Hey folks! So I think this may be the penultimate chapter! I'm very sorry for the delay but I have so much coursework and so little time! Thank you for all the follows, faves and reviews! Sorry for any mistakes and enjoy! :)
Minerva McGonagall smiled fondly at the two witches she considered as family. She had never seen anyone as happy as the two appeared to be. Bella had her arm around Hermione's middle, holding her close to her own body. Her hand protectively resting on the girl's stomach.
'It suits you 'Mione. You really are glowing and your bump seems to grow every second.' The Scottish witch chuckled.
Hermione smiled shyly at the older witch before covering the dark witch's hand with her own.
'You truly are the most beautiful couple.' Albus Dumbledore's voice spoke softly from his portrait. His voiced laced with sadness and happiness equally.
Bella grinned at the portrait before replying. 'We'll be sure to bring her to see her Grandpa Al.'
'Her?' Minerva questioned softly.
'Its just a feeling we both have. We'll find out for certain this afternoon.' Hermione smiled at the woman she considered a mother.
'How are you feeling?' Minerva asked seriously as she made her way to the couple, placing kisses on both of their foreheads.
'Fine, a little tired but apart from that absolutely wonderful.' Hermione beamed. 'Though I think Bella is losing her mind.'
Bella snorted playfully at her wife's comment.
'You've got that right. Bloody hormones.'
The Scottish witch laughed freely at the glare Bellatrix received before pouring the tea.
'Min I have so much to tell you.' Hermione grinned at the older witch. Minerva smiled knowingly at the brunette, glad to see the girl happy after so much devastation. Of course she knew what the girl was going to say but the brunette needn't know that.
'I'm all ears sweetheart.' The Scottish witch urged the girl to continue.
'You're going to be a grandmother!'
Minerva froze. She knew that Hermione thought of her as family, even going as far as to refer to her as a mother figure. The two shared a unique bond due to their similarities. However, never in her wildest dreams did the she expect to be called the unborn child's grandparent. The thought warmed her heart as tears filled her emerald eyes.
'A grandmother?' She whispered as her hand cupped the young brunette's face.
'Yes. Grandma Minnie and Grandpa Al. Bella and I have never been more sure of anything. We need you in our family Min. We love you.'
'Congratulations Mrs. Black.' Minerva and Hermione both grinned as they turned to look at the portrait of Grandpa Al.
'It seems like only yesterday you came to tell me about the wee one.'
'Time really has flown by.' Bellatrix agreed, her eyes following her wife who was shovelling ginger newts into her mouth.
Hermione glared at the dark witch who smirked at her.
'Im hungry okay!'
Bellatrix and Minerva chuckled at the young Gryffindor's behaviour before continuing their conversation.
'I have to say I'm surprised you're going to find out the sex. Especially after you decided not too when the option first came around.'
'I know we decided against it but it seems logical to. This way we can prepare a bit better.'
'Bella, darling, you're both going to be marvellous parents.' Minerva assured the dark witch.
'Merlin I hope so. It just seems like there's so much we don't know. Lets be honest we aren't the most qualified of people for this.' Bellatrix smiled softly at the older woman.
'Nonsense! You were wonderful with your sisters when they were younger and 'Mione has always been motherly. You just have to look at her with the boys to know that.' The Scottish witch chuckled as the brunette scoffed.
'Well lets just hope this baby isn't going to be as big a pain in my arse as those two.'
Bellatrix smirked before replying.
'With us as parents it's bound to be a hell of a lot worse.'
Hermione lay back on the bed, her hand tightly grasping her wife's.
'You're nervous.' The dark witch stated as she gave the brunette's hand a squeeze.
'You aren't?' Hermione retaliated.
Bellatrix chuckled in response before placing a small kiss to her love's temple.
'Only a bit. I'm just glad we were able to request Andy as our healer. It makes things a lot easier.'
'Yes it really does. I'm just not sure I want her there for the birth.'
'I assure you Mrs. Black I am a professional.' Andromeda winked as she walked into the small room, closing the door behind her.
'That may be true but I'm not sure I want my sister in law down there with all of that going on.'
Andromeda laughed as she lifted the girls shirt.
'Dont worry, I'll get my colleagues to do the nasty stuff. Now, lets take a look shall we.'
Bellatrix frowned as her sister turned on the muggle equipment that was stationed by the bed.
'What is this stuff Andy?'
'A few years ago we started looking at using muggle methods as well as magical. This will allow us to really see my niece or nephew as Hermione already knows. I'll be able to tell the sex from this and you'll get a photo. Thankfully we have some skilled people around here and we can turn the photo's from still muggle ones into moving magical ones.' The elder brunette explained with a soft smile.
'It's all perfectly safe Bella, I promise.'
The dark witch nodded as her sister spread some form of gel across the Gryffindor's stomach. Her brow furrowed once more as her sister picked up an odd looking wand and placed it against the stomach. The dark witch was so busy trying to work out the muggle equipment she hadn't noticed the soft gasp that escaped from her wife.
'Bella... Bella look.' The brunette whispered.
The dark witch's eyes snapped to her wife's only to find they were fixed on the screen. Bellatrix felt her heart rate soar. There on the screen was their baby.
'Perfect. Really perfect. A strong heartbeat, good size, very healthy for 6 months. Just perfect.' Andromeda whispered as she looked at the two witches.
'Are you absolutely sure you want to find out?'
