Chapter 9

Black Hall was, without a doubt, the most beautiful home Hermione had ever seen. Far from being the dark, shadow infested mansion that she had expected, it was instead, a beautiful dark bricked Georgian Manner House, with high ceilings and tall windows that stretched from floor to ceiling of each floor, welcoming in the sunlight which bounced off of the glittering snow to fill the spacious rooms.

Narcissa's parents had been, as Hermione had expected them to be, rather cold and formal upon their first meeting. But much to Hermione's relief, outside of meal times she rarely encountered them. The person they did see a lot of (or rather too much of in Hermione's opinion) was Bellatrix. Narcissa's sister seemed to spend a surprising amount of time away from her own home and husband. But Hermione soon grew used to her explosive temperament, and learned quickly which topics of conversation to avoid, and that the wild-haired witch could become almost amicable under her little sisters influence. Even though, Hermione never quite felt at ease around her, not even with Narcissa at her side. Bellatrix's cold black eyes would stalk her around the room, noting every step she took, every work she spoke, especially those directed towards Narcissa. But at night, when all had retired for the evening, and Bellatrix ha left, Hermione would creep into Narcissa's room and take comfort in her embrace, falling asleep in the small hours of the morning.

Christmas came and went, and was on the whole fairly uneventful. Hermione and Narcissa exchanged gifts privately, away from black prying eyes, and at dinner that evening Druella announced with joy that the annual New Years Eve dinner party (which was apparently a tradition upheld by the richest and "best" of the pure blood families) was to be held, this year, at Black Hall.

Hermione sat on the edge of Narcissa's bed, fiddling nervously with her necklace as she watched Narcissa faff with her hair, twisting and curling it into and elaborate and glamorous design at the back of her neck

"I wish you had told me about this before we had left," Hermione grumbled, "then I would have been able to pack something appropriate."

"It slipped my mind," Narcissa said simply. She turned in her seat to smile thoughtfully at her. "You really don't see how beautiful you are do you?" Hermione rolled her eyes and Narcissa took her hand and pulled her towards the full-length mirror and stood behind her, forcing the young brunette to look at her reflection.

"Narcissa what are you doing?"

"Just look," Narcissa said, "and see what I see."

"I don't understand what you see," Hermione muttered. Narcissa smiled to herself and look at the girls reflection.

"I see your eyes," Narcissa said, softening her voice and wrapping her arms around her lovers waist, "and I see their hundreds of different shades of green and brown, and the way that the sparkle when you smile. I see how creamy and pale and smooth your skin is, and how perfectly placed and symmetrical the freckles on your nose and cheeks are. And I see your rich brown hair and how it curls around you face and down your back." She kissed her neck, and then her shoulder, pulling her closer.

The door slammed open and the girls jumped apart. Bellatrix stood in the doorway, dressed in a revealing gown, and said,

"Mother wants you downstairs now. The Malfoys are here."

Hermione found herself placed between Bellatrix and Rodolphus, and opposite Narcissa, who had been placed next to Lucius. As Narcissa's attention was monopolised by Malfoy for the duration of the evening, and Bellatrix and Rodolphus spent the entire evening arguing across her, Hermione was left well enough alone. Finally, when she could no longer stand to watch Lucius boast and flirt with Narcissa, she turned her attention to the other conversation that wafted around the table. The men talked of politics, and the women, of marriage, Narcissa's marriage, to Lucius. Druella sat very close to Lucius's mother, their heads together as they plotted, their children oblivious to their plans. By the time dinner had ended and they had al filed out into the drawing room, the marriage was all but arranged. And then, as if to seal the deal, Lucius pulled Narcissa towards him and the clock struck midnight, and kissed her.

Hermione's heart screamed as she watched screamed in protest, in pain, and in horror as she realised the inevitability of Narcissa's future. She walked quickly and quietly from the room, tears burning behind her eyes, and fled to her room.

A soft knock made Hermione look up, and she hurriedly cleaned her tear stained make-up from her face as Bellatrix entered.

"You know it's customary to wait for a reply when one knocks on someone's door."

"Yeah well I don't much care for customs."

"I can see." Hermione turned back to her mirror and started replacing her make-up, and repining her hair.

"We need to talk." Bellatrix moved into the room, shutting the door behind her.

"About?"

"My sister." Hermione caught her breath, her back stiffening,

"What do you mean?"

"Let's not waist time Hermione. I know, about you and my sister." Hermione turned slowly to face her.

"How?" Bellatrix laughed.

"It doesn't take legilimency to figure it out," she laughed. "I've been watching you. It's obvious. And then your reaction just now confirmed my suspicions. Oh," she added, "and I heard you earlier."

"So what are you going to do? Warn me off her? Tell me that if I hurt her you'll kill me?"

"You don't need me to tell you that," Bellatrix smirked. "You already know it."

"Then what do you want?"

"To warn you, not off of her, but that this, this cannot last. It will end painfully, for both of you. She will be forced to marry Lucius and be miserable, and you will be heart broken."

"I expected nothing less," Hermione muttered darkly. She looked up at the young Bellatrix, studying her in the dimly lit room. "You love her don't you?" she said after a while. Bellatrix looked down at her hands, refusing to meet the young witch's calculative gaze. "It's alright. You don't have to say so. I can see it, in the way that you feel the need to protect her all the time, in the way that you look at her as if she were your own child."

"I practically raised her," Bellatrix muttered. "A mother like ours, well, she has little time for us."

"Remember this feeling," Hermione said, standing up to face her. "Remember this feeling, and how important she is to you. Because she will need you; no one else is going to protect her. She can't loose you. If she does, she'll have no one to look out for her." Bellatrix frowned.

"I don't understand."

"Like you said, this wont end well, and so I won't always be here to protect her. So you will have to. Be there to pick up the pieces, and to protect her. And remember, that you need her, as much as she will need you."

Sorry I missed last week guys I have been super busy and just didn't have time to write and post this. This chap has caused me a lot of trouble so sorry if it is a bit crap.

Blanche