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This is the first of the 'House of Black' series:
Summary: What would life have been like if Hermione Granger was born a Black? Follow our little heroine as she grows up in the House of Black and becomes Bellatrix Lestrange's right hand girl.
Chapter 21 - Diagon Alley
Bellatrix was sitting on the balcony, the sun shining down upon her ebony curls, her legs dangling between the iron bars. She had been in the kitchen when the owl from Hogwarts arrived with Hermione's letter for her second year and she had become slightly depressed at the thought of her kitten going back to the school, leaving her all alone with the mutt and Aunt Cassi.
Giving thought about her trip to Diagon Alley, Bellatrix wondered if Hermione would be happy to have her join on the shopping trip that Cassiopeia was bound to take her on. Pulling her legs back in, she jumped to her feet and ran through the French doors and towards Hermione's room. Knocking upon the wood she waited to be given entry and when she was, she flung the door open.
"Kitten, what do you think about me coming with you to Diagon Alley when you go for your school supplies?" Hermione looked away from the mirror, hairbrush still in hand, towards Bellatrix's frame.
"I'm fine with that but I think you should ask Grandmama if it'll be alright." Hermione was just running the brush through her curls when Bellatrix disappeared from her doorway, she rolled her eyes and smiled at her jovial actions.
Bellatrix was now bouncing on her toes in front of Cassiopeia's desk, her hands clasped together and her eyes pleading; reminding Cassiopeia of a similar time back when Bellatrix was four years of age begging to hold baby Andromeda.
"Please Aunt Cassi, please, I promise I'll be on my best behavior, I won't cause trouble." She was pleading with the stern woman and added a pout just to soften her some more.
"Argh, alright Bellatrix, you may join us when we go." Bellatrix let out a squeal, tearing out of the drawing room and back to Hermione's.
Hermione and Bellatrix arrived in Diagon Alley with Cassiopeia appearing seconds after them, taking another look at her list, Cassiopeia went to Flourish and Blotts, while Bellatrix and Hermione took a stroll towards Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions.
Along the way, Hermione watched as everyone gave them a wide berth and started whispering, pointing at Bellatrix with fear in their eyes. Hermione was getting annoyed by everyone treating Bellatrix like some plague, she noted that the older witch wore a blank expression, eyes steely.
Arriving at the shop front, Hermione looked around to make sure that it wasn't too full and pulled Bellatrix inside with her, weaving around the multiple hanging robes, the two witches found Madam Malkin fussing over a little red headed girl.
"I'll be with you in a minute dear." Not bothering to look at them when she spoke, she hadn't realised who was standing inside her shop. The little girl on the other hand did and began to shift uncomfortably.
"Quit your fidgeting dear or I'll poke you with the pin." Looking over her shoulder she indeed did prick the girl with the pin when she spotted the two dark haired witches, the little girl gave a small cry of pain, pulling Madam Malkin's attention away from the other occupants.
Hermione and Bellatrix didn't blink when they looked over to the woman and the little red head; Hermione eventually took to looking around the shop while she waited for her fitting, Bellatrix trailing behind her. Another person entered the shop groaning about an incident that had happened inside Flourish and Blotts with 'bigoted Malfoy's and Black's'.
Bellatrix walked closer to the plump woman, her eyes flashing dangerously, rounding the one rack she came to a stop in front of the woman who gasped at the sudden appearance of another body. Hermione walked over to Bellatrix's side, curious about what had grabbed her attention so suddenly.
"I'd be a bit wearier on what you say in regard to my family Madam." The plump woman looked at Bellatrix with anger and pulled herself up to a fuller height.
"What are you going to do about then Black?" Hermione sensing an impending fight stood in front of Bellatrix and glared at the woman.
"Kindly refrain from causing drama within Madam Malkin's shop, I'll not have you start a fight while we are inside." Bellatrix placed her hands upon Hermione's shoulders, leaning down to kiss the side of her temple in a show of affection.
"Now, now my kitten, no need to jump to my defense. You know I can take care of filth that dares to pick a fight with me." The woman in question looked between the two with disgust written on her face.
