Soul Bound 7

“You don’t have to knock when you visit. The wards alert us when you or your sisters are here.”Jean dressed in her pajamas told Andromeda as she led her into the house. Andromeda felt a little bit guilty showing up so early and not giving Jean and Denis a chance to get ready for the day but she couldn’t wait any longer to see Hermione. Not after all the great things that happened the night before. She also showed up early so that she could beat her sisters to the house and get the first chance to hold Hermione. Andromeda couldn’t wait until they were at the point of when she could spend as many hours as she wanted at the house and didn’t have to be away from Hermione at all. That being something that would be happening very soon based on the events of the previous evening.

“Next time I will come right on in then.”Andromeda had no problem letting herself into the house.

“Hermione is with your sisters who are giving her a bath after an incident with a messy diaper. They are in Hermione’s bathroom if you want to join them.”Jean smiled when Andromeda immediately rushed up the stairs.

Andromeda made her way down the hall into Hermione’s bedroom noticing many new decorations she attributed to her sisters. Walking into the bathroom she caught sight of Narcissa and Bellatrix leaning over a tub giving Hermione a bath.”Have you two been here long?”

“Yes we have been here for a few hours.”Narcissa had felt bad about waking up Jean and Denis but she and Bellatrix couldn’t wait any longer.

“You woke everyone up just to visit?”Andromeda wasn’t feeling as guilty knowing that her sisters had gotten there a lot earlier than she did.

“Like you wouldn’t have come if you had the chance.”Bellatrix laughed when Hermione splashed Narcissa with water.

Narcissa smiled at the baby.”Very funny young lady. Now let’s get the rest of you clean.”

“Can I wash her hair?”Andromeda asked.

“The pink bottle is for her hair.”Bellatrix didn’t know what the muggle product was but Jean trusted it so she would as well.

“She has so little of it.”Narcissa ran her hand over the little bit of fuzz on top of Hermione’s head.

Andromeda rolled up her sleeves and knelt next to the tub. She took the top off the pink bottle, poured some of the liquid in her hand then rubbed it on Hermione’s head.“I predict it’s going to be curly like mine.”

“You mean like ours.”Bellatrix wouldn’t mind if Hermione had curly hair like her and Andromeda. They would be able to bond over teaching her how to take care of it.

“Regardless if her hair is curly or not she is going to be beautiful.”Narcissa predicted Hermione was going to be gorgeous when she was older.

“Oh course she is going to be beautiful. Look at her now. She is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.”Bellatrix didn’t doubt that Hermione would be good looking. 

Andromeda cupped some water in her hand and poured it over Hermione’s head.”She is going to have a long line of suitors after her for not only her titles but her looks as well.”

“That’s why we are going to go along with your idea and get jobs at Hogwarts so that we are there to keep them away.”Bellatrix said.

“And to protect Hermione as well.”Narcissa added.

“Of course we are going to protect Hermione.”Bellatrix thought that was a given.

“Another reason to be there is to keep Dumbledore away from her. That man would jump at the chance to get his hands on six pureblood families’ estates.”Andromeda was expecting Dumbledore to make a move on Hermione as soon as he found out who she was.

“It’s going to be very satisfying seeing his downfall.”Bellatrix was looking forward to seeing Dumbledore and the rest of the light side be defeated. Them and the Dark Lord and his followers as well.

“Bella pull the plug on the tub.”Narcissa reached behind herself and grabbed the towel sitting on the vanity. Picking Hermione up she wrapped the baby in the towel and carried her into her changing room laying her down on the changing table. Carefully she dried every inch of Hermione’s body by hand. Narcissa didn’t use magic because she wanted to do it herself.

Andromeda went through Hermione’s dresser pulling out a onesie.”I think in honor of the news I have to tell you that Hermione should wear this outfit today.”

“I am to assume that your exciting news has to do with Sirius then?”Narcissa figured it did based on the Black family crest on the front of the garment Andromeda was holding.

