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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 23 - Day's in the Sun
Hermione had returned to the school via Professor Snape's office just past two am. He was patiently waiting for her arrival; he saw that a portion of her hand was covered in a strange pattern with vines and ravens. He became curious at this new marking on his student.
"Thank you for letting me make use of your fireplace Professor." He nodded in response and let her leave the office. She hurried back to her dorm, throwing her night clothes back on and slipping beneath the duvet. Thankful that she could sleep in due to it being a Saturday.
When Hermione surfaced from her slumbers, she was alone in the dorm. Heading for the shower, she got ready for the day; when she got a look at her newly marked forearm, she smiled to herself, running her fingers across the mark sent shivers down her spine.
It was beautiful, fully formed vines that wrapped around her forearm, ending on her hand; she could see the ravens fluttering around some of the vines, settling down before doing it again, a set loop. When she looked a bit more closely to the vines, she could make out Bellatrix's name in perfect calligraphy script along the one vine that ended just on the underside of her wrist.
She finished with her washing up, getting dressed and exiting the dormitory. Walking into the common room, she could see a few older students with books in front of them, some younger students were playing games and she finally spotted Draco. He was harassing a first year and she couldn't help but smile, he was such a pain, but she loved him anyway.
"Draco, leave the poor thing alone." He looked up and waved her over.
"You won't believe this, a mudblood somehow got into Slytherin when looking for their House." He started to harass the boy again. "Says he got lost when looking for Hufflepuff." She looked at the boy and could see he had the typical yellow and black colours of the Puffs.
"How'd you get in here?" He was shaking which made her laugh. "What's wrong muddy, snakes got your tongue?" Laughing as the boy went red around his cheeks.
"I just want to find my House, please don't hurt me." He squeaked when Draco pushed him over. Hermione walked up to the entrance to their common room and opened the door.
"Throw him out Draco, don't need weak little muddy brats sullying the Slytherin common room any longer." Draco true to form, bullied the boy a bit more before hauling him right out of the door. The two of them left the shaking boy in the corridor, they walked up a flight of stairs that led them to the entrance hall. Both wanting to get in some sunshine while it was still around.
Walking around the grounds was comforting for them both, they couldn't explain what it was but whenever they walked near the Black Lake, they always felt comforted.
"I see your bond mark is finally showing, how did it go? What bond have you and Bellatrix got?" She pulled her sleeve all the way up to her elbow to show him the mark, he looked at it with awe in his eyes, his hand ghosting over it. She explained it all to him, told him how their ritual was witnessed by their family and then how Bellatrix had given her a peck on the lips. He by now had found Bellatrix's name and he couldn't help but smile.
"Well congratulations, I'm glad that you two are bonded now." He gave her a naughty look before teasing her about Bellatrix giving her a kiss.
"It wasn't a kiss, just a little peck is all, nothing romantic." She had a pink tint to her cheeks. "I am still too young for anything else to happen Draco." He nodded but that didn't stop his teasing, pretending to purr and making kissing noises, all the while her cheeks pinked even more.
Out of sight from both Slytherin's stood three Gryffindor's, they had overheard the conversation about the soul bonding and the marking. Their faces showing their disgust.
Back at the Manor things were getting heated, Sirius was named legal magical guardian over Harry Potter; it had caused quite the stir within their home as Bellatrix only just found out. Cassiopeia was silent throughout the entire screaming match, the shrieking of Bellatrix's voice, Sirius' loud shouting and the blithering idiot from the Ministry had given her a headache.
Once the registration had taken place, the paperwork filed and the Potter Heirs documentation updated, Cassiopeia and Sirius had gone through to Gringotts to get sorted with the rest of the paperwork for the child.
They were both currently seated at Marfang's desk, Sirius was reading through the papers while Cassiopeia waited. They had checked the finance's, the properties and the small everyday details of the trust vault. Finally, after an hour of checking, Sirius was given the final form to fill out and sign which would give him full control over Harry's assets until he became of age. They thanked Marfang for assisting with everything, leaving the bank behind them to return home.
Arriving back inside Cassiopeia's drawing room, she requested that he stay to discuss his taking over Lordship of their House.
"Sirius, it is time for you to begin taking Lordship of this House, your father and I have been in discussion and have decided that you will take the title by the end of the year. Orion is stepping down on December thirty first, you will take the title on January first, you will then be moved to Grimmauld Place." Sirius' eyes widened at this, there was no way he would stay with his parents, his own mother would murder him in his sleep.
"Don't look at me like that, you will move back to your childhood home. Sirius, none of us are getting any younger, Pollux is already saying he doesn't see himself living passed next year, Irma's death was a great heartbreak for him. Melania and Arcturus' loss with Ignatius and Lucretia have aged them both drastically and I am fortunate that my health still carries me on, but I will not live forever." She watched him sag into the chair and rub his hands over his face in frustration.
