Chapter 2
The thundering of her own heartbeat resonated loudly within Hermione's ears, swirling with the dizzied lightheadedness that wrapped around her in a perversely soothing blanket. The chesterfield next to the door was the closest, allowing her to take a step and lower herself to sit. Taking a breath, Hermione closed her eyes and allowed the overwhelming rush of sensation and emotion to flow through her, recognizing the maelstrom and releasing it in turn. Slowly, her breathing deepened as she processed, and within a few minutes, she opened her eyes, her mind beginning to tick over the known facts for what would now comprise her evening.
She had cocked it up by being too focused on her own ends, completely neglecting to actually do the barest protections of her schedule by maintaining the slightest attentions to the changing weather.
Like an absolute numpty.
It was like she was Dumbledore for how little she thought ahead on this day.
At that thought, she shook her head and took in the surroundings of the room, cataloging quickly the focus on comfortable utility versus ostentatious opulence. Though nicely fitted, the pieces were not screaming wealth, requiring one to know that the chesterfield that Hermione sat upon was actually a piece like enough to make Antiques Roadshow stutter. She inhaled deeply and held it for a two count, then released it slowly, letting go of the lingering uncertainty with it.
She was to weekend with the Black Sisters. She had done more difficult things in her life. She could survive this. It wasn't like she was going to make an absolute git of herself by stumbling over her words and staring unnecessarily.
She would absolutely not behave in a manner unbecoming a grown woman with a full time job and her own cosy flat. She was not some bumbling schoolboy staring everytime some were found dogging. She could bloody well control herself, dammit.
Nodding to herself in firm resolve, Hermione stood and strode to the wardrobe first, the well burnished wood almost warm beneath her touch as she opened the doors. Hung on the right was a selection of sleepwear of various design and color, and Hermione's fingers slid amongst the fabrics in reverent decadence. She found one and smiled.
A scant few moments later, Hermione folded her trousers and laid them over the edge of the bed. She was not certain that she would be sleeping in this room, but felt she was safe in the assumption of custom that she was being afforded this space to herself for the duration.
Closing the bedroom door behind her, Hermione retraced the route back to the games room with quiet feet, the soft slippers she had chosen likely to be discarded quickly once back amongst the sisters.
The appearance of the Black Sisters during the war had confounded many with their unattainability. Bellatrix, the right hand, and Narcissa, the society scion, stymied many by their unpredictability. It had been more than a few Order meetings where Hermione had borne witness to frustrated planning against theorized attacks that rarely came from the avenue expected. Planning for a frontal attack led by Bellatrix left them open for the insidious pressures that bore the hallmarks of Narcissa's deft hand. It wouldn't be until well after the final Order meeting that it would come to light how this had been so handily coordinated.
Hermione stretched her neck, releasing the tension of the day. She had done her part to ensure that justice would be seen, and now she was to spend the weekend among three of the most instrumental to the cause.
Releasing a final slow breath, Hermione pushed the door of the games room open, her lips curving into a soft and shy smile as three sets of attentive eyes turned to rake almost physically over her. The deep black gaze directed at her from Bellatrix began at her feet and trailed up the length of her legs, taking in the choice of shirt and ending by boring into Hermione's own. Narcissa's gaze, however, snapped immediately to the full bare expanse of Hermione's legs, a light flush dusting over her high cheekbones. Andromeda met first with Hermione's shy gaze, which she returned with a mischievous grin.
"Should I fetch you a pair of sunglasses, or are we going to Bridget Jones it?"
Hermione laughed lightly at Andromeda's teasing as she entered the room more fully, kicking off the slippers and allowing her bare toes to sink into the plush carpet. Though hidden by the hem of the oversized men's dress shirt, Hermione was secure in knowing that the barely there sleep shorts she had chosen would secure her modesty, what little there was of it when around these women. "I doubt this is a night for Bob Seger, Andy."
"Too right, pet. Tonight is a night meant for far more." At the words from Bellatrix, Narcissa's flushed gaze darted to Andromeda, who didn't visibly react.
"Don't scare her, Bellend." Andy swung a cushion at her sister's head, quickly obscuring the shocked expression behind the pillow.
"You!" Bella lunged at Andy, her arms wrapping around Andy's waist and taking her laughing form down beyond Hermione's sight, behind the couch. Narcissa sighed deeply as the two highly respected and responsible women grappled and laughed on the floor.
"Hermione dear, it is good to see you. Are you hungry? We've a spread here." Narcissa had shifted closer to the enraptured woman, touching her fingers to Hermione's elbow. "If we've need for something different, we can see to it." Narcissa's fingers drifted slightly, gently caressing over the cotton of Hermione's shirt. Hermione wished she'd chosen a shirt with significantly less in the sleeve department. Clearing her throat and turning her head from the obscene spread of Bella and Andy entwined together on the floor, she took in the spread of quick bites and finger foods arrayed before her. Taking up a small sausage roll, Hermione popped it into her mouth and embraced the flavor.
