Mid-July 2018
Minerva Katherine Black was sitting in her room reading Cass's old school books that she had convinced her mothers that she needed to borrow so she could be ahead of the rest of the first years. "But mum, you were the brightest witch of your age and so was mummy. I need to be as well. We already know Cass won't be." She was only slightly annoyed that her mother told her she had to be nicer to her sister when she got home from Hogwarts or else she wouldn't be permitted her school books early.
The day Cassiopeia came home from school, Minnie wanted to hear all about it. Cass regaled the family with all of her funny memories during her year and Minnie was only slightly confused, "why aren't you talking about the classes?"
Cass rolled her eyes, "there are far better things at school than classes, Min," and she went on throughout the entire dinner talking about the trouble that she, James and their cousin Lyra had gotten into over the past year. Well Lyra was just there. She didn't get into any trouble. She was too afraid of getting in trouble. That much was true after she had turned on them when they snuck off to Hogsmeade with Teddy.
Minnie had already conceded to the fact that her classes were more important than any social interactions she could have at school, especially if it meant her actively avoiding Pandora Potter. She wanted nothing to do with that airhead and she counted on her not being sorted into Slytherin. "What if you get sorted in Ravenclaw with Pandora?" Cass said with a devilish smirk on her face. There was no way it would happen. Minnie was destined to carry on the family legacy as part of the Slytherin house so she did the only thing she felt adequate and stuck her tongue out at her older sister.
Minnie was reading A History of Hogwarts when she heard her mothers squabbling from somewhere in the house, "never a moment of quiet," she rolled her eyes and pulled out her earphones that Pap Pap Jack had gifted her at Christmas along with an iPod she had filled with her favorite music.
"No," Bella shook her head. "Absolutely not."
"It's not an option this time, Bella."
"That's where you are wrong," Bella crossed the room to stand directly in front of her wife. "Everything is an option and I'm opting out of this family adventure."
"But the girls are looking forward to it," Hermione pouted.
"Are they?" Bella raised an eyebrow. "I believe if I'm recalling correctly Cass said, 'I'd rather crucio myself,' or something to that effect and Minnie well she's unpredictable and easily bribable so I think you could get her on board. You and Minnie go have fun and Cass and I will stay here at home where the central air and tv lives. Plus, I couldn't possibly leave Twiggy, Winky, Penny, Junior and Puff. Plus we have to watch Sirius now that Teddy is gone."
"That's bullshit, Bella." Bella smiled, conjured a rather large jar marked "Curse Words and Curses" and looked expectantly after her wife. Hermione dramatically rolled her eyes, "fine." She reached into her pocket, pulled out a sickle and tossed it in. "90% of that jar has been filled by you and Andy."
"Oh!" Bella snapped the jar away. "Andy! Take Andy with you. She loves muggle stuff."
"She's already left to get Teddy settled into his dorm room. Remember he was starting classes early? Plus, it's a family trip, Bella including Lyra and Ember. I can't be responsible for all the children." Hermione crossed her arms. "And my parents really want you to come."
"Hermione," Bella sighed. "Don't pull the "my parents are getting older" card." She turned to leave the room and was stopped in her tracks by Hermione's last effort.
"Sex in a tent?"
Bella won't lie, that notion gave her pause but it seemed far too messy and uncomfortable. "No sell, pet." She left Hermione in the hallway and walked the rest of the way to the library, closing the door behind her.
Minnie was still listening to her music when she heard a knock at her door, "come in," she shouted as she took out her earphones. "Mum," the youngest Black smiled at her. "This book is fascinating," she smiled, showing Hermione what she was reading.
"A History of Hogwarts was one of my favorite reads before I started school as well," she chuckled and ruffled her daughter's hair. It was scary how much she reminded Hermione of herself. "Remember when we were talking about camping?"
"Pap Pap Jack told me how much fun it is. He said we can make s'mores and look at the stars. Are we still going? Can I bring my books?"
Hermione smiled at her daughter's train of thought, "of course you can and yes we are still going."
"Why do you sound sad?"
"Mummy doesn't want to come with us."
Minnie gasped, "but she has to come with us. It wouldn't be a family trip with mummy."
