3
“We were right they were with Rodolphus.”Narcissa jumped up from her seat in front of the fire in the Malfoy family library, wand in hand at the sound of a woman’s voice coming from behind her. Seeing who the voice belonged to she sighed and lowered her wand. How Hermione was able to constantly sneak up on her she could never figure out and if Narcissa didn’t respect and love the girl so much she would hex her into next week for the numerous scares. However she did respect and love Hermione very much. The girl was like the sister she always wanted and had shown Narcissa more love than any other person in her life ever did. Hermione was Narcissa’s family it didn’t matter that they didn’t share blood.
A relationship that started when Hermione was brought to Malfoy manor with Ron and Harry. Narcissa wasn’t able to protect Hermione physically but she did her best to protect her mentally and had kept Hermione from going insane from all the torture. After the final battle Hermione had sought Narcissa out and the pair lived in Malfoy manor together ever since. When Hermione came up with the plan to hunt down Lucius and Draco Narcissa happily volunteered to help. Narcissa knew she would never be free while they were still alive. So using Narcissa’s contacts with families that followed the Dark Lord and Hermione’s talent to find out information on her own the pair had been following every lead they got trying to find the remaining Malfoys. Hermione killing everyone she came in contact with wasn’t part of the plan but Narcissa supported it wholeheartedly. Especially after seeing what kind of sentences were given out for war crimes.
“So that means you are the Head of Household for the Lestranges and the Malfoys now?”Narcissa wants to be sure before she celebrated.
“I am and you are finally free.”Hermione was happy she was finally able to give the woman she come to see as a her sister her freedom.
Narcissa pulled Hermione into a hug.”I can’t thank you enough for this.”
“You’re my only family. I would do anything for you.”Hermione would burn the world to the ground if meant that Narcissa would be free of her husband and his devil spawn.
“And you know that I would do anything for you as well.”Narcissa promised.
“I do. Now how should we celebrate?”Hermione asked.
“Well with you now Head of Household you have access to the full estate that means you can open the Malfoy family’s private wine cellar.”Narcissa told her.
“Ahh yes the wine cellar. Lucius loved to brag about all the rare and expensive wine and spirits he and his family had collected over the years. I’m not surprised that he locked it up with Tom and his people living here.”Hermione couldn’t wait to actually go through Malfoy manor to find out all the secrets Lucius was keeping. It was Hermione’s goal to expose the Malfoys and Lestranges to the world and show how inferrer pure blood families really were.
“Well I had the pleasure of seeing it once so I can verify Lucius’ claim of it being filled with such things.”Narcissa had always wanted a chance to have free rein of the wine cellar. She actually always wanted to have free rein of the whole Malfoy estate. Something that she now had thanks to Hermione.
“Then what are we waiting for. Let’s find the most expensive thing we can find and drink the whole bottle.”Hermione held out her arm for Narcissa to take.
“I like the way you think.”Narcissa grabbed Hermione’s arm and seconds later the pair were in the private wine cellar.
Hermione picked up a bottle of bourbon and whistled.”This is better than the top shelf stuff Dumbledore had.”
“Dumbledore had a very unsophisticated palette. Which was proven in my fourth year when Bellatrix snuck into his office and replaced his best bottle of whiskey with a cheaper brand. He never noticed the difference.”Narcissa told her.
“I wish I had known Bellatrix then.”Hermione said.
“She would have liked you very much.”Narcissa appreciated the fact that Hermione was willing to forgive Bellatrix for what she done and understood that the insane witch was a product of her environment and hadn’t always been a horrible person. It made it easier for Narcissa to forgive her sister as well and allowed her to look back fondly on the good times they had. Especially when Andromeda was still a part of the family. Andromeda had reached out after the war was over but Narcissa was reluctant to get involved with her again. Her sister had turned her back on her when Narcissa needed help getting away from her parents and Narcissa wasn’t quite ready to forgive her yet.
