Hey guys! So i'm really glad to hear that you are enjoying the fic so far, it makes it a lot easier to continue writing it. The plot Bunny enjoys positive reviews!
So i have done something a little dirty at the end of this one but i wont apologise for it as i want to continue this mystery for as long i can get away with. On that note though, i had some really good help from the FF user by the pen name MilandaAnza so...
Props to MilandaAnza for really helping me out with plot devices.
Reviews are encouraged and massively appreciated.
Mild warning that this chapter is relatively angst filled. Enjoy!
It was just after breakfast the following morning when plans were being made. Fleur and Narcissa were going to go grocery shopping and go via the bank so Narcissa could get her affairs in order. Bill was off to join the hunt for Tonks even though he knew she was safe with Bellatrix, a fact he reconciled rather easily. Hermione and Draco were off to find Andromeda and let her know that her daughter was safe and alive and would be returning when she was a little stronger.
Snowflake decided she would be going with her witch and Draco and so had slithered into Hermione's hoodie pocket and looked out the other side. They left from the aparation point together yet separate. Hermione and Draco holding hands as she took him to the top step of Grimmauld Place, the safe house she was certain Sirius had moved back into after the year fearing attack from people Severus may have told the location too. Fleur and Narcissa aparated hand in hand to Diagon Alley to go to the bank together. Bill went off to the ministry to find his team and head off with them again.
Yet it was Hermione and Draco that met the first confrontation of the day. Turns out that along with Sirius and Harry, the rest of the Weasley's had also returned to Gimmauld Place. It was Ginny who answered the door when Hermione had knocked though, she was drained looking and had red rimmed eyes as she had obviously been mourning her brother. The youngest of the brood looked at them for a moment and then turned and walked back into the house, leaving the door open in something of an invitation.
"What ever you do... Don't draw your wand in here." Hermione warned Draco softly as they moved into the house and closed the door. The platinum boy didnt like it but he would follow her lead.
Walking in they made their way to the kitchen where they could hear people talking and milling around. They were barely in the door when Hermione was hit with a stinging hex so strong she couldn't have stifled her cry of pain if she had tried. She stumbled back into Draco as a second lashed at her body before the first had even really faded. There was a commotion in the kitchen and the attacks stopped giving Hermione a chance to get her breath back and right herself. Looking up she was silently devastated to see the attack came from George.
"Go on! Pull your wand, and give me a reason! It's your fault he's dead! You could have warned us! You could have used her to get to Him!" George was beside himself with grief and Hermione knew he was just lashing out. It still hurt.
Arthur and Charlie were holding George back and it was Sirius and Harry that promptly ushered Hermione and Draco back out into the hall. George could be heard shouting at his brother and father and Molly was sobbing loudly. Hermione hated herself more in that moment than she thought she would when she realised eventually her and Bellatrix would likely come out.
"Hermione. What are you doing here?" Sirius asks closing the door to the kitchen.
"Am i not welcome anymore?" Hermione countered a frown on her face. Her hands were shaking from after affects of the stinging hex.
"Are you really in a relationship with my Bellatrix?" Sirius countered looking the little witch over and then the strapping lad beside her. His younger cousin.
"Yes and i refuse to apologise or be ashamed of this. Bella isn't so bad and i am to prove that. She deserves a second chance. Hell she deserves a first chance." Hermione was quick to defend.
Sirius and Harry both looked at the little witch before them. Sure they were her friends and they had seen just how fierce she could be but neither of them had seen fire like what was in her eyes in that moment. It was admirable at the very least, she was a gryffindor and had a lot to prove. But Bellatrix was a very bad person as far as everyone else knew so taking Hermione's defence of her at face value was a tough pill to swallow.
"She killed Dobby." Harry points out.
Hermione reached into her pocket, Snowflake takes the opportunity to get out of the pocket and coils around Hermione's wrist, and pulls out the journal she kept with her always and then a small bottle of ink and a quill. She wrote a date in backwards and watched as that days brief conversation appeared. She handed the journal to Harry without hesitation.
