Chapter 7: VIINotes:sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up! Its the end of the semester for me and I've been swamped with final projects and exams, but just two more and im done college forever! so yay!
Chapter TextMcGonagall hadn't been inaccurate when she first told Hermione the Aurors were not able to capture a single Death Eater. Word spread quickly about the fight, and about the lack of proper response from the Ministry. An attack so close to Hogwarts? And their only defense had been professors? Parents were not pleased. More than once Hermione had heard a few of the wealthier students, all pure-blooded, make statements about their parents worrying for their safety.
Hermione knew this was a period of unrest in the Wizarding world, that it was just the beginning of a very long road of misery and distrust, one that would claim the lives of many- muggle, muggle-born, and any suspected sympathizers. Voldemort had not reached the level of prominence Hermione knew him to have, currently little more than a militia group attempting to spread their messages of hate. When the newest Daily Prophet was released, the headline read:
THE DARK LORD STRIKES AGAIN- DOZENS LEFT WOUNDED BY HIS HAND
The picture below the title was of the smoldering ruins of Honeydukes, as well as a group of Aurors bending down to check two unconscious people caught in the attack. Of course, the Prophet had made it seem like Ministry workers were standing by dead bodies, and that Voldemort himself at been at the fight. But the fact that they still felt comfortable using his name instead of You-Know-Who showed how little Voldemort had accomplished so far. It would only get drastically worse from here on out in ways no one in this period was ready for.
And she also knew how pitifully the Ministry would handle everything. Much like they did with Voldemort's return, they would spend the next year or so denying any allegations that attacks were done with the intent to purify the world of anyone undeserving of the magic in their veins. They wouldn't respond until it was too late, which is ultimately one of the reasons Dumbledore would create the Order of the Phoenix.
That thought caught Hermione's attention, and a new plan started to take form in her mind. McGonagall had merely said for Hermione to prevent Bellatrix from joining Voldemort, but what if she could do more than that? Everyone knew Bellatrix was one of the fiercest witches the world had ever seen, and her participation in Voldemort's army did add a significant advantage.
What if Hermione could give the Order that advantage?
It would be hard, near impossible, especially considering where the two of them stood in regards to one another. Maybe not completely impossible though. Bellatrix had been almost friendly to Hermione when they sat together on the lake, and that conversation was the longest they had gone with being civil to the other. It was a step in the right direction, and Hermione was not going to waste it. If she could not only convince Bellatrix to never join Voldemort but to also side with the Order, well maybe they'd have a lot better chance of winning the war.
The horcrux would be something to content with, no matter if Hermione swayed Bellatrix to join the Order, or if she only managed to prevent her from joining Voldemort. She hadn't previously considered it, but if Bellatrix never followed Voldemort, he never would have given her Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, so that would be another horcrux Harry and them would have to figure out once more. In the long run it was worth it, but just one more thing Hermione and McGonagall hadn't thought of when hatching this ill planned idea.
Or how Hermione would even get back, and when. Time Turners weren't meant to go forward in time, only back a few hours, and by the time those hours were up, the user was supposed to go to the place they originally left from right as Time picked back up. Except Hermione was thirty years in the past now. If she waited thirty years, she would be showing back up to the school nearly fifty years old.
And she still had no idea how long it would take to successfully get Bellatrix onto the right side of the war. Dumbledore said she had until Christmas, that something bad was going to happen during their break that sealed Bellatrix's allegiance to the Dark Lord. Time would fly by before then, and it had taken Hermione over a month for the girl to even hold a normal conversation with that- and at the expense of Andromeda nearly dying. Another two months didn't seem like enough time to not only get Bellatrix to trust her completely, but to turn her back on whatever was already happening to her.
But to what end? And for how long? Bellatrix gets saved now, but what was to stop her from changing sides a year from now? Five? In a decade? Voldemort grew in strength with each passing day, and in less than a year Dumbledore would form the Order to fight against him and his army. It would be another eleven years of fighting before the Dark Lord was defeated, and even then it was only by a stroke of luck that Harry destroyed his physical body. It would be a hard eleven years, one nastier and much more destructive than the last few months Hermione and the others had been hunting Horcruxes and fighting off Snatchers.
Who was to say Bellatrix would never be persuaded again to join the dark army? Eleven years was a long time, and so many things could happen. Not to mention, Narcissa was still going to marry Lucius one day, and he'd become a Death Eater. It would give Bellatrix a tie to the army whether she wanted it or not. Plus, there was still Bellatrix's own marriage to Rodolphus to contend with. Hermione had never known if the two girls were a part of an arranged marriage or if they chose to marry their future husbands. She had never seen Narcissa so much as look in Lucius' direction, much less interact with him like Bellatrix and Rodolphus did. They were friends, maybe more already, with how handsy he got with her sometimes, but how long would that last if she knew him and his brother were the reason Andromeda was in the hospital right now?
Bellatrix already barely tolerated Rabastan, that much was clear from how she had kicked and humiliated him in Hogsmeade all those weeks ago for so much as insulting Andromeda. What would she do if it came out he was responsible for nearly killing her? Rabastan had no defense to his actions- he knew exactly who he was shooting at. Was it only timing that had him hitting Andromeda of all people, instead of Hermione or Ted, or had the attack been deliberate? Some score to settle against the fifth year or her sister?
There were so many things for Hermione to think about and no time, for as she was currently sat in a secluded area of the library, Daniel found her and took a seat across from her.
"Hey, Hermione," he smiled at her, sitting down one of the thick History of Magic books Professor Binns assigned them to write a report about. The ghost was just as boring in this time as he was in Hermione's, though she was nearly finished her assignment. From the looks of it, Daniel was yet to start his. "Bloody impressive what you did at Hogsmeade."
It was a genuine struggle to hold back the groan at that statement. Rumors had been flying left and right ever since the attack, and everyone had heard about Hermione's participation. All the Slytherin sixth and seventh years had watched her run without hesitation into the battle from their common room, and were quick to spread that with their friends. Before she knew it, everyone was talking about her, Andromeda, and Ted. Most of what they were all saying was rubbish, exaggerated tales of how Hermione had used the dark magic spells she learned from Durmstrang on a horde of five Death Eaters, and left all of them with melted insides.
"So I've heard," she drily responded, flipping through her own textbook before her. Ancient Runes was one of her favorite courses, and she was easily breezing through this week's assignment.
"Everyone's heard how you just ran out of Hogwarts to fight," Daniel continued, completely unaware of how unenthused Hermione was to be having this conversation right now. "Maybe you've got a bit of Gryffindor in your blood, eh?"
You have no idea, she thought with a huff. "You probably choose the worst house to say that to," she laughed, remembering that she was in Slytherin, and Gryffindor was their enemy. It shouldn't be taken as a compliment that she has a bit of Gryffindor in her.
"Yeah, but- you aren't like the other Slytherins, you know?" Daniel said, and then fearing he had insulted her, he was quick to add, "I just meant that you don't care I'm muggle born, and you did run out to fight. That doesn't really follow your house Moto."
Hermione closed her book with a laugh, figuring she wasn't going to get much reading done with Daniel here, and that he most likely wouldn't really work on his own assignment either. "I'm not insulted. I have no problem with any other houses. And I see no difference between pure-blood and muggle-born students."
"You sure you're from Durmstrang?" He joked more, and to that Hermione did laugh loudly. "Aren't they known for their, like, hatred of muggles and muggle borns? Pretty sure they're all about blood purity, right?"
"I went to Durmstrang because we lived in the area, not because my parents followed those bigoted ways of thinking so many pure-bloods have." She couldn't keep the anger out of her voice as she spoke, her mind going to one particular pure-blood and then to the scar on her arm. Bellatrix was probably the most stubborn person she's ever met, how was she to change her convictions?
