A/N: Welcome to another chapter! It feels incredible to be able to update on time. The next chapter will be posted in 4 weeks. Stay safe, stay healthy, and I appreciate you all.
Enjoy!
Breathe, Hermione thought to herself, adjusting her wand in her slightly sweaty hand.
The wardrobe in front of her shook violently. Snape stood calmly beside it, waiting for the signal that she was ready. Draco leaned against the wall behind her, providing silent support. Hermione readjusted her grip as she nodded at Snape, focusing on keeping her breaths even. With a flick of his wand, the wardrobe unlocked. After a few moments, Minerva emerged from the wardrobe, informing her that she had failed her exams. Briefly, she wondered if it was true since they had yet to receive their results.
"Focus," she muttered under her breath.
The Boggart moved closer and Hermione forced herself to stand her ground. She set her jaw, looking at it stubbornly. It became a blur before settling on a masked, hooded figure. She recognized it immediately as Bellatrix's and she felt her determination waver slightly. A cackle filled the room as a hand pulled the hood down, the mask disappearing. Hermione's eyes flicked to the dagger in her hand, shrinking back slightly.
Draco paled when he saw the Boggart as his aunt. Her face was gaunt, her hair matted, and her teeth rotten. He had never seen her look like she did now. No wonder Hermione was afraid of her.
The Boggart smiled, stalking closer to Hermione. She felt her heart beating wildly in her chest as she took a step backward. Her wand was raised halfway as she debated to send it away or keep going. Her eyes were drawn to the knife in her hand as she twirled it. Hermione felt herself slipping, details from the memory superimposing themselves in reality. She tightened her grip on the acacia in her hand, reminding herself that this version of Bellatrix would never come to be in this timeline.
With a deep breath, Hermione planted her feet, no longer backing away as the Boggart approached. It cocked its head, a smirk on its face as it came to a stop directly in front of her. The flat edge of the blade was drawn along her cheek and she ignoring her racing heart as she directed her determined gaze slightly up at it. The smile on the Boggart's face faded as Hermione stared up at it, still afraid but no longer running away.
It stared into Hermione's eyes, searching for what was worse than this. A flicker of fear later, it knew. With a cruel smile, the Boggart shifted again, melting from Bellatrix and into a reflection of Hermione. Hermione's eyes widened as she took in her blank expression, bushy hair, and dull eyes. Gone was the knife pressed against her cheek, replaced with the Boggart's hand. On its arm was the scar Bellatrix had carved, slightly bloody as if the scar had been picked at. This was what she had become after the war, no more than an empty shell that had been so damaged she believed what Bellatrix had reminded her she was.
Doubts began to flood her mind, and the Boggart smiled at her crestfallen expression. It was dangerous to give it so much power, but Hermione couldn't remember how to fight it amidst the chaos in her head. Her wand slipped from her fingers as arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her away from the Boggart. Snape moved between them, banishing it into the wardrobe and locking it before scooping her wand off the ground. Draco moved in front of her, shaking her shoulders to bring her back to reality as he tried to forget the twisted image of his friend.
Snape moved him away, instructing, "Get Narcissa."
"What about Auntie Bella?" he asked, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"Just Narcissa," he said, turning and snapping, "Go."
Draco forced himself into motion, barely aware of his surroundings as he made his way to the porch where his mother and aunts were sitting. Their conversation died as soon as he leaned out of the doorway, all three of them springing to their feet.
"Just mum," he managed tightly.
Narcissa looked back at her sisters, giving them a small nod as she hurried inside. Draco led her to the room they had been occupying, pushing the door open for his mother. She rushed over to where Snape was kneeling on the floor next to Hermione, who was sitting and staring blankly.
"What happened?" she asked, waving her hand in front of Hermione's eyes.
"She faced her Boggart," he mumbled.
She turned to look at him, her jaw hanging open. "Are you mad?"
"I didn't think this would happen, I had no idea her Boggart would turn into...that," he said defensively.
