Author's note: Sorry for lack of updates recently... going back to work slightly diminished the voice of my muse and caused this chapter to take longer to write than anticipated. I would like to thank everyone who has been following this story and I appreciate the reviews I have received thus far! Now onto Chapter 10!
The three women fell into a comfortable silence, something Hermione never experienced before with someone besides Luna. It is in that silence she was able to contemplate her first week back at Hogwarts. There was no doubt in her mind that it had made for one hell of a week. 'I never felt this way when hanging out with Ron, Harry, and Ginny... there was always someone who broke the silence in one form or another. Harry would always complain that the quiet was too much, and would start a topic of conversation or get up and leave. Ronald would always have this look like he had ate something bad and was going to sick it back up when no one spoke for long periods. And Ginny... she would always start moving about as if the stillness was boring her. I would have to just read something, anything to not concentrate on them. I prefer the quiet; it always me to be able to make an assessment of any situation that should arise. I'm surprised that I was able to act as level-headed as I did while spending time with any of them.' Hermione thinks to herself as she basks in the tranquil atmosphere that had been created by the three of them. Glancing at the couple that had taken up residence on the sofa along side her, she had to smile as she watched how happily in love they were. Artemis had sat down with her back against the armrest, sitting almost sideways, with Bellatrix leaning against her torso. The raven-haired witch had undone the glamour spell she had cast to hide her baby bump from the rest of the group. She had admitted earlier before the serene silence that they wanted to wait until the perfect moment to tell the rest of the group. Hermione laughs to herself when she thinks back to when she removed the glamour from her the first thing Artemis did was place her hand protectively over Bella's stomach. She watches them for a few more seconds, until she realises there has been one question that had been burning in her mind since before she saw the memories from the diary.
"Bella... how did you and Artemis meet? I know I heard that you first met at Hogwarts... maybe I should have worded it better. When did you two get together, is what I am trying to ask."
Bellatrix smiles as she thinks back to that one particular year at Hogwarts. "Well, I had always had a crush on Artemis ever since I started my first year here. There was something about her that instantly drew me to her. Whenever I would leave for summer holiday, back to Black Manor, I would always cry. I never wanted to leave from her sight. I guess it was my final year that we started seeing one another. I had just turned seventeen and the 'Tracer' had been taken off me and I felt like I was grown-up then... so, I decided to confront her about my feelings for her. Knowing that she always took a midnight stroll around Black Lake, I decided that would be the best time to approach her; because I knew if I had tried any other time someone would find out or interrupt my confession." She looks behind her where Artemis was also listening into the tale, a look of amusement was etched on the smaller woman's face. "It took me three nights before I got up the courage to confront her. I would go and follow her path, kept hidden just enough so she wouldn't notice me there... how was I supposed to know that she actually heard me the first day?"
Artemis laughs at this point in the story. "Well my dear, if you had just remembered what I had taught you then you would have known that I have excellent hearing."
Bellatrix slaps the other witch's arm playfully, "Do you want to tell the story or do you want me to?"
She stops laughing, "Go on Bella, finish your story."
"Okay. Well on the third day I decided I would finally confront her on the waterfront. But to my dismay, she was already waiting for me to come out of the bushes."
"Good evening Miss Black, I was wondering when you were going to come out of the darkness and talk to me... this makes the third night of you following me, doesn't it? What is it you wanted to talk to me about, Bellatrix? Come walk with me it is such a beautiful night... I don't want to enjoy it alone." Artemis waits as the raven-haired young woman walks towards.
Bellatrix just looks around slightly embarrassed that she had been found out, but her lineage made it easier for her to shake off that moment of embarrassment. She was a Black after all, and Black's never show weakness. "Of course Professor McGonagall, I will walk with you. There are a few things I need to get off my chest anyway."
The smaller woman smiles, "Well I could tell something must have been bothering you for you to stalk me for three nights straight." The raven-haired woman colours again. "I'm sorry for embarrassing you Bella... now what was it you wanted to speak to me about."
The young Slytherin woman smiled inwardly, feeling even more love for the woman for using her nickname that only her sisters ever used. "Well... professor..."
