"She should be awake," Bellatrix says desperately, staring down at Hermione's face. Andromeda has done an amazing job in patching her up, the gaping wounds and burnt flesh are now just reddened scars that will forever serve as a visible reminder of Hermione's strength. When Hermione had been collected from the deck and brought downstairs, there had been a grim understanding amongst the sisters and the crew; Hermione might not make it out of this alive.
It would have been an easier task if they hadn't been stuck in an area without their magic. Although Bellatrix had turned the ship right around, it had taken a painstaking amount of time to get back into waters where Andromeda could begin to do more than just try and stem the flow of blood with useless bandages and dressings. Hermione had been paler than a ghost by that point, her heart beat so weak that it was barely audible, her neck strangely still where her pulse can normally be seen.
Andromeda had refused to give up though, working endlessly on Hermione's care for eleven solid hours straight, meticulously pulling flesh back together and regrowing skin to cover all of her wounds. The injuries were so severe that dittany was almost completely ineffectual, Andromeda resorting to more risky practices in order to stem the flow of blood and seal Hermione's body against the very real threat of infection.
Bellatrix flicks gratitude-filled eyes to her sister, who is sleeping deeply next to Hermione, too tired to even make the short walk back to her room. Leaning forwards, she pulls the blanket further up over them both, careful not to cover Crookshanks' face who is sleeping between them. The half-kneazle has refused to leave Hermione's side unless absolutely necessary, and it endears the furry beast to Bellatrix in an unexpected way. Together, they have kept a watchful eye over the woman in the bed, determined to keep her safe from harm. An unspoken agreement that they are her guardians and must work together. She feels a fondness developing for Crookshanks that has been born of their camaraderie, and it seems to be returned. In all the time they have kept their vigil, he has not hissed at her once.
Narcissa rests a hand on her shoulder. "You need to rest, Bella. Hermione will need you when she wakes, and you'll be no good to her as you are. When was the last time you ate?"
Bellatrix shrugs helplessly. "I don't know," she replies honestly, too tired to hide the truth from her sister.
Narcissa pulls the chair from under the small desk in Bellatrix's cabin, pushing it toward the bed. "Sit. I'll go and get you something to eat, and then you're going to say goodnight to Hermione, and then go to my cabin to sleep. I'll be here. You know I will take good care of her."
Nodding tiredly, Bellatrix allows herself to be guided into the chair, barely acknowledging that Narcissa has left the room.
"I'm so sorry," she whispers, brushing the hair from Hermione's face. "There was nothing I could do to protect you without endangering us all."
She knows that Hermione can't hear her, but the words that have been tormenting her since Hermione fell to the deck spill from her lips without restraint. "I should have helped you. It's my fault you are injured. I should have done something, Hermione, and I'm so, so sorry."
Dropping her face onto the cool sheets next to Hermione's side, Bellatrix finally lets the tears that she has been blinking back fall unchecked from her eyes. A hand makes its way onto her shoulder, and Andromeda's warm voice washes over her.
"It's not your fault, Bella. There was nothing any of us could do. Our hands were tied and we all know it. Hermione will know it too, when she wakes up."
"We should have protected her," Bellatrix replies fiercely. "We stood back and let that monster… we let him hurt her."
"If we had attacked, then they would have responded with far more force than we were prepared for, Bella. Firing at them would have jeopardised the entire crew, including Hermione."
"I just…" Bellatrix lifts her head, meeting the compassionate eyes of her sister who weakly pushes herself into an upright position. "I just need her to wake up."
"I know," Andromeda replies, staring down at the figure between them with so much love in her eyes that Bellatrix's heart aches. "We all do."
"It's been too long," Bellatrix worries. "She should have woken up by now."
"She drained her magical core. You must remember how long it took her to wake up last time," Andromeda reminds her. "It could still be hours, or it could even be days. Be patient."
Bellatrix can't reply, the ever persistent lump in her throat making it difficult to make a sound, let alone form words. She knows that the worst of the damage has been repaired, but what about internal injuries? She trusts Andromeda, but who knows what might be happening on the inside? What hidden reasons are there for Hermione's continued unconsciousness?
As if she has heard her thoughts - and to be honest, Bellatrix knows that there is every chance that she has - Andromeda waves her wand over Hermione, and silently casts a diagnostic spell. Bellatrix examines the various lights and shimmers in the air around Hermione, and nods, breathing a sigh of relief.
"She's just drained," Bellatrix states quietly, shoulders sagging. "She'll be okay."
