Disclaimer- do not own HP
Malfoy dragged Hermione deep into the dungeons, making sharp turns at the last moment, in which several times she almost ran into the cold, hard, stone wall.
This went on for the next ten minutes. At one point she clipped her fingers on a corner, she didn't make a sound when it happened, though she kept running her thumb over the stinging digits.
Finally they came to a stretch of wall that had two torches in the higher corners, giving the whole hall an eerie glow.
"Anubus." Malfoy spoke clearly to the wall. Nothing happened, which she didn't expect.
Hermione expected the wall to open up or the floor to. But it didn't. Too much adventure books and going on adventures with Ron and Harry.
Ron
Harry
She wondered what they were doing right now, but quickly snapped out of it when Malfoy dragged her into the wall.
It felt like going through ice. She didn't open her eyes till they were on the other side. But it turned out to be an anti-chamber. The anti-chamber had symbols carved on the walls, floor, and ceiling. There were no doors, no windows, no escaping.
"Might as well sit down." Malfoy said lightly from in back of her.
Hermione turned around and saw that he was sitting on the ground looking at her with an amused look. It was odd seeing him look happy without it being cruel.
"Are we going to be here long?" Hermione asked quietly.
"She'll be awhile."
"Who's she?"
"My cousin."
"You have nothing but cousins!" she growled.
Malfoy looked amused again. But didn't answer her.
"Tell me who she is, Malfoy." Hermione bit out coldly as she narrowed her eyes.
He just patted the ground next to him. Hermione glared, but sat down on the ground at least a foot and a half away from him. There was a chance in which she would need to hit him.
"Now tell me who she is."
Malfoy chuckled at her. "As I said, she is my cousin-"
"You said that already." She snapped.
Ignoring the comment he continued. "Who was born to Bellatrix Lestrange-"
"Lestrange!"
"Listen Gra- Prince, I'm trying to explain something to you when you keep interrupting me. Now, if you don't mind, shut the hell up! Unless you don't want to understand about what's going to happen." Malfoy snapped.
Hermione nodded sheepishly.
"My cousin was born to Bellatrix Lestrange and Sirius Black." He gave her a small glare when she opened her mouth, and continued. "She was born on Halloween of 1982 and spent the first 3 years of her life in prison. She is supposed to be the Black heir and carry out the family name and bloodline. From what I recall, she had many people wrapped around her finger. The Lestrange brothers are her favorite people though. They were cool, calm men in front of everyone. But in front of her-"he trailed off with a chuckle and shakes his head a bit.
"They were loyal to the Dark Lord. No more. They make pretty good Order members."
Hermione was a bit shocked. The Lestrange's are known ruthless killers. She had proof that they were insane. Thinking back to the Battle of the DoM, the rusty haired men shot harmless hexes and jinxes at all of them.
"Why aren't they loyal anymore?"
"Their 'little girl' is on the light side, the right side, so they seen the error of their ways."
"Really?"
"Half of it. Easter Hol.s she came to the manor and gave them a great talking too." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the wall. "It was funny watching a girl who was younger than them literally release hell on them."
"But Bellatrix is married to one of the brothers. Shouldn't they hate her or something?"
"When they saw Bellatrix pregnant, they hated her, the child. But when they saw her in the manor…" Hermione nodded her head in understanding.
This girl changed the hearts of two of the cruelest death eaters there are. And that she had to be cold hearted.
A rumbling made them both shoot up and stare at the one of the walls, which started to melt. Brick by brick. Pair of small feet were seen, then legs, torso and arms, shoulder and last a head.
"Hello cousin." Malfoy said happily.
"Ferret." The shadow girl replied with a straight face. Malfoy pouted but didn't say anything.
"Cousin, I already know you know Prince. Prince, I want you to meet Vela Black." Malfoy said the last part proudly. He walked over to the shorter girl and engaged her in a hushed conversation.
Hermione nodded her head in greeting, watching the two have the hushed conversation. The girl, Vela, seemed reluctant about something. Her grey eyes flashed with anger in a familiar way.
They finished up their conversation and turned to her. Vela looked annoyed while Malfoy was suppressing a smile.
