The days were sunny, but every once in a while the clouds would cover the sun threatening rain. Then as if by magic the clouds would dissipate and shine on a beautiful day. Narcissa felt sunlight teeter too and fro, light and dark, and she could not help but be caught in her recent decisions in her own life. At times she could see herself from the outside, see the cold woman she had become. How could she not? She was using a woman's affections to fill a void she had in her heart. Last night Amelia took her to bed. She made love the Narcissa. She made the woman orgasm, and grunt and moan into the room and space around them, but it wasn't until Amelia screamed her name, clenched her blond hair in fists as Narcissa for lack of a better word, no matter how undignified, fucked Amelia, did Narcissa feel even remotely settled. Narcissa held the woman in her bed until sleep claimed Amelia, and once her shallow breathing indicated slumber Narcissa turned away, and felt a rush of tears stream down her face. She could not pin point the reason why tears came. The experience was beautiful, even fulfilling. She woke up this morning spooned from behind by a woman she didn't love. Oh yes she wanted her, but without love, how long will that want, that passion and desire last? All she could see was she was about to hurt the one woman she could have loved if she didn't love Hermione.
Narcissa sat in the headmaster's office waiting for her son and her ward. She never really got a chance to be up here, she was never really a problematic child, but she was surprised by the artifacts on the walls, book cases, and shelves, not to mention his desk. She saw the sword of Gryffindor on the wall and marveled at the craftsmen's ship. Then her concentration was broken by Headmaster Dumbledore coming in to his office. He shook her hand and she felt it ever so subtly.
"Sir, just ask your questions. At this moment I wish not to be prodded by nosy old men who are invading my thoughts," Narcissa spat as she sat in the offered chair. The grey old man just sat, pressed his fingers together and smiled over his half-moon glasses. She knew he knew nothing, and she shook her head again as he tried to read her thoughts.
"Ms. Black, I would like to mention your son is doing well in classes, and so is Miss Granger. They have formed a great bond over first year and it would be a shame to see that bond be broken," the old man toned.
"What do you mean Headmaster Dumbledore? They are inseparable, almost thick as thieves and Hermione is a part of our family just as Draco is a part of hers," Narcissa began to dislike this man. He was too nosy, but when it came to both children she went in to uber mother wolf mode. She would claw, bite, and snarl, to make sure those two were taken care of.
"You know your son better than I. I have noticed some differences in him as of late," the headmaster stated but Narcissa didn't trust the man. She needed to see her son and asked when the children will arrive and when they need to be returned by. The headmaster complied and in just a few short moments the children where shown in to the room. Draco barreled toward his mother and crushed him in a hug. She laughed and bear hugged her son back adoring the feel of her son loving her. It was a primal mother thing. Mother, birth, love from offspring. She was wondering if her son was growing up too fast before she felt that slam from her own child. Her arms where wrapped around Draco's shoulders and she noticed Hermione. The bushy haired girl looked worn, tired, stressed out, concerned, and out of place. Draco opened his arms to include her and it startled Narcissa to see the young girl hesitate. Hermione looked at Draco. She looked at him as if she didn't know the boy, but their eyes met, and Hermione threw herself at Narcissa. She hugged the girl just as she had her son. She would have to ask the girl about her happenings, after they arrived in Hogsmeade for girl talk.
She took both children by the hand and walked from the Headmasters office, past a leery McGonagall, and through the castle to the great castle doors. Once out of the castle they made their way to Hogsmeade.
"Where would you two would like to spend your afternoon, little loves?" asked Narcissa with a smile on her face. Hermione mentioned a small book store and stationary shop, while Draco mentioned the sweets shop and the Three Broom sticks. Hermione never wanted sweets and Narcissa was never for them but for some reason Draco wished to consume something sweet yet sour. Hermione told him of an American candy called Spree. He went in search of it leaving his mother and the bushy brunette alone.
Narcissa looked down at the young girl and motioned her to the closest stationary shop. She asked if Narcissa liked this paper and that color ink, so on and so forth. Narcissa grew tired of the way the girl ghosted over her attempts at conversation. She knelt down in the shop off to the side, away from ears, and asked her problem.
