A/N Greetings, all! There was a review of the last chapter and Google has possibly failed me with a translation. Unless it was supposed to be something about fog and a bedroom. Then I just plain don't understand. "Puta kabaho sa kwarto namin" was the review and if anyone can help me out, that'd be great.
I hope you all enjoy more Narcissa/Hermione bonding this chapter and some maybe shocking events.
Hermione stood at the platform with Narcissa and Lucius as Draco boarded the Hogwarts Express. Bellatrix had opted not to join them, preferring to stay at the Manor. She was cleared of her crimes but wanted to keep a lower profile, reading through some of the books from Hermione's library. Hermione had been tempted to stay with the Death Eater but decided some time away from the house would do her some good. The Vanishing Cabinet was the bane of her waking existence. Bellatrix did what she could to take away the irritation but it just kept coming back every time she looked at the cabinet she was supposed to fix.
Hermione caught the sight of familiar red hair, watching as the Weasleys said goodbye to Ginny, Ron, and Harry. Ron looked over in her direction, aggressively elbowing Harry, jerking his chin in her direction. The remaining family looked over at her and she smiled brightly, sending an overexaggerated wave their way, rising up on her tiptoes. She wanted to taunt the family, not having done much since the attack on the Burrow. She was growing restless and not even learning from the Death Eaters helped. The family, aside from Ginny, scowled at her, shooting her dirty looks and her smile widened.
"Must you torture the poor family so?" Narcissa asked, leaning to whisper in the brunette's ear.
"But Cissa, I'm so bored," Hermione complained.
"Sometimes it scares me how much like Bella you are." At the mention of her witch, Hermione turned to face Narcissa, ignoring the family. Ginny had subtly waved at her, and Hermione no longer wanted to see the faces of her old friends.
"Is that a bad thing, Cissa?"
"Not at all, Hermione. It's just surprising at times."
"Cissa?"
"Yes?"
"I don't know if I can fix the cabinet. It's been weeks and I haven't made any headway in fixing it. The magic is just so fragile and I don't want to risk severing the connection," Hermione admitted, leaning her forehead against the blonde witch's shoulder.
"You'll figure it out. You're working yourself too hard. Spend the day with me, don't think about the cabinet," she said, smoothing the girl's bushy hair.
"I'd like that, Cissa," Hermione murmured.
"The train is about to leave. Let us see Draco off," Lucius interrupted, drawing the attention of Hermione and his wife. The three of them turned, searching the windows for Draco. Spotting him, Hermione directed their line of sight to the blond boy. He was waving at them, and they all waved back, bittersweet smiles on all of their faces. The coming year would be tough for all of them, the Dark Lord expected so much from Hermione and Draco and it weighed heavily on the family. Lucius and Hermione took Narcissa's arm as the train disappeared from sight.
"Is there anything you had in mind, Cissa?"
"Would you like to do some shopping? We can go to Diagon Alley."
"I don't have a problem with that. It would be nice to be out of the house."
"Indeed. It has felt rather suffocating, hasn't it?"
Hermione nodded, taking the blonde's arm again. Narcissa Apparated them to Diagon Alley, outside the Leaky Cauldron. It was a quiet day, most families didn't shop after the train left, enjoying the silence of their homes. The two witches walked arm in arm down the sidewalk, stopping at Madame Malkin's to see the latest styles. The owner enthusiastically greeted them, ushering the two fully into her store before showing them her fall line. Narcissa chose a few robes for herself and Hermione, the younger's needing to be tailored. Madame Malkin buzzed around Hermione once she was on the small platform, taking measurements and pinning the robes so she could alter them later.
"Cissa, will you help me find something for Bella? I want to get her a birthday present but I don't know where to look."
"She told you when it was?" Narcissa raised her eyebrows in shock. Bellatrix had not had a birthday in years. They had stopped celebrating after Andy had run away.
"No. I don't know how I know, I just do."
"Of course, Hermione. Did you have anything in mind?"
"I do, yes." Hermione stepped off the platform once Madame Malkin had finished.
"What are you looking for?"
"I want to get her something for Kyndet so he can be inside without causing trouble. That way she can bring him home if she wants. He's her familiar, did you know that?"
"I didn't."
"I felt it the first time I saw him."