“It does but I want to wait for Jean and Denis to tell you.”Andromeda didn’t want the couple to miss out on the information.

“Cissa you aren’t putting her diaper on right.”Bellatrix told her sister.

“I am absolutely putting her diaper on right.”Narcissa was very experienced with putting on diapers because when she found out about Jean being pregnant Narcissa had gone to the muggle world where she purchased muggle baby supplies to include diapers so she could practice. She of course would never admit that to anybody.

Bellatrix pointed to the side of the diaper.“The sticky part isn’t tight enough.”

“Bella you put on one diaper. That doesn’t make you an expert.”Narcissa held her hand out to Andromeda. Once she had the onesie she gently put Hermione in it. Looking at their soulmate wearing their family crest made Narcissa smile.”She looks like a proper Black now.”

Andromeda swooped in and picked Hermione up before her sisters did. She secured the baby in her arms and rushed out of the room before they could stop her.”Come on you two let’s go talk to Jean and Denis.”

“Andy get back here with that baby!”Narcissa demanded as she raced after Andromeda.”It’s my turn to hold her.”

“Then it’s my turn after Cissa.”Bellatrix said as she entered the living room and took a seat on the couch next to Andromeda. She noticed Jean and Denis already in the room sitting on the love seat still in their pajamas holding mugs.

“It doesn’t matter who’s next you both have been here longer than I have. It’s my turn.”Andromeda wasn’t going to give up her chance to hold Hermione.

Jean chuckled.”When you three get to come over more often I fear that Hermione will never be put down.”

“I don’t care how big she gets I will always take the opportunity to carry her.”If Bellatrix could she would keep Hermione in her arms always.

“Speaking of being able to come over more often we have news.”Narcissa told the couple.”The Dark Lord was killed last night.”

“That’s wonderful.”Denis couldn’t ask for better news.

“How does this affect both sides?”Jean asked.

“Andy was going to tell us that.”Bellatrix said.

“As of now the Order is on stand bye to be called in to help round up any of the Dark Lord’s followers that are identified by the ones already caught. Something I think everyone here will be excited about is that Sirius has been arrested for the murder of Peter Pettigrew.”Andromeda smiled when Bellatrix laughed.

“The man is afraid of his own shadow. There is no way he killed anybody.”Bellatrix laughed harder when Hermione made loud gurgling noises.”See even Hermione thinks he’s pitiful.”

“Hopefully he gets convicted and loses access to the family estate.”Narcissa was happy that Sirius would be cut off from the family’s assets.

“It would be in our best interest that he be convicted because Kreacher told me that Sirius has a son. A son Sirius plans to move in with the mother into his house to live with him full time.”Andromeda had the elf looking into who the mother was.

“Not that I’m happy we were right but we expected that.”Narcissa said.

“Is there a way to secure Sirius’ conviction?”Denis didn’t want Sirius’ son to benefit from Hermione’s house.

“I don’t think we will have to do anything because Dumbledore is the one accusing him.”Andromeda didn’t think that Sirius was going to be found not guilty with Dumbledore being the one pointing the finger at him.

“I hate that man but he is powerful enough to put Sirius in Azkaban on just his word alone.”Bellatrix was just happy that Dumbledore’s corruption was working in their favor this time.

“How are we going to stop the boy from accessing the estate when he is old enough?”Jean asked.

“That is a problem because we don’t know if Sirius already filed the paperwork with the ministry and the goblins to give him access. Before I left his house I asked Kreacher to search for anything that would give us proof one way or another. He is also looking for the identity of the mother.”Andromeda told them.

“How is it that his house elf listens to you?”Denis thought elves only listened to their owners.

“Sirius gave him a command to do whatever a member of the Order tells him to do. It is because the command was so vague I can ask Kreacher to do anything. Even if it means working against Sirius. Something that he enjoys doing.”Andromeda was thankful that her cousin was so stupid.