'Yes.' Hermione and Bellatrix whispered at the same time. Their hands clasped tightly together.
'That really is incredible 'Mione.' Ron gushed as he hugged his best friend only to be joined by Harry who wrapped his arms around the both of them.
Bellatrix beamed as she watched the golden trio before turning to her baby sister.
'Thank you Cissy.'
'For what?' The blonde asked, confusion evident on her features.
'Being there for her when I couldn't be.'
'Don't go there Bella. It's not your fault and as her family I would do it a million times. Congratulations Bellatrix, you really deserve this and so much more.'
The dark witch kissed her sister's cheek softly.
'Uh... Congratulations Bellatrix.' Ron Weasley spluttered as he approached the dark witch causing the others in the room to chuckle.
'Thank you Ronald. I should congratulate you too.'
'Huh?' The red head frowned.
'On your becoming an uncle.' Bellatrix smiled as realisation swept over the boy.
Hermione smiled warmly as her family all interacted with one another. Hazel locked on to dazzling blue and her smile grew. Without warning the young brunette flung her arms around the blonde witch's neck.
'Thank you so much Cissy.' The brunette whispered lovingly into the blonde's hair.
'Not you too.' Narcissa chuckled as she tightened her grip on the girl.
'I couldn't have done any of this without you.' The brunette beamed as she stood back. Raising her voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
'Thats why we have decided on the name; Druella Narcissa Black.'
Bellatrix grinned as she wrapped her arms around her wife. Her eyes filled with love as she saw he tears in her sister's eyes, the happiness in her wife's and the acceptance in Ron and Harry's smiles.
'Are you okay love?' Hermione whispered against the dark witch's neck.
'Perfect.'
Narcissa stared wide eyed at the two for a minute or two. All traces of an icy facade gone as disbelief shone in blue orbs.
'Are you sure? I'm well aware of the connotations that come with a name like Narcissa... I won't be offended if you change your minds.' The blonde stated softly, her eyes swimming with unshed tears.
'Don't be ridiculous mother!' Draco scolded. 'Besides the child is a Black. She's going to be narcissistic regardless of her name.'
The occupants of the room giggled at the blonde wizard's statement.
'I'll agree with you there Dray.' Tonks giggled as she slapped her cousin on the shoulder making him growl.
'Im glad you do Nymphadora.' He spat back causing the metamorphmagus to laugh louder.
Narcissa turned away from the bickering cousins to the two witches and beamed. 'Are you sure?'
'Yes Cissy. We're sure.' Bellatrix assured her.
'I don't know what to say.' The blonde admitted as she smiled warmly, tears still swimming in blue depths.
'You needn't say anything.' The dark witch kissed her sister's cheek before wandering off in search of firewhiskey.
Hermione turned to look at her sister in law and frowned at the tears in her eyes. Smiling softly the girl laced her fingers with the blonde's and gave a reassuring squeeze.
'Our daughter is insanely lucky to have such an amazing family, we want her to be aware of that. That's why she's being named for your mother and you, you're both extraordinary women and we hope she will be too.'
'She will be little lion, I have no doubt about that.' Electric blue eyes flicked over to her two sisters who were chatting animatedly across the room.
'Bella spoke to Andy, she assured her this wasn't favouritism. You've been through so much Narcissa and you never let it show. You are by far one of the bravest women I know.'
The brunette sighed softly. The last few weeks had been trialing for everyone but even more so for the blonde. She had to cope with a long and stressful divorce and then had her soon to be ex husband murder her mother. Narcissa had been much closer to Druella over the last few years than the other girls and the loss was just as devastating to her as Bellatrix and Andromeda. The elder Black sisters along with Hermione decided they needed to do something for the blonde haired blue eyed witch. Something meaningful and special and so Druella Narcissa Black was named.
'You truly are a Black now.' The blonde grinned as she placed a kiss to the corner of the girls mouth.
'Thank you Hermione. You're a fine addition to this family and I can honestly say I love you little lion.'
Hermione beamed back at the blonde, noting the way the nickname had lost its humour and was now a term of endearment from the blonde as well as her wife.
'I love you too Cissy... Now come on before Bella eats all the food.' The brunette smirked before pulling the blonde across the room to the other guests.
'I didn't expect Cissy to be so emotional.' Hermione mused out loud as she changed into her pyjamas.
'You're one of the lucky few she's opened up too. She thinks of you as a sister now so there'll be no hiding anything. And that goes both ways trust me.' Bellatrix rolled her eyes at the thought of her sisters who could always tell when something was up. The dark witch watched her wife change with a soft smile in place before pulling the duvet back for the pregnant woman to climb in.
Once in the bed Hermione rolled onto her side, snuggling close to the dark witch and resting her head on her chest. The brunette felt her eyes getting heavy as she listened to the strong heartbeat of her love.
'I love the sound of your heartbeat.' She whispered shyly while placing a small kiss to an exposed collarbone.
'You should, it beats for you.' Bellatrix sighed softly as she ran her fingers through soft brown curls with one hand, the other resting against her witch's swollen belly. Her smile turned to a grin when she felt their daughter moving and kicking.
'It would seem Druella likes your heartbeat too.' Hermione chuckled as she snuggled closer to the dark witch. Bellatrix felt her heart swell when she looked down at the brunette in her arms. Hermione was fast asleep, her legs entwined with Bella's and her body pressed fully against hers. The dark witch kissed the girl's forehead before closing her own eyes and letting sleep take over.