There's Love In Information
C3: Decisions
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own any of the recognizable characters
A couple of days later Fabian and Nymphadora walked into the living room, and they were surprised to see Hermione and Bellatrix cuddled up to each other in their morning robes. What did not surprise them was the giant tome resting in Bellatrix's lap. "Good morning, you two are up early." Bellatrix said with a soft smile.
"I could say the same about you two Mom." Fabian said with a smile as he and Dora took a seat.
Bellatrix and Hermione both smiled at that. "You know I'm usually up early during the holidays, and since I'm not really used to having someone in bed anymore, we both woke up a bit hot."
"It's clear that we missed something here. I can't remember you two being this close yesterday." Fabian said kindly.
Hermione smiled at him. "We have spent a lot of time yesterday either reading about or talking about our Prophecy, and we both feel the need to be close to each other, so we decided to not put any pressure on anything and just be ourselves, and one thing we immediately agreed on was that it would be best if we spent the nights together, and to be honest, it's the best night sleep I've had in over three years."
He smiled at that. "I believe that. I know from personal experience that my mother is very comfortable to sleep against. She usually spent the night with me when I was young and still was scared of the dark."
Hermione giggled softly at that. "While that may be a bit of an overshare this early in the morning, I can only agree with the statement that your mother is incredibly comfortable to be in bed with, and quite a cuddler as well."
"That is a family trait I think, both Fabe and I know no other way of being in bed, you know besides the obvious other ways." Dora said with a soft smile as she did exactly that.
Fabian smiled and wrapped an arm around her. "You're very much right though love. We've cuddled together for many years before we came to the brilliant revelation that we could do more than just cuddle."
"Okay, that is definitely an overshare this early in the morning, and we have talked about this Fabian. There is no need for either of you to share everything." Bellatrix said sternly.
Fabian nodded and looked appropriately contrite. "Sorry Mom, you know how Dora and I get when we're together."
"Yes, I do, but please try to contain yourselves. It's not proper for you in your station." Bellatrix said softly.
He smiled at that. "I know, and I'm sorry. I'll try and better myself, and to avoid any other embarrassing conversations, Dora and I will do something productive with our day and relocate to the pool for our talk. Perhaps I can finally start working on that tan Hermione has been bugging me about for years."
Hermione smiled at that. "All I said was that it wouldn't hurt for you to have a bit more color, you're so pale that it's almost sickly at times."
"As you might have noticed, my mother is also quite pale, so now you at least know where I got it from. Us Blacks just burn easily, so that's why we don't have as good a relationship with the sun." He said with a smile.
Hermione smiled and nodded. "I know, I was only teasing you Fabe. Perhaps we might join you two later at poolside. I've always wondered what your mother would look like in a bikini." She said with a wink to the raven haired witch.
Bellatrix smiled playfully at her soulmate. "Be careful what you wish for baby. I won't be held responsible for what might happen."
Hermione smiled at her. "I don't doubt that Bella, but I'm pretty sure you will be stunned with what I have packed. One thing I have noticed in the Wizarding World is that the Muggles have vastly superior bathing suits. I believe your son is quite a fan of those."
"Really now. I was not aware that my darling son had taken a preference for Muggle clothes." Bellatrix said with a quirked eyebrow to her son.
He smiled at that. "If the choice is between a full body suit that's easily a hundred years old, and just a nice pair of swimming trunks, there isn't really a choice Mom."
"We'll see sweetie, now go and have fun with your girlfriend, but please keep it at least a little bit chaste." Bellatrix said with a soft smile.
They both nodded before apparating away, leaving the two witches alone again. "He was kidding about that full body suit I hope?" Hermione asked softly.
Bellatrix laughed lightly at that. "Yes love, he was. There was a time he wore those but that was well before puberty treated him very nicely. By the time he was fifteen there was no way he could wear one of those ever again."
Hermione blushed darkly at that. "Please Bella, I don't need mental pictures of my best friend like that. Let's leave that for Dora, okay?"
"Sorry Hermione. But one thing you should know about our family, especially with the more or less prophetic dream we had, is that our genes are very powerful and especially in boys that will result in very healthy specimens, if I may put it like that, so that is something you might want to prepare for, and you know that we are a very open family at that when it comes to sexuality." Bellatrix said with a soft smile.
Hermione smiled at her as she tried to get her blood vessels under control. "I figured as much just by looking at you, Narcissa and Andromeda. If we have girls they probably will also be well endowed in the chest area."
"Oh yes, that is a sort of curse for women in our family. We are all blessed with large bosoms." Bellatrix said with a soft smile.