"Well, I'm glad you transferred. It's nice having you here." Daniel's cheeks pinked slightly as he said it, but Hermione didn't think much of it at the time. He changed subjects quickly by asking, "Hey, how's your friend? Bellatrix Black's little sister?"
"Madam Pomfrey still has her under a sleeping draught while her body heals," Hermione responded thickly. The Matron of Hogwarts kept Andromeda sedated for the last two days as magic worked on growing back the muscle, fat, and skin Antonin's spell wrecked. Apparently it was nastier than regrow the bones, if Harry had stayed awake for that but now Andromeda was rendered unconscious. But she'd live, that much was guaranteed.
"Sorry to hear that. She's pretty nice, from what I've heard. Nothing like Bellatrix, at least."
"Yeah..." Hermione said slowly, thinking that her friend was more similar to her older sister than not. They were both just as reckless, both devoted whole heartedly to their causes, enough so that they would not balk from facing the other on the battlefield, should it have come to that, and both would die to protect the ones they loved.
When had it all gone wrong for Bellatrix? Hermione couldn't figure it out. She could see how the girl loved her sisters, and how they meant the world to them. Bellatrix would join the Dark Lord soon, but Andromeda's relationship with Ted Tonks would not go public until they graduated in two years. Did Bellatrix turn her back on her sister then, or does it happen soon? Hermione just couldn't see Bellatrix so willingly walking away from the sister so she clearly adored, even knowing how much she would grow to worship Voldemort.
She bid goodnight to Daniel not long after that, preferring to be alone while she thought everything over. She had only just returned to the Slytherin common rooms and sat in one of the empty chairs by the fire when none other than Bellatrix came in through the stone wall.
Her dark eyes were red rimmed once more, her cheeks flushed with near visible anger as she came to a halt before Hermione. The brunette was already preparing herself for an unavoidable argument, but Bellatrix surprised her by saying, "Andromeda is awake."
In an instant Hermione was on her feet, ready to rush to the hospital wing and see her friend, but something in Bellatrix's tone stopped her. The two of them had not interacted since their conversation on the lake, and while with any other person Hermione would have taken that as a positive step forward, she doubted it would be that way with Bellatrix.
"She told me what you did." Each word sounded as if the dark witch was chewing glass, and her face reflected that as she scowled at the roaring flames in the fire place. "That you... saved her life and chased after the person who attacked."
Hermione hadn't known Andromeda was still awake for that part. She had already told Bellatrix that it was Antonin Dolohov who struck her, and she had not missed the reaction between the two sisters at the name, but did Andromeda know as well then? More than anything Hermione craved to know how Bellatrix felt about her sister being attacked by people she would soon stand beside.
"I went after Antonin Dolohov and hit the tree he was hiding behind with the explosion spell," she confessed. "And I stunned him, but after the professors found us and they went to grab him he was gone. Another Death Eater must have found him and apparated him away before we could get to him."
Bellatrix nodded, but said nothing else for a minute. The common room was mostly empty, many of the students still out roaming the grounds with their friends before curfew, and so there were not many around to interrupt them.
Finally, the dark haired girl said, "I still think you're a dirty vermin blood-traitor, but I... appreciate your saving my sister."
Hermione couldn't help but smile at that admission. Maybe this was a step in the right direction. "I like your sister. I don't want to see anything bad happen to her again." Bellatrix nodded once more, and Hermione figured now was a good point to end the conversation and go visit Andromeda. She had moved to the stone wall, and was about to push through it before she stopped and spun to look at Bellatrix once more. "You aren't terrible either."
The last thing she saw before running towards the hospital wing was Bellatrix's scowl, only half hearted at best.
Definitely progress.
She didn't bother trying to contain her relief and excitement upon seeing Andromeda propped up on a pile of pillows, eyes still fuzzy from the potions. She gave a broad smile when Hermione threw herself into the chair on the side of the bed, immediately interlocking their hands. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you right now," Hermione confessed, her own eyes slightly misty and all thoughts of her conversation with Bellatrix left her mind as she stared at her friend.
Despite being asleep for days, Andromeda still looked exhausted. Heavy circles lined her eyes and her skin still held a pale color to it, not as terrible as it was when she had lost so much blood, but still worrisome enough.
"And here I was thinking you'd yell at me like Bella," Andromeda laughed, the sound not as loud and heart filled as it should have been coming from her. "She was... not pleased."
"She was scared, you idiot," Hermione barked, thinking back to the night of the attack, and then at the lake and how distraught the eldest Black daughter had been. Her love for her sisters was undeniable, and the risk of losing one must have been heavy in her mind that first night. "And she's furious at Narcissa too."
Yes, Bellatrix and Narcissa had been snappy at one another since the confession came that the youngest sister knew what Andromeda had been up to was revealed. They barely interacted save for arguing with one another, and Narcissa had even taken to sitting with other friends during meal times instead of with Bellatrix as she normally would have.
Andromeda blanched, and looked at Hermione with a raised eyebrow, waiting for her to ask the inevitable question. Hermione merely raised an eyebrow in return, and the fifth year sighed. "Ted asked me on a date, and I told him we should wait until the dinner party in Slughorn's office, that way Bellatrix wouldn't be around to ask why I was sneaking off." She paused, and shifted to adjust herself better on the mountain of pillows, her gaze now on the high arching ceilings. "I told Cissy, and begged her to keep it a secret. Bella pretends I'm not even friends with Ted... she'd lose her mind if she knew I liked him like that."
"Narcissa told Bellatrix she knew why you were at Hogsmeade that night," Hermione confessed, figuring it best to give Andromeda a heads up in case she was yet to know.
"I know. After Bella made sure I wasn't about to die on her she started yelling about how stupid I was for going out with Ted. We were screaming back and forth, and she even looked like she was about to cry. She called him some horrible names and then she stormed out."
A throbbing pain shot through Hermione's left arm and she knew just what kind of names Bellatrix had called him.
Hermione gave an encouraging squeeze to Andromeda's hand. "Don't listen to her. She's... blinded by-"
"By my whole family's beliefs?" Andromeda questioned, an almost scowl on her pretty face. In that moment, she looked so much like Bellatrix it was startling. "That isn't an exaggeration either. My entire family has made it clear what their stance is on muggle born wizards. Well, all but my little cousin."
Hermione's heart took on a weird beating pattern at that. "Your little cousin?"
She knew exactly who Andromeda meant before she said, "My aunt and uncle's oldest son, his name is Sirius. He's not quite... a rough as everyone else, I guess," she shrugged, the movement must have hurt her side as that shrug turned into a pain filled wince. "Can you hand me that cup of water? Thanks." Once she had drank half of it, Hermione waiting with bated breath, she continued. "He asks me about them somethings, muggles and their world. I don't have much to tell him, but I don't think he's as... disillusioned about the world as the rest of my family." She laughed then, clearly thinking of something funny regarding Sirius. "He's nine right now. He'll be here in two years and I already know he's going to give this school hell."
Indeed he will, Hermione smiled, remembering all of the stories she had heard about him and Harry's father, what the two of them, along with Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew will soon get themselves into. But the thought also made her pause, and consider what life would soon be like for Sirius once he was placed in Gryffindor, the first of his family to ever not go into Slytherin.
"Are you... close to Sirius?" Sirius would join the Order almost immediately upon graduating Hogwarts, and while Andromeda herself never officially joined, she would one day offer her home to them, and her own daughter would support them as well.
"I guess. Bella's closest to him, though, when he's not asking worrying questions about muggles. She likes how mouthy he is, and how much he argues with our aunt and uncle."
