Chapter 61: The Welcome Back, Part 1

Hermione Granger stepped through the doors of the Grotto House on the early afternoon of January 2, 1999.

Her journey back from Australia was just as uncomfortable as the trip there. Twenty two hours out of the last twenty five were spent on the planes. Still, keeping the Ministry noses out of her plans was worth the sacrifice, even if just barely.

Hermione looked forward to a hot bath and deep uninterrupted sleep.

She didn't want to think about anything that went on on her trip.

Not the bittersweet family gatherings.

Not the airport encounter, and the insight it unwittingly gave her.

Not the wild parting, and her fluid interpretation of her marital status, and all the consequences that might bring.

And, most definitely, not the farewell present from the Australian government burning a hole in her carry-on.

Hermione took in at the picture in front of her.

Holiday decorations were still up. They would stay up till after Bellatrix's birthday.

Whenever that was.

In the middle of the central hallway, facing the stairs, sat a chair. Bellatrix was in it, with her back towards the entrance, and, thus, at that moment, towards Hermione. One of her hands held a glass of wine. Another slowly twirled the lock of hair around its finger.

Hermione yawned tiredly. This type of a welcome back seemed odd even for her mercurial wife. But, she was too tired to master any type of emotion or opinion about it.

As she reached Bellatrix, Hermione paused.

'Hello, Bellatrix.'

Bellatrix hummed a hello, spawn in response, and bit into a grape.

'You look nice.'

Bellatrix shot her a look.

Hermione immediately felt the urge to apologize.

This was Bellatrix. Not some girl in a club.

The witch did look nice, though. She was dressed sharper, looked healthier, and appeared more at peace, than the last time they saw each other.

Hermione was about to walk past the chair, and head upstairs, for a long overdue nap, when she paused again. For an unorthodox welcome back Bellatrix's reaction towards her was too mild.

Something was wrong with the picture.

Bellatrix generally was not in the habit of sitting in hallways; with, the levitating trays of wine, and bowls of grapes, or without.

Grapes were not a good sign, in itself.

Bellatrix enjoyed grapes in general.

She particularly enjoyed them when she was engaged in something amusing; was observing something amusing; or expected something amusing to happen.

And knowing the dark witch's sense of humor, the presence of grapes, in combination with the odd situation, was a little alarming.

'Why are you-'

A loud high-pitched scream tore through the house.

Hermione jumped in place, let go of her luggage, and fumbled with her wand, almost dropping it in the process.

'What the hell?!'

Hermione's wide eyes settled on Bellatrix. Bellatrix's eyes were glued to the upstairs.

'Grapes?'

'W- W- Bellatrix! I don't want grapes! What in Merlin's name have you done?! Who is up there?!'

Whatever Bellatrix answered was swallowed by another scream. Though, it looked suspiciously like the older witch shushed her.

'Bell-'

The scream turned into the shouted words.

'..ever touch me again… kill you… get out… get out...'

Something crushed against the walls, or floors, right after.

Bellatrix didn't look in the least perturbed.

'That's it!' Hermione gripped her wand and headed towards the stairs. 'I'm going up!'

'If you must' Bellatrix singsonged, and sipped her wine.

The door on the second floor slammed open as Hermione took the first steps up.

Hermione froze, eyes darting between the top of the stairs and the oddly behaving witch. Her wand was aimed upstairs, ready and waiting for whoever was clearly torturing whoever else.

'You win! I am deeply deeply sorry for defying and betraying the Dark Lord!' snapped the approaching man's voice irritably, 'I was a weak, pampered… uh… turd. Do I have to say turd?!'

Hermione's eyes narrowed. The first sentences were hard to place, but that last whine... That was familiar. She had heard it many times over the years.

Bellatrix chortled.

Tall figure started down the stairs even as he pulled the wet hoodie over his head and wiped his face and head with it.

'Here, you have it, Aunt Bella! Now can you please help P-'

'Malfoy?!..'

'Oh bollocks!'

