Breaking the Window
Chapter 38: Stoned
Bellatrix was a rather traditional witch, as far as she was concerned. Hell, her own country was very traditionally minded, wizarding or otherwise. It was a world of stone and wood where any building younger than a hundred years old was an anomaly. So when her younger-now-elder sister dragged the both her and Cissy to Dubai, the last thing she was expecting to see was an enchanted building made from glass and steel, so far up into the sky that they were above the clouds. The first ten minutes of their visit, Bellatrix had her head glued to the windows to experience just how far she could see and wishing very much that she had brought her omniculars. A smiling Andie and amused Cissy were seated at what appeared to be their regular table in this high-rise club: a tropical hard-wood table polished to shine and surrounded by chairs made from dragon leather.
"Muggles made this all, you say?" Bellatrix asked, her voice filled with awe.
"Yes," replied Andie. "Though this entire floor and the five above were enchanted to be used by international wizards exclusively. A resort and market experience for the rich and famous."
Andie wasn't lying. This room, tall and wide, was covered with gilded adornments, draped with the most expensive of silks while the walls were lined with ancient magical artifacts on display. A bar was located at the far end of the room, along with an open kitchen. Many booths were lined along the window while separate areas on a dais indicated VIP spots among the VIPs, one of which they were sat at now. This was, beyond the shadow of a doubt, a billionaire's club catering to the richest of the rich among wizard kind. As it was early, the club was sparsely visited, with wizards and witches dotted among the seats. Apparently, it got a lot busier in the evening, if Andie was to be believed
A waiter delivered their tea on a gilded tea service, along with tea cakes adorned with edible sheaths of gold. "Your usual, madame Black," spoke the waiter with a French accent. "May it please you and your guests."
"Thank you, Gaston," said Andie.
Cissy leaned into Bellatrix and whispered softly in her ear. "His name wasn't actually Gaston. Because the clientele had certain expectations, he had to have his name legally changed to Gaston."
"Huh," Bellatrix chuckled. "That's going a bit far to get a job."
"He earns more than the Minister of Magic," said Andromeda. "I'd rather say that's enough incentive to get a name-change."
Beyond the club, Bellatrix had passed an upscale market with many nooks containing the most expensive of wares. A floor above was a massively expensive hotel. Of course, this high up Bellatrix didn't see much of the country itself, but she guessed that was rather the point. They'd be doing some shopping later and Andie had already allocated her a budget. Shopping was an activity the sisters had enjoyed in their youth and were quite likely to enjoy again. Back in the days, their father had given them a bag of gold and the three sisters had usually come back late in the evening with arms full of dresses, jewelry, decorations and their bellies full of gourmet food… not to mention an empty bag which would always be returned to their father.
"I take it you're both regulars here, then?" Bellatrix asked, causing both her sisters to smirk.
It was Cissy who raised her hand to point to the sign above the bar. Bellatrix followed her gaze and saw the name of the club in platinum-gilded letters. 'The Black Look-out'.
"Wait?" Bellatrix frowned, realizing full well that the vast riches her family had gained was through their investment and handling of real-estate. "House Black owns this club?!"
Andie smirked. "House Black owns the entire building, including the muggle parts of it," she said. "All through a network of muggle-based off-shores and investment companies. It was a significant investment of our liquid resources, but it had already paid for itself in matter of deals made in this place which otherwise would never had been made."
Cissy nodded. "It was a risky, but shrewd move. I told Lu he should co-invest along with you, but he balked the moment he realized muggles were involved. You know how he gets."
Andie snorted through her nose and rolled her eyes. "Practically all the buildings in our world were constructed by muggles."
"Lu often conveniently forgets inconvenient little facts like that."
A buzzing sounded from Bellatrix' lap and a wasp's head popped up from under the table, giving the freshly served tea cakes an eager look. Bellatrix was quick to act and fed him the first one of the cakes.
