Soul Bound 31

“Hermione, Bella slow down.”Narcissa yelled as she watch an 11 year old Hermione and Bellatrix get further away from her. The three of them along with Andromeda and Jean were in Diagon Alley shopping for the supplies Hermione needed for her first year at Hogwarts. It seemed like only yesterday to Narcissa that she was holding Hermione for first time. The years had flown by so fast. She was happy that Hermione would be joining her and her sisters at Hogwarts because the months they spent away from the girl while they took their positions on the Hogwarts’ staff had been torture. Narcissa hated being away from Hermione but it was necessary. The sisters had easily manipulated Dumbledore into hiring them. Narcissa wasn’t sure if he knew about Hermione yet but knew if he hadn’t he would soon. Narcissa was expecting some kind of letter by owl any day. The sisters had never commented about Hermione to anyone but the Grangers and her identity was the biggest mystery in the wizarding world. Narcissa found it odd no one thought to search the sisters’ ministry records. It didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was that Hermione and Bellatrix were getting really far ahead.

“Bella come back here.”Andromeda yelled. When Bellatrix ignored her she pulled out her wand and cast a spell on Hermione. The result of that spell being Hermione becoming stuck in the spot she was standing.

Hermione tried to move her feet but couldn’t. She looked to Bellatrix.”Bella I can’t move.”

“What do you mean you can’t move?”Bellatrix pulled out her wand and looked around to see who attacked Hermione.

“I mean my feet won’t move.”Hermione tried to move her legs with her hands but it didn’t work.

Bellatrix lowered her wand when she caught sight of a smug looking Andromeda.”Why did you do that?”

“Because you are supposed to be shopping with us. Not just the two of you.”Andromeda reminded her. She waved her wand over Hermione releasing her from the spell.

“Sorry Andy, sorry Cissa, sorry mom. I got a little too excited.”Hermione was mad at herself for running off.

“It’s alright darling. Don’t beat yourself up over it. We would just like to share the experience with you so would you please be mindful of that?”Narcissa didn’t want Hermione to get upset like she was known to do when she felt she upset others.

“Where to first then?”Andromeda asked.

“I think we should get her wand first.”Jean smiled when Hermione threw her arms around her and gave her a hug.

“Thanks mom.”Hermione desperately wanted her own wand. 

“Alright then we need to go this way.”Narcissa turned the group around and headed in the opposite direction. As always they were stared at but over the years less people approached them.

“What is the first spell you are going to try?”Bellatrix was hoping that Hermione’s wand core matched her own.

“She won’t be casting any spells until she get to Hogwarts.”Narcissa wasn’t going to allow Hermione to break the law.

“Fine what’s the first spell you are going to cast when you get to Hogwarts?”Bellatrix would have to figure out a way to get the trace off of Hermione’s wand. She was mad at herself for not thinking about it years ago. Then Bellatrix could have already had a solution to the problem.

“I want to cast my patronus first. That way I can see if I match with any of you.”Hermione figured that being her soulmates she would have to match with at least one of the sisters.

”That’s a very hard spell sweetheart. I think you should try an easier one as your first.”Andromeda didn’t want Hermione to get discouraged if she couldn’t cast a patronus.

“I know it’s hard but I’ve been practicing.”Hermione was sure she could do it.

“If you do try to cast your patronus make sure that at least one of us is there for it. We don’t want to miss out on such an important moment.”Narcissa wanted Hermione’s patronus like her wand core to match her own.

“I’ll make sure you are all there Cissa.”Hermione wouldn’t leave any of the sisters out.

“Here we are ladies.”Bellatrix held the door open to the wand shop for everyone before following in after them.

“Woah.”Hermione looked around in awe.

“It’s amazing isn’t it?”Jean had felt the same way as her daughter when she first entered the shop.

Hermione nodded.”There are so many wands.”

“And amongst them is one that will choose you.”A man said when he stepped out from behind a stack of wand boxes.”Hello ladies. I’m Ollivander. Welcome to my shop. Am I correct in assuming that you are here to get your first wand?”

“Yes sir.”Hermione confirmed.

“Well then what is your name young lady?”Ollivander asked.

“Hermione Black.”Hermione told him.

Ollivander raised an eyebrow hearing her name but didn’t comment on it.”Let’s see what kind of wand is suitable for you.”