"I think maybe she needs to hear that from you, sweet girl," Hermione chuckled at the bright smile her youngest daughter was giving her. If anyone could guilt Bella it was Minnie. She could convince Bella to walk off a cliff if she asked her with her big eyes. "I think mummy went into the library. Maybe you can go in and tell her how much it'll mean to you to have a full family vacation before you go off to Hogwarts for the first time."
Minnie nodded enthusiastically, "I can do that!"
"Maybe mention how you want her to show you all the constellations with my special sextant."
Minnie jumped off of her bed and put her book and earphones away, "you can count on me, mum."
Hermione laughed as she watched her daughter run out of her bedroom and turn towards the stairs, "Bella doesn't stand a chance against that girl."
Bella was sitting on the upper balcony of the library, reading one of her horror books and trying to think of ways to get out of camping. She thought her last no was enough to put Hermione off. She actually surprised herself that she turned down the offer of sex in a new locations but she figured it must be her age. "Mummy? Are you here?" She heard her youngest call from downstairs. She loved this time of day when Minnie would come spend time with her reading in the library. "Up here, bean," she called out to her daughter. She heard footsteps running across the floor and up the spiral stairs. Bella smiled when her daughter came through the double doors, ran up to her and jumped onto her lap. Wrapping her arms around her mum's shoulders, she squeezed. Bella chuckled at the enthusiasm that she always displayed with her hugs and returned the embrace. "Here to read with mummy?"
"Mmhmm," Minnie nodded and let her mum's neck go, revealing her well worn copy of The Princess Bride that they had been reading together in the afternoons.
They settled in and took turns reading pages of Minnie's favorite book, falling into their comfortable activity. The youngest Black got lost in the book book and forgot she had a task at hand. A little smirk crossed her features, "mummy?"
"Yes, bean?" Bella absentmindedly responded.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything, love. Let's have it."
"Why don't you want to go camping with me and mum?" She looked up at her mom with the biggest eyes she could muster.
Bella knew she was screwed the moment Minnie had looked at her. "Camping doesn't really sound like my idea of a holiday, love."
"But I want you to come. Pap Pap said there would be s'mores and fire. Cass would like the fire," she saw her mother smirk. "And I really really really," she was laying it on thick, "want you to show me the constellations with mum's sextant. She said it's special and you could show me how to use it."
"It is a very special present I got for your mum many years ago," Bella remembered their first Valentine's Day fondly.
"Please, mummy," she gave Bella her big eyes again.
"Min," Bella sighed, "I just don't think I'd be very much fun out in nature."
"But I heard from James and Freddy that wizards and witches can make tents with bathrooms and TVs and kitchens in them."
Bella had to admit, her daughter did her research before the guilt trip commenced. "That's true I suppose but it still doesn't seem like a vacation that would suit me."
Minnie stuck her lip out and pouted which essentially broke down Bella's last walls. Minnie went in for the kill shot, "but it's my last summer before I go away to Hogwarts. I just want to spend as much time with you as possible. I'm turning 11 in a few weeks and my letter will be here soon. That's almost no time at all. I'm going to miss you so much when I leave, mummy."
Bella sighed, shook her head and tapped Minnie's pouty lower lip, "now you put that away, darling. I'm going to miss you very much as well when you go away to school but you are going to love it so much." She saw the hopeful look in her daughter's eyes and knew she couldn't say no. "Fine, mummy will go camping but I will organize the tents. Go tell your mum that her plan to send you in here worked. Oh," Bella smirked, "I'll let your sister know. I'm sure she will be thrilled."
Minnie threw her arms around Bella's neck and kissed her cheek, "oh thank you mummy! This is going to be the best trip ever."
"We shall see," she helped Minnie jump down and she swatted her behind, "now off with you. I need to go break the news to Cass."
Bella watched her youngest run down the stairs and back out of the library, "mum!!!" She shouted, "it worked. Mummy said yes!" She'd do anything for her family even if it meant she had to be uncomfortable for a few days in the wilderness. Maybe Jack would bring his mini tv thing and they could watch horror movies. She could scare the shit out of everyone at night after they go to sleep. Now, that could be fun.
Bella chuckled, shook her head and left the library walking until she stopped outside of Cass's bedroom. Hanging outside of her door hung a sign that read:
Enter at your own risk.
Trespassers will be crucioed. -CB
Her daughter was so much like her, it was actually scary at moments. "Oh kitten," Bella knocked on Cass's door and said with a song in her voice, "let mummy in, I have horrible news."
