Soul Bound 32

“This is it.”Jean said sadly. She along with Denis and the sisters were at the train station so that Hermione could board the train to ride it to Hogwarts. Jean was just happy the sisters were going with her daughter. It meant that she had the extra protection. Especially because Hermione’s origins had been released after the press found out her name the day they went shopping. Jean had been surprised they found out the information so fast but the sisters told her it was likely someone at Hogwarts or the ministry that leaked who Hermione’s parents were. From there it would have been easy to find out their background. Jean wished that no one would find out anything about Hermione but based on the prophesies that wasn’t an option. Now Hermione was leaving home and going someplace Jean couldn’t protect her.

“I’ll write you as soon as I get to my room to tell you everything that happens.”Hermione wanted her parents to know everything she experienced.

“We would like a letter but you don’t have to write it right away. Get settled first.”Denis would like a letter but he wanted his daughter to enjoy everything not worry about writing them. 

Hearing the whistle blow Jean held back a sigh.”Give us hugs.”

“I’m going to miss you.”Hermione told Jean as she wrapped her arms around her mother.

“I’m going to miss you too.”Jean was not looking forward to her daughter being away for months at a time.

Hermione pulled out of the hug and hugged her father.”I’m going to miss you to Dad.”

“I’ll miss you to peanut.”Denis was just as sad as his wife about Hermione leaving.

“Come on Hermione.”Narcissa didn’t want to break up the goodbyes but the train was going to leave soon.

“Ok.”Hermione stepped back from her father and took a deep breath.”I love you both.”

“We love you too.”Jean loved Hermione more than anything in the world. Only her love for Denis was equal to her love for her daughter.

“Bye.”Hermione waved at the pair then took Narcissa’s hand in her own.

“You alright?”Narcissa asked.

Hermione nodded.”I’m fine. I just don’t like being away from them.”

“You can write them and we both know they will write you lots of letter. Then we will see them on breaks.”Andromeda knew it was going to be hard for Hermione due to how close she was with her parents.

“You’re right.”Hermione still didn’t like it.

“Of course I am. Now let’s go find a compartment and wait for Bella.”Andromeda suggested. Bellatrix was going to take the Grangers home by magical travel then come back and join them on the train. None of them felt safe enough leaving the couple unprotected in the magical world.

“She is very excited about this.”Hermione thought Bellatrix was more excited than any of them.

“She never got to have her own positive train experience. Even when sending Dora off on hers it wasn’t Bella being personally involved. That being the case I think she is looking at this trip like a do over of all the other ones.”Narcissa explained.

“I don’t mind sharing it with her.”Hermione would happily help Bellatrix have a better train experience.

“Speaking of Dora she sent another apology for not being here.”Andromeda knew that Nymphadora felt extremely guilty not being at the train station to see Hermione off.

“It’s not her fault she is out of the country on a mission. It’s the criminals fault.”Hermione didn’t blame Nymphadora for not being there.

“She told me that she is rooting for the hat to put you in Hufflepuff.”Andromeda prayed that didn’t happen.

Narcissa helped Hermione up the train steps following behind her.”Bella will light the hat on fire if that happens.”

“Isn’t the hat protected from fire?”Hermione was pretty sure it would be.

“I honestly don’t know but if you are put anywhere other than Slytherin we will find out.”Andromeda had heard Bellatrix make the threat many times over the years and knew her sister was completely serious.

“Why would the hat put her in anything other than Slytherin?”Bellatrix asked after she shuffled through a bunch of children to catch up with the three of them.

“I wanted to know if the hat was protected from fire because Cissa said you would light it on fire if it put me anywhere other than Slytherin. Andy said we would know for sure if that happened.”Hermione explained.

“I would light it on fire if it didn’t put you in Slytherin.”Bellatrix wouldn’t hesitate either.

“Let’s take this compartment.”Narcissa suggested.

Andromeda looked around inside making sure it was safe.”This is a good choice. We won’t have to look at all the people at the train station.”

“I’m surprise no one approached us this year.”Bellatrix said as she took a seat on one of the benches and pulled Hermione to sit on her lap.

