Slànachadh Le Gaol
Holding Hermione’s arm in his hands, Bliant was carefully looking at the scar Bellatrix had left. “A cursed athame, you say?”
“Yes, cursed and poisoned,” Narcissa repeated.
“Hermione, I’d like to touch the actual scar but it might hurt you. Are you ready for that?”
“No. Honestly, I’m not. The last time someone tried to heal that blasted scar, it was weeks of pain and blood. I’m still having nightmares.”
“That blasted scar?” He questioned her.
“Yes,” she answered, her voice sharp, her stress level rising.
“What did they give you to heal it? A spell, a potion, a lotion, a salve?”
“It was a potion. I had to drink one dose every morning and night until it healed.”
Bliant slowly released Hermione’s arm, “But it didn’t work?”
“Not at all! It made it so much worse. This vile thing just won’t go away.”
“Hermione, dear,” Bliant said in the quietest voice Hermione had heard from him, as he rolled her sleeve back down, “I’m not going to touch your scar. I don’t want to cause you pain. I have a salve here that I know will heal it if you can follow the directions exactly. It will also work on the Maledictus Excandescunt. It will soften the scars, take away the sting, and heal the underlying wounds over time.”
“Will the scar on my arm be gone in three months time?”
“It could be. It definitely could be. If you follow the directions precisely.”
Hermione smiled at Narcissa - if the scar was going to be gone by the wedding, she could wear any wedding dress at all! “I can do that, I’m a nerd, I can follow directions.”
“The tricky part is, that if you don’t follow the directions, Hermione, if you apply the salve carelessly, it will set you back.”
“Okay, I will do it the right way every time.”
“I can help,” Narcissa offered. “I have a feeling I know exactly what Bliant is about to give you and I know those directions. I can help you, Mione.”
Hermione hugged Narcissa, grateful for her unending support in this. Suddenly they heard a pop outside.
“Did that sound like house elf apparition to you?” Hermione wanted to know.
“It did,” Bliant shrugged.
“I’ll get the salve from Bly and shore up our plans for supper if you want to go check on the House Elf? Might be Filly or Pep?”
“Sounds good, be right back,” Hermione pressed a quick kiss to Narcissa’s head and she was on her way to the door.
“What was that about?” Bliant looked at her curiously.
“She’s not ready for what you’re about to give her. She can’t heal her scar herself that way. She’s still disgusted by it. But if you give me the salve, I will use it on her scar twice a day. It will work,” Narcissa expressed, quiet but deadly serious.
“Consider it done. I am going to tell her the name, though. When she’s ready she’ll figure it out.”
Bliant headed across the shop and pulled down a set of matching tins. He opened the top of one, sniffing carefully before flipping it over and double checking the writing underneath. He nodded once to himself and picked up one more tin of the same salve before heading back to the table.
Hermione came back inside at the same time, smiling indulgently.
Unable to stop the smile from spreading on her own face, Narcissa met Hermione’s eyes and asked what she had found.
“We were right, it was House Elves. Two of them. Filly brought Pepper up to stay at Elizabeth’s. She’s here to keep an eye on us and protect us if need be, according to her.”
“In her own words I assume,” Narcissa laughed. “She’s such a delightful little thing.”
“Heart of gold, just like her brother,” Hermione agreed, walking up behind Narcissa and resting her hands upon Narcissa’s shoulders.
“Here it is, Hermione, Slànachadh Le Gaol,” Bliant offered Hermione a small brown bag containing the three silver tins.
“Thank you very much. Slànachadh Le Gaol? And that means?”
“Oh, it’s just a Scottish phrase,” Narcissa dismissed. “Ready to get going to Elizabeth’s? We want to make sure we arrive in time to shower and clean up before supper.” Narcissa stood up and took Hermione’s free hand in her own.
“Yes, of course,” Hermione agreed, flustered, “but Bliant said I had to follow the instructions carefully and he hasn’t told me those instructions yet...and I don’t read Scottish so I doubt I’ll be able to read the label.”
“Hermione, darling, I know the instructions. Don’t worry, I’ll apply it for you,” Narcissa offered, tugging Hermione in for a sweet meeting of lips.
“Every day, twice a day?”
“Absolutely,” Narcissa promised. “Now, let’s get to Elizabeth’s.”
Hermione smiled and shrugged. She turned toward Bliant, extended her hand to shake his and thank him again.