"I think she would like that, Hermione." Narcissa smiled at Hermione's thoughtfulness. She was the perfect match for her sister and always found ways to show it.
"I have the measurements for his tail so we can get a sheath made. It has to be dragon hide. And I don't know how to keep him from breathing fire but he promised he wouldn't do it."
"You can speak to him?"
"He's my familiar, too, Cissa. If it's not alright with you I can try to figure something else."
"Do you mind taking me to him after we finish? I have an idea we could try. As for a sheath, let us speak to Madame Malkin. She is the best there is and if anyone can do it, she can."
Madame Malkin almost declined the request. It was an absurd idea. Hermione and Narcissa insisted that they did not trust another to make such an item and told her she could name the price. She agreed, knowing the two witches were not irresponsible and also slightly worried she would lose business if she declined. So, she had taken the measurements from Hermione and promised to have it done by the end of the week. Hermione and Narcissa exited the store with the promise of returning to pick up the item.
"We need to make a quick stop at the Castle and then we shall head to Black Manor." Narcissa took Hermione's arm, allowing the brunette to Apparate them. She wandered the garden, collecting a few samples of the plants only found here. Hermione watched her, questions burning in her mind but keeping silent. Returning, Narcissa placed her hand on Hermione's arm, the two Apparating to Black Manor.
Kyndet perked up as soon as he felt Hermione's magic, taking to his wings and chirping as he landed on the girl's shoulder, rubbing his head against her. She laughed, adjusting to the extra weight with ease. Narcissa watched as Hermione rubbed behind his spines, Kyndet's tail swishing happily, carefully keeping the point away from them. He looked at Narcissa, waiting for her to speak.
"Do you mind trying some plants to see if they affect your ability to breathe fire?" the blonde asked. He nodded, adjusting his position on Hermione's shoulder to fully face her. Narcissa pulled the plant samples from her robes, holding them out to him to choose. He sniffed them, debating which to try first. He was not familiar with these plants but knew they were all safe to try. Choosing one at random, he curled his tongue around it, pulling into his mouth. He turned his head to the side as he swallowed it, twin jets of fire leaving his nostrils. He chose another, this time examining them more carefully, avoiding ones with similar magical energies. His head turned to the side, Kyndet tried to breathe fire and found he couldn't. He turned back to the witches, a smile on his face.
"Thank you, Kyndet. You'll be with me and Bella by the end of the week," Hermione said, rubbing his chin affectionately. He chirped, excited to be with his mistresses.
"Thank you, Kyndet," Narcissa said, hesitantly reaching out to scratch behind the ridges on his head as Hermione had done earlier. Kyndet chirped happily, encouraging the affection.
"Oh. I hadn't thought of that. It's worth a try. Thank you. I couldn't ask for a better familiar. I have to get back to Bella now." Hermione held her arm out as Kyndet left his perch to return to his nest. Narcissa took Hermione's arm, a questioning look on her face. She was curious as to what they had talked about but could see the wheels in Hermione's head turning and didn't want to draw her attention away. She would know in time. They appeared in the Malfoy library, Hermione gravitating to Bellatrix. Narcissa decided to give the two witches some time together.
"Hello, love," Bellatrix said, shifting so Hermione could sit next to her.
"Hi. How's your book?" Hermione sat next to Bellatrix, tucking into the older witch's side. Bellatrix draped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer.
"It's good. It's from your library. It's about magical anomalies. Where were you and Cissy?"
"She took me shopping. Apparently, I've been acting a bit too much like you," Hermione teased, nudging the dark witch.
"Is that so?"
"Supposedly. Do you want to come with me to my Castle? We can grab more books."
"I'd love to. Let's go."
Hermione Apparated them to her library, landing them on her couch in the same position. Bellatrix smiled, giving Hermione a chaste kiss before pulling away, not letting the younger witch deepen it. They had come here for a reason and as much as Bellatrix wanted the brunette, she was more curious to find out Hermione's plan. Hermione huffed, letting Bellatrix pull away.
"Squil?"
The elf appeared with a pop, bowing to the two witches before saying, "Yes, Mistress?"
"I have a question for you, Squil. You aren't really a house elf, are you?" Hermione watched as Squil's eyes widened as he wrung his hands together.
