Chapter 19 – I'm your Auntie Bella, but you can call me Trixie

The following morning Hermione woke feeling as though something was horribly wrong. It took her several minutes before she realised what was wrong; Harry had fallen asleep in their room the night before and he wasn't in it any more. It had happened every now and then when they were still at Mama Figg's, but he had always woken her up before leaving. She shook her head in an effort to get rid of the feeling of abandonment. Just as she was about to kick off her sheets, the door opened a little.

"She's still asleep," she heard Sirius whisper to whoever was behind him. "Are you sure we have to do this?"

"Yes," Remus' voice sighed. "Every day since Harry and Hermione met she has been woken by him. Today will be the first time outside of sickness that it will not have happened. She will need us this morning."

Hermione let out a soft sob as it hit her that Harry wasn't going to be there to wake her up and within a minute she had a familiar pair of arms around her; Arms that had held her comfortingly after falling down and bumping her head. Instinctually, she put her arms around the person holding her and burst into heart-wrenching sobs.

~~~talltalllines~~~

"What's the matter with Rinie?" a worried voice came from the doorway five minutes after the tears had started. "Is she sick? Is she hurt?"

Remus spun around while Sirius looked up from the girl clinging to him only to see Harry standing in the doorway holding a tray containing a pot, a jug and two mugs on it. His eyes never left the shaking form of his sister and his ears flattened in worry.

"Maybe you should go and let us deal with this Kit," Remus said softly as he walked towards the teen. Large green eyes looked up into Remus' and he flinched at the devastated look in them.

"You don't want me here?" Harry asked in a small, broken voice that made both men rear back at the raw pain it held and Hermione to look at him. "Can … can y-you give h-her this?" Harry held up the tray, placing it gently on top of the closest piece of furniture to him. Without another word, Harry picked up one of of the mugs and shadowed out of the room.

Moments later, three trays full of food and a stack of mail on each appeared a, as did another with another full pot and two mugs. None of them heard the door to Remus' rooms opening, nor did they hear it being shut firmly five minutes later. When the three of them eventually made it to the entrance rooms, the only thing they found was a letter and an untouched plate of food and a pile of unopened mail.

~~~apleasedontkillmeline?~~~

When Harry woke that morning, he smiled at the idea he'd had just before going to sleep. Without wasting a moment, Harry leapt out of bed and wrote three letters. Reading through them, he nodded and sent them to the recipients through his shadows, which had taken the form of owls for this job. From there, he made his bed, had a shower and dressed as quietly as he could. It was tradition for him to wake Hermione up in the morning and until Draco and he were bonded, he would continue to do so.

He felt, however, that his usual method of jumping on her as a kitten was below the level of maturity a marked and contracted submissive should show.

So, fighting the urge to transform by remember just how exhausted his sister had been the night before, he skipped happily into the kitchen to start breakfast and get a pot of tea ready for the two of them to share while they caught up with the other like they hadn't been able to do since before they left the Orphanage. Humming happily, he sorted the mail that was on the table and put his and Hermione's onto two separate trays, followed quickly by cutlery and a plate loaded with food. As he looked at the clock, he mentally went through a checklist.

'Send letter to Blaise, Draco and the Professor asking them not to come until lunch so Rinie and I can have time to chat … Check

Make Rinie's favourite breakfast … Check

Make a pot of tea for two … Check

Remember to do the same for Remi and Siri … Check

Sort mail … Check.'

