Chapter 3
Halloween 1994
Enormous trees bare do to the ever changing seasons were subject to the decorating needs of humans. Their leafless limbs held countless plastic ghosts swaying in the light Autumn breeze whilst others lower down were wrapped in sticky synthetic spider webbing. Below, pumpkins carved in varies ridiculous and frightening faces aligned the streets giving the cold damp cobble stone nearby an almost fiery glow.
In the centre of a sidewalk, skipping merrily with a fat plastic bag swinging from a delicate hand, little Hermione Granger could feel the tiny heart within her chest pound roughly in its confinement and the butterflies slam in her tummy like bats. She was a big girl now and that meant she was permitted to go trick or treating all by herself. She'd already visited half the block now she was making her way back on the opposite side.
Seeing another house with its light on in the distance, she grinned excitedly at the promise of even more candy. Unconsciously, large doe-like eyes glanced downward unconsciously making sure that the furry companion below was keeping up. "Come on Shadow, we've still gotta finish this block." The cat glanced down at its aching paws then back to its mistress, letting out a mournful meow.
"Oh for heaben's sakes don't be like that." She stopped, bending at the waist to give the feline a reassuring pet on the head. "When we get home I'll give you lots and lots of milk o'tay?" Another meow this one pleased. Satisfied with the response, the duo continued their track but just as they were upon the house a voice echoed from an nearby ally. "Oi lass!" A man grinned showing off a mouth full of dark mossy teeth. "Come 'er lil lass I 'ave some candy for ya." His filthy meaty hand stretched out revealing three pieces of candy that look as through they've seen better days. Instinct kicking in Hermione took a step backwards. "Um No..no tank you."
"Oh, come now lass look I'll even give some to your puss puss." He squatted down shoving a piece a candy into the cat's face. Not amused, the feline let out a vicious hiss and swapped at the offending limb. He let out a surprised yelp of pain. "You stupid mangy beast!" Spittle shot out from his jaws like a rapid dog with each word. He reared back kicking the animal sending it through the air into a nearly by wall. "Shadow!" The girl went to run toward her fallen companion, only to be halted by a strong meaty hand wrapped tightly around her delicate forearm. "Let me go!" She pulled, attempting to wretch herself free only to be yanked roughly farther within the darkness.
Behind, unseen by both child and man a small shadow began morphing, twisting, growing into something larger; into something new.
Little heart pounding, Hermione struggled desperately within the man's grasp but at only four and a half stone the girl hadn't a chance. Just as she felt the beginnings of fatigue sit in, foreign words rang out within the darkness merely seconds before a green beam of light illuminated the alleyway hitting the man squarely in the chest. Horror twisting his facial features, the man crumpled to the ground with eyes glazed and mouth open wide. Dead. The man was dead, Hermione scrabbled backwards, ignoring the pain from the rough cobble stone, she staggered to her feet, turning on her heel, she bolted into the night.
When little Hermione finally reached home, she wretched the door open, thudded through the opening forgetting the rules about wiping ones feet and not slamming it, she practically flew through the house, with innocent eyes wide as saucers, she darted around finally locating her mother whom was reclined in her usual place upon the sofa and dove into her mother's arms wailing about the evil man trying to take her, him killing Shadow and him being killed by a bright green.
Jean stared down at her daughter, not knowing what to make of such an elaborate story she began stroking the soft skin along Hermione's back in an attempt to sooth the terrified girl. Then a thought came to mind, those bloody older kids must have played a trick on her baby. "Shh, mummy has you. It's alright now." She cooed within the girl's ear.
"Look at me, Hermione." Watery chocolate eyes lifted from her mother's comforting bosom to look into their nearly identical. Jean smiled warmly. "It was just a trick, my darling. An awful mean trick." She brought a hand up now stroking the girl's unruly hair.
"But Mama the man twhided to get me and he killed shadow and the gween light kilt him." Jean shushed her, squeezing the small quivering body just a little tighter. "It was just made to look like that. The green light was just a toy and Shadow probably got spooked is all."
"The man kicked her, Mama; kicked her into a wall." A tear fell down the little girl's pale round cheek, and her bottom lip trembled causing a mixture of sympathy and understanding to flash in the woman's eyes. "I'm sure Shadow is on her way back home as we speak." Jean reassured, even though she wasn't completely sure herself. Perhaps, the neighborhood boys did something to the poor old cat. Hermione buried her face back into her mother's chest weeping fat tears in
Outside a small tabby limped across the well-manicured lawn, head down, breath ragged, her near failure weighing heavily on her mind. A soundless black flash consumed the animal and once where it stood was now a five foot six woman. With her regal head bowed and round eyes shimmering in the moonlight with unshed tears, Minerva was beyond upset. It had been close, too close.
