Soul Bound 14

“Why are you late?”Bellatrix asked Narcissa when her sister came rushing into the front hall where she, Andromeda and Nymphadora were waiting by the fireplace. The sisters had agreed to meet there so they could spend the day shopping and Narcissa was twenty minutes late. That being very unusual because Narcissa was known to always be early. She hated when people were late. Bellatrix had been on the receiving end of many rants about the importance of being on time. Now for her to show up late made Bellatrix very suspicious. Looking her sister over she didn’t see anything out of place. Narcissa looked like the perfect example of a wealthy pureblood woman. The only thing that was odd was the bright smile Narcissa had on her face.

“How is Hermione?”Andromeda could tell by that smile that Narcissa had been with their soulmate.

“She is wonderful. Still the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.”Narcissa had gotten her wish to sleep in Hermione’s room the night before and was successful in getting Jean and Denis to let her have the bedroom next to Hermione’s as Narcissa’s own personal room.

“When did you see Hermione?”Bellatrix asked.

“I went last night after we left the library.”Narcissa told her.

Bellatrix stared at her in shock.”You went last night?”

“Jean and Denis didn’t mind. As matter of fact the reason I’m late is because I was watching Hermione for them while they went out to a restaurant for breakfast and were gone longer than they expected to be.”Narcissa had been ecstatic that the couple left Hermione alone with her. It showed how much they trusted Narcissa with the baby.

“You got her all to yourself?”Andromeda hadn’t expected that.

Narcissa nodded.”I got to give her a bath, dress her and feed her. Plus change four diapers. All by myself.”

“I’m going over tonight.”Bellatrix wanted to take care of Hermione like Narcissa did.

“If you are going over you can’t stay in the room closest to Hermione’s. Jean and Denis agreed to let me have it permanently.”Narcissa smirked at the angry faces both of her sisters were making. It seemed they had the same idea that she did.

“They gave you your own room?!”Bellatrix had wanted that room.

“Yes and I already have some of my stuff in there.”Narcissa knew if she didn’t leave her belongings in there her sisters would try to claim it.

“You did all this on purpose just to get that room.”Andromeda knew her sister didn’t tell them about visiting Hermione just to get a chance to ask about the room.

Narcissa shrugged.”You could have done it too.”

“I’m going to talk to Jean and Denis about getting my own room.”Bellatrix wanted her own space at their house.

“I will as well.”Andromeda like her sister wanted her own space at the Granger’s.

“You can do that later. Now then weren’t we going shopping?”Narcissa reminded them.

“Yes we are going shopping. I’ll see you outside the Leaky Caldron.”Bellatrix grabbed some powder and threw it in the fire calling out her destination before walking into it. She existed out of a different fire place that was located in a bar. Dusting off her robes she made her way out of the building ignoring the looks and whispers as she went. Standing in front of the business she scanned the streets looking for any threats. It didn’t matter to her if Dumbledore vouched for them Bellatrix knew that she and Narcissa were targets for both sides of the war.

“It’s busy today.”Narcissa said when she walked up to Bellatrix.

“Now that the Dark Lord is dead people feel safer being out in public.”Bellatrix could feel the lack of oppression that seemed to weigh on the country when the Dark Lord had been active.

“Where should we start?”Andromeda asked when she and Nymphadora joined her sisters.

“What do you think Dora? What shop should we start at?”Bellatrix asked the girl.

Seeing Nymphadora’s confusion Andromeda was quick to reassure her.”It’s alright sweetheart. You can pick whatever shop you want. As long as it makes you happy.”

“I want to go to Gambel and Japes.”Nymphadora told her.

“I love that place.”Bellatrix would happily take her niece to a joke shop.”Maybe we can find some gifts for Denis.”

“He’s fun.”Nymphadora said as she walked next to Bellatrix.

“Yes he is.”Bellatrix agreed.

“I hope we get to play with his video games again.”Nymphadora said.

“I’m going to talk to Denis about getting Dora her own system as a surprise.”Andromeda whispered to Narcissa.

“It makes me want to smile thinking about us putting muggle contraptions in the manor knowing how angry it would make Lucius and all the Malfoys that came before him if they knew.”Narcissa was going to have to figure out a way tell her husband before he was put in Azkaban.

