Breaking the Window

Chapter 36: Family Matters

Hermione figured she should wear her newly acquired proper witch-wear more often. The dress Bellatrix had fitted her in was just so comfortable and soft. The magic she felt radiating from the embroidered runes was incredibly soothing as they were meant to keep the dress clean, soft and the wearer comfortable under all circumstances.

Granted, it was probably a hideously expensive dress, but Bellatrix was adamant that she should keep it.

It was time for dinner and Hermione quickly found out that this was an occasion of stark rules and ritual, starting with the seating arrangements. The butler Sebastian guided her to a seat at the center of the right middle row of the table, apparently a place for honoured guests. Bellatrix was seated next to her, while Bellatrix' father was seated at what she first thought was the head of the table, until she noticed that the seat at the opposite end of the table was larger. That Ted Tonks and Nymphadora were seated at either side of the large chair cemented her conclusion that that was Andromeda's seat as head of the House. Achille Rosier had excused himself to remain in his atelier, which was apparently a common occurrence. Bellatrix' mother Druella had been seated on the chair nearest Cygnus.

Almost immediately, the starters were being served... good god, was the beluga caviar? As a starter? As the small bowl of caviar was set in front of her, she was almost afraid to look at it. Still, Bellatrix had imparted on her the lesson to enjoy life more and, really, how often would she get the chance to taste this luxury?

Nobody was eating yet, however, and when she gave the others a questioning look, Cygnus told her that the head of the house should give the blessing first and that Andromeda had been delayed.

So, small talk was had. Pleasantries were exchanged. Druella Black commented on just how smashing Hermione looked in her dress. Bellatrix often squeezed her hand. Nymphadora cracked a bawdy joke.

Fine. This was going fine so far.

Then Andromeda came in, looking regal as ever. "Apologies," she simply said and sat down. She cleared her throat and bowed her head.

"Bless you and yours,

As well as the cottage you live in.

May the roof overhead be well thatched,

And those inside be well matched."

She couldn't help but notice the glare Andromeda shot in her direction after saying the last line. Still, Hermione could have sworn she had heard that blessing somewhere before. While still thinking, Bellatrix tapped her on the shoulder.

"You may eat now," her girlfriend whispered to her, causing Nymphadora to giggle and Druella to smile.

Careful to the point of being reverent, Hermione dug her spoon into the bowl holding the caviar and brought some of the roe to her mouth. The activist in her screamed at her to be outraged: the Beluga sturgeon was considered to be critically endangered and here the Blacks were serving it mainly for her sake. Sure, she should be outraged, but it same time, it was simply soooo good. Any indignation in her mind ebbed away the moment the delicious caviar touched her tongue.

Once the sheer foodgasm has passed, the main course was being served. Dragon steaks. Hermione had never had dragon steaks, but was assured by Sebastian that the meat had come from premium free-range Romanian dragons. After taking a few bites, she found the meat to be naturally spiced and oddly self-heating.

"So auntie," spoke up Nymphadora after chewing a bit of her own steak. "Are you worried that Rodolphus Lestrange is still out there?"

Bellatrix frowned a moment. "To be honest, I have never really given it much thought. I never really had too much interaction with him at Hogwarts, even when our engagement was announced. And after Father annulled the agreement, well, that was that, I think. I suppose Hermie has much more to be concerned about."

Hermione froze. That much was true. Rodolphus had brutally tortured her. He had fought her, Luna and Ginny at Hogwarts and, after Mrs Weasley blasted him off his feet, he had threatened to come back and kill all three of them before he had fled into the darkness. Unpleasant memories came back until she pushed them down. "My friends Ron and Harry are on the case," said Hermione. "They've been chasing him all over Europe and they'll catch up with him eventually. It's only a matter of time."

"Sheesh," Nymphadora snorted. "If you hadn't, you know, fallen through that hole in time, you could have been married to the bastard."