“Why don’t you pick a bottle and the first toast we make will be for the Bellatrix that I wish I knew.”Hermione really would have liked to know Bellatrix before her marriage and her eventually fall into madness. From what Narcissa told her Bellatrix sounded like someone Hermione would have enjoyed very much.
“Good idea.”Narcissa searched through the shelves looking for something that Bellatrix would have liked. Finding a bottle of Russian vodka she lifted it up to show Hermione.”This would be perfect as Bellatrix’s favorite drink was vodka.”
“Before we start drinking we need to make sure we have a hangover potion for each of us because the last time I got drunk on vodka I was in the muggle world and couldn’t function for three days after I sobered up.”Hermione hadn’t even known hangover potion existed when she was teenager. It would have helped her a lot when she went home during the summers and partied with her muggle friends.
“The elves have a large supply on hand on all times. It was one of Tom’s orders for his people to drink before they went on missions as his followers were drunk most of the time. Lucius never rescinded the order so they still make the same amount.”Narcissa told her.
“Sorting out the elves is something we need to do soon. The poor creatures deserve a break from all the crazy things they were ordered to do.”Hermione had felt helpless watching the elves torture themself and put themselves in situations that Hermione would never condone. Neither she nor Narcissa were able to do anything because they would only listen to the Head of Household.
“Let’s worry about that tomorrow. Tonight we are going to toast to Bella and celebrate the death of three scumbags that the world is better off without.”Narcissa said.
“I like the sound of that. Let’s go to my room so we can watch bad reality tv.”Hermione had rigged up a tv and satellite dish in her wing of the manor a month after she moved in and Narcissa had been obsessed with realty tv ever since. What muggles did in their everyday life fascinated her and Narcissa had dragged Hermione to muggle London the first chance she got. Visits to the muggle world were a regular occurrence. Narcissa only went when Hermione was with her however for fear of Lucius or Draco finding her.
“Good idea we have three episodes of Next Level Chef that I have been waiting for you to come home so we watch together.”Narcissa loved watching muggle cooking shows because she liked seeing all the weird food concoctions the muggles came up with and the crazy techniques and equipment they used to make it.
“I’m glad you waited for me.”Hermione held out her arm for Narcissa and once she took it aprriated them to her bedroom.”Do you want some of my pajamas to change into?”
“I’ll grab something.”Narcissa helped herself to Hermione’s clothes all the time as she enjoyed wearing muggle clothing. She had a few items for herself but hadn’t been comfortable shopping for some yet. Now with Lucius dead and her no longer needing to keep up appearances with the other pure blood families she was going to overhaul her whole wardrobe.
“Do you want snacks?”Hermione asked.
”I would like some popcorn and milk duds.”Muggle snacks were another thing Narcissa loved. It was nice not to have to chase your candy or worry about it cursing you like magical candy was known to do.
“I’ll call an elf.”Hermione snapped her fingers causing an elf to appear in the room.
The elf bowed.“Hello Misses Hermione what can Dispy do for you?”
“Can you please bring us some popcorn, milk duds, toffees, and two mars bars?”Hermione asked.
”Of course misses.”The elf wasted no time leaving the room and returning with the items Hermione asked for.”Here you are.”
Hermione took everything from the small creature.”Thank you that will be all.”
“Let me know if you need anything else misses.” The elf said before disappearing from the room.
“I forgot to tell you earlier but I got a letter from Fleur Delacour.”Narcissa had forgotten in all the excitement.
Hermione immediately perked up hearing that name.”What did Fleur Delacour want with you?”
“It wasn’t me she wanted it was you.”Narcissa told her.
“I don’t understand.”Hermione said.
“Apparently she heard about the Head of Household change and reached out to me in hopes that if you were to contact me I would be willing to pass you a note.”Narcissa picked up her discarded robe, pulled an envelope out the pocket and handed it to Hermione.”I got it about an hour before you showed up.”
