small location?”

Hermione may have been unappreciated by Cass and Cal but she knew Narcissa didn’t feel that way, and that meant a lot more to her in the end. She nodded, smiling up at the taller woman.

“Earl grey,” Cass snickered derisively from behind the counter.

Rolling her eyes, Cal countered with an equally snarky, “chamomile.”

When Hermione looked questioningly at Narcissa, she explained that the women were trying to figure out what kind of tea Hermione would drink, earl grey and chamomile being bland and typical. Narcissa then spoke a little louder, “I think it’s rather immature of them, of course, as they’ve hardly met you and you haven't even had a simple conversation with them yet. I would hope any friends of mine would treat my fiancée with whom I am going to spend the rest of my life with more kindness and respect than that.”

Cass groaned. Cal chuckled.

“Sorry! Hermione Granger of the Golden Trio, what kind of tea would you like?” Cass was a funny one. “See, Narcissa, we do know who she is.”

Hermione snorted, “I tend to like bolder flavors and nothing too flowery. I think I’d actually like to try the ginger honey tea, if that’s not too strange. If it’s as good as I’m hoping I’ll buy some to bring home. Harry loves tea.” She rolled her eyes.

“Two ginger honeys coming up.”

“You know, with the stress of apparently planning a wedding, you might want to take some of the Gotu kola with lemon balm, Narcissa. That’s always done you well. And if you like ginger, Hermione, you might want to think about some of our own Easy Tea. It’s a blend we created, mix it with a bit of honey and it should help ease anxiety and reduce stress effects,” Cal offered sincerely.

“I will, thank you,” Narcissa answered immediately.

Hermione smiled and said the same.

Finally, all four women were seated at the table with cups of tea and a plate of ginger snaps.

“You’re divorced?” Cass asked bluntly.

“My former marriage was actually dissolved. It’s different from a divorce when it comes to pureblood marriage contracts. A divorce would have still left me legally bound to Lucius in some archaic way. The dissolution severs all ties so he has no claim on me, my properties, my finances, or anything I might do in the future. And the same goes for him. I have no claim on any of his properties or finances - and I don’t want them. At all.”

“You’re engaged?” Cal asked, equally bluntly.

“We are,” answered Hermione, smiling and reaching a hand out for Narcissa’s.

“We’re going to be wed on the Winter Solstice. Three months and two weeks from today.”

“We have so much to do but there’s no one I’d rather do it with than Narcissa.”

“Though it’s not the way either of us would have foreseen our engagement or wedding happening, it’s actually working well for us now. We’re happy, I think.”

“Definitely happy,” Hermione finished.

Cass and Cal had been looking back and forth between them as the two spoke but Hermione and Narcissa had only had eyes for one another.

“On second thought, Narcissa, I think the Gotu kola might be a little strong for you now. You’re practically a different person than you were five years ago. Wedding planning might be stressful but this is nothing like the stress you used to have.”

“Thanks, Cass,” Narcissa smiled at her friend, feeling her stomach start to settle with only a few sips.

“Honestly, Narcissa, you look a decade younger and a lifetime more joyful. I’m so happy for you. What does Draco think of all this?”

“Oh, Cal, that was so sweet,” Narcissa blushed.

“Draco is pretty happy himself lately. He’s going to law school this year and living in Black Manor with Narcissa. He’s doing really well,” Hermione answered.

Cassandra snorted, “I don’t see how that can be true seeing how he was assigned to marry Margaret Runcorn.”

“Assigned, yes. Haven’t you read the papers?” Narcissa asked.

Cassandra and Callista shared a look. “We actually cancelled all of our subscriptions to the daily papers and even Witch Weekly.”

Narcissa worried it was because the shop wasn’t doing well and they couldn’t afford it, “You know I’ve always loved this shop. If things are slow, I’d be honored to buy in and be a silent partner.”

“Oh, love,” Cal said, “we didn’t cancel the papers because of money. When the Decree came out last week we decided right away that we didn’t want to read about our own futures in the paper. If the Ministry is going to do something so egregious as determine our own fates, they’re going to have to let us know personally.”