"My little witch, you have deep things on your mind. What are they?" Narcissa watched her brown eyes with smatterings of yellow stare back at her. She held a breath. Those are the same eyes that saved my life, she thought. Then pulled away to see the girl and not the woman. She saw the eyes scan this way and that in the store and asked if they can go on a private walk. Narcissa stood and nodded. Hermione went to pay for her purchases, but Narcissa would have none of that mentioning it's her birthday. Dan and Jean would have done the same for Draco. Hermione smiled and reached for her hand. Hermione and Narcissa walked hand in hand to the outskirts of the village before Hermione let go and paced before the pureblood woman.
"Draco," Hermione began but could not finish then she was startled. Narcissa flinched from the girl. She didn't know what happened but she put her body in front of the girl's path, and crouched down grasping her arms. Hermione flinched, and Narcissa released the girl knowing she grabbed her too hard.
"Hermione, you know by now I am your magical guardian, as well as your friend, please…" Narcissa paused getting Hermione to look at her. She gulped wondering what was wrong with her son.
"He called me a Mudblood, Narcissa," Hermione threw her arms around Narcissa and cried into her shoulder, "I never knew how much it hurt until he did it. He began hanging out with Crabbe and Goyle, and the three for some strange reason where glued to one another. I was left alone."
Narcissa rubbed circles into Hermione's back. No one should hurt this much, especially not her little witch. Narcissa spent a few more moments consoling the distraught girl before she clasped her hand and made her look at her again.
"I will talk to Draco, little one. Do not worry ill set him straight. You and your family have been nothing but wonderful to him. This cannot go unpunished," Narcissa stood and took Hermione's hand and walked back to the village, but Hermione pulled her hand from her grasp.
"No! Don't do that! If I am his friend, I have to find my way with him," Hermione stood there barely 5 feet tall but bulletproof. She looked back at the girl, then nodded. She needed to fight her own battles, but she will not do so alone.
"You will write me at least once a week Miss Granger, if not more. I will accept any letter no matter how frivolous. That is the deal you and I will garner if you wish for me not to rip into my own son for is filthy use of such a foul word. Deal?" Narcissa garnered a little of that cold mask and voice and when the girl nodded she went to Hermione. She held out her arms to the girl and it was not even a second when Narcissa was engulfed in a hug.
They walked side by side talking about school, marks, and interesting things they can do in charms or transfiguration class. She admitted that Professor Snape was just down right mean to everyone but Slytherin, but she and Harry where his worst targets.
"I know Professor Snape. He seems to push those children with the most promise in his craft. Naturally he wants the wizarding world's savior to pass potions, and I think he might see something in you as a very wise and smart witch. Think of it as not punishment but as a mark of true respect, then you will have a much easier time in potions."
Narcissa came to Draco in the Three Broomsticks and she held her breath. He had written to her how tired she was, but she didn't see it through her own happiness. He was downright exhausted sitting there with a Butterbeer waiting on his mother and his friend. His dark circles reminded her of her husband's when he was maniacal in his…. affection.
"Oh well mother, it's nice to see the Mudblood come back with you," Draco drawled.
SWACK!
"You were not raised that way, you will respect all blood lineages," Narcissa reprimanded as she pulled her hand from her son's red cheek. She hated what she had done.
"Oh it's fine… MOTHER… You blood traitor!" Narcissa smacked him once, but could not raise a hand to him again, not so close to earlier. She still felt the sting on her own palm.
SMACK!
She looked to the side and saw Hermione with her wand out pointed at Draco's throat, and tears in her eyes. She shook as her wand held high, and she kept opening and closing the hand that had just struck her son.
"Apologize to your mother Draco. I know we don't seem to get on the same page lately, but your mother is a completely different story. She loves you," Hermione's words and slap shocked the hell out of Draco and then he wavered. His hand went to his jaw and his cheeks as if he just realized why it happened, as if he just woke up. He looked at her with cloudy, tear filled eyes, and spoke only one word. Hermione.
The muggleborn hugged her friend and then told Narcissa she wished to get Draco to the infirmary. She agreed.
It was hours, upon hours when dawn rose, and Narcissa and Poppy Pomfrey could not find anything wrong with her son. She said that he was possibly possessed, because of the changes, but she couldn't put her finger on it. There was something Dark within her son. Pomfrey asked that Narcissa Black be made a half time healer for Hogwarts, so that she could be close by just in case. Narcissa sighed and nodded. Between auror training and her little witch and wizard, she would live off of pepper up potions. Who cares? Anything to save them.