"What was it?" she asked, placing the back of her hand on Hermione's forehead, "She has a fever."
"It was-"
"Herself," Draco interrupted, placing a damp towel into her hands, "But older. More...war-torn, I suppose."
Narcissa placed the towel against Hermione's forehead, glaring at Snape. "I will not be the one to explain this to Bella."
Snape grimaced, nodding tersely.
"Draco, I'll need your help," she said before turning to Snape, "Good luck."
Narcissa levitated Hermione, motioning for Draco to start walking. They took her up to her room and Narcissa pointed to the blanket. Draco pulled them back, waiting for Narcissa to place Hermione on the bed before pulling them up to her chin. She groaned, her eyelids fluttering as Narcissa pressed the towel to her forehead. She called for a house-elf, instructing them to bring a list of potions.
"I need you to hold her up while I give her all of these," Narcissa said once the elf returned and set them on the nightstand at her instruction, "Try to keep her as still as you can. It's lucky I had everything I needed."
Draco maneuvered Hermione into an upright position, his arms holding her shoulders firmly. He nodded at her, and she grabbed Hermione's chin gently. Once she poured the potion into her mouth, she held it closed and pinched her nose, forcing her to swallow it. Draco held her up as she tried to lean over, coughing at the taste.
"Hermione, are you with me?" Narcissa asked, tilting the brunette's chin up. Her eyes were still vacant and Narcissa's mouth pinched into a straight line.
She took two more before her eyes began to focus on the blonde witch as she groaned, "Cissa?"
"There you are," she breathed, setting the bottle in her hands back on the nightstand and pressing her hand to her forehead, "Do you remember what happened?"
"I wish I didn't," she mumbled with a dry chuckle.
"Glad you're okay, Hermione," Draco whispered, pulling his arms away.
She leaned her head against the wall, muttering, "I don't know if I'd go that far."
Draco looked at Narcissa, who inclined her head to the door. With a nod, he left, relieved that she was at least talking.
"You still have to take the rest of the potions," Narcissa whispered, perching on the edge of the bed before whispering, "Draco told me what you saw."
Hermione swallowed hard, looking down at her hands in her lap. "I've never seen myself in any of the memories. And then when the Boggart turned into that, I-I-I froze. I looked so...empty."
Narcissa caught Hermione when she hunched over, pulling her into a tight hug.
"What if I become her again?" Hermione asked shakily, clutching Narcissa's robes and burying her face in her shoulder.
"Do you think you will?" she asked, rubbing her shoulders.
Hermione sniffled. "Things are different this time, so maybe not."
"I need you to take the rest of those potions before Bella gets here," Narcissa mumbled, "And I assure you, she will. You should've seen her face when Draco came to get me."
"I know exactly what face you're talking about," Hermione pulled back, imitating the face Bellatrix had made, "She does it every time."
Narcissa chuckled, reaching for a bottle and handing it to Hermione. "For a second there, I couldn't even tell you apart."
"These are disgusting," Hermione muttered with a cough, handing the empty bottle back to Narcissa.
"The last two are for Bella," she said, handing her one more bottle, "If you want her to stay here. You'll sleep for a day or two and your fever should break about halfway through. How are you feeling?"
Hermione swallowed the last one, nearly spitting it out as she gagged. "A little cold. Very tired."
"Do you want Bella to stay with you?" she whispered, helping her lie down.
She nodded as she yawned, pulling the blanket around her. Narcissa brushed her hair out of her face before standing up. She made her way back outside, finding Bellatrix pinning Snape to a chair with her gaze. Andromeda looked almost as angry with him. Narcissa cleared her throat, drawing their attention.
"She'll be fine. She wants you, Bella," she informed.
Bellatrix stood, still glaring at him as she growled, "Don't ever put her in danger like that again, Severus, especially when she doesn't know the risks of what she's doing."
Narcissa grabbed her arm as she brushed past, whispering, "There are two potions for you on her nightstand to help you sleep."
