Thank you for the quick reviews on the last chapter. I wanted to get another out before I disappeared in to the mountains for two days where there is no internet. *how will I survive* Please forgive my mistakes.
Hope you all enjoy...
Hermione wrung her hands nervously as she waited for her best friend to come over. She and Bellatrix had spent two days hiding in her house, her bedroom, more specifically.
The day after Narcissa had asked for Hermione to be formally presented to the family, the dark woman had ignored her sisters owls and requests to see her, saying that she didn't want them interfering with her preparations. She did however ask if Andromeda could be brought to Hermione's house when the brunette told Harry of her engagement. So there she stood in the entrance hall waiting for the pair.
"Harry, I'm getting married. No...Harry, Bella and I have decided to...no...arrgg.." she balled her fists and stamped her foot in frustration. She had been practicing how to tell her best friend all morning and had thought by the afternoon she would have settled on an approach.
"I preferred the direct approach, just tell him straight out." Bellatrix said laughing at her woman's frustration.
"I know, this should be easy. I'm just not sure how he's going to react. I mean, I know he accepted us as lovers, but will he be willing to actually give me to you?" the brunette rambled on, thankful that the dark woman was at least going to be in the same house when she told Harry.
"Don't look at it that way. He won't deny you anything my love. You are like his sister. Just be gentle in your approach. We do need him at the dinner to represent you and make requests from us, and don't forget, we need him to help with Andi and Cissy." the older woman said as she wrapped her arms around the girls waist.
"No pressure then." the younger woman sighed as she laid her head on her witches shoulder. "What are you going to say to Andi?"
"Don't worry about that, you concentrate on Potter I'll deal with her." she replied pulling away as a knock on the door sounded. "You ready?" she asked as she walked over to answer it.
Hermione nodded, not trusting her voice. She knew there was no good reason for her to be this nervous, Bella was right, Harry would do anything for her.
"Hi Bella, 'Mione. " Harry said as he walked through to the foyer, Teddy Lupin in his arms. "We had to bring him, there's no one to look after him. Luna's got client's all day and the Malfoys are busy." he said setting the little boy down. Teddy squealed and ran to his oldest aunt, wrapping his arms around her legs.
"We fly today aunty Bell?" he asked grinning up at her smiling face.
"Not today Teddy, grandma has come to speak to Bella so you are going to have to be very good." Andromeda said before the dark woman had chance to reply.
"I can get Shilo to look after him while you speak if you like." Hermione offered, seeing the tension in the middle sisters face.
"Thank you that would be helpful." she said through a tight smile.
The brunette nodded and called for the elf, wondering why the woman was so tense.
After explaining to the little elf what she needed from him, he hopped from foot to foot. He has always loved being around children. "Yes miss, Shilo is keeping young master happy, Shilo will bring him to see the fairy caves." the elf nodded enthusiastically, grinning at the little boy who seemed fascinated by the creatures huge ears.
"Thank you, I'll call you when we are done." she replied happy that she'd had that feature built into the gardens when she moved. It was ment to be a water feature, but because the lake ran through her grounds , she decided to keep it a dry cave, a place she could be outside when she wanted to, but stay warm and dry when needed.
"What was so urgent 'Mione?" Harry asked as he was led into the library and Andromeda was taken into the kitchen.
"Would you like a drink? Tea, coffee, wine?" she asked, avoiding his question.
"No, I'm good thanks. Why the secrecy over bringing Andi?" he said as he slumped down on the sofa.
"We didn't want Narcissa knowing that she and Bella had talked." she explained.
"And why wouldn't you want her to know?" he asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at her.
"Harry, there's something I need to tell you. I want you to stay calm ok. Harry I..." she stopped, words seemed to fail her. She knew her fear was irrational, but she just couldn't help being worried.
"God what's happened?" he said shooting up and quickly going to her side. He put his hand on her shoulder and looked in to her eyes, worry etched on his face. "Are you ok?" he whispered fearing the worst. "Has she hurt you 'Mione. I swear I'll kill her." he growled as he stomped towards the door.
"No Harry." she quickly shouted, stopping him before he could do something stupid. "No she hasn't hurt me and nothing bad has happened." she said taking a deep breath. "I...we...she asked me to marry her." she stumbled over her words and finished quietly.
"Oh." was all he said, taking his seat again. It wasn't what he had expected. He had thought she wanted to discuss his upcoming meeting with Kingsley when she invited him round. He never would have guessed a marriage proposal would be today's topic. "Oh." he said again stunned.