“Kreacher is a good elf in a bad situation.”Bellatrix always felt horrible for Kreacher being stuck with Sirius’ family.

“Last night I told him that we have an official date on when we are going to take over and the poor creature cried. He was so happy and relieved he wouldn’t have to work for Sirius anymore.”Andromeda felt good that she could give Kreacher some hope.

“I’m still surprised that Sirius hasn’t called for more elves from the other properties.”Narcissa would have thought with how lazy Sirius was that he would have at least a dozen elves living with him to be at his beck and call day and night.

“Kreacher said that he doesn’t even visit the other properties. Something I think is because of the hatred of the rest of the family instilled in him by his mother and father.”Andromeda said.

“Based on what Sofia told us about him and his parents I think you are right. The stories about his mother alone make me wonder why the woman even had children she was so hateful to them. Walburga was also someone Sofia was worried about getting her hands on the estate if Cygnus died before she did.”Denis had shared Sofia’s concerns about Walburga.

“Walburga was a crazy old bat. I think the first thing she would have done if our father died before her would be to burn Black Family Manor down. She was always resentful that her family had to live at Grimmauld Place when we got to live in the manor.”Bellatrix could easily see her aunt destroying their family home.

“I think the only reason she had children was she wanted her child to be the heir.”Narcissa knew it wasn’t because she loved children.

“And those children are two inbred idiots with weak magic. The pair are more than enough proof of why blood purity is a bunch of nonsense.”Andromeda thought the brothers were the perfect example for why pureblood families shouldn’t only breed with other pureblood families.

“The Dark Lord used the excuse of Sirius being a blood traitor for his weak magic and lack of skill. Reggie he didn’t have an excuse for and simply used him as a slave. Never acknowledging his family name.”Bellatrix felt bad her cousin got caught up in the Dark Lord’s craziness. She liked Regulas a lot more than Sirius and Bellatrix felt the younger Black brother wasn’t cut out for being a member of the Dark Lord’s ranks.

“Then the Dark Lord killed him when Reggie displeased him one to many times.”It was hard for Narcissa to keep her composure when she witnessed the Dark Lord kill her cousin.

“It’s Walburga’s fault he is dead. She all but shoved him into the Dark Lord’s arms. Hoping he would make a name for himself and give the family more influence.”Bellatrix said.

“What was the reaction from his followers after finding out about his death?”Jean asked.

“A bunch of the morons actually came to Malfoy Manor after learning the news.”Bellatrix still couldn’t believe anyone could be so stupid.

“They actually went back to the Dark Lord’s headquarters after the man was killed and a large number of his followers were arrested?”Andromeda wouldn’t have even considered that as an option if she was them.

Narcissa nodded.”They came to figure out what they should do now that he is dead. The only thing they came up with was Bella and I emptying the Lestrange and Malfoy vaults to give them all the gold.”

“Something that I vetoed immediately to which I was threatened for and then after making my own threats they all left. We both expect them to attack us in hopes of being able to force us to give them the gold but Cissa modified the wards so no one except for myself, Cissa, Andy and Lucius can get past them. Lucius is only allowed because he is the Malfoy Head of household.”Bellatrix wished that they could keep Lucius out as well but that wouldn’t happen until Hermione took over the estate.

“Was he and your husband arrested like we wanted?”Denis asked.

“Yes the both of them and Rodolphus’ brother were arrested by Dumbledore and Moody at the Potter’s house. The good news is that they attacked Augusta Longbottom before they went to the Potters and left her alive. She identified all three of them as her attackers. So even if they have no evidence they did anything at the Potter’s Augusta will be able to give them enough proof to put them in Azkaban for a long time.”Andromeda told him.

“That is more great news then.”Jean was happy that the two men were going to be put in prison. That did bring up another question.”Did you find out anything about Lucius’ son?”

Narcissa smiled.”Lucius never filed the paperwork to give him access to the estate. We found the partially filled out forms in his desk.”

“Thank Merlin.”Andromeda had been worried about that.

