Hermione
The burrow was unusually silent. All members of the Weasley family were in various stages of mourning and it seemed that everyone wanted to be left alone with their own silencing charms to mask their pain. I wish things were different. This is the last time I'll be seeing this place for at least a year, I wanted to see it full of noise, light, and smiling faces. I still have the memories of course, but they were tainted by the bitterness of death.
"You look like you're trying to sneak out of here." Harry's voice came subdued from the doorway. He kept to himself the last few days as well. Probably feeling just as out-of-place as I have. This was his adoptive family, but he couldn't stop them from hurting or help them grieve.
"No, it's just so quiet I feel like I would be destroying something if I went about this like usual. We aren't packing to go back to Hogwarts and probably never will. It's just me leaving and you'll begin Auror training soon. Not to mention the funerals." I said, feeling the weight of loss heavily.
"I know the others are too preoccupied to ask, but I need to know. Where are you going, Hermione? You haven't said a word about it, just said you'll be gone for a while and started packing. I've lost so many people already. I don't want to lose you too. You're like a sister to me." I turned to him and found his eyes a mixture between searching and pleading. Everything that happened over the last year had really taken its toll on him.
I hesitated, knowing that what I agreed to was something he would never be ok with. "At Black Manor. I'll be there with Mrs. Malfoy and Draco...and Bellatrix."
Before I could explain myself, Harry stepped fully into the room almost visibly fuming, "What? Why would you do a stupid thing like that!? After everything don't you want to leave all this craziness and evil people behind?"
"And do what exactly? Jump into the chaos at the ministry? Sit around and not do anything? I agreed to help the Ministry and this way I can keep a promise I made while helping Kingsley and McGonagall while they re-establish society. It's not the most important thing in the world, but it's important that I do it. I understand that, but I don't expect you to which is okay."
"I can't believe that Kingsley and McGonagall would ever ask you to do something so ridiculous! What do you expect to accomplish?" He asked. For once understanding the feeling of helpless anger that everyone around him felt whenever he faced dangerous odds alone.
"I'm just a glorified babysitter, Harry. Nothing serious there's no need to worry about me. You can see me or write to me any time I won't be a prisoner." I explained calmly, there was no point in becoming angry because I understood his reaction. I would have had the same one if he said he was going to be living with Voldemort. I wouldn't be able to see him as anything other than a threat.
He stood there silently fuming no doubt trying to find a way to talk me out of this. Eventually, he realized that I wouldn't be swayed no matter what he said. He hugged me suddenly, but it was sincere. "Okay. I know you Hermione, you think through everything you do ten times over. If you think this is a good idea I don't think there's anything I could come up with that could change your mind."
I was about to thank him when suddenly he held me at arm's length and struck me with a deadly serious look. "But I'm going with you."
I looked at him like he'd grown another head. "What? Harry, no that's ridiculous-"
"Do you really expect me to let you walk into something this stupid and dangerous alone? Hermione, you just finished running across the country with me on a mad chase where we could have died at any moment. Just think of this as me returning the favor."
I started to protest but was cut off yet again, "And just as you and Ron wouldn't take no for an answer then, I won't take no for an answer now. Hermione, please. I'd feel better if you let me come with you. If not to protect you then to be able to tell Ron and everyone else that you're alright."
"But...what about your Auror training? And Ron?" I asked.
"I can do both and Ron is keeping to himself. If he isn't alone he's with George consoling him. They knew Fred better than any of us. I understand that they need space. I just feel out of place just lingering around. I miss George too, but well, you remember how I was after Sirius. It's not the same, but losing family is devastating. I'll still be there for him of course, but now I feel like a reminder that their brother is gone and I'm here." He confessed to me, holding back tears. It was obvious that this was something he desperately needed to get off his chest and I understood. But, still.
"I don't know if Kingsley will accept you going. They chose me because I seem to get along best with Bellatrix, but you two…" I let the meaning hang between us. He would know what I meant.
