Disclaimer: I don't anything in Harry Potter. J.K owns all the characters and places.
Thank you all for your continued support and all your reviews!
A BIG thank you to Nick7745 for letting me use your amazing idea with the smokescreen (Fumos) and thin cord (Ventus)! Brilliant spells to use!
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 22 - Second Year
Hermione woke to a darkened sky, lightning streaking through clouds; thunder rumbling in the background. The heavy downpour pelting against her window, sighing heavily at having to leave her home once again, she slid out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
Arriving inside the dining hall, Hermione found an equally downcast Bellatrix, head hanging low, her spoon running circles through her porridge. Sirius was sitting with heavy set shoulders and a downturned expression. Cassiopeia was reading the prophet, her tea sat in front of her; she dropped the paper onto the table and smiled at Hermione.
"Morning dear, are you all set? Everything packed?" Bellatrix sighed.
"Morning Grandmama, yes, I am all packed and sorted. If I have forgotten anything, I will ask Twinkle to retrieve it." Cassiopeia nodded and took her teacup from its saucer, taking a sip. All four of them set about eating their breakfast, Bellatrix and Sirius both pushing their food around their bowls.
After their breakfast, they made their way to the landing, where Hermione bid farewell to Sirius with a bit more friendliness than she had done before. Turning toward Bellatrix to say goodbye, she was stopped by Cassiopeia's hand on her arm.
"Bellatrix is joining us, she was whining about it, last night and so I relented and have agreed. You can say your goodbyes at the station." Hermione smiled at her grandmother, pleased that she could have a bit more time with Bellatrix before she departed on the Hogwarts Train.
They arrived at the train station, her trunk and Ara already on board thanks to Twinkle. Cassiopeia bent down to give Hermione a quick hug before standing proudly once again. Bellatrix looked at Cassiopeia, a silent request to take Hermione to the actual train, receiving a small nod in reply. Taking Hermione's hand in her own, she led her to the big red steam engine, stopping just near the door that would take her little kitten away from her.
"I want you to write or use the mirror whenever you can, don't let the Weasley's or Potter get under your skin and keep an eye on Draco, Cissa wants him away from Potter this year for some reason. Be careful okay my kitten." Hermione nodded and grabbed Bellatrix around the waist in a tight but quick hug. They checked to make sure that no one saw; thankfully clear of eyes, Bellatrix bent low and gave a Hermione's cheek a peck before swiping her thumb across her eyebrow.
"I'm going to miss our practice sessions and games, but I'm going to miss you plenty Bella." Hermione looked up at Bellatrix and gave her a soft smile. The final whistle blew, notifying everyone on the platform that the train was departing in the next five minutes.
"Let me know when you arrive kitten, I'll miss you too." Another quick hug and Hermione stepped onto the train, turning to wave at Bellatrix and Cassiopeia, before walking along the corridor in search of Draco.
Hermione had been back at school for two weeks; her thirteenth birthday was five days away and her Head of House had permitted her to be away from the school from the night before; Cassiopeia having explained the need for her to be at home on her birthday.
She could feel small changes within herself each day that passed; she was becoming more mature and her body was beginning to change as she moved out of preteen to teenager. Her temper was also growing rapidly and plenty of her dorm mates and other students were beginning to realise that she wasn't one to be trifled with.
Hermione continued along her current path; Herbology in greenhouse three with Professor Sprout. They were going to be learning about bouncing bulbs. Looking around at her classmates and then to her own rattling box that sat in front of her, she waited on the Professor's instructions before opening the lid.
Inside the box wriggling in its confines, was a purple bulb with long green leaves; they had been warned to take heed of this lesson as it was going to be required in their next Potions class. Beginning their lesson, Professor Sprout had the second years re-potting the bulbs into bigger pots, warning the students not to threaten them or they would become aggressive.
Of course, Draco, being an idiot in Hermione's mind, decided to test this theory and paid the price when the bulb wriggled free of his grasp, hitting the floor and bouncing back up with speed. It connected with his nose with an audible 'crack', grabbing at his now bleeding nose, Draco glared at anyone that looked his way. The bulb still bouncing around causing destruction; hitting Draco a couple more times before moving to its next target. Ron Weasley.
