Chapter 9
"Do you really think it's worth all this, just for a sample?" Hermione puffed as she cast yet another shield charm.
"It's all about finding new ingredients Hermione and finding their properties" Andromeda answered. She held a large pair of tongs at arm's length, a thick pair of goggles covering her eyes as she looked down on the hissing Blast-ended-skrewt she was pinning to the table. She moved the vial cautiously towards the stinger as it whipped back and forth like a snake head. The creature hissed again as she placed the stinger into the glass, several strings shooting out.
"Aha" she hummed to herself in accomplishment, placing the vial on the stand and placing the net she had sitting next to her over the creature, before pulling the tongs out underneath.
"I can't believe Hagrid still has any of those still alive" Hermione exclaimed remembering her 4th year lessons.
Andromeda had tied the bag, and walked across to Lazarus, tying it to his leg. "Return it to Hogwarts" she spoke. The owl hooted before swooping off out of the window. She pulled the goggles up perching on her forehead as she walked back to her specimen jar.
"Hmm 3 stings, that should be satisfactory" she mused more to herself.
Hermione looked over with a scrunched up face. The floo in the living room alerted both women that someone had arrived in the house. Hermione leaped up the stairs first with the older witch following closely. They were greeted by a smiling Hogwarts mistress.
"Minerva" Andy acknowledged the other witch as she came into the living room.
"Ah Andromeda, I hope I'm not disturbing" the headmistress asked, sitting herself on a chair.
"Of course not, the pleasure of working at home is you can leave without leaving!" she laughed pulling the goggles from her wild brown curls.
"Where is Teddy?" the older witch asked.
"Spending the day at Grimmauld place, Denny took him earlier this morning" Andromeda answered summoning the tea tray to come whizzing through as she sat herself down.
"Denny?" Minerva asked.
"Yes, she's an ex Malfoy manor house elf. Cissy wished to give her to me, I refused of course so instead she insisted on freeing the creature and pays her to work for us" Andromeda answered, winking at Hermione who smiled for the justice of the house elf.
"Juice?" Hermione asked pouring several glasses of the red liquid.
"I'll go get some cakes" Andy announced stepping through to the kitchen.
"And how are you Hermione?" Minerva asked as Hermione passed the glass over.
"I'm fine thank you professor" Hermione answered taking a seat.
"One of my reasons for visiting is specifically to see you, as you probably know the new term starts in less than three weeks, I am already aware Mr Potter and Mr Weasley will remain in their Auror training but you haven't confirmed if you wish to return to complete your NEWT's?"
Hermione was silent for a moment. She had not heard from Ron since the incident in Grimmauld place and from what Harry had told her Ron hadn't been taking it well. "Yes I wish to return" she answered finally.
The elder witch sighed contentedly "Excellent. I am glad"
Andromeda returned with a plate of homemade baking. Hermione picked up an Éclair from the plate, her appetite returning gradually after so many weeks living with Andy.
"What did I miss?"
"Hermione has confirmed she's going to return to Hogwarts in three weeks" Minerva smiled.
"Oh wonderful!" Andromeda smiled before frowning slightly. "It will certainly be lonely without you here" she spoke turning to Hermione looking sad.
"I can come visit still, you can come have lunch with me in Hogsmeade too" Hermione looked over reassuringly. Having bonded and settled in her current home she knew she would miss it too.
"You're free to leave school premises at any time, you are above age after all" Minerva spoke.
Hermione sat on her bed, her head buried deep in the deep red leather tome. She had resigned to her room an hour earlier after Narcissa Malfoy had arrived for afternoon tea. Despite the insistence of both sisters Hermione had declined there invite, preferring to stay at the cottage, not before Narcissa had stopped her stating she had something for her.
Hermione had stood in silence as the blonde witch unwrapped the brown paper package she had pulled from her pocket and enlarged it. Inside she pulled two books.
"I believe you're an avid reader Miss Granger, I thought you might enjoy something from my own collection" she spoke handing them both across. Hermione was speechless, she looked at the first black leather bound book with rich golden calligraphy stating the title Fantasy Beasts of the Wizarding World and a larger one in Gryffindor red of Hermione's favourite book Hogwarts A history Hermione inhaled the rich scent of ancient text as she briefly flicked through the book.
"Is this a first edition?" she whispered in disbelief.
"Yes, It was gifted to me on my 16th birthday from my sister" Narcissa stated.
Hermione gulped, she didn't need to guess which sister considering my then Andromeda had already been banished. She shook her head attempting to return the books.
"I'm sorry I can't there too valuable" she spoke.
"Please I insist. What good are they not to be appreciated, you can return them to me when you're done, and of course you must come to the manor and browse the library yourself" Narcissa offered. Hermione hesitantly took the books back as Narcissa pushed them back into her arms. She realised now the older witch was trying and realised the significance of the gesture.
"Thank you Mrs Malfoy" she spoke finally smiling.
A thought currently occurred to Hermione as skimmed the book. Her thoughts turning back to what Narcissa Malfoy had said the book being gifted to her from Bellatrix. She skipped to the back of the book on the final page, flattening it down with the palm of her hand, she could make out the elegant calligraphy of black ink.
