Soul Bound 27

“Come on Hermione you can do it. Crawl to Cissa.”Narcissa encouraged Hermione from her spot on the other side of the room from the baby. Hermione was a little over six months old and Narcissa and her sisters were teaching her how to crawl. It had been an eventful six months and Narcissa was happy with the results of everything so far. The Black sisters’ lawsuits against against Molly and Ted were over very quickly. Both of them losing after admitting in their testimonies they were lying about everything they said about the three of them. Narcissa had never seen Andromeda look as satisfied as did when Ted told the court that he had never loved her and only married her so he could claim that a pureblood woman would leave her family for him. That same look of satisfaction crossed Bellatrix’s face when their lawyer made Ted admit that he was infatuated with Bellatrix and had been since Hogwarts. It was worse for Molly because she was forced to admit her jealousy was the reason she lied about the sisters and was why she purposely made false statement about them to make the public hate them. The lawsuits against the press were scheduled to happen in a few months and Narcissa predicted that once done Andromeda’s vault was going to move down many levels in the bank. Seeing Hermione tumble brought Narcissa out of her musing.

“Like this little one.”Bellatrix crawled slowly across the carpet earning laughter from Hermione.

Andromeda laughed with her.”You’re right sweetheart watching Bella dragging herself across the floor is funny.”

“I’m trying to help her. What are you doing?”Bellatrix didn’t see Andromeda do anything but sit on the couch and watch her and Narcissa.

“I’m providing moral support.”Andromeda was staying ready in case Hermione toppled hard enough to hurt herself.

“Alright Hermione you got it this time. Just move one arm at a time.”Instead of crawling towards Narcissa Hermione started babbling away speaking in words that only made sense to the baby. It still made Narcissa smile when she did it because it was one step closer to Hermione talking for real.”That is very interesting indeed but you need to focus darling. One arm in front of the other.”

“She has got to do it soon.”Bellatrix wanted Hermione crawling because the next step was walking. Once Hermione was walking she would be big enough to start getting into trouble with Bellatrix.

“Every baby develops at their own pace. When she is ready she will crawl.”Andromeda would like Hermione crawl as well but knew that she wouldn’t do anything until she was ready.

“Alright let me show you again.”Bellatrix stood over Hermione and carefully moved her arms in the motion the baby needed to do to crawl.”Now you give it a try.”

Narcissa reached out her arms.”Cissa is right here. Just crawl to me and I will give you a hug.”

“If the public could see us now they would never believe their eyes.”Andromeda knew that no one would believe that Bellatrix actually crawled across a floor to teach a baby how to do it.

“Who cares about the public?”Bellatrix and her sisters continued to have the public’s support through all the drama of the last six months. Other than the trials and Andromeda going to work they were rarely seen in public only visiting the magical world to take Nymphadora shopping or if they needed something they could only get in the magical world. All three sisters were completely comfortable living in the muggle world.

“After what happened with Ted and Molly a lot of our more vocal opponents have been silent lately.”Narcissa was happy about not seeing some random article written about them that claimed they committed some type of crime or were involved in scandalous activities.

“Once we are done with the publications that printed the pair’s lies the rest of the press will think better of saying anything negative about us.”Andromeda thought that once the lawsuits were over some publications wouldn’t dare to print anything about them at all even if it was positive.

“We are the first private citizens that are holding the press responsible for their actions. I predict that many people will do the same in the future when the press attacks them as well.”Bellatrix had no doubt that the British press was going to be held to a new standard after the sisters’ lawsuits were over.

“I like the fact that no one will interview Ted.”Andromeda had been told by numerous people they had heard Ted complaining that every publication he had reached out to to tell his side of the story refused to interview him.

“Molly could have only been so lucky. It might have saved her marriage.”Molly wasted no time responding after the first article came out about the events that happened when she and the sisters asked each other questions. Narcissa had a great laugh at her claims of the potion being tampered with because she knew Lenore would go after Molly. Narcissa had been right and Lenore sued Molly for slander and won a large amount of gold that Molly couldn’t afford to pay. Narcissa had heard she went to everyone from her brothers to the Longbottom family asking them to pay it but no one would help her. The debt was still unpaid and Narcissa didn’t know what Molly was going to do about the situation.