"Thank you, Cissy," she mumbled, reaching up and squeezing her arm.
She nodded and Bellatrix continued into the house, making her way up to Hermione's room as quickly as she could. She tried to be as quiet as possible when she shut Hermione's door, wincing as it closed louder than she meant.
"Bella?" Hermione muttered, tossing in her bed.
"I'm here," she breathed, rushing to her.
Hermione patted the space she had made and Bellatrix drew back the blanket and crawled into bed, pulling the brunette into her arms. She felt her relax as her arms tightened around her, one at her waist and the other across her back. Bellatrix didn't realize Hermione had been shivering until she stopped, burying her face in her collar. She rested her chin on the crown of Hermione's head, allowing her relief to wash through her.
It was three days later when Hermione woke up, still nestled in Bellatrix's arms. The older witch was asleep, her chest rising and falling softly. Hermione was captivated by the rhythmic motion, sliding her eyes toward her face. Her gaze paused on her pulsing artery and she swallowed hard as an urge to press her lips to it overtook her. What sound would it pull from Bellatrix's lips? Bellatrix stirred slightly and Hermione froze, her eyes darting the rest of the way to her face.
"You're awake," she yawned, "Feeling better?"
Hermione nodded mutely, unable to form a coherent sentence as Bellatrix stretched against her.
"Good," she breathed.
"I'm sorry," she whispered when she found her voice.
Bellatrix shook her head. "He should've warned you. Prick."
"And if I had still done it?" she asked, looking timidly up at Bellatrix.
The older witch brushed a strand of brown hair away from her face, causing Hermione to blush. "At least you would've known what to expect."
"It was me," she whispered, "The Boggart. It turned into who I became after the war."
Bellatrix cupped her face and she leaned into the touch. "I'm not going to let that happen to you."
"I know," she breathed squeezing her eyes closed and holding Bellatrix's hand against her face.
"Your results came while you were asleep. Draco has been waiting for you so you can open them together."
Hermione's eyes snapped open as she jumped out of bed. "They're here?"
Arms circled her waist, pulling her to a halt. "Take it slow."
"Let's go," she pleaded, pulling Bellatrix with her.
She rolled her eyes, keeping Hermione's pace slow especially as they went down the stairs. Draco and Narcissa were sitting at the table eating lunch, both of them looking up in surprise as Hermione entered with Bellatrix in tow.
"You're up!" Draco exclaimed, setting his silverware down loudly.
"How do you feel?" Narcissa asked.
Hermione sat in the chair Bellatrix pulled out for her. "I'm better. I really want to know what the results of our exams are."
"I've been dying to look," Draco said, sliding hers across the table, "But I wasn't about to do it without you."
"Ready?" she asked, her finger hovering over the seal.
He nodded and they broke the seals in tandem. They held their breath as they pulled the parchment with their results out of the envelope, sighing in relief when they unfolded it.
"Five O's and one E," Draco announced proudly.
"Six O's," Hermione said, poking her tongue out at him.
Bellatrix leaned back in her chair with a satisfied smile as Narcissa congratulated them both. They heard someone arrive through the floo and Bellatrix tilted further back, balancing on the back legs of the chair to see who it was from where she was sitting.
"Hey, Tonks," she greeted, ignoring Narcissa's displeased look.
"Wotcher," she said, bumping into the doorframe, "Dumbledore's called a meeting. Everyone else is already there."
Draco and Hermione shared a look, quickly finishing their lunches before racing upstairs to change. Bellatrix and Narcissa were waiting for them in the foyer, whispering to each other until they entered.
"Harry and Ron are at Grimmauld Place," Narcissa warned.
Hermione sucked air in through her teeth, glancing uncertainly at Draco. "Do you think they forgot?"
"Doubt it," he said, teasing, "Don't tell me you've lost all your Gryffindor courage."
She rolled her eyes at him, retorting, "I think you're conflating courage and stupidity."
