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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 29 - Temperamental
Bellatrix had fled the Manor the second her body was fully healed. She was going straight to Grimmauld Place where Sirius was going to be given the beating, he deserved. She was lurking around the massive park that lay just beyond Grimmauld, she was in her Animagus form as it would be easier to smell if someone was coming.
She'd been lurking around for about a month now and still now sign of him or anyone for that matter. It was getting on her nerves; she could see the property either and it was sending alarm bells off in her head. Surely, he wouldn't have placed a Fidelius Charm over the property. He might now, but a meddlesome on coot would.
Growling under breath and hearing the snap of a twig ahead, she hastily followed the sound. Watching as her niece and Molly Weasley looked around and then disappeared. Shifting back into her human form, she followed the path that Nymphadora took and just as she was steps away, she was suddenly blasted backwards. Cursing in frustration she screamed and disapparated away from Grimmauld Place.
Landing back inside the Manor, Bellatrix sought after Cassiopeia. Finding her inside the library, parchment and books strewn all around her. "Aunt Cassi, there's a Fidelius over Grimmauld. Nymphadora and Molly Weasley disappeared behind it when I was keeping watch and when I tried to follow, I was thrown backwards." Cassiopeia started writing furiously on the parchment in front of her.
"I gave him his name. I allowed him back into this family. How does he repay my kindness? By taking control of Grimmauld and giving it to the Order of the Phoenix!" Bellatrix flopped into the wingback chair opposite Cassiopeia and began twirling her wand. "When the Dark Lord returns, he's the first one I want dead. Nymphadora will be next. Andromeda couldn't control her and instead of seeking her family for help, she chose to let her spawn defile our name!" Bellatrix sat and listened to Cassiopeia's ranting, deciding that she would liberate their family and take care of the traitors.
Hermione was strolling along the castle passages, needing to clear her mind and continue reapplying her Occlumency shields. So preoccupied was she that neither the young man hastily running down the darkened path nor Hermione knew that they were about to collide.
As it happened, Hermione was hit side on from another body and landing rather hard on her back. Glaring up at the idiot that had dare hit her, she found herself looking into emerald green eyes belonging to Harry Potter. "Do you make it a habit to run through the castle Potter, or are your insatiable needs to land yourself in trouble undeniable?" Hermione was left speechless when Potter left alone in the corridor as he rounded the corner, she noted the large parchment in his hand.
Not making it habit, Hermione decided that this time she would follow him out curiosity. Righting herself before taking off after him, not noticing that Professor Snape was standing just inside the alcove; hidden by the darkness. He too followed the two students; he would only intervene if needed.
Hermione had followed Potter down to where the Whomping Willow sat; its branches began thrashing as he drew nearer to it. She could make out a small shape running as fast it could go towards the base of the tree. Following quickly behind Potter as he dove down a hidden crevice under the tree, she took aim and dove down herself. Not even bothering to call the spell that would have frozen its violently swaying branches.
Following the muddied footsteps, she came to a stop at the foot of a staircase. Taking them upwards she found herself inside of a run-down looking cottage that was groaning and creaking heavily. Noting the cobwebs and the dust and taking careful steps along the rickety landing. She heard voices shouting at each other about killing someone. Carefully easing the door open, her wand already in hand she peered into the room. Stifling her gasp at the sight before her, feeling the rage begin to fill her body.
There standing proudly was Sirius; he was holding a wriggling rat that she now knew to be Peter Pettigrew and just further in was Professor Lupin and Potter. "I've waited a long time to do this Pettigrew. I promise I'll make it swift; you won't feel a thing." Grinning he walked toward an old piano that was missing half a leg and many of its keys. Potter made to move away from their Professor, but it caught Sirius' attention.
"You know Harry, I am rather disappointed that you don't believe me an innocent and free man. I am your godfather and legal guardian and yet you still deny the truth." Potter began to protest but Sirius continued. "Have you not wondered why I haven't killed you yet, if I was a mass murderer out to get you?" Potter closed his mouth at the truth behind the words said.
"I came here to exact my revenge upon this pathetic rat, and he will be the only one dying here tonight." Sirius threw Pettigrew away from him and twin beams connected with him from both Sirius and Professor Lupin's wands. A sniveling and chittering man stood crouched low to the floor, his front teeth slightly elongated and his hands under his chin. "Peter Pettigrew, a man that murdered muggles and disappeared like a coward. A man that framed his best friend for the killings of his other best friends." Sirius paraded around the small room with his wand pointed at the sniveling rat.
"Sirius. Remus. My old friends. Oh Harry, look at you, such a sweet boy and so kind. You wouldn't let him kill me, would you?" Remus pointed his wand at Peter's face and Sirius moved to stand next to him. "You don't get to speak to Harry you dirty coward." Pettigrew shrank back, his beady eyes looking for an escape route. Hermione decided that she needed to step forward but felt a hand wrap around her mouth and another around her waist. Jerking sideways she saw that it was her Head of House. Placing his finger to his lips in the universal sign of telling her to be quiet.
