Choosing
Hermione flopped backwards onto the bed. “I don’t know if I’ll make it through dinner, Cissa. I’m so tired!”
“I know, darling, I should have warned you, when you first start practicing wandless magic, it takes a toll. It can be physically draining for a while until you’re used to how it draws on your energy.”
“Can we take another nap? Ten minutes? Please,” Hermione rolled to her side, looking at Narcissa across the room.
“Ten minutes, that’s it! Close your eyes, I’ll be there in a moment,” she answered.
Hermione was asleep before Narcissa made it to her side. Looking down at the sleeping witch, Narcissa knew she was going to need something a little stronger than a ten minute nap. Stepping into the hallway, she quietly called for Pepper.
“Narcissa? Is Narcissa and Hermione Granger okay?” Pepper tugged her ear, a sign Narcissa recognized as an expression of worry.
“Yes, Pep, we’re okay. Hermione’s just resting again, she’s very tired. I think maybe I worked her too hard this morning. Do you think you could pop over to the healer we were at earlier and ask for a Pepper Up Potion for Mione? It would be so helpful.”
“Pepper can! Pepper will be back in one minute!” the elf snapped and was gone instantly.
Narcissa, a little worn out but not nearly as exhausted as Hermione, leaned against the wall to wait for Pepper to return. True to her word, Pepper was back in just about a minute.
“Here Narcissa! Pepper got it! Bliant said it’s on a house?”
Chuckling, Narcissa patted Pepper’s head lovingly. “Did he say anything else? Is he coming to dinner?”
“Bliant said be careful. Not too much. Witches get the Pepper Up and then witches will be always wanting the Pepper Up. Then Bliant said come back in the morning for tea, Bliant is not hungry tonight.”
“Got it, Pepper, thank you,” Narcissa whispered, opening the door to the Nook and making her way to Hermione’s side.
A kiss pressed to Hermione’s temple had the young woman starting to stir and she happily woke up to Narcissa’s fingers brushing through her hair.
“Ten minutes already?” Hermione stretched. “And you didn’t join me?”
“I did not, sorry. Another nap just won’t work as well for me, it never does,” Narcissa yawned, a reflection of Hermione’s, “but Pepper did pick something up for you.”
“She did?”
“A Pepper Up Potion. I know what they say about taking one too often but, honestly, after the physicality of this morning and the emotional strain of this afternoon, I really think we both ought to take a bit. What do you think?”
“Hmm,” Hermione delayed her answer. She really appreciated that Narcissa even asked her opinion, “I do feel extremely drained. We won’t take it again, okay? Just this once when we really need it.”
“Agreed,” Narcissa nodded seriously. She opened the little bottle and handed it to Hermione first for her dose and watched as just a hint of steam curled out of her ears. “Good, this is Bliant’s blend. Hardly any steam and no hiccups.” Narcissa took the bottle from Hermione and took her own tiny sip of the potion.
Hermione covered her mouth to hide her laughter when Narcissa’s ears steamed.
“Better?” Narcissa asked.
“Better,” Hermione agreed.
“Good! Let’s go have some dinner with Lizzie and Rita. I don’t think Bliant’s going to make it tonight.”
Hermione and Narcissa found Lizzie waiting for them in the foyer, ready to show them through to the garden again.
“Should we wait for Rita? She said she’s joining us for dinner,” Hermione asked Lizzie.
The hostess simply shook her head and motioned for her guests to follow. Hermione suppressed a shudder, the situation suddenly reminded her of being in Godric’s Hollow with Harry and Bathilda Bagshot.
“Narcissa,” she whispered quietly to her fiancée, “remind me sometime next week to tell you about Godric’s Hollow, okay?”
Narcissa looked behind her at Hermione, an odd expression on her face. She nodded, though, trusting that Hermione must have had a reason for bringing it up at that particular moment. Unsurprisingly, the garden hadn’t changed in the short time they’d been inside. Though, Lizzie was acting as though it had undergone a transformation.
“Lovely out here, isn’t it? In the twilight? The fairy lights will go on soon and you’ll be simply enamored with the gardens here,” she smiled, her eyes wide.
“They are quite lovely,” Hermione agreed lightly.
Finally, after an interminable awkward few minutes, Pepper appeared. “Is the table ready?”