Hermione smiled and kissed her cheek. "No matter what happens, we'll deal with it, as long as I don't have to actually sleep with Fabian to get pregnant."
Bellatrix smiled at that. "Don't worry Hermione. There are plenty of rituals that will make sure two women can get pregnant. How do you think Fabian was conceived. I would rather die than ever have to bed down with a man."
"How did you do that then. I've been wondering about this for years."
"Technically Fabian has two mothers. Being Luna's late mother Pandora and myself of course. It was an ancient ritual in one of our family's books that required the blood of two equally strong witches to make sure the oldest could conceive. But nowadays we there are better and less taxing rituals and even potions we could use." Bellatrix explained with a soft smile.
"You know, that makes a lot of sense, given how close Fabian and Luna are." Hermione said softly.
Bellatrix nodded and smiled at her. "That's because they are actual siblings, because Pandora and I used a similar ritual that made sure she would conceive as well. Xenophilius was not as wholesome as he appeared to be, so we made sure that Pandora would have a proper legacy."
"Do they know?" Hermione asked softly.
Bellatrix nodded at that. "They do, and soon Luna will probably move here too. She's been asking me to, and now that she is of age Xenophilius can't keep her there anymore, we all know she would rather spend more time with Fabian."
Hermione nodded and cuddled into her. "So, what will we do until we're ready to take a dip in the pool?"
Bellatrix only smiled as she apparated them to the bedroom. "We are going to show off some swimsuits for each other of course."
…
In the pool Fabian and Nymphadora had only just gotten in, having spent a little while trying to keep their hands to each other as they laid in the sun, and of course the first thing Dora had done was getting rid of her top, much to the appreciation of her lover.
Dora had to smile as she lounged in his arms. "I see you're very appreciative about the fact that I loathe wearing a bikini top."
"Of course I am, you're gorgeous Nymmie, and you know that my willpower around you is virtually non-existent." He said with a loving smile.
Dora smiled and kissed him. "I love that particular fact. It shows how much you love me, and it makes me feel desired too."
He smiled and let his hands glide down her body, creating a steady seat for his lover, while at the same time giving her ass a loving squeeze. "I have desired you for a very long time Nym, and there will never be a time I will not want to be intimate with you."
She smiled and kissed him as she slung her arms around his neck. "Since we probably have a little while before your mother and Hermione join us, we could do one of two things. We could either talk about our plans for the future, or we could fulfill one of the fantasies we've always talked about."
"As much as I would like to ravage you in the pool, it would be more productive if we actually talked about things first. There are some pretty big decisions we have to make, and the sooner we do that, the sooner we can start planning that future." He said softly.
Dora smiled at that. "Perhaps we can find a healthy mix of the two love, otherwise we'll never be able to be naked in the same room together and not want to fuck each other senseless."
He smiled at her. "Then what do you propose, my love?"
She smiled at him. "The only thing you have to do is trust me love. Let's move over to the shallows so we won't drown while we do this."
Fabian nodded and slowly let themselves float to she more shallow bit of the pool. "I like it when you're bossy." He said teasingly.
She smiled and kissed him. "Don't get too used to it, I don't like being bossy to anyone, and especially not to you. I'm perfectly fine with being a bit submissive to you." She said as she pulled his cock out of the bermuda's he was wearing before she pushed aside her bikini panties and lowered herself onto his cock.
He smiled and kissed her softly. "And now what love? You know this can only end in one way."
She smiled at him. "Now we talk while being as close as humanly possible, I think it's going to help us in building a bit of willpower to each other."
He smiled at that as she almost immediately bottomed out, drawing a moan from both of them. "So, since you suggested the manner in which we should talk, how do you see our future?"
Nymphadora smiled at him. "The obvious is by your side of course, but I also know that I will be bored out of my mind sitting at home. I do want to do something to do my part for our relationship. Maybe there is something I can do within the Ministry that won't require me to interact with the Auror Corps."
He smiled at her. "I might have an option for both of us. In light of everything that happened in the War, Kingsley approached me with a request if I wanted to join the Auror Corps, and when I declined that he offered me something he wants to implement after he heard of how I tried to keep the students safe. He knows the flaws of the Auror Corps and its lack of subtlety and that's why he wants to add a department that will operate independently from the actual Auror Corps, one that will be operating in the shadows and focused on gathering information. He asked me if I wanted to lead such a department, and I could definitely use an assistant in that, if you're interested."
She smiled at that. "So this new department would basically be a sort of Secret Service?"