"She will," Andromeda confirms, lying back down with a tired groan. "And you need to get some rest."
"I will, once I've eaten. You know what Cissa is like when she gets a bee in her bonnet," Bellatrix confides rolling her eyes.
"She's right. You need to take care of yourself better. Hermione will be upset when she realises that you haven't been sleeping or eating."
Narcissa returns to the cabin and places a tray in front of Bellatrix. One sniff of the bowl in front of her, and she is picking up the spoon, suddenly ravenous. When was the last time that she ate? It's probably a bad sign that she can't remember.
The contents of the bowl disappear far too quickly, and she puts it down, her eyes suddenly heavy as she holds back a yawn.
"Bed," Narcissa instructs quietly, but Bellatrix recognises that tone. There will be no arguing with her about this, so she gets up, giving her sister a sarcastic salute that Narcissa just wisely ignores.
"You'll wake me?" Bellatrix can't help but ask. "If there is a change? Any change at all?"
"We'll wake you," Narcissa confirms, slipping into Bellatrix's now empty chair. "Now, no more stalling. Go to sleep, Bella."
With one last longing look at the bed, Bellatrix turns and walks through the door, but she doesn't go straight to Narcissa's cabin. Instead, she follows the narrow corridor to the common room, following the sound of chatter and the joyful laugh of Rose.
She stands in the doorway, looking on fondly as Ginny and Luna entertain the girl with a pack of exploding snap cards. Her presence doesn't go unnoticed for long though, and when Rose spots her, she throws herself out of her seat and into Bellatrix's arms.
"You okay, Rose?"
Rose nods, but it's easy to see the worry in her eyes. "Is Mum awake yet?"
"Not yet," Bellatrix replies, briefly tightening her grip, before gently pushing the girl away. She joins them at the table, determined to be honest with Rose. It's what she would have appreciated at her age, and the kid has shown herself to be mature enough to deal with almost anything that has been thrown at her since she and Hermione joined the crew.
Clearing her throat, Bellatrix smiles at the girl across the table. "Her injuries have been healed, Rose. Andromeda has worked wonders, I promise you."
"Then why isn't she awake?"
"She used a lot of magic and it drained her core. She just needs to rest and recover, okay? It will take a little time, but she will get better," Bellatrix tells her adamantly. "She's going to wake up soon, and be good as new."
Ginny fixes her with a look. "And her wounds? Have they… left a mark?"
Bellatrix immediately understands what Ginny is saying, and sighs. How to tell Rose that Hermione will never look the same again? Physical injuries can be healed with relative ease, but wounds of a magical nature? Those are more tricky and it's likely Hermione will always wear those scars on her body. She needs to warn Rose of what to expect, and she looks around wondering if there is anyone more suitable for this conversation.
There isn't, and so she takes a deep breath, reaching out to hold Rose's hand over the table. "She's going to be fine, Rose, but you do need to be prepared. Magically inflicted injuries can leave a permanent mark. Do you understand what I am saying?"
Lower lip wobbling, Rose's eyes well with unspilled tears that she blinks back defiantly. "How bad is it?"
There is no easy way to say it, so Bellatrix doesn't delay or try to sugarcoat it. It's better that Rose knows exactly what to expect, for her sake, but also for Hermione's. The last thing Hermione needs is for people to stare at her in shock, especially her own daughter.
"She has severe scarring on one side of her body. The left side of her torso, her left arm and the left side of her face were the worst affected," Bellatrix informs her honestly, smiling gently to take away the sting.
"But… but you still love her, right?" Rose asks, glaring across the table and withdrawing her hand.
The barely concealed accusation hits Bellatrix in the chest and for a moment, she finds it difficult to breathe. Regaining her composure, she nods, asking curiously. "Yes, of course. Why on earth would you think that this changes anything?"
Rose sighs, all the fight leaving her tiny body. "Cormac. He used to tell her that no one could love her. Not with all her scars, and that was before this!"
"Hermione is a beautiful person, Rose. It doesn't matter what scars she carries, she will always be beautiful to me."
Watching her in silence, several long moments pass as the young girl assesses her, and then Rose slides out from the table, holding out her hand and beckoning for Bellatrix to stand up.
Bemused, she does as requested, throwing a helpless look at Ginny who smothers a laugh. She takes the offered hand, and allows herself to be led to her own cabin, realising too late that she is likely to be in trouble with both Narcissa and Andromeda for not going to bed as she had promised.