“We were getting looks from certain people but they either didn’t want to cause a scene in public or they are rethinking their strategies now that Hermione’s background is public knowledge.”Narcissa shut the door and took a seat on the other side of Bellatrix with Andromeda taking the one on the other side of their eldest sister. It was often how they sat when spending time with Hermione. One sister would hold her on their lap and the other two would sit on either side of them.

“I thought for sure the mother of Sirius’ child was going to say something. The woman was glaring daggers at us. If looks could kill all of us would be dead.”Andromeda pushed some of Hermione’s hair out of her face. As they all predicted Hermione’s hair grew in as curly as Andromeda’s and Bellatrix’s. It was more unruly than the sisters’ though and it took a lot of effort to tame it.

“She just lost her ticket to living a lavish lifestyle. It’s got to piss her off. She obviously thought having a child with Sirius would mean that she would became the matriarch of a pureblood house. With that title she would have gotten respect and would have been able to quit her job and never have to work again. Instead she is saddled with the responsibility of taking care of a child on her own and having to work two jobs to pay for the boy’s expenses.”Bellatrix thought the woman deserved what she got for being so selfish.

“The Greengrass family looked just as angry.”Narcissa said.

“They are even bigger idiots than the mother of Sirius’ bastard. I mean they actual chose to raise the boy. They had no legal responsibilities for him but they thought he was their ticket to gaining access to the Malfoy vault.”Bellatrix wouldn’t have taken on the responsibility of a child just in hopes of gaining access to a vault.

“They are getting desperate. I saw Greengrass family heirlooms in the antique shop when I went to Diagon yesterday.”Andromeda told them.

“So they aren’t even pawning things anymore.”Narcissa knew that they must be broke if they were outright selling their family’s valuables.

“Or it could be things they pawned that they never paid the gold back for.”Hermione suggested.

“That’s a good point pet.”Bellatrix could easily see the family not paying back the pawn broker.

“I wonder what Molly is thinking. She just gave us narrowed eyed glares. Usually she is more active in confronting us when we see each other in public.”Andromeda and her sisters dealt with Molly every time they ran into her. The woman had still tried to sue them every once in a while over the years and never missed the opportunity to scream at them usually accusing them of committing some kind of crime.

“I expect for her to reach out to Hermione very soon.”Bellatrix wouldn’t be surprised if Molly sent a letter the next day.

“You remember you are not to open any letters before we check them right?”Narcissa didn’t want anyone contacting Hermione without the sisters screening the letters first. Not only for safety purposes but because they wanted to prevent people from trying to gain from Hermione.

“I know.”Hermione understood why she couldn’t just open her mail and fully agreed with not only the sisters’ reasoning but her parent’s as well.

“And you are to tell us if anyone comes to you for anything or gives you any problems.”Andromeda hated that they wouldn’t be able to be with Hermione the entire time but it was only right for Hermione to have some independence.

“I’m going to come to you if anyone talks to me for any other reason than school work.”Hermione wasn’t going to take any chances. 

“Good.”Bellatrix and her sisters were also going to have Hermione put the spy device they bought years ago in her room. Then they were going to rotate on who got to keep the box for the night.

“How long is the ride?”Hermione asked.

“It’s about an hour.”Narcissa told her.

“The trolley should be coming around soon.”Bellatrix was excited to buy some candy from it. She never got the chance to buy everything she wanted before.

Andromeda could see the question in Hermione’s eyes.“You are allowed to get treats but you can’t eat all them at once.”

“I wouldn’t eat that many anyway. It’s bad for my teeth.”Hermione didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize her teeth health.

“You are the only child I know that won’t eat sweets because you are afraid of ruining your teeth.”Narcissa was just happy that Hermione’s teeth were just as good as her parents’ were and she didn’t need braces.

“Have you seen what happens when you don’t take care of your teeth?”Hermione’s parents showed her all types of pictures and X-rays they had taken from their patients to warn her what would happen if she didn’t take care of her teeth. It had the results they wanted because Hermione was very big on teeth health after seeing the examples.

Bellatrix shivered thinking about those pictures.”None of us want anything to happen to our teeth.”

“And yet you are going to eat a bunch of sweets.”Andromeda pointed out.

“Jean says my teeth are perfect. That means I can have sweets.”Bellatrix put in a lot of effort to keep her teeth in good health. That way she could still eat as many sweets as she wanted without worrying about them rotting out of her mouth.

