Soul Bound 33

“Andy stop fidgeting she will be fine.”Bellatrix told Andromeda who was sitting next to her at the staff table in the Great Hall. The students had started filing in and taking their seats at their house tables. Bellatrix herself was nervous but not because she was worried about something happening to Hermione. She was nervous because she feared the hat wouldn’t put Hermione in Slytherin. Bellatrix had been positive it would this whole time but now seeing the hat sitting on the chair in front of the the staff table Bellatrix felt her first bit of worry. She would follow through on her threat to light out on fire though. Not only Bellatrix but both her sisters and Hermione’s parents thought that Hermione was perfect to be in Slytherin. Even Nymphadora who wanted Hermione to be in Hufflepuff like she was expected Hermione to be put in Slytherin. Bellatrix had been annoyed that Nymphadora ended up in Ted’s house but at least it wasn’t Gryffindor. Andromeda shifting in her seat pulled her out of her musings.

“It’s just what if someone corners her or something.”Andromeda didn’t like Hermione being left alone.

“The children will be to awed by everything they are seeing to bother attacking anyone.”Narcissa also didn’t like Hermione being left alone but doubted anything bad would happy. If it did Narcissa would have no mercy on the individuals involved.

“Here they come.”Bellatrix sat up in her chair and scanned the group of first years that were being led into the hall by Minerva.

“Why is she towards the back?”Andromeda looked at Hermione standing in the back of the group looking at the ceiling her face full of awe.

“She probably was trying to see everything and lagged behind.”Narcissa figured that Hermione was trying to get a better look at everything they came across.

Dumbledore stood from his seat when the doors closed behind the students. The new first year class held a lot of interesting names. Names from important families. Including the Blacks. He was especially interested in Hermione Black. Narcissa Malfoy’s charge. Dumbledore hated that he didn’t find the girl before the sisters did but he was just happy that he had the sisters under his control. That would make controlling Hermione easy. He hadn’t been able to get gold from the sisters yet but he was sure he could get some from Hermione when the time came.”Welcome students. Tonight starts a new school year. We have a new professor of muggle studies Prof Quirrell. Welcome and please stand up Professor.”

“Thank you.”Quirrell said as he stumbled back into his seat.

“Now then the time has come for the first year students to put on the hat and find out what house they are going to be put in.”Dumbledore had plans on making sure the hat chose the houses he wanted certain students to be in. It wouldn’t be good to put Hermione with the snakes. It might poison her against the Light side’s cause in the next war.

“Do you think the song will ever change?”Bellatrix whispered to Andromeda when the hat began singing.

“Probably not.”Andromeda whispered back. She really hated the song. It always got stuck in her head for days every time she heard it.

“Gerold Black.”Minerva called out.

Bellatrix smirked at the boy when she caught him glaring at her. Still keeping her voice low she leaned over to Narcissa.”I don’t he likes me.”

“I don’t think he likes any of us.”Narcissa like her sisters was keeping her voice low so others didn’t hear their conversation.

“Gryffindor!”The hat called out. 

“He doesn’t seem pleased.”Andromeda was just barely keeping in her laughter when the boy started complaining to Minerva about the hat.

“It’s Hermione’s turn.”Narcissa leaned forward hoping to hear what the hat said.

“Hermione Black.”Minerva was extremely curious as to where the hat would put this student. She was hoping the girl was put in her house. Minerva gave a nervous Hermione a reassuring smile.”Just take a seat.”

“Thank you.”Hermione smiled at the sisters then sat down and felt a hat being placed on her head.

“Well this is a delightful surprise. You are a founder’s heir. A real one not like that boy decades ago claimed to be.”The hat said.

“What do you mean I’m a founder’s heir?”Hermione thought she would have known that.

“It means that you were picked personally by a founder to be their heir. It’s quite the honor to speak to you. However there is only one house you can be put in and that’s Slyth…Gryffindor.”The hat called out.

“What?”Hermione blinked in confusion when she felt something land on her head other than the hat. Reaching under the hat she found a ring box but before she could open it the ceiling of the room turned into a violent thunderstorm with bolts of lightening crashing to the ground.

“Shit.”Bellatrix wasted no time jumping over the table, grabbing Hermione and putting the girl behind her.

“Don’t move unless we tell you to.”Andromeda said when she along with Narcissa took spots on either side of Hermione. All three sisters’ wands at the ready. 

“I want everyone to mo…”Bellatrix’s orders were cut off by a booming male voice.

“Who dare try to manipulate my heir?”The question was accompanied but more thunder and lightening. Then the ghost of a man dressed in Slytherin robes appeared in the middle of the hall. He glared at the staff table.”I ask again who dare try to manipulate my heir?”

