Soul Bound 35

“Can I sit here?”A male voice asked. Hermione looked up from her seat at the table she was sitting at to see Neville Longbottom standing there. Hermione was surprised he wanted to sit with her but reasoned his parents were friends with Bellatrix. The pair were in potions class that consisted of Slytherins and Gryffindors. Hermione was excited to see Narcissa in her professor role and had picked a table at the front of the room. She was also excited to see Narcissa because she had missed her. Hermione had made it through the night by herself but regretted not asking one of the sisters to stay. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake again and was already planning on asking for one of them to sleep in her room that night. Hermione hadn’t had the chance to ask yet because she didn’t get to talk to them at breakfast. Seeing Neville still standing there pulled Hermione out of her thoughts.

“Sure you can.”Hermione told him.

Neville set his stuff on the table then took a seat.”I’m Neville Longbottom.”

“I’m Hermione Black.”Hermione replied.

“I’m surprised we haven’t met yet because I see Bellatrix all the time.”Neville said.

“It is weird isn’t it.”Hermione wasn’t going to explain to anyone why she was kept a secret.

“Yeah.”Neville was cut off from speaking by a dark haired boy.

“Move that’s my seat.”Gerold told Neville.

“I’m already sitting here.”Neville said.

“Well get up. I’m going to sit to next to the imposter.”Gerold went to grab Neville’s arm only to find his hand bending at an odd angle and feeling intense pain.”Let me go!”

“Leave Neville alone. He sat here first. Go find another seat.”Hermione bent Gerold’s hand some more before thrusting it away from her causing Gerold to stumble backwards.

“How dare you touch the heir to the House of Black you filthy piece of scum?”Gerold wiped his hand on his robes.

“What your mouth boy.”Hermione wouldn’t stand for anyone talking to her like that.

Gerold puffed up his chest.”I’m not a boy. I am a man and soon to be the Head of the House of Black.”

“Good for you.”Hermione retook her seat and opened up her book ignoring Gerold.

“You don’t believe me do you? You think I’m going to actually let you claim my house? Well let me tell something you worthless bitch you aren’t coming anywhere near my house.”Gerold yelled.

“What is going on here!”Narcissa demanded when she rushed into the room after hearing Gerold’s statements in the hallway.

“What’s going on here is that imposter thinks she can use the last name Black.”Gerold wasn’t afraid of Narcissa or the other two Black sisters. He was the heir and he had more of a claim on the Black family than they did.

“You Gerold have just earned yourself two weeks worth of detention with Mr.Flich and I’m taking 50 points from Gryffindor for you bullying Lady Black.”Narcissa wished she could do more than that.

“What?! You can’t do that!”Gerold couldn’t believe that Narcissa had the nerve to try to punish him.

“I can do a lot worse if would like? I’m sure your fellow housemates would be happy with me taking more points away from Gryffindor.”Narcissa would happily do more.

“Gerold shut up and sit down.”A male Gryffindor student shouted the rest of the lions joining in on reprimanding Gerold.

Gerold glared at his housemates.”You think I’m just going to let her treat me like this?”

“Gerold sit down.”A female Gryffindor called out.

“Gerold you have thirty seconds to take your seat or I am sending you to the headmistresses office and having her deal with this.”Narcissa wasn’t going to let the boy run her class.

Gerold thought through his options. His mother told him not to get in trouble and to make allies. If he fought against Narcissa he would get in trouble and piss off his housemates. Glaring at Narcissa Gerold took an empty seat next to a Slytherin girl who had the audacity to look at him in disgust.”What are you looking at?”

“Nothing important.”Pansy replied.

“Why you little.”Gerald cut himself off when Narcissa walked up to the table.

“If there a problem here?”Narcissa asked.

“No problem with me professor.”Pansy was told by her mother to get on the Black sisters good side and befriend the Hermione. That meant she wasn’t going to be nice to their enemies. Gerold being a big one.

“We’re good.”Gerald grumbled.

“Wonderful.”Narcissa walked back to the front of the classroom. Looking at Hermione Narcissa calmed instantly seeing the girl wave at her. Nodding her head Hermione’s direction Narcissa addressed the class.”Now everyone today we are just going to be going over the syllabus.”

“You’re awesome Cissa.”Hermione told Narcissa after the class was dismissed and all the students but Hermione left the room. Hermione had really enjoyed seeing Narcissa teaching something she was so passionate about.

