Soul Bound 42

“What’s going on?”Hermione asked the group of Slytherin students crowded around her door. Her first thought was that someone graffitied it but when she saw an unconscious Draco Malfoy laying splayed out in front of it Hermione figured he triggered the wards. That meant he likely tried to break in. Pushing through the crowd Hermione noticed Draco’s hand was burned badly. It looked like something had been branded on his palm. Kneeling down next to him she checked his pulse sighing in relief when finding he had one. Standing from the body she turned her attention to the group and crossed her arms over her chest.

“We don’t know what happened. We were in the common room and heard him screaming. When we got here he was like this.”A male Slytherin student Hermione did know told her.

Hermione pushed Draco’s body out the way and opened her bedroom door. Sticking her head in she yelled.”Bella I need you. There has been an incident.” 

“Fuck!!”Bellatrix yelled back followed by the sounds of crashing and more swearing. Bellatrix still in her pajamas rushed to the door wand in hand.”What happened pet? Are you hurt?”

“No but Draco is.”Hermione pulled the door open the best she could with Draco’s body in front of it.

Bellatrix squeezed her way through and catching sight of Draco she laughed.”The little bugger tried to break in. I’m almost sad he didn’t succeed because I would have enjoyed defending myself against his attack.”

“No one saw anything they just heard him scream. I checked for a pulse he has one so he is alive just passed out. I think his hand is burnt but I didn’t want to touch it.”Hermione hadn’t wanted to touch Draco to check his pulse either.

“Let’s see if he was trying to enter with malicious intent towards the room’s owner.”Bellatrix lifted Draco’s hand up for everyone to see the burn. It was angry and red but the word was clear.”As I suspected the room deems Draco unworthy of entering. Who knows what it would have done to him if he actually got in.”

Hermione looked at unworthy burned deeply in Draco’s skin.”Is that going to heal?”

“It’s a magical protection placed by Salazar Slytherin himself to keep those he deems unworthy out off his personal rooms. I very much doubt it will heal. If he is lucky it will only scar.”Bellatrix looked at the shocked and horrified faces of the crowd gathered. She took note of a few that looked angry and disappointed. They were members of Draco’s posse that Narcissa told them about.”Now then has anyone gone for help?”

“No professor Black. It had just happened before Lady Black showed up and she called out to you so we figured you would handle it.”The oldest Flint brother said. 

Bellatrix didn’t like the way he or the others were looking at Hermione’s body.”Hermione go get ready for the day I’ll call for Cissa and Andy to take care of this.”

“Thank you Prof Black.”Hermione was more than happy to be done with this nonsense.

“The rest of you carry on with your day I will take care of this.”Bellatrix didn’t want to deal with a crowd. Noticing five people staying behind she raised her eyebrow.”You may leave.”

“We aren’t leaving you here alone with Draco.”Daphne Greengrass would never leave Draco alone with the Black sisters.

Bellatrix called forth her patronus using the memory of Hermione saying her name for the first time.”Send this message to Cissa and Andy. There has been an incident. Hermione is fine. Andy you are needed as a healer and Cissa you as the head of Slytherin.”

“You can cast a patronus?”Nott jr. asked in shock.

“I’ve been able to cast a patronus since I was a third year at Hogwarts.”Bellatrix was proud of that fact.

“Death eaters can’t cast a patronus.”Blaise had been told that by his friends whose parents couldn’t cast one.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes.”I’m not a Death Eater you idiot.”

“You were his right hand.”Crabbe jr. said.

“I am not going to sit here and fight with a bunch of toddler. You may stay if you say nothing. If you speak for any other reason than to ask about Draco or answer our questions you will receive detention with Mr.Flich and I will take house points. I will not put up with being insulted by those lesser than me. This is your only warming. If I even hear rumors of you speaking about me and my sisters being the Dark Lord’s followers you will be punished.”Bellatrix wouldn’t put up with be harassed by children.

“You are just trying to silence us so that no-one will find out the truth. My mother told me all about you and your sisters. How you were just as involved in everything as your husbands were. She even has proof you murdered over a dozen people.”Daphne wasn’t sacred of Bellatrix or the Black sisters. They should be scared of her and the entire Greengrass family because of all the evidence they had against the sisters.