“Who are you sir?”Dumbledore had no clue what was going on but he feared it was the result of him using magic to have the hat put Hermione in Gryffindor.

“I am Salazar Slytherin.”Salazar glared at Dumbledore.”The question is who are you to dare try to manipulate my heir?”

“What is he talking about Albus?”Minerva wanted to know what was going on so they could appease the angry ghost and prevent him from doing more damage to the school. 

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”Dumbledore jumped out of his chair when lightening struck the table in front of him.

“You lie. You forced the hat to put my heir in a different house.”Salazar’s words were met with gasps of shock and excited whispers.

“Dumbledore what did you do?”Rolanda Hooch asked. She had no problem believing that Dumbledore tried to manipulate the hat.

“I did nothing.”Dumbledore tried to think of a way out this that would leave him unscathed.

Salazar smiled softly at Hermione.”Open the box child.”

“Ok.”Hermione looked to the sisters getting encouraging nods from each of them. Opening the box she found a large silver snake signet ring. The Slytherin crest was proudly engraved in it adorned with many tiny rare and valuable jewels and surrounded by diamonds. Hermione held the box up for the staff to see.

“That is proof the hat should have put her in Slytherin.”Minerva knew that the hat only gave a ring to the founder’s heir.

“I told you you would be put in Slytherin.”Bellatrix was beyond relieved that Hermione was put in the sisters’ house.

“You need to answer for you crimes.”Salazar told Dumbledore.

“I’ve done nothing wrong.”Dumbledore wasn’t going to admit anything.

“Check his wand.”Narcissa was extremely happy how this was all turning out. Not only was Hermione the Slytherin heir but Dumbledore was being exposed.

“There is no need to check my wand. I give you my word I did nothing wrong.”Dumbledore assured them.

“Well if you didn’t do it then who did?”Bellatrix wanted to see who Dumbledore would blame.

“It was his magic that called me. He is the one to blame.”Salazar told them.

“I believe our founder.”Hooch said.

“I do to.”Andromeda would always go against Dumbledore when she got the chance.

“Albus can clear all this up if he lets us examine his wand.”Minerva was leaning towards Dumbledore lying.

“Hand over your wand Dumbledore. The children have been traumatized enough over this.”Poppy told him.

“Fine.”Dumbledore handed Minerva his wand banking on the fact that they were allies and she would cover up his crime. 

“Thank you.”Minerva pulled out her own wand and cast a spell on Dumbledore’s causing his wand to preform the last spell he used. Seeing a yellow light flash out Minerva sighed.”Why did you do it Albus and then lie about it?”

Dumbledore’s mouth was moving before he could stop himself.“Don’t you understand if Hermione is put in Slytherin she will be heavily influenced by other purebloods. She has enough power that she could be the second rising of the Dark Lord.”

“I’m not going to be the next Dark Lord.”Hermione would never support the insane man’s cause.

Narcissa reached out and squeezed Hermione’s arm still keeping her guard up.“Of course not darling.”

“It’s that kind of predigest that creates enemies were there aren’t any.”Bellatrix was happy Dumbledore admitted why he did it. It gave Hermione the perfect excuse not to be around him and to not trust him. Well it gave her a public reason not to trust him.

“Well said young one.”Salazar tuned his attention to Dumbledore.”How are you going to pay for your crimes because I believe this isn’t the first time you have manipulated not only the hat but other things in Hogwarts including the students?”

“I would never.”Dumbledore shut his mouth quickly when lighting started flashing again.

“You have been proven to be lying and you still deny your crimes?”Salazar asked.

“What penalty would you have him face?”Minerva figured Salazar would be the perfect person to punish Dumbledore.

“He needs to step down as headmaster.”Salazar told them.

“I’m not stepping down.”Dumbledore wasn’t going to lose his position.

“A formal investigation should be done into Dumbledore’s conduct. Based on what is found then we can decide if he should stay on.”Narcissa suggested.

“I agree to this but until the investigation is over he is not to return to these grounds.”Salazar said.

“We agree to those terms.”Minerva didn’t think they were bad ones.

“It’s settled.”Salazar smiled at Hermione again.”You child are to wear that ring with pride. I picked you personally to carry on my legacy and I know you will make me proud. Enjoy the accommodations and other privileges that come with the title that you can claim at Gringotts.”

“Thank you sir. I won’t let you down.”Hermione would try her hardest to live up to the Slytherin name.

“I suggest you re sort the first year students.”Salazar said.

“We are going to.”Minerva was expecting the other years to want to be resorted as well.