“Don’t be discouraged if you don’t match with your first wand. It took each of us a few tries before we got the right one.”Bellatrix had been upset that she didn’t match on the first try but it hadn’t mattered to her when she held her wand in her hand for the first time. It made Bellatrix realize that she would have been settling if one of the other wands picked her first.

“I actually don’t think that will be a problem for Hermione.”Ollivander looked Hermione over one last time before nodding his head.”I think that there is only one wand in this shop for her. It’s in the back so I’ll have to get it.”

“We will wait here.”Andromeda told him.

Jean watched the man walk away.”I didn’t know he had wands in the back. I thought it was just a workroom.”

“I thought so too.”Narcissa hadn’t heard of anyone getting a wand from the backroom before.

“Maybe it’s a special wand.”Bellatrix suggested.

“It is a special wand.”Ollivander told her when he returned holding a locked metal box.”It is a very special wand. One I doubted I would ever match someone with in my lifetime.”

“What makes it special?”Hermione asked.

“What is special is the wand core. You see I had been in the forest looking for materials to make wands when I encountered a heard of unicorn. Oddly enough the unicorn weren’t afraid of me. They surrounded me on all sides then one of them came forward and smashed its horn on a large rock breaking off a piece of it. To my surprise the unicorn offered me that piece of it’s horn. That piece I used to make this wand. It’s encased in birch wood. Which is another rare material.”Ollivander unlocked the box and opened it revealing a slightly curved ivory colored wand covered in carvings of flowers and vines.

“It’s gorgeous.”Jean whispered.

“You think that’s my wand?”Hermione wasn’t sure she was worthy enough to have wand like that.

“I’m positive it is but the only way to know for sure is for you to try it out.”Ollivander held out the box for Hermione.

Seeing Hermione hesitate Bellatrix put her hand on Hermione’s shoulder.”Just try it pet.”

“Ok.”Hermione took a deep breath and reached for the wand. Once it was in her hand she stumbled backwards when a rush of magic surged through her and out of the wand. 

Andromeda jumped forward and caught Hermione before she could fall. She carefully set Hermione back on her feet and looked her over.”Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. That felt weird.”Hermione didn’t know what to make of what she just felt.

“It may have felt weird but did you see what you did darling?”Narcissa motioned around the shop.

Hermione took a moment to look around her jaw dropping open in shock seeing the shop filled with fresh flowers.”Goddess.”

“I think you found your wand.”Jean was proud of Hermione for not only finding a wand but one that was so special.

“That you did and I want to thank you for coming in because I think that the unicorn who gave me part of it’s horn always meant for it to go to you.”Ollivander told her.

“Stranger things have happened.”Bellatrix could easily see the unicorn meaning for Hermione to get part of it’s horn.

“Do you need any wand holders or cleaning kits today?”Ollivander asked.

“No she has everything else already.”Narcissa had made sure that Hermione was all set for clothing and accessories well before her letter came.

“Then just meet me up front and we can settle the bill.”Ollivander said.

“I’ll take care of it.”Bellatrix was using her own gold to pay for Hermione’s purchases. She had amassed quite the fortune due to the gold she earned from book sales and the numerous settlements paid to the sisters from winning the many defamation lawsuits they filed over the years. It made Bellatrix feel good spending the gold on her soulmate even if Hermione could afford to buy her own stuff.

“I’m really excited about my wand.”Hermione held it up for everyone but Bellatrix who was paying to see it.

“We will have to do some research to see if it’s compatible with each of ours.”Andromeda thought it would be.

“I don’t feel comfortable asking anyone.”Narcissa didn’t want anyone to know about the sisters’ soul bond with Hermione. The only ones who did were Hermione, the sisters, Jean, Denis and Nymphadora.

“We are all set. Do you want me to hold your wand for you?”Bellatrix had one of her extendable charmed bags with her to carry all their purchases.

“Yes please.”Hermione didn’t want anything bad to happen to it.

“Ollivander gave me the key so I’m going to lock it.”Bellatrix took the box, locked it and put it in her bag.

“Where to next?”Andromeda asked.

“Let’s stop at Lenore’s shop and get her potion supplies.”Narcissa would like to say hello to her mentor.

“I haven’t see her in awhile. It would be nice to catch up.”Bellatrix said.