"It would be a bit more complicated than that, but in essence yes, and while I would be at the head, if you want you will be right there beside me in recruiting and everything else." He said with a soft smile.
Nymphadora smiled at that. "I've always wanted to be a spy, and knowing that my boss is the same person that I know will always have my back and protect me makes this a very easy decision, if it is something you want to do too."
"To be honest, I think that Hogwarts has taught me everything it can, and that it is time to start my life with the woman I love more than anything. So if you're with me, then I will take Kingsley up on his offer." He said with a soft smile.
She smiled and kissed him softly. "I know you well enough to know that you're already thinking of potential recruits. Care to share?"
He nodded at her. "I do, and while I know that at least one of them will most definitely say no right now, I'm still going to ask her. Hermione is at the top of my list, along with Luna, Ginny, Draco and maybe Pansy if she is interested, and perhaps our mothers and aunt Cissa in advisory roles. I think that would be good for them to have something to do again. Hermione is the only one that I know will say no when I ask, because I know there are other things that she wants to pursue first. Ginny will depend if she gets an invitation from the Harpies."
"It sounds like you've been thinking about something like this for a while." Dora said softly.
He smiled at that. "It's been a hope for a while, because I know the way the Auror Corps is set up at the moment isn't the most effective, plus that it stifles the potential of students coming out of school, but I also know that this will be the only time we get to implement this, plus it will give everyone involved an opportunity to help keep the Wizarding World safe from any future threats."
Dora smiled and kissed him softly as she slowly started to move. "Perhaps helping with finally ending the Death Eaters will help put such a department on the map too."
He smiled at her as he squeezed her butt. "We'll have to talk to Kingsley to iron out the details, but if it goes the way I hope, we'll be that department that can never publicly take credit for the things we do, but our deeds will most definitely be noticed by the Ministry."
"I love the fact that you're already talking about a we when talking about this." She said before kissing him softly.
He just smiled and continued their kiss until they were both out of breath, all the while they kept making love to each other.
…
When Bellatrix and Hermione joined them an hour later, the first thing the two women noticed was how close the two were, and probably had been for most of the afternoon. "You two better not be defiling the pool." Bellatrix said as she took off her gown to reveal a black bikini, Hermione not being far behind when she pulled off her shirt to reveal a light blue bikini.
"Not at the current moment Mom." He said with a teasing smile.
Bellatrix sighed softly as she let herself slide into the pool. "So that means you have at some point in the last hour. I thought we talked about this Fabian."
He smiled at her. "I promise we haven't done anything untoward Mom. We mostly talked about what we want for the future, and I think we've come to a final decision."
Bellatrix smiled at him. "Well don't keep us in suspense darling. What is the verdict?"
"I'm not going back to school and I'm going to take Kingsley up on his offer." He said with a soft smile.
"What offer is that Fabe?" Hermione asked softly.
"After the battle Kingsley approached me with an idea he had for a new branch of the Auror Corps. One dedicated on gathering information and dealing with serious threats more subtly than the Aurors do at the moment. He wants me to lead that new branch, and I think it will be a good thing to implement at this point in time. It will certainly help with the current threat of the Death Eaters." He said with a soft smile.
Hermione smiled at that. "Wow, out of all the things to come out of the war, this wasn't even on my list of possibilities, although I am sure you're going to be amazing at it and I know you well enough that you already have a list prepared of possible candidates."
He smiled and nodded. "Indeed I do. You're actually at the top of that list, but I know there are other things you want to tackle first."
"You would be right in that, but in the future I would gladly be a part of your new Department, and if you want, I would gladly be of use in an advisory role." Hermione said with a smile.
He smiled at that. "Let me run that by my second in command." He said with a wink to Dora.
"I think we have room for a war-hero willing to give a new department advice." Dora said with a smile.
Hermione smiled at that as she draped herself on Bellatrix's back. "I see that you two being together has definitely improved your decision making, Fabian."
"To be honest it is something I wanted, Hermione. Dora was very high on my list as well even before I gathered the nerve to ask Dora to be my girlfriend, because as adorably clumsy as my girlfriend is, there is no one I would rather have by my side to run a department." He said with a soft smile.
Dora smiled at that. "Thank you love, and I'm glad you find my inherent clumsiness adorable."
He smiled and kissed her softly. "How couldn't I. It's the first thing that made me fall in love with you."
Nymphadora smiled and kissed him softly as she got off him and settled against his side. "You're too sweet sometimes Fabian."
He just smiled as he noticed the bright blush that had crept up his best friend's cheeks. "What's wrong Hermione?"
