Chapter Text
Hidden Desires AO3 Chapter 23:
Back outskirts of Hogsmeade-
The Forest was a blur of browns and greens, with hints of sunshine trying to peek through the foliage. Everything was a blur as Hermione sprinted over the wards and through the main gate. Her mind was beginning to self-destruct, and no amount of running would shut it off. She desperately tried to focus on her breathing and how her body responded to each step she took, but it was no use. The odd trio reached the main door after several tense minutes and found Harry Potter waiting for her. She knew he was aware that something was wrong with her and that she was upset, but she didn’t want to talk about it. She couldn’t talk about it… Not yet. First, she needed to get herself under control before she could even think of it. Her magic was close to becoming erratic, and the last thing she wanted to do was to hurt someone when it finally found an outlet.
Once she was close enough, she decided to cut him off at the knees and said, “Look, Harry, I just need to finish my workout and would rather not talk at the moment. Just head back to Narcissa’s suite, where I know Fleur is waiting with her.” Her magic was becoming more chaotic, and an explosion was imminent. Just like her magic, her temper was steadily climbing to a dangerous level, and the last thing she wanted was to unleash it on those she cared about.
It took all of Harry’s strength and courage not to step back, and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as a cold shiver ran up his spine. After all the danger he faced in his youth, during the war, and as an Auror, his instincts were finely tuned to the threats around him. With each step bringing Hermione closer to him, his instincts screamed that danger was imminent. He knew Hermione like the back of his hand and recognized that something had happened during her run. That was the only reason she was back on these grounds so soon after leaving. He could tell she was angry; it was evident on her face as her magic crackled through the air, building with energy. “Hermione…” he tried to say more, but a look from her silenced him. There was no point in trying to speak with her now—perhaps in a few hours, but not now… for everyone's safety.
“Listen, I have a workout to complete, and then I need to get ready for my classes. I’ll see you at breakfast.” Hermione said coolly, attempting to slip past him. She paused briefly when his arm came up to block her, then added, “Not now, Harry. If you want to assist, keep everyone away from me.”
Harry’s arm dropped as swiftly as it had risen to block her way. He received the message clearly: Keep Narcissa away from her. Just as he was about to send a patronus to Minerva, he kept himself concealed, observing Hermione as she walked away. Once he confirmed she was out of sight, he asked Prongs to notify the headmistress of the potential danger and said he would arrive at her office soon to discuss the matter. As he jogged back toward the ladies, another troubling thought struck him: Would Hermione even be able to teach today?
~page break/time skip/Hermione’s point of view~
Grateful for the empty halls, Hermione continued making her way towards the Come and Go Room as she pushed all her emotions behind her mental barriers. Her magic was starting to lash out, and was getting close to the point where she wouldn’t be able to control it… Harry would call it “the danger zone”.
Each step brought her closer to her goal, and as her rage continued to burn, she kept repeating, “Just one more step.”
As she paced quickly in front of the blank wall, the doors had yet to appear fully, as she was already striding through them. Ignoring the presence of her Guards, Hermione continued with her workout. The room had created a near replica of the castle grounds, complete with the Black Lake. Losing track of time, Hermione ran until she could go no further. When her lungs felt ready to burst, and her legs turned to dead weight, she pressed on. She practiced yoga, meditation, and tai chi. Still, when those proved ineffective, she transitioned to various martial arts, including fencing, self-defense, karate, kung fu, muay thai, capoeira, and krav maga, but nothing worked. Her magic swirled around her, as if she had become a tornado. Eventually, the room conjured targets for her to release her magic onto, but that offered little relief.
Finally, she collapsed to her knees, momentarily covering her face with her hands before gazing upwards and unleashing a piercing scream filled with immense pain and heartbreak. It felt as though her body was being ripped apart and her mind engulfed in flames. Agony surged through her so intensely that she overlooked the giant crater she had created with her magic. As her body curled inward, her thoughts spiraled into a chaotic jumble of panic and desperation. In that moment, an idea emerged: the only thing that could soothe her mind enough to think clearly was a glass of her prized bourbon (this particular bottle, though costly, was well worth it).