Little Wolf, please forgive me what i did.
Dictated by a friendly harpy- You had to do what you did. I forgive you. Stay strong.
You are safe then i assume?
Quite. Please don't worry.
I threw the knife...
It was Dobby, the elf. He died.
Oh no... I'm sorry. I didnt mean to and i know how you feel about the elves.
"She... she meant it?" Harry asks softly looking back at Hermione as the words fade back into the pages.
"Yes Harry... shes not... good. But she isn't bad either. She's... she's a survivor." Hermione states softly, imploring them not to be like the others and shut her out for this.
"Well they locked me up for something i didn't do so... innocent until proven guilty in my book. Now what can i help you both with?" Sirius asks and Harry smiles and hands the book back to Hermione before pulling her into a hug.
"Actually we were looking for Andromeda." Draco speaks up finally feeling it safe to do so.
"You're in luck. She's upstairs with Teddy. We didn't think it was a good idea for her to be alone last night." Sirius explains. Harry looks over to Draco.
"I guess i have to say thanks." Harry says to him earning a thoroughly confused look.
"What for?" Draco inquires entirely confused. After all, Harry had saved his life and didnt owe him a thing.
"You stood with Hermione when i was too stupid to see past my own anger. I should never have let anyone speak to her the way Neville did." Harry explains and Draco actually smiles.
"It's no problems. Hermione and i have been secret friends since the start of sixth year, shes kind of the only good one i've got. I wasnt about to piss that away." Draco shrugs. Harry smiles.
"I hope you can forgive me, Hermione. You're like a sister to me. Family." Harry says turning to look at one of his oldest friends.
"Of course. Like Draco i don't exactly have many friends right now besides its like you said. We're family, Harry." Hermione smiles fondly. The two embrace again.
"Take them up to Andy, Harry. I will go and speak with this lot in here." Sirius smiles and even claps Draco on the shoulder before walking away, heading back into the kitchen.
"So where are you guys staying? I didn't want to ask anyone here, everyone is a little sensitive when it comes to the 'H' word." Harry says playfully.
The war had obviously weighed on him, maybe more than anyone else even as this had been his whole life from start til now. But in good Harry Potter fashion he was working on not letting it bring him down too badly. He had a fresh start now, they all did, and he wasn't about to squander it by being petty. Certainly Dobby had been killed by Bellatrix but he now knew that that wasn't intentional and knowing the dark witch felt back for it eased the grief if only slightly.
"With Fleur and Bill Weasley. They were nice enough to take mother and i in. With Lucius on the run and the fact that the Manor was used by Him the mansion just isnt safe for us." Draco explains as the three of the head up to find Andromeda.
"That sucks. I imagine the Aurors are going to be scouring that place." Harry says apologetically.
"I would say so. Be silly not too. Lucius has all manner of dark artifact in that place." Draco points out casually as stands with Hermione as Harry knocks on a door along the hall upstairs.
There was a pause before footsteps could be heard and then a moment later a rather groggy looking Andromeda opened the door to the three of them. She looked them over with a small amount of surprise on her face upon seeing her nephew standing there and then she opened the door to the room she and Teddy were situated in. Stepping back Andromeda allowed the three of them entrance into the room and shut the door behind them.
"What can i do for you?" Andromeda asks tidying up the few things she had used and not put away.
"Hermione and Draco wished to speak with you." Harry informs going over to his gurgling godson.
Andromeda turns and regards the two before her curiously, she wasn't sure when her pure-blood nephew had become so muggleborn friendly but she wouldn't judge him for it, it was a good thing as far as she was concerned. If they were in a relationship then even better though she worried he would be disowned just as she had. Things were different now so she had hope that he would be just fine, after all he was family and that meant more to her than some of the other Black's.
"Andromeda, i wanted to let you know that Tonks is ok." Hermione spoke gently and the woman's eyes lit up. Adromeda was like a slightly softer and brunette version of Bellatrix.