“It would be satisfying seeing our parent’s faces if they knew we put some in a Black family property. Something I plan to do in the future just to spite the whole family. Except for grandmother Sofia of course.”Andromeda didn’t include Sofia in her family hatred.

“She got the last laugh in the end.”Narcissa thought Sofia would have been happy with how everything was turning out.

Bellatrix held open the door to the shop letting her niece and sisters enter before she did. Once inside she grabbed a large shopping basket and held out it to Nymphadora.”Alright Dora, I want you to take this and fill it with anything you want. No matter what it is or how much it cost I will buy it for you. Do you understand?”

“Can I really?”Nymphadora asked her mother.

“Not only can you but if you fill that basket before you make it all the way through the shop I’ll bring you another one to fill.”Andromeda smiled when Nymphadora hugged her.

“Thanks mom.”Nymphadora pulled out of the hug, hesitated a moment then gave Bellatrix a hug as well.”Thanks Aunt Bella.”

Bellatrix hugged her back.“You are a member of the Black family that means you get what you want no matter the price.”

“Do you need help or do you want to explore by yourself?”Andromeda didn’t mind her going off on her own because she could see the entire shop from where she was standing.

“Can Aunt Bella come with me so we can pick out some stuff for Denis?”Nymphadora asked.

“Of course I’ll come with you.”Bellatrix grabbed two more shopping baskets and led Nymphadora to the first shelf full of products.

Andromeda shook her head at the pair.”I have a feeling that we are going to be doing a lot of repairs at our friend’s house as a result of letting those two shop together.”

“Usually I would reign Bella in but not only do the two of them deserve to have some fun Denis does to.”Narcissa would just make sure Hermione stayed safe when the trio were using their new toys.

“I’m still amazed that they heal teeth.”Andromeda and her sisters didn’t care if anyone overheard them talking about Jean and Denis because no one would really pay attention to a muggle couple. They had all agreed to never say Hermione’s name in public or in front of anyone other than the Grangers as that would be dangerous. At least until the trials were over.

“I must admit after he told us the muggle’s obsession with straight teeth I have been looking at every person we have encounter’s teeth. I never realized how imperfect most of their smiles are.”Narcissa didn’t know how she never noticed before.

“The three of us were blessed with good teeth. Something I am grateful for because regardless of how nice they are Jean and Denis would have look down on us if we had bad teeth.”Andromeda wouldn’t have blamed them if they did. The pair owned a business that focused on teeth they had the right to judge people’s teeth.

“Luckily we don’t have to worry about it. I do hope that our friend has perfect teeth. I would hate for them to have to wear those torture devices Denis called braces.”Narcissa didn’t want Hermione to suffer.

“They do sound like torture devices.”Andromeda held back a shiver thinking about braces.”The back brace did sound useful though.”

“What do our healers do to fix someone’s posture?”Narcissa asked.

“We just tell them to stand up straight. We don’t have any techniques to fix it.”Andromeda was actually embarrassed by that.

“The few things we have found out about muggle medicine makes me glad our friend has access to it.”Narcissa was still going to have Andromeda give Hermione regular check ups of course but felt comfortable having Hermione see a muggle healer.

“I am to. As a healer I shouldn’t say this but from what we have been told muggles are very far ahead of us in regards to health care.”Andromeda said.

“I’m going to go with Bella and buy my own books on muggle medicine.”Narcissa wanted to know everything she needed to take care of Hermione.

“I think that would be a good idea.”Andromeda wanted to get her own books as well.

“When do you think Ted is going to contact you?”Narcissa knew the man wouldn’t let Andromeda go without a fight.

Andromeda shrugged.”He is extremely lazy so probably not for a few days.”

“I really am sorry you had to live with him in those conditions.”Narcissa like Bellatrix felt guilty they didn’t step in and pull Andromeda out of her situation.

“I would rather have to deal with Ted than be married to Rodolphus or Lucius and live in the house that the Dark Lord used as his headquarters.”Andromeda felt that her sisters got the worse end of the deal.

“We don’t have to worry about living with any of those men anymore.”Narcissa was very happy about that.

“I still can’t believe you convinced Denis and Jean to give you the best room.”Andromeda was still pissed Narcissa got the room before she did.

Narcissa smirked at her.”I’m the Queen of Slytherin what do you expect?”

“I show you where to shove your crown.”Andromeda muttered. She smiled when Bellatrix and Nymphadora walked up to them.”All done?”