"Honestly, Hermione you say that as if I didn't just defeat the most terrifying dark wizard the wizarding world has ever seen. I think I could get just about anything I wanted right about now. As for Bellatrix, well she's proven herself this far. Maybe she isn't as deranged as I thought she was. At least not anymore, I guess. But more importantly, I'd be a terrible friend if I knew what you were planning and let you do this alone. I can't just let you be separated from everyone you know and be okay with it. What was it you said in Dumbledore's office? 'You need us Harry'? Well, you need me Hermione. You need someone."
I was freely crying. I hadn't realized how afraid I was to be alone until Harry made me realize it. Being so caught up in being brave and doing the right thing I hadn't thought about the fact that I'd miss my friends terribly. I'll never get to be with my parents ever again, so this odd family that I found at Hogwarts was all I had left. Of course, I would miss them while I was gone, but at least with Harry there would be someone who understand the things I was going through and could keep me connected to all my friends. Kingsley didn't make it clear how much freedom I would have outside of Black Manor. Overwhelmed with emotion I could do nothing more than hug him. Hopefully he could feel just how much he meant to me in that moment.
Explaining it to the Weasley's was easier than expected. Maybe I just had higher expectations and forgot that they were dealing with a death in the family. They couldn't really divert anymore energy to this. Mrs. Weasley, of course, pushed the hardest for us to stay, but eventually understood why we had to go. It was harder convincing Ron to stay.
"I should be with you guys." Ron protested.
"Ron, you should be here with your family. I wouldn't feel right taking you away at a time like this." I explained, feeling awful at turning my friend away.
"But, we do everything together. Harry's going with you!" He countered halfheartedly.
Harry intervened, "I think you should stay, Ron. Your family needs you and I just don't want to be a burden. I feel more than responsible for...what happened. Some time away will do us both some good I think."
"Please, Ron. You need to mourn." I pleaded.
Ron's face fell in defeat, "This isn't just you two running away and not wanting anything to do with me, anymore is it?" He asked.
Harry and I looked at each other for a moment in exasperation before we pulled Ron into a group hug. "Of course not, Ron. You're our best friend." Harry reassured.
"I love you guys." Ron was holding back tears and so was I. We'd be truly apart for the first time in years. "You'll be in touch though, right? You'll write?" He asked.
"Of course. I'll have to tell you about the ridiculous jimmies Draco sports." Harry joked.
"And you'll be at the funeral?" Ron asked almost insecure.
I placed a hand on his shoulder, "Ron, we would never miss that."
He nodded, I guess he just needed the reassurance.
"We should gather our things. Kingsley will be here any moment." I noted, reluctant to break this moment.
It was at that moment the deep soothing voice Kingsley Shacklebolt came muffled from below followed closely by the shrill agitated scream of one Molly Weasley.
"What were you thinking!? Despite what you may think they are still young! They deserve to have a life of their own don't you think? Without you lot asking too much of them?"
"Mrs. Weasley they are of age and can make their own decisions. They can back out at any time I am not forcing them into anything unsafe with no will of their own." Kingsley was trying desperately to keep his voice even, not wanting emotion to get the better of him. As we crept slowly down the stairs it was clear by his face that it was a harder struggle than is voice lead on.
Mrs. Weasley scoffed, "Not even one full week after this madness and you've already guilted them into yet another one of your schemes."
"Molly! I would think you would know me better than that. I extended my offer to Hermione with full disclosure and explicitly told her that she was under no requirement to accept. Harry...has always done what he wanted or thought was best. I can hardly force him to do anything." He was visibly shaking now and spoke with such conviction and emotion it was hard to consolidate him with the man I'd grown to admire.
Before things could get any more heated Harry cleared his throat, effectively making his presence known and startling the two we'd been eavesdropping on.
"Oh, hello dears. All packed up?" Like a switch was flipped Mrs. Weasley was back to her cheery self.
"Mum, it's okay. It'll be fine, right?" Ron went and wrapped his mother in is arms as he spoke.
"Really Mrs. Weasley, there's no need to worry. We'll be perfectly fine." I assured her.