"I want to see her," Rose says needlessly, pulling her impatiently along the hallway. She doesn't knock, bursting into the room without warning. Bellatrix fights the amusement threatening to show in her face with difficulty, as both of her sisters visibly startle.
"Bella! You're meant to be in bed," Narcissa scolds her, before turning to Rose, her tone softening in the way that they all do when speaking to the youngest crew member. "And you, young lady, should not be in here.
Narcissa angles her body in an attempt to stop Rose seeing Hermione's broken body, but Rose scowls. "I know she's injured. You don't have to protect me."
Bellatrix subtly nods when Narcissa meets her eyes, shrugging lightly.
"Very well." Narcissa moves out of the way, and Rose steps forwards. It's heartbreaking for all of them to see the emotion that Rose doesn't quite manage to hide, though she makes an admirable attempt.
"Mum?" Rose asks hesitantly, climbing up onto the bed next to her with a helping hand from Andromeda. "It's time to wake up now."
"She's just drained," Andromeda reassures her. "She used up her magical reserves."
"So, she needs magic?" Rose checks, not giving any of them a chance to reply before placing her hands gently on Hermione's stomach. None of them are quick enough to stop her as Rose channels her own magic into her mother, knowing that once the connection has been formed, it might be dangerous for both of them to interfere.
The three Black sisters watch entranced as the colour comes back to Hermione's cheeks, the scars fading from vivid red, to pale pink and disappearing altogether. The angry bruising that had covered almost every inch of skin that hadn't been burned dwindles into nothing and Hermione gasps, taking in a deep breath, her lungs no longer rattling like they were.
Narcissa steps forwards, reaching to put a hand on Rose's shoulder. "That's enough, Darling. No more, now."
It seems like Rose is going to ignore her, but when Hermione opens her eyes, Rose removes her hands, grinning. "Hey, Mum. You missed dinner."
Opening her mouth to speak, nothing but a dry croak comes out, and Bellatrix rushes to fill her a glass of water. "Sip slowly," she warns, her own face nearly splitting in two with a wide grin. Hermione pulls herself into an upright position, stretching out her limbs gingerly with a confused expression.
"Welcome back, Hermione," Narcissa greets her. "How are you feeling now?"
-xXx-
Though her hand shakes as she hands the glass back, Hermione's voice now comes out strong. "Surprisingly… okay? I don't understand?"
She looks to Bellatrix for answers, returning the woman's smile as the Captain starts to explain. "Andromeda is a miracle worker, and… and so is Rose."
"Rose?" Hermione asks, before turning to Andromeda in the bed next to her. "And thank you, Andy."
"You're welcome, but truly, your daughter is the miracle."
"What happened?"
Narcissa grins. "Rose decided it was time you woke up."
"But… how?" Hermione asks. She's missing something, she knows she is. How she is even here, she has no idea.
"From what I can tell, she gave you a magical transplant of sorts." Andromeda shrugs. "I've not seen anything like it before."
Hermione turns her attention to her daughter, who is looking at her warily. She holds out her arms, wrapping them around her when Rose falls into them, hot tears running down both their cheeks. "I really am okay, Sweetheart," she reassures her. "Thanks to you. Thanks to all of you."
"None of us would be here if it wasn't for both of you," Bellatrix reminds them. "I still can't quite believe that we managed to get ourselves out of that encounter."
"I knew we would," Rose informs them haughtily, drawing a laugh from them all. "I knew Mum could do it."
"And you were right, Little One." Narcissa reaches forwards to bop her on the nose, smiling gently. "Now, it's time for Hermione to eat something, and Rose, it's time for you to go to bed."
"Awww." Rose pouts, but climbs down from the bed, leaning forwards to kiss Hermione's cheek. "I'll come and see you in the morning, Mum."
Loathe as she is to see her daughter leave so soon after waking up, she can tell by how dark the sky is out of the porthole that it's long past Rose's bedtime. "Goodnight, Darling. Sleep well."
Rose slips from the room without further protest, and Hermione turns to glance between them all. "It's over? It's really over?" Crookshanks stretches with a wide yawn, padding across the sheets until he flops down in Hermione's lap, purring loudly. She looks down at him fondly, scratching behind his ear.
"It's over," Bellatrix confirms. "You and Rose made sure of that."
Hermione feels a bubble of pride rising in her stomach, quickly squashing down the feeling of fear she had felt watching Rose in the battle. "She's amazing. I had no idea she could do that."
"Like mother, like daughter," Narcissa muses. "You were both rather formidable, Darling."
"Where are we now?" Hermione wonders.
