DISCLAIMER. None of the characters used are a creation of mine. They belong solely to JK Rowling.
The eve of June 29th found Hermione bracing herself. To say that she was terrified would be an understatement.
She would be spending the evening in the midst of future Death Eaters. She would finally come face to face with Bellatrix tonight. She had conditioned herself to not react to anyone she knew to be Voldemort's follower in her time. She had willed herself into thinking that all these men and women were still redeemable.
She would not jump to conclusions and curse them for crimes that they hadn't yet committed.
Adding to her misery was the fact that with each passing day she had been able to access more of her memories. She had discovered that being a pureblood necessitated a few things. One of which was learning the family tree of all the important families. And having remembered most of them she was pretty certain she had not come across any strange boy who hadn't been a part of her own time. Nobody had even been named Harry in the last century. This could only mean that Harry was a muggleborn.
But some part part of her still nagged her because what if he wasn't. What if Harry was a Muggle for god's sake. The thought of being away from him for so long terrified the girl.
Hermione had been persuaded to wear a beautiful silk gown with shades of turquoise. Her brown hair, still very much bushy had been arranged into soft ringlets that settled at the base of her neck.
Blinky tottered around her, 'Young Mistress must look beautiful. Everyone must love Mistress Hermy.'
Hermione chuckled, still not very used to the simple gesture of raising her lips and smiling. 'Blinky, call me Hermy please.'
Blinky looked at her with so much reverance that she bowed and had tears pool in at the base of her big black eyes.
'Blinky is honoured, young Hermy.'
Having become accustomed to the overly large manor Hermione had made her way to the ball room in no less than seven minutes.
She arrived at the entrance to find that her grandfather stood beside Rolf greeting the onslaught of their guests.
She was supposed to enter the ballroom with them and so she waited.
She was shocked to find that someone had slipped their arms around her waist and tackled her from the back, tickling along her sides.
She heard the mischievous laughter of Rab and turned daround to point her finger at him, 'Rab! Stop this instant!'
Her grandfather never missed a thing and sent a mock glare at Rab.
Rab conceded and moved away from the girl. 'You look beautiful, dear Mi.' He bent down to kiss her forehead and placed her hand on his arm. He was considerably taller than her with his black hair pushed back on his head and his aristocratic features handsomely inviting to any and every one.
He was surely the more gifted one when it came to looks among the three siblings. Despite the beauty and grace each pureblood family often held, Hermione found she was still the same plain old girl with large buckbeak teeth and bushy hair. She would have to fix her teeth by herself this time around.
She sighed.
After having waiting a quarter of an hour Hermione saw the Blacks arrive. Bellatrix and Narcissa Black had to be one of the most gorgeous women Hermione had ever laid her eyes upon.
The girls trailed after their mother who was as haughty as one might have expected.
The woman was linked to another. Hermione didn't hesitate in putting a name to the second woman who oozed aristocracy. Walburga Black. Beside her were two handsome boys.
Hermione was schocked. She gasped when she saw the taller one of them with his black locks framing his sharp featured face. His grey eyes devoid of the grief he had felt over his friends' death and the terror from Azkaban.
Sirius Black looked like the epitome of royalty in that moment. Dressed in immaculate black robes, he walked with an air of superiority. Looking everything like a Lord even at the age of ten or so he still managed to retain the mischievous glimmer in his eyes as he turned and met the girl's gaze. Seeing her mouth open he mistook her surprise and winked at her and smiled.
Hermione quickly regained her composure and coughed slightly when Rab gave her strange teasing looks.
The older men exchanged greetings with Orion, Walburga and Druella Black.
Their daughters bowed before Papa.
Rolf quickly greeted his in laws and placed a kiss upon Narcissa's outstretched hand and went to stand beside Bellatrix who preened under his gaze.
Hermione had begun to feel some amount of terror grip her heart. The skin on her arm prickled. But the version of Bellatrix she faced now was nothing more than a teenage girl trying to flatter the boy she liked.
Papa commanded everybody's attention and said, 'May I present to you my youngest grandchildren.' He signalled for Hermione and Rab to move.
He placed his hand on Rab's shoulders and introduced him, 'This is Rabastan. He will soon be rejoining Hogwarts for his Fourth year.'
Rabastan bowed and carried out the customary greetings with the women present and even went as far as winking at Narcissa who glared at him in return.
Orion Black openly laughed at this.
Papa then smiled delightfully while he introduced his granddaughter.
'And this is the apple of my eye. The true jewel of this family. My very own dearest Hermione.'
Hermione curtsied with a forced smile.
Her hand was gently taken from her side by a very delighted Sirius Black who placed a chaste kiss against her knuckles and bowed. Beside him a slightly shorter but equally handsome boy, Regulus Black did the same.
Walburga was quick to introduce her two boys.
Papa frowned, 'I had hoped to see Pollux tonight.'
Orion cleared his throat, 'He is busy on matters elsewhere. I am certain he will meet with you very soon.'
Papa nodded and led the small party to enter the ballroom.
Hermione stuck close to Rab and saw as the entirety of the assembly cheered when Rolf enter with Bellatrix plastered on his arm. She was everything a lady ought to be.
Hermione almost approved the young woman in the way she carried herself. Already so sure of herself.
Rab had soon left his poor sister alone with promises of many a sweets later to try and woo some helpless girl.
Hermione had snorted in the most unladylike manner at the young man.
Hermione found herself seated beside an enchanted fountain looking at people with a keen eye.