“In fact,” Cass narrowed her eyes at Hermione, “I’m fairly certain I remember your name being in the very first article the Prophet printed about the Decree. You were assigned a spouse and it wasn’t Narcissa. What’s going on here?”

Hermione took a deep breath and nodded once before beginning to speak, “you’re right, I was assigned to marry Ron Weasley because the Ministry was under the impression that he and I were already dating. We weren’t. Narcissa was privately informed via Owl Post from the Ministry that was assigned to re-wed Lucius Malfoy which is absolutely reprehensible and whomever made that decision ought to be fired.” Hermione took a deep breath and a sip of her tea, clearly agitated by the Ministry’s lack of compassion for what Narcissa had experienced and survived at the hands of Lucius.

“It’s okay, darling,” Narcissa pressed a kiss to the back of Hermione’s hand, “I’ll take it from here. The two of us went to the Ministry the next morning and requested that the wizard in the Muggle Registration Commission office who was assigning pairs simply re-assign us to one another based on our existing relationship.”

“Well, it seems reasonable when you say it that way,” Callista shrugged.

Narcissa and Hermione smirked.

“So, you’re all caught up with me. Now I want to know what’s going on with you two? Any handsome lads in your lives lately?” Narcissa questioned her friends, “I’m not judgy, of course, maybe you’ve switched teams! Any beautiful ladies knocking down the door?”

Laughing, Cal answered for them both, “No one here’s switching teams, mate. Unlike you!”

“Okay, okay,” Narcissa laughed as well, “then answer about the handsome lads! I’m sure there’s a rotating door of tattooed tea drinkers coming through!”

“Not for me,” Cassandra answered, hiding a small smile behind her large teacup.

“Oh? Do tell,” Narcissa pulled one leg up under her on her chair, getting comfortable.

Callista elbowed Cass and joined in with a tease.

Cheeks burning red, Cass laughed loudly and shushed the others, “I will, I will! Okay, he’s just a guy I met.”

“Yeah,” Cal said, “a tattooed tea drinker!”

“No,” Narcissa cackled.

“Yes, yes, okay! He’s got the most insanely gorgeous tattoos and we met in China sampling ginger,” she dropped her head onto her arms. “It’s so cliche! I’m embarrassed!”

“That’s adorable,” Hermione cooed, “you’re into the same things.”

“We really are; it’s almost uncanny. He owns a tea shop up in Scotland, in Aberdeen. He travels around sampling spices the same way I do. He loves his tattoos, same as me. And his favorite book is Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling! The very same book I carry around with me!”

Hermione and Narcissa glanced at one another, both hoping their thoughts were the same.

“But, Cassandra,” Hermione said, “if you really like this bloke, what will you do if the Ministry assigns you to marry someone else?”

“That is exactly what I keep asking,” Cal agreed. “It was rough ‘round here for a while. The darkness really settled in and no one was acting themselves. We closed the doors and only sent out our stuff through the Post, made the shop look abandoned. It was dark times, Narcissa, dark times. So, if you have a chance at happiness now, you grab it, right?”

“Right,” Narcissa agreed, grasping Callista’s hand across the table. “That’s what we’re doing. Grabbing happiness.”

“Well, I supposed if I’m assigned to someone, I’ll just talk to him about it. Whit’s a good guy but I don’t want to rush into anything if we don’t have to. We’ve only just met a few months ago.”

Narcissa agreed that Cassandra’s plan was a sound one and made a mental note to discuss it with Hermione later when they were alone.

The foursome continued their chat about Whit and Cass and eventually the subject turned to Callista. She just wasn’t ready to date again.

“I don’t think I’ve settled back into feeling safe in my life yet again. The last two years have been pretty hairy, the last year was terrifying, even you were so different when I saw you last summer, Narcissa.”

Hermione squeezed Narcissa’s hand in her own, knowing it was quite likely not Narcissa who Cassandra had seen.