Despite it being early morning, Hermione summoned her personal elf to fetch her bottle of bourbon. She believed that alcohol was a preferable alternative to potions, as it wouldn’t leave her feeling sluggish later. With her instincts and magic in disarray, she was unaware of Auror Bailey’s approach. When she felt a hand on her shoulder, her body instinctively flinched hard.
Making sure she maintained a respectful position and her hands held in front of her in the universal sign of “I’m unarmed and mean no harm”, Rachel ensured she had the broken witch's attention as she calmly stated, “I know you feel as if your mind is going to explode, but try to focus on me and take a deep breath. Can you do that for me?” When no response came, she tried again, “Hermione, I need you to focus on my voice and keep looking into my eyes. Can you take a deep breath for me?”
Hermione’s magic erupted against the constraint, pushing the Auror aside. After taking a big gulp of Bourbon, she drank another, quickly finishing half the bottle, which gradually eased the turmoil in her mind. Rachel attempted to approach a few more times, but was repelled. Upon seeing the distressed witch curl her knees to her chest, she looked back at her partner, silently signaling her to find someone who could assist. Given what they had seen earlier, Harry Potter was not an option. With the situation spiraling out of control, they were uncertain how to proceed. The Headmistress and Professors hadn’t mentioned any of this in their briefing. Realizing there was no exit for her partner, she braced herself for a challenging time trying to soothe the golden girl.
The golden girl began rocking back and forth, gripping the bottle tightly to her chest. Cautiously, Rachel approached, crouching near the barrier created by Hermione’s magic. “Hermione,” she called gently. When the powerful witch finally met her gaze, Rachel added, “Scottie and I mean you no harm. Can you tell us how we can help you? What do you need?" Although Hermione seemed to look Rachel in the eye, it was clear she wasn't absorbing any of the words spoken.
This time, when the Auror was tossed around like a rag doll, she chose to keep a safe distance from the clearly distraught witch. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “I’m not sure if you want to try Scottie, but she won’t let me through. I’m going to send a patronus to the Headmistress to inform her of what is happening, and that there’s a strong chance she will be covering some classes today.”
Pick up where Harry left off/Headmistress’s office.
Even though he was tempted to zoom through the ancient stone hallways on his broom, Harry decided that it was better if he ran, utilizing every shortcut available, and soon reached the Head’s office. The moment his foot crossed the wards, the gargoyle started to move, allowing him to quickly ascend the stairs to the Headmistress’s door, which was slightly open. He found Minerva pacing by the fireplace. Making an effort not to startle her, he gently said, “Minerva…”
Minerva spun around unexpectedly and pressed him, “You were meant to stay with her and her guards whenever she was in this state. You knew she didn't have the best day yesterday and that the next few days would be challenging. So, where is she now?”
Doing his best to withstand the intimidating glare aimed at him, he cleared his throat and replied, “I tried to join her, but she told me I wasn’t needed. Something happened last night, but I don’t have all the details.”
“But you have some.”
“Yes,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Before you storm off, let’s sit down, and I’ll share what I know.” He noticed Minerva trying to hide her trembling hands and gently took hers, guiding her to the sofa. As soon as she was seated, a small tray of coffee and tea appeared. As he prepared Minerva’s cup, he used the moment to organize his thoughts. “I want you to remember that I don’t have all the details and can only share what I know. I’m sure Fleur is obtaining more information from Narcissa as we speak. This morning, I waited for Hermione to knock on our door, but it never happened. Fleur and I decided to visit Narcissa’s room, thinking she was getting a late start. When the Potion Mistress opened the door, she seemed confused, believing I was supposed to be with Hermione.”