“You Daphne just earned yourself two months detention with Mr.Flich and I’m taking 50points from Slytherin. If you keep telling these lies you will be spending time in the headmistress’ office.”Bellatrix smirked at the look of shock each member of the group were giving her.

“You can’t do that!! I did nothing wrong. I was just telling the truth.”Daphne wasn’t going to be punish for telling the truth.

“It is not the truth. Something that was proven in front of a court of law after I had drank numerous truth potions provided to me by the ministry. Now do you want to continue lying because I’m sure Mr.Flich would enjoy more help after school. I personally don’t care but I doubt your classmates will appreciate you costing them so many house points.”Bellatrix was going to make sure everyone knew it was Daphne who lost the points for them.

“You won’t silence me. I won’t let you.”Daphne wouldn’t stop spreading the truth about the Black sisters.

“That will now be four months of detention with Mr.Flich and 150 points from Slytherin. Plus a ticket to the headmistress’ office. Please go there now and wait for her.”Bellatrix could see Daphne wavering. The stupid girl probably thought she could threaten Bellatrix with her mother’s so-called evidence. It was too bad for Daphne and the rest of the Greengrass family there was no evidence because Bellatrix didn’t do anything under the Dark Lord’s name.

”I’m telling my mother about this and once I do you are going to be in big trouble.”Daphne huffed then stormed out of the hallway.

Andromeda rushed towards them just missing colliding into Daphne.”Where’s Hermione? Is she alright?”

“Hermione’s fine. I called you here because she found a body.”Bellatrix pointed to a still unmoving Draco.

“He tried to break in didn’t he.”Andromeda concluded. She knelt next to Draco and took his pulse. It was strong which was good.

“There were no witnesses apparently. Not even these four gentleman who refuse to leave the Black sisters alone with Draco.”Bellatrix told her.

Narcissa took that moment to run full speed down the hall with wet hair.”Where’s Hermione?”

“Hermione’s fine. I called you here for Draco. We can’t be sure because there were no witnesses but we think he was trying to break into Hermione’s room.”Bellatrix could understand her sisters’ panic because even if she was told Hermione was fine Bellatrix would still worry.

Andromeda lifted up his burnt hand.”This is going to scar. It’s blood magic.”

“You are lying you could fix it.”Blaise said.

Narcissa looked at the boy.”You know I don’t think your mother would approve of the friendships you have made thus far in your Hogwarts career. How you told her who you spend time with?”

“What I tell my mother is no business of yours.”Blaise didn’t tell his mother anything about his new friends. She had asked but he didn’t say anything.

“So you haven’t.”Narcissa concluded. She was going to write a letter to Isabelle that night to let her know her son was ruining her family’s reputation. Narcissa liked the woman well enough to give her the warning that if Blaise continued down the path he was on Hermione would refuse to do any business with the entire Zabini family.

“Is Draco going to be ok?”Nott jr. asked.

“Yes he will be fine. The spell that repealed him was meant to incapacitate him long enough for him to get caught. That being the case he basically has to sleep it off. We will take him to the infirmary to rest and treat his burn.”Andromeda liked that the burn would scar and the boy would have unworthy written on his palm for the rest of his life.

“We will take him.”Doyle didn’t trust the Black sisters to actually get him there.

“You two go with them. I need to get dressed.”Bellatrix was still in her pajamas.

“We will meet you at breakfast.”Narcissa wanted to stop and fix her hair before then.

Bellatrix opened the door and walked inside Hermione’s rooms catching sight of the girl brushing her hair in the bathroom.”The drama has passed pet.”

“Is he out from in front of my door?”Hermione didn’t care what happened to Draco she just wanted to be able to go in and out of her room.

“His goons insisted they carry him to the infirmary because they don’t trust Andy or Cissa to get him there.”Bellatrix told her as she made her way into the bedroom closet to find clothes. She was pissed she wouldn’t have time to bathe and would have to use magic to clean herself.

“What did Andy say about that burn on his hand?”Hermione didn’t think it would be easy to heal.

“Apparently Salazar himself used blood magic to put it there. I guess we didn’t need my wards.”Bellatrix was still going to put them up.

“I wonder how he tried to get in. Did he just walk up and turn the knob?”Hermione couldn’t figure out how Draco got the burn.

“That group is stupid enough to think you would leave it unlocked. Then again they might have seen you entering and you don’t use a key.”Bellatrix personally would never try the door knob of a room she was trying to break into but there was some merit to trying it after seeing Hermione do it.