She heard a grumble coming from the other side of the door and a lock clicked, "oh please come in and share the horrible news, mummy."
Bella tried to hide her smirk. Only twelve years old and her daughter was already such a little shit. This kid's going places was the thought often running through her mind. "How's your summer studies going?" She noticed the open charms textbook on Cass's bed.
She shrugged one shoulder, "it's fine. Kind of boring. I'm ready to start dueling."
"Such a Black," she smiled. "Do you need any help practicing?"
"Maybe. I'm having trouble with the summoning charm."
"The summoning charm?" Bella sounded impressed. "I didn't think they taught that to the first years."
"They don't," Cass gave her a smirk. "Minnie isn't the only smart one in the house."
"I never thought she was, kitten. You take after both of your mothers," she winked at her daughter and walked over to her bed, reaching down and handing Cass her wand. She walked behind her daughter and held onto her wand hand which was extended, "this is the movements for accio. Ready?" Cass nodded and the pair summoned a little dragon stuffed animal from Cass's book shelf. "That was excellent!" Bella kissed the top of her daughter's black curls. "Now, you try it in your own. Don't get frustrated. You can do this," she sat on Cass's bed and watched as her daughter started practicing her magic.
It took about 30 minutes of determined practice when Cass finally summoned her stuffed dragon across the bed and into her hand. "Did you see that mummy?!" She was so excited, jumping up and down.
"I did," Bella clapped her hands. "Well done, kitten. I knew you could do it." She opened her arms at the last second not expecting Cass to rush at her and throw her arms around her neck, squeezing her tightly and laughing. "You really are my Junior," she kissed Cass's temple, pride filling her chest. "Let me know which spell you want to work on next."
Cass nodded and then pulled away, "what's the horrible news?"
"What?"
"When you knocked you said you had horrible news," Cass reminded her.
"Oh yes," Bella grimaced. "Well, remember when your mum mentioned going camping with your grandparents?"
"Mummy, no," she gave her a pleading look.
"Sorry, kitten. Your mum won this one," she patted her shoulder and went to stand.
"But it's going to be positively atrocious," Cass whined, flopping down on her bed.
Bella laughed. While she was her Junior through and through, Hermione snuck out every once in a while. "It'll be fun," Bella said through a tight lipped smile.
"That's a lie, mummy. We both know sleeping outside isn't fun"
"True," Bella shrugged. "I'm in charge of the tents though so I could make it fun. And I heard from your sister that Pap Pap Jack said there was going to be sweets and fire."
"Fire?" Cass perked up. "Can we practice our magic out there?"
Bella nodded, "of course we can."
"And can we have a tv in the tent?"
"Of course," she turned to head out the door.
"And can I start the fire?"
Bella turned back around cackling, "I love you sweetheart but there's no way in hell I'm letting you ignite a fire in the middle of a heavily wooded area."
Cass sighed, "it was worth a try."
"We'll try to make it fun," Bella offered a small smile. "Maybe we can give everyone a good scare."
"Oh please, mummy. We can scare Lyra and Emmi. They will never see it coming. I'll look in my joke box," her eyes lit up at the possibilities. "Let's do that and they will never invite us camping again."
Bella rolled her eyes, "you need to get out of my head, kitten."
"Can we scare Pap Pap and Kitty too?" Now Cass was getting excited. Nobody loved scaring people more than her grandfather so if she could scare him, she would be the master scarer. Bella shook her head and Cass pouted, "why not?"
"Pap Pap and Kitty are a little older, kitten."
"You are old and like to be scared."
Bella held in her immediate distaste for being called old, "but they are muggles. You are bound to give them a heart attack if you scare them."
"I can attack their hearts?" She looked equal parts intrigued and terrified.
Bella chuckled, "no, love. It's called a heart attack. It's a heart condition that muggles can get at any age but it's more frequent in the elderly."
"Oh I don't want to attack their hearts."
"Neither do I. Let's just stick to your sister and cousins," she held out her hand and waited for Cass to hand it to seal the deal.
two weeks later somewhere in the Cotswolds*
Bella was helping Hermione set up the tents when she looked at her and said, "you know the Blacks have a cabin in the Cotswolds right? We all could've just stayed there."
"A cabin? The Blacks? I'm pretty sure it's the size of a small mansion and that defeats the purpose of camping, Bella."
