Chapter 20:

Alright I think there was a lot of confusion due to the ending of the last chapter. The flash forward wasn't to the end of the story, and Hermione at that point hadn't ended up with anyone yet, it just so happened that by circumstance she was living with Narcissa.

BellatrixBlack-Granger- it's not over yet for Bella and Hermione, no need to worry.

Delilah Moon- All will be explained; I never meant to imply that she had chosen Cissy over Bella

Reagaaaan- I don't intend to keep writing from the flash forward. I said earlier that this will not have and entirely horizontal plot line. Like I said, it's not over yet for Bella and Hermione.

Mandy- Don't worry hun, I have no intentions of this ending any time soon, there's still plenty of time.

LoveSKINS94- Glad you're linking where I'm going with this

Jemjo storys- When I end the story she'll only be with one of them. Though I have written an open minded Hermione, I still don't think she could be happy with three lovers, she needs to settle down with one.

char245- Don't get too excited just yet ;)

Seeker-of-Raven- sorry about the confusion, it was merely an insight into the future.

Guest- She hasn't ended up with anyone just yet.

The Fickle Fingers of Fate:

Narcissa and Andromeda sat alone in a cold interrogation room on the main floor at the ministry. The room was lined with floor to ceiling black tiles, no windows, and a table. The sisters sat side by side on one side of the table across from what they both considered to be a very good looking young auror.

"Mrs. Malfoy, Ms. .Black, Do you both understand why you're here?" The young man questioned, looking up from his clip board. His wand rested beside him on the table, Andromeda silently contemplated how easy it would be to take it and hex their way out, but pushed the thoughts aside.

"No, I'm afraid both my sister and I are unaware of the nature of our incarceration." Narcissa's voice was calm and cool, but her crystal blue eyes betrayed the composure she was trying to portray. She knew this was it, the ministry would find Bellatrix and throw all of them into Azkaban.

"Well, you haven't been incarcerated, you're merely being held for questioning until we're sure that the two of you had no direct involvement in yesterday evenings events." The young man repositioned his black square glasses and ran his hand through is short blonde hair, he then leant forward resting his elbows on the table in front of him. "I'm sorry to inform you both that your mother has been severely injured." Neither of the witches reacted, frankly, they were shocked she wasn't dead. "The ministry was alerted when Hermione Granger turned up in the three broomsticks covered in blood. Unfortunately Ms. Granger was gone before the aurors arrived, Now-" Before the young wizard could continue he was interrupted by Narcissa.

"How do you know that the incident with Ms. Granger is linked to our mother being attacked.?"

"Well as it turns out, Mrs. Malfoy, a small house elf by the name of Flitty took your mother to St. Mungos. It was there that he told an auror that not only had the two of you been spending a lot of time at black manor but so had Hermione." The wizard was baffled by the lack of reaction he was getting from the two women, most people would be terribly worried if their mother was seriously injured, and he made a note of their strange behaviour. "Could either of you explain to me why it is a young, muggle born, witch is spending time in Black manor?"

Narcissa was the first to pipe up again, "Well you see, my sister and I have only recently been reunited and we thought it best to catch up somewhere we knew was empty for the time being. Soon after Andromeda informed me of Ms. Granger's situation and we took her in."

"Her situation?"

"Yes she hadn't anywhere to go, and she is a friend of my sister's so we both agreed that she could stay until she found a more suitable arrangement." Andromeda had to give her baby sister props; she was probably the most brilliant bull shit artist she knew.

"You would think that she would have just stayed with the Wesasleys, it's no secret that she is extremely close with the family."

Fuck, Andromeda thought, well done cissy now what?

"She had expressed to us her concern about not wanting to impose on the family after all their losses."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you both loose a sister that day?" Andromeda thought more intensely about stealing his wand now.

"That is correct, however, our sister was Bellatrix Lestrange, and the world is a better place without her in it." Andy prayed that her sister's talent to cold as ice would not fail her now. The three sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, as the young auror scribble some notes on to his clip board.

The young wizard looked back up at the witches before him, "I'm afraid that I have to ask that neither of you return to Black Manor until Ms. Granger is found." Both of the sisters nodded signalling their understanding, "The two of you are now free to leave, however I cannot guarantee that you won't be back here in the near future." The blonde stood up abruptly and left without another word.

Narcissa and Andromeda walked silently out of the ministry and found their way on to a busy London street. They stood there in shocked silence until Narcissa broke it, "shall we get some lunch?"

Andromeda shook her head, "no I think its best that I go home and spend some time with Dora and Teddy, you can come if you like"

"That sounds nice, it's not like I have anywhere else that I can go." The sisters proceeded into a small ally where they could not be seen. Narcissa took her older sister's arm and apparated them to Andy's house. Upon entering the house the two witches went straight into the kitchen where they found an extremely distraught looking Nymphadora.

The young woman was sat at the kitchen table with her head in her hands and her wand lying on the table in front of her. Andromeda went straight to her daughter's side, "Dora, sweet heart, what's wrong?" Tonks turn to her mother with a look of distress written across her face.

"Just go into the living room." Andromeda furrowed her brow but did as her daughter suggested and left the kitchen through the door that led to the adjoining living room. She stopped in her tracks when she found Bellatrix tied to an arm chair and her wand placed far out of her reach.

"you have to be fucking kidding me."

"yes Andy I tied myself to a chair as a fucking joke."

Sorry for the long wait, please let me know what you think.