"Please ladies, I don't need a fight breaking out. Mrs Weasley, I've just finalised on Ms Weasley's robes; I'll have them owled over when they're complete." Bellatrix turned a nasty sneer on the now identified woman and couldn't resist throwing in one last word.
"A Weasley eh, I should have known, what with the red hair and ratty robes; filthy blood traitor scum, the lot of you." Hermione gave the two red heads a nasty look as well and took hold of Bellatrix's hand, pulling her away from the two of them.
"Come Bella, Grandmama won't want to be kept waiting for too much longer and wasting our time with blood traitors won't make her happy." The Weasley matriarch watched the display with a disgusted expression, getting the impression that something was going on between the two.
"You stay far away from that girl when you're at Hogwarts, Ginny dear." Nodding her head in acknowledgement to her mother's words, she followed her out of the shop.
"I apologise Madam Malkin, we did not mean to cause a fuss inside your shop." Bellatrix watched as Hermione apologised politely while the woman in question measured Hermione's taller frame.
"Think nothing of it my dear, I'm just thankful that a wand fight did not break out. Now we're all set, I'll have your robes owled over once done." Thanking the woman, Hermione and Bellatrix made their way back down the Alley, deciding to stop for an ice-cream when they spotted Cassiopeia walking into Gringotts bank.
Taking their seats at one of the smaller tables inside the shop, both ordering chocolate sundaes. Bellatrix was just scooping out a spoonful of her sundae when she suddenly felt a finger smear a small amount of chocolate down her nose, a giggle following. Lifting her eyes to look at her companion she smirked, the spoon still held firm in her hand. Black eyes with violet flecks looked back, although the little witch was sporting a cheeky grin.
Across from their table sat a family of seven red heads and a accompanying unruly mop of black hair, all of whom were watching Bellatrix as she flicked the spoonful of chocolate ice-cream at Hermione, cackling with laughter when said ice-cream smacked the younger one in the face.
"They almost look normal when they forget that people can see them." Harry said when Hermione started giggling while wiping the ice-cream off her face.
"Don't let them fool you, Harry, they're evil through and through." Ron mumbled.
"Yeah I know, but just look normal." Harry shrugged, spooning a mouthful of his own ice-cream into his mouth.
"It's disgusting how they behave with each other." The Weasley matriarch said, a deep frown marring her face.
"Leave them be Molly dear, they aren't hurting anyone, and Bellatrix is just treating her like a little sister." The older sons of Molly and Arthur Weasley sat chatting with each other, ignoring the two females their family were gossiping about.
"Older sisters don't call their younger sister, my kitten with such affection, Arthur." Molly snapped still glaring in the direction of Hermione and Bellatrix.
"Kitten?" Ron said with a snigger, Harry snorted with his own amusement. "What a stupid name." He continued to laugh with Harry, Ginny joining in after a while.
Back at Bellatrix and Hermione's table, the two were busy chatting about the coming year and Hermione's birthday.
"You know kitten, our marks are going to show when you turn thirteen." Hermione nodded; her mouth full of ice-cream. "Are you excited to find out what mark it takes?" Swallowing her mouthful before replying, Hermione wiped her serviette over her mouth.
"Yes, I am, I know that we haven't spoken about it either since the night it happened; I'm curious about what bond we share." Bellatrix smiled.
"I know, I am also curious to see what they are and I promise you this, no matter which type we land up being, you're my kitten and no one is ever going to hurt as long as I still have breath in my lungs, I will protect you." Hermione's eyes found those of Bellatrix, her black orbs were shimmering, she looked at her with what Bellatrix could only describe as love.
"Oh Bella, you're going to make me cry and we're in public." Sniffing a little, she gave a small chuckle when Bellatrix's hand traced her left eyebrow. "Whatever our bond is Bella, I will make sure no one ever hurts you either." Smiling at her with bright eyes, Bellatrix gleefully giggled. Both still completely unaware of the eight other occupants watching them with varying expressions.