“From what I gathered, it was a difficult night for them. Narcissa had a glamour on, and when I inquired about Hermione’s well-being, she deflected my questions and instead asked whether Hermione had ever shown sudden changes in behavior or personality. We attempted to clarify for Narcissa what Hermione is like during such times and what signs to look for. However…" His voice faltered, hesitant to recount what transpired in Narcissa’s rooms.
“What else happened, Professor Potter?” Minerva’s question rang out sharply into the space, demanding answers.
Upon hearing her demands, Harry couldn’t hide the concern etched on his face. “While we were in Narcissa’s quarters, she abruptly stiffened, overwhelmed with heartache and anger. I’m not exactly sure what transpired, but she seemed to be affected by Hermione’s feelings. When I encountered them at the door, Hermione’s defenses were up, and her expression was as hard as stone.”
“Do you know where she is now? Why are you here instead of with her?”
Minerva's hands were shaking visibly, and Harry couldn’t help but wonder whether it stemmed from fear or the frustration of the situation. He had always sensed the bond between these two, but seeing them like this felt surreal. These two remarkable witches are among the most powerful in the world, and even though the world often views them differently, he felt grateful that they had each other for support.
“I believe she headed to the Come and Go room, but that’s just a speculation." Harry sighed wearily, rubbing his face with both hands, eager to move past the subject of his sister’s relationship. Taking a deep breath, he attempted to set aside his worries, although they seemed to be intensifying. He sensed a sudden change in the magic around him and felt the castle tremble. After experiencing several jolts, he glanced at Minerva in shock and exclaimed, “If this shift is caused by who we suspect, we’re in serious trouble. In that case, you’ll need to take over Hermione’s classes.”
“Do you have any clue as to what actually caused her mind to snap? We both know that Hermione would never react like this without cause.” All Harry could do was shake his head. “I see. But you do have a theory, don't you?”
Gratefully accepting the cup of coffee Minerva handed him, he took a moment to collect his thoughts. Of course, he had a theory. The question was, did he share that with Minerva? Without turning his eyes away from the fire, he could feel the daggers that Minerva’s glare was shooting at him. Realizing that there was no way around it, he said, “Now, remember that this is only my theory. I think Hermione went about her normal routine and ran toward Hogsmeade with her guards behind her. Something, or should I say, someone surprised them. I don’t believe this person had any malicious intent; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so upset.” He was forced to pause his explanation as he felt yet another tremor. He did his best to hold in his grimace as he continued, “I think Alexis ambushed her. We know that she tried to get Hermione alone once before and wanted to get back together with her. I can only assume the talk she received from not only me, but also a very angry Veela did not help as well.”
“Damnaidh.” Unable to sit any longer, Minerva swiftly stood and walked towards the fireplace. As she started pacing, she was forced to grab hold of the mantel as the latest tremor was so strong that it shook the walls. Suddenly filled with a different fear, she turned to her Defense Professor and asked, “Has she ever… had any other… was she…”
Watching the color drain from the Headmistress’s face, Harry was forced to jump to his feet. Easily making it to her side, he grabbed her by the elbow as it looked like her legs were going to give out. “What are you trying to ask Minerva?”
“Has she ever… dammit, why is this so hard to say!” Forcing herself to pause, she took a deep breath as she tried to reorganize her thoughts. As she used Harry’s strong and steady touch to keep her grounded, she desperately tried to think of something else, but her thoughts continued along the same path. Concern filled her eyes as she finally found the courage to ask, “Has Hermione ever tried to escape by using muggle drugs?”
Seeing how much Minerva was struggling with everything at the moment, Harry ran a hand through his hair and couldn’t help but think, perhaps we should cancel Hermione’s classes today. It doesn’t look as if either Transfiguration Master was up to the task of molding young minds.
