Hermione stared out the window of the Hogwarts Express. It was raining which was nothing new. Something about the rain against the glass was soothing.
"Hermione," Draco called softly, not wanting to disturb her. Hermione looked up. "We're almost to King's Cross Station."
Hermione tucked her journal into her bookbag. She had messaged Morgana a few times throughout the train ride. She put away the few Pumpkin Pasties she had gotten but never got around to eating. She checked around her seat to make sure she got everything.
When the train stopped Hermione followed her friends onto the platform. "There," Draco said pointing to his parents in the distance.
Hermione spotted the blonde hair of Lucius Malfoy with no difficulty. Hermione was nervous as they approached the Malfoy's. She knew the stigma surrounding Muggleborn students. She didn't know how they would react to her. Did they know she was muggleborn? She assumed they did.
"Mother, Father, this is Hermione," Draco introduced.
"Hermione, pleasure to meet you," Mrs. Malfoy said taking her hand. "I'm Narcissa Malfoy. You can call me Narcissa, or Cissa if you prefer."
"Ms. Granger," Mr. Malfoy greeted. "I'm Lucius. I've heard a lot about you."
Hermione wasn't sure how to react to the Malfoy's. They seemed perfectly friendly. It was something she hadn't expected.
"Are you two hungry?" Narcissa looking back and forth between her son and… she wasn't entirely sure how to refer to Hermione right now. She would settle with her son's friend. It was too strange to refer to her as anything else.
"Starving," Draco answered.
Hermione nodded but didn't speak. She wanted to ask about Morgana but didn't. She was certain the Malfoy's wouldn't know who she was talking about.
"Come, we will have Dobby make you some lunch," Narcissa said leading them to the Apparation point.
Hermione took Narcissa's arm and felt herself turn. It was as if she were sucked through a tube. She closed her eyes, not wanting to get sick in front of Mrs. Malfoy.
Once the weird sensation was gone Hermione opened her eyes. She was no longer at the platform. Instead, she was in the entryway of a large manor. "Come on. Draco and Lucius are in the dining room," Narcissa said.
"My things…" Hermione started.
"They're already in your room," Narcissa promised.
Hermione followed Narcissa to the dining room where Lucius and Draco were waiting. Hermione took a seat next to Draco. Thanks to her Slytherin friends she knew enough about pureblood etiquette to get through lunch without embarrassing herself.
"Draco tells us you're one of the top second years," Lucius commented as food appeared. It reminded Hermione of Hogwarts. Platters and platters of food were on the table and they were to serve themselves.
Hermione carefully piled food onto her plate before answering Lucius. "Yes, that's true." She was a bit embarrassed to admit it. She was the top student in second year. Draco was number two and she wasn't sure where Theo and Pansy placed.
"Impressive," Narcissa said, taking a sip of her wine.
"Because I'm a muggleborn?" Hermione asked. She instantly regretted it.
"Yes," Lucius said honestly. "It's not a bad thing though. You're taking your education seriously. There is nothing wrong with that. I hope you're inspiring Draco to do better."
"Of course Father," Draco said. "We all study together and we all push each other to do better."
"The mark of true friendship," Lucius said. He put his fork down. "Tomorrow we will head to Diagon Alley so you can finish your Christmas shopping. Is there anywhere else you need to go?"
"No sir," Hermione said.
"I will be taking you to Twilfitt and Tatting's while we are there," Narcissa interjected. "I want to get you a proper new wardrobe."
Draco winced in sympathy. Shopping with his mother was never fun. Hermione frowned. "I have clothes."
"You are in need of better winter clothes and more causal clothes," Narcissa corrected gently.
Hermione didn't bother arguing. Draco had told her there was no point. He also told her Narcissa had always wanted a daughter and was going to try to dress her up.
"Draco mentioned you and yours friends are studying defense on your own," Lucius commented.
"Yes sir," Hermione answered. "History too."
"I have some books you may find useful," Lucius informed her. Narcissa stared at her husband, trying to figure out what he had planned. "Are you doing practical, or just theory?"
"Just theory for now," Hermione answered. She glanced at Draco and he nodded in encouragement. "We were thinking of asking a sixth year, or Professor Snape, for help with practical."
Lucius hummed in approval. Asking a sixth year was smart since they didn't have exams. "If there's any spell you would like to learn while you're here, please let me know," Lucius said.
Hermione was excited at the thought. There were so many spells she wanted to learn. Maybe there was something she could find to get rid of Lockhart. "That would be wonderful Mr. Malfoy," Hermione said.
"Lucius please," Lucius corrected.
The rest of their lunch was silent. When Hermione finished Dobby led her to her room. While walking down the long hallway Hermione could have swore she saw a flash of wild, black hair. Hair that could only belong to one person. When she looked again it was gone.