Though no longer terrified, Cissy gave the wasp a wary sidelong glance. "Bella? Did you really have to bring along that… that thing?"
"He's friendly," Bellatrix pouted slightly. "Think of him as a flying dog."
"Well," said Andromeda. "If you keep feeding him like you do, he'll be so fat he won't be able to take off anymore."
"You'd be surprised how fast he seems to be burning through all the sugar I feed him," Bellatrix replied, petting Zipper between the wings for good measure just as he was devouring another tea cake.
"Just make sure he leaves something for us to eat," Cissy glared at the wasp while holding on to her own tea cake for dear life.
"This is good, you know?" Bellatrix said. "Three of us together again. Sisters enjoying ourselves. The only thing missing is a record player and a Beatles album."
Cissy grumbled a bit. "I will never forgive Yoko Ono!"
"Who's that?" Bellatrix asked.
Andromeda chuckled briefly. "Oh, don't get her started," she laughed.
"Yoko Ono is the vicious harpy who ruined everything after she got her claws into John Lennon! A pretentious succubus good for nothing but sucking the life out of everything wholesome and ruining everything for aficionados of good music!" Cissy slammed her fist on the table, startling the wasp while he was eating his third tea cake.
"Whoa, tell it like you mean it," Bellatrix chuckled.
Cissy's rant, however, was interrupted by the approach of a man. A middle-eastern wizard of some repute, it seemed. Bellatrix regarded him for a moment: he was about Andie's age, bearing along white robe embroidered with gold. To Bellatrix, he seemed just a tad too proud of himself for being someone walking around with a tea towel wrapped around his head.
Of course, her sister had already spotted him. "Sheik Zanzibar," Andie rose from her seat and gave the man a polite bow. Bellatrix frowned as she had never seen Andie bow this deeply for another. Her tone had changed as well, losing its harshness as she was putting on the charm. Apparently, this man was either a business partner or a potential future investor. "It is good to see you again under less formal circumstances. These two fine ladies, of course, are my beloved sisters Narcissa and Bellatrix."
"Charmed," replied the man as Narcissa rose. Seeing as this was expected, Bellatrix did the same. The man gently bowed, taking Narcissa's hand and kissing the back of it. Bellatrix felt a little awkward when he did the same with her, fighting the urge to wipe her hand at the side of her dress. "And I understand you have experienced quite a unique adventure. Not many people can claim to have travelled thirty-three years through time, miss Bellatrix. I assume you must have seen wondrous, unimaginable things in this new era."
"A few," admitted Bellatrix. "This building being one of them."
"Indeed," said the sheik. "Though it defies many aspects of wizarding tradition, many of our kind flock to it regardless to experience the wonder. It is an interesting paradox, no?"
"I'd say our Bella understands a thing or two about seeking out the strange and wondrous," said Cissy, giving another glance to the wasp now curled up on Bellatrix' lap.
"Well," spoke the Sheik, a smile playing with the corners of his mouth. "I merely wanted to stop by to give you my regards, madame Black. I will leave you to enjoy your time with your family."
"That is quite alright, Sheik Zanzibar. I look forward to our next meeting."
Bellatrix watched the man walk for a while before she quickly turned to her sisters and spoke a little too loudly for comfort. "Is it just me or does he want to get inside your pants?"
Cissy almost squirted out her tea through her nose. She coughed loudly and rapped on her sternum with her knuckles. "My, direct as ever, Bella."
"It's not just you," Andie chuckled. "In a way it is part of the game. I suppose I have inherited my ruthless streak from Father when it comes to business, but I do have certain advantages he did not have."
"Two advantages, I'd say," Cissy gave her a wink, prompting Andie to roll her eyes.
"I don't think I could have done as well as you have as head of the Household," Bellatrix pursed her lips.
Cissy chuckled briefly. "Well, you always could be… easily distracted. Something which bores you never holds your attention for long."