“You just want to ask her how much Molly has left to pay her.”Andromeda knew that Bellatrix was just looking for gossip.

Bellatrix held the door open for everyone. Once out on the street she wrapped her arm around Hermione.”I do want to know that but mostly I want to ask her how Narcissa’s latest potion has been selling.”

“I bet it’s selling out everyday.”Hermione knew it would be popular.

Narcissa smiled at Hermione.”Thank you for that vote of confidence sweetheart.”

“Everything you invent is amazing Cissa. It’s a proven fact it’s going to sell well.”Hermione told her.

“You can stop with the compliments little one. We don’t want her head to get any bigger than it already is.”Andromeda laughed at dirty look Narcissa gave her.

“She can give all the compliments she likes.”Narcissa appreciated Hermione’s many compliments. Especially because the girl always meant them.

“She is a charmer just like her father.”Jean recognized Denis in a lot of Hermione’s traits.

“As long as we are the only three she charms I don’t mind at all.”Bellatrix liked that Hermione was open with her affections. She never grew out of wanting to be around the sisters as she got older. If anything she became more clingy. Not that Bellatrix was complaining. Her favorite thing to do was to hold Hermione. When she was away from her while at Hogwarts it had been horrible. It was not something Bellatrix wanted to experience again.

Hermione blushed.”I’m not trying to charm anyone.”

“Aww you are so cute.”Andromeda leaned down and gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek. She laughed when Hermione’s face got redder.”I hope it’s always this easy to fluster you.”

“Leave her alone Andy.”Narcissa also hoped Hermione would continue to be easily flustered but Narcissa also liked being Hermione’s protecter.

Hermione moved away from Bellatrix and snuggled into Narcissa’s side.”Thank you Cissa.”

“You are such a suck up.”Bellatrix was irritated Hermione abandoned her. Holding open the door to Lenore’s shop Bellatrix grabbed Hermione around the waist as she was walking by. She smiled when Hermione let out a very loud high pitched squeal.

“Bella!”Hermione complained.

“You honestly didn’t think that I would give you up to Cissa so easily did you?”Bellatrix asked as she shuffled into the shop keeping a hold of Hermione the whole time.

“No I did not.”Hermione knew better when it came to Bellatrix.

“Do you have the list of what you need?”Jean had let Hermione hold the shopping list so her daughter felt like she was responsible for her own purchases.

Hermione held up the paper.”Right here.”

“You guys pick everything out. I’m going to talk to Lenore.”Bellatrix wasn’t interested in shopping for potions class. That was where Narcissa shined.

“We will meet you at the front when we are done.”Narcissa was happy Bellatrix would be occupied while they were shopping because she had been looking forward to taking Hermione shopping for potion supplies ever since she found out Jean was pregnant with her. Bellatrix would have likely distracted Hermione.

“Ok.”Bellatrix gave them a wave then made her way to the front of the shop where Lenore was stirring a green liquid in a smoking caldron.”Are you making another batch of headache potion to deal with all the Hogwarts students and their parents?”

Lenore chuckled.”Not this time.”

“How has it been going?”Bellatrix asked.

“This is going to be a really big first year class based on the amount of customers I have had.”Lenore told her.

“I think you’re right about that.”Bellatrix hadn’t gotten the numbers but she heard Minerva mention that Hermione’s class was the biggest they had in years.

“Either way it’s good for business.”Lenore said.

“Speaking of business. Has Molly finished paying?”That’s what Bellatrix really wanted to talk about.

Lenore chuckled again.”She isn’t even a quarter of the way through. I doubt she will ever pay it all.”

“I thought with them garnishing her wages it would put a dent in it.”Bellatrix had laughed out loud when she heard that Molly had gotten a job working on a vegetable farm. They were the only ones who would hire her. The only reason she got a job at all was Ted’s parents kicked both her and Ted out because they were sick of paying for everything. The pair lived together for a while until Molly got sick of him not working and kicked him out. 

“I don’t get that much from her paychecks because she still has underage children to support.”Lenore explained.

“Raising children is very expensive.”Bellatrix spent a lot of gold on Hermione. Not that she cared. She would empty her personal vault to make Hermione happy.