"She's been found? Where is she?" Andromeda asks eagerly.
"She isn't here. Someone has found her and is taking care of her." Hermione tries to sooth as best she can.
"Who? Can i go and see her?" Andy's excitement hadnt waned at all.
"I'm sorry Aunty. My cousin is with Aunty Bellatrix and we dont know where." Draco speaks up trying to help.
"She's with Bellatrix? You said she was safe!" Andromeda's tone changed from excited to accusing in the same breath.
"She is safe with Bella, shes badly hurt though and Bella doesn't want to move her until she is on her feet again. I promise she is safe with Bella whether you want to believe that or not." Hermione iterates firmly, wanting Andromeda to trust her.
"Are you daft? Bellatrix is a psychopath and my daughter couldnt possibly be safe with her. I dont know what she has done to convince you otherwise." Andromeda says feircely.
"I know her. Maybe better than you do. I know shes done a lot of bad and she wishes she had never had to do any of it. But she did and shes managed to survive all this time and you want to know why?" Hermione was annoyed at this point, she knew people would have this opinion but she hoped that Andromeda would be a little more forgiving.
"You're a child. You don't know her you just romanticised this thing with her, made things up in your mind to make her look like less of a monster." Andromeda argues without without bothering to answer Hermione's question.
"I know her. I know when she was young she was the only one that was able to convince you to go into the water when you were all on vacation at the beach. The only way you would go in was with her giving you a piggy back ride. I know that when Narcissa fell off that stump in the woods Bellatrix was right there soothing her baby sister and trying to calm you down too. Or what about that time you were in 6th year and your parents held that ball over Christmas holidays. Do you remember what happened that Christmas?" Hermione asks her fiercely. Andromeda blanched at this, it was clear Hermione knew more than Andromeda thought.
"Rabastan he... he tried too... She nearly killed him." Andromeda hangs her head in shame, she had so easily forgotten just how much Bellatrix had done for her.
"That's right. And in payment Amadus Lestrange demanded Bella marry Rod. Bella was angry and frustrated with her life and felt like she really had no choice when she chose to follow the Dark Lord. She developed a kind of pseudo-psycho personality to deal with the atrocities she committed and after a while she felt alone. You were safe and away from it all and Narcissa actually seemed to want the life laid out before her so she felt like she wasn't needed. She coped and survived the only way she knew how. You and Cissa? You have always been on her mind. Tonks is safe with Bella." Hermione finishes firmly.
Andromeda regarded the little witch for a long moment, she so seriously reminded her of her own sister when they were younger and she could see now why Hermione had been able to draw in Bellatrix. It also made Andromeda really appreciate the little witch. Certainly Bellatrix had done some bad things in her time in service to the Dark Lord but being reminded of the Bellatrix before Voldemort was opening. Andromeda was definitely ashamed to say she, like most others, was so able to forget all the good because of some bad.
"Is that true?" Harry asked looking at his friend with wide eyes.
"Yes. Things are different for pure-bloods, especially the more traditional families. Marriages were often arranged and inbreeding was practised to keep the lines pure as possible. My Aunt Andy is also a distant cousin." Draco explains with a shrug from where he stood behind Hermione.
"You promise she is safe?" Andy asks softly looking only at Hermione.
"I promise. Bella will return her as soon as Tonks is on her feet again." Hermione explains softly.
"Thank you. For reminding me she is my sister." Andromeda says softly finally earning a smile from Hermione, a genuine soft smile.
"That's alright. I will update you as soon as i know anything. Bill and I met Bella last night and gave her some potions she needed so when Bella lets me know whats going on either myself or maybe Bill will come let you know ok?" Hermione offers with a warm smile. Andy nods and gently embraces the young witch.
"I will walk you back down. Just in case." Harry offers carrying Teddy over and handing him off to his grandmother.