"Sirius, before long, the elders of House Black will be gone, your parents, Druella and Cygnus, they are already in their later years and they too will not be around forever, it is a tradition within our family. The younger blood is taught the ways by the elders and then when they are ready, they step up to the plate and take over the running of the House, so that the older members may move on."
"I understand Aunt Cassi, it's just frustrating, I don't want to live with them again, they disowned me for Merlin's sake." With a disapproving glance, Cassiopeia tutted.
"They are moving out of the House; they will be living at Black Manor with Pollux." He looked up and a glimmer of hope and something else she could not place flashed across his eyes. Watching him leave, she made a mental note to keep a careful eye over her nephew. She may have accepted him openly and trained him for his upcoming Lordship, but a Black never trusts anyone.
October had arrived and with it, trouble. The trees were bare, their leaves having fallen already with the violent winds. Pumpkins were being brought up from their previous homes, carved with faces of all kinds. The atmosphere did not bode well, not by any stretch of the imagination.
Sitting amongst a patch of fallen leaves was a creature with blackened fur; its tail flicking in agitation, growls emitting puffs of condensation; a strange feeling kept creeping along its spine, its hackles raised. A deep sense of foreboding hanging heavily around it. Bellatrix sensed something terrible was going to happen.
Many thousands of miles away, a young woman stood atop a tall tower; her sights on the murky waters below. An ominous feeling etched into her being, a horrible sense of impending doom. Sighing out loud, she continued her vigil as the wind carried brown and yellow leaves across the grounds. An eerie fog had settled over the forest, rendering it silent. Hermione couldn't shake the feeling that something awful was going to happen.
Heavy clouds, darker than ever, hung low over Hogwarts. The wind howled and had the trees creaking as their bark stretched and cracked. Hermione couldn't sleep; the ominous feeling clung to her very soul and kept her awake. She had wanted to speak with Bellatrix, but feared she would be asleep, instead she penned a quick letter to her and had asked Ara to take it to her bond mate.
Getting up from her bed, Hermione had decided to take a walk. Knowing that it was passed curfew, she had to be careful. Her feet carried her along the corridors and moving stairs. Her path unknown, she just needed to walk. She came around the corner of the second floor corridor and felt the hairs on the nape of her neck prickle and stand on end. Feeling around her with her magic, she picked up a death like magic, it was worse than her first year. More pungent in its taste and old.
Hastily rounding the corner, she flicked her wrist, releasing her wand from its holster. Her arm bending in an arc above her head, she prepared herself. That was when her ears picked up a sound behind her, she knew instinctively that it belonged to something monstrous in size. A deep fear settled in her bones, causing her to shift her stance ever so slightly, she lowered her wand arm to now be just barely out in front of her. Taking in a breath, readying herself to turn on her heel and face the thing that was somewhere behind her. She lifted her eyes to the windows, focusing on the reflection within.
A great scream was heard echoing throughout the Estate grounds, waking the two other occupants so suddenly. Grabbing their wands and running through the darkened Manor toward the doors. They had barely made it through the front doors when an almighty explosion erupted so suddenly somewhere in front of them. Both occupants warily glanced around the dark grounds before finding the source of such heart-breaking cries.
There in the middle of smoking crater stood a wild woman. Her features, only seen due to the blazing fire that roared around her, were contorted with pain. A feral look was seen in her glowing eyes. A shudder of fear passed through the two occupants that were slowly making their way towards her. Another scream tore from her lungs, it was filled with a sense of loss and grief.
Cassiopeia and Sirius were both nervous when they got closer, they couldn't understand what had caused such a reaction from Bellatrix. Neither knowing what to do. It was still dark out, the stars covered by the clouds. They were only able to see due to the fire. Cassiopeia bracing herself opened her mouth to speak but didn't get to ask the question, Bellatrix had disappeared with deafening 'crack'.
"What could have caused such distress?" Sirius whispered. Cassiopeia had an inkling Hermione was involved, but she couldn't be sure. Turning back to the Manor, she hastily made her way inside and to Bellatrix's bedroom. There on her bed was a small piece of parchment and Ara's glowing indigo eyes.
Reaching out to take the note, she read it and realised that something must have happened to Hermione;
My Bella,
I have constantly been plagued with an ominous feeling these last few days, I cannot help but feel as if something is going to happen.
Is it going to be me or you? That's all I seem to be able to think about at night. Sleep has eluded me for nearly a week due to this feeling.
Bella, I'm concerned that tonight may be the night that I find out. I have been lying in my bed with a need to walk through the castle, I feel possessed, almost as though I must find whatever, or whoever it is that is sending these foreboding thoughts.
I do not know if I will find it, but if I do, I am truly sorry.
All my love.
Cassiopeia looked out the windows of the bedroom, Sirius stood just behind her, having read the note himself. A troubling sensation coursed through their bodies.
"We must find her Sirius; I fear she may have allowed her instincts to cloud her mind." Sirius laid his hand on her shoulder and gave a nod of confirmation.
If they did not find Bellatrix and soon, she would end up doing unimaginable things in her current condition.