Note: The Story Title was changed because a friend of mine pointed out that I mixed up two story titles that I was working. I'll try to make changes to the other chapters so there will be no confusion. Thank you.
(Before Chapter Okame ~ START!)
(Warrior-chan and Narcissa are still reading in the Malfoy Manor Library)
Narcissa: How long have we been reading?
Warrior-chan: I don't know.
Narcissa: Have you noticed anything?
Warrior-chan (Not looking up from her book): That it is intensely quiet?
Narcissa: Bingo. Should we go look for Hermione and Bellatrix again?
Warrior-chan: No.
Narcissa: Then what should we do then?
Warrior-chan: I'm getting hungry. Wanna get a bite to eat? I'm paying.
Narcissa: Indeed.
(Warrior-chan and Narcissa put down the books, get their coats and head to the door)
Warrior-chan: Allow me, Madame Malfoy. (Opens the door for Narcissa)
Narcissa: Why, aren't you sweet? (Walks out the door, with Warrior-chan following behind)
(Warrior-chan pressed the Chapter Start Button)
(Chapter Twenty-Four Starts)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: A NIGHT OF BLISS, A DAY OF REGRET
The Granger Family sat at the Dining Room Table, eating the breakfast that Monica had prepared. Monica and Wendell were having a conversation about the meeting that Cygnus and Wendell had set up in regards to the incident at Hogwarts. Bell, Hermione's Orange Kitten, sat beside her mistress, feasting on a small saucer of cream that her Elder Mistress had given her for breakfast. Hermione, on the other had was not so cheery or happy this morning. The Golden Lioness sat on her seat, quietly eating her breakfast while her parents talked; she couldn't hear them anyway, her mind was too far deep in her own thoughts to be able to her anything. Earlier that morning, Hermione received a message from Bellatrix Black, the same woman who (in Hermione's Eyes) forced Hermione to partake in an intimate moment at the Hogwarts Themed Playground. Hermione wanted to tell her parents what happened, that she was forced but she could not do such a thing. She liked what Bellatrix did to her, it made her feel something that she never felt before.
Hermione hated Bellatrix, this much she knew; so why didn't she stop her? Why did she allow such and action happen in the first place? But mostly, why did she like being touched by that horrible girl?! The questions were swirling in her head and she had absolutely no answers, and that angered her more and more than ever. It wasn't until her mother called her from her trance did she answer.
"Hermione, are you alright?" Monica asked her only child as she placed a platter of bacon on the table before her family. Wendell and Bell also looked at Hermione with some kind of worry in their eyes; they too wanted to know was bothering Hermione. Hermione looked at her family, then at her rippling reflection in the glass of cold water that her mother poured her without Hermione even noticing it; was she truly that deep in thought for that much time?
"Yes Ma'am. I'm fine." Hermione answered as she took her water within the grasp of her hand and took a small sip from the cold glass, then placed the glass back where she got it from before she made eye contact with her Mother.
"Hermione, we can tell when you are on edge about something. Is there something that you would like to talk about? Did something happen?" Monica asked her child; that question sent a chill up Hermione's Spine, the images from last night played back in Hermione's Mind, causing a tingle through the lower half of Hermione's Body.
"No Mom, nothing happened; at least, nothing that I couldn't handle. Don't worry about me." Hermione said as she put on a false smile in hopes to ease her parents' concern; however, such an action only made them even more on edge. Monica and Wendell looked at each other with sideways eyes and raised eyebrows, they both knew that something was bothering Hermione but she didn't want to tell them what it was; this caused the parents to become very disturbed. However, they always wanted to give their child a sense of independence, therefore they decided not to pry on the matter for any longer; at least for the time being. Should the matter become more deep, they would step in and help, regardless of Hermione wanting their help or not.
"Okay Dear, if you say so. Just know that if you need anything that you need to talk about, we are here for you; you know that right?" Wendell asked his daughter.