"I don't know," said Andie. "There's something exciting about navigating the market, confronting rivals and forging alliances. Terse negotiations are exhilarating, and walking away at the end knowing you have received the better part of the bargain is one of the best feelings in the world. I think you would have enjoyed it, Bella."
"Hm," said Cissy. "Interesting how someone once considered the least ambitious of us ended up being arguably the most successful."
"Don't count out Bellatrix just yet," said Andie. "She is still young."
"Our dear sister's interests and ambitions have always lain elsewhere," said Cissy.
Bellatrix pursed her lips. "I do want to explore. I do want to write books. I do want to rediscover ancient magic thought lost."
"You apply yourself to everything you do, Bella, without even trying," said Cissy. "I think you could have done as wonderful a job at being Head of the House as Andie has done. But the question is, would it have given you happiness? Where for Andie that question is easily answered, I think for you that would have remained to be seen."
Bellatrix shrugged. "I'm not complaining, I suppose I ended up in a better spot."
Andie raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips. "Does that mean you no longer intend to challenge me for the rulership over House Black?"
"You did what?" Cissy blinked.
Bellatrix shook her head. "That was just some hot air because you were being mean to Hermione," she replied. "I don't want rulership over our house. Too involved… and I don't want shieks drooling over my shoulder."
Cissy rubbed her chin for a moment. "I do not know what to make of miss Granger. Draco certain is not very positive about her"
Immediately, Andie's jaw squared again. "Let's not talk about her today, hm? The plan was to simply enjoy our time as sisters. Chatting, dining, shopping and gossipping. Our other halves, be they called Ted, Lucius or Hermione, are forbidden subjects. Agreed?"
"Agreed!" exclaimed both Cissy and Bellatrix in unison.
"Now… how about we finish our tea and then head up to the bazaar to spend a metric fuckton of money?" Andie grinned.
Dubai?
Sodding Dubai?!
Hermione folded the message from Trix and placed it back on the silver tray when she had found it after sleeping in a little today. She should really know better: odd things tended to happen on days she slept in.
Regardless, it seemed like she'd be on her own for the rest of the day.
She supposed that wouldn't be all bad, since it meant she would be able to spend some more time at the library looking into the Black family history. And she did just that. The young witch found a nice reading nook and delved into the records she had found. Those few records started an avalanche of new information to be found in the form of diaries, pamphlets, ledgers, proclamations, deeds and even an odd biography or two. Knowledge of the history of House Black was certainly fragmented and fraught with lies, propaganda and half-truths, but with every piece of evidence reviewed and juxtaposed, the blurred image started to get clearer and clearer. Her notebook grew in size and she felt she was making good progress.
She was still in full-on research mode, completely focused, when a hand clapped on her shoulder.
Hermione jumped out of her skin, throwing her notebook in the air and scattering ledgers onto the ground.
"Whoa, whoa!" sounded the voice of Nymphadora. While Hermione was picking up the ancient ledgers and made sure they weren't damaged, the plucky woman smirked at her. "Didn't mean to give you a fright. We're about to go out to the solarium for a bit near the backyard, enjoy some drinks, maybe ride around on the quad-bike. Wanna hang?"
Hermione looked over to her research and the pile of books she still had to work through. "Well, if you don't mind..."
"No, I don't mind at all!" Nymphadora grabbed her by the wrist and almost yanked her off her seat. "Don't worry, the books will still be here when you get back."
"No, I meant..." Hermione pouted a little when she realized she likely wouldn't be back here for several hours. Still, she supposed it wouldn't be all that bad to hang out for a bit with Nymphadora: she'd get to know her again, after all. However, her mood took a nosedive when she found out there was a third person waiting for them just outside the library.
"Malfoy?!" Hermione hissed.
"Granger?!" snarled the immaculately dressed Draco Malfoy, who instantly turned towards Nymphadora. "This is the friend you wanted to pick up?"