“We are still going to transfer all the gold and valuables into Hermione’s vault just in case the boy figures out a way to gain access somehow.”Bellatrix didn’t want to take any chances.

“It’s to bad we can’t do that with the Black vault.”Denis would like his daughter’s inheritance to be protected until she was able to claim it.

“If he had only reinstated Andy we could have.”Bellatrix said.

“Speaking of Andy. It’s my turn to hold Hermione.”Narcissa had waited long enough.

“She is almost asleep I don’t want to move her.”Andromeda didn’t want to give up the baby.

Narcissa stood from her seat and made her way over to the couch standing above her sister. Looking at Hermione Narcissa saw the sleepy look on her face.”Then let me take her now before she falls asleep.”

“Fine.”Andromeda was only giving in because she didn’t want to fight in front of Hermione’s parents.

“Come here sweetheart.”Narcissa held her arms out and carefully cradled Hermione to her chest when Andromeda handed her to Narcissa. Making her way back to the other side of the couch she retook her seat next to Bellatrix. Narcissa made sure Hermione was properly swaddled and her blanket tucked around her before she leaned back to get comfortable expecting to be stuck in the same position for quite some time while Hermione slept.

“She is so cute.”Bellatrix couldn’t get over how perfect Hermione was. She usually wasn’t a fan of babies but she was totally memorized by Hermione.

“You mentioned Augusta. Did her grandson make it through the night?”Narcissa asked.

“Yes, his parents had taken him to visit a friend and Augusta was at the manor by herself. They actually arrived home about a half hour after the brothers and Lucas left.”Andromeda thought that Frank and Alice had been blessed by Fate himself for just missing what she was sure would have been a painful death for not only them but for their son as well.

“That’s good to hear. We heard that Harry lived as well.”Bellatrix liked the Longbottom family. She was actually friends with Alice and Frank at Hogwarts.

“With Sirius being his godfather I don’t know where they are going to put him.”Andromeda said.

“Lily was a muggleborn. Maybe she has some family that could take him in.”Bellatrix thought it would be fitting for Harry to be raised by muggles.

“That would have upset James a lot because for all of his love for his wife he was very anti muggle.”Narcissa had heard James’ many rants about how inferior muggle society was to magical society while they were at school.

“He was a hateful bigot you mean. He even looked down on half bloods. Which is silly because he may have been a pureblood but he wasn’t one of the Sacred 28. In fact his family was a laughing stock amongst the 28.”Andromeda didn’t understand where James got his arrogance from.

“It doesn’t matter what he believed anymore. The Dark lord took care of him and his son won’t get anywhere near Hermione.”Bellatrix wouldn’t allow it.

“Both Bella and myself think that we should keep an eye on Harry. The prophesy said that Harry was going to be the one to kill the Dark Lord. As we know the man isn’t dead the prophesy may not have been fulfilled.”Narcissa told them.

“It would be helpful if we could get our hands on the prophesy.”Jean thought they would be able to figure it out if they had the complete prophecy.

“When things settle down I’m going to work on getting it.”Bellatrix wanted to wait until the spotlight was off of her before she acted.

“When do you think the Order is going to call on you for questioning?”Denis asked.

“We figure that they will show up at the manor later today or tomorrow. After they have found out from enough of the people arrested where the Dark Lord held his meetings.”Narcissa wasn’t worried about the Order coming. She had nothing to hide and would be able to prove her innocence if questioned under a truth potion. A truth potion that she and her sisters were immune to. It was something Sofia worked with them on while she was still alive. That and most poisons they were immune to as well.

“I think that we will be treated more as witnesses than we will be suspects. Especially when all the Dark Lord’s followers tell them that we were weak and did nothing for the cause. I’m sure my husband will happily tell whoever will listen how useless I was and how he was the one in charge in our marriage. He would do anything to save face.”Bellatrix like Narcissa wasn’t worried about being questioned.