“You are only saying that because you go overboard in spoiling Hermione and Dora. Even though Dora is an adult who has a full-time job.”Andromeda had been proud of her daughter when Nymphadora decided to become an auror. The girl was told everything about the prophesies and despite Andromeda’s worries that Nymphadora would be upset her daughter took to her role with pride. She was fully prepared to play her part in the second war and was willing to do anything to keep Hermione safe. That was why she decided to work in law enforcement. So she could learn the skills she would need in the future.

“They both deserve to be spoiled.”Bellatrix fully believed that both girls deserved the world.

“Hello Lenore.”Narcissa greeted as she set Hermione’s purchases on the counter.

“Hello Narcissa.”Lenore replied.

“This is my friend Jean and her daughter Hermione.”Narcissa had never told Lenore about Hermione and the woman was nice enough not to ask about the random child the sisters were often seen with.

“It’s nice to meet you both. Are you starting Hogwarts this year?”Lenore asked.

“Yes ma’am.”Hermione had been looking forward to meeting Lenore because she helped out Narcissa so much.

“You are very polite. Maybe you could teach Bellatrix a thing or two about manners.”Lenore joked.

Andromeda along with Jean laughed.”I think Bella is a lost cause.”

“Hey, I’m polite to the people who matter.”Bellatrix didn’t bother being polite to people who annoyed her.

“Can I ask how Cissa’s new potion is selling?”Hermione wanted to know how good Narcissa’s newest creation was received by the public.

Lenore smiled at Hermione.”Her potion is doing quite well. I have sold out three times since the public learned of it.”

“I knew it would be popular. Good job Cissa.”Hermione knew that Narcissa would be successful.

“Thank you darling.”Narcissa loved that Hermione was her biggest supporter. The girl was always there to cheer Narcissa on no matter what she was doing. It helped Narcissa greatly with her self confidence.

“I had Sirius’ child come in yesterday with his mother and grandparents.”Lenore told them.

“I’m surprised that they actually came to your shop.”Andromeda would have thought the family would have steered clear of anything attached to the Black sisters after their many failed attempts to get the sisters to give them gold.

“I think they were under the impression that the three of you own my shop. Something I corrected them about.”Lenore said.

“They aren’t the first ones to think that.”Narcissa knew they wouldn’t be the last either.

“I don’t mind that people do because it brings in more business. I do however mind that people think that they can get free stuff because they are related to you.”Lenore smiled when they all laughed even Narcissa.

“They asked for free stuff?”Bellatrix didn’t think they would have the guts to do something like that.

Lenore nodded as she started adding up their purchases.”The boy was rather rude about it as well. When I told them their purchases were not free he began ranting about being the heir to House of Black and that he deserved only the best for school supplies. I told him if he wanted the best then he needed to pay for it.”

“It does make that family very angry not being able to profit off of the Black family. I actually got a letter demanding gold for not only his school supplies but to pay for his tuition as well. I think they thought that I was more of a pushover than Bella after she sent back a howler with the last three letters they sent her.”Narcissa hadn’t bothered replying at all. The boy and his mother weren’t worthy enough of Narcissa wasting her time writing them back. Especially after the idiots tried suing the sisters for child support. The case didn’t even make it to court before their lawyer got it dismissed. Their lawyer who had three vacation homes and was currently looking at an estate in Australia. All due to the high rates she charged her clients. Narcissa had been pleased that the woman never charged them more than she initially did when they first hired her.

“I’ve even gotten a letter. That was years ago when we published our first book. The mother thought she was entitled to a part of the profits because we wrote about the Black family in it. Even though we never mentioned Sirius or his family at all. Her reasoning was that her son being the heir was legally entitled to anything to do with the Black family.”Andromeda had taken the various ways the mother had tried to extort them for gold as proof she only had a child with Sirius to get access to the Black family estate.

“She has tried to sue our publisher after each of the other books as well.”Bellatrix and her sisters had written three other books beside the first one. One of them was a children’s book that contained stories they made up for Hermione. Narcissa thought it would be nice to have a book made out of them. They weren’t originally going to sell it to the public but Jean and Denis encouraged them to. Jean actually did all the illustrations for it.

“What was her grounds for the children’s book?”Lenore asked.

“She claimed the stories were Black family stories and because of that they belonged to the Black family Head of Household and the heir.”Narcissa was looking forward to Hermione’s identity becoming public so that the woman and her son were put in their place. Along with Draco and the Greengrass family.