"I always knew I was the smart one," he teased as Narcissa went through the floo.
"Tell that to my six O's," she said, shoving him playfully.
He laughed, arching a brow. "Go on then."
She poked her tongue out at him as she grabbed a handful of floo powder and stepped into it. Narcissa's waiting arms steadied her as she emerged, the journey much less disorienting the second time around. They waited together for Draco and Bellatrix to arrive, the four of them joining the rest of the Order.
"Now that we're all here," he said, "There are a few matters to discuss. We still have not located Helga Hufflepuff's cup. I was, however, able to locate Marvolo Gaunt's ring, which I believe to be the one Hermione could not remember. I have not attempted to retrieve it. Additionally, and this is worse news, Rodolphus Lestrange knows that Hermione has traveled through time. Before he was arrested, he had access to ministry records, specifically birth records, and he noticed a discrepancy in one of them. I don't know if he was looking for one or if it happened by chance."
"What does that mean for us?" Minerva asked.
Dumbledore shrugged. "It depends on when the Horcruxes were created and hidden, but the war started even before the point where Hermione traveled back and I believe most of the Horcruxes were already created and hidden at that point."
Hermione frowned at the table, her eyes darting back and forth over the patterns in the wood. Something was nagging at her. There was another reason the Lestrange vault had been important. She pulled her journal from her robes, flipping through the pages and ignoring the discussion around her. She stopped on a more recent page, one she hadn't really thought much about at the time. Her eyes widened as she skimmed the page, rereading a sentence to make sure she had it right.
"The Sword of Gryffindor," she said, her eyes glued to the journal and the conversation dying around her.
"Of course," Dumbledore mumbled, "It only takes in that which makes it stronger."
Hermione continued skimming through her journal, looking up to find Dumbledore gone. "Where'd he go?"
"He's getting the sword from his office so we can destroy the locket," Sirius explained, "If it works, we'll be able to get the ring, too."
"Any luck on the others?" Moody asked.
She shook her head. "I haven't been remembering much lately. Nothing has been triggering a memory."
Dumbledore chose that moment to return, carrying the sword. Sirius summoned Kreacher, who begrudgingly brought the locket and placed it on the table.
"Who'll destroy it?" Molly asked, eyeing the locket and the sword warily.
"I will," Hermione said, "I'll need some room, I think last time it tried to keep us from destroying it."
Bellatrix grabbed her arm as she reached for the sword. "How?"
"I don't remember," she answered, "But Harry is the only other one that can open it."
The Order members exchanged looks as Dumbledore handed her the sword. They moved back as Hermione slid it closer to the edge of the table using the tip of the blade. With her right hand firmly grasping the hilt of the sword, she reached out with her left, brushing her fingers against the clasp.
Keep your promise, she heard and she gripped the sword tightly in both her hands, waiting for the locket to open.
A gust of wind pushed her back when it opened, her feet sliding along the floor. She set her jaw as she looked into an inky image of herself, the Horcrux's attempt at preventing her from destroying it. Hermione inhaled sharply, the weight of the sword reminding her of her task. She hefted it into an arc, sending it down the center of the person she would never become and into the locket, shattering the glass inside. A scream filled the air and Hermione almost thought it was her own as she blinked down at the broken locket. She set the sword on the table, picking up the locket and holding it out to Kreacher.
Thank you, the locket hissed in the back of her mind.
"What the fuck?" Andromeda mumbled under her breath, "Are they all like that?"
"I don't think they all manifest the same way," she answered, sitting heavily in her chair.
"Well, at least now we know," Kingsley said.
Bellatrix sat next to her, sending her a questioning glance. Hermione smiled reassuringly, feeling a little lighter than she had been.
"That leaves the ring, the diadem, the cup, the snake, and Harry," Sirius summarized, sitting across from her.
"One more thing before we conclude the meeting," Dumbledore said, "The ministry has deemed it necessary to interfere at Hogwarts. Bellatrix, you will still be the DADA professor, but you will have an observer for the duration of the school year, so please be extra conscious of your actions."