“You’re very welcome, Miss Hermione Granger,” his hands dwarfed her own between them. “Thank you for trusting me with your story, I know it was hard to share but you’re very brave.”
“You’re very easy to trust,” Hermione looked seriously into Bliant’s eyes. “We’ll see you later for supper.”
“We’ll try,” he laughed, “I’m a very spontaneous fellow.” He patted her hand and let her go reaching toward Narcissa. She, of course, stepped forward to hug her old friend. “Thank you for bringing her here, Narcissa. I’m relieved to be able to help her.”
“There’s no one else I’d ever trust to do it, Bly. I’m relieved you’re able to help her, too. Now, if we don’t see you later, we’ll stop by tomorrow before we leave.”
“Great,” he grinned, winking. “Now,” he teased, “remember, it will work better if you put it on her.”
“I’m aware,” she said warningly.
“Because it has to be applied correctly.”
“I said I’m aware.”
“You remember? It must be applied, every time, with l-”
“Bliant! I know how to use Slànachadh Le Gaol.”
“And you should let her use it on your scars, too,” he finally suggested, catching Narcissa completely off guard.
“Kind of you to say, friend, but I’m afraid that...just won’t work.” Narcissa reached up on her toes to press a kiss to Bliant’s cheek.
“See you soon, Narcissa, Hermione,” Bliant said, walking the women to the door. As he watched them walk away, Narcissa could faintly hear, “There’s none so blind as those who will not see.”
Shaking her head, Narcissa linked her hand with Hermione’s. “We can walk to Elizabeth’s, it’s just a few streets away.”
“Edinburgh isn’t a wizard only village, is it? I mean, I’m sure there are muggles here.”
“No, but there are so many witches and wizards here we probably make up more than half the population. That’s likely why the muggles call it one of the most haunted cities in the world...and they don’t strictly follow the Statute of Secrecy.”
“I see, so that’s why you weren’t really concerned about Apparating here, even though there might be muggles around?”
“Exactly, they expect to see odd things in Edinburgh.”
After a few quiet minutes of simply walking together, hand in hand, Hermione asked the question that had been on the tip of her tongue since they left Bliant’s, “Narcissa, what was Bliant saying to you about the salve he gave me?”
Narcissa tensed for a moment before laughing and answering easily, “He was trying to tell me again how to use it. But I know already - I’ve used exactly this in the past.”
“But I thought he said something about me using it on you?”
“Oh, it’s not necessary right now,” Narcissa waved off the suggestion.
“Hmm,” Hermione let it go...almost, “well, if you change your mind, you know I would love to help you.”
“Thank you, Hermione,” Narcissa rested her head on Hermione’s shoulder for a moment while they walked.
“How far are we from the Tea House?”
“About a ten minute walk, I believe? Just a few winding blocks, turn left and three doors down. You’ll love it, I just know you will. Elizabeth buys most of her teas from Cass and Cal’s shop and the Inn? Just delightful.”
Narcissa pointed out a few muggle and wizard historical points as they walked for along before Hermione spoke up again.
“It’s kind of funny that her parents own a castle and she runs an Inn,” Hermione questioned.
Nodding, Narcissa explained, “Lizzie was always a little out of place at Achnagairn. It’s just so big and stately. Her cozy Tea House with rooms to let is much more her style. Intimate and manageable, only a few guests at a time, no one is going to have a wedding for three hundred at Lizzie’s Tea House.”
“But it sounds good for a quick, romantic weekend away...”
Narcissa glanced sideways at Hermione, “Are you looking for a romantic weekend away with someone?”
“Just making note...for the future,” Hermione grinned, squeezing the hand she held in her own.
“If you’re making note for future romantic weekends away with me…” Narcissa trailed off, looking for confirmation from Hermione before she continued.
Hermione smirked and shrugged, teasing just a little.
“Then I should inform you, I don’t really find the Tea House all that romantic,” Narcissa laughed. “It’s quaint. It’s absolutely cozy and I have spent my fair share of lovely winter evenings before the fireplace with a good book and fine company - though those evenings were many years ago. There are definitely couples who come here for a romantic weekend in Edinburgh...but it just doesn’t have that feeling to me. It’s Lizzie’s house. It’s not romantic...it’s...my friend’s house.”