From the corner of her eye, Hermione could see Cygnus lowering his head slightly, apparently in deep contemplation, while Druella turned her head to smile at her. "Remember that that Lestrange boy planned to murder our Bella. But you saved 'er. Merci beaucoup, mademoiselle Granger. Merci beaucoup."

"See?" Bellatrix chuckled. "It all worked out for the best."

"Hmph," sounded Andromeda before sending another cold glare her way. "That is a subject up for debate."

It was at this point that Hermione was starting to feel decidedly unwelcome. In fact, Ted Tonks... no, Ted Black reached over to grab Andromeda's hand. "Dromeda..." he started. Andromeda's cold stare, however, remained unrelenting.

"Andromeda," spoke Cygnus, apparently attempting to change the subject. "Have you made any progress towards our family motto?"

Andromeda shook her head. "In light of recent developments, I have put that on the backburner. It's a difficult enough subject as it is."

"Father?" asked Bellatrix.

"Toujours Pur," spoke Andromeda. "Always Pure. Considering recent events pure-blood pride isn't as popular as it once was and, well, it doesn't properly reflect the values of House Black anymore." Her hand still being held by Ted, she reached over to Nymphadora and squeezed hers. "Thing is, a statement like 'always pure' doesn't leave much room for interpretation. Changing the motto outright isn't an option either, as we would have to reapply our crest to the wizarding archive and we'd lose certain statuses. Our crest would no longer be suspended from the ceiling of the Ministry or the Halls of Magic and it will take another two-hundred years before our new crest would. I'll need to ponder this some more."

It was time for dessert to be served. In front of everybody, a huge crystal bowl filled with icecream was swiftly set.

"Ooooh!" Bellatrix clapped her hands in joy. "My favourite! You really went all out today, father."

Sebastian was kind enough to explain the particulars of this dessert. "Vanilla and chocolate icecream in a bed of Very Superior Old Place cognac. Further ingredients are caramelised peanuts, butterscotch, whipped cream, fudge, chocolate crown and salted caramel."

Hermione blinked. "Those flakes... is that what I think it is."

"The gold dust is safe to eat, but the gold leaf is garnish," said Sebastian with a friendly tone. "Please enjoy your dessert, miss Granger."

He didn't have to tell her twice. She dug in like a ravenous demon and the moment she took the first bite, she was in pure icecream-heaven. In fact, she had to keep herself from wolfing it all down as the others were taking much longer to enjoy their icecream while chatting. Considering the bowl was enscorcelled to keep the icecream cool, she supposed there wasn't any real hurry.

"Getting used to the Black family lifestyle?" grinned Bellatrix next to her.

Hermione chuckled. "I could get used to this."

It was a jest, pure and simple. And one which was appreciated by the others.

All but one.

"I just bet you could..." spoke Andromeda with a tone which was even icier than before.

"Well, get used to it," Nymphadora chuckled. "I'm pretty sure that Hermione won't be staying at the guest room tonight."

Crass as that comment was, it wasn't untrue. Hermione was reminded of the comment which Bellatrix made in front of her family. Though a bit sordid and embarrassing, she very much wanted to be part of Bellatrix' life and wanted to express that to her family. So if this is what pure-bloods do, then Hermione should follow suit.

"True. Though I suppose," smiled Hermione. "You'd be happy to know that Bellatrix and I have already shared a bed on multiple occasions."

Instantly, the pleasant conversation at the table came to a grinding halt. Looking around her, it seemed to Hermione as if time had completely frozen. In fact, she saw Andromeda's spoon hovering in the air mid-rise. All eyes were upon her and she couldn't help but gulp.

"Hermie..." Bellatrix hissed. "Why did you say that to my parents?!"

"But... you did to mine! It was pure-blood culture, you said!" Hermione returned. "An indication that the future bond will be fruitful in terms of offspring and continuation of the family line. I was just... trying to..."

"Yes, the scion of the house with the highest status is supposed to say that!" Bellatrix whispered. "When the other party does it... it's just tacky."

"Oh," Hermione closed her eyes and sighed through her nose, the abject embarrassment rolling over her.