"We are nearing Port Silva, and then assuming the coordinates are right, we should only be half a day out from Atlantis." Narcissa heads towards the door. "Now, time for food," she informs Hermione.
Her stomach rumbles in response, but Hermione bends her head, subtly taking a sniff and wrinkling her nose. "Perhaps… perhaps a shower first?" she proposes, smiling bashfully when they all laugh.
"Come on." Bellatrix steps forwards gallantly offering her arm, even though her eyes are twinkling at Hermione in a way that makes her tingle pleasantly. The dark witch winks. "I'll help you."
"Don't be wearing out my patient," Andromeda chides, though she is smiling. "And she really does need to eat and replenish her energy."
"I will take good care of her," Bellatrix promises, and Hermione doesn't need to see her face to know just how true those words are. Still, that doesn't mean they can't have a little fun, does it?
-xXx-
Hermione wakes up wrapped in Bellatrix's arms. The shower had exhausted her more than expected, and Bellatrix had carefully washed her without complaint, completely unphased by the change in mood. Sex had been the last thing on her mind as she propped herself up against the cubicle walls, her legs wobbling in a way that had nothing to do with the sway of the ship.
She might be healed, but she's as weak as a kitten. Even after a good night's sleep, she doesn't feel rested. Her bladder makes it impossible for her to stay in bed, though, and she slips out from the sheets without waking Bellatrix. The witch looks even more exhausted than Hermione feels, and she knows without asking that Bellatrix had not left her side. Even in unconsciousness, she could feel the presence of her lover.
She opens Bellatrix's drawers and snags herself a pair of jeans and a jumper, the air too cool for her normal tops now that the summer is passing into autumn. With one last look at the sleeping witch, she edges quietly out of the room.
Hermione spends the morning up on deck, curled up on one of the sails, watching the clouds as they race by overhead. It's difficult to believe that it's all over. That the nightmare that has been her life for the last five years has come to an end and she no longer has to worry. She can't quite enjoy the feeling, though. Cormac and Riddle might be dead, leaving them all living in a much safer world, but so is Alex, her parents and Pansy, the other mother of her child.
Their loss seems to hit her harder now that the adrenaline of the last few weeks is wearing off, and with it, brings a profound sense of loneliness. Princess Emma Hermione Granger of Port Ventus is no more, and she really is the heir of their magical bloodline. A Queen in title now, even if she never chooses to fully embrace the role.
Atlantis is hers. An entire island now under her ownership, but what does it all mean without her family by her side?
She sighs, closing her eyes, the sun warming her face. The haunting images of her old family are replaced in her mind by new ones. Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Andromeda are all her family now, though she has a very different relationship with all of them. Even the rest of the crew are like her siblings, and she trusts them in a way that she hadn't trusted Alex long before he left them.
The sounds of the waves lapping gently against the ship are hypnotic, and she soon finds herself drifting off to sleep in the middle of the morning sunlight.
It's hours later that she wakes up, the toe of a boot being poked gently into her ribs. "Come on, lazy. They need you in the comms room," Ginny informs her, reaching down to take her hand and haul her to her feet.
Hermione covers her mouth with her hand, yawning sheepishly. "What do they want?"
Snorting, Ginny rolls her eyes. "It's cute that you think they'd tell me anything."
"I'll go see what they want," Hermione replies, turning to walk back across the deck. "Catch up later though?"
"Sure thing." Ginny waves her off, spinning on her heel and scrambling up to the crow's nest to relieve Ron.
Heading down below deck, Hermione can hear the three sisters and Anathema talking intensely, and enters the room with a brief knock on the wooden door as she steps inside.
"You need me?"
The four warm smiles that are sent her way banish the last of her lingering sadness from earlier, and she grins shyly, making her way across the room to the bench that runs along one side.
"How are you feeling?" Narcissa asks her, and again, her heart feels so full. Despite the fact that they have summoned her, her health and welfare always seems to come first with this remarkable group of women.
"Good," she replies, nodding. "I feel good this morning. Now, what's going on?"
The four of them seem to defer to each other until Anathema eventually takes the lead. "We've run into a problem, Hermione," she informs her, sounding less worried than her words would imply. "Take a look at this."
Hermione watches carefully as Anathema brings up a map on the giant screen at the communications desk. There is a small location marker which she immediately recognises as being at the coordinates for Atlantis.
"We're here?" she checks, looking around the group.
"We should be," Bellatrix answers. "But there is nothing here."