Dobby opened the door to her room and Hermione gasped. The room was about the same size as the one she shared at Hogwarts. Unlike that room, this one was decorated in Slytherin colors. The furniture was all a dark brown that looked black. The curtains and bedding were all a deep green.
She immediately fell in love with the room. It was perfect. "Is Ms. Hermione okay?" Dobby asked concerned. "Dobby can take her somewhere else."
"No Dobby. This is perfect."
Hermione's trunk was on the bed waiting for her, just as Narcissa had said.
"You can change the room if you don't like the colors," a familiar voice said. Hermione turned around to find Morgana leaning against the door jam. "You look surprised. Or are you simply unhappy to see me?"
"N-no," Hermione stuttered. "I'm thrilled to see you, just surprised. I figured you would ignore me."
Bellatrix stepped into the room. "I thought about it," she admitted. "But I figured you would go looking for me." Hermione blushed. That was her plan as soon as she settled into her room. "And Narcissa reminded me I can't avoid you forever seeing as I live here."
"You live here?" Hermione asked surprised.
"Yes. When my husband and brother-in-law were killed I moved in here to be close to my family," Bellatrix answered.
"Husband," Hermione repeated. "You're married?"
"Was married," Bellatrix corrected. "He was killed by Aurors over a decade ago."
"What are Aurors?" Hermione wondered. So many new questions flooded her mind.
"Dark wizard catchers," Bellatrix responded.
"Oh. I'm sorry," Hermione said unsure what to say.
"Don't be. They were stupid. They did something they shouldn't have and they deserved their fate." Even the Longbottom's didn't deserve insanity. Hermione frowned. Bellatrix walked into the room. "I didn't love him."
"Then why did you marry him?" Hermione questioned.
Bellatrix sat at the edge of Hermione's bed. "Purebloods have a long history of marrying their daughters to purebloods. Narcissa was betrothed to Lucius while they were in school. They grew to love each other, unlike me and my husband. I loathed the kind of man he was."
"What kind of man was he?" Hermione asked curious.
"He was vile and cruel," Bellatrix said honestly. "He cared nothing for people he thought were beneath him. He didn't pay much attention to me once we were married which I was grateful for."
"Are you going to avoid me for the rest of the holiday?" Hermione wondered. Was this conversation the only one she would get?
Bellatrix studied Hermione and sighed. "No. I will be around if you need me, or if you just want to talk."
Hermione's eyes lit up. "What about your friend Tom Riddle? When do I get to meet him?"
"Perhaps tomorrow," Bellatrix answered. "I will need to talk to him and see when he's available."
"Why does he want to talk to me?" Hermione asked curious. "I'm nothing special, just a muggleborn."
"You are special," Bellatrix protested. She stood and walked over to Hermione, still careful not to touch her. "You're young but you are special. You simply don't see it yet but I do. Someday you will do great things."
"Are you a seer?" Hermione asked, wondering how on Earth she could know Hermione will do great things.
Bellatrix snorted. "No, not even close. I don't need to be a seer to know you're capable of great things. Obviously, Tom thinks the same thing or he wouldn't want to meet you." They stood there silently for a minute. "My room is across the hall from yours. If you need anything, fill free to knock on my door."
"Thank you," Hermione said. "Are you ever going to tell me your real name?"
"One day," Bellatrix promised. "For now, it's safer that you don't know." Bellatrix moved toward the door. "I'll leave you to finish unpacking."
"Will I see you at dinner?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Bellatrix answered. Hermione smiled slightly and Bellatrix left the room.
Bellatrix left Hermine alone to finish unpacking. "Bella," Narcissa said, surprised to see her sister out of her room. She frowned. "What did you do?"
"Nothing Cissa," Bellatrix said pushing open the door to her own room.
"You were in her room," Narcissa stated. "You actually talked to her?"
"I passed along a message from the Dark Lord," Bella told her. It wasn't a lie but it wasn't the entire truth. Unfortunately for her, her sister noticed.
"That's not it," Narcissa said with the shake of her head. "You talked to her. Why? What changed?"
Bellatrix sighed. "I can't avoid her as much as I want to right now. I was worried she would try to find me and that would get her in trouble."
"One day she is going to have to make a choice. If she chooses me then she will have to turn her back on everything she knows, including her Gryffindor friends. She's not ready for that."
"How are you going to convince her to join us if you don't give her all the facts?" Narcissa questioned.
"I don't know," Bellatrix admitted. "She's dark. I can feel it. But I'm hoping the Dark Lord can help with that."
Narcissa shook her head. "You're the best person to convert her. She trusts you." It was quiet for a minute. "I hope you know what you're doing Bella." She turned and walked away.
"Me too Cissa," Bellatrix muttered.