Andromeda had snapped from her stunned stupor, and promptly slammed her hands on the table. "Absolutely SHAMELESS!"

Hermione cringed and cast her eyes downward.

Laughter came from the other side of the table. But not mocking laughter. Not at all. Hermione looked up and looked at the amused face of Cygnus Black. "I like this girl," he announced, while next to him, his granddaughter Nymphadora slowly rose up to give Hermione a standing ovation.

Andromeda was, again, quick to anger. "Don't encourage this awful behaviour!"

"Come on, mum!" Nymphadora laughed. "Lighten up a little. Hermione's going to fit in with this merry lot just fine."

She really shouldn't have said that.

Andromeda grit her teeth, glaring at her daughter. With a tone that could snap freeze Loch Ness, Andromeda hissed through her teeth. "Sit... DOWN!"

Nymphadora froze, actually gulped and sank down into her seat in complete silence. Silence which spread.

Andromeda dabbed her lips with a handkerchief before slowly rising. "I have lost my appetite," she spoke before turning around and striding into the hallway.

"I'll, uhm, I'll go talk to her," said Ted before getting up himself and following her into the corridor. Soon enough, so did Bellatrix' parents and Nymphadora, who briefly clapped Hermione on the shoulder before leaving her with Bellatrix.

"Well," said Hermione while taking the final scoops from her bowl of icecream. "That could have gone better. Your sister hates me. I think I messed up when..."

"No," Bellatrix interrupted, her expression one of pouty anger. "You did nothing wrong. I have no idea what Andromeda's problem is, but I'll go sort her out in a bit."

"Don't bother," said Hermione. "You'll only make her angrier."

"Not my problem," said Bellatrix as she rubbed Hermione's shoulder. "She's going to have to get used to having you around. Because I'm not giving you up for anything. Now cheer up."

"It's not Andromeda," said Hermione. "I... just had a thought. I'm sat here eating gold-plated icecream while my parents... my parents are having to spend their life savings on bogus legal fees and are planning to sell the house. The house I bloody grew up in. It... it doesn't feel right."

"What?" Bellatrix frowned.

"Maybe I should focus on the things I can actually change," said Hermione. "What if I try to help Andromeda with figuring out an alternative interpretation of the family motto? Might get her to like me a bit more and give me an excuse to explore the library."

"Wouldn't hurt," smiled Bellatrix with a surprisingly soft voice. "But I won't let her off the hook. And perhaps we can help your family too. Are you sure you're alright?"

Hermione chuckled. "Trix, what happened to the mean girl I met in the woods?"

"She's still mean," replied Bellatrix, reaching over a run a hand through soft brown hair. "Just not to you."

"You'd better not be," Hermione narrowed her eyes in a playful fashion. Her young girlfriend merely giggled and her smile promised cuddles and perhaps even a massage in bed later tonight. Both sounded perfect.

Bellatrix was a woman with a mission. The young curly-haired witch strode towards the office previously belonging to their father with grim determination. In her mind, she knew exactly what she was going to say to rebuke her sister. When the double doors leading into the office appeared into view, she intended to through them open in a very theatrical fashion before berating Andie in a rant which would take at least fifteen minutes.

"You were very rude to Hermione just now!" were the first words out of Bellatrix' mouth when she stormed into Andromeda's office. "I..."

Andromeda simply held up an index finger while she finished writing her sentence on the parchment without even looking up.

"Andie!" Bellatrix hissed with barely contained anger. Again, Andromeda simply raised her finger and kept writing. The curly-haired witch grunted and started pacing back and forth, often stopping to glower at her younger-now-elder sister. Finally, Andromeda put down the quill, carefully lay the parchment to one side to let the ink dry, folded her hands and finally looked at her.

"Yes?" Andromeda asked.

"Andie!" Bellatrix hissed, her intended rant now having lost her momentum. So instead she decided to get straight to the point. "What the hell is your problem?!"