“I doubt it would have. Arthur finding out three of the boys weren’t his own sealed her fate.”Bellatrix wouldn’t have stayed with her if she was Arthur. Then again Bellatrix wouldn’t have married Molly to begin with.”Finding out the oldest wasn’t his had to be the tipping point considering we now know she was pregnant before they got married.”

“I love that Arthur has only made one statement about the whole ordeal and that was to explain how they got together and to tell the public who the real fathers to three of the children were. The fact that he only spoke once makes the impact that much greater.”Andromeda couldn’t have planned a better response for Arthur.

“Poor Molly didn’t get her wish for one of them being a Carrow either.”Narcissa leaned down on the floor.”Ok Hermione let’s show everyone how amazing you are by crawling to Cissa.”

“She didn’t get a pureblood to father any of the three. Moody is the only one who has any kind of standing in society. He doesn’t have much gold though. The security guard being another father does her no good because he now knows her scheme to having him help her break into a vault. Then there is the third which is the one who fathered her first child. He is a muggleborn who lives in the muggle world where he works as a manger of a muggle grocery store. Not really good picks if you ask me.”Bellatrix would have taken great precautions when having sex with those three men to make sure she didn’t get pregnant.

“She won’t be getting much in child support that’s for sure.”Andromeda stood from the couch and took a seat next to Hermione. She smiled when the baby reached for her. Running her fingers through Hermione’s hair Andromeda marveled at how fast it was growing.”Your hair is growing so fast that pretty soon we will have to give you a haircut.”

“It’s coming in curly like we predicted.”Narcissa wasn’t surprised that Hermione’s hair color was brown. It did have beautiful auburn highlights as well and Narcissa was looking forward to being able to style it when it was long enough.

“It will make her look more like a Black.”Bellatrix said.

Andromeda was thinking the same thing as Narcissa.”I can’t wait until it’s long enough to style.”

“She is such a gorgeous baby.”Narcissa had never seen a more perfect child.

“I’m still surprised that no one caught on to your becoming her guardian. I thought for sure the clerk would tell someone.”Andromeda would have thought it would be known far and wide as soon Narcissa walked out of the office with Jean.

“I don’t think the man recognized me. He only briefly scanned the paperwork and barely looked up from the magazine he was reading. I doubt anyone will find out about until Hermione goes to Hogwarts.”Narcissa didn’t think anyone who had the authorization would look through her ministry file to find out anything.

“People will start asking questions soon because we have the magical photoshoot scheduled for next week.”Bellatrix knew they wouldn’t get away with no one asking them questions after they took Hermione to get pictures taken. Especially because the sisters were going to be in the pictures as well.

“This is the one thing we will say no comment on and let the public speculate to their heart’s content.”Andromeda wasn’t going to tell anyone anything about Hermione.

“We all agree with that.”Narcissa would not even tell anyone Hermione’s name if asked.

“Do you think the fathers of Molly’s children are going to try to get custody of them?”Bellatrix asked.

“The security guard said he was going to. As for Moody I’m not sure. He has never really talked about how he feels about children so it could go either way. The muggleborn might not know he has a child because no one said they contacted him just that they found out where he lived and what he did for a job.”Andromeda couldn’t even begin to guess what Moody would do.

“If the man is living in the muggle world and has a muggle job he might not be interested in being dragged back into the magical world.”Narcissa said.

“He’s going to be dragged back in whether he likes it or not because there is no way Molly won’t sue him for child support. I’m actually surprised she hasn’t already.”Bellatrix would have thought Molly would have done it as soon as she learned the news.

“I can’t believe that her brothers actually paid off the debts on the Burrow. I mean they put the house in Arthur’s name so it’s protected but I still can’t believe they did it.”Andromeda wouldn’t have helped Molly if she was the brothers.