“Of course,” Elizabeth answered, narrowing her eyes at the elf.
“Then dinner is served,” Pepper grinned and snapped her fingers making the food appear on the table before them.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Pepper’s pride. Making food appear was certainly not a trait unique to just that elf, every house elf could do that.
Pepper, who was usually very careful to follow elf customs, broke with tradition and moved to stand between Narcissa and Elizabeth. It was far more typical for house elves to serve food and disappear - if they were seen at all. None ever stayed around the dining table, it was a rather large breach of etiquette.
Narcissa, having spent her life in the company of house elves, immediately noticed Pepper’s presence...however, Narcissa had also spent a lot of her life in the company of dangerous people and she also immediately noticed the way Pepper was standing. The body language of the little elf practically screamed danger; her ears were pointed up and moving independently, her feet were shoulder width apart and steady on the ground, her palms were open and ready to cast magic as soon as needed.
“You know, I believe the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black was absolutely correct about food,” Hermione joked to break the silence. “This is completely delicious but the one Filly prepared yesterday, without magic, was actually better.”
“I agree, darling,” Narcissa glanced at Hermione. “Elizabeth, did you get your business all squared away earlier?”
Her mouth full, Elizabeth nodded in response.
“That’s good,” Narcissa smiled, trying to encourage conversation from her friend. “And how has business gone here recently? More people coming by?”
“More now, yes,” she answered abruptly.
Hermione and Narcissa caught one another’s eyes, Pepper still standing beside Narcissa ready for whatever was coming.
“Did someone come for the third room?” Narcissa asked slowly.
“So interested in my rentals, Narcissa, really? Isn’t that beneath your status?” Elizabeth tried to tease.
“I’m sure you understand, I just want to make sure we’re still safe here. We’ve had a very trying day, my friend.”
“I did rent the third room out this evening but it shouldn’t matter to you at all,” Elizabeth smiled a little.
“Could you tell me who, Lizzie? Please?”
“Narcissa! This is my business. I can’t just go around giving out guests’ names to just anyone who asks. You know that!”
Narcissa nodded reaching for Hermione’s hand under the table, squeezing it in reassurance.
“Of course,” she laughed, “I don’t know what I was thinking. I just get so protective of Hermione, I’m sure you understand. You would never put us in danger, you’re my oldest friend.” Narcissa smiled at Elizabeth, looking right at her friend, holding their eye contact.
After a long moment, Elizabeth blinked rapidly and looked around. When her gaze fell once again on Narcissa, her guest was sharing a quiet conversation with her faincée. Elizabeth hesitated to interrupt but, when there was a lull, voiced her thought, “Thank you for supplying this delicious meal, Narcissa.”
Hermione inhaled sharply through her nose. Narcissa had had nothing to do with the meal. Filly had promised it to Hermione as a comparison, Filly had prepared it, Pepper had served it.
“Yes, Filly and Pepper are certainly accomplished when it comes to delicious meals, wouldn’t you agree, Hermione?” Narcissa looked intently at Hermione, trying to communicate silently.
“Absolutely,” Hermione chimed right in.
Their meal continued with light conversation, mostly about the unusually warm weather Scotland was having and what it would mean for the coming winter. Just as they were finishing, they heard the door open and someone heading quickly for them. Pepper turned to watch immediately.
“Sorry! Sorry I’m late! I got caught up with some ideas I wanted to get out before I lost them, you know,” Rita explained, her words stumbling over themselves, “am I too late for supper?”
Hermione, despite her misgivings, couldn’t help but smile just a bit, “Of course, not. Here you are, Rita.” She pushed the chair next to her out just a bit and motioned for Rita to sit. “There’s plenty of food, help yourself.”
Narcissa, left elbow on the table and her chin resting upon her fist, smiled at Rita across the table. Waiting for the other woman to look up at her before she spoke, Narcissa finally caught Rita’s eye and asked, “Feels good, doesn’t it?”
For a moment, Rita’s brow furrowed and it seemed as though she didn’t understand, but then a smirk broke out across her own face and she nodded, “It really does. I’d forgotten how it felt to really get into a story. The adrenaline and excitement of planning interviews and choosing my own words were a lot to sacrifice for a quicker quill.”
“I’m glad you’re free of it,” Narcissa said kindly.
