The second semester at Hogwarts seemed to fly by without incident. Yes Draco sent the usual owls home detailing Hermione's obsession with the Philosophers stone and then realization that the number one candidate to infiltrate the trapdoor guarded by Fluffy was Severus. Narcissa immediately owled him with their suspicions and he owled her back in the negative.
Dobby what on constant book runs for the little witch and Narcissa always smiled when Dobby took a book and came back with another. One evening she looked into the Library and asked Dobby how much of it she had already read and he responded with at least half of the master cases. Narcissa shook her head and let the little elf tend to Hermione's library. Yes Narcissa had begun calling it that due to the alarming rate at which the witch devoured her books. Narcissa then smiled as she remembered all the small estates, and large manors throughout the world that the Blacks and Malfoy's owned and knew it would take a life time to read all of those books. But for Hermione maybe 10 years.
Draco's letters informed her that Hermione had already begun studying for exams back in March and that a Dragon was hatched at Hagrid's in April. He noted that Weasley had gotten bitten and his hand swelled to the size of a small pumpkin. Her own letters to him detailed the small things her days was made up of as well as caution particularly around a dragon of all things.
Narcissa mused that if it wasn't for Draco's honestly and her trust in his caution she would have already taken steps to pull her son out of Hogwarts and away from danger. She adored his trust in her as his mother. She didn't want damage that open relationship they shared by pulling him away from the friends that he had found.
The letters in May stated the idiot boy wonder got himself, Hermione, and Weasley into a detention, following smuggling the dragon out. Their detention was in the Forbidden Forest with the oaf Hagrid. When Hermione had came back from the detention she was spooked. She was even ashen, as the blood had been drained from her face. She'd saw something and it wasn't until a few days later that she told Draco that You-Know-Who was in the forest, and had attacked Harry.
Narcissa read her son's last letter and felt her stomach drop. The war. Hermione fought in a war in approximately 5 or 6 years from now. What if the war was the Dark Lords return? And her sister, she is in Azkaban. She had Amelia give her updates weekly. How in the world did her sister get out? Amelia, she had to talk to Amelia.
Narcissa found herself walking toward a petrified receptionist.
"Are you going to announce me or are we going to play the same game as last time?" Narcissa said coldly to the secretary. The door opened and Amelia and Narcissa stared at each other. Narcissa didn't wait for an invitation as she walked through the door. Amelia murmured something about pushy women and the hate something within the passion of 10,000 suns. Once the door was closed and muffliato spell was cast Narcissa turned.
"Something is going on at Hogwarts," Narcissa bluntly stated and Amelia pulled her two chairs close so she could talk to Narcissa quietly, "The Philosophers Stone is on those grounds."
"What?" Amelia asked in a shocked whisper.
"That's not all," Narcissa sighed knowing this will sound insane, "The Dark Lord has been spotted on those grounds drinking the blood of Unicorns, and attacked Harry Potter." Narcissa let that sink in. Amelia was a wise witch, rational, and took all information in to consideration before dismissing a claim no matter how insane it was. She stood and paced her room and raked her fingers through her reddish blonde hair.
"This is a lot of accusation Narcissa. What is your proof?"
"A first year at Hogwarts and my son," Narcissa said strongly but she knew it wounded insane.
"Cissa, come on. I can't take this to the Aurors. There isn't enough proof. Two first years are not going to convince an entire department to fight for them. I'm sorry," Amelia said but she knew as soon as she said that it was the wrong thing to say. Narcissa coldly stood up and walked to the door. Her wrist was grabbed and she was spun around and slammed into an embrace. Narcissa didn't raise her hands to reciprocate but she knew her friend was simply trying to soothe her anger.
"I believe you Narcissa," Amelia said as she pulled away and looked into Narcissa's icy eyes, "But I can't go to Fudge with this. He is paranoid as it is that Dumbledore is trying to steal his job. I will investigate on my own if it means you stop looking at me with those eyes. Please, I hate it." Amelia looked away, but Narcissa took on of her fingers and tipped her chin back to see her. Amelia visibly relaxed her hold on Narcissa when her gaze softened. Narcissa knew she should not blame the woman but it was more than enough to investigate. The chime on the clock toned how late it was and the sun had gone away for hours now. Narcissa was lucky her friend worked such late hours. Narcissa kissed her friends cheek.
"Thank you. You are one of my dearest friends, and I have told no one about the revelations at Hogwarts. Thank you," Narcissa went to kiss her friends cheek again but found her lips caught by Amelia's. Narcissa for one tiny moment returned the kiss. It was a long time coming and she was a woman, a simple woman and she craved contact, touch just like every person. If she could choose, she would have chosen Amelia years ago, but… but… it never came to be. Narcissa pulled back slightly so as not to hurt her friend. She saw the mischievous smirk on her friends back as Amelia's arms untangled from her waist.
"Well," Amelia said straighten her shirt.
"Ah yes. Well indeed," Narcissa looked at Amelia and narrowed her eyes, "I assume you are satisfied with yourself?"