With a satisfied nod that everything had been done and hoping that the extra hour sleep had done Hermione some good, Harry picked up the tray holding the tea and walked carefully to the room he shared with his sister

~~~noreallypleasedontkillmeforthisline~~~

After Remus had told him to leave the room, Harry worked mechanically to put Hermione's, Remus' and Sirius' meals on the trays and to send them up to them. It wasn't until he sat alone at the normally crowded table with an empty tea mug and a plate of food he could no longer handle the thought of eating that he allowed the hurt that was in his chest to manifest physically into barely heard bitter tears.

He was so deep in his depressed thoughts that he didn't notice the dark-haired lady that had just stepped out of the fireplace until a gentle hand ran thorough his hair.

"Wh-who y-you?" he asked, hiccoughing for breath through his tears.

"I'm your Auntie Bella," she replied with a tender smile, "but you can call me Bellatrix or Trixie until you are more comfortable around me."

Harry nodded and leaned slightly into the hand in his hair, tears still streaming down his cheeks. "I-I'm H-Harry. P-pleased to me-met y-you," he managed to get out between hard-to-get-breaths.

"What's the matter Sweetling?" Bellatrix cooed, unable to help herself. She had always wanted children of her own, but after she had miscarried for the fourth time, it had been discovered that she would never be able to carry a child. An illness she had caught in her childhood hadn't been caught in time for any damage that it had done to her internal organs to be fixed, essentially leaving her infertile. She had been devastated by the news and her husband hadn't wasted time in divorcing her and marrying his mistress.

Harry opened his mouth and the story poured from his lips between newly started sobs.

Bellatrix hugged the teen tightly to her when he had finished his story, mind racing. Nodding firmly, she released him and placed her hands on his cheeks. "Don't worry about them," she said with a soft smile. "Everyone here knows that Sirius is an overgrown child and while Remus is an intelligent man, he hasn't realised yet that it is best to allow things to work out naturally and to not interfere unless he is asked to mediate. As for Hermione … she has been your protector for so long that it is going to take her a while to get used to the fact that she is no longer your primary protector. It will help a little bit since she has her own mate wooing her, but by the time they bond, you will have already bonded and had at least one litter. It is only hitting her now because Draco initiated the highest form of bonding between vampire and mate yesterday and you are reacting to it by becoming far less shy, more mature and more independent than you normally are."

Harry nodded as he thought on what had been said. "Is that why Lady Malfoy acted the way she did when we first arrived? Draco told me that once he reached a certain age she started pulling away from him. Is that why? Was she trying to prevent the amount of hurt she would feel at Draco finding someone for him to care for?

"That she was," Bellatrix stated, impressed. "It may have taken a while, but she did eventually admit it. She didn't think about the fact that whoever Draco mated with would be family as well."

Harry nodded. "Do … do you think she would be interested in going to a café for tea sometime today?" he asked, biting his lip, unsure.

"I have a better idea," Bellatrix grinned. "How about the three of us – You, me and 'Cissa – go out for some girl time at the day spa? The one Cissa and I frequent caters to females and submissives of creature decent. I'll leave a note for the three upstairs and I'll tell Sev where we are going so he can tell Draco, then we will go to the Spa House and contact Narcissa to join us."

Harry nodded shyly, a small smile on his face. "I think I would like that Auntie Bella," he said. "I'll pop down to the Professor while you write the letter." Without waiting for a reply, he vanished into shadow.

"That would be a hand talent to have," Bellatrix murmured softly as she reached for the parchment.

~~~chickenlinedance~~~

Ten minutes later Harry found himself sitting on a red leather lounge chair in a waiting room that smelt slightly of coconut, vanilla and sandalwood sipping at a freshly made cup of green tea with lemongrass. As soon as they had arrived, Bellatrix had gently pushed him into a seat and had spoken to one of the ladies behind the counter before leaving thorough the cheerfully crackling fireplace.

For a moment, Harry felt a small wave of depression wash over him when he turned to point out the interesting way the flames had changed to green before Bellatrix had vanished to Hermione, only for him to remember she wasn't with him, but that moment was over within only seconds as another pot of tea was delivered. He was halfway through the second pot when Bellatrix returned, followed closely by a very attractive blonde lady whom he knew to be Draco's mother.

Harry hesitated slightly before he placed his cup down and stood up. "G-good m-morning Lady M-Malfoy," he stammered as he extended a hand that shook with nerves. "I'm H-Harry. I-it's nice to m-meet you."

Narcissa ignored the hand and stepped forward, bringing the nervous and slightly scared demon into a tight hug.

"It's Narcissa Dear," she whispered into the boy's black hair. She pulled away and held him at arm's length, looking him over. "I apologise for my deplorable behaviour towards you the first time we met. I do not know why I reacted in that manner and I will try my best to ensure it doesn't happen again."

Harry smiled shyly up at her. "It's okay Lad … Narcissa," he blushed at the amused stare both women gave him to correct his vocabulary. "Auntie Bella explained it to me earlier since Rinie is reacting oddly at the moment. I also can't judge you for wanting to protect your son." Harry grinned a bit and giggled softly, "after all, I'll probably do worse to anyone after one of my kits, when I have them."