To be gifted knowledge is the greatest power of all
Bellatrix Black
Hermione blinked for several moments as she reread the transcript. It had been 4 weeks since she had gone to the forest and seen Bellatrix. Mulling the thoughts over and over in her head about the knowledge the witch was alive and who to tell. She had landed back that day with the basket of cherries and barely said a word despite Andromeda's concern when she saw how pale the girl was and her obvious look of distress from the mud on her clothing.
Hermione had gone through many different emotions of the episode. Worry, over what the dark which planned to do now she was back. Fear over the fact if people knew she was aware they would turn against her. Victory over the fact that she had manage to inflict physical pain on the witch who had haunted her dreams so much. Guilt, that she had left her in such a mess without healing the wounds, and finally uncertainty in what the hell she was meant to do about it now.
She had managed to keep her thoughts elsewhere but now she found her mind wandering back to the forest, and finally unconsciously making a decision Hermione took her bag, packing various things that came to her mind, and apparated.
Bellatrix strolled along the forest floor, she had chosen to go barefoot yet again, he high boots were not intended for the forest floor, it seemed to knock a good three inches from her height, but at the same time the centaurs towered over her with or without them. She walked with the small pygmy dragon floating alongside her, his strength had built over time since she had found him.
The little dragon stopped abruptly in front of Bellatrix, it hissed a warning in the direction they had been heading to. Bellatrix couldn't help but smile in humour at the cute display of warning the tiny dragon always seemed to permit. She looked ahead to see what the dragon had sensed.
There sitting cross-legged on the same tree stump she had perched 4 weeks earlier when she bumped into the only human being she had seen in weeks, was the Wizarding world's most famous bookworm, Hermione Granger.
Bellatrix noticed the other witch had yet to notice her. Too engrossed in whatever book she appeared to be flicking through. She felt the small dragon perch on her shoulder yet again as it hissed an almost silent warning. She observed the girl reach down into her bag and absentmindedly pull something out before pulling it to her mouth which she opened yet never taking her eyes from the book. Bellatrix smirked mischievously, she summoned the object into her hand realising it to be something with chocolate smeared all over. She looked back over in time to see Hermione react as she opened her mouth to nothing but air, she looked confusedly at her empty hand. Bellatrix sniggered still holding her hand out with the missing possession. Hermione turned towards her at first confused then a look of annoyance when she realised what had happened.
"What is it anyways?" Bellatrix asked looking curiously at the object she held in her fingers.
"It's an Éclair" Hermione huffed in annoyance.
"Perhaps you could elaborate?" Bellatrix spoke in a professor style voice.
"It's a muggle cake, a pastry filled with whipped cream and covered in chocolate" she replied.
Bella looked at it curiously, before bringing it to her lips and nibbling a bite. "Mmm" she moaned taking a larger bite this time.
"You could have just asked for one you know!" Hermione huffed pulling another one from her bag.
Bellatrix looked over and smirked but said nothing continuing to eat and lick the melted chocolate and cream after she consumed the rest.
"Got any more" Bellatrix asked strutting over and about to reach for the bag when she felt a hand strike her own.
"Ouch!" Bellatrix cried.
"Don't purebloods ever learn any patience or the value of privacy? Stay out of my bag!" Hermione scolded pulling her bag closer to her side.
"Why are you here anyways Granger?" Bella asked sitting down on the grass below.
"What one muggle cake meets your approval and I'm above being referred to as mudblood now?" Hermione answered sarcastically.
Bella's eyes narrowed and shot Hermione a dirty look but did not retaliate. Despite who it was Bella was enjoying normal conversation with another person even if it was a bit tense. The centaurs were good company but too philosophical to have normal banter with. Bella would never tell anyone the thing she hated most was loneliness, she had enough of that in Azkaban.
"I'm here to feed Levi, but I'm guessing you knew that" Bella nodded her head towards the page the muggleborn had been reading in Fantasy Beasts of the Wizarding World with a rather detailed passage on Pygmy Dragons.
"Levi?"
"It's short for Leviathan, I had to name him something" she answered.
Hermione quirked an eye brow.
"What else was I going to call him? Draco? My spineless nephew took after his father and that is someone I have no time for"
"Oh" Hermione murmured not really sure what else to say, she never really thought of the relationship between Bellatrix and Draco that way.
"So?"
"What?" Hermione looked confused
"You didn't answer my question still" Bellatrix spoke not dropping the subject.
"I was reading this . . ." Hermione pulled out the red leather book, opening a page near the centre and passing it towards Bellatrix, who grasped it skimming over the page. " . .I know the Hagrid patrols every part of these woods, and he would have found some evidence of you living here by now, but there's the legend is the centaurs have their own protected area, and the last time we met, that centaur protected you and answered your command, I'm guessing you live with them, is my presumption correct?" Hermione continued.
Bellatrix continued to read over the book, feeling some vague familiarity of the script. Taking in every word said by the brunette and nodding her head in confirmation that she was correct. It was only then it suddenly dawned on her why she knew this book. She turned to the back page, and looked down at the worlds she had written so many years before.