Narcissa cuts in, "We have circled this area three times now, but there is no island here, Hermione. Are you sure that the coordinates are right?"
"Are you?" Hermione shoots back, but not in anger. "You agreed that what I told you was the same as that poor man back on Port Terra."
"I did," Narcissa acknowledges. "And Cedric was very clear in his mind as to where the island was, as were you. But if that's the case, then where is it?"
"May I?" Hermione asks Anathema, gesturing to the chair the woman is sitting in.
"Be my guest," Anathema replies, getting up and standing to one side.
Hermione can feel all eyes on her as she searches the map for Port Silva, and then follows a line south towards the equator. She squints at the map, double checking the coordinates. "The coordinates are definitely right," she states quietly. "I remember how we used to get there from Port Silva. The island should be within this area here," she tells them confidently, drawing a circle with her finger on the screen.
"Then I don't understand," Andromeda speaks up. "Why isn't it showing itself to us?"
Shrugging, Hermione frowns. "I don't know. I've not been here as an adult, but that shouldn't matter. As the heir, and now the current Queen, the island should automatically have revealed itself to me."
"Then what do we do?" Narcissa asks, turning her eyes towards Bellatrix, who stands there looking thoughtfully at the screen.
"We stay in the area," Bellatrix proposes. "If we really are completely sure of the island's location, then we wait. Even if the island doesn't appear to us personally, at some point someone will leave the island and we'll see them. Hopefully they can help us."
"Especially if we have Hermione here." Anathema cackles. "Having a Princess on board is quite useful."
"Queen," Hermione corrects haughtily, but she grins widely. "And I think that sounds like a good plan. It's not like we have anything else to do."
"How about we give it three days?" Andromeda suggests. "We have more than enough supplies to last us, and if nothing or no one shows in that time, then we do another trade run, and then come back and try again another day."
Anathema taps on the screen to the side of them, the radar blinking rapidly. "Looks like we won't have to wait long," she muses. "We have an incoming vessel."
"Any idea if it's friendly or hostile?" Bellatrix asks seriously, all business now as she steps up to the comms desk.
"No weapons signature, so my guess would be friendly. It's definitely not military, but that doesn't mean there isn't a magical threat," Anathema points out. "Let's get up on deck and be prepared, just in case."
Hermione follows them out of the room, listening distantly as Bellatrix explains the situation to the crew. She's not really paying attention though, a faint hum in her veins distracting her. It grows stronger the longer they are stood out on deck and she instinctively turns in the direction of the incoming vessel long before it can be seen with the naked eye.
Ignoring Bellatrix's words all together now, her feet guide her to the side of the ship, and she stares out longingly into the water. For what, she doesn't know, but her stomach flips over excitedly, and her eyes burn with unshed tears.
What is going on? She mentally shakes herself, jumping when an arm is wrapped around her waist.
"Are you alright?" Bellatrix murmurs quietly so that the crew can't hear her.
"I…" Hermione pauses, her eyes spotting a ship in the distance as it sails towards them, white sails billowing in the wind. "I don't know, but I feel like… I feel like this ship is for me," she reveals, feeling silly as she confesses.
"For you?"
To her relief, Bellatrix doesn't make fun of her, or even doubt her word, just gently probing for more information.
"I can't explain it," Hermione continues. "I feel a pull towards it. Like a calling. I don't think they mean us any harm."
"Then we treat them as allies, until we have evidence to the contrary," Bellatrix instantly agrees. "They'll be here any minute."
And she's right. The ship that was only a dot in the distance, is closing in on them rapidly, and for a moment, Hermione feels a slither of fear. What if she's wrong and she's putting them all in danger?
No. She's not wrong. This calling is magical, and if there is one thing she has learned in her life, it's that she can always trust her magic. Whoever is coming for them is safe.
They are joined by Andromeda and Narcissa, and she listens absently as Bellatrix explains to them what she is feeling. It fills her with an odd sense of pride, the way that they all trust her word, and don't question it at all.
"Get ready," Bellatrix instructs, calling back to the rest of the crew.
The approaching ship drops its sails, closing the remaining distance under the power of its motors. Hermione scans the people on deck, looking for any sign of recognition but there is none. Disappointment swimming in her stomach, she plasters on a smile when the ships are pulled alongside each other, and a rope is thrown across the decks to secure them together.
A man with silver hair and tanned skin steps up to the railing of the ship he is on, eyes darting between each person until he lands on Hermione, his face breaking out into a wide smile.