“As far as I know, she has not. But you have to remember Min, if she didn’t want anyone to find out, then no one would.” Feeling the foundations shake once more, he cringed as stone rubbed on stone. He was desperate to help his sister in any way possible. But even he knew that he was woefully unprepared for this level of destruction. Taking a moment, he glanced at the Headmistress out of the corner of his eye and saw that she felt the same way. As he was turning to face her, they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Minerva must have been too far gone with worry if she hadn’t picked up on the fact that someone was approaching her office. She, like Albus, always knew who was waiting on the other side. Deciding to leave her to her pacing for now, he quickly went to the door.
What he hadn’t expected was to see Fleur and Narcissa on the other side, having thought they would have stayed in her rooms. Quickly ushering the two into the office, he gave Narcissa a quick look over and found that she was pale, shaky, and being supported by Fleur. Leaping into action, he helped Fleur support Narcissa as he brought them into the office. They both got her settled in a chair near the pacing Headmistress before Harry asked, “What’s happened? Narcissa, are you okay? Did something else happen to Hermione?”
Hearing Hermione’s name, Minerva’s head snapped towards the two newcomers, and she was waiting for an answer. Something had happened to Hermione; seeing Narcissa like this just cemented everything. The Potion Mistress tried to take a deep breath and recenter herself. Her mind was in overdrive, and it felt as if her heart was going to beat out of her chest. “Where is Hermione? Something is happening right now, and I can’t explain it…. But I must find her.”
The occupants did not expect that question, and gaped at Narcissa for a moment. Harry contemplated telling her the truth. Instead, he replied, “Narcissa, Hermione made her wishes on this very clear. She did not want you to see this. What are you picking up on that has you so adamant about finding her?”
Narcissa pursed her lips at this. She did not like giving out information that wasn’t hers to give. “Besides the fact that we can all feel the foundation of this very institution shaking?” She raised an aristocratic eyebrow as she watched his reaction closely.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Minerva interrupted, “Narcissa, if you have any information that will be helpful, I ask that you please share it.” She paused to give the Potion Mistress a stern glare as her lips thinned. “While you having this connection with Hermione will certainly be helpful, you have never experienced one of her episodes. Please, we all want to help Hermione.”
Narcissa’s face fell blank as she stared back at the Headmistress. “All I will say is that something in her is broken. I cannot say if it is her mind, but I know what she needs at this moment. And if none of you are willing to help me, then you are hindering me, and I shall be on my way.” She stood abruptly, only to have the room start spinning.
Taking a couple of steps, Narcissa heard a muffled curse as she stumbled towards the door, determined to find the woman who was stealing her heart. “Narcissa, just wait a moment,” came a stern voice from her side as a hand gripped her by the elbow to help steady her. “I can understand your reluctance in wanting to share what is going on, and you wanting to help. But you do not understand the situation. Hermione can be… destructive when enraged. I have even dueled her at one time, all of us have. All we can do is wait for the eye of the storm and pray that we can reach her in time.”
Frustrated that no one was listening to her, Narcissa found the strength to push away from the Headmistress as she said, “None of you are listening! We have to find her before it is too late! If none of you are willing, then I will do so on my own.” Not bothering to wait for a response, the Potion Mistress pooled her inner strength and determination and stumbled from the office. She understood that Hermione had a checkered history, but so did she. Growing up surrounded by old magic, she knew its touch well and knew better than to ignore its call.
Stumbling through the halls, Narcissa had to use the walls now and then to steady herself. She could have sworn she heard Fleur calling after her, but she wouldn’t stop. Her magic was dancing under her skin as her head spun. She assumed the warring emotions she felt were actually Hermione’s. She knew that she had to be ready for a fight if the others' worries were anything to go by. Knowing that Hermione was suffering propelled Narcissa forward, and eventually she reached the seventh floor.
Pacing in front of the blank wall across from the dancing trolls while softly muttering, “I need to help Hermione… I need to help Hermione… I need to help Hermione.” Narcissa watched the wall simmer for a moment, almost as if the magic was fighting something. Thankfully, after a minute, a door finally began to form. Taking a deep breath, Narcissa forced her heartbeat to slow as the calm rushed over her. As she prepared to open the door, she made a promise to herself… No matter what awaited on the other side of this door, she would never judge Hermione.