“I will be watching. Along with the other three founders.”Salazar warned. He winked at Hermione then disappeared. When he was no longer visible the ceiling went back to a clear starry night.

“Well pet you sure know how to keep things interesting.”Bellatrix would have been very upset if she had missed the event.

“Should we have the first years line up again?”Andromeda asked.

“Madame Hootch would you please escort Albus to his quarters to collect what he wishes to take with him and make sure he leaves the grounds.”Minerva was the deputy headmistress so she was the one who had to take the reins.

“You can’t kick me out of Hogwarts.”Dumbledore wasn’t going to leave.

“Come on Dumbledore don’t make a scene in front of the children.”Hootch didn’t think the children should be exposed to any of this.

Dumbledore looked around and weighed his options. Deciding it was better to leave and have less witnesses was the best idea.”Fine.”

“Lady Black would you like to try the hat again or do you just want to go take a seat at your table?”Minerva asked once Dumbledore and Hootch left the room.

“I always dreamed of hearing the hat call out Slytherin. Can I try again?”Hermione wanted to hear the hat say it.

Minerva smiled. The girl was so innocent. Even after all she had been subjected to Hermione was worried about hearing the hat call out her house name.”Of course everyone take a seat.”

“We will speak to you after dinner so stick around don’t go with the head boy and head girl.”Narcissa was going to personally escort Hermione to her room.

“I will.”Hermione didn’t mind sticking around after everyone left. 

“Make sure you eat something.”Andromeda had noticed Hermione barely touched her lunch.

“Once we have time we will figure out what perks you get for being the heir.”Bellatrix told her.

“I’m excited about that.”Hermione wanted to see what mysteries the castle held that would be unveiled to her because she was the heir.

“Please have a seat Lady Black.”Minerva shooed the sisters away. Their relationship with Hermione confused her because beside Andromeda the other two didn’t show much affection to anyone not even each other. It was different with Hermione. Minerva had seen article after article that had pictures of Narcissa and Bellatrix showering Hermione with affection. It made Minerva wonder what their connection was and how they met.”Are you ready?”

“Yes, ma’am.”Hermione took a seat and held her breath this time when the hat was put on her head.

“You again. Alright well there isn’t much I can say that I didn’t say last time so once again Slytherin!”The hat yelled out.

Hermione let out the breath she was holding when the hat was removed. Hearing cheers coming from not only her new house table but the staff table she saw the sisters all clapping. Bellatrix was whistling and Andromeda was letting out whoops of joy. Even Narcissa had a genuine smile on her face.”I did it.”

“Yes you did.”Narcissa was incredibly happy that Hermione got to hear the hat call out Slytherin.

“You can go sit with your house now Lady Black.”Minerva told her.

“Are you crying?”Bellatrix asked Andromeda.

Andromeda wiped her eyes and sniffed.”No.”

“Why are you crying? This is great news.”Bellatrix didn’t understand why her sister was crying.

“I’m just so happy. We have waited for this moment for decades and now we are witnessing it. I’m just so happy.”Andromeda had only felt this level of happiness a few times in her life. Most of those times having to do with Hermione.

“I’m happy to. Not only is Hermione in Slytherin but Salazar himself picked her as his heir.”Narcissa would be shedding tears of happiness later when she was alone in her quarters.

“This is more official than the last person’s claim of being his heir.”Bellatrix wonder how mad the Dark Lord was going to be when he found out about Hermione’s title. The man loved to tell anyone who listened that he was the Slytherin heir. It was a point of pride for him. He never got a ring though.

Andromeda watched as Gerold walked up to the chair with a smug smile on his face.”I don’t know why he looks like that because I doubt Dumbledore even bothered changing his house.”

“The boy is useless to him he wouldn’t care enough.”Bellatrix and her sister were proven right when the hat called out Gryffindor. If at all possible Gerold glared harder at the sisters as he made his way back to his house table.”He really hates us.”

“A lot of the children in this first year class hate us.”Narcissa and her sisters were hated by a lot of the parents who were sending their children to school for one reason or another. It mostly had to do with either their actions during and after the war or they felt that the sisters should give them access to their wealth. A few of them hated them for both reasons.

“Here comes Longbottom.”Bellatrix had regained her friendship with Frank and Alice and had come to know their son quite well. The pair were nice enough never to bring up Hermione even though Bellatrix knew they were curious. It was her plan to tell them everything when the Dark Lord was resurrected.

“Gryffindor!”The hat yelled.

“That will be a good house for him.”Narcissa said.

“I think he will thrive there.”Andromeda figured the house would give Neville the extra boost he needed to gain some self esteem.