Rita frowned, slumping just a bit, as she put a serving of food on her plate. “I’m not yet. Not really.”
“You’re not...using it, though, right?” Hermione questioned, not accusingly, though.
“No, but I’ll still have to pay it out through my contract. I can’t return the product to them so I have to finish paying until the term is up.”
“Quick-Quotes Quills are rented?”
“It’s more of a lease-to-buy program, if that makes sense. They don’t expect that you’ll ever want to give it back. It does make pumping out articles a million times faster so the assumption is that you’ll keep it. Then, if you do want to return it you have to jump through about a thousand hoops,” Rita rolled her eyes.
“Do you, eh, do you have a barrister who can look at the contract for you?” Narcissa asked.
Rita shook her head, taking a bite of her supper.
“If you’re comfortable with it, I could send a copy to mine? He would look it over for you and see if there’s a way to break the contract without having to keep paying.”
“And if that doesn’t work, we’ll pay the rest of your contract,” Hermione said before Rita could answer. “It’s our fault your Quick-Quotes Quill is unreturnable, we destroyed it, right?”
Rita, having dropped her fork on her plate, sat blinking owlishly at Hermione.
“Rita?” Narcissa called. “Rita?”
“Yes, I’m definitely comfortable with that, thank you, Narcissa,” she finally answered.
“And we did destroy your quill,” Hermione reiterated.
“Yes, one of them. I had two and I destroyed the second one, so you needn’t pay out the contract for me but thank you.”
“Well,” Narcissa hedged, “we could certainly pay half. I did destroy your property.”
“And I printed a vile article calling your relationship fake and forced.”
“Let’s just start with the barrister, then, shall we?” Narcissa chuckled.
Rita nodded once more, taking another bite of the lovely meal.
When all four women had finished, Pepper offered dessert.
“Is it the pudding from last night?” Hermione asked, smiling.
Pepper nodded, “Filly did everything again.”
Hermione hummed and reached for Narcissa’s hand, “Would you perhaps share one with me? I’m so full and sleepy but I’d like a little bit of pudding to compare to last night’s.”
“I’d...really like that,” Narcissa choked out.
Pepper magically cleared the main course and made dessert and coffee appear before the women.
“Pep, I know coffee is perfect with sticky toffee pudding but do you think I could just have a small glass of milk instead? Please?” Hermione asked, failing to smother her fifth yawn.
“Pepper will get one right away Hermione Granger!” With that, the house elf popped out of sight.
“She’s rather...committed to you, isn’t she?” Lizzie said, not quite kindly.
Narcissa stared, unblinking, at her friend. “She is. Pepper, like her brother, has been a literal savior to our fam - that is, to us. We simply adore her quirks.”
“Especially her ears. We can always tell how she’s feeling by looking at her ears,” Hermione’s lips pressed together, containing both a smile and another yawn.
Pepper popped back into place next to Narcissa, a mug of steaming milk in her hand. “Here you go, Hermione Granger. Pepper made it warm. Hermione Granger is very tired.”
“Oh, Pep, you’re just the best. Thank you,” Hermione gushed, taking the mug and holding it in both hands as she took a sip. “This is just perfect.”
The group fell silent again, enjoying their dessert and the garden. Pepper easily cleaned up with a snap of her fingers when the eating was through.
“Would it be too rude of me to go back to my room and continue working? I do appreciate dinner,” Rita noted.
“Not at all,” Narcissa assured her. “You’re doing good work. Go on!”
Rita grinned, her face seeming years younger, and headed back inside and upstairs.
“And I know we’ve just met today, Elizabeth, but would it be too rude of me to go back to our room and go to sleep? I’m so tired and this warm milk is not exactly waking me up,” Hermione chuckled dryly.
“Of course, not, Hermione, I understand completely. Feel free to go on up whenever you like,” Elizabeth answered right away, a bright smile on her face.
“Thank you for understanding,” the young woman said, exhaustion lining her face. Hermione slowly pushed her chair back from the table and stood.
“A nightcap by the fire, Cissy?” Elizabeth asked, still smiling.
Hermione paused her motions, for the barest of moments, uncertainty passed quickly across her features.