"I'm just not used to seeing someone swim topless, that's all, and certainly not as well endowed as you are." The brunette said softly.
Dora smiled at her and flicked her hand to summon her top. "Sorry, it's a force of habit. Almost everyone in the family enjoys swimming topless. I don't even think about it anymore."
Hermione smiled at that. "It's okay. It's just something I will have to get used to. I was raised in a pretty sheltered situation and sex has always been a taboo, I have learned more that first Christmas I spent with this family than I had in the thirteen years before that. Your family was such a shock to my system that it had me reeling, but all in a very positive way."
Bellatrix smiled at her lover. "I saw something special in you the first time we met, and I just knew that I wanted to do everything in my power to make sure you would flourish. It is what led me to show you all that advanced magic so early on, because I knew you would be able to master it as quickly as I once did."
Hermione smiled at that. "I was, and still am incredibly honored that you took the time to help me learn those advanced spells and rituals, while I was nothing more than a young teenage Muggleborn with a love for books."
Bellatrix smiled and pulled the brunette into her arms. "I knew you were special when Fabian came home for Christmas in his first year and told me about this incredibly kind and intelligent witch he had befriended, and each subsequent holiday he told me more about you, I just knew I had to meet you in person, if only to find out who my son, who usually didn't make friends so easily spoke so lyrically about."
Hermione smiled and kissed her softly. "I think it's safe to say that we both had a bit of a crush on each other in the earlier years at Hogwarts, and because we never really acted on it, we became great friends."
Fabian smiled at her. "That we are, and I think now that you're officially together with my mother, we can only become closer."
Hermione blushed lightly at that. "I think so too, although I think some mystery should always be kept between us. I saw things I never wanted to see when I was traipsing around with Harry and Ron."
"I'll believe that when you say it, and I still think its admirable that you and Harry have managed to do what you did with little to no information." Nymphadora said with a sweet smile.
"I started to work on plans, back-up plans, escape strategies and everything that we would possibly need the moment Harry told me what we were going to do, and in the end none of it mattered, which is what pisses me off the most. I couldn't even keep the three of us together in the end. I really hope Ronald will get some discipline in the Auror Corps." Hermione said softly.
"Honestly, I doubt it. The Auror Corps is full of rotten apples and a toxic mind will only be more incensed there. If anything he might get worse with his new position of power, being a war hero and all." Dora said softly.
Hermione sighed softly at that. "I was afraid of that. At least now we have way of keeping track of him."
"And we will, that is a promise. We both know he will lose his ever-loving shit if he ever finds out about you and Mom, and we can only guess what he will do then. We'll keep a close eye on him." Fabian said with a smile.
Hermione smiled at that. "I also might have someone you may want to consider for your new department. I think she'll be an invaluable asset."
Both Fabian and Dora smiled at her. "And who might that be Hermione?"
"Fleur Delacour. We regularly exchange letters and she told me she is looking for something that will take her far away from Bill. He's been harassing her at work ever since she broke things off with him." Hermione said with a smile.
The two shared a look at that. "I didn't know she was available. She'll be a very valuable asset. Could you ask if it is okay if I write her once everything is set up?"
Hermione nodded and smiled at him. "Of course Fabian. I think she'll be ecstatic to be useful this way. I know she'll bring plenty to the table too."
"I know, I just didn't know she was available, otherwise she'd been a sure in from the get go." Fabian said with a smile.
Hermione smiled at that as she relaxed into Bellatrix. "Have you thought of a name yet, because calling it the new department might get a bit tedious after a while."
He smiled and nodded at her. "I've been toying with some names, but I think I would like something in the line of the Department of Magical Information and Intelligence or D.M.I.I. for short."
"You know, I'd say that's a perfect fit. Kingsley will surely sign off on that." Hermione said with a smile.
"That's the funny part, 'Mione. All he needed to hear from me was a yes or a no, and if it was a yes, a list with necessities. Everything else will be up to me. He wants to have plausible deniability and be involved as little as possible, which honestly I understand." He said with a soft smile.
Hermione only smiled at that as she parked herself in Bellatrix's lap. "Can we not talk about anything Ministry related. It's the holidays for Morgana's sake." Bellatrix said a bit annoyed as she wrapped her arms around her young lover.
"Sorry Bella. Let's get back to relaxing." The brunette said with a soft smile as they made it a thing to not talk about Ministry for the rest of the afternoon.
…
The following morning Fabian and Nymphadora were up early for a meeting with Kingsley, after Fabian had Owled him last night to let him know that he would take the position, as well as letting him know that Nymphadora would be his second in command.
