Chapter 38: Justice
Emma Granger bit her lip nervously. She hated wizarding court so much she glanced at Remus who was attending the being status hearing today with her. He looked even more nervous than she did.
She knew it was because he was a werewolf.
"It will be okay," she said even though she wasn't sure it would. Somehow her little girl had stayed a little girl and oddly enough hadn't exhibited any lycanthropy symptoms.
They had been told that this might be a slight possibility that she might not be infected or that the symptoms might appear later, but so far Hermione hadn't transformed at all.
No, instead she was there. Upset but there.
Her little girl still needed so much help, which was one thing that everyone could agree about. Anytime Hogwarts was mentioned she seemed to have a panic attack and kept murmuring about wanting to fade but not being able too.
It saddened her that she had found life as a rat of all things to be an escape.
And she absolutely refused to talk about Hogwarts other than to say she wasn't going back. Quite frankly, Emma agreed with her on that, but their options were pretty limited since at some point she would need to control her magic. She was going to have to talk to Remus more about that.
It was weird she was having to coparent with someone completely different when it had been her and Dan so long.
She frowned thinking about her estranged husband. She hadn't even bothered telling him that Hermione was back to being human yet and she honestly didn't plan on telling him. Hermione hadn't even asked to see him, a part of her wondered if her daughter remembered what happened, even though she hadn't really remembered a lot of the past few months.
The past couple of weeks had just been monitoring her and trying to get her to adjust being back to a little girl with continued treatments to remove the affects that her time as a rat had on her.
Her vision had improved remarkably that may have been in part due to the transfusions since even if they did not cause her to become a full on werewolf they would increase her vision and smell abilities. She was sort of glad considering that her daughter had almost been rendered blind when she had been a rat for so long.
Her teeth were now shrunk back to the appropriate length as well. Smaller than she had them before, Emma thought. She had thought about stopping the healer when she reduced them but didn't. She knew how much her daughter had hated her teeth and well at this point she wanted Hermione to feel good about herself because it was pretty clear she didn't.
Her face and body were slowly starting to look more like herself too. Hermione now had an aversion to eating anything that resembled corn or cheese, her preferred food in rat form. Not that Emma could blame her. Really, aside from her hair and a few extra pounds that seemed to shift into different places showing that she was becoming a young woman, she resembled her old self. But you could tell from her daughter's eyes that she was no longer the little girl that she had left at the train station in September.
One positive thing though was that she had taken to Remus quite nicely. But she still wasn't sure how she was going to tell her that her Uncle Remus was her biological father.
She wasn't exactly sure what she felt for the man if anything anymore other than a coparent. Whatever spark they had before was gone, though she admitted him shaving off the mustache made her slightly more desirable.
She was pretty sure he hadn't shaved it off for her though. She saw the looks he was shooting a certain healer.
She shook her head. Maybe she was just imaging things, besides Healer Black had left to go take some personal time after her marriage was annulled. She had seemed so fragile those last few days she had saw her though she did seem to lighten up a little around him.
"So, I see you decided to shave the fur off?" She told him.
"Noticed, didn't you?" He said.
She shrugged. "It looks good. Any reason why?"
"I may have a date tonight," he said looking cheeky. "I hope that's okay."
"It's fine…" She said only feeling a little disappointment. "Anyone I know?"
However, she never found out who he was going out with since Hermione's status hearing had started.
Being status hearings were rather droll for the most part. It was one of the reasons why Cornelius Fudge had given so much power to his undersecretary with them. Delores Umbridge had enthusiasm for the subject that a lot of people did not. Of course, it didn't matter that that enthusiasm was twisted and perverted.
Mostly what occurred was the evidence presented regarding the person who status was in question. In this case Hermione's case.
"She has been human for roughly two months straight now," Ted had told the court. "And has not changed back."
"But she wants to change back until recently." Umbridge said.
Tonks rolled his eyes at Umbridge. How she declared herself chief prosecutor in all these cases was beyond anyone. Personally, she had heard the man tell her that he thought Delores should just be turned into a giant toad to join her own kind.
Based on what she saw so far, she agreed.
The woman was horrible. She had no idea how she had gotten such a high position in this world. She wasn't even competent to serve as a receptionist at her surgery. She noticed that Dolores kept shooting dirty looks at her and Remus.
Probably because she was a squib and Remus was a werewolf.
"It doesn't matter what she wants or not," Ted said clearly exasperated. "She can't change back. I have sworn affidavits from three of her healers."
"But…"
"But what Umbridge," The judge said. "It seems clear that the little girl has issues, but she's also a little girl based on the information. Case dismissed."
Was it really that simple? Was their nightmare over?
Bern, Switzerland
Bella barfed as soon as she got back to Bern not quite believing what she had done, though she hadn't regret doing what she did one second.
That bastard had hurt her sister, and he kept her son away from her.
Now that she knew, everything was so much clearer. She still had no idea why he had agreed to blood adopt her when he hated veela so much. Probably because he hated her and could care less about what happened to her. It was different with Cissy. At one point he had actually loved her sister, or she thought he did.
Until he demanded that she kill her children. Until he had hit her and tried to kill her babies.
If she hadn't already castrated him already, she'd do it again.
She still could remember the look of horror on his face when her harpy form had ripped off his family jewels him last night.
Harpy form.
She still couldn't believe that thing was part of her, though she was quite proud of it unlike the other her.
Claire.
She grimaced looking at the mirror and seeing her. Claire was now her, but everything in her life was a lie. She wasn't Lucius' bastard sister. She was his adopted twin sister. She had never been in an abusive relationship with a man named Rafael. She had been beaten by the monster that had abused her son.