“I wonder what Fleur wants with me?”Hermione hoped Fleur wanted to see her. Ever since Fleur’s wedding the Veela had been on Hermione’s mind. She thought about her often and wondered what she was doing and if she was safe. Those thoughts increased after Hermione’s stay at Shell Cottage and the night of passion she shared with Fleur. It was Hermione’s plan to speak to Fleur once she was done hunting down Lucius and Draco but it seemed that Fleur had beaten her to the punch.
“Maybe she wants from you the same thing you want from her.”Narcissa knew all about Hermione’s feelings for Fleur as the young witch talked about her time with her often. Narcissa also knew why Hermione held off from contacting her. Her reasons being something that Narcissa was grateful for because Narcissa doubted Fleur would support Hermione’s mission to kill Lucius and Draco.
“One way to find out.”Hermione opened the envelope, pulled out the letter and began to read it silently to herself.
Hermione,
If you are reading this letter then Lady Malfoy was able to get in touch with you. That being the case I ask that you please visit me at your earliest convince to discuss a matter that I need your help with. I don’t know why you disappeared after the battle nor do I wish to force you to reveal yourself but you are the only one that can help with this important matter.
Please come visit me,
Fleur
P.S. I have missed you greatly and have relived the night we spent together many times in my memories.
“What did she say?”Narcissa asked.
“Here.”Hermione handed the letter to Narcissa.
Narcissa took the letter and read it.”It seems that she not only needs your help but hasn’t forgotten about you.”
“I haven’t forgotten about her either.”Hermione said taking a moment to change into her pajamas and slide into bed.”I do wonder what she needs help with.”
Narcissa took her spot on the other side of Hermione on the bed, picked up the tv remote switching the tv on and starting the show.”Veela are proud creatures. If she is asking for help it must be important.”
“I hope she hasn’t gotten herself into trouble.”Hermione couldn’t think of anything that she could help Fleur with that her flock wouldn’t be able to take care of.
“Are you going to go visit her then?”Narcissa asked.
”I’ll go tomorrow morning. Tonight I want to get drunk, eat food that is horribly bad for our teeth and make fun of your reactions to muggle television.”Hermione deserved a break from serious issues for one night.
“Then to get get the night started I raise a toast to Bella.”Narcissa took the lid off of the vodka and held up the bottle.”The greatest big sister a girl could have.”
Hermione took the bottle from Narcissa after she took a sip and held it up.”And the brightest witch of her age.”
“Here, here!”Narcissa took the bottle back from Hermione after she drank some and held it up again.”Now this is a toast to you for freeing me.”
Hermione took the bottle back and drank some more then held it up.”This toast is to you for being the strongest person I know.”
“You are the strongest person I know.”Narcissa told her as she took the bottle back.
“Well then together we will be the strongest people the world has ever known.”Hermione said as she took her turn with the bottle. The pair settled into a comfortable silence passing the bottle back and forth and sharing snacks while watching muggle chefs created random things. Every now a then Narcissa would make a comment that made Hermione laugh but mostly they just enjoyed each other company. Hermione hadn’t realized it before but now that Lucius and Draco were dead the mood in the house was totally different. Before there was a sense of dread and anxiety that hung over every move they made and now it was like new life had been breathed into the air. Hermione definitely liked the new vibe better and was happy that she was able to make it happen. Now all that she had worry about was what Fleur needed help with. Hermione hoped it wasn’t something dangerous because she really didn't want to be pulled back into another conflict now that her final targets were taken care of. Of course if Fleur was the one asking Hermione would do anything that needed to be done. Even if that meant she would have to fight in another war. Fleur had that much influence on her life. That being something that made Hermione somewhat uncomfortable about. She didn’t like not being in control. Then again Fleur really wasn’t the worst person to give control of her life to. The last time she gave up control to Fleur it led to a very enjoyable night. One that Hermione wanted to repeat again.