That... Hermione had not been prepared to hear. She never would have guessed Bellatrix to be close to the younger cousin she was to one day murder. Sirius would be with his family for another seven years, until he turned sixteen and left to live with the Potter's, with the best friend he loved more than anything else, save that man's son. Had it hurt him to leave his family? Hermione had always viewed Sirius as rather aloof, a suave type of man who renounced his pure blooded family without a second look back. She hadn't considered he would have liked his family members, especially Bellatrix.
Andromeda, unaware of Hermione's inner turmoil, kept speaking. "Our parents used to send us to stay for a few weeks with my aunt and uncle in the summer when we were younger. They have this summer home in the French countryside, and when we were little we'd spend hours chasing each other through the forests, all five of us. They're some of my most cherished memories." She turned somber quickly, and frowned at nothing. Not once had she met Hermione's gaze, and Hermione could recognize that right now, her friend just needed to talk about nothing substantial, just a family she so obviously missed. Most of this conversation could probably be credited to whatever potions were still in her system, the ones that kept her eyes partially unfocused and her brain most likely a little fuzzy.
"The summer Bellatrix was to first start Hogwarts was our last summer there. After that, our father decided we were too old to run around and get dirty with the boys. We only see Sirius and his little brother Regulus during holidays or events now."
"It sounded like you had a fun time with Sirius," Hermione said quietly, slowly processing everything Andromeda had told her. Sirius was close to their side of the family, closer than expected. He had never so much as hinted that he felt any sort of connection or attachment to Bellatrix or Narcissa.
The fifth year licked her lips, dry and chapped, and Hermione passed her the cup once more. "Bella's different," she said quietly, the change of topic so sudden it took Hermione a second to catch up. "She's not the same girl who taught Sirius how to climb a tree. She's not even the same girl who used showed us all how to race brooms, and would comfort us when we cried. Even if she was the one who knocked us off to begin with."
Hermione figured it would be wise to keep her mouth shut on that one.
"I know you guys don't get along, but I promise Bella hasn't always been this..." Andromeda made a funny motion with her hand that was clearly meant to represent her sister, which made Hermione snort. "I told her she should be nicer to you, that I'm alive thanks to you and Ted."
"What, uh, what did she say?" Hermione asked, a bit uncomfortable but also relieved. If Andromeda did tell Bellatrix to be nicer to her, she may have unintentionally made Hermione's job here that much easier. Of course, that would be if Bellatrix actually deigned to obey.
Andromeda shrugged, her eyes drooping more heavily now and Hermione knew it was time to leave. She had been there for more than an hour now, and her friend had to be exhausted. "She said she'd try." That explained Bellatrix's behavior prior to Hermione coming to the hospital wing, and her admission of being glad Andromeda had her as a friend. With a pleased smiled, Hermione left the hospital wing.
Try ended up being a rather generous word to use when describing Bellatrix for the next few weeks. The school went back to normal eventually, Andromeda was released from the hospital wing and easily rejoined her role of Prefect with little interference, and life resumed the same as ever as the freshness of the Hogsmeade attack faded from everyone's mind.
The attack must have soothed something within the dark wizards, as no news about any more attacks spread throughout the Wizarding World. They had accomplished whatever it was they sought to, and fell back into the nerve-racking quiet that meant the Dark Lord was planning something else, or gathering more of his forces.
The main difference that had appeared since the attack was that Bellatrix now whole heartedly ignored Hermione. Gone were the snide comments about her last name, gone were the less than nice nicknames, gone even was the brutal arguments the two were known to get into.
Hermione would have enjoyed all the negative aspects of interacting with Bellatrix being gone, had it not come at the price of losing any positive ones as well. They were a long way from being considered friends by any means, but Bellatrix had been occasionally friendly. She had accompanied Hermione on the walk back from Slughorn's after their dinner party, and even went as far as to compliment how Hermione looked in her outfit.
And then there was the time they spent together at Black Lake the day after Andromeda's attack, when their conversation had been the nicest and easiest it had ever been before. Not to mention Bellatrix allowed Hermione to heal her face that night when she did not return to the common room until very late, and offered no justification for her appearance. Hermione though they were heading in the right direction- slow, and questionable if they'd make it by Christmas, but still the needed path- but clearly that was not the case.
Bellatrix had no interest in Hermione beyond begrudgingly recognizing her as the girl who saved her sister, of the girl who- despite their rocky interactions- kept her secrets about her injuries and scars. And so she pretended she no longer existed, like their conversations after Andromeda was hurt did not exist either, and so Hermione went through the days trying to convince herself that this was just a set back, and that she somehow hadn't messed up her chances to ever truly befriend Bellatrix and save them all.
Part of her wished Andromeda had never told Bellatrix to be nicer to Hermione. They were doing fine enough on their own, but she couldn't very well explain to the fifth year why it was so important that Bellatrix not pretend Hermione didn't exist and that the two of them actually befriended one another. How could she have ever explained that one day, Andromeda's sister would one day stand beside the darkest wizard the world had ever seen? That her name were be whispered with nearly the same amount of fear as her Lord's?
Not to mention the absolute fall into insanity she would one day have. Hermione sometimes forgot that would be the case as well, if she were to fail. That, yes, Bellatrix would turn dark, but she would lose her mind in doing so, become something so utterly unrecognizable and basically not human.
Or that she would never speak to Andromeda again, would never know the daughter she would one day have?
None of that was very easily explainable, and so Hermione resolved herself to the fact that maybe if she just waited this out, Bellatrix and her would go back to whatever they were before this.
Later on, the most exciting thing to come to Hogwarts since the attack happened in the last weekend of October, when Slytherin was scheduled to play Hufflepuff in Quidditch. It was to be an intense match, as Hufflepuff needed the win to rise above Gryffindor in the house cup and be in third place. Slytherin needed the win to either tie with Ravenclaw for first or top them. Both sides had reason to put their all in the game, and it had been a brutal one to watch.
Once again Andromeda had dragged Hermione to the event, and she had sat in the bitingly cold morning air, more and more of the students bundling themselves up in their scarves, while the two teams entered the field. As the last time, Hermione found herself utterly awestruck when she watched Bellatrix soar onto the field, that overly expensive dark wooden broom tight between her legs as she arched up into the air, the other two Slytherin chasers close on her heels.
It always left Hermione feeling breathless as she watch Bellatrix look so carefree when she played Quidditch. She had seen the dark witch arrive back at the common room after a brutal practice, sweat or rain soaked, her hair an even more tangled mess than usual, but always so much more relaxed than when she had left. Quidditch was something that calmed her, that was able to break through her icy exterior and reach the girl that just wanted a bit of thrill.
Hermione knew that same thrill would be lighting up Bellatrix's dark eyes now, as she watched the Hufflepuffs move in an organized pattern throughout the field. She just knew Bellatrix was waiting to knock them off.
After a few moments of both teams flying, the professor reffing the game blew his whistle and both sides fell into their positions, and once the balls were in play the gloves came off.
It was more than obvious both teams were out for blood. This match was much more violent than even any Slytherin or Gryffindor matches she had watched Harry and Ginny play, and most of the match was spent with her hand over her mouth at the brutality of each hit. Both teams seemed to be playing the same style- hurt the other until that team was forced to forfeit.
Narcissa, seated on Andromeda's other side, had made a few comments about Bellatrix's stupidity and aggression when the eldest Black nearly lost her balance trying to get the Quaffle more than once. The two of them seemed to be on fine enough terms now, though it had taken them a while to get back to wherever they were before Narcissa admitting to knowing why Andromeda was in Hogsmeade that night.
For the next couple of days, neither girl could be in the same room as one another without a screaming match taking place, and it only got worse when Andromeda was released from the hospital wing- and most definitely took Narcissa's side in the argument. After a particularly physical fight between Andromeda or Bellatrix, with Narcissa screaming at Bellatrix for being a pigheaded idiot, a lot of other students from their house had taken to leaving the room if the sisters were all together. Even Hermione often found better places to be, and preferred to hang out with Andromeda in the library or courtyard. The three of them furious with one another was worse than when Ron had been mad at Harry for entering the Triwizard cup, and Hermione had barely tolerated that.