“Draco Malfoy.”Minerva called out.

“Here’s another one that hates us."Bellatrix glared right back at Draco when he glared at her. The boy was just as arrogant as his father and just as dramatic as well. Bellatrix wondered if he loved peacocks as much as Lucius did. Lucius’ prized peacocks that Narcissa donated to a muggle animal rescue and gave a donation to pay for their upkeep every month. It was Narcissa’s way of screwing Lucius over by giving his favorite possessions to muggles to enjoy. Bellatrix herself enjoyed visiting the rescue with Hermione who loved all animals and magical creatures.

“Slytherin.”The hat yelled.

Narcissa didn’t bother looking directly at Draco and made sure to not have any kind of reaction to the reveal. Out of the corner of her eye she could see him smirking at her and becoming frustrated when she wouldn’t look at him. She turned her attention to Andromeda.”I think we need to prepare ourselves for that boy attacking Hermione when her back is turned.”

“I agree.”Andromeda could easily see Draco being that dishonorable.

“Luckily all her clothes are heavily spelled. Even the killing curse wouldn’t bother her.”Bellatrix and her sisters had researched the best protection spells they could find in the many libraries they had access to through the Lestrange, Malfoy and Fawley estates. Spells they didn’t add to the books they wrote.

“Harry Potter.”Minerva called next.

“It’s going to be Gryffindor.”Narcissa was proven right when the hat said Gryffindor.

"There was no other place to put him. Both his parents were Gryffindor.”Bellatrix was unsurprised by Harry’s placement.

“Here is a wild card.”Andromeda perked up when Molly’s youngest son sat in the chair.

“It’s going to be Gryffindor.”Bellatrix knew that just like Molly’s other children the boy would be put in Gryffindor.

“His dad was a Hufflepuff.”Narcissa reminded her.

“Gryffindor.”The hat called out.

“Hah. I told you. Prewett blood is strong when it comes to Hogwarts houses.”Bellatrix told her.

“Who is Hermione speaking to?”Andromeda couldn’t see the face of the girl sitting next to Hermione.

Narcissa moved to see the table better.”I don’t know. I can’t see their face.”

“She is using her polite smile so it isn’t someone she is enjoying taking to.”Bellatrix was an expert at reading Hermione’s faces and moods. So were her sisters and Hermione’s parents.

“She better eat something once this is over. She only ate a little at breakfast and poked at her lunch. She didn’t even eat many sweets.”Andromeda was worried Hermione would be hungry later and not be able to get food.

“She told you she would eat. That means she’ll eat.”Hermione didn’t break promises. Something that Narcissa appreciated.

“That completes the sorting. Everyone enjoy dinner and have a good night.”Minerva told the room.

Andromeda watched Hermione put food on her plate and then start eating. That spurred Andromeda to do the same.”What do you think Salazar meant when he told Hermione to enjoy the accommodations?”

“I think the castle is going to reveal things to her like the estates do when she enters them due to being the Head of Household.”Narcissa figured that Hermione was going to have access to some incredible things.

“I’m hoping for another library.”Bellatrix wanted to see what kind of books Salazar and his previous heirs thought important enough to keep.”We will have to set up a time to take her to the bank to see the vault as well.”

“I wonder what our founder kept in his vault.”Narcissa was excited to see what Salazar thought important enough to protect.

“We need to look into who the previous heirs were.”Andromeda said.

“I’m sure there is a book in the library that has a list.”Narcissa expected Hogwarts to have a list of all the founders’ heirs.

“I hope she gets a private room.”Andromeda would worry a lot less if Hermione did.

“I hadn’t thought of that.”Narcissa to would worry less if Hermione had her own room.

“We will find out as soon as we are done eating so hurry up you two.”Bellatrix filled her plate and started eating. Her sisters following her example. The three ate in silence all focused on finishing and meeting up with Hermione. Bellatrix couldn’t have been happier with the way Hermione’s sorting had gone. Not only did Hermione find out she was hand picked to be the Slytherin heir but Dumbledore’s manipulations were exposed. It would be common knowledge the next day after the students wrote about what happened in the letters to their parents that Dumbledore was targeting Hermione. The idiot ruined any chance he had that she would even pretend to align with him. He had insulted her and attacked her publicly. No one would fault Hermione for not wanting anything to do with him. Bellatrix did wonder what was going to happen after the investigation. She would have to figure out a way to be involved in looking through Dumbledore’s stuff. It was always her dream when they kicked him off his throne to go through his office and find out his secrets. She would talk to Minerva about it later. For now she was going to eat her dinner then go uncover the founder of her house’s secrets. Bellatrix smiled just thinking about it.