"Are you ok?" the brunette asked quietly. Eyebrows raised in concern.
A huge grin spread across his face as he looked up at her. "That's brilliant 'Mione. I presume you accepted. Wow, you married." he said still smiling widely.
"Yes I did." she said as a sense of relief washed over her. "I thought you'd br angry." she laughed.
"Why on earth would I be, I couldn't be happier for you. It's obvious how much you love each other. Ok she can be a little...intense but so can you. You're perfect for each other." he laughed to.
"There's more." she said as she sat next to him. He turned his body towards her and waited for her to carry on. "Since my dad isn't around" she started sadly. "I would be grateful if you would give me away."
He was speechless. He sat silently staring at her, eyes wide as saucers.
"Harry?" she said worried that he was about to explode.
"I would be honoured to walk to down the aisle." he said, voice shaking slightly. He looked at her through watery eyes and smiled. How could he not give her away? If it's what would make her happy, he would do anything for her.
"Thank you." she squealed and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "I love you Harry." she whispered into his shoulder.
"Love you too 'Mione." he replied wrapping his arms around the closest thing he would ever have to a sister.
"I suppose I'd better tell you the rest." she said as she sat up straight and wiped the tears from her face.
"Glad you could make it Andi." the dark woman said as she handed her sister a mug of tea.
"Your letter didn't seem like I had much of a choice." she replied as she took a sip of her overly sweet drink. "Although I'm glad you asked me." she finished with a smile.
"Yes well, we have lost a lot of time over the years and I intend on rectifying that." the older woman replied, knowing full well the separation was her own doing.
"Let's not look to the past but rather the future. I suppose you asked me here to talk about Cissy's request?" she stated, she had waited for her sister to call for her since the other night, hoping she would, if she was honest.
"Yes and no." she replied, smiling at the deliberate confusion. "I asked you here to talk about Draco mostly, I can handle our little sister. I also asked you here to request your services." she said as she took a seat opposite Andromeda at the table.
"Services?" the woman asked frowning. What could she possibly do for Bellatrix. She had no particularly specialist skills, no vast amount of money to offer. What could her eldest sister want? She wondered.
"As you know, there are no longer any suitable male members of the Black family around. I know our nephew is half Black, but like I said no suitable member's. He is rather...immature for his age, and I would rather not leave such an important task to him." she said heading off the woman's protests before she could open her mouth.
"Ok, so what is it that you need me to do?"
"I would like you to be the one who gives me to Hermione on my wedding day." she said confidently. This was her was of bridging the gap between them. Not only would Andromeda be the one giving her away, it also meant that they would have to spend a lot of time together planning the wedding, something she had been looking for an excuse to do anyway.
"Um... What about Cissy, you two have been together for years. She will be extremely upset when she finds out." the younger woman said.
"I will deal with her." Bellatrix replied, hoping her sister would say yes. She really wanted to get to know her great-nephew, and if Andi agreed, he would be around her nearly everyday.
"In that case. I'd love to." she replied grinning widely. She couldn't wait to start planning. She loved weddings, she never got to help plan Dora's. In the middle of a war, seating plans and place settings weren't at the forefront of anyones mind. "When can we begin?"
"Soon, we need to discuss our darling nephew's requests and questions. I am hoping Cissy will step in and not allow anything inappropriate. But if she..."
"Don't worry Bella, I'll make sure he behaves." she laughed. Her sisters worries were unfounded, she already knew what the young man wanted. The thought of it made her giggle.
"So I get to ask for absolutely anything from Draco and he can't say no?" Harry asked feeling as if all his Christmas's had come at once.
"And Narcissa, Andromeda and Bella. Just remember though they get requests too, so I'd think very carefully about what you ask for." Hermione said, smiling at her friends state of bliss as he thought of all the things he could make his old rival do.
"Oh yh. I forgot that little detail. So if I don't like what they ask for, what happens then?" he asked coming back to reality.
"According to Bella, you can only deny one request from each. If you do you all have to negotiate and settle on something or, you have to give them the second request." she relayed all the information her lover had given her.
"So I can deny one but you can't?" he asked just to make sure he had things right.
"Yeah pretty much." she replied knowing what her friend was thinking. "That's why Andi is here, Bellas wants her to keep an eye on Draco."