“That’s because my ring is the key.”Hermione said.

“We aren’t dealing with the brightest group. None of them have had any kind of personal connection to a Head of Household ring. They likely don’t understand the various uses for it. That being because most of their fathers are in Azkaban.”Bellatrix didn’t think anyone out that group but Blaise has likely seen their family Head of Household ring only because his mother was the Zabini Head of Household and didn’t align with the Dark Lord.

“Did you think this will deter others from trying to break in?”Hermione asked.

“Likely not. There is always someone who thinks they are the smartest person in the world and could never get caught. I predict many people throughout your Hogwarts career will try breaking into this room and any other rooms that reveal themselves.”Bellatrix knew this wasn’t the last attempt of someone breaking into Hermione’s space. Some people for no other reason than they were curious.

“I’m ready are you?”Hermione slung her bag over her chest.

Bellatrix snapped the final buckle on her boots.”I’m ready.”

“Is Draco going to get in trouble for trying to break into my room? I mean the evidence he tried is on his hand.”Hermione didn’t think he could talk his way out of it.

“I’m going to push for him to be punished but the problem is he already has detention for the rest of the year. There isn’t many more punishments we can give him.”Bellatrix wanted to punish Draco she just wasn’t sure how.

“You could do specialized detention. Like you could give the house elves a week off and make him clean all the bathrooms in the castle that whole week.”Hermione suggested.

“Pet you are brilliant!!”Bellatrix pulled Hermione close and kissed her on the cheek. She led a blushing Hermione out of the room stopping to cast some wards on the closed door then continued to walk.”I need to speak to Hagrid. I’m sure he has some especially disgusting jobs that need to be done.”

“I think by the time you are done with him he will be begging to have detention with Mr.Flich.”Hermione was going to help Bellatrix come up with punishments.

“I don’t know much more the boy can do before he is expelled. We haven’t even finished the first week and he has caused a lot of trouble.”Bellatrix didn’t think Draco had much room left to mess up.

“Regardless of what he does he will blame you, Andy, Cissa and me for getting in trouble. Even though I have never spoken to him.”Hermione was happy she had never spoken to Draco.

“I’m actually surprised him or his friends haven’t sought you out yet. Then again they could have been trying to break in your room to get personal information on you to hold over your head before they approached you.”Bellatrix figured Draco was trying to find something to blackmail Hermione with.

“I don’t have any skeletons in my closet for them to use against me.”Hermione was a good person and a law abiding citizen. 

“That’s because you aren’t like them. You are a decent human being who doesn’t see people as commodities that can be used and discarded when you are done with them. Even the Greengrass family is like that as it’s beyond obvious they are using Draco to get access to the Malfoy estate. If Draco were smart he would realize that. It’s not like they hide their intentions from him.”Bellatrix would have caught on a long time ago or at least once she entered Hogwarts.

“How are they going to react when I disinherit him?”Hermione planned to disinherit Draco the day she took that title along with Lucius, Sirius and Gerold.

“There will be lots of lawsuits filed. So many that our lawyer is going to more than afford that property in Australia she has been looking at once she deals with them.”Bellatrix was going to celebrate every time they won a case against anyone suing Hermione over her titles.

“It’s such a waste of gold for everyone involved. I mean I get why they want to sue me but why do they actually think they are going to win with the overwhelming evidence I have on my side. That and the family magic accepts me.”Hermione couldn’t understand why someone would fight a losing battle.

“I honestly don’t know the answer to that because I wonder the same thing. Molly has been going after her brothers for decades and loses every single time. Yet she still pays lawyers to bring the case back to court sometimes with no new evidence to present and every time she loses. She is going to come after you now. Especially because she sent you a letter in which she was extremely polite. She expressed her want to exchange letters with you and encouraged you to get to know your cousins. She however did not mention me or my sisters or the fact that she has sued to get custody of you from us a few times over the years.”Bellatrix had laughed each time her lawyer told her of Molly’s attempts to get custody of Hermione. Molly didn’t even have a name of the child she was trying to get custody of.

“I would have told you even if you didn’t screen my mail. I mean I have met her numerous times over the years. She was horrible every time. It’s not like I would have forgotten her.”Hermione never had a positive run in with Molly.