"It may have more than one story and a carriage house out back but it also has air. We love central ac."
"We do," Hermione smiled. "But we are also witches and can use cooling charms plus the tents you constructed are so cute and comfortable. Wait until the girls see them."
Minnie, Cass and their cousins were riding up with the Grangers while Bella and Hermione apparated earlier in the day to set up the tents and get everything ready. "Shame we couldn't talk Cissy and Aviya into coming. Can you imagine Cissy out here?" She cackled. "It would've been a dream come true."
"I don't even think the pouting lip of our daughter would've been enough to bribe Cissy." Hermione laughed. "Good thing Ember was excited to spend time with her cousins."
"Your parents love all of the kids as if they were their own."
"My dad is a sucker for the little ones," Hermione smiled and walked into the first of the tents. Their tent had two stories. It included a downstairs living room, a kitchen and bathroom. Upstairs was the master bedroom and a seperate room with the bunks for the girls. Hermione's parents would stay in a similar one story tent next door.
"Even Lyra and Emmi call him Pap Pap," Bella laughed. "They all have wrapped around a finger. He would jump off a cliff for them if they asked."
"I think you would do the same," Hermione shrugged, taking a seat on the couch.
"Awfully bold assumption to assume that I love the children enough for that," she rolled her eyes and sat down next to her wife. "Hey," she looked over at the brunette and smiled. It's been awhile since it had just the two of them alone together. Sure they roped Andy or Cissy into babysitting for them every other weekend but Bella had to admit, this was a pretty nice set up.
"You are thinking that camping was worth it, hmm?" Hermione questioned with a self satisfied look on her face.
"Absolutely not," Bella whispered as she leaned in, placing her hand on her wife's thigh and captured Hermione's lips in a kiss that had the brunette's toes curling. Soft brushes of their lips, barely any pressure. The hand on her leg didn't move but Bella's other hand grabbed the younger witch's chin between her thumb and forefinger, deepening the pressure. She swiped her tongue across Hermione's lip and was granted access when she moaned. They slowly kissed each other exploring like they hadn't properly kissed in ages.
Bella's hand started to move between her legs and slowly slid up her inner thigh when a small child was heard running into the tent. "Auntie Bella! Auntie Bella!" A small child with curly dirty blonde hair came running up to the two women and threw her arms and Bella's neck, crawling up into her lap. She had on a little dragon backpack so Bella couldn't quite give her a proper hug. "I'm so excited" she squealed when she pulled back.
"Hello my little bear cub," Bella kissed the girl on her forehead.
"Auntie Mione!!" The girl squealed and crawled over to her other aunt to give her the same treatment.
Bella's kids and Lyra ran in after Ember had already attacked the women then ran off up the stairs to the kid's room. Cass and Minnie hugged their mothers and told them how much fun the ride up with Pap Pap and Nana was and how they stopped for sweets and cokes. "It sounds like you had a wonderful trip," Hermione would have to set a limit on the sweets later.
Lyra stopped in front of Bella and said hello. "Madam Malfoy," she offered the platinum blonde a nod.
Lyra rolled her eye and crossed her arms, "Auntie Bella. Stop."
"What?" Bella smirked, she reached out and shook the girl's hand. "I don't want to embarrass you in front of all your new wizard friends."
When Lyra had come over at Christmas she had told her aunt that it was embarrassing to still be called by her childhood nickname. Bella won't admit it but she was more than a little hurt at the notion so she decided to only refer to her as Madam Malfoy. Hermione told her she was being childish but it was the first time she had told her that. "Auntie," Lyra sighed. "This isn't what I wanted. You can still call me Lyra."
"That might be too embarrassing," Bella pretended to think about it.
Lyra looked around, "I don't see any of my friends around, do you?" She extended her arms waiting for a hug.
Bella finally softened, pulling the girl into an embrace, "come here, stinker."
Lyra laughed and threw her arms around Bella's neck. "Okay it isn't so bad."
The rest of the girls ran upstairs to claim their beds when Jack and Katherine walked through the front door, "nice digs," the eldest Granger put his bags down.
"Dad, your tent is next door. We thought you and mum might want your own place to sleep. We will keep the girls in line."
"We?" Bella looked at her wife.
"Something tells me that Bella was dragged here against her will," Katherine laughed.
"It was more like being coerced by my youngest," Bella rolled her eyes and stood. "Come on, let me give you a tour of your tent."