Cassiopeia was just finishing up with her meeting with the head Goblin regarding the Potter boy's magical guardian, when the door was suddenly thrown open and an angry Albus Dumbledore stormed in.
"Madam Black, what on earth are you doing. You have absolutely no right when it comes to Mr Potter and his guardianship." Cassiopeia raised her eyebrow.
"Clearly a closed door means nothing to you Mr Dumbledore and as it so happens, neither does the last will and testament of Lord and Lady Potter in regard to their Heir, Mr Harry James Potter." Glancing at Marfang, head Goblin to Gringotts, she continued. "You clearly did not want my nephew to have any form of contact with Mr Potter after his parents death; it clearly stipulated, that upon their passing Sirius Black the third was to be named, publicly might I add, Mr Harry Potter's legal magical guardian. That being said, it also stated that Mr Potter was to be kept away from his muggle relatives as a way to keep Lady Potter's blood relations safe from our world."
"You have no right! You are interfering with things that do not concern you in the least Madam Black and I shall not hesitate to have you arrested by the Aurors." Albus was angry and Marfang chose that moment to speak.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I assure you, Madam Black was not interfering, she was questioning the wellbeing of her nephew's godson and as it stands blood relative through Lady Dorea Potter. I merely advised with information pertaining to her question. If you are wanting to fight this, then please follow the correct procedures maintained by this institute and have Mr Black and Mr Potter present." He bowed his head to Cassiopeia concluding their meeting.
"Thank you Marfang, I will take my leave and I do wish you a marvelous day." Glaring at Albus on her way out the door. "Good day Mr Dumbledore." Slamming the door behind her, she made her way out of the bank.
Cassiopeia spotted her niece and granddaughter at Florean Fortescue's, smiling and chatting, completely unaware of the dirty looks they were receiving from the Weasley brood and one Harry Potter.
"Bellatrix, Hermione." She stood just outside the cordoned off section with an air of superiority, looking down her nose at the filth that sat at the table to her immediate right. "Move it, I don't have all day." She glared at the two witches as they scrambled to her side, already sensing the underlying anger that was rolling off her in waves.
The Weasley family and Harry watched a bit fearfully as the two witches hastily followed behind the six-foot-tall woman that exuded great power. Harry turned toward Arthur and asked who she was.
"That Harry my boy, is Madam Cassiopeia Black, the one witch you never want to cross wands with. She makes Bellatrix look like a fairy in comparison." Molly huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, Ron's eyebrows had all but disappeared into his hairline and Harry, well Harry was curious.
Hermione and Bellatrix disappeared from Cassiopeia's side as soon as they arrived back at the Manor, choosing to head for the library while Cassiopeia went looking for Sirius. Not long after the two girls got to the library and Bellatrix was in her Animagus form chasing Hermione around the room.
Hermione was just coming around the one corner when Bellatrix pounced on her, sending her to floor with a squeal, her laughter echoing around the room. Bellatrix dragged her tongue over the side of Hermione's face and part of her hair, leaving a mess in her wake.
"Eww, Bella, that is so gross." Giving her lion's version of laughter, Bellatrix leapt away and ran off deeper into the library, leaving Hermione to clean her face and fix her hair. After righting herself, Hermione went in search of Bellatrix, deeper into the library she went and the darker it seemed to become.
She once again found herself pinned to the floor by Bellatrix who was giving throaty growls and a big feline grin, Hermione once again giggling. Both behaving like small children, the only time they ever allowed themselves to be completely free; alone and away from prying eyes.
After another couple rounds of their version of hide and seek, they were resting on the rug in front of the fireplace, breathing heavily from their running around; both completely happy and content. Hermione was lying on top of Bellatrix's back, her arms dangling around either side of Bellatrix's neck; being lulled into slumber by the deep purring from Bellatrix.
Cassiopeia and Sirius stood in the doorway, not wanting to destroy the thrum of magic that encapsulated both Hermione and Bellatrix, looking over at Sirius, Cassiopeia motioned for him to move away from the doorway, they would have to pursue the library the next day. Both turned and left the library and the happily bonded witches within.