Second Chances 7

“Can you believe that Hermione altered the wards on her estate and blocked my floo access just so she wouldn’t have to talk to me? Then today when I tracked her to the bank the little shit locked me in the Black Family vault so she could avoid me?!”Narcissa smiled listening to Andromeda’s rant as she stormed into her shop. It seemed Hermione was well aware of Andromeda’s intention to interrogate her about the date. Narcissa was very impressed with the tactics she used to avoid her sister. Narcissa would have never thought to lock Andromeda in the vault. Then again it would have been the only way to escape Andromeda as you couldn’t use port keys or apparition in the bank and there was no floo access near the vaults. Narcissa thought locking Andromeda in the vault just showed how smart Hermione was to be able to react so quickly.

“How did you get out of the vault?”Narcissa knew that only members of the Black family could open it and as Hermione was the one to locked Andromeda in there Narcissa doubted she was the one to let her out.

“Hermione had the goblins wait an hour before contacting Dora who came and let me out.”Andromeda told her.

“And how did Dora react to finding you locked in the vault?”Narcissa figured there was a lot of teasing.

Andromeda huffed just thinking about it.”She was insufferable.”

“Did you ever track down Hermione?”Narcissa asked.

“No, usually Dora will tell me where she is but my daughter is refusing to help me and has forbid Hermione’s guard detail from speaking to me as well.”Andromeda was extremely frustrated with the whole situation.

Narcissa chuckled.”It seems you have finally met the one person who can escape your questioning.”

“This is not funny Narcissa!!”Andromeda found nothing about what Hermione did humorous.

“It is actually very funny. I mean she not only locked in the vault but she had the goblins wait an hour to call for help. I didn’t think Hermione was that evil.”Narcissa didn’t think Hermione would have been devious enough to do something like that.”Maybe she should have been a snake instead of a lion.”

“She is going to be in a world of pain when I get my hands on her.”Andromeda was going to make Hermione regret the day she was born once she found her.

“I personally think you deserved what you got.”Narcissa said.

“How did I deserve all that?”Andromeda didn’t think she deserved any of it.

“Because you are a ruthless when you want information from someone. It’s about time someone stood up to you and your methods.”Narcissa wished she had been smart enough to block Andromeda’s access to her shop and home.

“I am not ruthless. I simply ask questions and people answer them.”Andromeda was in no way ruthless.

“How do you explain the time at Hogwarts when that Hufflepuff boy got your roommate’s diary?”Narcissa asked.

“It wasn’t my fault he refused to tell me where got it.”Andromeda said.

“Andy he never got the chance to answer before you vanished his clothing and threw him in the Black Lake.”Narcissa reminded her.

“I was young and impulsive and besides that doesn’t excuse Hermione’s behavior.”Andromeda didn’t think what she did to that boy was as bad as what Hermione did to her.

“How did you know she was at the bank?”Narcissa knew it wasn’t just a coincidence that the pair were in the same place at the same time.

“I was there to speak to the family goblin about a business issue.”Andromeda told her.

“Do you want to tell me the truth or should I take it from your mind?”Narcissa was highly skilled at mind magic but never used her gift to violate anyone’s mind unless she had permission or it was an emergency.

Andromeda weighed her options.”Fine I put out a reward for anyone who could give me her location.”

“Andromeda!!”Narcissa couldn’t believe her sister who do something like that.

“What was I supposed to do? She was avoiding me and Dora wouldn’t help me.”Andromeda had used that method to find people in the past and would likely use it again in the future.

“You are just lucky that Dora is an auror because if she wasn’t you could have been arrested.”Narcissa knew that when it came to Hermione’s safety that the government took no chances and investigated all potential threats.

“I would never be arrested for trying to find Hermione. Not only is she my Head of Household, everyone knows that Hermione loves me.”Andromeda wasn’t worried about being arrested for something as small as putting out a reward to find Hermione.”As a matter of fact I’m not worried about being arrested even if I actually committed a crime.”

“How could you not be worried about being arrested for committing a crime?”Narcissa asked.

“Do you honestly think Hermione would ever let me, Dora, Ted, you or even Draco be sent to prison or heaven forbid Azkaban?”Andromeda didn’t.

“Well we will never have to find out because none of us will be committing any crimes.”Narcissa wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her freedom after everything she went thought to get it after the war

“We will see.”Andromeda wasn’t going to promise not to commit any crimes. Who knew what would happen in the future.

“What are you planning?”Narcissa knew that statement meant that her sister was scheming.

Andromeda shrugged.”Nothing yet but if Hermione continues to avoid me I may just commit one so that she is forced to visit me in the ministry dungeons.”

“Don’t even joke about that Andy.”Narcissa had spent time in those dungeons and it wasn’t a good experience.