Nymphadora nodded.”I got so much stuff and Aunt Bella said we could come back next week and pick out different things to try.”

“We all have a lot of time on hands now we may as well spend it doing fun stuff.”Bellatrix didn’t mind playing with her niece.

“Alright the next shop isn’t going to be fun for you Dora but if you don’t fight or complain while we are in there we can get ice cream at Florean’s.”Andromeda told her.

“I’ll be good.”Nymphadora promised.

Narcissa smiled at the enthusiastic reply.”I can’t wait until our friend is old enough for us to buy them ice cream.”

“I can’t wait until they are old enough to take places.”Bellatrix was most looking forward to taking Hermione to the magical creature sanctuary and seeing her reaction to the many different animals.

“Children grow faster than you realize. It seemed to me Dora was just a baby then I blinked and she was dressing herself.”Andromeda sometimes missed having her daughter rely on her for basic things.

“I both hope and not hope things will happen like that with our friend.”Narcissa was enjoying Hermione in her baby stage.

“Regardless we will be there every step of the way.”Bellatrix said as she held open the door to Twilfitt and Tattings for her niece and sisters then followed in behind them. 

“Lady Malfoy so wonderful to see you again!”A well dressed woman exclaimed loudly as she rushed towards their group.

“Good to see you to Maria.”Narcissa lied. She hated the woman but hers was the best clothing shop in the area so Narcissa put up with her.

Maria looked over the group raising an eyebrow when she saw Andromeda and Nymphadora.”What can I help you with today?”

“My sister Andromeda and her daughter Dora need a new wardrobe. Everything from sleep wear to formal wear. Can you mange that?”Narcissa asked.

Maria’s eyes widened.“Of course I can manage that. I need to take their measurements and you will have to pick out exactly what you want but I am more than able to help you.”

“Take Dora’s measurements first. Then when she is done I’ll take her to look at the animals in the Magical Menagerie.”Bellatrix didn’t want to wait around a clothing shop.

Nymphadora bounced on the balls of her feet.”Can I mom please?”

“She can not get a pet. Once we settle into our new living situation we can talk about it but as of right now she can not get a pet.”Andromeda wanted to wait until they moved in with the Grangers to get a pet. That way if they didn’t want one they wouldn’t have to rehome it before they moved in.

“I think waiting to get a pet is the best idea.”Bellatrix smiled at Nymphadora’s crestfallen look.

“Why don’t you start with Dora please.”Narcissa told Maria.

“I’ll come back with you.”Andromeda wasn’t going to let a stranger touch her daughter’s body without her watching them to prevent anything inappropriate from happening.

“Follow me.”Maria said.

Bellatrix watched the trio walk into a back room.”It would be fun for our friend to have a pet growing up.”

“It will be up to their parents if they are allowed to have one.”Narcissa wouldn’t be opposed if the animal wasn’t large. Small ones she didn’t mind. Especially if they were soft and cuddly.

“It will be up to them to allow a lot of things.”That being something Bellatrix was not happy about. She didn’t want have any restrictions when it came to her soulmate but was forced to because Hermione’s parents genuinely loved their daughter and cared about what happened to her. Bellatrix actually envied Hermione for the love her parents had for her. It was just annoying because she knew that they were going to veto some of her ideas in the future.

Narcissa easily picked up on Bellatrix’s worries.“I don’t think they will be that strict with us.”

“They have been rather relaxed so far. If they weren’t they wouldn’t have left you alone with them.”Bellatrix was extremely jealous Narcissa got the chance to babysit Hermione by herself. Bellatrix already had plans to offer to watch Hermione the next time she visited the Grangers.

“I had a great time.”Narcissa loved every second of being able to take care of Hermione by herself.

“We are going to need to discuss that room when we get home.”Bellatrix wasn’t going to let Narcissa have the best room. Bellatrix as the oldest was entitled to it first.

“There is nothing to discuss Jean and Denise already approved of me claiming it.”Narcissa wasn’t giving it up either.

“We’ll talk about it later.”Bellatrix wasn’t going to fight about it in public.

“Alright.”Narcissa knew she wouldn’t change her mind no matter what Bellatrix said or threatened.

Bellatrix perked up seeing Andromeda and Nymphadora walk back towards them.”All done?”