Thankful for being proficient in wandless magic, Narcissa holstered her wand and slowly opened the door just as another rumble rippled through the castle. Ensuring the door was perfectly shielding her body, she quickly peeked in and found Auror Scott was close to the door, and that Auror Bailey was near a crater. Unsure what version of Hermione she would be seeing and the type of room Hermione created, Narcissa carefully stepped towards Auror Scott as she took in every detail before her. The room looked familiar for the most part. From what she could recall, a similar room was created the last time she was here. It looked as if she was on the grounds of Hogwarts, or what used to be the grounds of Hogwarts. It looked as if a magical explosion had decimated a large area. In fact, Narcissa could smell the different magics in the air, and it left a bitter taste in the back of her throat. With the feeling of Hermione’s warring emotions sweeping through her, she did her best to send back love and support. Ensuring her voice was soft and measured, her eyes remained on the crater as she asked, “What can you tell me, Scottie? What happened during the workout that has left her so… broken?”
“She was on the road to Hogsmeade when we were ambushed. Alexis Porto was waiting for her.” Scottie’s eyes were constantly on the move, looking for potential threats as she replied. “I won’t tell you what they discussed, but Hermione made sure to tell her that she wanted nothing to do with her and told her to leave her alone. The rest of the conversation will be for Miss Granger to tell you.”
Knowing she was only getting a small part of the story, Narcissa decided to move on and ask, “Will you tell me what has happened here? Were either of you able to get close enough to Hermione? Or, has her magic been actively striking out against unseen threats?”
Scottie sucked in a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before letting out a deep, shaky sigh. She had a deep respect for the Transfiguration Professor and was truly worried for her safety. As young as the witch in question is, she has truly had some horrible experiences since joining the Wizarding world for one so young. She was so absorbed with her own inner monologue that she jumped slightly when Narcissa placed a gentle hand on her arm. “I won’t lie to you, Narcissa, but Rachel and I are worried. Ever since her encounter with Ms Porto, Hermione had completely closed herself off, and I believe she is currently trapped within her own emotions. Her magic is erratic at best. I could tell that she was having trouble controlling it while we made our way here. Once she was in the room, she tried everything she knew to center herself. But, even that wasn’t enough. Her magic exploded out of her as she let out a scream and created the crater you see now. Her house elf brought her a bottle. I can only assume it was her drink of choice.”
This was worse than Narcissa feared. She decided to take a moment to analyze the magic in the air. Something about it felt ancient and raw. It was certainly familiar to her. The emotions that fueled this storm were what worried her most. She could taste the rage, the hurt, and the confusion. Then a memory from long ago surfaced from the hidden depths of her mind, leaving her uneasy. She had already lived through this once before and had barely survived—the memory of dear sweet Bella and the madness that had claimed her.
Her feet were moving before she knew it, carrying her closer and closer to the chaos. When Auror Bailey tried to stop her, she quickly held her hand up as she said, “Thank you for trying to help her, but I will take care of her, while you will be taking care of me and ensuring my protection from all outside interference.” Knowing how close the two professors had become, Auror Bailey gave her a sharp nod before going to explain to her partner.
Knowing better than to sneak up on Hermione, Narcissa approached from the front. As she neared the Golden girl, what she found chilled her to her core. Hermione was halfway through what appeared to be her second bottle of bourbon and was sitting with her knees up against her chest. Desperate to touch, but knowing better not to, Narcissa softly called, “Hermione.” Unsure if she wasn’t heard, or if she was just being ignored, she tried to call the young witch, but again, there was no reply.