Narcissa laughed joyously. "I pity the mates of my grandchildren then. They will have demons, vampires, elves, a werewolf and more than a few wizards and witches watching their every move."

Harry giggled softly, only to jump when a new voice sounded from beside them.

"I apologise for interrupting," the lady said with an easy smile, "the rooms are ready for you now. We have you booked in for the house special including the detox bath, exfoliation pool, reflexology massage, manicure, pedicure and facials amongst other things. There are drinks and snacks provided throughout the day, as is lunch. Please follow me."

Narcissa and Bellatrix exchanged looks and grabbed one of Harry's arms each, pulling the giggling teen with them and unable to prevent their own laughter from jointing his.

~~~bouncyline~~~

To say that Draco was angry was an understatement. He paced around the room he shared with Blaise growling dep in his chest. Blaise, who was seated on his bed, remained silent, knowing that the blonde vampire would eventually calm down.

"You are going to be late for lunch if you don't leave soon," the blonde muttered after throwing himself face-first onto his bed.

"I was unsure as to if I was going," Blaise replied bluntly. "I have no desire to deal with a vampire who feels as though they've been betrayed by one of their own."

Draco sat up abruptly. "I would NEVER stop you from seeing your mate, Blaise. I'm not that heartless. I know that Hermione's reaction is normal and I have a book I want you to give her when you do go that will clear it up for her. I'm pissed at Sirius and Remus for making it worse. If they had just butt out and realised that Harry now looks to me for guidance and how to act, they would have seen that harry and Hermione would be fine and I wouldn't be not seeing my mate right now!"

Blaise smirked, knowing Draco couldn't see it. He found it hilarious that Draco was acting like the proverbial bull in the China shop over him not seeing his mate. "Which book and where is it?" he asked. "I want to get there before Professor Snape so I can watch the show and give him one of his own."

Draco chuckled, knowing that Severus was on the other side of the door listening in just in case he was required to calm a raging vampire. "I do believe that Severus already has it in his hands and has done since the beginning. Remember, he dealt with Aunt Bella when Father claimed Mother so he would be familiar with the signs and would know that I would eventually cool down enough to realise that Hermione's reaction is natural and expected."

He smiled at his friend. "Make sure to tell her that even though I'm not happy with any of them, I don't hold it against her."

"And what are you going to be doing?" Severus asked as he stepped into the room.

"I am going to have lunch in the Hall then go to the library to start my Arithmancy homework and finish my charms essay. If I can get the research for the first done, I'll only need an hour to do a rough write up for Blaise to look over and tell me what I've missed."

Severus nodded and swept from the room, a chuckling Blaise following him. Draco rubbed his eyes tiredly before gathering the things he would need and walking out of the room.

~~~spaline~~~

"Did you want to go first or shall I?" Severus asked before they even let the dungeons.

"I think I will go first," Blaise said thoughtfully. "I want to use this opportunity to make this lesson stick in Hermione's mind."

"What lesson is that?"

"The one where she learns not to take everything those two say as gospel without talking to the other party first. Draco and I may be friends first and foremost, but it doesn't change the fact that the Zabini family swears fealty to the Malfoy family every generation. I'm not going to allow anyone to endanger either bond I have to Draco over something so minor as a submissive growing into the person they are meant to be due to the right Dominant's touch. It has happened to subs all throughout history and will happen to subs far into the future."

"I can't argue with that," Severus stated, secretly amused by the younger males reasoning.

The two of them reached their destination within ten minutes and Severus walked in, followed by Blaise.

"Hey there," he said with a genuine smile at the cinnamon eyed girl.

"Hi Blaise," she replied, "Sorry about breakfast."

"Don't worry about it, Draco and I understood. Did you enjoy the time alone with Harry?"

Hermione looked up at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Draco and I got a note from Harry this morning asking if we would mind not having breakfast with you today so the two of you could spend an hour or so together to reconnect after the full on week that you've both had. He also said something about it allowing you to sleep a bit longer as well since you seemed exhausted yesterday. I admit to noticing something a bit odd yesterday but I never thought it was exhaustion …"

Remus and Sirius exchanged panicked looks as Hermione covered her mouth with both hands and tears welled up in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Blaise asked a little shocked at the response.

"Harry didn't wake Hermione or us up this morning," Remus explained, wide-eyed. "We thought it was because he was starting to exclude us from his life now he has his mate."