“Oh, n - “
“Yes, Narcissa,” Hermione interrupted her fiancée, “a nightcap by the fireplace with your oldest friend sounds like a perfect way for you to end this long, stressful, trying day. I’ll see you upstairs later.”
Narcissa stood, facing Hermione and wrapped one arm around her waist pulling Hermione closer. She pressed a kiss to the lips so near her own. As she released, the fairy lights throughout the garden slowly winked on.
“Pick up your drink, darling, we’ll walk through the flowers together before you go up,” Narcissa murmured before kissing Hermione yet again.
As the couple walked away, Elizabeth called out, “I’ll be waiting by the fire, Cissy, with your drink...your favorite!”
Narcissa turned back and smiled gently at her friend, “Thank you, Lizzie, dear. I’ll be there in just a minute.” Turning back, Narcissa continued quietly to Hermione, “I think this path will bring us around to the door and let us see more of the garden.”
“That would be lovely,” Hermione chatted, “because so far all I’ve seen are…”
Taking a deep breath, Narcissa nodded slowly, “I noticed. I don’t think I came out to the back garden this summer but, last time I was here it wasn’t like this, I swear it.”
“I believe you, don’t worry,” Hermione soothed, gently squeezing with the arm that was wrapped around Narcissa’s waist. “Maybe it’s just her favorite flower?”
Narcissa just shook her head and the women continued their stroll silently, enjoying one another’s presence and the twinkling lights. They found Elizabeth waiting impatiently at the back door and she led them through to the sitting room where the fire was already lit and two glasses had been poured.
Choosing carefully to keep the peace with her fiancée’s oldest friend, Hermione smiled and complemented Elizabeth on the beauty of her garden. “I really loved it with the lights, you were right. I noticed, too, most of your flowers are, um, the same?”
“Well, daffodils have long been my favorite,” Elizabeth replied, staring right at Hermione.
“Mine, too,” Hermione countered, her eyebrow raised, she stared right back and let her statement settle. “Well, I really am exhausted. Off to bed I go. Thank you for your hospitality, Elizabeth. See you soon, Cissa?”
Narcissa turned to Hermione and kissed her, “Mmhmm, very soon. I’m so tired, my darling, I can barely stand up. Call down if you need anything, Mione, okay?”
Hermione hummed her agreement against Narcissa’s lips one more time before stepping back and heading upstairs. Narcissa watched her go, wishing she were headed to bed as well. Instead, she put on a smile and turned to Elizabeth to join her for a quick drink.
“Finally! Come sit with me and tell me what’s really going on,” Lizzie crowed.
Narcissa’s eyebrows shot up. She sat in the arm chair across from Elizabeth and picked up the drink meant for her but...hesitated.
“Oh, go on, it’s Ogden’s, just like old times!”
“I’m sorry, Liz, I’m just not in the mood for a firewhiskey tonight. I’ll ask Pepper for something else,” Narcissa explained. She called for Pepper and, when the elf appeared, asked if she wouldn’t mind bringing her the same warm milk she’d gotten Hermione.
Unsurprisingly, Pepper returned rapidly with the Narcissa’s request.
“Thank you, Pep. Would you mind going up to our room and checking on Mione? Just make sure she’s settled and has whatever she needs?”
“Pepper will make sure Hermione Granger is settled right now, Narcissa! Good night!”
Once the house elf was gone, Narcissa sipped her warm milk and turned back to Elizabeth who was ignoring the entire exchange.
After a quiet moment, Narcissa opened the conversation, “So, Elizabeth, I know we haven't caught up in a while. When we saw each other this summer, it was so quick. How are you? Really?”
“I’m doing well, business is picking back up so I’ve less to worry about. My parents are doing really well, as you know.”
Narcissa smiled, she loved Amalia and Samuel McLaughlin, they were always filled with kindness.
After a few minutes of simply listening to the fire crackle, Narcissa asked, “And Bliant? Anything more happening there? When I saw you last, I thought maybe there was a little interest?”
Elizabeth shook her head quickly and glanced at the stairs. “Oh, Merlin, no. I’m not interested in Bliant. He’s been sniffing ‘round but it’s purely one-sided, I assure you.”
“So, is the man you're hiding upstairs the one you’re focused on right now? Is he the one you’re seeing?”
“Narcissa Black! How dare you use Legilimency on me!”