“They are good people and are likely horribly embarrassed by this whole situation. I think that they only paid off the Burrow because the children need someplace to live. As to how long Molly will get to stay there will be up to the judge who is overseeing their divorce.”Narcissa hoped Arthur got full custody like he wanted.

“If she gets kicked out she always has Ted to fall back on.”Andromeda had been right in saying that Ted would brag about Molly’s supposed interest in him and not realize she was just planning to use him. The man told anyone listening how Molly was getting divorced because she was so in love with him she couldn’t stay with her husband any longer.

“She needs a new man to latch onto if she expects not to have to work. If she somehow manages to get full custody of the children she has with Arthur she won’t get much child support. Nor with the other three men. That means she will have to get a job. It won’t be a good job of course because she has no skills and the public hates her. Plus she admitted to being involved in a lot of horrible things. No one is going to want to hire her.”Bellatrix didn’t think anyone would want to deal with the backlash that they would get for hiring Molly.

Hermione’s high pitched squeal caught all three sisters’ attention. Narcissa starting clapping when Hermione began to slowly crawl towards her.”That’s right sweetheart crawl to Cissa.”

“I knew she could do it.”Bellatrix was very proud of Hermione.

“Like there was any doubt.”Andromeda was barely holding herself back from taking Hermione in her arms and hugging her. She was just as proud of her soulmate as Bellatrix was.

“You can do it.”Narcissa held her arms out. She smiled brightly when Hermione seemed to get the hang of it and started crawling faster. When she was in reaching distance Narcissa picked Hermione up and hugged her close to her body.”That was brilliant darling.”

Bellatrix positioned herself on the other side of the room.”Put her down Cissa so she can crawl to me.”

“You did a great job.”Narcissa kissed Hermione on the forehead and set her on the floor facing Bellatrix. She wanted to hold Hermione longer but it was important for the baby to practice.

“Hermione come see Bella.”Bellatrix held her arms out smiling when Hermione started crawling towards her. That smiled turned into a scowl when Hermione veered off course and crawled to Andromeda instead.

Andromeda laughed as she scooped Hermione off the floor and kissed the baby’s forehead.”That’s right Hermione you should always pick Andy before Bella.”

“She didn’t pick you over me. Your outfit distracted her is all.”Bellatrix knew that Hermione would pick her first before her sisters. Andromeda just distracted her this time.

“How did what I am wearing distract her?”Andromeda was wearing a pair of jeans, a sweater and a pair of socks. She and her sisters had all taken to wearing muggle clothes when they were at home and Andromeda found she enjoyed how comfortable they were compared to robes.

“Your sweater is so ugly that Hermione had to see if it was actually real or if she was just imagining the hideousness of the garment.”Bellatrix told her.

“The color of my sweater isn’t ugly. It’s a plain blue.”Andromeda’s sweater was perfectly acceptable.

“It doesn’t matter. Hermione should be practicing.”Narcissa didn’t want to listen to her sisters fighting.

“You’re right. Andy put her on floor and face her towards me.”Bellatrix wanted Hermione to crawl to her.

“You can do it little one.”Andromeda gave Hermione another kiss then set her on the floor facing Bellatrix.

“Hermione crawl to Bella so she can give you a big hug.”Bellatrix held her arms out again and willed Hermione to crawl to her. When Hermione got close enough she picked the baby up and gave Hermione the hug she promised. Bellatrix followed her sisters’ example and kissed Hermione’s forehead.”You my love are amazing! This is just the start of great things in your life. You are going to be walking in no time.”

“Put her back down Bella.”Narcissa was hoping Hermione would tire herself out on her way back to Narcissa so the youngest Black sister could hold her soulmate while the baby slept.

Bellatrix gave Hermione one last kiss then set her on the floor.”I can’t wait for the last trial to be over so we can spend more time with her.”

“You both testify next week. Then you are done.”Andromeda was glad it was over.