“I’m sorry Cissa. That was insensitive.”Andromeda hadn’t been told exactly what happened to Narcissa and Draco in the ministry dungeon but knew that whatever did resulted in Hermione killing a man and seriously wounding five others. One of them was so traumatized that he was admitted to St. Mugos’ mental ward. It was rumored that anytime Hermione was mentioned in front of him the man would curl into a ball and sob uncontrollably.

“It’s alright.”Narcissa waved off the apology as she knew her sister didn’t mean anything by it. She just didn’t like to be reminded of the time she and her poor son spent in that horrible place. Narcissa would always be grateful to Hermione for not only getting them released on house arrest but for punishing the men who had wronged them. Usually Narcissa wasn’t a big fan of violence but she fully supported what Hermione did. She definitely approved of Hermione killing that man for using unforgivables on her son. Hermione avenging her son being another thing that made Narcissa care about Hermione so much.

“It’s not and I’ll be more careful in the future.”Andromeda promised.

Before either women could say anything else the same man who delivered the gift Hermione sent her entered the shop. Narcissa perked up when she noticed he was holding a plant and a box wrapped in green wrapping paper.”Hello.”

“Delivery for you Lady Black.”The man said as he set the plant and box on the counter in front of Narcissa.

“Thank..”Was all Narcissa got out before the man hurried out the door.”I guess he was in a hurry.”

“Are those from Hermione?”Andromeda knew that Hermione would be sending Narcissa something but had thought that she would have waited a few days before she did it. It was actually one of the things she wanted to talk to Hermione about.

“I think so as that was the same delivery man who brought the last one she sent. Actually why doesn’t she use owls?”Narcissa would have thought it would be not only more convenient but cheeper to send owls.

“He probably needed a job so Hermione made one up for him to do.”Andromeda had met many people Hermione hired to do jobs that she didn’t really need them to do.

“It’s a good thing she is so rich because with all the gold she basically gives away she would be broke if she didn’t have both the Black and Lestrange vaults to fall back on.”Narcissa said.

“Her personal vault has more than both those vaults could ever begin to hold.”Andromeda told her.

“You’ve seen inside her personal vault?”Narcissa asked.

”When Hermione reinstated me after the war she gave me access to all of her vaults. She told me that she wanted me to use the money in a way that would make our parents hex me if they were alive.”When Hermione had told her that Andromeda had cried. She had never thought that she would ever be able to get her revenge for what her parents did to her growing up and by casting her out of the family. Hermione had not only given her the chance but gave her the freedom and the resources to do it her way. That day was the start of Andromeda’s healing from the way her parents treated her. Something that Andromeda had a feeling Hermione knew would happen when she gave her the access.

“That was extremely nice of her.”Narcissa was unsurprised by Hermione’s actions. It was just like Hermione to make sure that Andromeda would be able to reclaim her birthright.

“I have you to thank for her taking an interest in me.”Andromeda said.

“Me?”Narcissa didn’t think she was responsible for Hermione helping Andromeda.

”It wasn’t for her love of you I doubt that she would have done so much for me and my family. I mean she probably would have still helped me but I doubt that she would have gone so far out of her way to make my life better.”Andromeda knew that it was because of Narcissa that Hermione even put in the initial effort. Hermione may have come to care for her on her own over the years but it was Narcissa who made her act.

“I want to say that you are wrong but after speaking to Hermione I’m pretty sure you are right.”Narcissa could easily see Hermione taking care of Andromeda because she was important to Narcissa.

“Enough about that. Let’s see what Hermione sent you.”Andromeda didn’t want to talk about the past when there was something as exciting as Hermione’s gift to look at.

Narcissa rolled her eyes at her sister and picked up the plant. Looking it over she was very confused.”I don’t know what this is do you?”

“I know nothing about plants.”Andromeda said.

“Maybe Hermione explains it in her letter.”Narcissa at least figured she did.

“Well open it and find out.”Andromeda told her.

“Calm down.”Narcissa took the envelope off the package, opened it and began to read it silently to herself.

Narcissa,

I first would like to say thank you for our date. I had been dreaming of taking you on a date since I was 11 years old and having finally experienced it I can honestly say that it was was worth the wait. Spending time with you was everything I knew it would be and you turned out to be even more enchanting than I had imagined. That being said I was hoping that for our second date that you would agree to go with me to a muggle opera. Andromeda told me of the time one of your housemates got their hands on the soundtrack to the muggle opera Tosca and how much you loved it. If you would like I have secured us a port key to Italy to see the opera performed by a world renowned opera house for this Friday. If you cannot go it’s no big deal. I can easily give the tickets and port key to someone else so there is no pressure. The choice is completely yours.