“Lucius will have nothing good to say about me and will probably be offended if they even suggest I was a Death Eater.”Lucius would never give Narcissa any kind of credit for anything. Not that Narcissa let Lucius know the extent of any of her skills. The man didn’t even know about her talent with mind magic or that he had been manipulated since their wedding night.

“The fact that neither of you were given the Dark Mark will help your case.”Andromeda thought it was funny that her sisters were so overlooked. When in realty they probably could each individually win a duel against the Dark Lord himself.

“There is no way I am marking my skin. Especially to give someone some type of ownership of my body.”Narcissa was never going going to get a tattoo. She put too much time and effort on keeping her skin flawless to want to cover it with drawings.

“I’m not against tattoos but I want to wait until Hermione is older and can give me her opinion on them. I would hate to get one and have her think it was unattractive.”Bellatrix was confused by the blush that adorned Denis’ cheeks.”Are you alright Denis?”

“Yes honey are you alright?”Jean smiled brightly when her husband’s cheeks got redder.

“I’m fine.”Denis told her.

“Are you sure because your cheeks are very red?”Andromeda had a feeling Denis had some type of tattoo and she was going to make him admit it.

“Why would talking about tattoos make Denis blush?”Narcissa asked in confusion. 

Bellatrix knew why.”You sly dog you. You have a tattoo.”

“Go on Denis show them your tattoo.”Jean was loving how uncomfortable her husband looked.

“You know very well it would be extremely inappropriate for me to show them my tattoo.”Denis had only showed his tattoo artist, his three college friends, his doctor and Jean his tattoo.

“That means you got it somewhere naughty.”Bellatrix couldn’t imagine a man as even mannered as Denis getting a risky tattoo.

“You have to tell us or we will come up with our own conclusions and Bella will think of the most outrageous things. Then she will share her thoughts out loud.”Andromeda did not want to listen to her sister’s crazy guesses.

Denis weighed his options deciding it was better to tell them than let them come to their own conclusions.”Fine. I have a brown haired pin up girl riding a bomb tattooed on my left butt cheek.”

“Two questions. What is a bomb and what is a pinup girl?”Narcissa had never heard of either of those things.

“A bomb is a weapon muggles use to blow things up. They range from very small ones to ones big enough that they can disintegrate entire cities.”Jean explained.

“How do I get my hands on some of these bombs?”Bellatrix was very interested in a device that could destroy things.

“Depending on the size you can buy them at stores. Though the bigger ones are against the law to own.”Denis had a feeling he was going to be taking a trip to buy explosives with Bellatrix in the near future.

“And what is a pin up girl?”Narcissa made note to pay extra attention to Bellatrix’s visits to the muggle world now that her sister knew what bombs were.

“Let me get a picture for you. It’s easier to show you than explain.”Jean set her mug on the side table, stood from her seat and made her way out of the room.

“What made you get a tattoo in such a place?”Narcissa asked.

Denis rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.”I had just graduated from college. Which is a muggle school that people go to after regular school and had been accepted into the same dental school as Jean. My friends decided to treat me to a night on the town to celebrate. We started drinking before we hit the first bar and got so drunk that I remember nothing after getting kicked out of the third bar we visited. The next morning I woke up in the bell tower on campus wearing nothing but my underwear and one sock with a very bad head ache. I somehow made it home unseen where Jean was making breakfast. She took one look at me and started laughing. It wasn’t until I took a bath that I noticed the tattoo.”

“So you don’t remember getting the tattoo?”Bellatrix was now seeing Denis in a new light. Maybe he wasn’t as mild mannered as she thought if he did things like get tattooed while black out drunk.

Dennis shook his head.”Even my friends were confused by it. We all woke up in different places so we weren’t even sure if any of them were with me when I got it.”

“That’s epic.”Andromeda said.

“Here we go.”Jean held up a magazine that had a picture of a big breasted women wearing skimpy muggle clothing riding on some type of silver object. Jean pointed to the object.”That’s a bomb. It’s not exactly like the tattoo Denis has but it’s the same theme.”