“I’m sad I won’t be able to go to Hogsmead this year. I want to visit Honeydukes.”Hermione heard that the sweets shop had the best fudge.

“I’ll get you a couple things if you want.”Andromeda offered.

“Thanks Andy.”Hermione would have to see if she could get a list of their products.

“I’ll get you some stuff from the joke shop.”Bellatrix had packed some joke products in her personal trunk to use with Hermione to play pranks on people.

“And I will make sure to visit the book shop for you and get you books.”Narcissa and her sisters had been ecstatic when Hermione developed a love of books. The girl preferred to read over watching tv and was known to bring at least one book everywhere she went.

“That’s right they have a rare book shop in town.”Hermione wished she had gotten to visit but the sister wanted her to experience Hogsmead for the first time as a Hogwarts student.

“One I am going to enjoy visiting with you next year.”Narcissa told her.

“I’m going to enjoy taking you to get your first butter beer.”Andromeda wanted to be there when Hermione experienced such a big milestone for a Hogwarts student.

“How do you know she won’t want me to take her to get her first butter beer?”Bellatrix wasn’t going to miss out.

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.”Why would any of you not be there? I thought we were all going together.”

“Of course we are darling.”Narcissa reached out with her fingers and smoothed Hermione’s eyebrows.”Don’t worry yourself over it.”

Hearing a knock on the door Bellatrix passed Hermione to Andromeda and pulled out her wand. Slowly she opened the door coming face to face with a woman pushing the trolley.”Oh it’s you.”

“Would you like anything from the trolley?”The woman asked.

Bellatrix opened the door all the way.”Yes we would. Hermione what do you want?”

“I’ll take three ice mice and three chocolate frogs.”Hermione told her.

“I’ll take just one chocolate frog.”Narcissa wanted to add to the wizard card collection the sisters and Hermione had started when Hermione was younger.

“I’ll have four chocolate frogs and one sugar quill.”Andromeda would need the chocolate after having to deal with the first week of classes. It was always when they got the most patients in the medical ward. That and when quidditch tryouts were going on.

“I will have 10 chocolate frogs, 12 ice mice, 6 cauldron cakes, and 6 boxes of Berty Botts.”Bellatrix was planning on sharing the sweets with Hermione throughout the week because she knew that Hermione would run out before the weekend.

“Bella do you seriously need all that?”Narcissa didn’t think that Bellatrix should buy that many sweets.

“This is my first time buying exactly what I want from the trolley. Don’t ruin it for me with your nagging.”Bellatrix had only gotten to buy a few things over the years from the trolley due to having to budget the gold she scraped together from selling family heirlooms and other things. It was the only way that she and her sisters could have afforded to buy anything from the trolley or at Hogsmead while they were at school because their parents never gave them gold. When Narcissa was at school by herself Bellatrix gave her gold from the Lestrange family vault to cover her expenses.

“She is right this is her first real trolley experience.”Andromeda was alright with Bellatrix buying what she wanted. Her sister had sacrificed a lot to make sure Andromeda and Narcissa had the best experiences they could have. It was only fair for her to get the same chances they got.

Bellatrix handed the woman the right amount of coins plus a generous tip then took the items from her and shut the door. She handed her sisters their stuff and held on to Hermione’s.”Do you want any of this now?”

“I’ll have one of the ice mice.”Hermione didn’t want to eat too much.

“Here.”Bellatrix handed Hermione the sweet then stored the rest of the girl’s items in the bag hanging from her belt. Taking a seat on the bench across from the others she laid out her bounty. Deciding to start with a chocolate frog she opened the package and quickly grabbed the frog before it jumped away from her. Taking a bite of it she held up the card.”I don’t think we have Armando Dippet.”

“No we don’t.”Narcissa said.

“It’s to bad the man only lived to 300. If he had lasted longer Dumbledore likely would have never gotten the job.”Andromeda lamented.

“What do we know about the new muggles studies professor?”Bellatrix asked.

“Nothing really just that his last name is Quirrell, he attended Hogwarts after Cissa left, was put in Ravenclaw and one of his parents was a muggle. Not a muggleborn though.”Andromeda only knew that much because Poppy was a horrible gossip and loved to talk about other people.