"And did any of you think of asking him what was going on?" Severus asked with an eyebrow raised, already knowing the answer. He shook his head as the three of them looked away.

"Draco apologises for not being here," Blaise stated, bringing everyone's attention to him once more, "but he felt that if he did turn up, he would do something that would harm his relationship with his mate – such as killing one of his family members. As it stands, he is very annoyed at you Sirius and Remus," his eyes flicked to Hermione.

"He also said for me to assure you that he doesn't hold you responsible for this mess even though he isn't happy with you either. He heard stories from his parents and Professor Snape about how his Aunt reacted to know why you reacted the way you did."

"He wants you to read this," Severus cut in when Blaise stopped for a breath. "This is the book I gave Bella when Lucius began courting Narcissa. He believes you will benefit from them in some way." He handed the teary-eyed girl a book of average thickness. "It describes all levels of a vampire courtship – including what happens with a submissive during the entire process."

"Draco may not hold it against you," Blaise stated, making Hermione loose the slight smile she had given the older male, "but I do. I almost didn't come today."

Hermione, Remus and Sirius gaped at the Dark Elven boy.

"W-why?" Hermione asked, voice trembling slightly.

"You didn't talk to Harry about the problem," Blaise answered bluntly. "Harry changed a routine that hadn't changed in many years and instead of asking him if something was wrong you allowed someone to throw him out of the room you were in – while you were in tears, none-the-less – and neither adult checked on him to see how he was. It was only luck that he forgot that Bellatrix was coming today otherwise he would have been alone in his misery until one of you decided to finally get your arse downstairs."

The three of them flinched back.

"On top of that," Blaise continued, "Harry is Draco's mate. Draco is my best friend and he has been since we were toddlers, but he is also my Liege Lord. My family have sworn fealty to his family for many generations. I swore fealty to them a week before school started. It is only because Draco made it adamantly clear that he would never keep my from my mate and his urging me to come that I came at all."

"You know what happened this morning," Sirius stated with his eyes narrowed. "Why did you act like you didn't know?'

"I heard Harry's side and what Bellatrix had guessed. I wanted to see what Hermione had to say and how she reacted to what the plans were. I can honestly say I wasn't surprised to discover that the story I heard and that had been put together by Bella was one hundred percent on the money."

He placed a hand on one of Hermione's cheeks and gave the girl a gentle kiss on the forehead, "next time something like this happens, talk to Harry. If you can't do it alone, fetch me and Draco. All four of our lives are intertwined and none of us will be left in the dark. Believe me when I say that I will be going to Harry for advice when you do something I have no experience with and I don't doubt that Draco will be here nearly every day in the near future begging for even a hint at something Harry likes," He finished teasingly, making Hermione giggle. "Now, what's for lunch?"

Severus smiled slightly as Blaise lead Hermione into the kitchen before turning to the two men before him. "Learn how to keep out of other people's business," he stated bluntly, making the two of them wince. "You could have aided in the collapse of the strongest partnership in the magical world and all because of a natural process all submissives who find their dominant goes through. It's called 'Grounding', I suggest that you look it up and learn to wait until you are asked to help or your help is genuinely needed. I would think of a way to apologise to all four youngsters if I were you. Oh, and stay clear of Draco until Harry has had a chance to calm him down; He's rather pissed at you."

Severus followed the two youngsters into the dining room, leaving two very pale men behind.

~~~lineline~~~

Harry smiled into the darkness of the sensory deprivation tank. At first, he was weary of the device but once he entered it he relaxed as soon as the lid had been closed. It felt like home and safety. It was memories of nests made in cupboards and wardrobes and playing hide and seek after finding a cosy hole in a tree just the right size for a tiny black kitten. With such comforting memories playing in his mine, it wasn't at all surprising that he feel into a deep sleep, a soft rumbling purr filling the endless darkness.

After the hour had passed, Narcissa and Bellatrix waited anxiously for the top of the container Harry was in to open. Both women had experienced the device and while they enjoyed the opportunity to allow their minds to come to a halt every now and then, they had no idea how their guest was taking it. As soon as the top opened, neither woman could prevent the coo that came from their mouths at seeing the cat demon fast asleep while a shadow prevented him from sinking. They almost squealed like little girls when the teen's green eyes opened into slits and he yawned and stretched in the same fashion as the feline he was.

"I guess you like this one," Bellatrix said with a smile.

Harry nodded frantically, a large grin on his face. "if I'm really good, do you think I can get one for my birthday?"

The two women looked at each other and grinned. "Ask Draco," they chorused. Harry giggled.

"What next?" he asked as he bounced on one spot. So far they had been slathered in mud – Harry didn't like that one bit; it made his tail itch and it was a pain to get out out of his fur – wrapped in seaweed – Harry made the ladies with him laugh after they noticed that he had started to eat it – and had a rather tasty herbal tea and fruit salad and just now they had finished a session of complete and utter darkness.

"I think the exfoliation pool and then the detox bath before lunch. How's that sound?" Narcissa asked.

"Sounds wonderful," Harry chirruped happily. The time he had spent surrounded by shadows had enlivened him to almost hyperactivity.