“Hmm,” Hermione hummed, momentarily disappointed, “I guess I’ll have to keep traveling with you until we find the perfect romantic weekend escape.”
“What?” Narcissa gasped a bit.
“Yes. A place of our own. Somewhere to which we can travel when the world at home is just closing in a bit too much.”
“Well, we have a Manor in Paris.”
“Yes, but people would know to look for us there, silly. I want somewhere no one would look. A guesthouse in Dublin or a lodge in Amsterdam. Somewhere we befriend the owners and have a room we always stay. We send Christmas cards and invite them to visit us when they’re on holiday.”
Narcissa was, yet again, caught off guard by the amount of conviction Hermione had in their future together. Talking about multiple trips away and the need for their own private escape. Making friends they would have for years. Sending Christmas cards together. Her heart couldn’t keep up with the pounding and the dropping…
“Sounds,” Narcissa had to stop and catch her breath, “sounds like...sounds like it might take us a few tries to find just the right place.”
Hermione let go of Narcissa’s hand then and reached her arm around the other woman’s waist instead. “Now we’re really on the same page. We’ll have to try a bunch of places until we find just the right one, don’t you think?”
Narcissa, tilting her head to indicate their turn, agreed, “I do.”
“You just keep saying that.”
Narcissa, in response, wrapped her arm around Hermione’s shoulders and pulled the other woman tight to her side as they walked.
“And here we are,” Narcissa gestured with her free arm to a beautiful stone house with a wrought iron gate and meandering walkway leading to the door.
“Oh, Narcissa, this is just lovely,” Hermione gushed.
“Isn’t it, though? It’s just as wonderful inside. And the back garden where Lizzie serves tea is perfection itself.”
Hermione beamed at her fiancée and squeezed her in a quick, sideways hug. As the women stepped closer to the gate, it swung open on its own. The women followed the path as it wandered through the wildflowers in front of the house.
Quietly, Hermione asked, “Narcissa? Do you think we could still have a little lie down before supper? I’m so wiped out.”
“Of course, darling, of course,” Narcissa answered immediately, looking at Hermione’s face, assessing her color and alertness to make sure the other woman was alright. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Nothing a shower and a nap with you won’t fix,” Hermione whispered, meeting Narcissa’s eyes.
Narcissa’s eyebrows rose of their own accord.
“I...didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” Hermione laughed. “While I’m not opposed to showering with you at some point in the future, I meant nothing separate showers and then a nap with you won’t fix.”
Unable to resist, Narcissa leaned down and pressed her lips against Hermione’s. “Then let’s get inside and talk to Elizabeth about a room for the night, yeah?”
“Wait, look,” Hermione smiled, wrapping both arms around Narcissa and staring at something behind the other woman.
“What is it?” Narcissa looked back. “Oh,” she felt her heart swell, “honeysuckle?”
“Mm-hmm,” Hermione nodded quickly, kissing Narcissa’s collarbone and hugging the other woman. “It’s definitely our flower, don’t you think?”
“I would have to agree, Miss Granger,” Narcissa smiled again, burying her nose in Hermione’s honeysuckle scented hair.
Still hugging Narcissa to her as she looked at the honeysuckle growing up the trellis in front of the house, Hermione asked about the meaning of the flower. She felt Narcissa’s back tense under her hands.
“In Scotland, it’s traditional to plant honeysuckle to ward off evil,” the older woman hedged.
“That’s lovely information...but not what I asked,” Hermione laughed. “What does it mean in the language of flowers?”
“If I remember correctly, one of the most common meanings of honeysuckle is happiness.”
Hermione breathed in deeply, “I can’t speak for you but, I can say without a doubt for myself that honeysuckle has definitely represented happiness today.”
“For both of us, then, my lion,” Narcissa agreed, cupping Hermione’s face in her palms. The two met for a long, sweet kiss. “You know, I’m really feeling that exhaustion right now. A shower and nap sound perfect. Shall we go find Elizabeth?”
Hermione simply nodded before squeezing Narcissa in one last hug and turning to walk inside together.
“Just a moment!” They heard shouted from another room as they closed the door behind themselves.
“That will be Elizabeth,” Narcissa whispered, smiling tiredly, her eyes still bright.
The pair waited quietly, Hermione looking around the perfectly decorated sitting room. There was a lovely fireplace, surrounded by comfortable looking arm chairs, and framed by built-in, well-stocked bookshelves. Small lamps lit the room from various surfaces, making every area seem private.