The dark-haired witch scowled, grumbling under her breath as she stood. Hermione followed her to the floo, glancing up the staircase and waving at Harry and Ron on the landing. They didn't return the wave, so Draco held his middle finger out to them, earning a scolding that he felt was worth it.
"Your parents are coming today," Narcissa reminded once they were back in the foyer.
"No war talk," Hermione warned, pausing on the bottom stair, "I'll be down in a bit."
Bellatrix rushed up the stairs after her, calling out to her when she reached the second floor. "Hermione, are you okay to be alone? What the locket showed-"
"That was what my Boggart looked like. I had a hunch that's what I would see." She turned to look up at Bellatrix. "Are you upset because I didn't say anything?"
"No," she said, pulling her into a hug, "I'm not upset. Just making sure you're okay."
She pressed her cheek against the older woman's collar. "I think I'm still processing. I felt a little better, though, once it was destroyed. I still feel better, I just really want to bathe and reflect."
"I need a shower, too, so I'll be right across the hall if you need anything, okay?" She ended the embrace when she felt Hermione nod.
"Hey, Bella?" Hermione called, both of them pausing at their doors, "Thanks for checking on me."
She smiled at the brunette, pushing her door open as she said, "Of course."
Hermione lingered for a moment, staring at Bellatrix's door with a smile. She shook her head, pushing open her own door and entering her room. She could hear the water running for a bath, smiling to herself. Merlin, she loved magic. After shedding her clothes, she sank into the warm water, sighing as it engulfed her. Hermione leaned her head back against the edge of the tub, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes.
It had been overwhelming to see the Boggart turn into herself. In hindsight, she maybe should have been prepared for it to happen, but she couldn't have ever pictured herself looking the way she did. It hadn't mattered that they had won the war, the cost of it had destroyed everything she had been until she was a shell of her former self. Seeing it in the locket hadn't been as jarring. She had expected it for some reason, even if she had faltered for a moment. It was easier to tell herself that what she was seeing wasn't real when it wasn't touching her, when it looked like a shadow.
That's exactly what it is, Hermione thought, A shadow of who I was in some timeline.
Hermione peeled her eyes open, looking at her fingertips. Slashing through that representation of herself with the Sword of Gryffindor had been surreal. Was it the sword that had made her feel brave? Or was it her drive to rid herself of that image? As soon as the sword had touched the image of herself, she felt more like she was used to. She had looked the worst part of herself in the face and sliced it in half. She flexed her hands underwater. It was easier to think about now, after having done it once. It had been terrifying, the doubt that it wouldn't work, and then the glass had shattered and the wait was over. Hermione knew now that things would be different this time around, she no longer doubted that she would be better off after the war.
"It's about time you had some faith in yourself."
Hermione startled, sending water splashing over the sides as she looked up. Across from her was the vision of herself, kneeling on the floor and resting her arms on the edge of the tub.
"What in the fuck?" was all she could manage, staring warily at her distorted self.
"Slicing me in half was pretty impressive, especially so soon after the incident with the Boggart," she said, dipping her fingers into the water. No ripples formed from the action.
Hermione's eyes lingered on the scar on her forearm, finding it less angry. "It felt good."
She laughed darkly, lifting her eyes. "I can't tell you how long I've wanted that."
"Walk me through this," Hermione commanded, "I want to make sure I understand."
"I suppose I am a...guardian of sorts. I keep the memories of your past and present separate so they don't overwhelm you. I don't think I was created by you, I think it was the magic that made all of this even possible. In your fear, my form became...twisted." She shrugged. "It's ancient magic, it happens. I suppose now that you've faced that fear, acknowledged it, and accepted it, I've reverted back into what I was supposed to be."
Hermione nodded, slightly skeptical. "Does that mean I can choose when I remember something?"
She shrugged. "Wanna find out?"