“Hopefully he will be a decent professor then. The last one and the one we had at school were both imbeciles.”Narcissa had lived in the muggle world for over a decade and learned that most magic users didn’t have a clue about how muggles lived.

“One of you should teach that class.”Hermione thought the sisters would teach the students a lot of useful stuff.

“I’m happy being in the infirmary.”Andromeda didn’t have the temperament to be a professor.

“I like having the chance to hex children who annoy me.”Bellatrix had already gotten a reputation for targeting students who misbehaved and was the most fear professor on staff.

“You know potions are my passion.”Teaching the class gave Narcissa the chance to work on her personal potions.

“Well hopefully I don’t get to irritated with how wrong the professor is.”Hermione hated that she couldn’t drop the class.

Andromeda easily picked up what Hermione was thinking.”You can drop it third year.”

“You can’t drop our classes though.”Bellatrix wouldn’t have let Hermione even if the girl could.

“Why would I want to drop your classes?”Hermione wouldn’t even consider it.

“You wouldn’t.”Narcissa like Bellatrix wouldn’t let Hermione if she could. It was time they got to spend together while they were at school. Even if it was in a classroom full of students Narcissa wasn’t going to miss out on time with Hermione.

“I’m really worried that I won’t be put in Slytherin.”Hermione didn’t want to disappoint everyone.

Narcissa pulled Hermione to sit on her lap and hugged her.”It won’t matter what house you are put in we will be proud of you.”

“I will still light the hat on fire if it doesn’t pick Slytherin for you but I will be proud either way.”Bellatrix wasn’t worried. Hermione was the perfect person for Slytherin.

“I’ll be proud of you too.”Andromeda was sure it was going to be Slytherin.

“I just really want to be on the Slytherin quidditch team like you all were.”Hermione loved playing quidditch with the sisters at Malfoy manor where they built an official sized pitch on the back lawn. They had to cut down trees to make room because the indoor swimming pool took up most of the free space that wasn’t occupied by the garden. A pool she went swimming with Andromeda at least four times a week in. She ran with Narcissa every morning and practiced karate with Bellatrix at least three times a week if not more. Bellatrix was a black belt and Hermione was still working her way to achieving hers.

“All that matters is you play. It doesn’t mater what team.”Narcissa was now wondering if they put too much pressure on Hermione to join their house. None of them really even considered Hermione not being in Slytherin. If she wasn’t it would likely make Hermione think she failed. Narcissa was kicking herself for not preparing all of them for the possibility.

“We will cheer you on no matter what.”Andromeda would be Hermione’s loudest fan.

“Even if I am head of Slytherin if you go to another house I will cheer for you.”Narcissa had beaten her sisters at gaining the title. Well she hadn’t really beaten them. Dumbledore offered to let them rotate. Bellatrix got it the year before, Narcissa got it for Hermione’s first year and Andromeda got it the following year. Narcissa didn’t really care. She was just happy she got it Hermione’s first year.

Hermione snuggled closer to Narcissa.”Thanks Cissa.”

“Do you want anymore sweets?”Bellatrix asked.

“No thanks.”Hermione was too nervous to eat anything else.

“What’s the thing you are most excited to see when you get off the train?”Andromeda wanted to put Hermione in a better mood.

“I want to see if any mere folk greet us on the boats.”Hermione read all about the magical creatures in the Black Lake and wanted to meet some.

“You will get a chance to speak to them when I introduce you to them for you to ask permission to swim with me.”Andromeda swam in a private area of the lake that the students weren’t allowed to go in. It was because it was protected by mere folk and could only be used if given permission by them to use it. Andromeda did her research before meeting with them and brought them a formal offering and followed their traditions. Something that they appreciated and it gained Andromeda not only permission but their respect.

“I’m both glad and sad that I won’t be able to see the therestrials.”Hermione had never witnessed someone die before so she wouldn’t be able to see them in their true form.

“This will be my first time seeing them.”Bellatrix hadn’t greeted the students when they came to Hogwarts the previous year and hadn’t caught a glimpse of the creatures while living in the castle.

“I’m sorry Bella.”Hermione said.

“It’s alright pet. I got those people justice in the end.”Bellatrix told her.

“You and Cissa are war heroes for all you went through.”Hermione was very impressed with Narcissa and Bellatrix’s actions during the war.”I want to be as brave as both of you when my time comes.”