"Please, call me Artemis."
"Alright Artemis... I know this may sound strange. I mean we hardly know each other, besides in a scholastic setting. I have to say it or I feel as if I will go mad if I don't. But I feel as if I have known you my whole life...or longer. It is strange but I feel so close to you and I... I feel as though, oh Merlin why can't I get this out? I had everything planned out in my head and now that I have a chance to say it, the words have left me."
Artemis smiles and takes the other witch's hand in her's. "You don't have to say a word, my dear. I feel it too." She pulls Bellatrix closer and kisses her tenderly under the light of the full moon.
Hermione stares in awe as Bellatrix finishes the story, "Wow that is simply amazing, I have never known anyone to have that kind of 'how we got together story.' I guess you two really are soul mates."
The two witches smile at one another, feeling that they are making head-way towards becoming hopeful pillars in the younger witch's life. Feeling that it was time to finally ask Hermione how her and Luna became an item, Bellatrix starts to speak when she is interrupted by a knock on the door. All three look at each other stunned at the sudden outside noise. Artemis looks up at the clock on the mantle. "Oh shit... it is five. Our guests have arrived!" She waves her hand and the door magically opens to allow their five guests to enter.
Bellatrix stands upon seeing her long lost sister Andromeda. Tentatively, she walks towards her two sisters and stares at her middle sibling. Afraid of what she would say if she spoke first, Bellatrix started the conversation. "Andy... you haven't aged a bit."
Andromeda smiles and gives her older sister a once over, "You haven't either... but I do notice a little change in your appearance." The middle sister looks down at Bella's stomach and smiles. "Cissy didn't tell me you were pregnant."
Narcissa whips her head around to eye her oldest sister, clearly hurt that she wasn't told before everyone else save Artemis and Bellatrix.
Bellatrix blushes profusely when she looks down to see she had forgotten to cast the glamour charm back on her, to hide the noticeable baby bump. When she lifted her head, she noticed everyone's eye were glued to her. "We..." She looks over towards Artemis, who was receiving rather hurt looks from her neice. "We were going to tell everyone over dinner, but I forgot to hide it until then."
"I understand why you would want to hide as much as you can from others , Bellatrix." Luna states as she moves from behind the other women. "But I think it is better to share the good news with friends and family. It is wise to hide it from all others though." The blonde-haired witch makes her way of to her girlfriend and wraps her arm around Hermione's waist. "How did the talk go? They are not your parents are they?"
"It went well, and you are right they are not my parents... but they did know my mother and were chosen to be my godparents. Even though I would have truly wished that they were my parents, I couldn't have received a better alternative though." Hermione smiles as she watches the women and Draco in front of her. Dagger-like stares, which were borne from their feelings of being untrustworthy of the news, were shot towards Bellatrix and Artemis. Both witches were clearly abashed. "Everyone..." The brunette speaks up to give the two women a helping hand. "They didn't want to tell anyone until they felt that the time was right and when they would know for certain the pregnancy would stay. Could you imagine if they had told you all earlier and then the next thing you know, Bella lost it? I, for one, applaud their motives. It saves heartache in the long run."
The looks on Minerva, Andromeda, and Narcissa's faces softened as they heard the younger witch's words. Realisation, that Hermione was right, outweighed their former hurt. Narcissa is the first to congratulate the couple by wrapping her oldest sister in a fierce hug. "I am so happy for you, Bella. I know I didn't act like it when I first found out, but I truly am happy."
"How far along are you?" Andromeda asks from behind her younger sister.