Getting out of Grimmauld Place was a lot easier than it had been getting in, in so much as they were not attacked once on the way out. Once on the front step Hermione aparated herself and Draco to the castle gates that were left open even though the wards had been put up. It was this way so those wanting to help with repairs could travel up to the castle without them having to worry about vengeful or rogue Death Eaters just appearing out of no where.
The grounds were still on complete disarray with dead spiders and the odd giant still lying here and there but when Hermione and Draco made their way up into the castle they could see that the brunt of the work had been done inside. The Great Hall was almost back to it former glory, a few cracks here and a pile of dirt and dust there. There were staff and students moving around and the elves that had remained at the castle were working diligently to help clean up as well as supply the occupants with meals.
Yet they had barely gotten a few feet into the Great Hall when a loud clapping sound reverberated through the space and everyone halted as Hermione's head was whipped to the side and she stumbled back a step. Draco had seen the woman coming but her expression was so mild and he didn't actually know who she was so it was quite the shock to see his friend assaulted again before noon. Hermione hadn't even seen it coming, had been looking away from the woman and hadn't seen her approach.
"Augusta!" Minerva's sharp tone broke through the sudden silence.
"How dare you show your face here. Either of you." Augusta Longbottom hissed at the two, disregarding the approaching Headmistress. Hermione turned toward the woman while cupping her cheek.
"What have i dont wrong again?" Hermione inquired mildly.
"You're in bed with that demon spawn of a witch, Bellatrix Lestrange." Augusta hissed right back at her.
"To be fair i haven't actually made love with Bella yet. Regardless of this i'm not sure how my imaginary sexcapades warrant you slapping me in the face." Hermione drops her hand and straightens her clothes before levelling her gaze on Augusta. The woman's face reddens at Hermione's words.
"That cow tortured by boy until he was lost to himself and then did the same to my daughter-in-law." Augusta accused.
"Did you see that happen?" Hermione countered, Minerva stood close to the side ready to step in if necessary but otherwise leaving the two witches to it.
"What?" Augusta was genuinely confused.
"Did you see her torture them?" Hermione asked again seriously.
"Of course not. But she was there when the auror's arrived, wand in hand cackling like a mad woman!" Augusta spat.
"But you didn't see Bella torture them?" Hermione asked just to be sure. Draco was slightly confused but tried to keep that off his face.
"I said i didn't!" Augusta snarled, incensed. Hermione nodded and turned to Minerva.
"Draco and i came to help rebuild. Where would you like us?" She asked the woman who seemed to have no idea had given birth to her.
"You will not ignore me!" Augusta bites out grabbing Hermione's arm and forcing her to look at her.
"I refuse to continue having this conversation. Your mind is made up and has been for a very long time. Nothing i say will change that. Telling you that Bellatrix tried to stop Rodulphus and Rabastan Lestrange torturing your children when it was obvious that they knew nothing would do nothing to change your mind. Telling you the only reason that Neville wasn't killed by that sadistic scum Rabastan was because Bellatrix wouldn't let him touch the baby? Would that change your mind? The only reason they were even still there when the Aurors arrived was because the men were arguing with Bella to let them have the baby to kill." Hermione iterated calmly to the listening crowd.
"How could you know any of this?" Minerva asked when it seems Augusta doesn't know what to say.
"In fifth year Bellatrix tackled me during the Battle at the Department of Mysteries. We ended up going through a door that was an illusion. We couldn't get out and there was a device there. We touched it, cut our fingers. It showed us our complete pasts. Bella knows me better then anyone and i her. Uncut, unedited. I know this because i've seen to woman she doesn't think she can be but cant quite let go of." Hermione explains softly, her tone sincere.
Augusta, along with many others who had been listening in, didn't know how to respond. Didn't know who whether to believe or to completely disregard everything Hermione was saying. Yet none of them really had any reason not to believe the young woman. She had, despite the relationship she admitted to with Bellatrix Lestrange, helped bring down the Dark Lord once and for all. Now here she stood, abused and accused and still managed to hold her head high and shoulders squared.
"We would like to help rebuild." Draco says softly to Minerva when it seems no one has anything to say.