"Yes Daddy, I know. It's nothing that I cannot handle, so please don't let yourself be bothered with it." Hermione said as she proceed to devour her breakfast to start the day. Monica and Wendell then followed their daughter's example and began eating their breakfast, however Bell did not seem to have hunger at the time. The Domestic Short-Hair Kitten looked at her mistress with amber eyes full of concern; she also knew what her mistress was trying to hide. Last night, she saw her mistress sneak out of the house and head in the direction of the park; she wanted to follow her, but the height of the bedroom window was far too high for the young kitten to jump from without some kind of injury happening. Something happened at that park, she knew that, but the question is: What could have happened last night that caused her Mistress this discomfort around her own family? Bell knew it was something big, and for some reason, she believed that one Vile Serpent had something to do with it.
-After Breakfast-
Hermione stood in her room, checking everything in her bag to make sure she did not miss anything for the school day. Hermione double-checked, then verified that she had everything. Before Hermione could grab her bag and leave, the sound of her Silver Flip-Phone receiving a text message. Picking up the phone off the bed, she looked at the mini screen to see who the message was from; upon looking, she saw that it was from Harry and Ron. A smile graced her lips as she flipped open the phone's top to see the contents of the message. It read:
"Hey 'Mione! Ron and I are already at the school! We'll see you there.
Love, Harry"
Simple, Sweet and to the point. Hermione chuckled to herself before she replied to the message.
"Sure thing, Harry. I'm leaving the house now, see you guys soon.
Love, Hermione"
Sending the message, Hermione dropped the phone on the bed once again before she went to her closet to get her white and black sneakers and a pair of socks. Sitting at the computer desk in the corner of her room, she placed her socks and shoes on; that was when the sound of her phone rung once again. 'Did Harry or Ron send another message already?' Hermione thought as she finished tying her shoe laces. Rising from her seat, Hermione made her way to the bed, grabbing her satchel, placing it on her shoulder before she grabbed the phone. Looking at the Mini Screen again, she saw that she had an unread message, but this one was not from Harry or Ron, it was from Bellatrix. Hermione looked at the flashing envelop on her phone, not knowing if she should answer it or just leave it be. After a while, she decided to answer the message. She regretted that. It read:
"Hello Hermione. Did you have a nice breakfast? Why were you so on edge, My Love? Hiding what happened at the park last night from your parents? Why don't you just tell them the truth? Tell them about the kisses we shared. About how I touched you and made you feel alive. About how you gasped and moaned my name is ecstasy and pleasure. What is wrong, Hermione? Didn't you enjoy it? Didn't it make you feel amazing? Don't you want...MORE? Don't you want me?! Tell me, My Love! Tell me that you want me! I will be waiting for you at the front of the school. See you then, My Darling.
Love, Bellatrix Black."
Hermione was frozen solid at that spot. Her blood ran cold at the passage she just read from Bellatrix; how did Bellatrix know that she was on edge at breakfast? Was Bellatrix...watching her? Hermione's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a tiny meow; she looked to she Bell on all fours, looking at her mistress with concern in her eyes and her right paw on the cell phone. It was almost like Bell was asking: If something on the cell phone had made Hermione upset? Hermione looked down at the kitten and smiled, picking her up and holding her to her chest, causing Bell to snuggle against Hermione's Chest and Purr.
"Thank you for being concerned about me, Bell. I really appreciate that." Hermione said as she lightly stroked the back of Bell. Hermione petted Bell for about 3 minutes before she noticed that she had to leave now if she was going to be able to talk with Harry and Ron before school actually started. Gently placing Bell on the bed, Hermione grabbed her cell phone, bolted down the stairs and out of the door after she wished Monica and Wendell a good day at work for the both of them. Hermione ran down the sidewalk with her hand on the strap of the satchel, waving and saying hello to everyone that she passed by on her way: The Nice Old Lady who watered her plants in the early morning. The Mean Man who sat on his pouch glaring at that one weed that for some reason would not die no matter how much weed killer he used. The Paperboy that rode his bike on the other side of the street. Everyone.
After a while, Hermione reached he destination: Hogwarts High School. Looking around, she noticed Harry and Ron sitting on the steps, talking with Ginny and Kyo-Kyo of Ravenclaw. Hermione yelled in greeting as she waved and made her way over to her friends, Harry, Ginny and Ron of course waved by; but Kyo-Kyo ran over to Hermione and caught her in a warm embrace.