Luckily, or unluckily depending on who was asked, the Black sisters fight all came a head one night when Andromeda took five points from Slytherin due to Bellatrix. Even Hermione had to admit her friend took the points to be petty with her sister. And Bellatrix had responded in kind. By hitting her sister with a gross vomit inducing spell. When Andromeda sent her own back, too swiftly for Bellatrix to throw up a shield, the two of them had spent the next hour puking side by side, screaming at one another in-between, and left the girls' bathroom back on normal terms.
Hermione wasn't quite positive over how Bellatrix and Narcissa stopped being pissy towards one another, but if she knew Bellatrix at all, it was most likely due to the older girl refusing to acknowledge the betrayal any longer, and pretending everything was back to normal. Narcissa must have gone with it, as she was here at the match to cheer on her sister.
When the match had been going for over an hour, and Slytherin was up by forty points and no Snitch insight, the Hufflepuffs upped their game a bit more, and Slytherin did not fail to meet the challenge. Beaters on both sides attacked more fervently, and even Hermione sucked in a panicked breath along with Andromeda and Narcissa when Bellatrix only just managed to dodge the bludger aimed right for her head.
Bellatrix had dropped low enough to avoid it, but her teammate beside her had not seen it coming.
The entire stadium held their breath as everyone watched the bludger slam into the sixth year's head and knock her from her broom as she plummeted to the ground. All the Slytherin members acted as once, and raced to try to stop the lethal fall. Even Bellatrix tried to catch the unconscious girl, but was unable to catch her as she continued to fall. It had been Steve, their captain, who managed to grab the girl fast enough, though the momentum was strong enough to knock him from his own broom and slam him into the ground, the girl unmoving on top of him.
Professors rushed onto the field as all the players grounded themselves to circle around the downed pair. The prefects all moved as well, each ordering their own houses to began heading back to the school while the professors assessed the injuries the girl had.
The last thing Hermione saw before she walked away with Andromeda or Narcissa was Bellatrix holding her hand out to pull Steve up, and did not miss the way the girl's dark eyes widened at the sight of the blood on his broad chest, staining his uniform.
November first brought something Hermione had not been ready for. She had gone so long without any sort of interaction with Bellatrix that she was not ready to stumble across the older girl, alone and furious. She was also not ready for the way Bellatrix screamed at her as she walked by her in the hallway. She had been ready for the attack though. After months of being around Bellatrix, she knew that a mad Bellatrix meant a hex was not far off, and was able to deflect the first attack, and even the second attack.
Hermione had sent her own back, but the girl was just so unfairly fast. No one should be able to shoot spell after spell so quickly like that, and so unfortunately she had not been able to block the third hex that felt as if fire was exploding on her thigh.
She blamed it on her pain addled brain that convinced her sending the exploding spell at the girl was the right idea.
It missed, thankfully, as her aim was a bit off from the pain, but it did slam into the wall of portraits beside them, and it did send a shower of wood and canvas on top of Bellatrix, infuriated portrait people screaming as their frames were destroyed and Bellatrix screaming as well. It was no surprise that a professor found them not even a minute later, and promptly escorted them to Dumbledore's office. It spoke to the seriousness of the situation that they were being led to the Headmaster, and not to Slughorn again.
"Very interesting that when I hear of students fighting in the halls, my mind immediately goes to the two of you," Dumbledore said in his deep rumble, looking over the rim of his half moon glasses at the two girls currently sitting across from him.
For her part, Hermione was quite embarrassed and ashamed to be sitting before the Headmaster, feeling like a scolded child as she sat stiff back and uncomfortable. Bellatrix did not seem to feel the same, and scowled down at her shoes as she slouched in her seat.
The sight did little to dismay Dumbledore, and he continued on without hesitation, his gaze directed entirely on the older witch. "It is also interesting, Miss Black, that every time you return from an outing with your father, you cause some sort of mishap with other students, is it not?"
What? Hermione turned to stare at the girl beside her, her dark eyes hardened and a firm scowl on her face as she glared at the headmaster. Hermione knew if Bellatrix was looking at her like that, spells would start flying soon. But the dark witch made no move to even so much as response as crossed her arms.
Dumbledore did not scowl her for the insolence, or even showed any sign of irritation at the sight, and Hermione realized... realized what an insight he had given her, be it intentionally or not. Bellatrix had been with her father today, and came back furious enough to attack her unprompted. It was pattern enough that even Dumbledore had noticed it, and it only added more to the tangled web the witch's life made up that Hermione struggled to navigate.
"Both of your skills as witches speak for themselves, and I do believe you have the capabilities of bringing very good things to our darkening world," he started, and Hermione frowned. This did not sound like he was punishing them, more so going on one of his tangents that only he understood the true point of. "It would be a true outrage if those talents were wasted due to uncontrollable tempers or ill-planned reactions."
Neither girl said anything in return, and so Dumbledore continued to talk. "I have turned a blind eye to many things in regards to the two of you, but I no longer will, and you will no longer so readily throws spells in the hallway- where it is against the rules, I shall remind you- or in any other Hogwarts location save for under direct supervision by a professor."
She had never been scolded by Dumbledore before (McGonagall, most definitely, but never him) and found she hated it most of all. Apologies were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't seem able to force the words out, even as her cheeks were stained a deep red and her bottom lip was sucked in between her teeth.
"Professor Kettleburn has informed me that come next week, he will be announcing a project that requires partner work between students to care for a creature, together. I've taken it upon myself to request your professor assigns the two of you as partners."
Nope, this was definitely a punishment. Hermione opened her mouth to- to argue or to plead or to something, but a pointed look from Dumbledore kept her silenced. Bellatrix looked as if she would rather feed herself to one of the magical creatures than hear anymore of this conversation.
"Furthermore, Miss Potter, I couldn't help but notice you are not involved in any extracurriculars." Oh, she had a very bad feeling about what that was alluding to. "You've been at Hogwarts for two months now, certainly you wish to have further involvement and get to know more of our students."
"Well, I-" In truth she hadn't considered doing, well, anything outside of her coursework and dealing with Bellatrix. In her own time, she had created S.P.E.W., but as for involvement in actual extracurriculars? "I suppose I hadn't thought about it, professor."
"Not a problem," Dumbledore said lightly, and Hermione felt dread growing steadier and steadier in her stomach. "It is quite a disappointment to your house that the Slytherin Quidditch team will be unable to play to rest of the year as you are now one player short."
That dread turned to a heavy, heavy ball of lead in the pit of her stomach and she knew exactly what was coming.
"Perhaps you would be interested in filling that spot."
Bellatrix yelled out, "Absolutely not!" at the same time Hermione tried to say, "I really shouldn't-" but it was the older girl who stood quickly from her seat, her usually pale face red with anger. "We will lose," she hissed. "She's never played a match in her life! I've never even seen her on a broom!"
"Now, now, Bellatrix, Durmstrang has a much more rigorous athletic program that Hogwarts. I am sure Hermione has received extensive training on riding broomsticks, given how often her previous school produces witches and wizards who are recruited for National level Quidditch play."
Hermione frowned at the hole Dumbledore dug for her. She did not like riding brooms, or being high in the air at all. She was quite content to be on the ground. Quidditch was Harry's thing. And Dumbledore knew she had no training of the sort so why would he do this? Was forcing them to be partners not horrid enough?
The witch beside her was just as agitated, though none of her very loud (and rude) arguments she was currently making to Dumbledore seemed to sway him.
"I will tell Steve Laughalot to expect the both of you on the field for tomorrow's practice. The two of you may return to your dorms now."