"How did you get my book!" she shouted.
Hermione's composure remained unaffected by Bella's outburst.
"Mrs Malfoy loaned it to me" she answered coolly.
"You've seen Narcissa?" Bellatrix asked
"Yes, she comes to visit your other sister who I'm currently staying with". Bellatrix appeared shocked as she took the words in. Hermione eyed her warily for her next reaction. She remained unmoving for a few minutes, only stirring when she felt the small dragon jump from her shoulder towards the snow cherry bush for a snack.
"You're living with Andromeda?" she whispered finally
"Yes"
"And you haven't told her of me being here? Either of them or anyone else?"
Hermione nodded in confirmation.
"Why" Bellatrix looked at her in disbelief.
Hermione shrugged. She couldn't answer that, she didn't know herself. Instead she jumped from the stump onto the ground next to Bellatrix. Pulling her bag with her and reaching her hand inside, pulling something wrapped in paper back out. She placed it down, unwrapping the brown paper as it crinkled.
"Want one?" Hermione asked pulling half a sandwich to her lips and tearing it with her teeth.
"What's in it?" Bellatrix asked eyeing up the other half being offered.
"Beef and mustard" Hermione answered after swallowing her mouthful.
Bellatrix mused before reaching forward for the sandwich nibbling it slowly. She rearranged her sitting position as she leaned back munching on the sandwich.
"Where are your shoes?" Hermione asked realising the dark witch was barefoot.
"By my bed, have you ever tried walking in heels every day in a forest Granger? My feet hurt, barefoot's easier" she answered finishing her sandwich and wiping crumbs from her dress.
"Don't you have anything to wear?"
Bellatrix looked at her angrily. "Well obviously not! I live in a forest! They don't really give you a spare set of clothing when they bring you back from the dead!" she snarled
"No need to get bitchy Lestrange, I was just asking" Hermione fumed.
"DON'T EVER CALL ME LESTRANGE" she snapped dangerously moving so she was face to face with the muggleborn.
"You call me Granger, Lestrange is your name isn't it?" Hermione wasn't backing down, she did not want to show weakness now.
"Black! My last name is Black!, I never wanted to be Lestrange" Bellatrix spoke through gritted teeth as she stood back, her chest heaving in anger. Hermione looked confused for a moment, this was a different side of Bellatrix, this wasn't about blood status or hierarchy between them, but more about her obvious marital issues.
"You mean you have been living in that dress for two months Black?" she stated the last word with more obviousness.
"I hardly have a choice in the matter, it's either that or go naked" Bellatrix answered.
"I suspected as much last time when I saw the state of your dress, it looks even worse now" Hermione stated rummaging back into her bag. "Here" she spoke pulling out several items from the bag.
"What is it?" Bellatrix asked
"Clothes, then at least you have something spare to wear, till you can patch your dress or something"
Bellatrix picked up the items, they were all black and unusual looking, and she remembered a few of the muggleborn children wearing these types of garments around the school.
"I don't want your muggle clothing" she spat, throwing the pieces down.
Hermione growled. "Fine!" Sharply grabbing the garments and shoving them back into her bag. She grabbed the book from Bella's side as well as all the other things she had lying around shoving them into her bag and pulling the bent wand out. And standing up. Bellatrix followed suit getting onto her feet getting knocked as the brunette shoved passed her.
"Where are you going?" she shouted impatiently.
"Home" Hermione stated without looking back. She heard the dark witch run after her.
"You're leaving?" she asked stopping the muggleborn as she ran in front of her.
"Obviously" she stepped to the left moving past the dark witch once again. Not bothering to wait for an answer she was about to shout the incantation as the image of her bedroom came to her mind.
"Granger . . ."
Hermione stopped when she heard the plea, he turned around slowly looking at the dark witch stood behind her.
"Can I have the clothes please?" she whispered. Hermione looked at her for a moment before she slowly opened the bag pulling out the garments, holding them forward for the dark witch to take.
"Could I . . . could I borrow the book too? I miss reading" she muffled slightly. Hermione could see it was hard for the dark witch to ask for help. She was never one to rub such a gesture in their face.
"I can't it's not mine to loan" she answered.
"I understand" Bella said sadly.
"I could lend you this though" Hermione motioned as she dug deeply into the bag and pulled a book out handing it to Bellatrix.
"The magician's nephew?" Bellatrix spoke as she read the title.
"Yeah it's a muggle children's book, about a man who creates magic and manages to send his nephew and his friend to another place watching a new world being born. If you like it I can lend you the other stories that follow. Bellatrix face lit up slightly and she looked up again
"You'll come back?" A hint of hope in her voice. Hermione smiled and nodded.
"I'll be returning to Hogwarts in 3 weeks"
"Thank you" Bellatrix replied awkwardly. Hermione nodded before stepping back and raising her wand as she apparated away.
My apologies it has taken so long, although not much has happened in this chapter i felt i needed to build the relationship between the pair. Thankyou to everyone who has favorited and followed and left me lots of lovely reviews, and continue to do so.
SlytherinEnigma