Lenore shook her head.”What a pitiful woman.”

“I am not looking forward to how insufferable the boy is going to be when he starts school.”Andromeda expected him to cause many problems.

“Speaking about the boy reminds me of the something I wanted to tell you about. The Malfoy heir was also in here. He didn’t want anything for free however. He wanted me to send you the bill and have you pay for his purchases. I heard from Derrick down at the quidditch shop that he was trying to do the same thing.”Lenore told Narcissa.

“I’m not surprised. He’s done it before. I had thought the shop owners knew better than to charge me for any of his purchases after my lawyer repeatedly telling the ones that do that I will not pay for anything the boy buys but I’ll likely receive a bill or two by owl.”The sisters’ lawyer had personally addressed every bill Narcissa got from Draco. The shop owners that tried to sue her for non payment thinking she wouldn’t waste gold on a lawyer when it was cheaper to pay the debt learned quickly that Narcissa was more than happy to give her lawyer all the gold she wanted to not support Draco’s lifestyle.

“Our lawyer is wanting to buy that estate in Australia so for her sake I hope they do.”Bellatrix joked.

“As to your bill. Do you want to pay now or should I just take it out of your profits?”Lenore asked.

“Just take it out of my profits.”Narcissa liked being able to pay for Hermione’s purchases with the money she personally earned. It was a small way of taking care of her soulmate.

Hermione gave Narcissa a hug.”Thank you Cissa.”

“You’re welcome sweetheart.”Narcissa also liked that Hermione showered her with affection every time she did something for her soulmate.

“How come Cissa gets a hug and a thank you and I got nothing when I bought your wand? I even used my own gold to pay for it.”Bellatrix was offended that Hermione didn’t thank her.

Hermione pulled out of the hug with Narcissa and hugged Bellatrix.“I’m sorry Bella. I was so excited about the wand I forget to thank you. Please forgive me?”

“Oh course I forgive you.”Bellatrix happily hugged Hermione back.

“You are such a softy.”Andromeda was going to make sure to buy the next purchase for Hermione with her own gold. That way she was supporting Hermione as well.

“I’ll show you just how much of a softy I am the next time we duel.”Bellatrix would show her sister how tough she really was.

“I like that you’re a softy.”Hermione loved Bellatrix’s caring side.

“I’m only a softy towards you.”Bellatrix would always be a softy with her soulmate.

“That being said. Thanks for your help Lenore. I’m working on something new but I doubt I will have it finished for a while with classes starting soon.”Narcissa had been dedicating a lot of time to her potions hobby since she started her apprenticeship all those years ago. Hermione had taken to helping her as well and Narcissa was looking forward to when she and Hermione were creating potions together. Hermione hadn’t learned enough to be able to yet but she was well ahead of what a first year student should be at Hogwarts so Narcissa predicted that she would be creating potions soon.

“You’re welcome and just let me know about the potion.”Lenore said.

“Come on everyone. Let’s go to the books stop next. Then maybe we can get some ice cream.”Andromeda suggested.

“Can we mom?”Hermione asked.

“You may get three scoops that’s it.”Jean didn’t like Hermione eating sweets because it was bad for her teeth.

“Yes!”Hermione cheered.

Bellatrix held the door open for all of them. Once they were out of the shop she took a spot walking beside Hermione.”Are you going to get an exciting flavor this time?”

“Vanilla is my favorite.”Hermione told her.

“It’s my favorite to.”Narcissa felt extra smug that Hermione had favored vanilla ice cream when she was younger and continued to enjoy the flavor. It didn’t matter what kinds her sisters wanted Hermione to try Hermione always picked vanilla.

“What did Cissa give you or promise you to say that vanilla is your favorite?”Andromeda knew that Hermione didn’t actually like vanilla ice cream. No one liked vanilla ice cream. Expect for Narcissa.

“Cissa didn’t bribe me to say that. I really like vanilla.”Hermione wasn’t lying. Vanilla was her favorite flavor.

“You should at least get some kind of topping.”Bellatrix really hated that Hermione wasn’t that adventurous with ice cream. There were so many fun flavors to try but Hermione always stuck with vanilla.