"Five months." The raven-haired witch replies, flush colouring her normally alabaster complexion. After the tense situation of everyone in the room finding out about her pregnancy, another constricting thought of her current situation with Andromeda, niggled its way into her mind. Feeling that the idea had to be disposed of right away, Bellatrix moves past Narcissa to meet with her long lost sister, face-to-face. "Andy, I am sorry about what happened all those years ago. I should have stood up for you, but my own feelings for someone that mother and father wouldn't approve of got in the way. I know that is a trite excuse... but please know that I am terribly sorry for my inaction." She dares to look into her sister's eyes, frightened to see animosity. But what she sees is nothing she had ever expected after twenty-five years of absence from her sister's life; there was understanding and hopefulness that the situation would stay buried in the past. Seeing the emotions she saw in Andromeda's eyes, created a catalyst in her response. Bellatrix closed the distance between her and her estranged sister, and pulled her into a hug that conveyed every ounce of love that the raven-haired woman, ever had and ever will have for her younger sister. No one dared disturb the reunion of the sisters, they all knew that this precise moment in time was critical to mend their once shattered relationship. After a few moments, Bellatrix pulled away on her own and looked around the room at everyone. Her gaze met with everyone elses until her eyes fell on Artemis.
Artemis smiled at her as she moved forward towards the three sisters, "I am so glad to see three of my favourite people getting along after all these years." She wraps her arms around both women's waist and motioned for Narcissa to come over as well, to create a group hug with her new family. Her voice came out low so as for no one, save the women in the circle could hear. "Now... there are going to be some dark days ahead of us soon. Umbridge is trying everything she can to drive half-breeds, like myself, into extinction. I need you two to please take care of Bella should anything happen to me in the months to come." Bellatrix squeezes Artemis's side, bringing the shorter woman to look into her eyes and see the fear that resided there. She continues, clarifying her last statement so they would know she was not looking for trouble."I promise you all. I will never go and attack that toad of a woman... that would be suicide. But I feel with what has happened in the past to three certain people who have a certain misplaced vendetta against me, that the Ministry will soon try to break down the gates here at Hogwarts and bring with them a battle to the death. And if that happens then I will have to fight, for I will not sit idly by while they bring ruin to ones who can not help they were born what they are. And I will not allow them to capture me and take me to my own death after all the fighting I have done to keep the ones I love in my life. They can not take that away from me. So please just promise me you will take care of Bella and the baby if the worst should occur."
Andromeda and Narcissa both nod solemnly, understanding the severity of the conversation and the weight of the promise they were making. "We promise." Both witches replied in unison.
A smile of relief replaces the frown on Artemis's face as she hears the women's response. "Thank you, both of you. That takes a lot off my mind by hearing you say that." She turns around to face everyone who was in the sitting room, after ending the embrace that sealed the pact between the women. "Now I am sorry for the wait... and I am also sorry that the meal was not ready yet. I feel so bad that I invited you all to a dinner that has not been made yet."
Andromeda was the first to respond, after realising that Artemis was going to end the dinner plans because of the lack of food being in front of them. "We don't have to postpone the dinner, Artemis." The smaller woman looks at the almost identical younger version of her soul mate quizzically. "We... meaning Bella, Cissy and I will prepare dinner. I am sure there are a few things you need to speak to your neice and the students about."
Artemis nods her head, knowing that by them working together to prepare dinner would also allow for them to have time to reacquainte themselves with one another. She watches as the three sisters walk into the kitchen, smiling to herself as she sees how happy Bella was now. Of course, she had been happy before this little reunion but seeing her middle sister after so long brought back even more light upon her features, almost causing a sort of iridescence to exude out of the raven-haired witch.
Turning back to face the others, who were left over in the sitting room, she feels a sense of duty take over her. "Andy is right... there are a few things we need to discuss about what happened today. I hope that it will help us come up with a plan that can keep those three from destroying something that they do not understand." She walks over to the armchair that sits nearest to the fireplace and with a wave of her hand summons a tea set and five cups. "I know what you are all thinking..." Artemis starts as everyone settles into their respective seats with a cup of tea in their hands. "You all think that what I did this morning was a bit rash. And I agree. I should have never allowed that curse to hit me. I was just thinking about what the others would think when they say a member of Dumbledore's Army actually use the Cruiciatus curse on someone that didn't block it. I was hoping that it would cause the other students to be a bit more sympathetic to my cause. And it was working too, until when I awoke from passing out after you three brought me here. That is when I realised the ramifications of my judgement. I have to thank you, Minerva for altering all of their minds save for Hermione, Luna, and Draco. If someone really felt bad for what happened this morning they would have done the right thing by contacting their parents, therefore having the Ministry alerted because she used an Unforgivable Curse. That would have gave them the right to do an investigation therefore giving Umbridge a clear path to me." She pauses momentarily to allow her words to sink in.