"Princess Emma?" he calls across, though from the way he is smiling, she knows he must recognise her. Her mind flashes through a series of memories from when she was a child, and she tries to match the images to the weathered man in front of her. Has it really only been five years? There is no mistaking that smile though, and she returns it with one of her own.
"Malik? Is that really you?" she asks, her former tutor taking a bow when she acknowledges his name.
He nods, laughing. "You're a sight for sore eyes, love."
"Come over," she calls back. "We should talk."
He waves towards the stairwell leading down below deck. "I just need to get something first."
She watches him go, turning towards Bellatrix and her sisters. "He's an old friend," she explains. "He worked for us for many years as my tutor, but as I got older, he became one of my greatest friends. He means us no harm and I trust him."
"What's he doing?" Narcissa wonders, eyes fixed on where he had disappeared from sight.
They don't have to wait long to find out. He reappears, grinning so widely that Hermione is sure his face will split, but her attention is soon turned to the two people behind him, and she nearly passes out when she recognises them.
Her parents.
-xXx-
Bellatrix stands back, watching Hermione reunite with her family. It's easy to see the connection between them, she has her mother's hair and face, but her father's eyes. It's more than that, though. They all carry a similar magical signature; warm, friendly and with a natural authority that they effortlessly present. It's remarkable that considering they are royalty, there is not a single scrap of ego in any of them.
"I hear we owe you a life debt." Hermione's mother, Jean walks over to where Bellatrix and her sisters are standing, holding out her hand.
Bellatrix shakes it, marvelling at the callouses she can feel there. These people are hard workers, royalty or not, she decides, and it warms her to them even more.
She denies the woman's words, though. "No. It's Hermione who has saved all of us. Hermione and Rose."
Jean smiles. "Take credit when it is earned Bellatrix. For years we have believed her and Rose to be dead, but to find them now after all this time, not just alive, but happy? We owe you a great deal, Captain, and it shall not be forgotten."
"All I want in life is for Hermione and Rose to be happy," Bellatrix replies honestly. "And with your blessing, I really think that I can be the one to help them find happiness."
"You don't need our blessing," Hermione's dad interrupts, walking over with an arm slung around Hermione's shoulders. "And nor would our daughter appreciate us giving it. She knows it's not needed and she is her own person. But in case you're worried, you do have it."
"It's good to meet you, Sir," Bellatrix answers. "And, thank you."
"Richard," he introduces himself, shaking her hand.
"Mum, Dad, this is Captain Bellatrix Black," Hermione introduces belatedly, stepping forwards to wrap her arms around Bellatrix, and kissing her on her cheek. "And now, if it's alright with you… I think I'd like to go home."
Bellatrix smiles at the way Hermione's eyes light up, the happiness radiating from the younger witch in waves. She's never seen her look so light before, absolutely glowing in the presence of her parents.
"I'm sure we all have a lot to talk about," Jean agrees. "If you'd like to follow us, we'll take you to the island."
Bellatrix scans the horizon, noticing for the first time the small mass of land that has appeared in the distance. "How did you find us? Why couldn't we find you?" she blurts out,unsure which question she wants to know first.
It's Hermione who answers. "We couldn't find the island because my parents are still alive," she states happily. "The island didn't recognise me as the only living heir, and I had never been here as an adult, so was never added to the island's enchantments."
"And we found her because our magic is so closely linked," Richard goes on to explain. "We could sense her presence surrounding the island and so came in search."
Bellatrix raises her eyebrows. This family is even more powerful magically than she gave them credit for. "And we're glad you did."
"Shall we go?" Hermione suggests, gesturing to the sun which is now beginning its descent towards the horizon.
Hermione stays on The Black Serpent with Bellatrix while her parents hop back onto their own ship, staying above board now that the reunion has gone well. In the current world climate it is foolish to trust anyone, or that a situation is what it seems. Bellatrix can readily understand why they stayed below deck until they were sure it wasn't a trick of some kind.
It doesn't take long to reach the island, a shallow cove filled with the clearest blue water Bellatrix has ever seen greeting them. There is no pier or harbour, so they throw down their anchor, Disapparating the short distance from The Black Serpent to the shore.
Bellatrix watches happily as Hermione is pulled into her parent's arms, both of them hugging her tightly.
"Welcome home," Jean tells her daughter, her eyes flicking up to Bellatrix and her sisters. Hermione catches where her gaze falls, and detaches from her parents, throwing herself into Bellatrix's arms and kissing her. She giggles, the sound filled with joy.
"Welcome to Atlantis."