“Yes and Dora was the perfect angel who definitely deserves ice cream.”Andromeda was proud of her daughter for behaving.

“Good I would hate to have to eat some without you.”Bellatrix told her.”Now come on Dora let’s leave your mom and Aunt Cissa here to do the boring stuff by themselves.”

Nymphadora gave her mother a hug.”Bye mom.”

“I’ll see you soon sweetheart be good for Bella.”Andromeda was actually more concerned about Bellatrix being good than her daughter.

“She’ll be fine.”Bellatrix motioned to the door.”Come on kid.”

“Don’t look so worried. Just remember even if Bella acts out she would never put Dora in any danger.”Narcissa expected them to get into trouble but nothing that would endanger Nymphadora.

Seeing them walk out the door Andromeda sighed.”You’re right. I just worry.”

“You’re a good mother of course you worry.”Narcissa said.

“Come back with me with while I get measured.”Andromeda didn’t want to be left alone with Maria. The woman asked too many personal questions.

“Sure I haven’t talked to Maria in a while.”Narcissa knew the woman was a huge gossip and was likely trying to get information out of Andromeda. Narcissa was planning on using that to help their cause.

“You are a life saver.”Andromeda would have to do something nice for Narcissa for helping her out. Leading her back to the room she left Maria in Andromeda prayed that Narcissa could handle the woman.

“Oh you brought Lady Malfoy with you.”Maira said as the two women walked into the room.

“That’s alright isn’t it?”Narcissa asked.

“Perfectly fine.”Maria assured her.”Now Mrs.Tonks please step on the platform.”

“It’s Lady Black not Mrs.Tonks.”Narcissa thought Maria was the perfect person to tell the public about Andromeda’s divorce. The store owner would make sure she told the story to make sure Andromeda looked like the victim in the marriage. That was because Maria wouldn’t want to make an enemy out of Narcissa who was one of her best customers.

Maira’s eyes widen in shock.”I apologize I didn’t know.”

“It’s not official yet but I can’t have my sister using the name of that worthless excuse for a man.”Narcissa told her.

“I was under the impression that you had a very happy marriage Lady Black.”Maria said as she held her measuring tape against Andromeda’s right arm.

Andromeda shook her head sadly ready to sell her story like Narcissa obviously wanted her to do.”I haven’t been happy for a while. I dare say I was never happy with Ted.”

Maria moved on to Andromeda’s right leg.“Is it rude to ask why you married him then?”

“Before we were married he treated me like a princess. He went out of his way to show me he cared. We made all kind of plans for the future. I was madly in love with him and when he proposed I thought it was the greatest day of my life.”Andromeda told her.

“Then once he tricked you into marrying him he made you work to support him while he spent more than you made causing you to take extra shift to cover his debts. Why I couldn’t believe it when myself and Bellatrix visited her home and the outside of the building and the landscaping were in a state of disrepair. The man has no job, doesn’t spend any time with daughter and he can’t even lift a wand to keep his home from falling apart.”Narcissa didn’t have to fake the anger saying those words brought.

“The outside of your house was in disrepair?”Maira asked in disbelief.

Andromeda turned her head away in embarrassment.”I was the one who did all the cleaning inside and outside of the home and I hadn’t had time to take care of the outside in a while.”

“It shouldn’t have been you doing any cleaning. It should have been that lazy useless excuse for a wizard. What did he actually do while you were killing yourself working long hours and taking care of a house and a child?”Narcissa hated that she and her sisters couldn’t punish Ted for the way he treated Andromeda.

“I don’t know.”Andromeda did know. Ted spent his time hanging out with his family and friends along with spending a lot of time shopping.

“Well based on all the expensive useless junk cluttering your home I would bet he was wasting his time spending your gold.”Narcissa turned to address a still wide eyed Maria.”Maria you wouldn’t believe all the overpriced knickknacks the man spent the family’s coin on. I went into little Dora’s room and the girl barely had any toys. That’s what kind of a man Ted is. He would rather spend gold on decorative plates then on things for his own daughter.”

“Merlin that’s horrible. Why did you stay with him so long?”Maria asked.

“I didn’t have anywhere to go or anyone to turn to. It wasn’t until Dumbledore encouraged me to reach out to my sisters that I finally had someone to help me. I was glad Dumbledore gave me the push to contact them because they took one look at my living conditions and offer to let me and Dora live with them at Malfoy Manor.”Andromeda made sure to mention it was Dumbledore who reunited the sisters. That would give anyone who heard the story proof they weren’t Death Eaters.