Much to their surprise Kingsley had invited them to the Ministry this morning not half an hour after they had sent the letter, so that's why they were up way too early for their liking, with Fabian in his most respectable outfit, which he thought was appropriate for today.
He and Dora had talked at length last night before going to bed about how they wanted to shape their new department, and it was certainly going to involve a style that would be designed to intimidate while still looking professional.
They didn't even take the time for breakfast, already having decided to go for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron after the meeting, mostly because in their humble opinion it had the best shepherd's pie in Britain, and it was a shared guilty pleasure of theirs that they never minded indulging in.
Stepping out of the Floo at the Ministry and walked to the front desk, Kingsley was already waiting for them. "Mr. Black and Ms. Tonks, good morning. I hope you are both well?"
They smiled at him. "We are Minister, but I have to admit that I have become a Black once again. Fabian reinstated my mother and I to the family as soon as he took up the mantle of the House of Black."
"A wise decision already, and I'm glad you are finally back with your family. Shall we talk in my office. It will ensure we'll have all the privacy we need. I unfortunately don't have much time this morning. There is still a lot to be taken care of in the wake of the Battle of Hogwarts." Kingsley said with a smile.
They nodded at him as they followed him up to his office, and as they took a seat, it took a lot of effort not to hold hands.
"Now that we are in private, let me start with saying that I'm glad you decided to accept my offer. I never thought that I would be in this position as Minister, but now that I am, I intend to make several big changes, and next to overhauling the Auror Corps, I wanted a separate department to start gathering information and intelligence on our enemies, and act when necessary. Your mother has told me of your actions at Hogwarts before and during the battle, and I knew that you would be perfect to head this department." He said in his deep baritone.
Fabian smiled at that. "To be very honest something similar to what you proposed already was on my list of things to pursue at some point in my life and I am very thankful that you will allow me to build this up from scratch. I have a lot of ideas on paper already that you are welcome to read through, as well as a list of possible candidates for several positions."
Kingsley smiled kindly at them. "I trust you will make the right decisions in this Fabian. It is one of the reasons I wanted to have you heading this. As Minister I of course cannot be directly involved, but I will make sure you and your department will get everything you need. I have offices available for this on the fifth floor, close to the Archives and the Unspeakables, who will be the only other ones that know of this department, and they too have promised full cooperation. It's spacious enough to house the personnel, both office and field you may have in mind, and it's out of the way enough that no one will bother you."
Nymphadora smiled at that. "Since no one ever goes to that floor voluntarily, it's perfect for our needs, and to have the Unspeakables on our side will most definitely help."
"That was my idea too, is there anything you might need already? I would want to try and get this up and running as quickly as possible. I understand that there may be more trouble brewing. Ms. Granger and your mother will be by later today to inform me about this, it sounded quite urgent." Kingsley said kindly.
Fabian nodded at that. "It is, and while I am sure you will hear all about it from Hermione and my mother, there is very much cause for concern. We will need a few days to get things in order, but we can start as early as next Monday. What we need to start is plenty of filing space and desks for at least six people outside of Dora and myself, and perhaps a budget for robes and equipment."
"A budget is something you don't have to worry about Fabian. I have already made sure your department will be given a very generous budget for the remainder of the year, and then we'll discuss what the department actually needs next year." Kingsley said kindly.
Fabian smiled at that. "Thank you, I also understood you did not want to be updated by our findings?"
"I will need plausible deniability because of the delicacy of the operation you will be in charge of. Technically your department will fall under the authority of the Unspeakables, but I doubt they will get involved. I do have to ask. Have you thought of a name yet?"
He nodded at that. "Yes, the Department of Magical Intelligence and Information or the D.M.I.I. for short. I think that pretty much encapsulates what we do."
Kingsley nodded and smiled at him. "I approve. I'll make sure the Unspeakables know of it too. All the rest is up to you and Dora."
"We understand Minister. Would it be okay if we went up to inspect our offices?" Nymphadora asked with a smile.
He nodded at her. "Of course, I'll ask one of the Unspeakables to escort you there, unfortunately my next appointment is coming in pretty soon."
"That's fine. We'll make our way to the fifth floor and meet the Unspeakable there." Fabian said kindly.
Kingsley smiled as he led them out of his office and to the elevator. "I look forward to seeing what you two can do in this capacity. If there is anything you need, please come and find me. I'll make sure it happens."
They nodded and smiled as they stepped into the elevator that whisked them up to the fifth floor, a sudden feeling of nostalgia washing over them, since the both had been a part of the Battle of the Ministry two years ago in one form or another.