The person bore a remote resemblance to Hermione's old schoolmate and nemesis, Draco Malfoy. He appeared taller and broader—a rough young man, rather than the ghost-like, petrified teen Hermione remembered from the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts.

Loose low-hung jeans... Sneakers... Sleeveless printed T-shirt, currently soaked with whatever soiled his hoodie...

Buzz haircut... Full tattoo sleeves over both arms...

Scabbed knuckles, fading black eye, and very deep, very recent, scratches on his cheek...

Hermione's eyes lingered on his bare forearms. The dark mark had to be there. Yet, everything else etched in the skin made it impossible to spot.

'Pet, you are ogling my nephew'

Bellatrix chirped, way too gleefully for the situation at hand.

The words broke the moment.

'Incarcerous!'

The rest of the staircase Draco Malfoy traversed in a rather undignified manner.

'She does that,' informed the dark witch her incapacitated nephew when he finally stopped tumbling, close to the feet of her chair.

For all the differences with his younger self, the signature sneer Draco leveled at both witches was perfectly unchanged.

Hermione followed the sounds of faint whimpers upstairs, and to the first bedroom on her side of the house.

The door was open.

There, leaning on the bedpost, was a very pregnant woman.

Under the sweaty tangled mop of light chestnut hair, under the mismatched set of oversized Muggle clothing, was a witch with a fair resemblance to Pansy Parkinson.

'Welcome back to the Wizarding Britain, Hermione' muttered Hermione, and burst out laughing.

The document in her carry-on was becoming increasingly more tempting.

Hermione paced back and forth in the central hallway, next to her forgotten suitcases.

Draco, untied but wandless, had disappeared upstairs to check on Pansy some time ago.

Hermione hoped her loud protestations about any knowledge of childbirth, and her ability to help with it, were taking root in the blonde's brain. Hopefully, the two Slytherins upstairs were discussing relocation to St Mungos for medical assistance.

Bellatrix silently observed the younger witch, still looking too amused for Hermione's liking.

'You told me! You told me that no one else can access the island! You owled that to me!'

Bellatrix gave the one-shoulder half-shrug, completely unrepentant.

'Obviously, Draco doesn't count.'

'Doesn't count? Doesn't count?!'

Hermione's voice reached a particularly shrill register, but she was beyond caring.

'Pet, must you scream?'

No, Hermione didn't have to scream.

She had to do what she should have done in the first place.

Draco was walking down the stairs.

Hermione pulled out her wand.

'Granger, what are you doing?'

'Sending a message to Harry'

'You can't!' alarmed Draco took the remaining stairs two at a time.

Hermione's wand pointed at him warningly.

'You can't,' echoed Bellatrix.

'And why the bloody hell not?'

Hermione whirled to glare at Bellatrix. The witch did another half shrug.

'Draco is family.'

'Yes Granger, I am family.

'You are no family of mine!'

'But pet, do our vows mean nothing to you?' Bellatrix gasped exaggeratedly. 'He's your nephew too.'

Hermione choked on air.

Draco scoffed, but wisely didn't dispute the claim.

'No. No! I'm not risking even more, for them of all people!' I risked enough for you.

Hermione almost jumped out of her skin when Bellatrix hand grabbed her wrist lightly. Dark eyes stared into hers as if trying to make her understand something.

'Can't turn him in.'

Hermione pulled her arm free.

'Fine! Then, I'm messaging Narcissa! He is her son!'

'You can't!' exclaimed Draco.

Upstairs, as if on cue, Pansy let out another scream making everyone wince. Draco ran hands over his buzzed head, and groaned.

'She needs a doctor, Malfoy! I'm not having her die here!' snapped Hermione.

'Bloody Salazar! I misplaced father, alright! Mother is going to kill me!'

Bellatrix fished out another grape.

Hermione searched for a hint of deception in Malfoy's eyes. There was nothing.

'How could you misplace a grown wizard?!'

Baby Scorpius was born later that day, under the watchful eye of his grandmother, and a healer Narcissa somehow managed to procure, on very short notice.

The whole family left the Grotto a few hours after that, to the parts unknown.

Much to Hermione's relief.

End of Chapter 61