"Flint," Bellatrix screeched wandering through the halls of Malfoy Manor. "Flint."
"Shut up Bellatrix," Martin Flint grumbled, walking into the parlor.
Bellatrix pulled her wand out and aimed it between his eyes. "Your son attempted to attack someone protected by the Ancient and Noble House of Black," she snarled.
"The Mudblood?" he questioned, confused by why Bellatrix was reacting so strongly.
It seemed their spat had drawn attention. Several Death Eaters were gathered around to see what was going on. "She is protected by my house Flint," Bellatrix snapped. Avery and Nott winced.
"Your house?" Flint laughed
Bellatrix twirled her wand. "Yes," she laughed. Flint gulped. Bellatrix laughing was never a good sign. "It's a funny story. You see my cousin was imprisoned before he could claim Lordship. With Regulus dead, that left me next in line. Once my idiot ex-husband and his brother were arrested for attacking the Longbottom's, it was easy enough to go to Gringotts and get a divorce, and the title. I am the Head of the Black family."
"Doesn't matter," Flint said dismissing Bellatrix's claim to the Black family. "She's still a Mudblood. She deserves to die. She—"
Bellatrix aimed her wand at Flint. "I will kill you," she shrieked. "Avad—"
"Bellatrix," the calm, cold voice of the Dark Lord, Voldemort, called. The crowd parted, allowing him to step forward.
Bellatrix lowered her wand. "My Lord," she greeted with a bow. It was strange seeing Tom Riddle and not the snake faced Dark Lord she was used to. The snake faced mask still existed, but only used with his enemies.
"Come Bellatrix."
Bellatrix followed the Dark Lord to his office. They stepped inside and Voldemort flicked his wand to put up the privacy wards. "My Lord, I apologize…"
Voldemort raised his hand to silence her. "I am not angry Bella," he assured her. "A threat to someone protected by your house is serious." He sat behind his desk and gestured to the chair across from him. "I find myself interested in why my most faithful would put a Muggleborn under protection of the Black family. But then it came to me. You are soul bound to the girl, correct?"
"Yes My Lord," Bellatrix admitted.
He leaned forward. "What have I told you Bella?"
"Yes Tom," Bellatrix corrected. The word was so foreign to her. She wasn't sure how she felt about calling the Dark Lord, Tom.
He leaned back. "As you're aware Hermione Granger is the reason I was able to return to my former glory," Tom continued. "I owe the girl a debt. Do you think she would consider joining?"
"I don't know My—Tom," Bellatrix said honestly. "She seems open to all forms of magic. She brought up the possibility of helping you with the stone. She didn't seem upset about it, more confused. She is close to Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson but she is also friends with Potter and one of the Weasley brats."
Tom tapped his chin. Her being friends with Potter and a Weasley had potential. His brown eyes locked on Bellatrix's violet eyes. "I want Ms. Granger on my side," she started. "I will give you until the eve of her seventeenth birthday to convince her to join me. If she doesn't…" He didn't finish his statement. He didn't need to. Bellatrix understood what was implied. "Until that day comes, she will be under my protection."
"Yes, my Lord," Bellatrix said gratefully. That gave her five years to convince Hermione to join the Death Eaters.
"If anyone attacks come against Hermione, after I announce she is under my protection, you are free to kill them," he told her. "Dismissed."
She walked to the door and paused. "My Lord." Tom looked up from his paperwork. "I had Hermione start learning Occlumency. I was wondering, how are her shields?"
"I did scan surface thoughts and she managed to block me," Tom confessed. "A deeper probe she would be unable to block. But she is doing well."
Bellatrix left the Dark Lord's office. The news about her Occlumency shields made her feel better. As she walked, she wondered how exactly she was supposed to accomplish her task to convert the young witch.
"Bella," Narcissa called. Bellatrix turned around. "I heard what happened with Flint." Bellatrix gritted her teeth at the mention of him. "Was the Dark Lord angry?"
The older woman shook her head. "No," she said. "He wants Hermione to join him."
Narcissa pulled Bellatrix into Bellatrix's bedroom, away from listening ears. "He what?"
"He wants Hermione to join," Bellatrix repeated. "You forget Hermione got the stone for him. Without Hermione the Dark Lord couldn't return. He watched her last year and thinks she would be an asset. My job is to convince her to join by her seventeenth birthday. Until then he will protect her to repay his debt."
Narcissa was at a loss for words. She knew of the soul bond as well. She also knew Hermione was a Muggleborn. It was a big deal that the Dark Lord was protecting her. "Do you think she will join?"
"She has to," Bellatrix said. "If she doesn't, she will die."
"Somehow I don't think that will work," Narcissa said sitting on the edge of the bed. "She will not join if she doesn't know what she is joining. You know she won't do it."
Bellatrix sighed. Her sister was right. She didn't know Hermione well but she knew this much. Hermione was smart. She would want all the facts before she made a decision. Eventually Bellatrix would have to tell her the truth about herself. Not her name, not yet, she couldn't risk others finding out. But her identity as a Death Eater was a must.
"What do you need from me?" Narcissa questioned her sister.
"Nothing right now," Bellatrix replied. "Draco is taking care of her." She sighed. "What's your plan?"
Bellatrix shrugged. "I can't lie to her. But I can't tell her everything yet. The Dark Lord says she's making progress with Occlumency. She won't be able to keep out Dumbledore but most others she will be fine."
"Are you going to start telling her things?"
"If it comes up," Bellatrix decided. "There are some things I can't tell."
"Draco wants to invite her over for Christmas," Narcissa pointed out.
It was Bellatrix that kept Hermione from coming to Malfoy manor for Christmas the previous year. It was also Bellatrix that stopped Hermione from visiting over the summer. It wasn't that Bellatrix didn't want her to come, because she did. It was because it wasn't safe. If Dumbledore found out Hermione was connected to her… Bellatrix shuddered at the thought. She knew Snape was suspicious but he still didn't know. It was a matter of time before he figured it out.
"You should invite her," Bellatrix said. She felt guilty for keeping Hermione away from Draco during vacations. "I'll stay at Grimmauld Place."
"Don't be stupid Bella," Narcissa said rolling her eyes at her sister. "You can stay here. This manor is big enough for you to both be here and you could still avoid her."
Bellatrix sighed. She liked the idea of being close to Hermione but it was a risk. Especially with Death Eaters being here. If any of them threatened Hermione she would kill them on the spot, even if she blew her cover.
"Fine," Bellatrix agreed. "I'm stay. If nothing else it will allow me to keep an eye on her."
"So, you can be known as Draco's creepy aunt?" Narcissa asked raising an eyebrow at her.
It was Bellatrix's turn to roll her eyes. "You're being overdramatic."
"I'm being overdramatic," Narcissa repeated in disbelief. "I'm going to let that slide because you're my sister and I love you." She stood. "Figure something out Bella. It's only a matter of time before Hermione goes digging for answers."
Narcissa left the room. Bellatrix stared at the door. Narcissa was right. Hermione was going to dig for answers at some point. She didn't know what to do. She needed time to plan. Bellatrix sighed and left the room. She had work to do.