A small scuffle broke out in the room and Pettigrew was making a hasty retreat for the door; being faster than the others, he dashed down the stairs, having completely missed the two other occupants that stood outside the door. Hermione felt the tingle of magic sweep over her and just behind her as Professor Snape cast a disillusionment charm over them.
Sirius, Remus and Harry hurried after Pettigrew, the sounds of a few wooden floorboards and some stairs breaking in their hasty escape. Hermione shifted and turned to face her Professor, "What are you doing following Potter, Miss Black?" She glared at him and made to move to follow the others. "That is none of your business Professor, forgive my rudeness, but this is private family matters and I must attend to them." Not bothering to wait for his response she took to the stairs, making sure to avoid the broken ones.
Eventually climbing out from the crevice at the base of the Whomping Willow, Hermione came face to face with Potter and Sirius. They glared at her, but their eyes quickly located another being that was currently groaning in pain. She felt Professor Snape stand up behind her, "Black! You will leave these grounds before I call on the Headmaster. Potter you and Miss Black will take your leave and will both receive detention." Turning to face Hermione he spotted the source of her fear filled eyes, moving to cover her from the sights of Remus Lupin's werewolf form. The growling wolf began to close the distance between himself and the others.
Sirius shifted into his Animagus form and ran for the werewolf, gaining its attention and driving it away from Hermione, Harry and Professor Snape. Hermione spotted Pettigrew watching her from just behind the Whomping Willow. Sneaking over to him she saw him looking nervously over her shoulder, "Go now, before they get you again." He looked at her curiously, "Why are you helping me?" She gave him her best impression of Bellatrix's glare. "Because we're on the same side and I doubt the Dark Lord would be happy if another of his followers was caught." He nodded before shifting and scurrying off.
Hermione saw Professor Snape try and grab Potter by his robes, but the boy foolishly ran off and Hermione saw this as her only chance at getting to the traitorous dog. Breaking away from the grip her Head of House had she raced after Sirius intend on cursing his stupidity.
Being faster than Potter gave her the upper hand and she used it to her advantage, spotting Sirius in his human form stumbling around she shot a curse at him and was satisfied to hear him shout in pain. Catching up to him was simple enough, clipping his shoulder with a slicing hex had her smiling, "You're nothing but a blood traitor! Bella was right about you, you filthy beast! Grandmama was wrong to acknowledge you again! You're nothing but a lowly mongrel!" Each of her words were followed with darker spells. He was struggling to breathe as it was and now, he was trying to maintain his consciousness.
Hermione was once again taken to the floor only this time it was more painful as she was sent over the small cliff that she had been standing on. Potter wasn't unscathed by his actions either, but it allowed Sirius enough time to disappear with cry of pain. Hermione turned to give Potter a dressing down but was hit by a beam of red light that she hadn't been able to sense. Her body fell backwards, her head connecting with a jiggered piece of rock.
Bellatrix was sitting with Cassiopeia, they had been discussing an assortment of ideas on getting into Grimmauld Place when an elf, Bellatrix hadn't seen since she was a little girl, suddenly appeared. Cassiopeia glared at the creature for his disrespect for just barging into her drawing room.
"What is the meaning of this elf?" He spun around and Cassiopeia noted the familiarity. "Kreacher?"
"Kreacher is sorry for disturbing the Madam and Ms Black. Kreacher would not be a good elf if Master died and Kreacher did not attempt to get help." Bellatrix smacked the elf round the ears, "Stop rambling! Just spit it out!"
"Of course, Ms Black, Kreacher lives to serve the Noble House of Black." Bowing low he continued. "Master Sirius is gravely injured and Kreacher is without supplies to fix him." Cassiopeia looked at the elf with disdain and Bellatrix was giving it an incredulous look.
"Let that idiot suffer, he needs to learn a valuable lesson. Get out my sight!" Cassiopeia flung her arm out and smacked the elf off her desk. He disappeared without hesitance.
"Aunt Cassi we could have finished him off." Bellatrix was leaning her chin atop the desk and looking unblinkingly into her aunt's eyes. "He could have taken us to Grimmauld." Cassiopeia tsked at Bellatrix.
"Honestly Bellatrix, do you retain nothing in that brain of yours?" Huffing her response, Bellatrix mumbled but allowed her aunt to finish. "He is part of the Fidelius, if he took us there it would kill us immediately." Cassiopeia conjured a pot of tea and set about making herself a cup of tea.
Hermione was sitting in the hospital bed, Madam Pomphrey was fussing over her and admonishing her for trying to escape. "Honestly Madam Pomphrey, I feel fine. Please let me go." Poppy huffed her annoyance and glared at the student in front of her.