"Hermione Granger," replied Andromeda almost spitting out the name. "And the fact that you're cavorting around with the very girl who took you away from your family!"

"That... that isn't true!" replied Bellatrix. "We were friends before we became girlfriends! She listened to me. And I listened to her."

"Was she the one who encouraged you to breach the Fae Mirror?" Andromeda chuckled. "I bet it was."

"We did to together!" said Bellatrix. "We do a lot of things together, Andie!"

"Hm-hmm," Andromeda narrowed her eyes. "Was it your idea to skip thirty-three years ahead in time? Or was it hers?"

Bellatrix paused for a moment. She fully realized that trap Andromeda was leading her into, but in truth she couldn't escape it. The curly-haired witch lowered her gaze somewhat and whispered quietly. "Hers."

Andromeda snorted. "Of course it was."

"Hermie told me that my future... that I... that I wouldn't have a future if I wouldn't! You heard Father. Murdered and buried in the woods!"

"HAH!" Andromeda exclaimed. "That story only exists as an explanation for your disappearance! It never happened! And you simply believed a ridiculous story Hermione Granger obviously made up! On her word?!"

Bellatrix shook her head. "She was... convincing. Hermione wouldn't lie to me."

"Oh, of course not. They would never lie to you. Until they do," Andromeda mouthed. "That's the thing with you, Bella. When you're in love, something in your brain just shuts down! I remember Evelyn and your misadventures on the Eastern Bridge quite well!"

Bellatrix closed her eyes and sighed. Of course Andromeda had to bring that up.

"You were in love with Evelyn," said Andromeda. "So on a whim you decided to impress her by jumping off into the water! From a bridge you knew was dangerously high! The moment you hit the water..."

"... I broke both my legs and almost drowned," Bellatrix sighed heavily. "I know, I know, I've heard it dozens of times before."

"And yet you've learned exactly nothing from it!" Andromeda sighed. "If Hagrid hadn't happened by at that precise moment to fish you out of the water, you would have been dead! Really dead! And for what?! A girl who was slated to marry another after her graduation just like you were?!"

"I'm not here to debate my state of mind with you, Andie," Bellatrix sighed. "Jumping off that bridge was a mistake and I know that quite well, thank you very much. I'm here for Hermione's sake."

Andromeda snorted. "Of course, you are."

"It's not just for me, it's also for her parents," said Bellatrix. "Jack and Emma Granger."

That, at least, captured Andromeda's attention. Her younger-now-elder sister sat up a little straighter and motioned for her to continue.

"They're nice people who treated me a lot better than I was expecting from Muggles," said Bellatrix. "You know about the lawsuit, right?"

"Who doesn't?" Andromeda replied. "But I still don't know what that has to do with us."

"I was getting to that," said Bellatrix. "The Ministry is doing everything they can to sabotage their efforts, including a lot of bogus legal fees. So they're going to have to sell their house to keep up with the payments or they'll have to drop the suit."

"Which is no doubt what the Ministry is hoping for," Andromeda nodded. "Hm, a financial war of attrition. Clever. I've used that tactic myself plenty of times."

"I want to cover the costs," said Bellatrix. "I want you to break open my trust fund this one time and free the up money I need. It should only be a fraction of the total."

Andromeda looked at her intently. "No," she replied swiftly.

Squaring off in Andromeda's office as she sat behind that oaken desk of hers, Bellatrix crossed her arms and tried to stare her once little sister down. Andie, for her part, was not impressed. "All I want to do is to help my girlfriend's family! It's a drop in an ocean for us and for them it means they won't lose their house! And Hermie doesn't lose the house she grew up in!"

Andromeda held up her finger for a moment while she returned to the scroll she had been working just as Bellatrix had stormed into her office. Bellatrix bristled as she waited impatiently. Andie finally set the scroll aside to dry and placed the quill in her inkwell once more. "I heard you the first time," replied Andie, her voice solemn yet direct. "The answer is still no."

"Why not?!" Bellatrix demanded.