"Indeed. Have Hermione take you on up to Gryffindor Tower, there are a few of the younger ones up there that could use a hand no doubt." Minerva says after a moment of regarding the two.
Minerva was proud of Hermione for remaining calm and standing her ground against this attack, a lesser witch, herself included, would likely have exploded after being struck for no reason. She was also proud of Draco for standing with Hermione through all of this, it hadn't slipped by her that Ronald and Harry weren't present. Though truthfully Minerva suspected things were a lot more volatile between Hermione and Ron than they were between Hermione and Harry.
Fleur and Narcissa had gotten the things sorted at the bank rather quickly regarding the damage that had been wrought on it by the golden trio less than a week before. Wands or no the goblins had their own magic and manage to clean up the bank quite well and lay their fallen to rest in such a short time. Despite the prompt service the foul looks the two witches received were intense at best and made for a rather uncomfortable hour as they transferred and withdrew Narcissa money and property to a newly opened 'Black'. The hardest part of this was getting Hermione added to the permissions on this vault. Bellatrix and Andromeda were no trouble at all but Hermione... the goblins held some serious animosity toward the girl.
Yet when the point was done and argued the ladies were able to get on with their day, Fleur stopped off to send an owl to her parents and Gabi who had thankfully stayed out of the war. She had sent a patronus once the Death Eaters had dispersed the castle grounds but hadn't contacted them since and knew she had best get to it. Narcissa didn't mind, it was a cool day in May which made traipsing around the Alley quite bearable. Yet when they got to the market where they were to get food they had finally met opposition. It was Amos Diggory and he had a serious bone to pick now that it was out that the Dark Lord had frequented Malfoy Manor.
"Good of you to show your face around here. I'm shocked your prim little snout isnt in the air still." Amos shot at Narcissa when he saw her.
"Amos." Narcissa greeted coldly. She wasn't about to indulge his temper.
"Thought you'd have crawled off with that waste Lucius." Amos sneered.
Narcissa knew why he was attacking her, because of Voldemort. Narcissa was a target because like it or not she had been part of that whole faction and in direct contact with Voldemort on more than one occasion. Voldemort had killed Cedric simply because the boy had been good enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Amos was lashing out, rightfully still angry about the senseless death of his beloved son. Fleur how ever wasn't going to sit here and let her newest friend and shopping companion be belittled for something not her fault.
"Amos. Zis is not ze time or ze place for zis." Fleur stated calmly hoping to get the man to back off.
"Don't even get be started on you Delacour. You should be ashamed to be seen with her or have you forgotten that my boy was once your friend?" Amos fired back not backing down at all. Fleur bristled.
"Non. But i am smart enough to realise Narcissa is not my enemy. She 'ad nozing to do wiz Cedric being killed. Cedric was murdered by a mad man not a woman whose only worry was for 'er own son." Fleur bites back not liking what Amos was insinuating.
"Oh oui. She is innocent, her death eater son is innocent. Someone has to pay for what has happened!" Amos was attracting a crowd.
"Some one has! We all have! The children affected by this. The innocent children whose parents chose the folly of following a mad-man into war only to die and leave them orphaned or the family broken. The muggleborns who had done nothing but exist, born into a death sentence under Voldemort's regime! Your son whose only mistake was being good enough to win a god awful competition that should never have been reinstated! You have paid, i have paid and so many others have paid and will continue to pay for this for a long time to come! Hold your head high Amos and accept what has been dealt. Mourn and grieve and hate if you like. But this? Attacking me and attacking Fleur just because you are hurting? There is shame in that and you are above that." Narcissa spoke fiercely.
She had been dubbed an Ice Queen long ago by friends and family she held her head high and looked down her nose at people she didn't much care for. She was blunt and cold but she was a Black and she was capable of feeling, of warmth. She had respect for others, she had respect for Amos but she saw shame in the way he was acting right now. Directly after a war she hadn't asked for, a war so many of them hadn't asked for. Attacking Fleur who had, unbeknown to them, grieved deeply for her fellow champion and had for a time blamed herself for not figuring it out.