Hermione got up and went upstairs to find the girls already laying in the beds that they had claimed. There were two bunk beds and it seemed that the older girls had claimed the top bunks so that left Ember and Minnie in the bottom bunks. "Did you girls fairly decide who got to sleep up top?"
Cass gave her mom the most innocent smile, "of course we did, mum. Very fair. The girls wanted to sleep down there didn't you?"
Ember and Minnie nodded enthusiastically but Hermione felt there was some sort of threat holding to that head nod. "I'm not sure if I believe you, love."
"It's true Aunt Mione," Lyra said. "They wanted to sleep down there."
"Minnie?" Hermione looked to her youngest because she knew that she wouldn't lie. "Is this true?"
Minnie looked at her mother then up at her sister, "it's mostly true, mum. It's fine. Cass said we can hang out up there during the day."
Hermione raised her eyebrows and looked at the mini Bella who was smirking but quickly set her face when she saw her mother looking at her. "Of course you can, Min. You too, Emmi!"
Cass was laying it on thick and Hermione knew better. "I guess I'll just have to let Pap Pap Jack know of the plan. He will make sure it's fair." Cass's face fell. She knew she couldn't pull anything over on her grandfather. "You girls want to come out and help set up the grounds? I know Pap Pap will be looking for volunteers to go collect firewood."
"Pass," Cass said without looking up from her book while the other three girls jumped out of their bunks ready to help out.
"Pardon?"
"No thank you, mum. I don't wish to participate in the wilderness experience," she continued reading.
These moments tested Hermione's patience more than she even thought possible. Cass somehow turned out more stubborn than Bella and it baffled Hermione everyday. "Mummy is outside with your grandparents now. Even she is getting into the spirit of things."
"No," Cass said one last time before rolling over and facing the wall.
Hermione crossed her arms and sighed, "fine. You can skip this but I expect you outside later. You aren't passing on the whole experience."
"We shall see," was the mumbled reply from her daughter.
"Come on, let's go girls," Hermione ushered the other children out of the room.
Cass didn't know how long she had been protesting the vacation in her bed but she must have fallen asleep at some point because the next thing she knew she was being woken up by her grandfather. "Casserole. Wake up, sweetheart."
"Pap Pap," she was trying to rub the sleep out of her eyes. "Did I miss the s'mores?"
Jack laughed because of course his granddaughter would be worried about missing the sweets. "No, it's only been an hour. All the other girls are out collecting firewood. Your mum told me you didn't want to come on this holiday."
"It's not that," Cass sat up, stretching her tired muscles. "I'm not too keen on the outside except for quidditch or animals."
"Animals you say? I saw some foxes in the woods behind the tents. There's a bunch of muggle animals around here. We can go animal spotting."
"Hmm," Cass thought about it, "what about scaring? Mummy and I are going to scare the girls tonight. Do you want to help?"
Jack held back his smile, "tell you what, pumpkin… if you come outside and spend the holiday with us then I will help you plan the scare for later. The girls won't know what hit them. We can probably also scare your mum."
"Not mummy though. She doesn't get scared."
"Not Kitty either. She'll be cross with me if I scare her," Jack had his serious voice on.
A little smirk grew in her face, "deal. Let's go find mummy. First we discuss our scare then I will collect wood."
"You drive a hard bargain Cassiopeia but you have a deal," he held out a little piece of chocolate as a peace offering. "Don't tell the girls."
They walked out of the tent while Cass immediately scanned the area for her mother. She spotted her over by the campfire looking hot and uncomfortable even though she had changed into a tank top and a pair of muggle jean shorts, "psst mummy," she called to Bella who looked over. She beckoned her mother over with a wave of her hand.
"So you've decided to join the holiday. Good work Pap Pap. I'm guessing a bribe was involved."
"Pap Pap said he wants to scare with us."
Bella smirked at her father in law, "is that so?"
Jack put his hand over his heart, "I'm wounded. Of course I want to scare everyone. Nobody loves horror movies more than me. Except maybe the two of you."