"Because any form of charity of donation towards the Grangers, no matter how small, will be interpreted as the House of Black taking a stance in one of the politically divisive events this century!" replied Andie. "And that I cannot allow!"

"This century?! Even bigger than a fucking wizarding war?!"

"Yes!" Andie yelled back. "Much bigger than a fucking wizarding war!"

"How is student safety and mental aftercare in any way political divisive?!"

"As usual, you miss the point!" Andie yelled back. "What's happening right now is unprecedented. The parents of a muggle-born are suing the Ministry and Hogwarts on the subject of policy! Do you realize what this means? Many wizards and witches think muggles should not have any say in Ministry policy whatever the reason and no matter how just the cause. And there are just as many wizards and witches who sympathize with the Grangers and think the Ministry is clearly at fault! I myself happen to agree with the goal of the Grangers' lawsuit, I really do, but House Black simply cannot be involved. At the end of the day, I have the best interests of our family to consider and right now that means we do not pick a side in this conflict."

Bellatrix blinked, but never relented. "You do realize just who you sound like, hm? In the same office. The same desk."

Andie squared her jaw but didn't rise to the bait. "Father has changed, Bella. A lot."

"So have you," Bellatrix pursed her lips.

Andromeda simply glowered.

"You just expect me to do nothing while the girl I love loses her family home?!" Bellatrix exclaimed.

Andie nodded briefly. "Precisely."

Bellatrix pursed her lips. "What the fuck happened to you, Andie?"

A dangerous light shone in Andromeda's soft brown eyes while she rose from her chair and slammed the flat of her hands on the surface of the desk. "I GREW UP!" Andromeda yelled. "Something you should try! Bella, you are not to help the Grangers in any way, financially or otherwise. And that is final."

Bellatrix grit her teeth in rage, but slowly counted to ten to let it pass. An idea came to her then. An idea which made her grin from ear to ear. Her resolve now emboldened, she paced back and forth, then suddenly strode towards Andie's desk, slammed the flat of her hands down and leaned forward onto it. She grinned as she was now eye to eye with her sister. "You know, perhaps I should challenge you for the leadership of House Black. I have that right. Sure, I might have skipped a few years ahead, but it still says 1951 on my birth certificate... and 1953 on yours. I'm still the family's first-born."

A dangerous light shone in Andromeda's eyes and she rose from behind her desk and slammed the flat of her hands on the table so loudly that it made Bellatrix start. "You short-sighted, arrogant brat!" she hissed. "Do you want to play this game? Do you really?! I have decades worth of experience on you and I have learned every dirty trick there is! Try it! I DARE YOU! I will wipe the floor with you so tremendously that you'll be fishing splinters out of your cheek until the day you die of old age!"

Bellatrix was more than a little startled by her sister's outburst. One look in her eyes told her that Andromeda was absolutely serious. "I am warning you, Bella. Do not push me! There's things happening in the background you have no idea of. For example, the Lestranges have started a legal procedure to reopen the old marriage agreement between our families to claim you for one of their retarded cousins. Now, this is mere legal posturing. They cannot claim you without our consent. But perhaps... I should simply give you to them."

Bellatrix eyes grew wild and she took an involuntary step back. Her words were shaky when she slowly started to stammer. "You... you wouldn't!"

"And not only that," Andie chuckled. "Do you know how eager the Ministry unspeakables are to poke and prod you in their labs. You and that girls of yours. To see what that time-travel jaunt has done to your magical signatures, your bodies. You've barely been back for five days and I've already thwarted four attempts by the Ministry to abduct the two of you and that's just the ones I know about. That's the main reason why I've been so pre-occupied. You bother me with trivialities while I am engaged in a high-stakes chess game for your life and that of your girl!"

"You're protecting Hermione too?"

"For your sake, not hers," Andromeda's expression was implacable. "I can alter the course of your life with one word. Just one. And that word is 'Agreed'. Right now I'm the only thing standing between you and the wolves nipping at your heels," said Andromeda. "You'd do well to realize that before you throw out threats!"