“You will be the bravest out all of us sweetheart.”Andromeda didn’t like that Hermione was already feeling the burden of the next war. The sisters and Hermione’s parents all agreed that Hermione should know everything before she went to Hogwarts. That way she understood why they did certain things and why it was important not to trust people. Especially Dumbledore. They made sure she could shield her mind from Narcissa before they told her anything so no-one would be able to take the information from her without Hermione’s permission.

“What else are you excited about?”Narcissa asked.

“I am excited to go running in the morning with you Cissa. I know we are going to basically have the grounds to ourselves so it will be nice to get to experience Hogwarts that way.”Hermione was planning on starting their running outings the next day.

“I know you want to start tomorrow but I want you to take a morning off. We can start on Wednesday.”Narcissa was just as excited as Hermione to run together at Hogwarts. She had so many things she was going to show Hermione.

“There is plenty of space in my classroom for us to practice karate as well.”Bellatrix had missed fighting with Hermione when she was away from the girl the year before.

“Do you think you are going to join any clubs?”Andromeda wanted Hermione to join the young healers club that Poppy ran and Andromeda helped with.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to see what ones there are.”Hermione wasn’t sure if she wanted to join a club.

“You are too young for the dueling club until next year but you can come watch if you want.”Bellatrix brought back the dueling club after the previous professor disbanded it because he didn’t think it was worth his time.

“You could always join the potions club.”Narcissa suggested.

“I’ll see when I get there.”Hermione wanted to spend a lot of time in the library reading all the books Hogwarts had on various subjects. Bellatrix told her that she would get her access to the restricted section and Hermione desperately wanted to know what Hogwarts considered off limits.

“Well we are here so do you have everything you need?”Andromeda asked.

“Bella has all my stuff.”Hermione was already in her school robes.

“Stuff that I will personally deliver to your room after it’s been assigned. That way I can ward your wardrobe and dresser. Plus put protections on your bed.”Bellatrix wasn’t going to take any chances.

“Thanks Bella.”Hermione felt special when the sisters did things for her.

“It’s no problem pet.”Bellatrix would always go out of her way to keep Hermione safe.

“We can’t go on the boats with you so we will see you in the Great Hall.”Narcissa had wanted to but they couldn’t convince Dumbledore why it was important without telling him about Hermione.

“Alright.”Hermione didn’t like that they were separating. She had never been left alone when in public before. It didn’t matter if it was the muggle world or the magical world someone was always with her.

Andromeda stood and pulled Hermione into a hug.”You’ll be fine. You have your necklace.”

“I know it’s just weird going by myself.”Hermione told her.

“You will only be by yourself for a little while.”Narcissa stood as well.

Bellatrix collected all her items and the garbage then put them in her bag. Standing she pulled Hermione away from her sister and gave her soulmate her own hug.”The next time you see us will be when you get to the Great Hall. The three of us will be at the staff table watching over you.”

“Nothing will happen.”Narcissa would kill someone if it did.

Hermione pulled back from Bellatrix and gave Narcissa a hug. Releasing Narcissa Hermione took a step back. Taking a deep breath she let it out slowly and squared her shoulders.”I can do this.”

“Yes you can.”Andromeda was once again proud of the way Hermione collected herself then put up the front of being completely in control and confident when Andromeda knew she was anything but. It was something the girl picked up from Narcissa.

“Let’s go.”Bellatrix said.

“Alright.”Hermione waited until Bellatrix left the compartment to follow her. Many things were going to change once she left the train to get on the boat and Hermione wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Part of her wished they didn’t bother with the magical world and just lived in the muggle world. It was the other part of her that knew she and the sisters had an important role in saving the world that made her feel ashamed that she wished she didn’t have the responsibility. Fate chose them for a reason. He thought they were the best ones to do the job. That meant Hermione had to deal with the pettiness that came with being born into her families. Pettiness that she had already dealt with by the way of the people who attacked the sisters over the years. Hermione didn’t understand why people were so crazy about things. They were especially crazy when gold was involved. She was fully prepared to be asked for things and even gold by people in the future now that her identity was known to the public. Hermione was just lucky she had her soulmates to help her deal with everything. She didn’t know what she would do if she didn’t.