"Oh heavens no, but I have to say Narcissa you can still kiss,' Amelia smiled and then they both laughed. Everything was so simple with them, "You still need to tell me about the person that keeps you from my bed."
"And you need to resign office before I get into your bed, dear friend," Narcissa smiled as she turned to the door then pop.
"Dobby! What are you doing here?" Narcissa said as she knelt down next to the distressed elf.
"Dumbly was looking for you. There was another incident and the young master is hurt, and Little Lady Hermy told me to find you as soon as possible," Dobby lifted his hand but Amelia Halted Narcissa. She stuck her head out of the door and told the receptionist she was on her way to Hogwarts with Ms. Black. Amelia turned and took Dobby's hand just as Narcissa did and then pop.
They arrived in the infirmary and Narcissa sighed as she saw her son sitting up straight looking at Hermione. She combed the room and found Harry Potter unconscious with Madam Pomfrey administering aid to the boy. She walked to Hermione with the Head of the Auror Department flanking the other side of the bed. Hermione rose and threw her arms around Narcissa just as Narcissa sat on the bed to hug her son. The three hugged each other as if the world were all right with the universe.
Narcissa pulled from the embrace and looked over Draco. She was satisfied that all he needed was a calming draught, and a small amount of murtlap for the scrap on his forehead. She ran a diagnostic on both Hermione and Draco and let out a deep sigh breath she didn't know she held. She looked down at Draco and hugged him once more and then she held out her arm and Hermione joined in the embrace. Somehow in the year at Hogwarts they became an interesting little family.
"My little ones, can you answer some questions for Madam Bones?" Narcissa asked as Amelia sat on the other side of the bed watching the interaction with great interest. Hermione and Draco looked over to each other and then the Narcissa.
"Can we trust her?" Hermione asked and Narcissa smiled at the young witch. Then she cast a muffliato charm around them.
"Even though a lot of people see us as hated enemies, it is merely a façade. We are close friends and trusted advisors. I trust Amelia with my life," Narcissa explained. Then Draco and Hermione looked at one another. Narcissa walked away from the woman and the children as they relayed their story. Narcissa walked toward Madam Pomfrey.
"Is there something I can do since Draco is more than fine just some scrapes?" asked Narcissa.
"No, but thank You, Mr. Potter is simply sleeping. Something happened down there but he will come through. I keep finding this ash all over him though. It isn't ash thought but something spectral. It's strange.' The medi-witch said as she went about fixing Harry. She turned from Harry and watched the children with her friend. She watched as Hermione talked with her hands and Draco nodded as he supported her theories, and statements. Then Amelia nodded and then looked to Narcissa and nodded to the doors of the infirmary.
Outside the infirmary Amelia turned around and sighed running her fingers through her hair again. She paced once more just as she had in her office and Narcissa stood with her arms crossed watching and waiting.
"If what those two said was real then this school is no longer secure. They don't know what happened to Harry Potter, but that girl took me all the way back to the detention in the forbidden forest. Narcissa, I am willing to believe the You-Know-Who is back but this is insane. How could Dumbledore let this happen?" Amelia paced again thinking of Susan. Should she remove her and place her in Beauxbatons maybe? Narcissa placed a hand on her friends shoulder. They hugged each other then withdrew.
"Whatever Miss Granger has told you I have complete confidence in her theories, and statements. She isn't fanciful, or attention seeking. She is just afraid for her friends," Narcissa stopped and a small warm smile grew over her face, "She is very caring. One of the most caring people I know."
Amelia looked at her friend and knew there was something there but couldn't put her finger on it.
"Does your secret have anything to do with the Grangers?" Amelia asked carefully. Narcissa looked at her friend and her right eyebrow climbed into her hair line. Narcissa shook her head but didn't respond.
"You can talk to me Narcissa. What is your relationship with the Granger girl?" asked Ameila whispering.
"I will tell you someday but not now. The girl in there will change the world. Mark my words," Narcissa said softly placing her hand on her friends shoulder.
"I am not very used to seeing you so affectionate with anyone other than Draco," Amelia said as she bumped her friends shoulder.
"Well she doesn't make it very easy to stay at arm's length. Draco and I both had to get very used to Hermione Granger and the world of hugs. She is my son's best friend and I believe she would be loyal to him. That is a blessed gift. You and your Puffs should know that. It's hard being a Dark wizarding family, Slytherin, then having the names Malfoy and Black. We are feared, revered, and with that comes power that we actually like. But a true friend… It's hard to come by in our world."
Narcissa turned from her friend and opened the door and watched Hermione and Draco talk and smile and laugh. It brought a smile to her face that her son could experience such a true gift. Amelia placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. She walked into the Infirmary and asked Madam Pomfrey if she could inform Headmaster Dumbledore she required his presence at once. Narcissa went to her little family and sat in a chair.
The summer came, and the children packed onto the train. Once at the station the Malfoys and Blacks met the Grangers and went for dinner in a local muggle restaurant. What the group didn't see was the man dressed in dark robes, straight silver blonde hair, and a cane watching them walk away. When he turned from the group he called a house elf and they vanished. Without a trace, and a plan sinisterly taking shape.