Chapter 8: VIIIChapter TextHermione loved learning. It was an indisputable fact about herself that was well known. Any bit of knowledge she could get her hand on, she cherished it all, and thrived in environments where she could show those skills off. Never before had she come across a topic she had no interest in learning about, even those taught by Professor Binns.
As it turns out, she was proven so incredibly wrong the next morning when she slowly followed a steaming Bellatrix onto the Quidditch field way too early in the morning. How Harry and Ginny did early morning practices with little complaint was beyond her in that moment. Unfortunately, it was made worse when Steve began slowly going through the new plays they would be trying out that week.
It was the most mind-numbing hour of her life as he pointed to individual X's and O's on the board. The entire time, Bellatrix barely watched the captain as she glared at Hermione. Oh, she had made her feelings on Hermione being a member of the Quidditch team quite clear once they left Dumbledore's office last night, and still did not seem to have gotten all of her thoughts out of her head by the way she leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.
Hermione couldn't deny she felt quite the same. Dumbledore's decision had first come as a damnation, but then later that night as she laid in bed, she thought of the branch he was extending her, and how this very well could be her salvation for everything. Maybe this wasn't a punishment at all, but the headmaster's way of helping Hermione complete her mission. It was known he meddled more than he should, but maybe this was one that would pay off in Hermione's favor?
When she woke up before the sun had risen, went to her very first practice on an empty stomach, and listened to Steve say what had to be the same things over and over again, her mind went right back to this definitely being a punishment, and it was most likely not her salvation.
"Right," Steve clapped his hands together, and all of them jerked their heads up to look at him. None of the other players had been anymore pleased than Bellatrix was about Hermione's joining the team, and had made their dissent very vocal, until Steve all pointedly reminded them that had it not been for Dumbledore having Hermione join the team, they'd be benched the rest of the year, and therefore out of the house cup competition. It was enough to keep them all quiet for now.
Most likely until they saw Hermione on a broom.
"Potter, get one of the older brooms from the shed. You'll have to use that for now, and hopefully you'll be able to get a decent enough one before any games." Steve directed her to an old shed close to the field, and she didn't bother admitting she had no money and therefore no ability to buy a broom of any quality. She'd use whatever broom was in the shed and they'd all have to deal with it.
She found one, a lighter colored one with some of the twigs twisted on the end. Honestly, it looked in worse condition than the practice brooms they all used their first year, but Hermione trailed back to the pitch and mounted the broom along with everyone else.
Andromeda had a wicked smile on her face when Hermione found her in the library later that day, looking much too pleased with herself. Books about ancient runes covered the table she was at, a parchment of paper with only her name and one lone sentence on it in front of her. A quill with drying ink lay untouched to the side, evidence enough of the lack of work she had completed.
"I don't want to hear it," Hermione groaned as she dropped into the seat across from her friend, who still wore a mocking smile so much like Bellatrix's. "I really don't want to hear it," she stressed again when Andromeda just kept grinning. There was no doubt in her mind Bellatrix had already told her sister all about the embarrassment that was Hermione's attempt at Quidditch.
"But I want to say it," Andromeda teased, closing the book closest to her as she apparently decided to be done writing her paper entirely. "Bella was unusually happy today."
"I don't think your sister knows what position she plays. From the way she kept trying to knock me off my broom, one would think she was a beater." As she spoke, Hermione rubbed the sore spot on her thigh where the bludger at hit her earlier. How her friends did this sport every week was beyond her as every muscle in her body ached, and she wanted nothing more than to curl up in the library chair and pretend this morning never happened.
"From what I heard, you didn't need much help getting knock off your broom."
"I'm reconsidering helping you with your assignment," Hermione growled as she rubbed a sore spot on her side. The other players hadn't been putting their all in during practice, but even with them pulling punches the multiple bludgers that hit her still left a painful mark.
It had all gone pretty terribly right from the start. Steve had them doing simple plays (so he said) and she had been unable to keep up. Not only had she not been anywhere quick enough to follow the rest of the team, but she was not a fan of being so high off of the ground, and her nerves must have showed, because after only a few minutes of her hesitant and shaky flying, Steve called for a time out.
And then Bellatrix had taken to commenting on every single thing Hermione did wrong (which was a lot), and the third chaser, a sixth year boy named Sebastian had been just as critical as Bellatrix, the two of them partnering up to ridicule Hermione for the remainder of the practice.
The two beaters, at least, had taken it somewhat easy on her. Even if bludgers did hit frequently, but that was probably credited more to her inability to move away quickly than them trying to do much damage.
Practice had seemingly gone on forever, and everyone left the field pissy and annoyed at having Hermione on the team. She couldn't really blame them, though Bellatrix's and Sebastian's comments were unnecessary as they walked back to the castle. Everyone was understandably annoyed, given how every point was needed to ensure they won the house cup at the end of the school year.
"Bella was very... thorough in describing practice today," Andromeda continued, and barely moved fast enough to avoid being swatted by Hermione. "Okay, okay! I'm done." She sobered up, and said, "I'm sure you'll pick it up quickly. You're smart."
It did little to console Hermione, and her already terrible mood only worsened the more she thought about how much she sucked at Quidditch. Athleticism was never her strong suit in general, but competitive athleticism was especially not her forte.
"Let's just work on your Ancient Runes course," Hermione sighed, silently cursing Dumbledore, McGonagall, Bellatrix, every person in the world really, as she sat through and helped Andromeda on her worst class.
The two of them sat in the library until over a foot of words had been added, and it was then that Andromeda leaned back from the table and rubbed her eyes. "I'm going to meet up with Ted soon, do you want to come?"
She did, and she said as much. Ted hadn't been around as frequently as before the Hogsmeade attack, which Andromeda credited to him wanting to avoid running into Bellatrix or even Narcissa. Though their feud about him seemed to be over, he apparently didn't want to risk putting Andromeda into a worse place with her sisters. That, or he just plain didn't want to interact with them.
Hermione couldn't blame him for feeling either way.
The two of them quickly packed up their belongings and started walking towards the castle's exit, where Andromeda explained Ted was on the grounds with some other friends. Even as every step ached with her sore muscles, Hermione was looking forward to interacting with people who truly had no interest in how much she sucked at Quidditch.
"Get up," a gruff voice said close to Hermione's ear much too early one morning, followed by a tight grip on her upper arm that shook her body side to side as she grumbled. "Get up, Potter."
Hermione blearily cracked an eye open and found none other than Bellatrix Black standing over her bed, fully dressed despite the early hour, and the sight was enough to bring Hermione to complete consciousness as she sat up. "What's wrong?" She asked as she wiped at her eye to remove the remnants of sleep. Today was supposed to be the one day this week she was able to sleep until her regular schedule, as every other day Steve had them waking up much too early to get acclimated to playing with Hermione. And give her every single bit of practice opportunity as possible. She'd need it all. She figured out of everyone, Bellatrix would be the most thankful about sleeping in.
And yet here she stood, arms crossed and scowling at Hermione. A usual occurrence whenever she looked in the brunette's direction. "We're going to the field. Get dressed."
"Why? There's no practice today," Hermione grumbled, her whole body aching from the week of physical exertion she had put it under.
"Oh, no practice? I wasn't aware today was our one day off thanks to you." The sarcasm was heavy in Bellatrix's tone as she shoved at Hermione's shoulder once more, who shrugged the offending appendage away. "You suck," the dark witch said bluntly. "So we're going to work on that."
If Bellatrix hadn't been so painfully right, Hermione would probably have even decently offended at being told she sucked at something. It wasn't in her nature to not be exceptionally good at things, and not being able to master something so many others did so easily was driving her mad.
It was that thought that had Hermione leaving the warmth and comfort of her bed and telling Bellatrix she would change and join her in the common room, which she did a few minutes later. The dark haired girl was impatiently leaning against the stone wall, obviously more than annoyed at having to wait for Hermione to put on proper clothes, and said nothing as she walked through the wall, letting Hermione rush to catch up.