“Yeah, that was the day we decided to close up the storefront. We figured, if you had really gone to that side of things, it wouldn’t be safe here anymore,” Cal told them.

Narcissa cleared her throat, trying to keep the tears from falling.

“Um, I guess you two don’t know this yet, really no one does, uh, but clearly Narcissa trusts you. Last summer, you didn’t see Narcissa. We can’t be sure who it was you had contact with but it appears that the Polyjuice Potion at Malfoy Manor was used frequently to make it seem as if Narcissa was still out and about with Draco, Lucius, and Bellatrix. She was, in fact, being held captive in the Manor. Not in the dungeon with the prisoners but a prisoner nonetheless.”

“Oh, thank Merlin,” Cassandra dropped her head back.

“Seriously, I feel so much better right now. Whoever it was, they were so rude to us and they were with Draco so it was very odd. They went into Twilfitt and Tattings.”

“Bellatrix,” Hermione and Narcissa said together. Hermione continued, “I think Lucius was still in Azkaban at that point.”

“My friends,” Narcissa reached both hands out to grasp Cass and Cal, “I’m sorry but I’m afraid Hermione and I really do have to be going. We have another appointment this afternoon and we’re practically late as it is.”

“Already? No, Narcissa, we’ve missed you,” Cassandra jumped up and moved around the table to hug her friend.

“Yeah, and you guys haven’t told us anything about your wedding yet!”

“We don’t want to spoil any details until we can sit down together and tell you everything we already have planned. Let’s owl each other and set up a dinner. You can come to Black Manor, it’ll be lovely,” Narcissa coerced them into agreeing.

“Tonight.” Cal pouted.

Laughing once more, Narcissa regretfully declined. “I promise it’ll be soon but Hermione and I truly have so much planning and organising to be done we just can’t make it tonight. I swear, we’ll owl you and get together as soon as we can for dinner.”

“We’ll hold you to it!”

“I know you will,” Narcissa smiled, patting Cass’ cheek.

“Just one sec, we’ll get your tea ready to go,” Callista said, hurrying to the back of the shop, shouting as she went, “I’m not going to give you the Gotu, Ciss, you don’t need it anymore. I’ll send you both with some simple ginger honey tea, the Mum’s Tea you just had, and the Easy Tea I mentioned to your girl earlier. That should do you right. Do you need anything to make it with, cub?”

When no answer was forthcoming, Narcissa nudged Hermione, “she means you, darling. Do you need any strainers or measuring spoons?”

Hermione blushed and whispered into Narcissa’s ear, “I’m sorry, this is going to sound silly but it feels a little foolish to buy these things when you have them and we’re going to move in together in a few months.”

Narcissa kissed the lips so near her face and answered Hermione, “I adore your pragmatism but think of it this way, only buy the things Harry doesn’t have and then when you move into Black Manor, or wherever we decide to live, you can give him all the tea accoutrements you purchase today. Trust me, my darling, we can afford it.”

Hermione grinned, “of course, that makes perfect sense.” She answered Callista loudly, “I’ll need to purchase good storage containers for them and a reliable measuring scoop. Also, a few small strainers, say four, in case we’re making different cups of tea at the same time instead of a pot. Anything I’m forgetting?”

“I assume you have a kettle?” Cass teased.

“We do and Harry managed to salvage his parents' teapot and strainer.”

“Harry Potter?”

Hermione nodded.

“So you really do live with him, eh?”

“Yep, he’s practically my brother. I can’t imagine life without Harry as one of my dearest friends.”

Narcissa smiled at Hermione’s response and stepped forward to the counter to collect their items and arrange payment.

“Foolish of me, I was at Gringotts this morning and didn’t take out any gold. Is it still okay for you to send the bill over there for payment or would you prefer I go get some from my vault and pay now?” Narcissa said.

“We can send the bill to your account manager at Gringotts. Is it still Garnjee?”

“Yes, I was happy to find him still handling things there,” Narcissa nodded.