“Vanilla is perfect on its own.”Narcissa said.

“Are you going to get some ice cream Cissa or are you just going to share with me?”Hermione always shared her ice cream with Narcissa because the woman didn’t usually get some of her own.

“I’ll get my own this time.”Narcissa enjoyed sharing with Hermione but they were celebrating so Narcissa would get her own.

“Now we need to go shopping for books.”Jean was excited to go to the book shop. She had steered clear of the magical world since making Narcissa Hermione’s guardian because she didn’t like visiting. So she hadn’t visited the book shop before. Jean wanted to see what kind of books they had to compare it to a muggle book shop.

“Hey look it’s Bella.”Hermione pointed to the shop window where a book was displayed with a picture of Bellatrix on the cover. She was wearing her signature outfit of a black corset, black skirt with black robes over the outfit and posing with her arms across her chest holding her wand in one hand, glaring at the camera.

“That is a really good picture of me.”Bellatrix thought she looked very intimidating.

“I still can’t believe that they chose a single picture of you for the cover of a book all of us wrote.”Andromeda had been miffed that the publisher only wanted Bellatrix on the cover.

“I’m fine with it.”Narcissa would prefer not gracing the cover of their books.“I think they are using that one as required reading for six year charms class this year.”

“It does have a lot of important protection charms in it.”Hermione had read all of the sisters’ books.

“Protection charms that are necessary for the public to know.”Bellatrix and her sisters wrote a book about many ways to protect oneself, others and items to include warding because their hope was it would help prepare everyone for the next war. They got many letters and people coming up to them to thank them for writing it because the book had helped them when they or their property were attacked.

“Alright let’s get your books.”Andromeda was the one who held the door open for everyone this time earning a glare from Bellatrix. When Hermione walked past her she copied her sister’s previous actions and wrapped her arm around the girl’s middle.”You haven’t been paying me much attention today.”

Hermione immediately wrapped her arms around Andromeda.”I’m sorry Andy I got distracted by shopping.”

“It’s alright but I will be escorting you around the shop.”Andromeda pulled out of the hug and put her arm around Hermione’s shoulders.

“Perfect.”Hermione was fine with that if it made Andromeda feel better.

“Now let’s get started. Show us the list again.”Narcissa said.

Hermione handed her the paper.”Here you go.”

“Do you mind if I look around while you shop?”Jean asked.

“I’ll go with you.”Bellatrix volunteered. She didn’t want anything to happen to Hermione’s mother.

“We will meet you up front when we are done.”Andromeda told them.

Jean gave Hermione a hug.”Be good.”

“I will.”Hermione promised.

“Make sure you get something to read for fun.”Bellatrix wanted Hermione to have something she enjoyed reading along with her school books.

“That won’t be a problem.”Hermione was always willing to buy books.

Bellatrix gave Hermione a hug and a kiss on the head.”If you need me use your necklace.”

“I know.”Hermione had been given a necklace when she was younger that was an elaborate jewel encrusted Black family crest pendant that hung from a thickly braided gold and silver chain that she wore around her neck. The crest was spelled so that if Hermione said the words Soul Bound while touching it it would alert the sisters that she needed them and give them her exact location. Hermione never took it off nor did she plan to in the future.

“Back to shopping. Most of your books are on that display over there.”Andromeda pointed to a shelf that was marked for first year Hogwarts students. Guiding Hermione over to it Andromeda thought about what was to come. In two days Hermione was going to be boarding the train to Hogwarts. The sisters had convinced Dumbledore to let them ride with the students. The stupid man even agreed with their reason being that they thought the students needed proper chaperones. Andromeda didn’t care why he agreed. The only thing that she cared about was that she was going to get to ride with Hermione on her first trip on the train. Then Andromeda would get to witness Hermione being put in her Hogwarts house. Which was of course going to be Slytherin. The girl was perfect for the sisters’ house. She had all the traits needed to be a snake. Plus the compassion not to be a stuck up snob. That would make her the perfect representation of a proper Slytherin House member. Andromeda smiled just thinking about the moment the hat called it out for Hermione. It was going to be almost as epic as Hermione getting her wand. Andromeda shook off her daydream and focused back on Hermione. She didn’t want to miss out on any of Hermione’s shopping. It was too important of a moment in her soulmate’s life not to be a part of.