There were no other people in the halls, and most of the portraits were still asleep in the early morning light as the girls walked towards the double doors leading to the outside. The air was overly brisk without the sun shining to warm them up, the wind carrying a biting chill as they crossed the grounds to the pitch. They made a stop at the shed holding their brooms, Bellatrix pulling out the dark wooden and expensive one while Hermione grabbed the same beaten one she used in their first practice.
"Don't use that one," Bellatrix demanded as she pulled out a longer broom, the wood lighter than Hermione's now, with more chipped pieces and frayed twigs. It looked in considerably worse condition than the other, but Bellatrix just said, "It's ugly looking but faster than that piece of shit. More nimble, too. Use it." She snatched the one out of Hermione's hand and shoved the new one it in, and Hermione decided to keep quiet about her biting tone.
In this situation, as much as she loathed to admit it, she knew next to nothing, and Bellatrix clearly had the upper ground when it came to knowledge about brooms. If only Ron or Ginny could be here, preferably the latter, as while the former would explain the difference, he would undoubtedly take great joy in knowing something Hermione did not.
It really wasn't much difference than what Bellatrix was doing now, as she made no effort to hide the pleased grin on her face. Hermione held back her own rude response and just walked to the field until she stood in the center, and waited for Bellatrix to give her some sort of pointer or command.
Unsurprisingly, Bellatrix offered no sort of comment as she mounted her own broom and kicked off, easily soaring high into the still darkened sky and racing straight up. It was only when she was decent ways off of the ground did she level out, and yell down to Hermione, "What are you waiting for? Get up here, traitor."
Had Hermione not been so utterly focused on staying on her broom, she might had resented the mocking laugh Bellatrix sent her way as she slowly and wobbly rose up on the broom, much less elegantly than Bellatrix did. After she had a few feet of distance between herself and the ground, she stopped, and looked up to Bellatrix.
Who was already staring down at her with an unimpressed look.
"I assumed you knew this, rat, but Quidditch is played up here," she said dully, the mockery clear in her voice as Hermione once again forced the broom to get closer to Bellatrix, and once again stopped it after only a few short moments of movement. "If this is how it's going to be, we are never getting anymore."
"Do you have anything positive to say?" Hermione finally snapped, more than a little annoyed that she was well out of her comfort zone and Bellatrix didn't even have the decency to acknowledge that. "I am not used to doing this, and here you are ridiculing me like a stupid child. Forgive me for not knowing how to ride a broom! Not all of us can be Quidditch prodigies."
Even from her position below Bellatrix, she could visibly see the girl scowl at her with a raised eyebrow. After a beat of silence of both girls just staring at one another, Bellatrix said, "If you're done acting like a stupid child, we can get on with this."
"You're so unbelievable!" Hermione threw one hand up in exaserbation, and then immediately latched back on when the broom wobbled too much for her comfort. "I have no idea why I'm even trying so hard to learn. I have no interest in Quidditch or winning! I'm doing this for yo- for the house. But, honestly, I'm not going to bother anymore. This was pointless. I'm going to back to bed."
"You're choking the broom," Bellatrix said when Hermione began lowering herself even further, the girl obviously choosing not to properly respond to Hermione's outburst. "You won't be able to make sharp turns if you keep your hands like that."
Every part of Hermione was telling her to keep moving until her feet touched the ground, and return to their dorm to pretend this disaster of a morning never happened. But... Bellatrix's tone had change from ridiculing her lack of skills to just assessing what she was doing.
With a deep and relaxing breath, Hermione forced herself to gain altitude once more, and with a racing heart, she continued to rise until she reached Bellatrix's height. "Okay. What do I do with my hands then?"
Bellatrix wasn't even holding onto her own broom, instead sitting low on the end and her hands dangling at her side, a bored look on her face. Not once did the broom jerk or droop; she had the utmost control over the tool and knew it. "Move your hands higher up. When you keep them where they are now, it makes the broom harder to move." For emphasis, she mimicked Hermione's hand placements on her broom, and then shifted them upwards, closer to the top end of the stick. "If you have to keep your hands on your broom, keep them around here. And move your thumb like this, don't keep it up on top like that. Yeah, that," she said as Hermione did as instructed, sliding her hands towards the top and fixing her grip.
The broom wobbled a bit with the movements, but thankfully remained in the same position after Hermione righted herself. It was a bit embarrassing to struggle like a first year in front of Bellatrix, but she knew little more than the introductory level of riding.
"You're too tense," Bellatrix added after a moment of watching Hermione bob up and down. "Merlin, you ride exactly how they teach you in first year."
Hermione didn't bother pointing out that had been the most she's ever ridden. Bellatrix needed no extra ammunition in making fun of her, especially when she was showing a rare side of being pleasant. She wanted to make this unusual mood last as long as possible, especially since it was directed at her and not one of Bellatrix's sisters.
"Remember, you're a chaser. All you need to care about is speed and accuracy when throwing the ball." Over the next several minutes, Bellatrix instructed Hermione on a few of the basic maneuvers of riding, and for the most part kept her snarky comments contained as she just offered frank suggestions on how Hermione could improve. And there were a lot of ways she could do so, starting with how tight her thighs held the broom, to her posture, to how she pulled up the front of her broom when she felt she was moving too fast. The list went on and on, and it was only when the sky had lightened to the late morning did Bellatrix call it quits.
"I'm starving," she explained when both of them landed on the dewy ground. They were panting and a bit more sweaty than Hermione enjoyed, but...
Hermione didn't want to leave the field.
This was very nice, she realized, staring at Bellatrix's reddened cheeks and the short wisps of hair sticking to her forehead. There had been many moments Hermione saw Bellatrix having fun; arguing a point in class, studying with her sisters, or playing a real match all came to mind, but right in this moment Bellatrix looked relaxed, so untypical of her, but the look on her face, the grin was less vicious and teasing than usual, almost genuine.
"Bellatrix?" Hermione started off, slowly trailing behind the girl as they walked back towards the shed. When the dark witch turned to look at her, Hermione hesitantly said, "I really do appreciate you helping me."
Bellatrix's dark eyes widened a fraction before her smile shifted into something much more playful, and Hermione already could tell the response would be anything but polite. But for some reason, she couldn't find it in herself to really care, even as Bellatrix shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, someone had to. You're making us all look bad, and there isn't a better player than myself."
Hermione let out a real laugh at that statement, to which Bellatrix looked startled once more before she too let out a gentle laugh, so much differentiations than the cackling high pitched noise she would be known to make. It was soft, and sweet, and Hermione thought it was one of the nicest sounds she had heard in a long while.
She was still pondering that thought when they placed their brooms back in the shed and walked side by side back to the castle to make the last few minutes of breakfast.
Slytherins shared the Care of Magical Creatures with Gryffindor, and most classes Hermione spent it alongside Daniel, who had also chosen the elective. She was quite surprised to find Bellatrix had enrolled in the course as well, as she figured the girl would be like her future nephew and have no interest in such a topic about 'beasts', but Bellatrix didn't seem to complain about the creatures they've cared for so far, mainly being fire crabs or salamanders.
"So what kind of creature do you think it is?" Daniel asked as he stood beside Hermione, both of them among the cluster of other students as they waited for Professor Kettleburn. He had took them all two days ago they would be starting a new assignment today, the very one Hermione had been dreading as it meant she would be forced to work alongside Bellatrix, but she was intrigued on what the animal would be. "Maybe a Niffler? Or a a Murtlap?"
The possibilities were theoretically endless, as there were countless creatures throughout the Wizarding World on all the different continents, not to mention so many that were not yet discovered.