“If you’d rather, truly, I have enough galleons on me today,” Hermione offered.

Callista smiled at Hermione, “Thank you but it’s no matter. It’s just as easy for us to send a bill to Gringotts, you’re the only people who’ve stepped foot in here besides us in the last two weeks. All the rest of our accounts are paid via bills to Gringotts.”

Hermione’s brows were beginning to furrow and she was biting her lip. Narcissa quickly stacked the items they were purchasing together and used a sticking charm to keep them as a group before asking Hermione to put them in her handbag.

“Of course, no problem,” the younger women forced a smile. “It was a pleasure meeting you both and I’m looking forward to dinner at the Manor.”

“Same to you, Hermione,” Cassandra answered, grinning.

“You be good to our Narcissa, here, little Gryffindor,” Callista smirked.

The two shopkeepers waved the other women out the door and then shook their heads at one another.

“I’d have never believed it possible when we met Narcissa five years ago.”

“Oh, my, I couldn’t agree more, Cass! She’s actually happy. Genuinely smiling and happy.”

As the couple headed to a good apparition point so they could go to Andromeda’s, Narcissa debated whether or not to ask why Hermione was upset. She knew she needed to talk about it but, being so unsure what was wrong, she didn’t want to bring it up while walking through Knockturn Alley. Hedging her way to the middle, Narcissa said quietly, “Hermione, dear, I can tell you’re upset about something. When we get to Andromeda’s, before we go inside, I’d like you to tell me what’s wrong. But not here, the walls in Knockturn Alley have eyes and ears.”

Hermione grasped the arm she held a little tighter, “Narcissa,” she breathed, “I really think you’re pretty perfect for me.”

“Oh, my silly lion, you can’t say things like that in public,” Narcissa flushed pink.

“Why is that?”

“Because now all I want to do is take you in my arms and kiss you senseless. And that would be quite improper.”

Hermione kept teasing, “One of these days, you’re going to do it anyway.”

“You’re probably right. But today is not that day. We can Apparate from right here,” Narcissa turned and carefully kissed Hermione, keeping the passion she wanted to share reigned in.

She stepped back and held only the younger woman’s hands, smiled, and took them to Andromeda’s front path.

“Now, two things before we knock on my sister’s door.”

“Mmhmm,” Hermione answered, stepping slowly forward.

“First, I want to kiss you properly and second, I’d like you to tell me what upset you in the shop there at the end.”

Hermione nodded but didn’t speak as she wrapped her arms around Narcissa’s neck and lifted up on her toes to kiss her fiancée. Their lips met hungrily, Narcissa’s hands pressing on Hermione’s lower back, holding her as close as she dared. Hermione’s tongue swiped across Narcissa’s lower lip, drawing a deep groan from them both as Narcissa’s mouth opened to her.

Panting, Hermione pulled back slowly and rested her forehead against Narcissa’s collar bone, “I could do that for days. Kissing you is it’s own kind of magic.”

Hermione’s words sent a shiver up Narcissa’s spine, no one had ever spoken to her that way. “I could say the same to you, Hermione.”

“Second thing,” Hermione sighed and took half a step back, remaining in the circle of Narcissa’s arms, “I haven’t actually contacted Gringotts about how much gold I have or don’t have in my account there. I was part of a spectacularly daring, dangerous, and costly breakin at Gringotts in May and I’m sure that I owe them all of the money I will ever make in my lifetime.” By the time she finished speaking, Hermione’s face was burning red with shame and she could barely glance at Narcissa’s eyes.

“Well, Mione, good thing I already knew about that and knew that the breakin was part of what saved us all from Voldemort and his followers, right?”

Hermione nodded.

“I also wanted to speak with you about exactly this. I spent a good amount of time in Gringotts this morning and I may have done something that’s going to anger you for a moment but I want you to hear me out before you react.”

Hermione narrowed her eyes, staring at Narcissa then.