Nymphadora, for her part, frowned briefly, then chuckled. "Whoa. Lots of sexual tension in the air all of the sudden. Really, I can almost taste it from here."
Hermione snapped her head towards Nymphadora, sputtering for a moment in sheer disgust. "What? HIM?!"
"HER?!" Draco replied with equal amount of disgust. Well, they at least had that in common.
"What?" shrugged Nymphadora. "Makes sense to me. You're both intelligent, antagonistic and proud, both from two different worlds. Hell, since you're attracted to my auntie Bella, you being attracted to my cousin Draco isn't such a stretch, Hermione. As for you, Draco, come on, look her her. Tell me you wouldn't hit that!"
By this time, both their jaws had hit the floor.
"I just bet," Nymphadora grinned. "That Draco here taunted you mercilessly and that you always had a snappy comeback ready. And I also just bet that Draco merely taunted you to hear your clever comeback and you, Hermione, enjoyed the battle of wits more than anything."
"No!"
"That's not true!"
Nymphadora blinked. "Oh my god, both of you totally did! HAH!" she laughed. "I'll have to warn auntie Bella about this. I'm just glad that Draco doesn't go to Hogwarts anymore. I mean, what would happen if you would both be forced to work on some sort of school project together, maybe over the holidays while most of the other students had gone home so that you'd both be isolated from your usual friend groups and would learn more about each other. Yeah, that's a recipe for romance."
"I'm into girls!" Hermione proclaimed loudly and proudly.
"And thank fucking Merlin for that!" Draco added.
"Right, right," Nymphadora laughed. "Just joking. Or am I?"
The bickering lasted until the arrived at a spacious solarium looking over the backyard. It was a large and luxurious room with big glass panels on all sides and above them slanted at a ten degree angle. Apparently, this particular solarium had been claimed by Nymphadora and solely used by her. It would certainly explain the pungent smell of cannabis in the air. Several sofas were strategically placed towards the yard, as well as a coolbox with beer and a larder with snacks. Posters of muggle metal bands adorned the lone wall in the back. Interestingly enough, was that part of the solarium had been converted into a make-shift garage for her quad-bike, two motorbikes and what seemed to be an old-timer Bentley. The Bentley currently had its engine sat on a workbench next to a set of diagrams and a toolbox. Apparently, Nymphadora liked to work on engines. All in all, the seemed to be more like a hobby-room than an upscale sitting room.
Since Draco was now outside on Dora's quad-bike doing his best to destroy the lawn, it would give her some time to chat with Nymphadora. The older girl lounged next to her on the sofa, spliff in hand of course. "Sure you don't want some?" she asked, letting out a puff for good measure. "Got some beginners strains for you to try out if you like."
"I'm fine, thanks."
"Suit yourself."
"I'm curious, though."
"Oh?"
"Why didn't you decide to become an auror?" Hermione asked.
Nymphadora exhaled, blowing some more smoke in the air. Then, she looked at Hermione as if she had lost the plot. "Me? An auror? Bollocks to that! What makes you think I want to be an auror? Lousy job, crap pay, putting your life on the line and for what? I was quite happy to sit out the Second Wizarding War, thank you very much. Just here, on the sofa, spliff in one hand, beer in the other, and waiting for all of that senseless shit to blow over. Well, it did and I'm still here."
"I suppose career counsel at Hogwarts didn't recommend you becoming an auror, then?" Hermione asked.
"Wouldn't know. Never went," Nymphadora shrugged. "Got the best tutors money could buy. Learned everything magical or muggle related. Mum let me pick and choose."
"No Hogwarts?" blinked Hermione. "It's a good experience. Meeting new people, opening up a whole world of magic."
"Stayed here for nan," replied Nymphadora. "There were times I was the only one who could quiet her down if she'd have an episode. I love nan. I love granddad. I love mum and dad. I love my uncles and aunties. Don't give a shit about anything or anyone else than my fam, you know? So I stayed here. Where I belong."