"You're... you're bluffing!" Bellatrix shouted in wide-eyed desperation. "Surely, you can't mean..."

"Am I? Am I really bluffing?" Andromeda replied.

Bellatrix searched her expression, but her sister was completely unreadable.

"Let this be a lesson to you, Bella. Don't pick fights you can't win," she said, her expression finally softening. "You always protected me, Bella. Now I'm returning the favour by protecting you."

Bellatrix let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

Andromeda again narrowed her eyes at her. "But don't you dare fuck with me, Bella," she hissed. "You are not in control here. You never were."

By now, relief made way for anger once more. The curly-haired witch felt more betrayed than anything: Andie knew, she knew how the mere idea of having an arranged marriage looming over her had messed her up for years and yet she had used it against her in a heartbeat. Angry and disappointed, Bellatrix was about to let her younger-now-elder sister know what she thought of her right now, when something gave her pause.

Perhaps it was the way Andie looked at her. Or perhaps it was simply the shock of her sister holding a marriage over her head just like her father had done. Andromeda's expression changed, however. "You're undoubtedly feeling betrayed right now. Perhaps you're feeling sad. Or angry. Or, perhaps the worst of all, you might be feeling helpless," said Andie. The tone of her voice was completely different.

Softer.

Pained.

"Now imagine feeling like you do now. For years. For decades," Andie was... shaking. Her long brown hair brushed over her desk as her hands grasped at the blotter.

"Andie?" Bellatrix asked.

Andromeda's head snapped up, red tear-filled eyes looking up at her. "Do you have any idea who much Cissy and I missed you?!" she exclaimed in a shaky voice. Tears fell onto the blotter now. "For you it was just the blink of an eye. But for us? Thirty-three years, Bella. Thirty-three years! Can you even fathom how many tears we've shed over you?! We've looked for you for so long, hoping against hope that you'd turn up somewhere, somehow! Years of seeing your mother being driven mad by grief and seeing your father being crushed under the weight of his own guilt! You ask me what my problem with Hermione Granger is. I'll answer you. SHE IS THE CAUSE OF IT! SHE TORE OUR FAMILY APART! Merlin, losing you was like losing a limb! And I swear to you, Bella, if I even suspect for one iota that she tore you away from us for selfish reasons, I'll have her lifted from her bed in the dead of night and thrown into the deepest, darkest hole I can find!"

Bellatrix swallowed hard. The pained expression on Andromeda's tear-streaked face told her everything. "I..."

Andromeda shook her head. "You have your answers," she spoke angrily again. "Now go back to your viper. Feel free to clutch her firmly to your chest. But don't try to be too surprised when she bites!"

Bellatrix opened her mouth to speak, but the words fell silent. So, she simply bowed her head and shuffled out of the office. After turning around to close the double doors behind her, she took one look at Andromeda, whom had move towards the window and was leaning onto the windowsill to compose herself. Instead of leaving, Bellatrix silently walked back into the office until she was stood right behind her sister. Her sister who was softly weeping. Her raised her hand and slowly lay it on Andromeda's shoulder. Yes, Bellatrix was still angry and more than a little bit shocked at Andie's reaction, but that didn't mean she wouldn't give her sister an embrace when she really needed one.

Hermione could truly kick herself right now. She was in a massive library filled to the brim with wondrous, fantastic rare works, and the first thing she had chosen to read was the goddamn evening papers. Her self-doubt reared its ugly head again, as she now was convinced that she might the stupidest person alive on the planet: she knew she was going to regret reading the papers and she still did it. So she considered she was either dumb or a masochist. Or perhaps both.

Of course, the Daily Prophet had a massive hit-piece on her. It contained lots of speculations regarding the photograph taken of her and Bellatrix kissing. Naturally, Hermione was painted as a manipulative, power-hungry and malicious social climber using Bellatrix, who was painted as a poor innocent angel who didn't know any better, to her own devices and weasel her way into the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black to legitimize herself. God, SPEW and DA were being cited as clear examples of why Hermione was a dangerous individual prone to causing dissent and inspiring sedition. The hit-piece called for Bellatrix to be protected from her and hoped that Andromeda Black would put a stop to their apparently budding relationship.