Deciding to go a different route, Narcissa pushed her magic out as she called to her lover for the third time. Ensuring her magic was loving, comforting, and contained just a touch of concern, she stepped closer and watched as the wild magick tried to lash out at the foreign entity. To her surprise, she saw it arch carefully around her and forced Auror Bailey back a step. “Hermione, love, is it all right if I sit with you?” She was not expecting a response; she instead felt Hermione’s magic gently caress her and urged her to come closer. This was a good sign, and one she did not expect.
Cautiously making her way next to the broken witch, she was just about to sit down when the wild magick exploded out as she heard the door open behind her and a voice screamed, “Narcissa, stop…” The next thing she heard was multiple bodies hitting either the wall or the floor. Miraculously, she and Auror Bailey were the only ones on their feet, actually on their knees.
Not bothering to look up, she knew who had arrived. Knowing that her back was covered, Narcissa pulled her wand out and felt the ambient magick become agitated. In an effort to calm it and take back control, she softly said, “It’s alright, darling. I’m not going to harm you. I want to silence the area around us so that we may speak freely and afford you some privacy. That is why you asked Harry to keep me away from you, isn’t it?” Hermione’s magic brushed against her own once more as a reply. Casting a quick muffalito, Narcissa saw that Hogwarts filled in the crater as she sat beside her lover. She made sure she was sitting far enough away so as not to touch her, but close enough for the younger witch to know that she was there.
Narcissa observed the little witch. She watched as she unconsciously drank from what she was hoping was only her second bottle. She saw the slight tremor that made its way through Hermione’s body and how it caused her hands to shake even more. Her heart broke at the sight. Feeling a stray spell hit the protective dome the wild magick conjured, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye, and then a red spell making its way towards them. She had her wand at the ready to deflect the stunning spell, only to find Hermione had jumped to her feet, prepared to defend them. Cursing to herself, she thought Auror Bailey was competent enough to protect them when she saw Hermione had sent her own barrage of spells towards the trio that had recently arrived.
As she tried to get to her feet, she found that the wild magick had taken hold of her, trapping her to the ground. Knowing that the situation was taking a deadly turn, she cast her patronus to send to the trio and said, “Stand down this instant!” But it was too late, Hermione was on the move, and Harry had actively engaged her. She should have known better than to inform him and Minerva of her need to find Hermione. At least Fleur would have known to stand back as she talked Hermione back from the proverbial cliff her mind was teetering on.
Feeling Hermione’s magic beginning to fracture, she was getting desperate. Her own mind was attempting to sort through all the information her bond was sending to her. Even if the wild magick released her, she knew that she would be putting herself in danger due to the duel that had started. Refusing to do nothing, Narcissa turned her attention to their bond and began pouring her own emotions through it. Seeing Hermione stumble for a second, she tried to cast a protego, but it was too late. A cutting spell clipped Hermione’s shoulder, and Narcissa was forced to watch as another barrage of spells flew from her lover’s wand as blood began to travel down Hermione’s arm. Casting a sonorous, she said, “CEASE FIRE DAMMIT! THAT IS ENOUGH!” Demanding to be released, she was surprised to find the magick had complied as she raced to her feet.
She quickly analyzed the situation and found Hermione’s Auror Guard in the process of dueling Fleur and Minerva, while Harry was currently focused on Hermione. Apparently, Auror Bailey did have her back; there were just too many combatants. Catching the flash of a curse heading towards her, she quickly parried it away, only for the unthinkable to happen. When asked later about the situation, Narcissa would swear time slowed to a near crawl as she watched helplessly as it struck Hermione just as she dodged a spell Potter sent her way.
Instantly, the spell fire stopped as everyone watched Hermione stumble while three large gashes appeared seconds before the blood started to seep through her shirt. The instant the wild magick released its hold, Narcissa was running to Hermione’s side. Her wand never stopped moving as it ran diagnostic charm, after charm, along with every healing spell she could think of. After several tense moments and quite a bit of blood loss, Hermione’s wounds slowly closed. Narcissa’s prone body fell over the young witch as she tried to force as many blood replenishing potions into her lover as she could.