"Aah. I see." he said nodding his head. "This is a bit of a screwed up tradition 'Mione, sure you want to marry into such a strange family?" he laughed as he ducked a well-aimed cushion whizzing at his head.
"You know, you are distantly related to them." she said grinning as he quickly shut up and scrunched his face.
"Very distantly." he mumbled. "Are you going to take me through the plan of getting the other two to live together?" he asked changing the subject.
"Miss Bellatrix, master Teddy is finish playing with the fairy's. Shilo is showing him the lake monster. Miss Hermione said he could take an egg. But master Teddy is saying he has no lake to keep it. And he is wanting to see you." the little elf said as he walked the little boy into the kitchen and handed him over to his aunt. Tears streaming down his face at the thought of giving up his very own monster. "He is upset, Shilo couldn't calm young sir, so I bring him back."
"Ted, don't cry sweety. I'll buy you a monster toy that you can play with in the bath." his grandmother said as she tried to sooth him.
He shrugged her hand off his shoulder and buried his head in his arms that were resting in Bella's legs.
"Aww, don't deny the boy Andi, let him keep his pet." the dark woman said cooing at the young man. Clever girl Hermione, she thought a small smile playing on her lips.
"Bella, I have nowhere into keep it. Even if I did, we live in a muggle village." Andromeda huffed at her sisters lack of help.
"Cissy has a large lake at Malfoy manor, keep it there. You can take the boy to check on it every few weeks." she suggested.
"Evwey day." a little muffled sob came from her lap.
"Fine I'll ask her, but she won't be happy." the younger woman said. She always gave in to the boy far to easily. Bellatrix smirked and stroked the now happy boys hair. Very clever indeed.
"So if Draco is on assignment in...I don't know, let's say Egypt for a few weeks, Narcissa will ask...
"No she won't ask, someone will have to suggest it. Bella will do that." Hermione said, correcting any mistakes Harry made as he repeated the plans back to her.
"Aright, I'll speak with Neville and set up an interview for in the next couple of days. Why can't you hire him again?" he asked a little hazy on the detail.
"Because it would look suspicious considering what the papers have just printed about my involvement with the family. And I'm not back at work for a few more days, he can't miraculously have an interview the same day I return. And Narcissa will see right through me." she explained again for what felt the hundredth time.
"Ok, got it. And once Andromeda is living at the Malfoys. Narcissa won't want her husband back?" he asked still a little confused.
"No, of course she wants him back. She loves him, she just won't ask for it. This way we can get him out through the correct channels." she said starting to get a little frustrated at having to repeat herself.
"Right, got it now." he said finally understanding everything. "I'll owl Neville as soon as I get home."
"Thank you." she said sighing. "Bella is going to start teaching teddy to fly, but his garden is to small and we can't do it here because of...well I haven't thought of an excuse yet, but his lessons will be at Malfoy manor." she said continuing her explanations.
"Security reasons, the wards can't be removed until Bella is signed off." he said, offering an excuse for the lessons not to take place at her house.
"Brilliant Harry thank you." she smiled.
"I have my moment's." he grinned back.
"Yaaaay...grandma did you hear. I've got a broomstick and I'm going to fly." Teddy said excitedly as he ran around the kitchen arms outstretched pretending to fly.
"Bella you can't make promises that you don't intend to keep." Andromeda hissed angrily at her sister. She thought Bellatrix should have discussed it with her before saying anything to her grandson, he was to little to fly, especially at Bella's speeds.
"I have every intention of keeping my word, the boy is old enough to have a really broomstick and to learn. If you remember we were younger when we learnt." the dark woman replied smugly. Everything was fitting together nicely, as long as Potter could get Draco out of the manor for long enough, things should go smoothly.
"He is to smal..."
"Nonsense, stop worrying you'll get wrinkles. I promise I'll keep him safe, stay low and try not to go too fast." she laughed as panic clearly washes over her younger sisters face.
"Bella, he is everything to m.."
"I know Andi, just trust me I'll take Draco up too, he can be a second pair of eyes and hands ok?" she offered as a compromise.
The younger woman stayed quiet, it wasn't that she thought Bellatrix would intentionally hurt her grandson, she just knew that the woman had very little experience with children. One excited move from the boy and he could fall to the ground, seriously injuring himself. Draco seemed to have an instinct when it came to the little boy, knowing he would be up there too put her mind at ease a tiny bit. "Ok, but you promise he will be safe at all times." she agreed, nodding her head. She hoped Cissy wouldn't mind them spending so much time at her home.