They heard footsteps moving toward them from the same location the voice had come from and both women looked expectantly at the door, waiting for it to open. “Good afternoon and welcome to the Tea House, how may - Narcissa! What are you doing back so soon?” Elizabeth laughed, a huge smile lighting up her face.
“Hello, Elizabeth,” Narcissa reached for her friend and squeezed the hand that reached back for her. “I’d like to introduce you to Hermione Granger, my fiancée. Hermione, darling, this is Elizabeth McLaughlin, my oldest friend.”
Holding out her hand to shake Elizabeth’s, Hermione spoke right away, “Elizabeth, I’m so pleased to meet you. Narcissa’s told me so much about you and it’s a delight to meet someone so important to her.”
“Likewise, Hermione!” Elizabeth replied, “Likewise! I’m so happy I didn’t have to wait too long to meet you but what brings you here, ladies? Checking on Rita?”
“No, actually,” Narcissa answered, leaning a little more into Hermione, “we were hoping to stay a night or two. Something’s come up at the Manor and we were looking for somewhere quiet to just get away together for a few days. We have a wedding in London tomorrow evening, but, other than that…”
“And I have to visit Hogwarts in the morning,” Hermione reminded Narcissa.
“Right, sorry, I forgot,” Narcissa shook her head a bit.
“It’s quite alright, dear. It’s been a very long day,” she rested her forehead against Narcissa’s cheek for a moment.
Watching the women carefully, Elizabeth could see how exhausted they were but she also sensed an aura of peace around Narcissa for the first time since they were teenagers.
“I have plenty of space right now. I put Rita in the Royal Suite, she seemed to need that...concept...at first. But this morning, after we spoke, I switched her to the Retreat and she’s been holed up in there ever since, writing away on a modified muggle typewriter,” Elizabeth smirked.
Hermione, unsure of the difference between the Royal Suite or the Retreat, looked back and forth between the women.
“I think…” Elizabeth hedged, “I think I’ll put you in the Nook.”
“My favorite,” Narcissa grinned.
“Yes, and from what you’ve told me of your Hermione, it will be her favorite as well.”
“The Nook?” Hermione asked, narrowing her eyes at her fiancée.
“Each of Lizzie’s rooms is designed and decorated completely differently. The Royal Suite could be in a castle; stone walls, high ceilings, a four poster bed with a canopy, free standing mirror, clawfoot tub, the works. It’s a great room for someone looking for a little bit more of a fancy getaway. The Retreat reminds me of...an American log cabin, if you will? It’s all dark wood, and tartan plaids, with solid hand carved furniture, and a sturdy desk. The Retreat is the perfect place to put someone who needs to get their head back in the game so to speak. If Rita’s in there, she’s got a story she’s working on and that’s probably a good thing for her - especially if she’s using a real typewriter.”
“I think it’s good,” Elizabeth interjected, a little grin on her face. “Rita’s up in arms about the Decree right now and is hoping to use the weight of her byline for a little international pressure.”
“Well, bully for Rita, but the Nook?” Hermione asked again with a chuckle.
“The Nook is Narcissa’s favorite room because it’s the exact opposite of everything she grew up with in Black Manor. It’s a small, cozy space. The bed is built into the wall and lined with bookshelves. There's a window seat filled with throw pillows made for comfort - not decor. Every item in the Nook is meant to make the person staying there feel like it was created just for him or her. And since most of it was hand-picked by your fiancée, it pretty much was created just for her,” Elizabeth smiled indulgently at her oldest, dearest friend.
“Now, I’m looking forward to staying there even more,” Hermione whispered, tilting her head onto Narcissa’s shoulder.
“We just need a second wash room for a bit, if you don’t mind, Lizzie? We’re both in need of a shower,” Narcissa scrunched her nose up, growing more uncomfortable by the minute.
“The Nook with two washrooms, let me get a key,” the owner clapped her hands and turned quickly to go back through the door from whence she’d come.
“Hmm, the Nook with two washrooms? Why do I have a sneaking suspicion there’s a bit of magic at play in the rooms to let here at Elizabeth’s Tea House?”
“Umm...because there is?” Narcissa laughed a bit. “Lizzie has, officially, three rentable rooms. But those rooms can be whichever the guest wishes, as long as it’s available.”
“So, only one Royal Suite at a time?”