The brunette chewed her lip as she thought. Was it wise to try when she was alone? In the bath of all places? It would be smarter to try with someone there if something went wrong.
"Maybe another time," she mumbled, stretching her neck.
The vision of herself faded from sight, but a wave of peace washed over her, loosening the tension in her shoulders. Hermione began to scrub herself clean, deeply inhaling the lavender-scented shampoo. It must've been the same kind Bellatrix used because it smelled almost exactly like her.
She reached for her wand as she stepped out of the bath, waving it to dry herself as she reached for a robe. The material was soft and cool against her warm skin, pulling a sigh from her as she tied it. She stood in front of the wardrobe, debating for several minutes if she should wear robes or Muggle clothes. Her parents would obviously be in Muggle clothes and she didn't want them to feel out of place. She decided on a pair of jeans and a plain black shirt with black trainers. Dealing with her hair was not something she felt like doing, so she tied it back before padding across the hall to Bellatrix's door. Her fist barely knocked on the door before it opened for her, revealing Bellatrix in dark black pants and an emerald green tee-shirt that showed off the muscles in her arms.
Hermione's mouth went dry as she stammered, "I-you-wow."
"Too much?" Bellatrix asked, looking down at herself.
She forced her eyes up to the older witch's. "No, you look...amazing."
The older witch smiled. "I was worried it would be too much. Draco and Cissy can change while we get your parents. I'm sure she's overdressed."
"Are we getting them now?" she asked, her eyes widening.
Bellatrix shrugged, walking toward the stairs. "I'm not rushing you, Hermione. We can go whenever, but I'll have to set up the floo which will take some time. That way you can go there if you'd like. I should've thought of it earlier, honestly, but I'm so used to it having to be secret from Muggles it didn't even cross my mind."
"Couldn't you just teach me to Apparate? Since I don't have the Trace?" She had to jog a little to catch up with the older witch, falling into step with her.
"I could teach you whatever you want to know, but you can't take the exam until you're 17. So for now, you'll just have to use the floo to get there," she answered, glancing at her when she pouted slightly, "I'd get you a key made if I thought it would work."
"How do you feel about being under observation for the year?" Hermione asked, glancing around for Narcissa and Draco.
She groaned, rolling her eyes. "I just know they're going to send someone who has never been an Auror or Unspeakable to do it. And they'll tell me I'm exaggerating the importance of Defense Against the Dark Arts skills. It's a stupid attempt at posturing because of what happened last year with Crouch Jr."
Bellatrix pulled her toward the library as she spoke, poking her head inside and saying, "You're overdressed, Cissy. It's dinner, not a party."
The blonde witch huffed, pushing herself out of her chair. She took in what Hermione and Bellatrix were wearing as she announced, "I will let Draco know."
Bellatrix turned and winked at Hermione conspiratorily. "Ready?"
Hermione nodded, placing her hand on the dark-haired witch's arm when it was offered. The sensation of being sucked through a straw hit her before she was being steadied by Bellatrix in her parent's living room.
"Mum?" she called, "Dad?"
"Down in a minute," her dad shouted from upstairs.
Bellatrix got to work creating a floo connection while Hermione plopped herself onto the couch, looking up at the ceiling with a smile. It felt nice to be in her house again. She didn't think twice about accepting the offer to stay over the summer, but now that she was here she realized how much she had missed it. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, she turned, throwing her arms over the back of the couch.
"Hi, lion," her mother said, ruffling her hair.
"Enjoying your summer? I hope you're learning a lot," her dad said at the same time, leaning down to hug her.
She grinned up at them. "I am. I've missed you both so much."
"We've missed you, too, but we're so glad you're taking advantage of the opportunity," her mother said.
Hermione turned, gesturing to Bellatrix. "This is Bella. She's working on connecting the house to hers so I can visit."
"It's great to meet you both," she said, standing and wiping her hands on a towel, "Narcissa is my youngest sister."