Taking a sip of her own tea as the others wait, undoubtedly knowing that she wasn't finished with her speech. "But I feel that even though you were able to modify their minds, Minerva, that there are few in the group that can overcome the spell, given a few days, and they will remember everything. Namely, Potter and the two Weasleys. I feel that even though none of them are as bright as the students who are currently in this room, they will still find a way to be able to discern the original memories of this morning than the ones you have planted. My question to all of you is... What shall we do when that happens? The Weasleys' have a father who works right within the Ministry, it would be nothing for them to owl him and tell him what happened once they regain this memory."
"What makes you feel as though they will know that their minds have been modified, Aunt Artemis?" Draco asks as he sets his cup down on the coffee table.
"Harry..." Hermione states as she realises the problems that will arise if this scenario should ever happen. "Harry spent so much time with Dumbledore and no one really knows the extent of what he may have taught Potter. Things that occurred during their meetings were never fully disclosed to anyone, including me and I was once one of his best friends. But there may be a way to keep him from helping the other two from regaining their representations of today's activities..."
Everyone looks at Hermione waiting for her to finish. They all desperately wanted to find out what could keep their new alliance together and out of harms way.
"I know..." Luna says as she smiles at the brunette sitting comfortably close to her side. "We throw a bit of dissension in their ranks. To be honest with you all, and sorry if this sounds a bit condescending, but none of them are that bright. The only reason Harry and the others were able to defeat Voldemort and also figure out Dumbledore's cryptic riddles was because of Hermione. We would all be living under his reign if it weren't for her."
Hermione blushes at the words of affirmation from her girlfriend. "Well I wouldn't go as far as saying it was all because of me, love. But you are right about the rift we need to cause between them. I am privy to a few of their secrets... secrets that if were brought out into the light would cause them to tear at each other and leave all three of them alone in the anguish of being betrayed."
"They came out and told you these secrets?" Artemis queries as she sees the opportunity of a lifetime being brought to her attention.
"Not all of them no... it is amazing what you can learn while others sleep. Especially Ron and Harry, while I was travelling with both of them on our quest to find the Horcruxes. I found out that Harry is only dating Ginny to be closer to Ron and I found out that Ron's fear of spiders has only grown ten-fold when they were nearly eaten by the group of acromantulas that reside in the Forbidden Forest. They do not know that I heard them utter their secrets while they slept, the only person who knows about Ron's being deathly afraid of spiders is Harry and Ginny is the only one who knows the truth about Harry. Unfortuantly, Ginny's enigma is only known by myself and Lavender Brown." She smiles when her eyes lock with Draco's. "I'm sorry mate, but she has bit of a crush on you." Draco blanches at the knowledge of having a Gryffindor, more so one such as Ginny, liking him. "But like I said this secret is a bit unfortunate because there is no way it will benefit us. I feel, however, that the two I have mentioned before hand will be enough to undermine them."
Minerva looks at her student as if seeing her for the first time. "I never knew you to be this underhanded, Miss Granger." The Headmistress tries to sound as aggrieved as possible, but her voice's power was diminished by the faint smile that appeared on her lips.
"Well... when I was first sorted the Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin, but I told it no because I knew how they would have reacted to me being muggle-born. Back then I didn't know that I was actually pure-blood, if I did then maybe I would have considered it." Seeing the look on her former Head of House, Hermione quickly amended her original statement. "Not that I didn't love having you as my Head of House, professor, but I think I would have fit in better in another house than Gryffindor."
"I understand, my dear... but I think we should hold the rest of our conversations until later..." Minerva watches as the kitchen door opens revealing several covered dishes being levitated towards the dining quarters.
They all filed into the dining room, their hunger after a long day seemed to be magnified by the sudden smell of uncovered dishes before them. Eating in silence allowed everyone to ponder upon the day's events, each person hoping that the day would never come when the Ministry would take away the one person who had touched their lives in one way or another.