"And I'll be there in case everything isn't perfectly fine." Harry smiled his big dopey grin and shrugged, as if he alone could stop anything. At this point I was beginning to think that were true.
"You brave, stupid boy. I don't think you have very many of those resurrection tricks left up your sleeve young man." She held his face in her hands just as she would any of her children. It was touching and intimate and only served to remind me that my moments with my mother were cut unbearably short.
"We should be going. I have to finish the wards with all of them there so no unauthorized visits can be made." Kingsley stated still bristling slightly from his row with Mrs. Weasley. We followed out into the yard until we were past the protective wards. Turning back to look at the Burrow one last time the weight of actually leaving finally settled. Errant tears ran down my face as I waved back at Mrs. Weasley and Ron standing in the garden waving and smiling sadly.
"You have everything?" Kingsley asked as he placed a hand on each of our shoulders. All I could do was nod, not trusting my voice not to break and betray my feelings. "Alright." That was all the warning we got before we felt the unsettling pull of aparation.
"Ugh, I'll never get used to that." Harry complained when his feet touched the ground again. The queerness of instantaneous travel was something I still had trouble adjusting to, but I could hardly think to agree when I was faced with the prominent and imposing figure that was Black Manor.
There was virtually no color to the house or the landscape. Whatever garden that once was had long since withered as the decades passed. The paint was badly chipped and faded after years of neglect causing the facade to be an ashen almost black grey color. The bushes, if they could still be called that, were completely barren and not even a stray animal was in sight. It was a depressing sight and unusual that anyone in the Black family would let their ancestral home become such a shamble. As proud as they were, it didn't show here.
"Wow, I couldn't possibly imagine how a place like this could create the likes of Bellatrix." Harry commented when he finally straightened and got a proper look.
"Don't forget that it also created Narcissa and Andromeda." I pointed out.
"I still feel my point's stronger." He followed Kingsley up to the gate.
As soon as the gate creaked to a close behind us Kingsley went to work with closing out the remaining wards. "You can go inside, I'll only be a few moments."
Harry and I looked at each other apprehensively before slowly walking the overgrown path to the door. The stone steps leading up to it were mossy and crumbling like everything else around it.
"Do you think the doorbell still works? I should I just knock?" I asked, whispering due to my subconscious fear of what lay on the other side.
"Dunno. It wouldn't hurt to try I guess, the door looks like it's about to fall over." He answered.
I pressed a shaky finger to the dusty doorbell and was surprised to hear the slow ominous chiming that was its bell tone.
"As if this place weren't creepy enough." Harry muttered under his breath, causing me to giggle for the first time in a long time.
It took a few minutes for the door to be answered by a very disheveled and malcontent looking Narcissa Malfoy. "Oh, the guards. How nice of you to show up."
I was shocked and it was clear that Harry was trying his best to hold his tongue.
"I'm sorry. That was unfair. I know you had just as much choice in this as we did, Granger. Which is none really, just a very thinly veiled request. Hello, Potter. I wasn't expecting you, but you are welcome of course." She corrected herself with a sigh, opening the door further to let us in.
Surprisingly, the inside was much nicer kept than the outside would let on. For starters, it was a lot cleaner and the furniture looked fresh. A point that Narcissa was conscious of.
"I apologize for the state of things here. After my mother died no one had the time to keep it up and the elves either ran off or died. I'm having to restore things myself and it is quite tedious. Especially when no one else cares enough to help. It would seem that my sister and son would prefer to live in filth. Well, I for one won't stand for it. The state of one's home greatly affects their state of mind. A beautiful home is a happy one."
"I'd be happy to help Mrs. Malfoy. I'm of the same mind as you on this." I supplied, hoping that this would be a valuable way to pass some time while getting comfortable. And maybe a way of getting to know the youngest Black sister who saved Harry's life.
She looked at me thoughtfully for a moment before graciously nodding her consent. Hopefully, I wouldn't mess things up horribly.