“Thank you darling.”Narcissa had felt extremely energized having Hermione in the room while she was teaching. 

“I’m sorry you have to deal with Gerold.”Hermione felt bad that Narcissa had to deal with the boy because of her.

Narcissa easily picked up on what Hermione was thinking.”It’s not your fault. Even without our link to you Gerold would hate us because we didn’t support him and his family financially over the years. I honestly expected him to act out this soon. I’m just sorry I didn’t get there in time to stop him from speaking to you like that.”

“I think he got a good punishment. I also think a lot of his housemates are going to have words with him.”Hermione predicted it was going to happen at lunch which was starting soon.

“I believe you are right and I predict that the boy will be losing a lot more house points when he attends Bella’s class.”Narcissa knew that Bellatrix wouldn’t hold back with her punishment.

“I’ll probably be in that class because we usually stick with the same group in all classes.”Hermione said.

“Just be careful with him. He is desperate to keep a title that isn’t his and desperate people do crazy things.”Narcissa warned.

“I know.”Hermione did know. The sisters, her parents and Nymphadora all went over ways to stay safe and how to spot danger. Including dangerous people.

“Let’s go to lunch.”Narcissa locked her desk and stood from her seat. With Hermione by her side they walked out of the classroom down the hallway towards the Great Hall. Narcissa ignored all the looks they got.”How did you sleep?”

“I proved to myself I can spend the night on my own but I would prefer not to do it again.”Hermione told her.

Narcissa was incredibly relieved to hear that.”I will talk to Andy and Bella and we will work out a schedule for one of us to stay each night.”

“Thank you Cissa.”Hermione happily wrapped her arms around Narcissa when the older woman held her arms out to invite Hermione to hug her.

“You’re welcome darling.”Narcissa gave Hermione one last squeeze then released her and resumed walking.

“I’m excited for my transfiguration class.”Hermione was interested in manipulating objects.

“Minerva is an excellent teacher.”Narcissa thought Hermione would do good in that class.

“Thank you.”Hermione said to the boy who held the door to the Great Hall open for her and Narcissa.

Narcissa glared at the boy when she saw his eyes trail down Hermione’s body.”Yes thank you.”

“Are you going to be done with classes at the same time I am?”Hermione asked not paying attention to the red faced boy who was fleeing in the other direction.

“Yes I will. So after classes I will meet you in your room.”Narcissa was planning on taking Hermione on a tour.

“That will give me a chance to drop off my bag.”Hermione was given a satchel with an extendable charm on it by Bellatrix so it would be easier for her to carry all her stuff for classes.

“Pet how was your first class? Did Cissa bore you to sleep?”Bellatrix didn’t wait for a reply before wrapping her arms around Hermione and picking her up off the ground.

“Bella put me down”Hermione complained.

“You used to love it when I carried you everywhere. I miss that Hermione.”Bellatrix would happily still carry Hermione everywhere if the girl would let her.

“Bella put her down.”Andromeda waited until Hermione was on her feet before giving her a hug of her own”How was your class?”

“Andy you wouldn’t believe it. Cissa is incredible!! She was so well spoken and her syllabus was clear and concise while also informative. And the syllabus itself contains all kinds of thought out lessons. I can’t wait until next class when we will really start learning.”Hermione gushed.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes.”You really are the biggest charmer.”

“I’m only speaking the truth.”Hermione blushed. She wasn’t trying to charm anyone.

“Don’t listen to her sweetheart. She is just jealous I’m a better professor than she is.”Narcissa liked when Hermione praised her for her efforts.

“Just wait until Hermione has my class. Then we will see who the better professor is.”Bellatrix was going to show Hermione what a great professor she was when she taught Hermione’s class.

“I’m sure you will be just as good as Cissa Bella.”Hermione would enjoy the class no matter what.

“There’s that charm again.”Andromeda was somewhat jealous that her sisters got to teach Hermione but Andromeda couldn’t have handled teaching children. She didn’t have the right temperament for it.

Looking around Bellatrix noticed Gerold was glaring at them his face red with anger.”What’s Gerold’d problem with us now? He looks more pissed off than usual.”

“He decided to verbally assault Hermione so I punished him and he didn’t appreciate both my punishment or his housemates turning on him.”Narcissa was pleased to see that no one was sitting near Gerold.

“What did that bastard say?”Andromeda would kill him.

Hermione wrapped her arms around Andromeda and snuggled into her.”It’s alright Andy Cissa took care of him for now.”