I’m sure you have noticed I have also sent with this letter a package and a plant. As for the plant it’s a renaflorina. It is native to the Hawaii volcano region and can only be acquired by scaling the volcano by foot meaning it’s really hard to get and incredibly rare. It does have healing properties however and I thought it might be helpful with your mange potion. The plant itself can be grown in your greenhouse by planting the bulbs and surrounded them with hot coals. The part that is useful to you is the leaves.

Also I have enclosed in the package a couple things to make up for the fact we missed dessert. I hope you enjoy them and don’t share anything with Andromeda. She is an insufferable busybody who doesn’t deserve to enjoy life’s luxuries after all the stalking she has been doing. Please let me know about the opera.

Forever Yours,

Hermione.

“She’s so on to you.”Narcissa chuckled as she reread the letter.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”Andromeda didn’t know what she had to do with Hermione’s letter or gifts.

“Hermione told me not to share whatever she sent in the package because you are an I quote “Insufferable busybody who doesn’t deserve life’s luxuries after all the stalking she has been doing.””Narcissa read aloud from the letter.

“I’m insufferable!!”Andromeda was outraged Hermione would say such a thing about her.”She locked me in a vault!!”

“She is likely to do worse if you don’t leave her alone.”Based on what Hermione had already done Narcissa had no doubt Hermione would go to extreme measures to avoid Andromeda.

“She won’t escape me.”Andromeda was going to get Hermione. No matter what it took.”Now tell me about the plant.”

“It’s a rare plant that can only be gotten in Hawaii by scaling a volcano by foot and has healing properties. Hermione was hoping it would help me with a potion I mentioned to her I was working on.”Narcissa was very touched that Hermione supported her passion. No one but her sisters ever did and Bellatrix stopped caring after she had taken the Dark Mark. It was nice to have a romantic partner who encouraged her to pursue her dreams. It was just another way that Hermione was better than Lucius.

“That was nice of her.”Andromeda like that Hermione thought of Narcissa when she picked out her gifts and didn’t just send her something flashy to prove how wealthy she was.

“It was.”Narcissa agreed.

“Open the package.”Andromeda wanted to see if the gift Hermione picked out was better than the book she sent the first time.

Narcissa carefully pealed away the wrapping paper revealing a sealed box. Opening the box she smiled at the contents.”She is so sweet.”

“What is it?”Andromeda asked.

“She gave me a bottle of fairy wine and this.”Narcissa held up a meticulously decorated chocolate cake.

“Is that her famous German chocolate cake?!”Andromeda couldn’t believe that Hermione actually made the cake for Narcissa.

“Yes it is.”Narcissa gloated.

“She never makes that for anyone.”Fights were known to break out when Hermione made that cake. Andromeda herself wasn’t above pulling her wand over the last piece.

“I guess that means I’m not just anyone.”Narcissa had only had the cake one time and that was because Andromeda had stolen half of one from Hermione’s manor and was nice enough to share it with her. Narcissa had felt somewhat guilty eating it as it was technically stolen but she got over that guilt really quick after the first bite.

“Do you have any forks or should I just transfigure some?”Andromeda asked.

“I think you are forgetting that Hermione told me not to give you any.”Narcissa reminded her.

Andromeda slipped her hand in her pocket and gripped her wand.“There is no way I’m not getting some of that cake.”

“I’m just kidding. Take your hand off your wand.”Narcissa had easily picked up on Andromeda’s intentions. Her sister’s go to when she wasn’t given something she asked for was to pull out her wand.

“Good because I don’t want to have to hurt you.”Andromeda was pleased she didn’t have to hex her sister. She would have if she had to but was happy she didn’t.”Do you have any wine glasses here?”

“I have a few things in the back that I keep for when I have appointments with customers.”Narcissa told her.

“Hurry up and get them because I can’t promise I won’t just eat the cake with my hands. Plus I want to know what ease Hermione said in the letter.”Andromeda was curious about what Hermione had to say to Narcissa.

“You will not!”Narcissa hurried to the back of the shop to collect some plates, forks, wine glasses and a knife to cut the cake. She knew if she didn’t get back to Andromeda her sister would follow through with her threat. When it came down to it Andromeda had the manners of a ruffian. It was surprising that she was as respected as she was in the wizarding world. Then again Andromeda did have Hermione’s backing. Thinking about Hermione Narcissa thought about the invitation to go to the opera. She definitely wanted to go and loved the fact that once again not only did Hermione think about what would make her happy but that she gave Narcissa a choice. Narcissa liked that even though she knew that Hermione wanted her to go with her that the young witch wouldn’t be angry or lash out if she declined the invitation. It would probably take Narcissa a while to get used to having a romantic partner actually care about her preferences but Narcissa was going to enjoy it. Hearing the sounds of wine cork being pulled out Narcissa quickened her steps. If she didn’t get back soon Andromeda would drink straight from the bottle. It wouldn’t be the first time Narcissa had seen her do it and she doubted it would be the last.