Maria measured Andromeda’s back next.“No offensive Lady Malfoy but will your husband allow your sister and her daughter to live in his family’s home?”

“It doesn’t matter if he would or not. Myself and my sister Bellatrix provided enough evidence against him and most of the Dark Lord’s followers that Dumbledore told me that Lucius will never breathe free air again for the rest of his life. Of course Bellatrix and myself testifying for the prosecution at his trial will probably be what guarantees the conviction.”Narcissa held back a smile when Maria’s head snapped towards her.

“You and Lady Lestrange are testifying against him at his trial?”Maria’s voice was laced with disbelief.

“It’s Lady Black she never took her husband’s family name.”Narcissa correct.”As to testifying it is my sister’s and my duty as law abiding citizens to do what we can to help convict the Dark Lord’s followers to prevent someone from coming in and taking the insane man’s place.”

“I see.”Maria mumbled as she wound up her tape measure.”I’m all done Lady Black. I’ll escort you and Lady Malfoy to a room to look over the catalogs.”

“Thank you.”Andromeda said as she stepped off the platform and followed Maria and Narcissa out of the room into an another one that had comfortable looking furniture and expensive decor.

Maria grabbed some books off one of the shelves in the room and set them on the coffee table in front of the couch.”I pulled ones for both adult witches and child witches.”

“Thank you.”Narcissa took a seat on the couch and picked up one of the books.

“Come back to the front when you are done.”Maria told them before leaving the room.

Andromeda took a seat next to Narcissa and picked up a different book.”I am looking forward to being able to dress like myself again and to having my daughter’s wardrobe reflect her station.”

“She is the next generation of the House of Black. She needs to look the part and no offense to you with her current wardrobe she does not.”Narcissa was choosing exactly what to say because she had no doubt that their conversation was being listened to.

Andromeda played along because she also knew they were being spied on.”I feel so ashamed that I haven’t been able to provide her with the life she deserves.”

“It wouldn’t be a problem if that slug of a husband of yours would actually hold down a job. You know that me and Bella never cared that Ted is mixed blood. Our hatred of him is due to the way he has treated you. If you were honestly happy with him we would still support you emotionally and financially but there was no way we were leaving you in the situation we found you in yesterday.”Narcissa was being truthful. If Andromeda wasn’t Hermione’s soulmate she and Bellatrix would have supported any relationship Andromeda had as long as she was treated well and was happy.   

“You, me and Bella never cared about that blood purity nonsense. As for Ted I truly did love him or I should say I loved who he pretended to be before we got married. Then once the vows were said and we sealed the ceremony with a kiss he completely changed.”The kiss at their wedding was the only kiss Andromeda shared with Ted. All the others were just false memories she planted in his mind.

“We should get the papers filed tomorrow. The sooner you cut ties with him the better.”Narcissa was being serious about that. She wanted Andromeda’s marriage to be legally over as soon as possible.

“Let’s focus on finding me and Dora new wardrobes for now and we will discuss all the serious stuff later after she goes to bed.”Andromeda suggested.

“You’re right let’s have some fun and worry about the issues we have to deal with later.”Narcissa didn’t want to ruin the good mood that was left over from speeding time with Hermione. Any more talk about Ted would definitely do that. Narcissa focused on the pages of the book in front of her. It was for girl’s children’s clothing and Narcissa was having a good time imagining Hermione in some of the outfits when she was older. Of course she wasn’t sure what Hermione would look like but Narcissa just imagined that she still looked like a baby with wild brown curly hair like Bellatrix and Andromeda’s. The brown coming from Jean and Denis who both had different shades of brown hair. Narcissa was almost positive that Hermione’s hair would be extremely curly based on the fact that she had given her two baths and after both baths the tuffs of hair on Hermione’s head formed tight curls after it was dry. Not that it mattered to Narcissa what Hermione would looked like. Narcissa would love her all the same. Even if in her opinion Hermione was the most beautiful baby that ever existed and would likely grow into a gorgeous woman but if she didn’t Narcissa wouldn’t care. Hermione was her soulmate every part of her body was made for Narcissa. It didn’t matter what it looked like.