"No, I am not. I am Fey. This is not my true appearance and Squil is not my true name. I had to take on the disguise to ensure your properties would be safe when you finally came about." His form shifted, growing to be the size of a human but with pointed ears and slightly more elongated facial features. His eyes remained sapphire and his nose turned upward slightly, his face slim. Hermione and Bellatrix watched, mouths agape at the transformation of the not-house-elf.
"Woah," Bellatrix breathed, "How'd you figure that out, love?"
"I had a little help from Kyndet," she whispered back, still staring at the now normal elf.
"I apologize for the deception, Hermione. I did not expect you to figure it out, though, in hindsight, I should have known better. My real name is Aurion. Elves have served wizards and witches for centuries, but there are no true elves left. I served your ancestor after Arthur's betrayal. I made a promise to protect and preserve all of Morgan's properties until her heir claimed them and to serve them as I did her."
"Haven't you been lonely all those centuries?" Bellatrix asked.
"It has not been an ideal existence but I have managed. A promise is a promise."
"Sq-Aurion, you knew Morgana? What was she like? I mean, what was she really like?"
"She was powerful, at times, she was terrifying. But she never harmed those that were hers. She was not evil, the stories about her are grossly exaggerated. Even after the betrayal, she retained her goodness. It changed her, as it would anyone, but she did not seek to destroy the entire world. She saved me from a mountain troll. I was very young then and still learning the ways of nature, but she happened along and helped me. After that, I pledged my life to her and her descendants. It is a custom in Fey culture to offer one's life after someone has saved it. She declined, not wanting a servant, but she did want a friend. I became that friend and before she died I promised to take care of everything until her heir showed up. We live a long time, but not nearly this long. Before the fated meeting, she cast a preservation spell over me and all her properties so everything would be here when you turned up."
"How?"
"Her final spell allowed her magic to continue on through her companion and its kin. That is how you are her descendant. Your magic is her magic but it is also not."
"I'm not sure I understand."
"Are you familiar with the heredity of magic?"
"Not really, no."
"Every magical human derives their essence from their parents. It is a combination of the two essences that bring about a new essence, different in every child they have. It is unique to every person. Soulmates have complimentary essences, as you and Bellatrix do. It is uncommon, though. Soulmates hardly ever come into existence, even when magic was not so lackluster."
"What about muggleborns?"
"It is not uncommon for magic to fade, so to speak, and then reemerge generations later when the magical lineage is lost. All those born of Muggles can be traced back to magical families through marriages. All except you. Your parents have no magical relatives anywhere on their family trees, and therefore possess no magical essences themselves, yet you did. It was an essence entirely your own, not unlike Morgan's before she learned. It is the ability to learn true magic, the magic creatures use. Such a thing has not happened since Morgan herself. It made you the perfect candidate to be the heir. When you were born, Morgan's magic imbued itself in you, helping to bring your essence to life. Your magic is the essence of hers and nature. Hers is also of nature. That is why magic comes so easy to you."
"What was her companion?" Bellatrix asked when Hermione was silent.
"It was the dragon she saved. It stayed by her side through her life. The very same dragon that gifted your family with a piece of its magic at the cost of sanity, if I remember correctly."
"Woah." Bellatrix sank into the couch, processing the information Aurion was sharing with them.
"Aurion, do you remember the cabinet that was here a few weeks ago?"
"Yes."
"Can you help me fix it?"
"You already know how to fix it, Hermione. You just have to begin. Do not underestimate your abilities."
"Thank you, Aurion. Hermione and I need to return for dinner before my sister turns the world inside out looking for us." Bellatrix took Hermione's arm, the girl in no state to Apparate. She had a slight frown on her face, her eyebrows furrowed as she contemplated all that Aurion had told them. As the elf gave a nod at the two witches, Bellatrix Apparated them to the dining room, arriving just in time for dinner. She urged Hermione up and into her seat.
"Who broke Hermione?" Lucius asked playfully.
"She learned a lot today, she just needs to process it all. She'll be able to fix the cabinet when she's done. Her house elf is actually a true elf and told her about how she was the perfect candidate for Morgana's heir."
"Yes, well, I suppose that would do the trick," Narcissa said.
The table felt strangely empty without Draco, but the family made do. Hermione remained quiet for most of dinner, commenting every now and then when Bellatrix prompted her to. It was an off-balance affair and the family felt the effects of being less than whole. They knew it would not last forever but in the moment it felt like it would.