“Bogrod, the manager of Gringotts who did survive, by the way, tried to tell me this morning that the three of you owed a sum of four hundred something million galleons to pay for structural and societal repairs to Gringotts. Don’t let go,” Narcissa said quickly when she felt Hermione begin to pull away, “I’m not done, please.”

Hermione closed her eyes and hugged Narcissa instead for a long moment.

“There’s no way we’ll ever be able to pay that off,” hermione said. “That’s just an absurd amount of money. No one has that many galleons.”

“Wellllll...so...he changed his mind with a little encouragement from me. Gringotts accepted seventy-five million galleons this morning as the settlement fee from you and Harry but you have to print a letter of apology in the Daily Prophet.”

“Narcissa, I’m sure you were trying to help but where on earth do you think I’m going to find seventy-five million galleons? And why would you do that without me?”

“I didn’t actually go to Gringotts to do that on purpose, in fact I had forgotten about it until Garnjee mentioned it regarding the new security mandates. I wanted to know how much was in my vault, what Lucius had taken, if Draco had access to the Malfoy family vault and if he had enough money. What I found out is that we have a ridiculous amount of galleons. It’s obscene. Uncomfortable, really. The amount it cost to pay for you and Harry to be cleared with Gringotts will be remade by our holdings on Knockturn Alley, Hogsmead, and the Daily Prophet apparently within a few months.”

“I only have more questions right now.”

“Shall we go inside for tea and discuss this with Andromeda as well? If you’re going to be mad at me, be all the way mad...I’ve already paid it. Garnjee was right. With the hundreds of millions of galleons in the vault, the real estate, the business holdings, the family heirlooms, the artwork, and the jewelry, we won’t even notice that seventy-five million.”

Just as Hermione replied with a boisterous, “Merlin’s pants on fire, Narcissa!” Andromeda opened the door.

“You two going to come inside some time today or keep discussing your finances with the whole of South England?”

“Yes,” Narcissa answered quickly before turning back to Hermione and reaching her hand out, “Hermione, I’m sorry for crossing the line into your personal business without your consent. I didn’t intend to do anything that would harm you. Honestly, the opportunity arose and I wanted it completely cleared up before our wedding happened and our wedding planning got more involved. You’re going to need to be able to go to Gringotts. Please understand that I was truly trying to help you and I’m very sorry for not waiting and talking to you about it before paying the bank. We should make these decisions together when they impact both of us but we should also both be able to have autonomy. I’m sorry for taking that away from you today.”

“Oh, Narcissa,” Hermione sighed, grabbing the outstretched hand and wrapping it around her own back so she could hug the other woman tightly. “You didn’t take away my autonomy. I appreciate your apology and I’m sorry for being ungrateful.” Her face tucked into Narcissa’s neck, Hermione pressed a kiss there before whispering into Narcissa’s ear, “I feel well-cared for. With anyone else I would feel differently, but with you, I feel...just...well-cared for, that’s the best way to say it.”

“Oh, my heavens, get inside, you big mushballs,” Andromeda laughed, Teddy on her hip.

A short time later found the three women sitting comfortably on the well worn couches in the Tonks family room. Teddy was laying on a blanket on the floor, gurgling up at the toys dangling above him, doing his best to get everything possible into his mouth and doing his part to lighten the mood.

“I haven’t seen you two since last Tuesday but from what I’ve seen in the papers, you’ve had quite the busy week! And I can’t decide whether to be hurt or angry that Draco got married and I wasn’t even invited?”

“Well you’re one and one there,” Hermione joked.

“What does that even mean?”

“What my darling fiancée is trying to say is that you’re right that we’ve had quite the busy week but you’ve no reason to be hurt or angry because Draco didn’t really get married. Though, if you tell anyone that we shall never speak to you again,” Narcissa explained to her older sister.

Andromeda simply raised her eyebrows in response to that, surprised at the seriousness she heard from Narcissa.

“No, really, Andy, no one can know what Narcissa just said. As long as everyone believes Draco and Dean are married, they’re safe from the Ministry and it doesn’t matter what actually happened at the ceremony.”