~~~kittyline~~~

It was well into lunch when Narcissa and Bellatrix managed to stop laughing every time they looked at Harry – who was still pouting at them. They had been unlucky enough that they hadn't been able to go right into the exfoliating pool due to it already being used, so they had swapped it out with the detox bath. As only two baths had been available, Harry had admitted to not liking the scent that was coming from them and had easily agreed to the foot soak as an alternative.

The event that had both women almost in tears of mirth, however, came when they had been given the all clear for the exfoliation pool. The pool itself was only large enough for a maximum of eight people and was, much to Harry's interest, full of fish. Needless to say, the feline in Harry sat up and took interest once the teen entered the water. For the entire forty-five minutes they were in the pool, Harry was torn between allowing the fish to do their jobs and catching the wriggling snacks. The latter was what had given Bellatrix, Narcissa and the two women in charge of the room a bad case of the giggles.

"From now on, no exfoliation pool," Narcissa's humour filled voice stated as she ate her meal.

"I agree," Bella nodded, an arm wrapped around her stomach. "I haven't laughed that much since before my wedding." A movement at the corner of her eye made her focus on Harry. "Aren't you hungry?"

Harry looked up from the fish he was poking with his fork. "I am, it's just … am I the only one who's noticed that we've gone from being eaten by fish to eating fish?"

The two older women looked at each other and burst into peals of laughter once again leaving Harry to pout cutely at them, secretly happy that he had made the two ladies laugh – even if he didn't think that what he had said was at all funny.

~~~quizline~~~

It was just after the evening meal when the two ladies and Harry returned to Hogwarts.

"Thank you both for the wonderful day," Harry said bashfully. "I've never done anything like that before."

"Thank you for allowing the both of us to share in your day," Narcissa replied with a smile. "We enjoyed it just as much as you did."

Harry smiled sweetly at them. "Would you like to come in for a cuppa? Everyone is here already, even Lucius."

"That sounds lovely," Bellatrix answered for both of them, indicating for Harry to lead the way, even though she knew where they were heading.

They were almost at their destination when a blur attacked Harry in the middle of the corridor. Bella and Narcissa blinked in surprise when Harry melted into Draco's embrace while said blonde sniffed and licked all over his mate's neck.

All four of them jumped when a throat was cleared close to them. Standing in the door that Draco had just left from stood Lucius and Severus, both with an eyebrow raised, both with arms crossed and both wearing a look on their face that screamed, 'Teenagers.'

"Did the three of you have fun today?" Lucius asked once Draco had released Harry.

"It was wonderful!" Harry chirruped, "They had a pool full of snacks-that-weren't-snacks and a container of dark!" Harry's eyes lit up and he turned around and through himself at his mate. "If I'm really really good, can I get a container of Dark for my birthday?" he asked, looking up at the taller blonde with wide, hopeful eyes.

Draco felt himself melt even as he tried his hardest to not give in. He sighed and, ignoring the giggles coming from his mother and Aunt, said, 'We will see how the construction of the house is going first. Once the house is done, then we will see."

Harry beamed and snuggled into Draco's chest, allowing himself to be lead towards Remus' rooms. As the two of them became more involved with each other, Lucius and Severus looked at the two laughing women in confusion.

"Snacks that aren't snacks?" Severus mouthed in question, moving aside to allow the boys to pass.

"Container of Dark?" Lucius mouthed at the same time.

Narcissa hooked her arm through her husbands with a smile as she and Bellatrix pulled the two men into the room once again, telling them everything that had happened that day.