“It can’t happen soon enough.”Narcissa wanted to be able to devote more time to Hermione. Something she would be able to do once the trials were over. The trials were the only commitment Narcissa had so when they were over she could do what she wanted.

“I’ve been happy with the sentences that have been handed out.”Bellatrix said.

“Azkaban has a lot of new residence because of you two.”Andromeda and the rest of the public knew it was only because of Bellatrix and Narcissa that each person was convicted.

“They really had no other choice than to give out harsh sentences. If they hadn’t people would have thought they were corrupt.”Narcissa knew that the judges had no way to justify giving any of the defendants light sentences.

“The fact that you and I drank truth potions every time we testified guaranteed that. I do appreciate that the took my recommendation to put Rabastan in St.Mugos though.”Bellatrix was happy that Rabastan’s lawyer used his insanity as a defense and pushed for him to be hospitalized. It was the right choice in Bellatrix’s opinion. After witnessing the man’s behavior in court the public agreed with her as well.

“It’s obvious to everyone the man has mental problems. Even the people who were his victims and the family of his victims agreed with him being put in St.Mugos.”Andromeda also agreed. 

“Having some of the people his actions effected in a negative way speak on his behalf was a good move on his lawyers part.”Narcissa was surprised that any of them were willing to speak for Rabastan.

“They only testified because the lawyer promised that he wasn’t trying to get Rabastan freed. If he was they wouldn’t have stepped forward. Even if most of them saw the man as just as much of a victim as they were.”Bellatrix agreed that Rabastan was a victim. Rodolphus controlled everything his brother did. Including what he did to his victims.

“Well now he will get a chance to have some peace in his life.”Andromeda thought Rabastan deserved it after dealing with Rodolphus all his life.

“We will get some peace in our lives as well. At least for a little while.”Bellatrix was going to enjoy the years of peace before the next war started.

“I’m going to take full advantage of that time.”Narcissa was going to fill the years before she started teaching at Hogwarts spending time doing things that brought her joy.”One of those things I’m going to do is reach out to Lenore to get her to teach me so I can get my masters in potions.”

“I like Lenore.”Bellatrix especially liked the way that the woman wasted no time suing Molly after the first article came out with Molly claiming Lenore tampered with the potion.

“We all like Lenore because of the way she dealt with Molly.”Andromeda said.

“She really had no other choice than to sue Molly. If she didn’t it would have been the same as Lenore admitting her guilt. The only way to prove Molly wrong was to get Molly to admit that she lied. Which is exactly what happened when Molly was put on the stand at the trial.”Narcissa had been tempted to go to the trial but didn’t want to deal with not only the drama but it would have meant missing out on time with Hermione.

“I don’t now how she is going to pay the settlement.”Andromeda didn’t think anyone would give Molly the gold to pay Lenore.

“Lenore told me that she could handle Molly if she attacked her and I have to say Lenore did a wonderful job. Hitting Molly in the vault was just how to hurt her the most. I honestly doubt Lenore actually expects to get paid and just set the number so high to prove a point.”Bellatrix thought Lenore picked the settlement price to not only upset Molly but to warn others from speaking badly about her business and skills as a potionier.

“I think it’s amusing that Minerva was the one backing Lenore.”Narcissa held her arms out again when Hermione started getting closer.”Come here my sweet girl so Cissa can give you a kiss.”

“I have a feeling Hermione is going to be crawling all over the house now.”Andromeda predicted the baby was going to be incredibly active.

“It’s a good thing Jean and Denis already baby proofed everything.”Bellatrix and her sisters had used their magic to put some extra protection for Hermione as well.

Narcissa smiled when Hermione stopped crawling and reached out her arms towards her. Leaning forward Narcissa picked the baby up and cradled Hermione in her arms. Hermione blinked sleepy eyes at her and yawned.”I think she tired herself out.”

“She did a good job for her first try.”Andromeda was proud of Hermione.

“Of course she did.”Bellatrix expected nothing less from Hermione.

“As to Minerva backing Lenore it’s just more proof that she doesn’t like Molly. Even though Minerva was in charge of Molly’s house at Hogwarts.”Andromeda said.