“What did he say?”Bellatrix wanted to know.

“He called me an imposter, filthy scum and a worthless bitch.”Hermione knew better than to hide anything from the sisters no matter how much it would upset them.

Andromeda huffed.”He called you an imposter? His entire existence he has been an imposter.”

“He told me he wasn’t going to let me claim the Black family Head of Household title. He was obviously trying to show off but no one in the room seemed impressed.”Hermione thought most of the students looked at Gerold like he was an idiot.

“That’s because there is nothing impressive about him. Just like there was nothing impressive about his inbred father.”Bellatrix was going to make the boy feel pain the first chance she got.

“Why don’t you go sit at your table and eat lunch before you run out of time.”Narcissa suggested.

“Alright.”Hermione wished she could eat lunch with her soulmates.

“We will figure out a way to eat meals together.”Andromeda could easily see what Hermione was thinking. It was the same thing Andromeda was thinking as well. She kissed Hermione’s hair before releasing her.

“Come here.”Bellatrix pulled Hermione into her arms.”If anyone else gives you trouble use the necklace. Even it they are just saying nasty things.”

“I will.”Hermione promised.

Narcissa got the next hug.”We will meet you in the dorms after classes are over.”

“I really want to figure out how to give you three keys to the room.”Hermione didn’t like the idea of the sisters having to hang around the common room.

“We will work on that. Now go eat lunch.”Andromeda told her.

“See you later.”Hermione said before making her way to the Slytherin table.

Narcissa watched Hermione walk away and take a seat a the table. She frowned when she saw Pansy move to sit across from Hermione.“I think we should mention Gerold to Minerva.”

“Let’s do it now.”Andromeda was a going to keep an eye on Hermione’s interaction with Pansy while they ate together. She didn’t trust the girl.

“I’m hungry.”Bellatrix had slept in and missed breakfast.

Thinking of the reason her sister was hungry reminded Narcissa of her earlier conversation with Hermione.”Hermione doesn’t want to sleep alone again so we need to come up with a schedule.”

“Thank the goddess.”Andromeda had been worried that Hermione was going to make sleeping by herself a permeant thing.

“I’ll go first.”Bellatrix wanted to spend the night with her soulmate.

“We will decide after classes end and there isn’t an audience.”Narcissa was going to fight for the right to spend the night with Hermione.

Andromeda took her seat next to Narcissa with Bellatrix on the other side of the youngest Black sister.”This time Bella can’t cheat.”

“I don’t cheat.”Bellatrix lied. She always cheated.

“What is Bellatrix cheating at now?”Minerva asked.

“Nothing just a silly spat.”Narcissa wasn’t going to speak about spending the night with Hermione to anyone.

“The Black sisters having a silly spat I’ve never heard of that one before.”Minerva teased.

“Unfortunately one of our silly spats is causing problems in my class and was verbally attacking another student.”Narcissa told her.

Minerva was instantly on alert.”What happened?”

“Gerold Black decided to tell Hermione Black his opinion about her and her claim on the Black family using curse words and insults.”Narcissa was still pissed at the boy.

“Is Hermione alright?”Minerva predicted the girl would have some problem but had hoped she would have at least a few days of peace before they started.

“She is fine. Gerold however is extremely upset that I gave him two weeks detention with Mr.Flich and took 50 points from Gryffindor for him bullying another student. I fear this is only the beginning with him and his actions will probably escalate.”Narcissa would bet the contents of the Fawley family vault that Gerold was going to be a problem.

“I think you should know that his mother throughout the years has done everything from suing us for child support to having her lawyer send us letters demanding we give them gold for all the child’s expenses. She has even demanded we let them live on one of the Malfoy or Lestrange family estates. We have of course never given her anything nor allowed them to live on our properties. The demands have never stopped though.”Bellatrix didn’t think they would.

“I see.”Minerva could see how the boy could be a problem.

“We also expect to have trouble with Draco Malfoy as the Greengrass family has done the same things Gerold’s family did but on behalf of Draco. They even tried having shops send us bills to have us pay for their purchases. They have also sued us and sent many letters a few with threats in them promising they will hurt us if we don’t give Draco access to the Malfoy estate including the vault.”Narcissa told her.

“I could see him being a problem as well.”Minerva had the boy for her morning class and thought he was quite arrogant. Just like his father was.

“We worry for Hermione because she is taking away what both boys consider their birth rights.”Andromeda knew that Draco would approach Hermione soon.