Unsure of how much time had passed, she felt someone place a gentle hand on her shoulder and try to pull her back, only for her to rip herself from their grasp. A tentative voice called her name, but her mind had not caught up with the current environment. However, when she felt someone reach out to touch her a second time, she whipped around with her wand at the ready as she crouched protectively over her lover’s body. “How dare you…” she hissed at the group.
“Narcissa, it was necessary…”
“No, it wasn’t!” She yelled back, her tone icy and enraged. “I had the situation under control. But instead of trusting me, you barged in here and started throwing spells! You not only endangered her life, but ours as well! I expected better from you, Fleur, especially since you know the most about the bond I share with Hermione.” Her fury at the trio was evident in her icy tone, and it also caused sparks to shoot from her wand. “Get out.” She snarled at the trio, not wanting them to even be in the same room with her. Her wand snapped to the ready as Minerva took a half-step forward. Despite the rage she was feeling, she held Minerva in place with her wand and a glare. The ice in her tone from her retreated slightly as Narcissa said, “While I understand she is your daughter, she is my bonded. I won’t let anyone near her, and that includes you. I will protect her with my life if I must.”
Before anyone could say anything, Hermione let out a loud groan as she began to try to shift her body. Granted, any rage she had been experiencing had melted to a simmer as she felt her magic humming just beneath the skin. Feeling a gentle hand lay softly on her shoulder, she opened her eyes and found that she was looking into the most illuminating pair of blue eyes. Seeing those kind eyes fill with tears for a moment caused her to try and reach up to touch Narcissa’s soft skin, only to find said witch trying to keep her still. “What happened Cissa?” It was odd to see so many emotions filter through those gorgeous eyes, only for them to settle on anger finally.
Narcissa tried to take a deep breath and recenter herself, but was finding it incredibly difficult. The magic that swirled between the two of them was staggering. “Try not to move just yet darling. A powerful slicing hex hit you, and it took an extensive amount of magic for me to heal you fully. It just needs to settle. Are you in any pain?”
“No.” Hermione softly replied as she shook her head in an effort to clear some of the fogginess that had descended.
“Good. I know you want to move about, but how about I help you sit up for now, and you can face your attackers.” She was instantly rewarded with a slight smile that was only for her. While she knew the others could not see their faces, she knew that that smile was for her eyes only. Unsure how their interaction was going to go, Narcissa decided that it would be best for Hermione to be resting against her chest. This way, she could at least hold Hermione’s arms down just in case things got too heated. Feeling just how tense she really was, Narcissa realized that the little witch was currently lying to her. Once she knew that Hermione was settled, she leaned her head down and softly said, “You’re lying to me little witch. I’m guessing I won’t be able to convince you to take a pain potion until we are finished with this… inquisition. Is there anything I can do or get for you before we start? I am simply concerned for your comfort and could give two shites for anyone else.”
This brought a smile to Hermione’s face. Not caring who else was in the room, Hermione turned her head and kissed Narcissa hard. While their kiss had been short, it was filled to the brim with passion. It managed to ignite something from deep within the Lioness and helped ground her. The only person to realize this was Fleur, since she could see the ties that bound the two together. They rested their foreheads against each other briefly before Hermione replied, “I promise to take something once we are finished.”
Knowing Hermione always chose her words carefully, Narcissa raised an elegant eyebrow and hummed in reply as she pulled the younger witch closer. “If this gets to be too much darling, I want you to know that I will have no trouble shutting this down.” Wrapping her arms around Hermione’s waist, she gave her a little squeeze before she turned her attention to the dimwitted trio. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her lips thinned into a straight line as her glare turned icy when she saw Harry Potter standing defiantly with his shoulders back and chin up. “I would take the attitude down a peg, Potter, before I do it for you. What you three did was not only incredibly dangerous but also put many people at risk. And before you tell me that I had no idea what was happening, I knew exactly what I was doing, and of the situation I was walking into. What part of we share a bond do none of you remember?”