"Good Morning, Hermione-sama! Did you sleep well last night?" Kyo-Kyo asked Hermione, looking up at her with shining eyes and a wide smile. Hermione chuckled at the young raven and nodded.
"Yes Kyo-Kyo, I slept rather well. Now, can you please release me so that we may sit and talk with our friends?" Hermione asked with a smile. Kyo-Kyo obeyed without the slightest bit of hesitation, releasing Hermione and walking with her to the stairs as the the entire gang waited for school to start.
"Hey Guys, I wanted to tell you something." Ginny said as she reached into her book bag.
"What's up, Gin?" Ron asked his sister.
Ginny pulled out a flyer for what looked like to be a festival that was being held in the Upper Part of the City, it was called: The Festival of Lights.
Harry took the flyer from Ginny, looking at it as he adjusted his glasses. "The Festival of Lights? What's this, Gin?"
"You about the 'Heavenly Lights', don't you Harry?" Gin asked.
"No, what's that?"
"The Heaven Lights are a beautiful cascade of lights that show on a cloudless, star-filled night. The Lights dancing in a beautiful spectrum, many of people try to see the lights, but they usually show themselves in the Arctic Circle, so not too many people get to see it. From the looks of the flyer, people should be able to get an amazing viewing of the Heavenly Lights in the Upper City Section." Hermione said as she looked at the flyer.
"Seriously?! We have to go to the Festival." Ron said with excitement in his voice; but his friends knew that he wasn't excited about the lights, but all of the food that the Upper City hosted for its parties.
"The Tickets are $20 a pop, so we all have to get our tickets if we're going to that festival." Harry said.
"I don't think I want to go to the festival. I'm not really one for loud music or noise." Hermione said as she looked at her friends, who all looked at her with stunned faces.
"Hermione Jean Granger! You are going to the Festival of Lights!" Ginny said in a Motherly Tone of Voice, even going as far as to waving her finger around at Hermione, like a parent would when scolding their child.
"But I don't want to go." Hermione said with a pout.
"Now, Hermione, listen to your mother! You are always reading and studying! For once in your life, go out and be a teenager instead of a Bookworm!" Harry said in a deeper voice, obviously portraying the Father Figure. Puffing out his chest with his arms folded.
"Wha...Huh?" Hermione said in confusion.
"Oh dear! We have raised a Shut-in Bookworm." Ginny said as she placed the palm of her right hand against her forehead like someone who was about to pass out. "Where did we go wrong, Dear Husband? I knew we shouldn't have bought her all of those books, I told you that they would swell up her brain!" Ginny said dramatically. Harry lightly patted his 'wife' on her back in a gentle way.
"I know, Dear. We just wanted the best for her!" Harry said. While Ron and Kyo-Kyo were in the background laughing their pants off, Hermione had enough of this.
"Alright! I'll go to the Festival with you guys!" Hermione yelled, giving up knowing she couldn't win this war.
Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Kyo-Kyo all cheered as they got Hermione got with them to the festival. Hermione just shook her head and rested her hand on her hand, looking at her friends being ridiculous. Unknown to any other them, a dark shadow was watching them from the distance.
'The Festival of Light, Huh?'
-During 1st Period: Advanced Algebra-
The Teacher (I'll think of who fits this position later! I just really needed to get this chapter out there for my fans.) moved around the room, explaining slopes and equations for solving the same problem in a variety of ways. Hermione was focused on writing down the notes quickly and neatly, regardless of her friends' loud talking in the background. Harry and Ron were talking about The Upcoming Festival of Lights, Ginny and other friend of the crew, Dean, were talking some kind of rumor that was completely and utterly ridiculous, but still humorous to talk about. Once the teacher finished talking about the lecture, he turned to face the class.
"Okay Everyone, that will conclude the lesson for today. Class is still in session for 15 minutes, you have permission to use your cellular devices and talk among your peers as long as you do not get too rowdy. Understood all?" The Teacher asked.