Andromeda just looked back and forth between her sister and her future sister-in-law. “So, if it wasn’t a wedding, what was it and why are people saying it was a wedding? Yesterday’s Prophet listed Dean and Draco as completed or something like that.”

“It was a ceremony in which Draco and Dean pledged to honor and defend one another, keep one another safe, and be true to each other. The words wedding and marriage were never used,” Narcissa clarified. “It was a heavily warded area and only specific people were able to enter. Some people were very intentionally excluded, like you Dromeda, because they were trying to protect both themselves and you.”

“Plausible deniability,” Hermione chimed in.

The sisters both turned and looked at her at the same moment.

“If there are official questions about the ceremony, you can’t report on that which you don’t know. If you weren’t there, you don’t know. So if the Ministry comes round asking about Draco and Dean, all you have to say is that you weren’t invited and you weren’t present. Similarly, Draco and Dean planned the entire event themselves, going so far as to give McGonagall a script to read. They involved no one else in the ceremony giving all attendees their own level of plausible deniability.”

“So if someone asks Lady Longbottom about it, for example, she could just say, she heard from Neville that Dean was getting married so she went along with him. She may comment that it was an unusual ceremony but she’s not likely been to many modern weddings of the younger crowd,” Narcissa explained.

“But still, I missed Draco’s wedding,” Andromeda complained quietly. “I’ve missed so much of his life already because of our upbringing and now I’ve missed this huge event for him.”

“Not his real wedding, sister. This doesn’t even count. He’ll have a real wedding one day with all the pomp and circumstance we can throw at him and I promise you’ll be involved in every step of that one,” Narcissa reached out and patted Andromeda’s knee.

“Besides,” said Hermione, “It was a raucous party and there wouldn’t have been anyone to watch Teddy!”

“Well then what am I to do when you two get married? There'll be no one to watch him then, either!”

“Bring him, of course,” Narcissa laughed, “he’s invited, too, you know.”

Teddy was a good topic to lighten the conversation and Narcissa and Hermione asked all manner of questions about him so Andromeda could proudly boast.

Eventually, of course, the conversation turned back to their wedding, though.

“Oh, we have chosen a location actually and it’s stunning,” Hermione answered.

“Achnagairn,” Narcissa said.

“No,” Andy was surprised. “Are you inviting people overnight?”

“We are,” Hermione nodded, smiling ear to ear. “Our wedding is actually on a Monday evening so it works out well for Amalia and Samuel and we book the castle and grounds for Monday and Tuesday, though we’ll probably go up on Sunday, right?”

“I imagine so. Maybe with a few others. Andromeda, you and Teddy are welcome to join us up there Sunday. It’ll likely be Draco and Dean and Harry as well.”

“That sounds lovely, I’ll plan on it. Anything else set? Photographer, invitations, rings?”

“Invitations, yes,” Hermione nodded and then explained their Friday excursion. “Well, you saw our Announcement on Saturday, yes?”

“In the Daily and the Evening Prophet, yes,” Andy smirked. “Is that where you’re getting your invites printed?”

Narcissa nodded.

“The Announcement was gorgeous, ladies. Those photographs, I don’t know who took them but they were beautiful. You both looked amazing but also very real, you know what I mean?”

Hermione blushed and leaned over to rest her head on Narcissa’s shoulder, “thank you, Andy. It was such a wonderful day together. I can’t wait to have more time to go on holiday.”

“Mmm, I know, darling,” Narcissa kissed the top of Hermione’s head and rested her hand on the younger woman’s leg, “we have to start planning a honeymoon now if we’re going to take one right after the wedding, you know.”

Andromeda’s eyebrows just about hit the ceiling watching the two of them together. She’d assumed when she saw the photos in the Prophet that they were just well staged but it was obvious to her now that Narcissa and Hermione weren’t just playing house anymore. “I have to say, ladies. This is not what I was expecting last week when I mentioned you might make a good team.”