"Is your leg okay? You're standing odd." Daniel frowned as he looked to Hermione, who had most of her weight on her right foot, keeping her left bent slightly.
She grimaced as she tried to ignore the pain in her ankle from the rough fall she had taken the night before. Bellatrix had hit her harder than she was expecting, and she landed poorly on her ankle. Months ago, even a week ago, Hermione would have said it was intentional, but she had seen the way Bellatrix's eyes widened in shock and how quickly she dipped her broom to rush towards Hermione.
It had ended up being nothing more than a twisted ankle, and Bellatrix's quick spell work kept the joint from swelling up, but less than twenty-four hours later her foot was still a bit too sore to keep her weight on it without feeling uncomfortable. Bellatrix had been uncharacteristically concerned, and even offered to cut their practice short in return for helping her limp to the hospital wing.
Hermione had denied the offer, but Bellatrix did end practice, and insisted they at least returned to the common room. She didn't stick around after Hermione sat on the couch, but did add, with only a slightly uncomfortable and unsure tone, that Hermione should ice it or it'll just get worse.
It was all a bit surreal, and even a day later Hermione couldn't get her mind off of it, or off of how the past week had truly seemed to shift her and Bellatrix's relationship.
"Quidditch practice," she explained, frowning down at her leg in annoyance.
Daniel laughed, and then gave her pitying look as he scratched the back his head. "Yeah.. we all heard you're a new chaser for Slytherin. How's that going?"
"Well, I'm not longer worried I'm going to fall off of the broom." If only due to Bellatrix knocking her off more times than she could count, only when they were low enough to the ground for it to not do any damage. But it had worked to cement the belief that were she to fall from a higher ground, one of the other players would do their best to catch her. Hopefully. "But Bellatrix is helping me train, and it's working, so."
"So I guess I'll see your skills this weekend?" Daniel smiled, his tone a little higher than usual, his cheeks a bit redder. "Gryffindor and Slytherin face each other. It'll be fun to play against you."
It was a fact Hermione didn't quite want to face just yet. She had her first real match this weekend. Breaking into the Ministry of Magic? Fine. Facing Death Eaters in the Ministry and at Hogwarts? Also fine. Breaking into Gringotts by impersonating a Death Eater who had tortured her? Nerve-wracking but she did it, and took it one step further by escaping on the back of an abused dragon. But the idea of actually playing the sport, of facing another team who owed her no obligation to look out for her, and in front of the entire school? Not fine.
"Don't remind me," she huffed as their professor finally came onto the field, and talking between students began to quiet down as the professor held up a hand.
"Gather around, everyone, gather around. We have quite the opportunity here, one students before you have never had! After discussing the logistics with the other heads of houses, we have decided to present such a unique occasion to our seventh year students." Kettleburn's one good arm brushed his silvered hair away from his face as he looked at the amassed crowd. It was clear he was giddy over whatever 'opportunity' they all had, but most of the students were a bit apprehensive over what that could mean. They were all well aware of his tendency to indulge dangerous creatures. His multiple limb losses were testament to that.
Kettleburn continued speaking as he led them towards the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and all of the students looked at each other curiously. It wasn't often they were so readily brought into the forest. Usually, Kettleburn would bring the creatures to their section of the field reserved for this course, but never lead them into the forest.
"As you can all see, this particular assignment will take place in the Forbidden Forest. I do think I need to remind you how dangerous the area can be, even in the daylight, and must demand you do not stray away from the area I have marked for us for the next few weeks. This assignment is a privilege, not a right or requirement to pass my course. That being said, anyone who fails to listen to directions will find themselves in detention during this course time for the remainder of the semester."
Hermione could only hope that Bellatrix was not one of the students to be asked to leave for failure to follow directions. In classes she was relatively obedient, and tended not to talk when the professors were, and did seem to enjoy the lectures presented to them for the most part, but then again whenever Bellatrix was told not to do something...
"I'm still saying Nifflers," Daniel whispered to her as they finally came to a stop in a relatively dense part of the forest, the tall trees blocking most of the light from the early afternoon sky and leaving most of areas shrouded in shadows. Their focus was on a small burrow, most under ground, but partly built around a thick tree.
"Nifflers don't live in burrows," Hermione said back, waiting for the rest of the students to move around to be able to see the leaves and sticks. "And it isn't a Murtlap either." She was running through all the creatures she could think of that would be small enough to live in this sized burrow, interesting enough to justify Kettleburn's excitement, and rare enough they would not have worked with them at Hogwarts before.
She came up with nothing, and the thought bothered her.
"Now, a few ground rules need to be covered before revealing our wonderful creature." Kettleburn snapped his fingers to gain back everyone's attention from the small burrow built around a thick tree off to the side, and everyone was now much more invested in finding out what the animal could be. "This creature is typically a nocturnal one, and has become very rare in the last few centuries to the point many believed it extinct. As you can tell, that is incorrect."
Hermione craned her neck to try to see inside the burrow, but the bundle was so densely packed with thick leaves and dirt the interior was completely encased in darkness.
"These creatures can be very easily offended, and if that is the case they will abandon you in the middle of the nigh and will never be seen again. I implore you to remain respectful the entire time while working with them, as we will not get such an opportunity for some time. They are also infants, and will require more care than the adults otherwise would." Everyone began whispering about what it could be, and Kettleburn just smiled as he bent down to stick his hand in the burrow. A high pitched whine was heard, obviously disgruntled at being disturbed, the sound not unlike a baby's cry, and when Kettleburn righted himself, a tiny and fuzzy tan creature was in his palms. He held it up in the air for all to see, and the beast squeezed its already closed eyes tighter at the sudden light. "Students, I am so very pleased to announce we will be working with Brownies!"
Holy Merlin-
Brownies?
This definitely was not one of the creatures she thought they would be working with today.
Hermione had read about the creatures more times than she could recall, and was always very intrigued about their livelihood. When the Wizarding World first formed in the 13th century, Brownies had been used as house servants just as frequently, if not more, than elves. It was only when the Brownies began to revolt, and leave their masters in the dead of night as Kettleburn had warned, did pure bloods switch over entirely to elves, who had their own magic and were bond through magic that made them unable to leave the households unless given clothing.
Ever since then, Brownies had fallen out of favor in the Wizarding World, and many people did think they had died off, Hermione included. As far as she knew, no research had been conducted on them in over two hundred years due to their rarity, so to be able to do so now was.. it was... marvelous didn't even do it justice.
"Now, we have twenty of us and ten Brownies, so we will be pairing up. I have taken to assigning partners- no, don't complain- as I was saying, I have assigned partners, so when your names are called, please line up aside one another to receive your Brownie." He pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket, and Hermione was already making her way to Bellatrix, who she discovered also looked fascinated. She was such an enigma of a person. Every time Hermione thought she had Bellatrix figured out, the girl went and surprised her again. Being interested in caring for a Brownie was not something Hermione ever thought Bellatrix would find exciting.
By the time Kettleburn called both of their names, they were already beside one another and ready to take the creature. The professor handed a fat and sleepy one to Bellatrix, who took it in an unusually gentle grip, letting the creature curl into a ball in her hands as she stared at it.
"He's fat," she commented as the two of them walked away to join the group of students also already carrying their own. Hermione had to agree with Bellatrix- looking around, most of the others were relatively longer and thinner, whereas theirs had a noticeably rounded stomach.
"He's cute," Hermione added as she lightly ran a finger down the creature's brown peach fuzz that covered its overly wrinkly body. He wasn't as furry as most animals, and his longer arms and legs were almost humanoid as he burrowed further against Bellatrix's warm hands.