"Well Prince, I hear you've been more far off as I've ever seen. And you really need to learn more about our family." Vela spoke softly, then turned on her heal and walked back into the missing wall. Hermione turned to Malfoy and raised one eyebrow in question and jerked her chin at the retreating back.
"She's not really a people person." Malfoy explained to her when Hermione started to look at the cold teenage girl.
Malfoy offered his elbow but quickly pulled back when her eyes narrowed.
When both teens walk through the 'wall' the solid wall started to reappear. Thus locking them in again.
The room was like a large cavern, it was light with multiple fires by tables. There looked to be ten tables each representing a different subject. Books and parchment were lying around on tables, it looked messy but organized as she pasted a table that was labeled Divination. Hermione's nose scrunched up in distaste.
There was a hollowed out bit of wall on the far right. In there was a camping bed, a trunk and a clock.
"Make yourselves at home." Vela said flatly and gestured to a beaten up dark blue couch with a small coffee table in front.
Hermione and Malfoy sat on the comfy couch, the latter with grace and the former stiffly.
"Tea?" the girl asked.
"Please." Malfoy replied with a small smile.
With a snap of her fingers, steaming hot tea was on the coffee table. The two Slytherins helped themselves while Hermione starred wide-eyes at the magic done. Vela saw the older witches stare and raised an eyebrow.
"How did you-"Hermione broke off.
"I've been living here, the magical core of Hogwarts, for nearly five years. One would think that I would get a power boost."
Hermione starred dumbstruck. She never thought that Hogwarts would have a magical core itself. Vela's lipped twitched, leaned back on a newly conjured wing backed armchair and crossed her ankle over her knee.
"So, you need help getting out of the lions pit?" Vela asked then sipped her tea.
"No, I-"
"Want to learn more about your family. Yes, well, if you want to learn more about them, you need to get away from those idiots. People will try to hut you no matter what house you're in, that is why switching to a house where you have allies in will help you survive." Vela spoke with cool passion.
"You make it sound like a war." Hermione questioned.
Vela leaned forward and her eyes sparkled with something Hermione couldn't really tell. It looked a bit like… insanity.
"It IS a war. People will throw you down whether or not you're up. Things will just get worse over time. So while you have people on your side, take advantage!" Vela ranted. She was breathing heavily now and had risen to her feet. "Then how do I do that? No one in my house will help me." Hermione bit back. Her temper spiked a bit when she realized that the younger girl basically called her weak.
"Come to Slytherin." Malfoy piped in. throughout the whole, basically, one-sided conversation he just sat back on the couch sipping his tea.
"You mean get resorted? That's impossible!" she stuttered.
"It's not impossible Gra-Prince despite the stories. Just ask your dear brother, we all know he would do mostly anything for you." Malfoy corrected her.
"He doesn't even look at me anymore Malfoy." Hermione cried, she was about to have a meltdown.
Malfoy turned to the girl he was sitting next to and took in her thin, strained face.
"He was ordered to ignore you. Every time he see's you with the hopeless, lost puppy dog act it just makes him feel guilty. And don't ask how I know this." Malfoy reprimanded.
"Just give me a day to think of this." Hermione whispered. This was all too much on her. From the past month she has been given more choices and better advice tonight than she would rather admit. "And when I make my choice will you tell me more about our family?"
Vela nodded and stood up. "Since that is settled, I would like to have my rooms empty again so please leave."
Hermione had a feeling that this was the nicest thing the young girl could say.
Okay I'm so sorry about not updating and stuff. I've been busy with homework and beta'ing my peoples stories. (PM me to know them all!) I would like to thank everyone who alerted my story and a special thanks to
HeatherMichelly
codla
BigTimeGleekBTR
Luna Edwards
And thanks to two people telling me about their fav names of the OC... But my cousin had just gotten back from Japen then and I missed him and had to humor him. I already started with the next chp, and for those Harmony fans get out you tissues.
I think.
REVIEW PLEASE! Or I'll set Vela out on you. Don't mess with her. To much inbreding. *Ducks from spell sent from VERY pissed off Vela*