"Excellent." she said grinning. "Would you like to start tomorrow young man?" she said, lifting the boy and placing him on her knee. He grinned and nodded enthusiastically. To her and her sister's surprise the little boy launched himself forward, wrapped his arms around her neck and squeezed her tightly. She patted his back awkwardly not knowing what else to do.
"Love you aunty Bella." he mumbled into her neck.
She froze im shock. Andi lifted her eyebrows, jaw dropping open. She prompted her sister to reply with manic hand gestures.
"L..love you too." she said quietly, heart aching a little. She would never have a son of her own to say that to her.
"Then we bring Draco back. Do we have to?" Harry asked only half-joking.
"The intention isn't to keep him out there for too long, besides, he is the best at what he does. It won't take him long to find the Anubis tablet." Hermione replied "We just need him out of the way for a couple of weeks, one at the least." she explained.
"Ok 'Mione, I'll get him on the research team, you have to send him away when you get back though." the dark-haired man said tiredly. They had been at this for what seemed like hours and his stomach had started rumbling.
"Come on, lets find the others and get some food." the young woman giggled, things never change she thought to herself. He and Ron had always been the same in school, putting their stomachs first.
"Oh thank God. I don't think I could stand another take away. I love Luna to bits but she takes after her father when it comes to cooking." He shuddered, remembering the ginger and seaweed broth she had made the night before, which he discreetly threw away and got another pizza when his girlfriend fell asleep. Hermione laughed and took him to the kitchen.
As they walked in they found the sisters laughing at something the little boy had said. Bellatrix stood up and gave her wife to be a gentle kiss on the lips. "Sorted?" she asked quietly.
"Sorted, you?" Hermione replied to which a wink was her only answer.
"Congratulations are in order I suppose." Harry said trying his best to keep the smile from his face. He put out his hand for the dark woman to shake. As shr grasped it, he pulled her forward and wrapped his free arm around her shoulders.
"Potter wha.."
"I couldn't be happier for her Bellatrix, and you." he said simply then let her go. He walked over to the little boy to hear all about his pet monster and flying lessons with his aunt Bella.
"It went well then?" she asked, a little shell-shocked from the second unexpected hug she had gotten in less than an hour.
"Really well." she said laughing at her poor lover.
A while later after they had all enjoyed a wonderful meal, they said their goodbyes at the door, Harry insisting that they didn't need to walk them to the gates.
"Thank you for coming." Hermione said, kissing each of them on the cheek and waving as they walked down the path. Just as she was about to close the door, she saw Teddy break away from his grandmother and run back.
"Aunty Bella promise you will come tomorrow. I'll be good and sit still I promise I'll listen to you. Promise you will come?" the little boy said anxiously, breathless from his run.
"I promise I will be there at ten sharp." she replied, smiling at his enthusiasm.
"Ok." he said and turned away. Before he had taken a step he turned back. "Promise?"
The dark woman looked around for something, spotting what she needed she walked to her lover. "May I?" she said pointing at a small dragon brooch pinned to cardigan that Harry had given her years ago. She nodded and let Bella take it off. The dark woman tapped it twice with her wand then pinned it to the boy's jacket. "If I'm late, rub this and concentrate really hard on my name, and it will remind me to come to you." Teddy touched it gently with his finger and grinned up at her. "Remember, only if I'm late." she said seriously. He nodded, spun around and ran back to Andi and Harry.
"You're so good with him Bella." Hermione said, thinking the woman would have made a wonderful mother. Bellatrix smiled sadly and walked in to the house. Hoping she wouldn't dream of the child she would never have tonight.
TrinityTesla- Thank you, its reviews like yours that keep me writing and motivated. It's wonderful to have someone like you follow my little fic from the very beginnings, thank you for sticking with me xx
Terrorize- I'm glad I can help get you writing again, there really isn't enough bellamione stories out there. I'll be catching up on some BL/HG on my two-day break, I'll be sure to read yours xx I have loads dowloaded and ready lol x
xAngelofthenorthx- Have I ever mentioned how much I love reading your reviews? You never fail to raise a smile or cause a laugh to tumble from my lips. Thank you. And I could probably bring myself to sift through some of those memories too lol x
Chillrend- Aww don't hate Cissy too much, she's just lonely and depressed. She wouldn't intentionally harm their relationship. Her reasons for expecting Hermione to be able to do it will be explained and everything will be sorted. X
Thank you everyone. xx
Until next time...