"Yes sir." The class answered back. Just then, the teacher's phone rung. He excused himself from the room, into the hallway to answer the call. The Golden Trio sat at around Hermione's Table as the Golden Lioness put away her notes into a Blue Folder marked 'Algebra' in black sharpie marker, then placed the folder back into her satchel.
"You guys never do your work, ya know that?" Hermione asked as she looked at her friends with her cheek resting on her hand. The others just shrugged and put on innocent faces, which Hermione wasn't buying as she rolled her eyes. "What am I going to do with you guys?"Hermione asked to no one.
"Love us." Harry said.
"Keep us." Ron said.
"And never leave us." Ginny ended. Hermione chuckled at her friends' antics and shook her head.
"You guys are ridiculous, ya know that?" Hermione asked. Once again, she was answered, but not by her friends.
"They are ridiculous indeed, Dearest. They ask for things that they know you could never do for them." A voice called from Hermione. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Dean all looked at the newcomer with narrowed eyes and slightly bared fangs. Turning in her seat, Hermione saw why her friends were so upset; she did not blame them. Not one bit. Standing behind them was Bellatrix Black, Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson, standing there with smug grins on their faces. Hermione felt her face fall into a glare, but at the same time, her heart was beating slightly faster than what it was before.
"What the heck do you want, Snakes?" Ron asked, breaking the silence with a venom filled voice.
"We're not here for you, Weasel." Draco said, gesturing his hand from Ron to Hermione. "We are here for Hermione, now silence yourself."
Ginny folded her arms with a glare. "And what, pray tell, is your reason for wanting to talk to Hermione? She has not links to you or your group, Malfoy."
"Like My Drakie said, Weaselette. You and your brother need to be quiet." Pansy said with a smug look. Ginny was about to knock the shit out of Pansy, but Hermione raised her hand up to silence her friend. Ginny obeyed.
"Impressive, Love. Silencing the unworthy with just a simple raise of your hand. What power you hold." Bellatrix said as she smirked at Hermione.
"My Friends are Worthy of everything, from all the time in the world to my last dime. I hate it when someone tries to pick on my friends, so do us a favor and kick rocks." Hermione said with glare. Bellatrix smirked.
"Now you know that I cannot do that, Hermione. I wanted to talk to you about something." Bellatrix said, taking the seat next to Hermione.
"What in the name of Merlin do you want, Bellatrix?" Hermione asked as she glared at the Serpent.
"I want to know why you didn't answer any of my messages? I tried calling you, but you turned off your phone." Bellatrix said. Hearing that Bellatrix messaged Hermione made all of Hermione's Friends raise an eyebrow in suspension.
"Bellatrix messaged you, 'Mione?" Harry asked his friend.
"Yeah, she did. I don't know why, but she did." Hermione said plainly.
"OH! You don't know why I messaged? I think you know all too well why I messaged." Bellatrix said with a snarl.
"No, I don't. What the hell do you want with me, if it's just to make me mad, you've succeed; now piss off." Hermione said as she flicked her hand away at Bellatrix and the other Slytherins. The other Gryffindors started to chuckle. Bellatrix looked at Hermione with narrowed eyes; so, you wanna play it like that?
"Alright. Let's Go." Bellatrix said as she rose from her seat and walked off; the Slytherins followed her without question. Alarms were going off in Hermione's Head: Did Bellatrix Black just back off like that? What is she planning? The Sound of Dismissal Bell rung through the building, everyone gathered their things and headed to their next destination. Hermione made her way to the next place on her list, completely unaware of the following figure.
END OF CHAPTER OKAME ~ START!
(Narcissa and Warrior-chan look at a menu at a Fancy Restaurant)
Narcissa: How do you afford this place?
Warrior-chan: You don't wanna know.
Narcissa: Okay, then answer me this: What took you so long to write this new chapter?
Warrior-chan: My Laptop was being an ass. I just got a new one.
Narcissa: Ok. I still think you should apologize to your fans for taking so long.
Warrior-chan: You're Right. To everyone out there, I'm sorry I took so long to update the story. I didn't expect my laptop to break. I hope you all can forgive me. See you in the next chapter!