Feeling a warm hand gently squeeze her forearm, Narcissa instantly calmed as she turned her focus towards Hermione. Warm brown and amber eyes gazed back at her with a myriad of emotions flittering throughout her eyes. “I never wanted you to see me like that, and I’m so sorry. While it doesn’t happen often anymore, I am dangerous when I am like that. Although this time was the worst I had ever experienced. That is why…”
Narcissa wrapped her arms around her a little tighter as she leaned close to Hermione’s ear and softly said, “Shhh… we can talk about all of that later once we are alone. Let’s get rid of these dunderheads first, okay?”
This brought a small smile to Hermione’s lips for a second before she turned her attention to her family. Instantly, her eyes hardened as she took a deep breath, readying herself for the confrontation to come. However, before she could begin to rip into her loved ones, Minerva took a half step towards her, dropped to her knees, and as the concern that had previously danced across her features turned to one of relief. “Thank the Gods you are okay Hermione. I have been so worried about you, all of us have been.”
“Is that so?” Hermione replied, her voice as cold as Narcissa’s glare, and her magic began to seep out of her as her temper climbed slowly. “Was this before or after you ignored my request to be alone? Or was it when the three of you decided to storm in here and start a damn firefight? A fight in which someone could have been seriously injured or even died? A fight that started due to someone being fucking trigger happy and decided to curse first and ask questions later.” She tried to get to her feet, but was stopped by Narcissa, who wrapped her arms tightly around her waist and held her in place.
“We are sorry Mione, but we were concerned. How else were we supposed to act? Your magic caused tremors to run directly to Hogwarts' foundations! We were worried that your magic was going to cause serious damage!” Harry argued as he began to pace, his back straight and shoulders squared. Running a hand through his hair, he continued to rant, “Hell, you wouldn’t even tell me what was wrong when you first got back from your run! You came back stone-faced, which I know for a fact is when you are actively engaging your Occlumency shields. You pushed everyone away Hermione, even me! I’m your brother, dammit, and after all we have been through together, I thought you would have at least trusted me above all else!”
“So, is that what this is all about? Because I wouldn’t share what was going on in my life at that moment in time, you decided to try and play hero once again? Did you ever stop and think, Harry, that I was not ready to discuss what fucking happened? Did you fucking stop and bloody think about how I was bloody well feeling? No, it was only about what you fucking wanted.” Hermione replied in a cold, almost dead tone. Her eyes roamed over the rest of the group as she added, “And that goes for you two as well. I expected better from you two. One of you became a sister to me, and the other was soon to be my adoptive mother.”
Feeling the ancient magick’s beginning to dance across her skin, Narcissa pulled Hermione closer as she softly said, “I know you're upset, darling, but you should try and calm down. I can feel your magic dancing across my skin. I’m not saying that you don’t have the right to be angry; your feelings are valid, sweetheart. We are all concerned for you because we care. Why don’t we ask everyone to leave us, and we can finish this discussion later?” Narcissa paused to look at each person in the room before continuing, “This way, everyone has a chance to calm down.” Her focus ended on Harry, and her icy glare made him squirm slightly.
Hermione’s body sagged against Narcissa’s as they waited for the agreement from the others. Narcissa’s penetrating gaze landed on the Headmistress and remained hard. “I won’t apologize for being concerned, but agree to withdraw… for now. I ask you both to join me in my office once you are both ready. Take all the time you need. I will announce at Breakfast that Transfiguration and Potions will be cancelled for today. I also ask that you allow Auror Bailey and Scott to remain.”
A slight nod agreed with Minerva’s request, and the witch’s gaze landed on Harry and Fleur’s. When Harry started to speak, Fleur’s hand clamped onto his forearm as she quickly agreed and apologized before dragging him away, and leaving the two witches on the floor as the Aurors took up a position near the door that slowly disappeared. The remaining occupants let out a collective sigh once the trio had left.