Hermione remembered seeing Nymphadora walking through the house with Druella on her arm. They always seemed to be very close.
"Did all the standardized NEWTs, aced them all, easy if boring shit," shrugged Nymphadora. "But don't know why I even bothered, really. I had more fun with the muggle Engine mechanic courses I took on the side. Don't tell granddad I said that, though. He might seem mellow about muggle things these days, just don't tell him you prefer muggle things over magical things."
Hermione nodded, starting to get a clearer picture of her friend. Nymphadora was undeniably smart, a genius even, but was simply... lazy, hedonistic and lacked the will to apply herself to anything. She was... Bellatrix without her drive.
"I reckon you'll be fam too sooner than later," chuckled Nymphadora. "Auntie Bella is crazy about you and I see the way you look at her too."
"You mother doesn't like me," said Hermione.
"True," said Nymphadora. "So make her like you. Mum thinks you're a potential danger to our fam. Change her mind."
"Easier said than done," sighed Hermione.
"It's why you're looking into our family history," said Nymphadora. "You want to make a good gesture towards mum by finding a way to change our 'toujour pur' motto into something less sinister without changing the motto itself."
Ah. She could add 'perceptive' to the list. Truth be told, despite the total lack of any form of ambition, Hermione was really starting to like Nymphadora.
"Here," said Nymphadora, once again holding out the spliff for her to take. Hermione recoiled a little, causing Nymphadora to smirk. "Ah, it's because it's in a cigarette form, isn't it?"
"I don't smoke," Hermione quickly shook her head.
Nymphadora looked at her intently. "Fair enough," she said, reaching for a coolbox. A moment later, she produced a plate of rather delicious looking chocolate brownies. "Try these. No smoking involved. My own recipe. Don't worry. It's high on the chocolate, low on the hash relatively speaking. Both are equally heavenly."
Hermione pursed her lips. "Sorry, but I'm not eating hash brownies. Thank you for the offer, though."
Nymphadora gave her an enigmatic smile. "You're not as subtle as you think, Hermione," said Dora. "You're trying to figure me out. I'm different than you remember me. Because you and auntie Bella did something to change the time-line. She wouldn't know the difference, being from 1968, but you certainly do."
Hermione blinked. Indeed, she was perceptive.
"Tell you the truth, this whole situation is bonkers," said Nymphadora. "Aunt Bellatrix goes missing thirty-three years ago, turns up with you. Because you talked to her in the past from the future. Well, a future which now no longer exists. Or does it? Maybe it's just there in a separate time-line and continues on without you in it. Man, you need some ganj to wrap your head around that one. So, Hermione, if you want to figure me out, the best way to do it is to take a bite from that brownie. Maybe it'll help you clear your head too. Come on, what do you have to lose? I'll be right here with you, along with Draco."
Hermione thought a moment, looking at the brownie and then at Dora. What did she have to lose? "Okay," Hermione sighed. "Just one bite. A tiny one."
"That's the spirit," grinned Dora.
Bellatrix was almost sad to be back home after having spent such a wonderful day in Dubai. It reminded her of the olden days, when all three of them would hit the boutiques in Diagon Alley and enjoyed the finest of dining. In fact, they had done so much shopping that carrying all their bags required servants to make two trips to get them all through the portkey hub.
As was tradition, they had brought plenty of souvenirs for their family, mostly delicious things to eat. The notable exceptions were a nice bag of exotic shisha tobacco for Nymphadora's hookah pipe and a lovely pair of platinum earrings for Hermione.
Just... a little thing. Small earrings shaped like little owls. She really hoped Hermione would like them.
Sebastian informed her that she was at Dora's solarium and Bellatrix swiftly made her way there, only to be confronted with a rather surprising sight. Nymphadora was sat in a lazy chair, a hookah pipe to her mouth while Hermione was slouched on one of the sofas surrounded by a staggering amount of empty crisp packets. Draco was grinning like chesire cat while Hermione, her pupils as wide as saucers, was animatedly rambling on.
