I'm finally back! Sorry to everyone who's waiting for updates, thanks to everyone who are patient enough to bear with me. I hope you enjoy this one:)
Ambush
Hermione's brain struggled to comprehend the situation. She was walking hand in hand with Bellatrix Lestrange (she couldn't help putting things that way) after an enjoyable Christmas date in Muggle London. Things couldn't get more bizarre today. As they approached the Leaky Cauldron Hermione couldn't help but wonder if there was going to be a perfect ending to the perfect date. When they reached the pub Bella didn't disappoint and pulled her to the side where they were hidden from people's eyes.
"So, Hermione," the older woman began, "a Muggle play, some sightseeing and a cup of tea? One might think you went a little over the top with your present."
"One might think you'd have the decency to thank me for your nice present" Hermione bit back with a smile on her face.
"A plain old 'thank you' won't do it justice though" Bella drew closer, and Hermione's heart raced in her chest. "But I thought I was clear when I told you this was not a good idea. And I barely scratched the surface with the reasons I gave you."
"Getting to know you this much has taught me you like bad ideas."
"My, my, Granger, what a naughty girl you are!" Bella was grinning now. Hermione hoped this was a good sign. "Have you forgotten I'm married by any chance?"
"Do you plan on moving in with your husband?"
"You are not going to give up, are you?" the older woman sighed in exasperation.
"Do you even know me at all, Bellatrix Black?"
Instead of answering, Bella leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of Hermione's mouth. This effectively banished her grin. The brunette's face went blank.
"You should've thought about what you're getting yourself into, pet" Bella said in a low voice that just did something to her. "Take that kiss as both a warning and congratulations on organizing everything today. Next one's on me."
Pausing just long enough to wink at her, the older witch Disapparated soundlessly. Hermione stood there, hidden from view, trying to consider all the emotions Bella had just made her feel. It was just before she Disapparated that she registered Bella had declared there would be another date. She was lucky she didn't splinch herself.
Grimmauld Place looked every bit as festive as Hermione felt. There were decorations everywhere and everyone seemed to be doing something to help. Hermione almost felt guilty about it before she saw Harry and Ron playing with some enchanted mistletoe at the kitchen door.
"Oi, Mione, you're not coming in here?" Ron called as she passed by them.
"Not if someone tried to hex me into the next year" Hermione stuck out her tongue at them before continuing her tour of the house in search of Ginny. She found Mrs. Weasley in the dining room taking some beautiful silver cutlery to lay the kitchen table with.
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley" she greeted with a smile.
"Hermione, dear, you're back. How was your outing?"
"Yeah, good. Everyone's busy around here then?"
"Oh yes" Mrs. Weasley walked past her with an armful of knives and forks and about twenty goblets hovering in the air after her. "Though there's always work for an extra pair of hands."
"Hermione can help me in the tapestry room, Mum" Ginny's excited voice carried down the stairs. Hermione looked up to see flaming red hair framing the excited face of her friend. "Come on, Mione" Ginny grinned and disappeared from the staircase.
"I'll go up there then" Hermione called after Mrs. Weasley who was already two landings down.
"Good luck" the woman called back. Hermione smiled to herself and jogged up the stairs to where Ginny was waiting for her. As she had expected, the redhead was sitting on the floor in front of the large tapestry, eager to hear her story.
"Sit down, sit down" she beckoned hurriedly. "How'd it go?"
"I will sit down, Ginny, but aren't we supposed to be doing something here?"
"Yeah, Mum thought this room had a Pixie invasion, but all I see is little blue people who are more than happy to cooperate if you lightly drug them with this potion here, rather than try to kill them."
Ginny indicated a large spray bottle next to her, then jerked her head towards the open window. There was a long line of Pixies waiting for their turn to jump out into the snow.
"Now I'm simply overseeing the process. Now spill it!" Ginny looked at her expectantly.
"Well," Hermione decided to stall, "I don't remember if the plan was to have a good time or to get her to change her mind. But…"
"But?!" Ginny prompted her impatiently.