Their Professor threw a knockback jinx at the bulb and eventually got it calmed, placing it inside the new pot after sending Draco to the infirmary along with Ron. After everyone had secured their newly re-potted bulbs, Professor Sprout gave them some homework before dismissing them all for their next class.
Arriving at the Potions classroom door, Hermione stood outside for a few extra minutes to see if Draco would be there or not; but after another five minutes of waiting with no sign of him, she walked into the class and took a seat next to Harry, leaving a space on her left open for when Draco arrived, if he did.
"Right today we are going to be brewing the Pompion potion. Can anyone tell us what it is used for?" Professor Snape looked around the room, waiting for hands to show and found only Hermione's in the air. "Miss Black."
"It turns the drinker's head into a pumpkin, sir." Hermione had recalled Professor Sprout mentioning that piece of information, almost as soon as they had begun with their lesson.
"Correct, clearly Miss Black is the only one that listened in Herbology. Five points for Slytherin." Turning to the black board, he flicked his wand and the ingredients as well as the instructions appeared. A side note was placed below the instructions, advising that the potion would be orange when brewed correctly.
She had collected her ingredients and was already beginning, when Draco arrived with Ron Weasley hot on his tail. Their Professor docked points from them both for tardiness and pointed to the black board. Having crushed the Flitterby Moth into a pulp, per the instruction, she gave the cauldron a clockwise turn until it had turned green.
Draco had gone to collect his ingredients and was busy setting up, by this stage she was already grinding the bouncing bulb in the mortar. She could hear the Potter boy and the Weasley fool whispering to themselves, choosing to ignore them she added her bulb to the cauldron and began the anti-clockwise stir, watching as the colour slowly changed to red.
"Uh Harry, is the potion supposed to look pink?" She heard the hesitant whisper come from her right and turned to look over at the cauldron that sat in front of Weasley, his was indeed pink. Not wanting to get involved she continued slicing the foxglove before adding it to the mixture. Giving it the clockwise stir per the instructions on the board, she was watching as it the red was beginning to look like burnt orange, when out of no where a piece of bouncing bulb was thrown into her potion causing it to bubble uncontrollably. With a quick flick, she produced a shield dome over the cauldron just in time for it its impending explosion.
Hermione's eyes found the Weasley boy with his hand over his mouth, shoulders shaking with laughter. Potter had the good sense to step backwards just as Hermione's spell connected with the red heads leg, slicing the flesh open causing him to scream only no one could hear him. Having cast the silencing spell beforehand.
"Try that again Weasel and I'll do more damage." She gave him a withering glare, cancelling the spell that kept him quiet and then calling for Professor Snape.
"Sir, could you please assist, Weasley over here decided to throw a piece of bouncing bulb into my cauldron just as it had turned to a burnt orange." Glaring at Weasley again, Hermione's eyes dared him to deny it.
"It was an accident sir; I was cutting it up to put into the mortar when the piece flew out of my hand." Hermione watched as Professor Snape cleared her cauldron and restocked her ingredients.
"Begin again Miss Black. Mr Weasley, you will have a detention with me tonight, for your stupidity. 20 points from Gryffindor." Turning his back on them, he strode back to his desk.
"Nice one kitten!" The Weasley boy growled lowly, she stiffened and turned cold black eyes on him.
"You better keep a watch out Weasel. You may find yourself meeting the end of my wand." The threat hung heavily between them.
Turning back to her cauldron, she began her potion again, this time however nothing happened, and it turned a nice shade of orange. By then Weasley and Potter had been dismissed, as had half the class. Draco had just stoppered the phial in his hand and was walking toward the Professor, leaving her to clean up and fill her own phial to take to Professor Snape.
Hermione was walking away from Charms class, finally done for the day. Heading down the stairs, just went in search of Draco, finding him near an abandoned classroom, having an argument with none other than Weasley and Potter.
"You stay from her Weasel or I'll hex your sister!" Draco's cheeks were tinting pink with his anger and Hermione rolled her eyes. He was sweet to try and protect, but Bellatrix had taught her a thing or two and Hermione would use them in due time.
"Draco, there you are; come we have to do our homework and I'd like to get it done this evening." Draco saw the pointed look she gave him and caught on. Glaring at the other two boys he turned away from them, following behind Hermione as they descended the stairs toward the dungeons and their common room.