Well, if Andromeda's less-than-passive aggressive stance on her during dinner was any indication, the writer of the hit-piece might just get their wish if she was unlucky.

Regardless of the fact that the writer didn't know Bellatrix very well, the hit-piece had soured her mood considerably. In fact, she found it hard to concentrate on any of the exciting books she had picked to read. The neuro-physical nature of numerology was hard enough to follow when her mind was focused, but her thoughts were drifting so much that she slammed the book down a lot harder than intended and simply looked out the window. It was a cold and dark winter night out. A good reflection of her current state of mind.

The large double doors swung open, causing Hermione to look up. There, in the doorway, stood the butler Sebastian next to Cygnus Black. The elder Black nodded to his butler who then left his side. Hermione was still angry, but forced herself into composure as he entered the massive library, the wooden tip of his cane tapping against the marble stone which made up the floor.

With visible strain, he sat himself down at the reading table and glanced at the table. The paper was still lying there with the hit-piece on the front page. He nodded in understanding.

"You must think we're terrible people," spoke Cygnus.

That statement made Hermione frown a bit. "I... I'm not sure what you mean."

"Yes you do," replied Cygnus with a smile. "Though I suppose it might not have sunk in yet fully."

Hermione understood then: he wasn't talking about the Blacks, but about the entirety of the wizarding world. "I wanted to join the Ministry, once," Hermione replied. "I... I wanted to change the world for the better. I wanted to help institute reform."

"You've made the mistake many well-meaning idealistic young people always make," spoke Cygnus. "You thought you alone could make all the difference and that you could do so with your honour intact."

"You think I wouldn't have been able to do it?" asked Hermione.

"I think you would have honestly tried your utmost, at first," said Cygnus. "But you would have become a tiny cog in a much larger machine. A cog grinds, yes, but a cog is also being ground itself. You would have been absorbed by the whole as so many before you have."

Hermione had to admit that that was a troubling thought. "It's just... so unfair," Hermione sighed.

"The Ministry served a purpose once, but is has become bloated and drunk on its own power. The Ministry employs over sixty percent of all wizards and witches in the UK. Sixty. There are departments which exist with the sole purpose for making rules and regulations for another department. It has become an uncontrollable monster," said Cygnus. "If you wish to enact change and reform, the way to do it is to attach yourself to powerful people. People with money, prestige and influence. Like you are doing now, for example. That has always been the way of the wizard."

Hermione paused. "You mean... using the influence of House Black to my own advantage?"

"Why not?" Cygnus asked, a smile tugging on his lips. "Invoking the name of our House opens doors. Being a muggle-born closes them. But being a muggle-born with the favour of House Black? Now that will get people's attention."

"So..." Hermione looked at the paper. "What you're saying is that the paper is... correct?"

He snorted. "It's the Daily Prophet. Hardly anything they write is correct. But you know as well as I do that they dance to the Ministry's tune. Your name has been dragged through the mud, you and your accomplishments diminished," said Cygnus. "Because they fear you."

"Fear me?" Hermione shook her head. "Who am I? Especially now?"

"It's not you specifically, it's what you represent," said Cygnus. "You played a pivotal role in what they could not. Have you listened to Dolohov? Though the man rages against the Ministry for the sake or raging, he raises good points: the Ministry isn't there to serve the people anymore and when the Death Eaters took over, it rolled onto its back without any resistance and it was business as usual from there on with the same people coming into work the very next day. Oh, I don't believe most of the Ministry workers are bad people, it's just that... they don't know any different. The machine which is the Ministry fears you. And your father."

"My father?" Hermione started, then realized just what he meant. "Because of the lawsuit, you mean? Because he wants justice... for me."