"But it seems like this is turning into a different story now" Hermione smiled slightly.
"Hermione Granger, you absolute charmer!" Ginny yelled out in delight. "If anyone could make that woman fall for them, it's you."
"Shh!" Hermione mock-glared at her friend and sat down next to her. "So, what are we going to do if not throw out Pixies?"
"You are going to tell me exactly how your date went."
Ginny's interest wasn't fully satisfied but when they heard the guests beginning to come in, they were forced to leave the tapestry room that had been Pixie-free for over two hours already. Hermione took only a few minutes to freshen up and she went down the stairs just as a loud noise came from the front door.
"Ow! Are you trying to break my leg?"
"There would be no point in doing it when I could break your neck."
"Ladies, ladies, I have to ask you to tone it do-"
Mr. Weasley's voice was drowned out by the shrieks of Walburga's portrait.
"YOU TWO! SHAME ON YOU! THE WORLD WAS AT YOUR FEET AND BOTH OF YOU THREW IT ALL AWAY!"
"Oh, dear aunt Walburga is still on the wall" Andromeda's voice carried to everyone even though she didn't raise it.
"Poor Sirius living here with her." Narcissa wore a smile, but her voice was cold as she addressed her aunt. "If you want to talk about someone throwing everything away talk about your own sons."
The two women whipped out their wands faster than Walburga could say another word and the curtains around her portrait drew closed again.
"Excuse us about that" Narcissa said quietly. "We had forgotten about this house's many… pleasant decorations" she turned her gaze towards the staircase where the elf heads stood and met Hermione's eyes. Hermione wanted to look away, but her stubbornness didn't allow it. Finally, the blonde was forced to relent and turned towards Mrs. Weasley.
"Thank you for the invitation to this dinner, Molly" she greeted, if rather stiffly.
"Not at all, not at all. Do come in, finally."
"Are you done with the pleasantries?" Andromeda muttered and made her way towards the kitchen, winking at Hermione on the way. The young woman was stunned at the similarity between her and her older sister. No, she stopped that train of thought. She did not need Bella on her mind right now. She looked up just in time to see Narcissa giving her an appraising look in passing. Merlin, this was going to be a long dinner.
She hadn't been wrong to think it would be a tedious affair. But at least she had Ginny who had managed to come up with a plan to get them out of the room for some time.
"I'm not feeling very well" Ginny sighed when Mrs. Weasley brought her a full plate of pudding.
"Do you have a fever?" her mother eyed her skeptically but brought her hand to Ginny's forehead, nevertheless.
"It's more of a stomachache. I'll go lie down for a while, shall I?"
She had managed to leave the room before Mrs. Weasley could counter her with anything.
"Well, that's an extra plate of pudding" Ron said and reached for the plate in Mrs. Weasley's arms.
"You will never get tired of eating, will you?" Hermione sniggered but Ron simply shrugged.
"Can't waste good food."
"Oh, Merlin, fine. Enjoy it. I'll go see how Ginny is, for a change. At least one of us three cares about that."
"Tell her I said hi" Harry winked at her. Hermione knew he would see through their little plan. What she had not anticipated was two pairs of eyes following her from the far corner of the table as she left the room.
She was just about to go into Ginny's room when someone called her name.
"Hermione? Blimey, finally, thought I'd have to hex you to get your attention."
"Andy?" Hermione turned to see Andromeda standing one landing down grinning up at her.
"I'm sure you want to check on your friend, but I was wondering if I could ask you something in private first."
Hermione threw a longing look at the door handle of Ginny's room. She had been so close. She could still dart inside.
"Of course, Andy" she said instead.
"Great, come in here then."
Andromeda opened a door to a small room and Hermione had no choice but to go down the stairs and go inside. When she stepped over the threshold, however, she met a pair of ice blue eyes meeting her own from across the room. Hermione tried to step back but felt a body behind her and turned to see andromeda raising her eyebrow at her.
"In a hurry to see someone, Miss Granger?"