Hermione and Draco were strolling along an unused corridor of the dungeons when out of nowhere a spell flew in their direction, Hermione having sensed something malicious, pushed Draco to the one side which left her upper arm open and the spell connected, she felt the blood begin to pour but paid no mind to it. She let lose a few minor hexes and jinxes, making it seem as though she was not familiar with anything more.
Backing into a corner she allowed her senses to control, getting a feel for the person or people attacking them; she could feel four others besides herself and Draco. Moving to stand a bit further inside their little alcove; she moved her wand in a sweeping motion, muttering her spell 'Fumos', creating a large smokescreen. Filling the entire corridor, she and Draco heard the others moving about, lost and unable to see their own hands.
"Take the two that were on this side." Hermione pointed to the far left of the corridor and she took the two on the far right. She pushed her senses out once again and got an idea on where they were, leaving Draco to deal with his two opponents.
Casting a silencing spell on her feet to keep her oncoming assault quiet, she edged further along the stone wall, using her ability to feel the magic to aid her in 'seeing' where her would be attackers were. Finally picking up the two of them she began her assault, whispering her spells as she moved a bit closer. She could hear that Draco was already busy with his opponents. Gaining the upper hand within in seconds, she flung her wand sideways and with a quiet 'Ventus' she watched as a thin black cord rocketed its way toward the one attacker.
Wrenching her arm back she was rewarded with the body of her attacker crashing to the floor below; a scream of pain followed, her feral grin firmly in place as she cast a second 'Ventus' for the second attacker rewarded again with the sound of a body crashing to the stone floor below them. A couple of slicing hexes later and her attackers were down for the count.
Clearing the smokescreen with a wave of her wand, she found Draco about two metres from her, with two unconscious boys bound and gagged. Turning to look at her own attackers, she was rewarded with them laying with their faces on the floor with small pools of blood near their legs and chests. Harry Potter and his three friends had been defeated so easily; she felt a tiny amount of pity for the light side when the Dark Lord returns.
"Leave them here or dump them somewhere?" Draco asked, wiping the back of his hand across his forehead.
"Dump them, don't need them tattling about being in the dungeons, they don't know who it was anyway." Nodding at her, he did his swish and flick for the levitation spell and together the two of them took the four boys on a little walk to the Black Lake, where they were left, leaning against the base of the trees in the Forbidden Forest.
It was the night before her birthday, she had been allowed to floo to the Manor via Professor Snape's office and arrived just after eleven in the evening. As soon as she had arrived, she had been squished against Bellatrix's body in a fierce hug. Cassiopeia had taken her away after that, leaving Bellatrix with Andromeda, Narcissa, Melania and Nymphadora.
Arriving inside her bedroom, she was greeted by Druella and Walburga. Both were dressed in black dresses; she could feel the magic woven into the material. Cassiopeia was also dressed in a black dress and when she looked toward her bed, she could see a blood red dress hanging from the frame above the bed. Cassiopeia then led her to the bathroom and was joined by Druella and Walburga.
"Hermione, tonight is the Fall Equinox, an Equal Night under the waxing crescent moon of the Harvest month. With yours and Bellatrix's bond markings only showing themselves from midnight we have decided that we can bring in the new season with a ritual, a celebration of your growth from child to woman, a celebration of your bonding with Bellatrix." Cassiopeia had prepared the bath with warm water the aroma in the air was of the moon flower.
"We will be cleansing your body tonight with the sacred essence of the moon flower; it will allow the blossoming of your bond. You will be dressed and carried to our meeting point tonight, the moon flower will allow your senses to be completely open, so my child I warn that you will be overwhelmed with everything around you, but you must not fear, all will be well." The three older women began cleansing her, washing her hair and her body.
Once they finished in the bathroom, they took Hermione to her bed where the dress was placed over her and allowed to flow down her body; again, Hermione could sense the magic woven into the material. Her hair was then brushed and braided, woven into her hair was strands of silver silk. As soon as they had tied the silver sink to her braided hair, Hermione's senses were opened and she was indeed overwhelmed with the sounds, smells and sights around her.
Her sense and taste of the magic around her was even more pronounced than before. She could now see the strands of magic in the material she and her family members wore. Every enchantment that was around her room, was like flowing water and it was beautiful, colours of all types flowed along the walls, ceiling and floor. She was entranced.