"Time after time after time," Hermione muttered, slurring slightly while there was a light quality to her voice. "The end is the beginning of the end. A stitch in time saved Nymphadora... nine? Does that make sense? I travel back in time to stop event x from happening. If I succeed, would I still retain the experience I gained from event x? If I do, then that beats the sole purpose of the time travelling episode. But wouldn't I lose characteristics of mine that I gained as a result of event x? What would happen is that I would also most likely miss out on other life defining events y and z which occur due to event x and contribute a lot to my current character. But that didn't happen. Instead I stopped event x and caused event x2, but I still have memories of event x even though I lived through event x2 and it hurts my head to think about event x."
Draco was tremendously amused. "Oh, hell, this is great!" he said, reaching for another brownie on the tray. "Here, Granger, have another one."
While Hermione was reaching over to eagerly grab the brownie, Nymphadora snapped her fingers and the brownie flew towards her. "No, no, Draco," she said. "Three is obviously her limit. Let her come down now."
Bellatrix didn't know who was more disappointed, Draco or Hermione. Though Hermione was a tad more pouty about it and Nymphadora swiftly threw her another packet of crisps. Said packet was swiftly opened and Hermione stuffed a fist-full of Haggis & Black Pepper potato crisps into her mouth and started crunching.
"What on Earth have you two been doing to my girlfriend?" Bellatrix demanded, putting her hands on her hips.
"Mostly laughing at her," Draco chuckled.
"Merlin, yes, she's so completely stoned," said Nymphadora. "Told me that in the other time-line, I actually went to Hogwarts and was sorted into Hufflepuff. I became an auror, married a man twice my age who was also a werewolf and then died or something because I was stupid enough to get involved with the Second Wizarding War."
Bellatrix blinked. "Hufflepuff?"
"I know!" Nymphadora laughed. "She's so out of it! It sounds completely bonkers!"
"Yes," Hermione spoke up, still crunching crisps. "And Draco is a complete twat-waffle in the old time-line and he's still a complete twat-waffle in the new one! So there!"
"Hah!" Draco laughed. "And no inhibitions at all! Hey, Granger, go ramble about politics again."
Hermione snuggled against the side of the sofa and giggled before singing briefly. "Let's all laugh at a Min-is-try that never learns anything tee-hee-hee!"
Bellatrix stood next to the sofa and saw her squirming. "Hermie," she asked.
Instantly, Hermione's eyes spread wide open, going slightly teary. "You... you are soooo beautiful, Trix! I love you sooooo much!" she muttered, before turning her head to Dora and Draco. "Oh my god, Bellatrix has the most amazing pair of tits! Have you seen them?! They're just so round and soft and fit perfectly in my hands!"
Bellatrix blinked and turned towards Dora and Draco. "This... this isn't normal!"
"Don't worry," Dora shrugged. "She'll be coming down in half an hour or so. Though it might be some time before she regains her appetite. Seriously I've never seen one girl eat so many packets of crisps. And she's still hungry! Seriously, I just gave her my last one. She went through my entire larder!"
Bellatrix yelped when two arms snaked around her chest and found two hands cupping her breasts through the fabric of her dress. "See?!" Hermione yelled from behind her. "See how perfect they fit in my hands?! It's like my hands were designed to perfectly cup Trix' delicious mammary glands. This is proof of God's existence right here! Checkmate, atheists!"
"Ah!" Bellatrix yelped when she found herself being pulled onto the sofa, Hermione being in the mood to snuggle and Dora and Draco being in the mood to laugh.
She decided she'd give her the earrings later when her girlfriend would be hopefully less 'out of it'. Last thing she saw and heard before being pulled into a Hermione cuddle-pile, was Zipper buzzing to land and snack on some fallen crisps on the floor.