"Uh, I wouldn't mind helping either. I spent a lot of time cleaning and repairing things with the Dursleys maybe I could help with the things that need a less than magical approach." Harry offered, clearly trying to hide how uncomfortable he felt with being face-to-face with the woman who saved his life. I don't think they ever had a chance to talk to each other after, Harry must have been thinking of a way to than her.
"I've never run into a problem that magic couldn't fix, but your help is also greatly appreciated Mr. Potter. Maybe your help will inspire my son to help as well. My sister, however, is quite hopeless." Narcissa commented as she opened the door wider to let us in. "I take it Shacklebolt is finishing his wards. At least he gave us the grounds to roam, otherwise this would feel a lot more like prison than just house arrest."
"I think it's more for our protection than anything else. If word got out that…well you can imagine that a lot of people would want to get revenge or justice or what-have-you." Harry supplied quietly, not wanting to say the wrong thing already.
"I would be more inclined to believe you if I weren't so blinded by my own perspective." Was all that Narcissa said in reply. Placing the tip of her wand to her neck she called, "Draco, Bella, our guests have arrived."
"Will you get to keep your wand then?" Harry asked, curious.
"Yes, but with annoyingly strict stipulations. It's as if I'm an underage witch again with my every spell being tracked and documented." She answered. "My son has the same rules, but my sister has no wand at all. That would most likely explain her sour mood."
"That and being trapped here." I guessed. It wasn't a far stretch to think that a woman like Bellatrix would not like being forced to stay in any given place.
Narcissa didn't reply as Draco and Bellatrix came in from one of the sitting rooms. There was a silence as we just stared at each other, Narcissa rolling her eyes in annoyance between us.
"Did you answer the door? I thought there was an elf for that." Draco finally said.
"Lovely greeting, Draco. As I said before the last elves here either left or died ages ago and the ministry has decided that having another would not be…in the best interest of the elf." She explained, only slightly exasperated.
"Because I accidentally killed your elf, Draco, we can't have elves here. Simple enough?" Bellatrix finally spoke, tone dripping with sarcasm.
Harry was about to argue the death of Dobby and only stopped when he felt my hand grip his shoulder. Bellatrix noticed and eyed him challengingly, daring him to contradict her. Harry huffed in frustration, but thankfully let it go.
Bellatrix, however, would not let it go. "Oh, come now, boy I wasn't intentionally aiming at anyone. I just threw it to look as if I tried to stop you I didn't expect the little idiot to jump in the way! He must have been really loyal to you, at least he could be loyal to someone, I suppose."
"Bella! I would like to go at least a week without you antagonizing anyone. Is that so much to ask?" Narcissa pleaded just as Kingsley walked in.
"Yes, please. You all must live together for the time being. It would be in your best interests to learn to get along." He said, closing the door behind him.
"Excuse me for not being enthusiastic enough." Bellatrix drawled.
"So, do we have some type of community service to do? Something to work off our crimes?" Draco asked shy, but eager.
"No, Mr. Malfoy, the only thing you have to do is behave yourselves." He made a pointed look at Bellatrix which got him a stuck-out tongue in return, "Maybe cultivate new skills and think about what career you would like to pursue when the time come."
"What about visitors? We'll go stir crazy if ours are the only faces we ever see." Narcissa asked.
"We have a pre-approved list of who may visit the grounds." He answered only to be interrupted by Narcissa.
"We get no say in this?" She asked clearly upset.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't let you produce your own names for fear of security. We kept it to close friends and family. Andromeda and her family are welcome as well as Ronald and Ginny Weasley. Very short simple list." He explained.
"Could you add Neville? You know the one I mean." Bellatrix suddenly asked.
"Um…of course, if he would agree to it I see no reason why that would be a problem." Clearly, he wanted to ask why she would want Neville to visit and he wasn't alone. But, wisely, we let the topic go. She nodded silently in response.
"Well then, Ms. Granger and Mr. Potter I expect report to be sent in once a week or immediately if anything serious were to happen."
"Um, we're right here. You couldn't have waited for us to leave the room at least?" Draco interrupted, offended at being referred to indirectly.