It was nearing midnight by the time they had begun their walk through the back garden of the Estate, Hermione was being levitated by Druella and Walburga while Cassiopeia led the way. They arrived at a Willow tree that Hermione had never seen before, she could see it was glimmering and reflecting the night sky above and was entirely black in colour.
Arcturus and Pollux, along with Orion and Cygnus pulled the branches aside to allow them entry; letting them fall back closed once they had passed through. There atop a slab of black marble stood Bellatrix; her body clothed in the same blood red dress as Hermione, her hair bound and braided with the same silver silk and her black eyes shining with a purple hue. Hermione was placed atop the same slab and Bellatrix looked at her with a smile.
"We stand together, a family. Our predecessors shining above us in approval of this gathering. Polaris shines brighter than ever tonight; he has bestowed his blessing upon this bond and acknowledges the ritual about to take place between two of his own. Tonight, we will stand witness to the sacred bonding between two souls, we will shower them with magic as their bond is revealed and acknowledged by all those present." Cassiopeia let her eyes flow over those present, Arcturus, Pollux, Cygnus, Sirius, Lucius, Tyron, Andromeda, Narcissa, Druella, Walburga, Melania and Nymphadora.
"Bellatrix and Hermione, tonight you will find your bond marking upon your right and left forearms respectively. Do not be afraid of the revelation, embrace it." Cassiopeia pointed her wand at the two of them, followed by those gathered and began chanting. Soon all the others were led into the chant, neither Bellatrix nor Hermione could understand it.
They felt the magic around them, saw it flowing around them. After the feeling of wanting to kneel washed over them, they dropped to their knees. Hands reaching out, fingers entwined, they watched as a brilliant colour of saffron wove around their waists, moving up towards their chests and further until it touched their eyes. Leaning towards each other, foreheads touching they saw a brilliant flash of white light encapsulate the entire undergrowth of the willow tree.
A warmth spread through their bodies, beginning from their toes and moving upward to their heads, the silver sink began to hum with the magic, the stars above them twinkling and becoming brighter, the roar of thunder ripple throughout the grounds. Hermione and Bellatrix could still hear their family chanting, bathing them in magic, casting their eyes to their joined hands before searching their forearms.
Slowly as each wash of magic bathed their bodies, the marks started to form, first a faint white, then light a grey, a flash of black, then red before settling on a deep burgundy in the shape of interwoven vines and ravens. They looked up to each other's eyes and smiled widely. Their soul bond was there for all to see. A voice then rumbled over the gathered family;
"My family, a blessing to my bloodline, Bellatrix and Hermione, united for eternity."
Bellatrix released Hermione's hand and traced her left eyebrow with her thumb, Hermione smiled and noticed for the first time how Bellatrix's physical appearance seemed younger, as if she were in her twenties and not her forties. Her eyes were shining brightly as she looked over Hermione smiling wide. Bellatrix had also seen how Hermione's body was taller, fuller, womanlier, a perfect form for her thirteen years. She felt the love swell inside her and smiled brightly, Hermione was hers and no one was ever going to change that.
Cassiopeia along with the others stopped chanting and watched the pair, their pale skin shining under the stars, their beautiful bond markings shining just as brightly as their smiles. Lovers. The gathered group had left the Willow tree and the two witches were left together under the peaceful watch of family members passed.
"Hermione, my love, my soul, I am so glad that we are truly bonded together as we are." Bellatrix ran the backs of her finger across Hermione's jaw line.
"Bella, my soul, my heart, I too am glad that we are truly bonded as we are under the blessing of our founding father, Polaris." Hermione traced her own fingertips across the side Bellatrix's face.
The saffron band of magic began flowing around their bodies once again, moving through them before disappearing into the Willow tree. Hermione placed a gentle kiss the corner of Bellatrix's mouth and bent forward to wrap her arms around her waist in an embrace.
"I love you my Bella." Bellatrix lifted Hermione's head, traced her eyebrow once again, placing a quick peck to her lips before pulling her tighter into her embrace.
"I love you my Kitten. Forever." Holding onto each other as the magic began to ebb away into the night; the Equinox fully in place; the waxing crescent moon on full display as the moon flower petals that floated through the air sank into the earth. Polaris shining brightly upon his daughters through blood, his blessing unseen upon their ring fingers.