“I think she was hoping you would forget or not link the extremely polite letter with the crazy woman who tried to physically remove you from Cissa’s arms.”Bellatrix had hexed Molly for trying to grab Hermione from Narcissa. They didn’t get the ministry involved because they didn’t want to bring attention to who Hermione was.

“Well to bad for her I know what a nasty person she is. I also know to stay away from her children. Not that any of them have approached me nor have I had classes with any.”Hermione was happy she wasn’t in any classes with Molly’s children.

Bellatrix held the door to the Great Hall open.”Go eat some breakfast and have fun during flying class.”

“I will.”Hermione gave Bellatrix a hug.

“Don’t hesitate to use the necklace if anyone gives you trouble.”Bellatrix told her.

“I know.”Hermione released Bellatrix from the hug then made her way over to the Slytherin table.

Bellatrix watched as most of the table was looking at Hermione with a bit of weariness. It was like they weren’t sure whether to fear her or be awed by her. Bellatrix gave a mental shrug. Both those reactions were better than outright hatred. Making her way to the staff table she took a seat next to Andromeda who had Narcissa sitting on the other side of her.”How is Draco?”

“I had Poppy take over his care so that no one could claim I was hurting the boy or neglecting him. I can confirm that the burn on his hand will scar and he will live with the word unworthy branded into his skin in thick block lettering for the rest of his life.”Andromeda thought Draco deserved it.

Before any of them could reply an annoyed looking Minerva took her seat next to Narcissa.”You three know how to keep things lively don’t you.”

“I think you are going to need to clarify. We are involved in way too many things to be able to guess which one you are talking about.”Narcissa said.

“I just had a discussion in my office with Daphne Greengrass.”Minerva told her.

“Good she actually followed instructions. I was afraid that she wouldn’t.”Bellatrix was happy she wouldn’t have to chase the girl down.

“Well she had some things to say about you Bellatrix. She tried to claim that you were the Dark Lord’s right hand and that you killed more people than all the other Death Eaters combined. That you planned most of the Dark Lord’s missions with Narcissa’s help. Oh and apparently you are purposely holding Draco’s inheritance hostage because you needed time to fake Hermione’s background. She even claims that her mother has proof of all this and if I would be willing she would set up a meeting between us so that I a member of the Order could finally see the truth.”Minerva smiled when the sisters laughed.

“How did you respond to that?”Andromeda asked.

“I politely told Daphne that both Narcissa’s and Bella’s innocence was proven in a court of law and that the pair of you were awarded Order of Merlin First Class Medals because of your heroic actions during the war. I refused to let her speak and continued by saying that I personally looked into Hermione background and have verified it. As for the proof her mother supposedly has I told her to have her mother bring it the ministry for the aurors to look over. I also politely declined any meeting with Daphne’s mother that didn’t involve talking about the fact that her daughter is telling lies to the public about two members of the staff. Two members that are known to sue those who spread lies about them.”Minerva adding the suing part hoping it would get back to Daphne’s mother.

“I didn’t think of suing over her child.”Bellatrix would have to talk to her sisters about it later.

“What did she say to that?”Narcissa was going to bring up suing with her sisters later as well.

“She tried to double down on her lies and began making demands on behalf of the Greengrass house. The girl honestly believed I would bend to her will if she used repercussions from her house as a threat. I shut her down gave another two months detention took 100 points from Slytherin and told her if I heard of her spreading rumors about anyone even if it’s not you three or Hermione her mother be brought in to explain to me why I shouldn’t expel her.”Minerva wasn’t going to put up with any nonsense.

“Hermione was really hoping to win the house cup this year.”Andromeda felt bad her soulmate wasn’t going to even have a chance to win it.

“How is Draco going to be punished for trying to break into Hermione’s room?”Bellatrix asked.

“When did that happen?”Minerva hadn’t heard anything about that.

“When Hermione was out running with Cissa this morning Draco tried to break into her room. I actually think it was Draco and his posse as well but Draco was the only one harmed. Anyway he grabbed the door knob but Salazar himself set up a spell using blood magic that repels anyone who wishes to enter with malicious intent. Draco apparently had malicious intent because instead of opening for him it burned the word unworthy into his hand then knocked him unconscious. Hermione showed up right after it happened and informed me. I sent for Cissa and Andy. They took him to the infirmary and I went to get dressed for the day.”Bellatrix was happy she was in the room because it could have turned into a bad situation depending on how the crowd responded to Hermione’s presence. As it was they all seemed to shocked to properly react.