“What makes you think I did? I just asked a question, Elizabeth,” Narcissa answered quietly. “You wouldn’t give me any information before and you’re clearly distracted now. I mentioned being interested in Bliant and you glanced at the stairs like you were worried someone might overhear. I know you’re not interested in Rita Skeeter, I’ve just had tea and supper with the two of you, I've known you long enough, I’d have picked up on it. That leaves only the mystery guest in the recently rented room...or Hermione...and I know it’s not Hermione. You barely tolerate her even though you hardly know her.”
“He’s here for an answer. Because you’re here so I can get an answer,” Elizabeth whispered. She covered her face for a moment, unable to look at her friend. Finally, fortifying herself with a deep breath, Elizabeth sat up, set her drink aside, and leaned forward toward the other woman. “Narcissa Black, I’ve known you for more than twenty years. You’ve been my best friend since we were eleven years old. You saved me and protected me from so many bullies in our first few years at school I lost count. Then you went and married Lucius Malfoy. You didn’t just marry him, though, you had his child. You carried his baby in your body.” Elizabeth reached out and rested her hands on Narcissa’s knees. “That just about killed me, CIssy. Killed me,” she whispered.
Narcissa was frozen, mouth partially open in shock.
“Then, you show up this summer to announce that the marriage is over, dissolved, and I thought it was about time. But now, this? Hermione Granger?”
“Yes. Yes, Elizabeth. Hermione Granger,” Narcissa nodded, confused.
“No! Me! I’ve been in love with you since we were in school together. If your marriage to Lucius is over, don’t choose her, Cissy,” Elizabeth pleaded, falling back on the nickname Narcissa's eldest sister had bestowed upon her. Was she truly so unaware of Narcissa's history?
Upstairs, Hermione had changed into her pyjamas and brushed her teeth. “Hmm, no glasses?”
Pepper popped into the room, “Hello, Hermione Granger! Do you need anything?”
“Well, that was funny timing,” Hermione laughed. “I was just looking around for a water glass but I don’t see any. I’m going to head downstairs and ask Elizabeth for one.”
“Pepper can ask!” The little elf did so love to be helpful.
Smiling, Hermione knelt before Pepper, “I know you can but I want to ask you for another little favor before I go.” Pepper nodded. “I would feel a lot safer tonight if you slept in here with us. Do you think you could find yourself some pillows and blankets and a comfy little spot to sleep in here while I’m downstairs? If you really prefer a cupboard instead of a bed, you could probably empty out the storage under the window seat over there or you could sleep on the window seat. It’s very soft and definitely big enough for you.”
“Pepper would feel safer here, too, Hermione Granger. Water, bed, sleep,” the elf nodded, serious.
Hermione tapped Pepper’s nose and headed back downstairs. After descending one flight of stairs, she rounded the corner and heard Elizabeth’s voice carry up the hallway. Hermione wanted to believe she hadn’t heard properly because it almost sounded as if Elizabeth had said she had been in love with Narcissa since they were in school together. Hermione, on stealthy feet, crept slowly down the top few steps, listening carefully without making a sound.
“Elizabeth, I...you...I’m not choosing Hermione,” Narcissa answered, her voice rough.
Hermione’s heart sank, her stomach dropped. She froze there, two steps down, just out of sight.
“Then I can send him away,” Elizabeth was smiling, “you’ll stay with me!”
“No,” Narcissa gasped. “That’s absolutely not what I’m saying. I’m not choosing Hermione. I’m not picking sides in a schoolyard Quidditch match. Hermione and I, we have...we have plans and hopes. We’ve discussed our...our goals. I know how she wants to change the world, what she dreams.” Hermione heard Narcissa stand, “I may have carried Lucius’ child in my body, but I’ve never known another person as intimately as I know Hermione.”
Hermione pressed her hands over her mouth to contain the sob threatening to break free. She could do nothing about the tears pouring down her cheeks.
Narcissa sighed deeply and moved toward the staircase, she stood at the bottom, still looking at Elizabeth. “It shouldn’t be about choosing her over you but if I must, I will.” Narcissa looked up the stairs then, startling a bit when she saw Hermione. Their eyes locked, “I’ll choose Hermione every day. We’re going to Hogwarts in the morning. We won’t return afterwards. Goodnight, Elizabeth.”