Startled out of their own conversation, the couple looked at Andy, surprised, and Hermione let Narcissa speak, “I’m sure it’s not. Honestly, Dromeda, I don’t think it’s what we were truly expecting either but, it’s just so right for us. We decided that, even though a few people obviously know our story isn’t true, we’re going to live as though it is. So, last May, when I was going through all of those meetings with the Ministry and testifying at the Wizengamot I would spend time here, with you.”

“And I would come here, also, with Harry, to see his Godson, Teddy. And Narcissa and I got to talking when we were here.”

Andy interrupted, “I’m the only one who knows you were never here the same days?”

The couple nodded before Narcissa continued, “then, in June, when my marriage was dissolved, Hermione and I started meeting for lunches and dinners away from here and away from the wizarding community to continue to get to know each other better and with more autonomy. Away from prying eyes.”

“And the rest is our own, private, history...until our request to the Ministry on Wednesday and our Engagement Announcement on Saturday.”

“We make a great pair, Hermione and I. We both wish that our relationship had had the opportunity to develop slowly the way we just told you but we’re also happy together with our story just the way it is.”

“And either way. We’re still getting married on December the twenty-first. Three months-”

“And two weeks. But who’s counting,” Narcissa looked at Hermione, smiling.

“We are,” Hermione finished, leaning in to press a kiss to Narcissa’s perfect lips.

Andromeda smiled, a hint of tears shining in her happy eyes, and pulled out a large, flat cardboard box from behind her chair. “I’m so happy to see both of you feeling like this. Go ahead and open it.”

Hermione grinned and let Narcissa break the tape and lift the lid. Inside the box was a beautiful calendar designed to be a wedding planner. As the women opened the cover they saw there were little stickers of dresses, cakes, gifts, and more to put on different days. There were even removable checklists in the back and ink sets with two different groups of complementary colors so they could both use it and keep their information separate but in the same place.

Narcissa was openly crying. “Andromeda, I can’t thank you enough. You introduced us, you encouraged this to happen in the first place and I’ve never looked forward to anything the way I’m looking forward to marrying Hermione. This is perfect.” She stood and hugged her older sister tightly.

“I’ve missed you so much through the years, Cissa. I want to help you plan this, be there when you make the big decisions, if you’d like.”

Narcissa started to nod then looked back at Hermione, questioning silently. Hermione, of course, agreed as well.

“That would be wonderful, Andy. You’re the only one with wedding planning experience of the three of us! Please, keep us on track!”

Laughing they all sat back down and Andy helped them get rid of the box and set the calendar up on the table. They immediately took out the checklists and started penciling things into the calendar with dates they wanted to have them done by. They spent the afternoon happily passing Teddy around between them all and planning dress shopping - the three of them would go together but Hermione and Narcissa wouldn’t be allowed to look at one another, ring shopping - Andromeda was only tagging along to keep them from spending every knut in the vault on their rings, and honeymoon planning - Andromeda was happy to introduce them to a lovely travel planner she knew.

As the day shifted into evening and Teddy started to fuss for dinner, Hermione and Narcissa decided it was time to take their leave. They said their goodbyes and stepped outside to Apparate.

“Would you like to come back to the Manor with me for dinner?”

“That sounds delightful. I’d love to,” Hermione agreed, stepping into Narcissa’s personal space and wrapping her arms around the taller woman’s waist. “But kiss me first, it’s been far too long.”

Narcissa smirked and pressed a chaste kiss to the tip of Hermione’s nose.

“That’s not what I meant,” Hermione laughed.

“Precision of language.” Narcissa stepped away, leaving Hermione dumbstruck.

“That’s...Narcissa,” Hermione stared at the woman, “that’s from my favorite book. How did you? Is that just a coincidence?”

Narcissa tilted her head, smiling softly at the younger woman as she pulled her closer once again. “No, Mione, it’s no coincidence. You told me last Tuesday that it was your favorite book, so, naturally, I read it.”

Narcissa had never in her life been hugged as tightly as Hermione hugged her in that moment.

“Narcissa,” Hermione whispered, “that is the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me.”