"I don't think I ever would've guessed," her father laughed, "I'm Alan, and this is my wife, Becca."
She shook both of their hands as she laughed out, "Yeah, Cissy takes more after our mother than Andy or I, but she has this face that she makes sometimes and that's where you can really see the resemblance."
"That's how Alan is with his brothers," Becca teased, patting his chest.
Hermione pushed herself up from the couch with a smile, standing next to Bellatrix. "It looks like this."
She stuck her chin out, squishing her lips into a straight line and squinting her eyes. Her parents chuckled as Bellatrix raised an amused brow.
"Derek, is that you?" Alan teased, throwing his arm over Hermione's shoulders.
"I'll do my best to get Narcissa to make hers. I think Andy is coming, too," she looked at Hermione for confirmation, who nodded, "With her husband and daughter, so you'll get to meet them, too."
"Sounds wonderful," Becca said, looking over at Hermione, "It's nice to know she's got people who understand and can help her with anything."
"It's nice having her around, makes things more lively." Bellatrix checked the time. "The houses are connected, so we can go whenever, I don't want to be late."
Alan patted Hermione's shoulder, smiling at his wife. "I'll just grab the scotch and then we can go."
Over the sounds of cupboards opening and closing, Alan called, "So what do you do, Bella?"
"Well after I finished Hogwarts, I became an Auror, like a police officer. Then I transferred to another department at the ministry and was an Unspeakable, which is, well, I'm not sure if there's an equivalent, actually." She looked at Hermione, who just shrugged. "Now I'm a professor at Hogwarts, but it's a temporary thing. The last professor...quit in the middle of the year, so Dumbledore asked me to fill in and he hasn't found a replacement. It's a nice change of pace, though."
He nodded as he reentered the living room, carefully carrying the bottle of scotch. "Have you had Muggle scotch?"
"Can't say that I have. We'll be sure to have some Firewhisky tonight. That way you can have a frame of reference for alcohol in the Wizarding World," she said with a smile.
Hermione pulled the key from her neck, walking over to the front door. "Before we are actually late, we should go."
Bellatrix checked the time again, grimacing. "Good thing it'll only take a second to get there."
The brunette rolled her eyes, sticking the key in the lock and turning it. Her parents gasped when she opened the door, revealing the foyer of Black Manor. Bellatrix gestured for Alan and Becca to follow her, leading them through the door as she explained how it worked. Hermione pulled the key out of the lock, placing it back around her neck as she stepped through and closed the door behind her. Narcissa had already greeted her parents, smiling reassuringly at her over their shoulders. Bellatrix was whispering something to Andromeda, Ted, and Nymphadora, who waved at her.
"It's weird seeing them all together," she whispered to Draco, who had moved to stand next to her.
"And that's crazy because it seems like such a normal thing to me. I can't believe we haven't had you all over earlier considering we've been friends for four years," he whispered back.
She smiled at her parents, whispering quickly, "Yeah, but the whole thing with Bella."
"Oh yeah," he muttered, smiling and saying to Hermione's approaching parents, "Good to have you over, Mr. and Mrs. Granger."
"How are you, Draco?" Alan asked, shaking his hand firmly, "And you can call us by our names."
"I'm fantastic, it's great having someone my age to hang out with for the summer," he said, "How are you two?"
"Busy with work," Becca answered, "But otherwise good. We've missed having Hermione around, but we were actually able to go to a conference in Australia without having to worry."
He grinned at them, "That's incredible."
Hermione blanched at the mention of Australia, recalling having sent them there with altered memories.
Her father raised a brow, asking, "You okay, lion?"
"Yeah, I just remembered I forgot to tell you that Draco and I passed our exams, so we'll be a year ahead of where we would've been," she lied, ignoring the glances from the other occupants in the room.
"Did you also forget to tell them you aren't in Gryffindor anymore?" Tonks teased, trying to help lighten the mood.
She opened her mouth to retort when her mother laughed and said, "That nickname has been around long before we found out Hermione was a witch. She used to refuse to let us touch her hair so it would puff out like a lion's mane all the time."