Bella smiled wickedly, "so here's what I was thinking…"
Jack had set out to have another one of his world famous Jack Granger cookouts only the twist was cooking on the campfire. He found it rather comforting to have witches with him who could keep the campfire going in case the weather turned or he couldn't get the fire going. Bella volunteered to start the fire but Jack was determined to start it the old fashioned muggle way with flint and sticks. It only took him 20 minutes to get it going which earned the comment, "20 more minutes than it would've taken me," from his daughter in law. Bella wasn't too fussed with him using his prehistoric traditions as this meant it was time for him to make burgers. After the burgers and hotdogs were cooked, they all sat around the campfire enjoying their dinner. "Remember your first burger, Bella?"
"How could I forget? It was such a gateway experience for me," Bella happily took a bite of a Jack's original.
"There was a time when mummy didn't eat burgers?" Minnie was almost too stunned to speak.
"That's right," Katherine patted her hand. "Your mums came round our house and your Pap Pap insisted on grilling out. I was worried Bella wouldn't like the food but it turns out she loved the burgers."
"Ate three of them at least," Bella cackled. "It was love at first bite."
"The best part of that evening was that's the night we found out Cass was growing in her belly," Katherine finished her story with a loving smile.
"Oh yeah," Bella finished her first burger. "That was also that night but the burgers were amazing."
"Mummy!" "Bella!" Cass and Hermione shared indignant sounding responses.
"I love you just as much as Pap Pap's burgers if not a little more," she winked at her daughter.
"I can't be too mad, Pap Pap does make the best burgers. Besides McDonald's of course."
Emmi had already had two hot dogs and was asking for more when Hermione thought to stop her, "sweetheart maybe you should slow down. You don't want to get a tummy ache from eating too much."
"Oh pet, you've forgotten she was blessed with the Black appetite plus whatever the hell it is Ms. Hart shoves into her body all day. Have you seen that woman eat? She's in incredible shape for a woman I've seen ingest two large take away pizzas in one sitting."
"She'll let us know when she's full, won't you Emmi?" Pap Pap gave her another hot dog and patted her head.
"Yes, Pap Pap," she smiled up at the older man she had come to love. "It's so good." Then she marched over to Kitty for more crisps. "This holiday is so much fun. Can we play in the lake?"
"You have to let your dinner settle first but I see no reason why that can't happen," Katherine kissed her forehead.
"What about you sweetheart?" Hermione turned towards Lyra. "Would you like anything else to eat?"
"Oh no thank you, Aunt Mione. One burger is my limit," she smiled through her proper response. They knew she was less acclimated to muggle food so for her to eat anything was enough for Hermione. "I need to save room for the s'mores."
"Smart kid," Pap Pap nodded at Lyra. "Always save room for s'mores."
"That's what the dessert stomach is for," Cass helped herself to another burger. "I think I was blessed with at least two regular stomachs and a dessert stomach."
"The Black appetite," Bella laughed, "your sister has it too, just not as extreme as ours."
"I think I got the Granger tummy," Minnie rubbed her full stomach after finishing her second hot dog. "I'm so full."
"Jack Granger's famous cookout strikes again."
"Merlin dad," Hermione laughed at his bad joke. "Bella and I will clean up."
"We will?" She asked with a mouth full of food. Hermione gave her a look, "we will."
Hermione turned towards the children, "girls you may go change into your swimming costumes but don't go into the water until we come join you."
"Don't go too far," Bella shouted after the girls, "I forgot the tracking devices at home." When she saw the concerned look of her mother in law she added, "joking. Of course."
It was a little after midnight when Jack left the confines of their tent and made his way over to the other one. He crept inside knowing their plan was to meet downstairs. Of course he was greeted with Cass and Bella sitting on the couch each wearing a devious expression. "Ready to scare?" He whispered as he got closer.
"Let's make them cry!" Cass was very excited for this part of the holiday.
Bella cast a silencing spell to soften their footsteps as they made their way up to the second landing of their tent. Creeping past the room Hermione was sleeping in they stopped just outside of the girls' room. After a quick round of thumbs up, the three were on the move stepping just inside of the room. Jack and Bella slowly moved into their spots while Cass crept along behind them. There was a buzzing in front of her face and she swatted it away more than once in less than the 15 seconds it took her to walk through the door. She was so distracted by the gods damn horsefly that she didn't realize she was walking left foot first into the corner of Ember and Lyra's bed. She didn't see it and stubbed her toe, tripping with a few curse words flying from her mouth. When she was falling, Cass accidentally grabbed onto Ember's leg pulling her down with her. The youngest Black family member jolted awake with a blood curdling scream. "Emmi shh it's just me," she tried to quiet the girl but it was too late.