Swallowing, she smiled at Narcissa. "Thank you, truly, for allowing me to crash your weekend. It was honestly a mistake on my part, I completely forgot to check the weather." Hermione selected another morsel and took a bite, equally as delicious as the first.
Narcissa smiled and selected a miniature quiche for herself, taking a bite of the morsel. With a low hum, she brushed away crumbs from the edge of her mouth. "It is a pleasure to be able to be in your company, dear." Narcissa stepped into Hermione's space, her hip nearly brushing against Hermione's own as she reached for some grapes set just in front of the now flustered Hermione. She could feel the heat of Narcissa's body through their clothes, setting flashes off in her head of trying to not stare at the charming woman anytime they ran across each other.
The tussling behind them quieted as they softly chit chatted of nothing and everything over the table, Hermione's neglected stomach finally being seen to. She nearly jumped out of her skin when a set of arms wrapped themselves around her waist, pulled her flush against a heated body. A stifled and choked sound emerged from Hermione's throat, midway between a cry and a moan. Dark curls brushed against the side of Hermione's face and neck, the sensation tickling across her skin and making her shiver. Full breasts pressed against the back of her shoulders and she melted into the touch.
"Having fun, pet?" The husky purr in her ear was nearly enough to fully weaken Hermione's knees. As it was, she melted into the embrace, her hands resting lightly over the arms wrapped around her waist. "Been a while since you properly relaxed, hasn't it?" One of Bella's hands spread flat against Hermione's stomach, her fingers playing with the button of the shirt there. A sharp nip at her neck had her stifling a moan. Bella's embrace tightened slightly before releasing. "Come, we're set to watch a movie. Andy's pick this time."
Bella led Hermione to the couch which had recently seen the impromptu wrestling match. Laid stretched out on the couch was Andy, her legs resting on Narcissa's lap. Andy grinned up at Hermione, her head propped up on her bent arm. "Lay down with me, Hermione, while Bella starts the show." With a roll of her eyes, Bella stepped to the entertainment center to finish getting things sorted.
Hermione looked over the couch. The wide couch was certainly deep enough for both of them to lay together on it. Their bodies would absolutely be pressed tightly together, and Hermione briefly had panic flare at the thought of being that closely pressed to the woman that had spent entirely too much time in her illicit dreams. Shoving aside such thoughts, Hermione stretched out before Andy, settling her head on the cushion that Andy met her with. One of Andy's arms encircled her waist and pulled Hermione flush against Andy's front as Narcissa's smooth hands pulled Hermione's bare legs over her lap, her fingers softly tracing over Hermione's skin.
Andy's smiling voice burred into Hermione's ear. "Comfortable?"
Hermione's heart thundered in her chest, her gaze flitting up nervously to meet Bella's as she came back over to join them. Her hair was mussed and her tanktop had twisted around her torso slightly, settling back into place as Bella lowered herself to sit on the floor in front of the couch, the back of her shoulders brushing against Hermione's front. She reached back and claimed Hermione's hand, settling it against her shoulder and idly playing with Hermione's fingers.
Hermione desperately hoped that they did not notice her sharp intake of breath at the feel of Bella settling back against her.
The large television across the room lit abruptly, the opening credits of the movie beginning. Narcissa's gentle fingers traced random patterns against Hermione's bare legs, sending frissons up and down Hermione's spine. Andy's arm remained a firm embrace against Hermione's middle, with Bella's shoulders serving as a bracket holding her in place. Surrounded as she was, Hermione could barely pay attention to the movie, her entire focus equally split between the sisters.
Midway through the movie, she ached to move, the feel of Andy's warm breath skittering across her neck and shoulder driving her out of her mind.
Then Andy pressed a soft kiss to the curve of Hermione's shoulder. Hermione held her breath, half convinced she had imagined it.
Another kiss had her biting her lip. A lightly callused thumb brushed against her lips, releasing the bite, before a palm pressed against her cheek and turned her head back. Hermione's eyes closed.
Soft lips pressed against her fingertips, and the light touch against her legs firmed.
Andy's lips met her own, a gentle and enrapturing kiss that had Hermione releasing everything she had been restraining, allowing herself to sink into the decadence that was the embrace she found herself in.
Much later, as she came yet again against a wickedly talented tongue whilst her breasts where subject to the gently torturous touch of her lovers and her screams were swallowed in insistent kisses, Hermione silently thanked her past self for being an absolute idiot.