“Right, but she has plenty of other designs aside from the Royal Suite, the Retreat, and the Nook. She has the Contemporary, the Flat, and the City, all similar ideas based on a modern apartment in London. Along with the Royal Suite, she has the Suite Noblesse and the Crown Suite. Then she has the nautical rooms, the mediterranean rooms, and the south american rooms.”
“Merlin, that’s a lot! And she only uses three at a time? How does it work?”
“I think it’s a bit like the Room of Requirement. She has three doors upstairs. Any of the keys will work in any of the doors.”
“And it’s the key that determines the room beyond?”
“Precisely,” Elizabeth answered, holding out one such key as she rejoined the pair. “Sorry about the delay, I moved the keys with a second wash room and couldn’t remember where I had put them,” she laughed, a tinkling sound, like gentle rain on a tin roof.
“Oh, it’s no bother,” Hermione reassured her, “Narcissa was just telling me about some of your delightful guest rooms! I’m so impressed!”
“Thank you! I can show you some tomorrow if you’d like,” Lizzie grinned.
“Ooooh, that would be wonderful!”
“It is a brilliant bit of magic,” Narcissa stage whispered to Hermione, “Elizabeth is quite the witch.”
“So it seems,” Hermione whispered back, winking at Elizabeth.
“Go on, you two, go take your showers. Your room is on the top floor. Would you like to have some tea afterwards?”
“I think we’re going to take a little nap, actually. Then some tea?”
“Perfect, perfect,” Lizzie clasped her hands together, “you can ring down when you’re ready, if you like, or call one of the house elves. There should be a list in the Nook of which of them are working today. Of course, you can always just call Pepper,” she laughed.
“She’s a pip, isn’t she?” Narcissa laughed along. “The sweetest house elf I’ve ever known and so caring and protective. Do you have somewhere for her to stay? She can stay with us in the Nook if not.”
“She’s welcome to stay in the cottage with the other house elves if she’d like. We’ve had a few visiting elves stay there in recent months.”
“I’m sure she’d love that,” Hermione rejoined the conversation. “Pepper lost her big brother a few months ago so she’d probably really like to be around some other house elves for a night.”
“Oh, no! That’s awful! What happened?” Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears.
Hermione waited a beat before she quietly answered, “Dobby was a hero who died saving seven of us from further torture and certain death at the hands of some of the most intense and frightening Death Eaters.” As she spoke, she stepped closer to Narcissa and wrapped her arm back around Narcissa’s waist.
“Dobby? Pepper is Dobby’s sister?” Elizabeth gasped. “I loved Dobby! He was so funny and kind. A delightful little elf who truly treasured his freedom. He popped by sometimes from Hogwarts on his day off. I wondered where he got off to.”
“A terrible casualty of a terrible war,” Narcissa uttered, her voice tight, eyelashes dotted with unfallen tears.
“I apologize if this is too forward but, if you’d like, Elizabeth, I can take you to visit his grave sometime. Harry dug it almost entirely by himself without magic and carved a little headstone. Here Lies Dobby, A Free Elf.”
“I would like that, Hermione. Very much in fact,” Elizabeth grasped Hermione’s hand once more. “Now, though, you two are off to shower and have a little kip. I’ll see you for tea or supper. Off with you, now, off, off!”
Narcissa and Hermione smiled tiredly at Elizabeth and turned to head upstairs and find their room. After the first flight of stairs, Hermione pulled Narcissa to a stop.
“What is it?”
“How many more flights? Honestly, I’m dead tired all of a sudden. I don’t know how I’m even going to shower!”
“Just one more, Hermione, I’m sure you’ll survive,” Narcissa tugged the younger woman along, smirking and rolling her eyes just a bit.
Hermione frowned. Narcissa had smirked like she was teasing but her tone was...off. “I’m sure you’re right. Lead on.”
And Narcissa did just that. “Here we are,” Narcissa pointed to the only door at the top of the stairs across a lovely little landing.
The women went into the Nook and it was exactly as Elizabeth had described. It felt homey and safe, a cozy room for a quiet person...or two. Hermione was immediately drawn to the window seat filled with overstuffed, oversized throw pillows and a delightfully soft looking blanket. “This looks like the perfect place to read,” she smiled broadly.