“That seems to be a common theme in Molly’s life. All the members of any type of house she belongs to hate her. The house she was born into to, the house she was picked for and the house she married into. Every one of the members hate her.”Bellatrix knew that most of the public hated Molly as well.

“I feel bad for her children. Not bad enough to let them near Hermione though. I just feel bad they have her as a mother.”Narcissa wouldn’t even wish for her worst enemy to be stuck with Molly as a mother.

“I just hope she never has the daughter she always wanted.”Andromeda said.

“I can’t even imagine how horrible any daughter Molly would have’s life would be like with her as a mother.”Bellatrix bet the girl would try to take her own life before she graduated Hogwarts due to Molly’s influence.

“Well she isn’t our problem anymore. Unless she decides to start trying to spread lies about us again. Which I doubt any publication will print.”Narcissa wasn’t worried about Molly. She couldn’t do anything to the sisters anymore now that they had proven for a fact that the woman was targeting them on purpose because she was jealous of them. No one would believe Molly if she did say something negative and it was well known by now that anyone who published her lies would be sued.

“I hope they do print them because it would just add more gold to our family’s fortune.”Andromeda would happily take gold from the very people who printed lies about them.

“Cissa is going to start adding to the family’s fortune as soon as she begins patenting all the potions she created.”Bellatrix knew that Narcissa was going to make a lot of gold when she started selling her potions.”If it didn’t keep you away from Hermione I would say you should open your own shop after you get your masters.”

“I did think of opening my own shop but it just isn’t something that will work with our current plans. Maybe once everything is settled after the second war I will get a chance.”Narcissa had always wanted to open her own potion shop. It just wasn’t feasible while she was on her destine course trying to fulfill her prophesy.

“I think I’m going to be busy dealing with politics when the war ends.”Andromeda had always wanted to hold an important role in the ministry. She was planning on taking Hermione’s ministry seat once the girl claimed her titles. Andromeda just hadn’t figured out how it would work while she was at Hogwarts.

“I want to get into law enforcement.”Bellatrix wanted to chase down criminals and solve crimes.

“I wonder what Hermione will want to do?”Narcissa didn’t think Hermione would want to live a quiet life.

“I bet she will become the youngest Minister of Magic in the history of Britain.”Andromeda predicted.

“She probably will.”Bellatrix could see Hermione being minister.

Hermione fussing caught everyone’s attention. Narcissa looked down at the unhappy baby in her arms.”I’m going to check her diaper but I think she is hungry.”

“It’s my turn to feed her.”Andromeda wasn’t going to miss her chance.

“It’s my turn to give her a bath if she needs one.”Bellatrix enjoyed bath time because Hermione was finally at the stage where she was starting to play with the water.

Narcissa held back a sigh.”I’ll let you know after I check her.”

“You better.”Bellatrix didn’t fully trust her sisters to not lie about things so they could take care of Hermione themselves.

“I will.”Narcissa promised. Standing up carefully with Hermione in her arms Narcissa made her way out of the room. She would love to just take care of Hermione herself but if her sisters found out Narcissa would lose out on her chance in the future. It was one of the rules meant to keep them from fighting. Something that had been a constant until Jean stepped in and set up a system for each of them to get equal opportunities to take care of and spend time with Hermione. It had helped a lot and the sisters still griped at each other but the arguing had stopped. Which the whole household appreciated. Even Nymphadora made a comment about it being nice that she didn’t have to hear the sisters fight. That’s when they realized how much it was effecting everyone. Not that anyone was unhappy living with the Grangers. Narcissa was actually the happiest she had ever been since moving in with the couple and Hermione. Jean and Denis were great people and treated the sisters like their own family. Even Nymphadora was treated like a family member. Andromeda told them that she had never seen the little girl happier than she was since moving in. The unconventional family had the perfect life together and it would be even better once Hermione started talking. Then Narcissa could finally have conversations with her soulmate. That being something she was very much looking forward to.