Feeling a slight tingle at the back of her neck, she let out a ragged sigh. "I know you're there."
"How odd, that you can sense my presence in this late hour but earlier you lacked the talent to notice a strange man merely a meter away." A feminine form materialized from the inky darkness. Her pale tresses glowing in the dim light like freshly fallen snow standing out a dramatic contrast against the nocturnal background and the midnight black dress clinging to her body. Yes, Narcissa for all accounts was a beautiful woman but like the snow. She was cold. All so cold.
Minerva turned, facing the woman head on, her blazing emerald locking immediately onto frigid blue. "And what exactly are you suggesting? That I intentionally lead the child to that monster."
The younger woman let out a delicate snort. "I'm not suggesting anything but this entire event could have been prevented if you would have just paid an once of attention to your surroundings."
"Well, if you as you say witnessed this entire 'event' then may I ask where in Merlin's name were you?" Minerva questioned knowing full well, that it was a bit below the belt.
"Oh, don't you dare turn this back around on me, Minerva. You were the one who was with her. You are her supposedly ever watchful guardian. That means you should have protected her." Narcissa spat through clenched teeth.
The elder crossed her arms and huffed but decided to ignore the statement entirely. "What were you doing here anyway?"
"Well, despite whom may have had a hand in raising her, Black blood still courses through those veins. No background you place her in will ever change that." The younger witch pointed out, sapphires involuntary drifting towards the window taking in the mother/daughter scene. A pang of jealousy soured her stomach. The youngest Black sister always wanted a daughter and to just stand here, watching whilst muggles raised her niece was nearly too much to bare.
"You shouldn't be here. She has a family of her own now." The last sentence left a bitter taste in her mouth and truth be told it was unknowing said to both of them.
"She is my niece. My blood. I will see her as I see fit."
"Then why give her away if you're just going to stalk her for the rest of her days." Minerva practically growled at the other witch.
Eyelids narrowed in anger. "You know very well why that decision was made. Do you honestly think I would willingly hand over my niece. Bella's only child to be raised by muggles if the situation wasn't dire."
Minerva felt sympathy overwhelm the agitation bubbling inside. Narcissa, as much as she loathed to admit it was right. The child would have been in great danger at every turn from both vengeance seeking order members and envious deatheaters. Little Hermione would not have survived in that world. No, she was right where she needed to be.
The elder witch cleared her throat. "I apologize, Narcissa, I;" The familiar clapping sound of apparition echoed through the air and just like that Narcissa was gone leaving Minerva alone with her doubts and concerns.
She stood in that exact same spot for what seemed like a lifetime, just staring and waiting until finally all the lights flicked off. She sighed in relief before focusing a second, the feeling the strange tugging, molding sensation of her human body morphing into a feline. Time to check on the girl.
Four feet strode across the grass with a limp although still present was not as pronounced as it was before leaving Minerva to conclude it was a mere bruise. Thank Merlin, that's all she needed was another injury to tack onto the countless she'd received over the years.
When she came to the back door, she mentally thanked whatever deity there was above that the Grangers decided to install a cat door there last winter. Slipping through the narrow hole, she winced not liking how the flap rubbed her fur. Still though, it was better than climbing the side of the house like she once had to. Minerva reasoned before commencing her journey.
She walked through the house with practiced ease, only being extra careful upon the stairs. It wouldn't do to wake anyone of them at this hour especially the Granger man whom from the beginning let it be known that he loathed cats. She curled her upper lip just thinking about the obnoxious male. Perhaps, his brand new leather seats would make a fine scratching post for her. She thought in amusement.
Reaching the girl's room, the tabby silently padded over to the bed, to hop onto the end. She made quite sure Hermione was sound asleep before changing back into her human form. Watching the slight rise and fall of the girl's tiny chest, those cat-like emeralds watered, she reached over hesitantly putting a hand on the child's back. "I nearly lost you." She rubbed the area back and forth with her thumb. Never again she vowed.
TBC...
AN: Been a long time since I've updated this and to be honest I'm a little ashamed. Also, I'm seriously contemplating deleting Dirty Dancer because well, it's just so bloody awful. My writing style and skill has dramatic changed since then and really I just don't feel like editing it. I mean I've tried but I really don't have the time.