Cygnus nodded carefully. "Your father doesn't want money, or to make a name for itself. He wants the Ministry to acknowledge its fault and offer help and aftercare for children forced to fight a war the Ministry couldn't handle."

"So me... and my father...me... exposed the Ministry's weakness?" Hermione said, realizing just what Cygnus was saying.

"Remember, that gives you an incredible position of power," said Cygnus. "And now that your name is attached to House Black, you are no longer so easily dismissed. They are terrified of you gaining legitimacy."

"Well," said Hermione. "They're doing their utmost to stop it from happening. My dad has a whole scrap-book of articles. Many of them negative."

"Give us some credit, miss Granger," said Cygnus. "We know propaganda when we see it, and there were doubtlessly many positive articles about you in that scrap-book. As a traditional wizard I should be outraged that a muggle is trying to involve himself in our politics, but as a father I very much understand his pain. I remember how helpless I felt when all the power, wealth and influence I had and have could not bring back my poor lost daughter. That helpnessness forged me as much as my traditions have."

Of course, that explained a lot. Regret and pain could change the nature of a man, even those set as much in their ways as some of the ancient pure-blood families were. Hermione had been surprised at the warm welcome she had been given by the elder Blacks and even though Andromeda had been so hostile towards her, she doubted that had anything to do with her blood status. "None of the hit-pieces ever brought up my blood-status. Is that because such tactics have become unpopular after the war? Because if they hadn't become unpopular, I'm certain they would have used it," Hermione considered, putting a finger to her lips.

"Very clever, miss Granger," said Cygnus. "Ted Tonks, now Ted Black, is living proof. In the past, I would have never allowed him to marry Andromeda, take our name or join our house. He's not from a prestigious house, nor is he particularly smart. However, he has a kind heart and is a tempering influence who keeps Andromeda's feet firmly planted on the ground. Those are qualities which deserve recognition. There's more to life than ambition and magical prowess and it took me half a life-time to realize that."

"What exactly are you trying to tell me?" asked Hermione.

"That the Daily Prophet isn't representative of the world at large, miss Granger," said Cygnus. "The wizards and witches in the street are more on your side than you realize. Don't let it beat you down. Bellatrix has already recognized your qualities and has chosen for you. My stubborn girl will never change her mind on that. No decision Andromeda makes will change her mind on that. Now that Bellatrix has returned, every pure-blood family in the world is falling over itself to gain our favour. Andromeda can't move five steps without owl delivering an offer of marriage. Regardless, I'm certain it's only a matter of time before you too will bear the name 'Black'."

Hermione Black.

Now there was a nice thought and even though they were likely a bit too young to be married, a prolonged engagement wouldn't be out of the question and it would be adequate proof to the world that both them were 'taken', as it were.

"Aside from giving us our darling Nymphadora, Ted has made our House stronger by adding his qualities to ours," said Cygnus. "And so will you."

Hermione sighed. "I was hoping that looking into the issue of your family motto might help me smooth over things with Andromeda."

Cygnus rubbed his chin. "Hm, yes. Making yourself useful to Andromeda is a good way to endear herself to you," he said and turned to a section of the library which had been locked by a magically enchanted latticed door. Hermione followed his gaze and saw that the locked part of the library was located in one of those towers she had spotted from the outside. "I will give you the key to the family archive, which we usually lock for visitors. I warn you, though, that part of the library is not particularly well indexed and is honestly quite a mess."

"Thank you," said Hermione before Cygnus snapped his fingers and made the key spring into existence in his hand.

"Do me a favour though and don't tell Andromeda you have this key for now," Cygnus chuckled. "Or who gave it to you. I might be her father and the previous Head of House Black, but that won't make me immune to her wrath."

"I promise."

"Good luck, miss Granger."

That said, Cygnus bid her a good evening and left her too her reading. It wasn't until he had left the library and left her alone in this massive hall that Hermione realized that he had given his tacit approval for her to eventually marry his daughter.

That made Hermione feel so much better.