"Sounds like Bella when she was a child. It drove our mother mad," Narcissa said with a smile, directing them to the dining room.
"That and she would never sit still long enough so it was always half-brushed," Andromeda continued.
Bellatrix rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Like your hair was any better, Andy."
"At least I sat still," she said, poking her tongue out at Bellatrix as she sat down.
Alan and Becca exchanged an amused look as he said, "We always wondered what it would've been like if we had more kids."
"Now you don't have to," Draco grinned into his cup, "They still act like children."
"I am still your mother, young man," Narcissa said slightly sternly, undermined by her smile.
"Oh, there's the face!" Bellatrix exclaimed, causing Andromeda to burst into laughter.
Hermione hid her laugh with a cough, her mood significantly improved. Bellatrix sent her a subtle but cheerful wink over the rim of her glass. Food appeared in front of them and she remembered her earlier statement.
"I think it would be a great time for Firewhisky," she said, pushing herself up, "I'll be right back."
"Oh, she's getting her secret stash," Ted teased.
She poked her head back into the room with a raised brow. "Firewhisky is a privilege, not a right."
He clamped his mouth shut and Andromeda placed a hand on his arm. "She's teasing, sweetheart."
Bellatrix shrugged mysteriously as Andromeda gave her a hard look, smiling before disappearing again.
"Alan, do you watch any sports?" Ted asked, leaning forward so he could look at them.
He shook his head. "No, I've always been more of a music and books kind of guy."
"What about you, Becca?" Andromeda asked.
"My older brother played football, but I never really got into it. I always read through his matches whenever I had to go," she answered.
"It runs in the family, then," Draco said, smirking at Hermione.
She made a face at him before turning to her parents. "There's this sport called Quidditch and it's totally barbaric."
"I don't remember you complaining when Slytherin won the house cup," Bellatrix said, coming back into the room with a bottle of Firewhisky.
"That's because I like to win," she pouted.
"Were you all sorted into the same house?" Becca asked.
Nymphadora and Ted burst into laughter as she said, "Absolutely not. Dad and I were sorted into Hufflepuff."
"And proud of it," Ted added.
"Anyway," Bellatrix continued, passing everyone a glass and ignoring Narcissa's pointed look when she handed one to Hermione and Draco, "Draco and I are the only two to actually play. The goal of the game is to score the most points by tossing a ball through hoops or catching the snitch, all while flying on a broomstick and avoiding bludgers."
Draco grinned widely at the glass in front of him. "I still say Hermione would make a great beater."
She wrinkled her nose at him. "And I still say you're wrong."
"I don't know," the three Black sisters chorused, "I could see it."
Hermione huffed, grumbling into her cup of water.
"We could always test it out after dinner," Draco suggested, sending a roll hurtling toward her.
She deflected it with a swat of her fork, sending it back to the blond wizard.
"Hermione," Narcissa chided.
"He started it," she pouted.
Narcissa took a sip of Firewhisky, grumbling, "You're too much like Bella."
"How is that a bad thing?" the dark-haired witch asked defensively.
"Is it dangerous?" Alan asked, looking on with amusement.
Ted shrugged, "Not any more dangerous than rugby, I'd say."
"You should give it a try," Becca encouraged.
She sighed. "Only if I get to be on Bella's team."
"No fair!" Draco protested.
"We can't put both the Quidditch players on the same team," Ted reasoned.
Nymphadora added, "And there can't be two Seekers on the same team."
Narcissa intervened, "Perhaps another time, when it won't be dark and there isn't any alcohol involved."
Bellatrix and Draco both groaned in protest but complied with the blonde witch's decision. Becca and Alan chuckled, glad that their daughter had found such a dynamic, loving family to stay with. They had heard of the problems with Harry and Ron and were glad she had Draco and his family to help her. It was comforting to know that their daughter was not alone in a world they weren't a part of.