Her son.
Baby.
Knowing that Harry was hers…well, it took everything in her not to go find him right now and never let him go.
She didn't know how she was going to even explain to her family who she was. It took her so long just to realize herself and technically per the terms of the agreement….screw the agreement.
She had almost died because they had thought it was funny to put Petunia Dursley as her new cellmate. And besides, it's not like anyone knew at this point. Lucius certainly wouldn't be in a mood to talk anytime soon if he could talk.
Personally, she hoped he died she had to restrain herself from using the killing curse on him last night. The only reason she hadn't was because that would be too good of a death for him. He deserved to suffer in his current state not that he knew eactly what had happened to him, he had been oblivated before he left.
How surprised he'd be to wake up without his equipment.
She was surprised he hadn't fought back though. Probably drunk. He really was pathetic.
There was a knock on the door.
"Claire?"
It was Siri.
Siri.
No wonder she wanted him; he was her husband. The fact that she had been using Gilderoy Lockhart—that peacock—of all people to make him jealous made her laugh. Not that it mattered he was hers no matter whose face she wore.
She literally pounced on him when he opened the door.
His eyes widened.
She guessed she had never been this enthusiastic before, but she wanted her husband.
"It's nice to see you too," He said as he looked at her. "What's got you all riled up? Did you hear I got you a present."
"Present?"
He held out an amethyst pendant that matched her eyes. She wanted to cry.
"I missed you so much, Siri."
"I haven't been gone that long," he said as he put the necklace on her neck.
But he had. Finally, after all these years, she got him back. Even if he hadn't realized it was her yet. Somehow, she'd find a way to tell him. Somehow.
Narcissa looked at herself in the mirror and was pleasantly surprised with her reflection for the first time in a very long time. She had decided to forgo cutting her hair today and wear it down with only a ruby clip in it that matched the robes she'd be wearing. Its length didn't really bother her too much tonight. She didn't care if it made her softer looking and emphasized her femininity two of the reasons admittedly she had been cutting it as of late . She wanted to look soft to look feminine for the first time in a long time. She had finally got new cosmetics for her new features. Putting on makeup again made her feel a bit like her old self, though her features were for the most part completely different.
The red robes she wore were not like anything that she would buy before especially since finding out her condition. The neckline plunged low emphasizing her large breasts. The rest of the ruby silk gown was draped around her form flattering each and every curve she had showcasing her figure emphasizing her growing belly.
Maybe it was too much for a first date. Maybe she should just change back into the leggings and sweater, but she just felt good being in actual clothes that didn't suffocate her or make her look like a bulging lumberjack.
"What are you all dressed up for? And what did you do to your hair now?" Draco said glaring at her.
She did not want to tell him she was going on a date, though she bet he suspected as much. He was still upset about her split with Lucius, she was as well truth be known. But…well, she was not going back.
"I'm going out with a friend," she said.
"Remus?" Harry said she hadn't seen him in there. She was surprised the boys were hanging out usually they kept to themselves. Draco had been extremely moody and Harry had given him his space. She secretly thought that on a subconscious level Harry feared him.
She nodded, "He's back in town. We're just going to have a chat about what you two will be learning over the summer."
"Dressed like that?" Draco gave her a dubious look.
"And what's wrong with how I'm dressed," she said glaring at her son. Sad to say she knew he'd back down. That was one good thing about her new form, she clearly intimidated Draco.
"Nothing…." He said, "It's just not the lesbian look you've been going for lately."
Harry looked at his cousin shocked.
"Well, she has looked like a lesbian with her hair cut that way, those muggle clothes she's been wearing, and hasn't worn any makeup…"
He grimaced when he realized she had shot a scourgify spell at his mouth. "You've never even met a lesbian, Draco. Don't stereotype people."
Harry's eyes went wide. "You look lovely, Aunt Cissy."
"Thank you, Harry." She said as she watched the boy scamper out clearly not wanting the same fate as his cousin.
"Draco," she said after he was gone.
"Are you going out with Lupin?" He asked looking at her.
She sighed heavily. "Like I told you and Harry it's just a friendly date. Though I may start going out again….it's."
"Your nature, I know. I read some of the book you gave me. " The boy said looking at her. "I'm not used to this, Mother. I don't think I'll ever be."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"I…I know you have no choice. But everything has changed. This wasn't how this year was supposed to be at all."
She frowned, "Is there anything…"
"Let me see Father."
"Draco, I…"
"He told me that you could give him permission to recognize me."
Of course, Lucius did. She was surprised that her son saw him.
"He was at the school," he said answering her unasked question. "I…I confronted him when I found out I was deemed a bastard."
"Oh, Draco."
"Can I see him, please?"
Narcissa just shook her head. "I can't, baby. I can't. It's just not safe."
Pain. He felt incredibly pain. How was he even alive.
He had no idea what happened one minute he was drinking the next….
"You're lucky I found you," A voice said. "Someone wanted you dead."
"What…what…happened?" He said trying to open his eyes only to find he couldn't.
"Yeah, your eyes aren't going to be open for a while. I'm afraid it's not the only part of you that's missing either."
Part of him that was missing….he, he didn't understand.
"You made someone or something pretty pissed," The voice said.
It was a woman. But he didn't recognize just who it was.
"I…"
"Sleep, Lucius. Sleep. We'll talk soon."
Chapter 39 Preview: Harry interacts with his new tutor, a Weasley muses, and Lucius new captor is revealed.