“Is Draco alright?”Minerva didn’t know how she felt about a student’s room being warded with blood magic.

“I left him with Poppy to take care of him because his friends were convinced I was going to hurt him worse. When I left he was still sleeping and both Poppy and I looked at his hand and while it will heal it’s going to leave a big bold scar. No-one will be able to mistake what it says for the rest of his life.”Andromeda told her.

Minerva pinched the bridge of her nose.”It’s not even the end of the first week.”

“Those were my thoughts exactly.”Bellatrix said.

“How do we punish him if he has detention for the rest of the school year already?”Narcissa asked.

“Hermione came up with a plan.”Bellatrix was cut off by Minerva.

“We can’t have students punishing other students.”Minerva wouldn’t allow it.

“Just hear the plan first before you say no.”Bellatrix got a nod from Minerva.”She said that we should do specialized detentions. Her suggestion was to give the house elves a week off from cleaning all the bathrooms in the castle and making Draco do it. I thought about talking to Hagrid and seeing if he had some disgusting jobs to make him do.”

“It’s a good idea.”Andromeda thought it would be a worse punishment than regular detention.

“I like it.”Narcissa would sit down later and brainstorm with Hermione about different punishments. Hermione had studied the castle and knew more about it than the sisters. She would have the best ideas on how to use it to punish Draco.

“I actually agree. It is a good idea. One I wish we had thought of a long time ago.”Minerva thought specialized detentions would come in handy with this group of first years.”As to Draco we need to see what he has to say for himself. The evidence of his crime is obvious so I would like to see how he tries to get out of punishment.”

“It will involve him being the Malfoy heir.”Bellatrix predicted.

“Who is Hermione talking to?”Andromeda asked.

Narcissa scooted over in her chair to get a better look but an extremely tall student was blocking the way.”I see Pansy but I think the other person is boy. I can’t see his face though.”

“Based on the look on Hermione’s face she isn’t impressed.”Bellatrix bet the person she was talking to could tell as well because Hermione wasn’t bothering to mask the fact she thought the boy was beneath her.

“She only puts on that face when someone tries bragging about themselves or telling her how great their families are.”Andromeda bet it was someone bragging about their family it being the Slytherin’s table after all.

“It’s one of the Flint boys.”Narcissa recognized him from class. She didn’t want him near Hermione.

Bellatrix put her hand on Narcissa’s arm.”She’s fine. I have no doubt that she is seconds away of putting him in his place.”

“I think you’re right.”Andromeda smiled as she watch Hermione respond to whatever the boy had said to her. The boy seemed to deflate with every word as his shoulders began slumping and he almost curled in on himself. Hermione never raised her voice and her face stayed impassive the entire time. When she finished talking the boy stumbled from his seat and rushed out of the room leaving Hermione and an obviously impressed Pansy behind.

“I need to get that story.”Narcissa desperately wanted to know what just happened.

“Let her finish eating at least.”Bellatrix wanted the story as well. Hearing the bell ring she cursed.”Shit.”

“Bella language!”Narcissa scolded.

“Now I have to wait until later tonight to find out what was said because I don’t have classes with her and we are helping with the investigation this afternoon.”Bellatrix wondered if she could steal Hermione for lunch.

Narcissa easily picked up on what Bellatrix was thinking.”You can’t claim her for lunch without us.”

“I’m just going to wait until classes are over and ask her on the way to the lake.”Andromeda would prefer Hermione tell her without an audience.

“Regardless I have to get to class.”Bellatrix shoveled a few more bites in her mouth and washed it down with juice before standing from her seat and making her way out of the Great Hall. She wished she could have spent a lazy day in bed with Hermione. It was actually her plan to pull Hermione back into bed when the girl finished her bath. That didn’t happen because Draco the idiot he was tried to break in Hermione’s room. Bellatrix hated that he didn’t succeed. If he had she would have been legally allowed to defend herself from an intruder. It did make her feel good to know that Salazar cared about Hermione. Hermione being his first heir Bellatrix knew that he designed some of the protections and features in each room with her in mind. Bellatrix hoped that when they visited his vault that they would find out the reason Salazar picked Hermione. She also hoped they would find a bunch of priceless treasures. Bellatrix would love to be able to see and touch personal items belonging to the founder of her house.