"Well spoken Madame Malfoy." A man from the growing crowd spoke up. It was Hamish MacFarlan the once captain of the Montrose Magpie Quidditch team and now Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports.
"Its Black. I'll be having my marriage abolished at the soonest convenience. I no longer wish to pretend to be proud of being a Malfoy." Narcissa stated smoothing the front of her dress casually.
"Being a Black isn't much to be proud of." Someone else called, Narcissa couldn't see who.
"Perhaps not but i don't intend to die any time soon so maybe i can help redeem the Blacks, help them become a name most people dont sneer at. I still have my cousin and my sisters to help." Narcissa offers with a soft sigh. She had her work cut out for her.
"Is it true Bellatrix Lestrange is in some sort of relationship with young Hermione Granger?" A woman this time, Denise Trippet, one of the lesser known journalist's from the Daily Prophet.
"It's not really my place to comment." Narcissa states diplomatically.
"But you don't deny it?" She asks pushing a little.
"Everyone is capable of love." The youngest Black sister returns.
"Is that what they have?" Denise was a surprisingly good journalist, certainly better than Rita Skeeter.
Narcissa didn't respond this time instead she simply stood and stared at the crowd until it finally got the picture. Amos had slunk off after Narcissa's tirade, a wise most for sure, and now the rest of the crowd was dispersing. Fleur stood slightly back a little and watched how Narcissa handled herself and the crowd so well and felt a little impressed for sure. When they were finally left to do their shopping they got right back to it as though they had never been confronted in the first place. Narcissa turned to Fleur as they were paying for their things.
"Can we drop this stuff off and then go and visit a friend of mine?" Narcissa asks the French veela.
"Of course. You aren't a prisoner, Narcissa, no matter what the Aurors have to say about yours and Draco's involvement.
"Thank you." Narcissa smiled genuinely at the witch.
Fleur was later surprised to learn that they were going to visit with Odette and Pansy Parkinson. She was also slightly annoyed but only because she had been informed of Pansy trying to convince them to hand over Harry to the Dark Lord. Of course the girl was scared like the rest of them but she definitely handled it poorly. Yet when they knocked on the Parkinson Manor's front door they were greeted by a rather happy little female elf by the name of Kiness and then ushered inside and promptly too a warm let den where Odette sat with her daughter.
"Narcissa! And Ms... Delacour?" Odette seemed slightly confused but was rather friendly.
"Bonjour Madame. If it is easier to remember i go by Weasley anymore but you are welcome to call me Fleur." Fleur smiled politely at the woman.
"Then by all means call me Odey. I wasn't expecting company but no doubt Kinny will have tea being made as we speak." Odette smiled. Fleur glanced around, she hadn't even noticed the efficient little elf leave.
"That's alright. I was actually hoping to ask you an odd sort of question." Narcissa admits as the three women sit down, Pansy was quiet but watching curiously.
"Of course Dear, anything you like." Odette was an easy going woman and much like Narcissa didn't miss her now deceased husband one little bit. He had never been a kind man and had often taken his frustrations out on his easy going wife.
"I was wondering if there was anything in the registry about Minerva having a baby? She would have been pregnant during the first war." Narcissa explains and Fleur's eyes widened just slightly as did Pansy's though for different reasons.
"Hm... no. I definitely would have remembered registering that birth." Odette says after a long moment of silence. Narcissa sighs slightly defeated.
"Kinny is sorry for eaves dropping Mistress' but Kinny would like to know if its the Minerva McGonagal you speak of?" Fleur hadn't noticed the little elf return.
"Do you know something Kinny?" Narcissa asks eagerly as she sits forward giving the little elf her full attention. Odette and Fleur following suit.
"Oh yes, Kinny knows quite a bit." The little elf looked proud to be able to help and begin to relay the information for the kind and interested witches before her. Information both shocking and intriguing.