“How is it you know Hermione?”Minerva wanted to know what relationship the sisters had with the girl.

“Our grandmother introduced us to her parents and we have helped raise Hermione since the day she was born.”At least that was the story Bellatrix and her sisters decided to tell people if they were forced to answer the question.

“So you have known about her origins this whole time?”Minerva asked.

“Yes we have known her parents since we were teenagers and knew all about the pureblood squib community they were born into. Our grandmother was a big presence there and took a liking to Hermione’s parents.”Narcissa was only partially lying. 

“I can see the questions in your eyes. The answer is we didn’t tell anyone because we were afraid for Hermione’s safety. We have gotten a lot of threatening letters sent to us and our enemies are well known for violence. Many of them we have no problem believing would kill a child to gain control and have access to a pureblood house. Especially a pureblood house’s vault.”Andromeda explained.

Minerva could easily see some people targeting a child for those very reasons.”That makes perfect sense and is likely why Narcissa became her magical guardian.”

“It’s exactly why. We didn’t want anyone to figure out a way to legally take control of Hermione’s assets while she was underage and couldn’t make certain decisions.”Narcissa still felt smug all these years later that she was Hermione’s guardian.

“It was a good idea.”Minerva would have done it if she was the sisters.

“That being said we believe those two boys are going to give both ourselves and Hermione trouble. Probably the Greengrass family as well as they are the ones who adopted Draco. Plus whoever they allied with.”Bellatrix knew that the Greengrass family wasn’t working alone.

“I’ll keep an eye on things but send them to me if you must. I won’t put up with neither my students or professors being attacked. It doesn’t matter if it is verbal or physical I will not allow it.”Minerva would expel anyone who was a danger to others.

“Thank you.”Andromeda was relieved to have Minerva on their side.

“I will admit I’m curious to see what kind of person Hermione is. I’ve never encountered anyone male or female that was the Head of Household for more than one family before.”Minerva was hoping the girl wasn’t a stereotypical pureblood heir. 

“You are going to love her. She is the kindest most caring person I have ever met. She goes out of her way to be nice to people even when they don’t deserve it. She never yells no matter if she is upset or not. She is very talented with magic already because she has studied books and practiced casting spells with a fake wand for years. Hermione is just incredible.”Bellatrix sighed happily just thinking about her soulmate.

Minerva raised an eyebrow hearing Bellatrix’s passionate rant.”Well now I am even more interested after hearing Bellatrix Black sing Hermione’s praises.”

“She is fascinated with transfiguration and has been since she was a child. She would always beg us to transfigure objects for her. So be prepared to be pestered with questions from her.”Andromeda warned.

“I don’t mind indulging curious minds.”Minerva always loved when a student was genuinely interested in the subject she taught.

“Her mind is very curious.”Narcissa liked that Hermione was always trying learn about different things.

Andromeda started filling her plate.”We need to talk to her about clubs again.”

“Yes we do.”Bellatrix followed her sister’s example and began filling her own plate.

“I want her in my potions club.”Narcissa filled her plate as well.

“I want her in the young healers club.”Andromeda wants to share her passion with Hermione. That and just spend time with the girl.

“I want her to come to my dueling club.”Bellatrix dreamt about her and Hermione standing together watching each duel discussing their critiques of each opponent. That dream wouldn’t come true if Hermione didn’t join the dueling club.

“Maybe I will steal her for the transfiguration club.”Minerva said.

“How many clubs is she allowed to join?”Bellatrix asked.

“It doesn’t matter how many she can join we have to make sure she doesn’t overdo it.”Narcissa would support Hermione joining all the clubs she wanted as long as Hermione didn’t burn out.

“We will make sure she is alright.”Andromeda knew that Hermione would be fine. As she began eating she looked to Hermione’s table and noticed that Pansy was still taking to the girl. Andromeda was pleased to see that Hermione was eating. That meant that the conversation wasn’t stressing her out. Hermione did look somewhat annoyed however. She was masking it pretty well but Andromeda knew Hermione and it was obvious to her that Hermione was not happy talking to Pansy. Andromeda had to stop herself from going over to their table and rescuing Hermione. She knew that Hermione needed to learn how to speak with other people. The best way for her learn that was at Hogwarts where the sisters were close by and could help if necessary. Looking at the table Andromeda could tell that it wasn’t necessary yet. The key word being yet because Andromeda knew that they would be needed eventually and they would be ready to help. Just like they always were.