“Mmm, it probably is,” Narcissa agreed. She hated to interrupt Hermione’s first experience in the Nook but she was too tired to wait too long to shower and needed to retrieve her items from Hermione’s bag. “Hermione, I’m dreadfully sorry to disrupt your perusal; I know the room is intoxicating in the design and attention to detail. However, I’d really like to wash up and change my clothes. May I please have your bag?”
Hermione immediately walked across the room to stand in front of Narcissa, “I’m sorry, of course. As soon as you tell me what’s the matter - and don’t say you’re just tired. I know you’re upset about something. I just don’t know what. I can’t apologize or do better if I don’t know what I’ve done to upset you.”
Taking in a great big breath, Narcissa bit her lip. She wasn’t sure she could answer. It was going to sound so...immature. She hedged her bets a bit, “Hermione, please, I’m very tired. This morning took a lot out of me and then Ronald and the Death Eaters and talking about that night. I’d simply like my things.”
Hermione looked at Narcissa and nodded slowly. “Okay. Just one minute,” she whispered stepping slowly forward. Hermione reached her arms up around Narcissa’s neck and pulled the other woman to her, pressing her nose just under Narcissa’s ear. “I’m sorry if I said something hurtful. I’d never hurt you intentionally, Cissa. I hope soon you start to feel safe enough with me to let me know when I hurt you so I can make it better.”
Continuing to hold her fiancée tightly, Hermione took ten slow, deep breaths, counting each one silently, giving them time to connect physically if not verbally. “Let’s get your shower things and clothes out, now,” she whispered.
“Not yet,” Narcissa answered right away. “Just one more minute.”
“Of course,” Hermione agreed, pulling them as tightly to one another as she could.
Just as Hermione was about to loosen her grip, Narcissa spoke in a tiny voice. “I didn’t know Dobby was buried anywhere. I didn’t know you knew where he was. You’ve never told me that but you invited Elizabeth to visit his grave. My feelings were very hurt.”
Hermione closed her eyes, shame and regret turning her cheeks red. “I’m so sorry I hurt your feelings. I never, ever want to hurt you, Narcissa Black. Never. I’ll try to be more aware of sharing information with you in the future. Dobby’s death hasn’t really come up since our very first day together and I just didn’t know you then. I do apologize for not realizing sooner that, of course, you would want to know where he’s buried.”
“I know I’m not worthy of visiting his grave but I would like to...just to say some things to him. He was a brave, strong elf and very loyal.”
“Worthy? Narcissa, what? You’re worthy of everything. You’re worthy of a visit to his grave or anywhere else you’d like to go. Narcissa, please, don’t ever think that again,” Hermione squeezed all the tighter.
“But you won’t tell me where he’s buried?”
“I can’t,” Hermione cried.
Narcissa pulled back and looked at Hermione’s distraught face - eyes wide, pupils dilated, cheeks pink. “I don’t understand. Just say it.”
“I physically can not. It’s at someone’s residence and it’s protected with a Fidelius charm. I’m not the Secret Keeper, I am literally incapable of sharing the location with you without help from that person,” Hermione explained frantically, gripping Narcissa’s shoulder, keeping her near.
Sighing, Narcissa pressed a kiss to Hermione’s forehead, “I understand. Thank you for sharing that with me. I’m sorry for getting so upset.”
Hermione just shook her head side to side and hugged Narcissa again. When they finally separated, both women were so completely exhausted they barely spoke as they summoned their items from Hermione’s bag. Before they stepped away into their own wash rooms, they shared a quick kiss. A brief moment of reassurance.
“I’m not going to last five minutes in a hot shower,” Hermione quietly joked, “I’ll be done so fast!”
“Oh, darling, same for me. This will be the quickest shower I’ve ever taken. Meet you for a nap in five minutes?”
“It’s a date,” Hermione winked.
Five minutes later found neither woman in bed for a nap...but five minutes after that they were both stepping out of the washroom with freshly cleaned skin and plaited hair.
Silently, they reached for one another’s hands and made their way across the room to the bed. Narcissa pulled one of the curtains aside and told Hermione to climb in.
“Can we leave the curtain open? If it’s too dark, I’m afraid I’ll never get back up,” Hermione explained.
Narcissa simply nodded in agreement climbing into the bed to lay next to Hermione.
They slid closer together until their foreheads could nearly touch, their legs tangled with one another’s, and their arms held the other close. Within moments, both women were sound asleep, safe in one another’s arms again.