Kettleburn finished assigning each pair a Brownie, and got everyone's attention once more. "A female Brownie can have up to twelve babes at a time, and typically they do become full grown and go on their own after five or six months. As you can tell, these we have here are much too young to be on their own, and we believe their mother must have been killed by something in the forest. Hagrid found them a few days ago during one of his walks, and reported back to Professor Dumbledore and myself. We are estimating they're only a week or so old, but do keep in mind we do not know nearly as much as we would like about the species. Your jobs will be to feed the creatures until they are able to on their own, and then keep them in line when they began trying to clean everything in their sight. It's in their nature to tidy things up, and can oftentimes become aggressive if denied the right to do so."
He began guiding the students out of the forest, and Hermione noted everyone was cooing over the cuteness of the sleeping creatures- of which she was no better. Bellatrix did hand the Brownie over, but when he began to omit a high whine when Hermione was holding him she was quick to pass him back to Bellatrix, who did not bothering hiding her mocking grin at the fact that it quieted down immediately.
"We're moving them from the forest to one of the abandoned sheds on the grounds. They enjoy dark and dilapidated places, usually basements in manors when they worked as servants, but this will do well to keep them safe from predators. Each class we will report here to care for the creatures. Make sure to write down everything you discover! At the end of the semester I am expecting a four foot parchment essay on them!"
More than a few of the students groaned at that, and Bellatrix made a snide comment regarding where the professor could place the four foot essay, but Hermione had no complaints. It just gave her even more of a reason to take extensive notes about the Brownie, which she was already planning to do.
"This is very exciting." Hermione couldn't help herself as she stared down at the Brownie, still sleeping and pressed against Bellatrix. "Should we name him?"
"I don't see why we would," Bellatrix responded as they reached the old shed, the wood warped and faded with age and weather, but the inside was warm, protected from the chilly wind. Kettleburn had readied the building for the Brownies, as there were ten small sections of beds made of more twigs and leaves, and the two of them walked to one in the corner.
When Bellatrix attempted to place the Brownie in the nest, he whined louder and tried to cling to the girl. She used her other hand to wiggle him off, and the whining only increased for a moment before he settled down into a small ball on the nest.
"Everyone needs a name," Hermione insisted, even if she thought the creature was a bit of a traitor for so readily liking Bellatrix more than herself.
"There is no reason to name a creature we will stop feeding in just a few weeks. If you name it, you're going to get attached."
"He's already attached to you. He likes you," Hermione pointed out, and did not bother hiding her jealousy at the statement.
"Awe, little rat, don't fret, someone likes you." Bellatrix gave a pointed look behind Hermione's shoulder, and then said, "He hasn't taking his eyes off of you all afternoon. Does the blood traitor have a little boyfriend?"
Behind Hermione, when she turned to see who Bellatrix was teasing her about, she found Daniel staring at her, his cheeks as red as they were earlier, and he gave her a hesitant wave when he caught her eyes.
Hermione smiled back before moving to look at Bellatrix once more, and noticed the girl scowling at Daniel, her eyebrows bunched together and her eyes dark.
"Bellatrix?"
"What?" She snapped at Hermione. Then, she rolled her eyes and shook her head, and turned back to the sleeping Brownie. "Is this all he is going to do?"
In an effort to not ruin whatever weird semblance of a friendship the two of them were currently working their way toward, Hermione decided her best course of action would be to not point out how Bellatrix's own cheeks were slightly reddened, and instead chose to listen as Kettleburn explained what they would be doing.
Feeding, mostly, just making sure the creature survives past infancy and can begin caring for itself. But they needed to be fed multiple times a day, twice by the students, and the remainder by Kettleburn and another professor who volunteered to help.
"In a week or so, they will hopefully be up and about, and it will become very interesting watching them roam the shed! They move fast, so watch you do not lose your Brownie!"
Hermione couldn't even imagine the way it would wreck her grade if they somehow managed to lose the rare creature, so she quickly turned to Bellatrix. "Please, please, keep in mind this is my grade on the line as well," she begged, even though Bellatrix was a top ranking student as well, she wouldn't put it past her just to mess with the grade to spite Hermione.
They might be friendly or acquaintances now, but Hermione had a feeling Bellatrix would still quite enjoy getting underneath her skin just because.
Unfortunately, Bellatrix just shrugged, and poked the rounded belly of the Brownie. He whined once more, and rolled closer to Bellatrix's hand. Instead of promising to behave, she merely said, "What do you want to name it?"
Hermione thought on it as she tried to run her finger down his back, only for him to scooch closer to Bellatrix once more. She scowled at the creature and pulled her arm back as she crossed her arms, ignoring Bellatrix's loud (and surprisingly real) laughter, even if the sound did bring a smile to her own face.
"Is it true you're really working with Brownies?" Andromeda asked the moment her and Hermione crossed paths the next morning. Word spread quickly about the seventh years working with the rare creatures, and many of the younger students were grumbling about wishing they had been able to interact, and a few other seventh years were moaning about not signing up for the elective.
One passing Hufflepuff complained, "If I knew that course would actually be fun this year I would have join!"
"Bella says you have a fat one," she said as they stopped in the hall that would lead them to their separate classes. "Will you take me to see him when you go feed him today?"
"No, this is an assignment for a grade, not some after school activity!"
Hermione shook her head at her friend's indignant huff, and was about to walk away when she heard Andromeda grumble, "That's why he likes Bella more."
She spun around quickly to correct the fifth year, because the Brownie did not like Bellatrix more than her, but found the girl had a knowing, and completely mocking, grin on her face. She was Bellatrix's twin in that moment, indistinguishable from one another save Andromeda's slightly lighter hair. But everything else, from how one corner of her mouth quirked up higher than the other, the crinkles around her eye, it was purely Bellatrix.
"I'm not giving in." Hermione rolled her eyes at Andromeda's laugh and crossed her arms. "And don't ask Bellatrix to take you either; I'm not compromising my grade because you want to see a Brownie."
Andromeda just said, "I figured you'd say that, nerd, so I asked Bella first. See you at lunch!" She didn't acknowledge Hermione yelling for her not to join them when they went to feed the Brownie, whom had been affectionately named Fatty by Bellatrix, despite Hermione's pleas to name it literally anything else.
She was nearly to her next class when a presence made itself known beside her in the form of wild dark hair and pale skin, as Bellatrix fell into step next to her. "Potter," the girl said a bit stiffly.
"Uh, hi, Bellatrix." Hermione's tone must have conveyed the question she didn't voice: why are you walking with me? as Bellatrix kept looking straight ahead and ignored the curious glances of passing students, most likely wondering if their altercation would once again turn physical right in the halls.
"It's Hogsmeade weekend," Bellatrix finally supplied as they were only a short distance from the classroom. Hogsmeade would happen after the Quidditch game on Saturday, and if Hermione was lucky she'd survive the match to join her fellow students. Bellatrix hadn't relented in their training, and Hermione did have to admit that, despite her being quite brutish when it came to practice, she did feel considerably better about everything.
"It is," Hermione agreed, unsure where the witch was taking this conversation.
The dark haired girl was visibly growing impatient at the lack of... whatever it was she wanted from Hermione as she snapped, "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Are you going?"
"Doesn't everyone?"
"Why are you-" Bellatrix groaned, and glared at Hermione as they both came to a halt outside the classroom door. "I don't understand why everyone thinks you're so smart, traitor."
Who does she think she is? Hermione frowned at Bellatrix as she sent her own glare, wondering why this conversation felt like it was going so horribly wrong, even when she had no idea in what direction it was really suppose to be going. But, she sighed, and to keep whatever tentative peace was between both of them, said, "Yes, Bellatrix, I'm going with Andromeda. Are you?"
"I am."
"Okay?"
Bellatrix huffed and started walking into the classroom, leaving Hermione no choice but to follow her lead. It wasn't until she got to her own seat did she hear Bellatrix's slight mumble of, "See you there, Potter."
What in Merlin's name was all that about?