The scream set off a chain reaction. Ember's terror caused a ball of flames to shoot from her hand and up onto the bed she had previously been occupying. Minnie jumped out of her bed gripping a dagger she had hidden under her pillow. Bella grabbed Jack, pulling him back to watch the shit show unfold. Where did her daughter even get that dagger? She shouldn't be surprised. Cass was looking at Emmi with wide eyes, "look what she made." She was just as excited for her baby cousin as everyone was for her that Halloween she made a ball of fire.
"Bella shouldn't we put that out?" Jack nudged her shoulder.
"Right. Right. Sorry," she cast the counter spell to extinguish the flames and reparo to fix Ember's blanket. "That was a very impressive fireball for an 8 year old." Emmi smiled brighhtly at her aunt's praise. "Your mummys will be very proud."
"I think I broke my ankle, mummy," Cass cringed trying to get up.
"Did Ember make that fire?" Minnie asked.
"You sleep with a dagger?" Cass sounded more impressed than anything.
"Wilderness Cass. Anything could've happened out here. Nobody could have predicted this," she pointed to the group of them on the floor. "Were you trying to scare us?"
Cass shrugged, "it worked."
Bella sat down on the floor to examine her daughter's swollen ankle, "well I suppose it worked. A small causality. Definitely injured. I don't think we have any skelegro here so we will have to wait until we get home to fix it."
"I have some muggle supplies, we can wrap it nice and tight until then."
Just as they were examining Cass's foot Hermione walked into the room, "what's all this shouting about?" She stopped and took in the scene before her. "Why is it always you three?"
Cass gave her a cheeky grin, "Minnie has a dagger." She took the opportunity to be able to throw her sister under the knight bus for once.
Hermione pointed to the top bunk, "she slept through all of that?"
"Mummy would say it's the inferior Malfoy genes," Minnie slipped the dagger back underneath her pillow hoping that Hermione wouldn't see it.
"She has ear plugs," Cass rolled her eyes. "She slept with them everyday at Hogwarts. I don't think a stampede of rabid mooncalves wouldn't wake her."
"Hermione, little dove, love of my life, the most forgiving person I've ever met?"
"Yes, Bella?" She tried to hide her smile.
"Seems Cass might have broken her ankle. Can you run the diagnostic? I know Pompfrey taught you how to do it."
Hermione's face fell, "oh my baby. Are you okay? Dad, go get the first aid kit. Minnie, go into our bathroom and check the bag with the potions. See if there is any skelegro." She ran her wand over Cass's ankle and lower leg. The scan popped up showing an ankle fracture. "Oh dear, it does look like a fracture. I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"There was a huge fly that got in my way," Cass's cheeks turned red when everybody started laughing.
"You do take after your cousin, Dora," Hermione kissed her forehead.
"No skelegro, mum, but here's some pain potions," she handed the vials to Hermione.
"I got an ace bandage," Jack came back into the room. He helped his daughter wrap Cass's foot so it was snug and would remain immobile.
"Mummy?"
"What is it, kitten?"
Cass looked around at everyone in the room and started laughing, "you were right. This holiday was a lot of fun."
"You have a broken ankle," Minnie bent down to examine it.
"Yes," Cass shrugged, "but when we get home maybe I can get one of those cool casts I've seen kids at Hogwarts have."
"Poppy really integrated the muggle medicine," Bella rolled her eyes, "what's next they are going to start teaching them how to drive cars?"
"Only four more years mummy and I'll be able to drive. You'll teach me right, Pap Pap?"
"This seems like a conversation for another night, love," Hermione handed Cass a full potion bottle and watched as she happily drank it.
Jack lifted Cass up and deposited her into Minnie's bed who happily took the top bunk, "bottom bunk you for kiddo."
"This has been great," the potions starting to take effect. She could barely hold her eyes open.
"Goodnight girls," Bella tucked Ember back into bed before saying goodnight to Cass and Minnie. "Well," she closed the door behind them and smirked, "I consider this a successful first night of camping."
"Oh? Your daughter broke her ankle," Hermione tried her best to sound upset though truthfully she was happy that a broken ankle was the worst thing to happen so far.
"In the morning, I'll tell you about the time Andy and I tried to have Cissy make an unbreakable vow on our family holiday."