Kingsley wholly ignored him, "And Mr. Potter, should you choose to start Auror training while you are here I would be happy to make some accommodations for you."
"Wait, I have a question. If our wands are shackled and being monitored, and Aunt Bella doesn't have a wand at all what's to stop those two from just killing us and getting it over with? I assume their wands have free range and are unmonitored. So, what's to stop them?" Draco asked absolutely serious.
"Aside from the fact that we'd never do that you mean?" I retorted.
"If there were to be any deadly or harmful spells cast within the wards I would be notified immediately, Mr. Malfoy. You are perfectly safe and protected here." Kingsley answered.
"And I'm to trust you? The man who sent my father to jail." Draco responded.
"Regardless of what may have happened between your father and Voldemort he had crimes to answer to regarding the corruption of the Ministry Mr. Malfoy. I have, however kept my word about you and the rest of your family."
"And she gets to walk away while my father rots in Azkaban?" Draco was clearly upset.
"Ms. Black helped to bring an end to the war in exchange for her freedom. If your father had done the same he'd be here with you, but seeing as he did not…I'm sorry there's nothing I can do." Kingsley said, sadly.
"Right." Was all Draco said before turning and abruptly leaving.
There was a moment of strained silence before Kingsley spoke again, "Well, I've finished the last of the wards and made sure everyone on the list knows how to get pass them. If there are no other questions?"
"Food! And things of that sort." I blurted, embarrassed to have just blurted it out, but just now thinking about it. If there were no elves and we weren't allowed to leave…
"Narcissa has clearance to leave as long as she is accompanied by one of you two." Kingsley answered with that easy-going smile of his. "Anything else?" When no one said anything, he nodded his head. "Well, I'll be going then. I have to contact Mr. Longbottom as well as finish other things. The Ministry is a long way from restored."
At hearing the name "Longbottom" Narcissa flinched. Did she not know that Neville was the son of the Order members Bellatrix had tortured so many years ago? Of course, not. Draco and Neville weren't friends and she wouldn't have made herself aware of Neville for any other reason than that he connected with her life somehow.
We said our goodbyes as she led him to the door. When she returned, her polite smile was back and it was as if she hadn't been distraught a moment ago. Apparently, hiding was a trait that ran in the family, at least between these two sisters.
"We should get your things put away now I think. Bella, would it bother you too terribly to help Ms. Granger to her room while I show Mr. Potter?" Narcissa shot a pointed look at her sister as she lifted Harry's trunk with her wand.
I felt the color drain from my face. I didn't think I would be forced to be alone with Bellatrix so soon. I hadn't even been here for an hour! I chanced a glance at her only to find her already staring intensely at me. She rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically before responding, "Well. I don't have a wand Cissy. Do you expect me to do manual labor?"
"I expect you to do manual labor, yes." Was the smart reply that left Bellatrix gawking and myself and Harry desperately holding back snickers.
"It would go much faster if you picked something up first." Narcissa called as she made her way up the stair with Harry in tow.
Shooting daggers at her sisters back Bellatrix silently pushed her open hand to me. When I didn't quite get what she wanted she turned, "Give me something! Unless you would rather carry that up all those stairs yourself. I don't mind really, saves my back."
A bit miffed at being snapped at for not being able to read her mind, yet again, I replied, "Is that your way of saying your too old for this?"
I immediately regretted it as she rounded on me quickly with fire in her eyes. "What did you just say? Mudbaby seems to have grown into a Mudwoman! Careful there just because I don't have my wand doesn't mean I can't still torture you."
It was a threat to be sure, but the way she said it and with that glint in her eyes…
"Shouldn't you be grabbing some bags?"
The smirk Bellatrix was wearing turned to a full-on predatory grin then. "I can't wait to give you a proper welcome to Black Manor." She picked up a few of my bags and only looked slightly disgusted with my taste in fashion, "Come, now. I don't have all day and I'm afraid if I hold these hideous bags too long my skin might catch fire."
I huffed as I levitated my trunk. Maybe this wouldn't be as horrible and terrifying as I thought.