Still reeling from having seen Sirius as a child, Hermione was suddenly brought face to face with a harrowing feeling.
She might very well be successful in saving the world if she could one day find Harry but try as they might they would never have their own people remember them. Surely the Weasleys, James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, Tonks, Minerva and Moody and countless others would be alive but they would never love them the way their counterparts had.
They would never find the love they had come to share with these great men and women. Because their family, their Weasleys and Potter's and Sirius and everybody else were dead. They were all dead. They would stay dead, those versions of these people. They would save the world but at the cost of losing everything they loved forget all about them.
She could vaguely make out Rab speaking to some redheaded girl and Rolf in deep conversation with someone who looked very much like Mulciber.
Hermione shivered.
'Dear sister, surely you are well?' Bellatrix said in a soft silky tone. 'It isn't very cold for you to be feeling so.'
Hermione was surprised at the genuine concern Bellatrix had held in her voice.
Hermione was, to say the least, speechless.
'Miss Lestrange? If I may be so bold.. Hermione?' Bellatrix touched her lightly on her shoulder, her other hand holding a drink. 'Would you like to go out and get some fresh air?'
Hermione shook her head, 'No, thank you very much, Miss Black. I have just never attended this big a party before.'
Bellatrix smiled kindly, 'You must get used to it. You're old enough to be soon planning events like this. Once I'm settled into the family I'm sure we could work on them together. I really do hope to be a great friend to you, dear. Your brother speaks so fondly of you.'
Hermione nodded and forced another smile. 'As does he about you, Miss black.'
'Oh, none of that please. Call me Bella. We are meant to be sisters very soon.'
Bile rose up Hermione's throat. She detested the woman. She detested her in her previous life. And she detested her now. No. She could not look at this woman and think that perhaps she wouldn't resort to her crimes. She could not look at her and not be reminded of the inhumane woman who had killed her mother in everything but blood.
And yet she smiled. Hermione had to stay in character. She had to win over this woman. One day she would help Hermione get into the throng of the happenings of the Dark Side and she could not afford to lose any possible ally.
'Of course, Bella. I do hope my brother makes you very happy.'
Bella curtsied and left in search of her sister.
Hermione had had enough of this for a day. She made her way to the gardens to do exactly as Bella had suggested. She needed fresh air. She rushed outside and cursed her tiny feet and prayed she could be in her own body soon.
She began running when she reached the corridor leading to the back entrance to the garden. She ran as unshed years made their way to pool into her eyes, closing her vision. She ran from the murderous wench inside. She ran from her brothers who had sinned equally as much as that deranged woman. She ran from the woman who would one day give birth to the man Hermione had killed to reach this time.
She ran from everyone.
She ran from herself.
Not really looking where she was going she slipped along the wet soil and had almost fallen down if not for a pair of strong arms that steadied herself.
Sirius whistled, 'Whoa there, Miss. What's got you in such a hurry?' He laughed.
He stopped short when he noticed the teary state of the girl in his arms. 'Hey, are you okay?' He looked at her with his grey eyes full of concern.
Hermione wished only to cry harder at seeing this young version of a man she had once bickered with. A man she had admired and respected for bringing some amount of love that Harry had never had before.
She quickly disentangled herself and wiped her tears away. 'I'm sorry. I've been having a bad time for a while now.'
Regulus stood watching the pair and felt greatly awkward. He cleared his throat as Sirius nodded.
'Well I can only assume how suffocating these stupid parties can be.' Sirius plopped down a swing set and stared up at the stars with his hands beneath his head. 'My brother and I usually don't attend. But it was a necessity this time, what with this being the engagement party for our dearest cousin Bella.', he scoffed.
Regulus shook his head in clear disapproval of his brother scorning his family but quietly offered his handkerchief to the young girl.
Hermione thanked him in earnest and smiled ruefully.
Regulus led her to the swing and the two sat beside Sirius.
Regulus said, 'You look deeply troubled. Are you not happy with this arrangement?'
Hermione was taken by surprise at the depth of this boy who had so quickly understood her pain.
She shook her head vehemently, 'I'm not supposed to have a say in the matter.'
Sirius grunted. 'Sucks to be a kid. I can't wait to get to Hogwarts and away from my barmy family.'
Regulus hit his head and growled, 'Sirius, watch what you're saying.'
Hermione laughed, 'Please don't mind me. I can understand. Another couple of years and I can finally leave for Hogwarts too.'
Sirius smiled broadly at her. 'Excellent. That means we would be in the same year.'
Regulus cried, 'You'll leave me alone with Mother..'
Hermione frowned and noting this Sirius rushed to explain, 'Our dear old mum is one perfect mental piece. She seems to think violence is the way to a child's heart.' He scoffed.
Regulus shied away from Hermione's pitiful eyes. It pained her to even imagine the kind of abuse Walburga had been subjecting her boys to. No wonder Sirius couldn't wait to get away.
Sirius placed his arm around Hermione, 'Don't you worry, young maiden fair, I shall always protect you from lecherous women like my mother.'
Regulus laughed. 'Always the gentleman, my brother.'
Hermione glared at him, 'I can look after myself, thank you very much.'
Sirius looked at her then and found emotions completely foreign to him swirl in her eyes.
The three sat in comfortable silence for the remainder of the party revelling in their common yearning to leave.
For Sirius and Regulus, it would mean a reprieve from their mother's venomous means of instilling horror in her children to do her bidding and follow in her footsteps to be the future Black patriarch and for Hermione it would mean finding Harry and any chance she had at happiness.