"I will allow you to leave, but you are taking these three potions before I let you depart from the infirmary." Handing Hermione the pepper up, the headache reducing and blood replenishing potions. Hermione uncorked them and took them between a ten-minute interval per Poppy's instruction. Feeling a lot better than she had, she left the infirmary.
She was going to get Potter back and he would suffer severely for what he did. She made her way down to Professor Snape's office where she met Potter who gave her a deathly glare. "You could have killed him!" He growled between teeth. "You didn't even give him the chance to explain himself!"
"And why do you care Potter? Hmm? You cannot possibly expect me to believe that you suddenly love him and accept him after you denied his innocence that had been proved in front of the Wizengamot." He spluttered trying to retort but she beat him to it. "What? You think I care for that blood traitor?" He glared at her and ignored her.
"Mr Potter. Miss Black. So nice to see that you can behave like magical beings and not common muggles." Professor Snape had opened his door, peering down his nose at the two before him. "Tonight, you will be scrubbing out the cauldrons. No magic will be used Miss Black so you will be handing in your wand, you too Mr Potter." He stretched his arm out toward them both, palm up, waiting for them to hand over their wands.
"You cannot expect me to clean those disgusting things with my bare hands. I'm not a mudblood!" Professor Snape looked at her with one of his infamous fear inducing glares and she begrudgingly placed her wand in his open hand. "Do not think yourself above others Miss Black, you are not Bellatrix."
"You have no right to speak of Bella in the presence of someone unworthy, Snape!" Potter looked at her and opened his mouth to give her his own knuts worth, but their Professor was faster. Leaning in close to her face he spoke in a deadly calm tone of voice. "You need to learn your place Miss Black; I am your Professor and you will not disrespect me again or Bellatrix will be the least of your concerns."
"You threatening me now half blood. I would watch your tone. I would hate for this school to be without their Potions Professor." She pulled herself up to her full height and gave him her own glare. "I have been trained in magic you could only dream of learning." She was aware of Potter's open mouth and shocked expression.
"Miss Black, you will receive a month's detention for you disrespect. I will be writing to your grandmother tonight as well. Make sure you are outside my office door by seven pm sharp." He turned on his heel, his black robes billowing out behind him as she and Potter followed behind him.
When they got to the classroom, there were ten cauldrons on each desk that they would be scrubbing. A bucket with soap water was sitting on the floor and a scrubbing brush and sponge were placed on the desk just next to the towering cauldrons.
Hermione started on hers, wanting to get out of the classroom quickly. Professor Snape had left them to their own devices, warding the door before leaving just in case they tried to leave before finishing their detention. Hermione pointedly ignored the glaring eyes that were trying to bore a hole into her head.
"I will not be held responsible for the actions I take in alleviating your need to continually bore a hole into my head with your burning eyes. If they are disturbing that much, feel free to dunk your head into the bucket." Hermione placed her third cauldron on the shelf to her left and lifted the next to begin her manual scrubbing. Glancing out the corner of her eye she saw that he had gone red in the face but was scrubbing his own cauldron.
Bellatrix was sitting on her bed; a few books were laying around her haphazardly when Ara appeared at the window. Allowing the owl in she briefly wondered why Hermione hadn't called her with the mirror. Taking the parchment from the owl, she let her fly to the little perch she'd purchased the year before;
My dear Bella,
I hope that you are well. It's been a while since our last visit at Hogsmeade and couldn't help but wonder if you would be happy to meet again?
I have garnered the unwanted attention from the Potter boy after an incident that happened with Sirius, the halfbreed and Pettigrew. Potter is now conversing with the dog from what I've heard and is slowly building his relationship.
Sirius was badly injured by my hand; I was hopeful that he had perished but with the knowledge of him communicating with Potter but hopes fell flat. The traitor doesn't know how to die.
I told Pettigrew to escape; I hope that was a good idea. I didn't think the Dark Lord would want another member of his Death Eaters dead or in Azkaban.
I managed to get myself a month's detention with the greasy git, Snape too. I might have gone to far with him while in school, but I know that light loving traitor took the hint of my distaste for him. Though Potter is now watching me as well, he was after all there when I threatened the dungeon bat.
I'm only grateful I have a half month left to be out of these detentions; scrubbing cauldrons and restoking classroom potion ingredients without magic like servant is so demeaning. Not long now and I'll be home again.
With love,
Hermione
Bellatrix scoffed at the part with Severus and the detentions, that man needed to remember where his loyalties lay. The Dark Lord was merciful, but traitors will be put to death without a second thought. Pettigrew escaping was good too, they needed many more hands to track down their Master.
At least they would be able to relax this coming summer, Bellatrix was going to take Hermione to Russia for a month and a half before they joined her sister at the Quidditch World Cup. Hermione would then spend the last two days of her summer break with Narcissa before heading back to Hogwarts for her Fourth Year.