”I’ll say it again. Denis you sly dog you.”Bellatrix could see the appeal of the woman in the picture. It wasn’t something she found attractive but she could see how others did. 

“Is this a common outfit for muggles?”Narcissa asked.

“No it’s an image that became popular for soldiers during the last big war the muggle world had. They used variations of the image to paint on their equipment and hung the photos up to have something attractive to look at.”Jean explained.

“That’s good because I don’t think I could handle seeing someone dressed like that if I were to be out in public with other muggles.”Andromeda wouldn’t be able to stop herself from staring at that much skin on display.

“Muggles both men and women wear outfits that show off a lot more skin than that in public.”Denis wasn’t one to dress that way but he had seen others showing off their bodies.

“Why would they do that?”Bellatrix couldn’t think of a reason to dress in skimpy outfits.

“Muggle society revolves around sex. They value beauty and fit bodies more than anything. It wouldn’t matter if you were the smartest person in the word if you weren’t attractive you wouldn’t be as respected as the most beautiful person in the world. Even if that person couldn’t read or write. Most of our advertisements are all based on using sex to sell the product. Some in ways that are suggestive with couples groping each other and kissing.”Jean wasn’t impressed with the muggles obsession with sex because her daughter had to grow up in that environment.

“I saw an advertisement for a drink that had a naked woman in the bath selling it.”Denis like Jean didn’t approve of the muggle’s obsession.

“That’s disgusting.”Narcissa wondered how she could protect Hermione from such an influence.

“We value status above looks. Not that we don’t appreciate beauty but the magical world is focused on what role you have in the magical society. Purebloods unfortunately are the most respected.”Andromeda hoped that with Hermione’s help the sisters could change that.

“It’s all rubbish if you ask me. If we didn’t have to deal with the prophecies I would say all of us just move somewhere remote and raise Hermione away from either society. I know we can’t do it but it would be nice if we could.”Bellatrix wouldn’t even bother with Hermione going to Hogwarts. She and her sisters could teach the girl all she needed to know. Probably a lot more than Hermione would learn at school.

“You’re right it would be nice.”Narcissa would love to live on a remote estate with no-one bothering them.

Denis looked at his watch.”It seems the stores are now open. Would the three of you be willing to look after Hermione so Jean and I can go buy some groceries?”

“Of course.”Andromeda was pleased that the couple trusted them enough to leave them alone with Hermione.

“She ate before her bath so she shouldn’t be hungry. If she is you can make one of the bottles in the fridge.”Jean told them.

“I remember how.”Bellatrix made sure she understood exactly how to heat up the milk for Hermione when Jean taught them earlier.

“I’ll help her to make sure we get it right.”Narcissa had paid close attention when Jean had taught them how to use the muggle gadgets that morning.

“Good then we will go get ready for the day and be off.”Denis grabbed his mug and made his way over to Hermione smiling when he saw her sleeping soundly.”I will miss you my baby girl.”

“Be good for your soulmates.”Jean said as she to looked at Hermione. She was confident the sisters would have no problems watching Hermione while they were gone.

Bellatrix watched them leave the room.”We have to do a good job watching Hermione or they will never let us do it again.”

“We will be fine. You two know how to heat up the milk and all three of us know how to change her diaper and give her a bath if she needs one.”Andromeda wasn’t worried.

“Were you able to find any books in the library?”Narcissa asked Bellatrix.

“No I didn’t even find any picture books. Which is odd because I doubt half the Malfoy line could read at all.”Bellatrix was frustrated she couldn’t find the books.

“What books?”Andromeda hadn’t been told about any books.

“I wanted to get copies of our favorite books as children so I could read them to Hermione.”Bellatrix told her.

“I didn’t even think of that. Hopefully the Order will have another meeting at Sirius’ house. If they do I can ask Kreacher to get them for me.”Andromeda knew the elf would be more than happy to help her.

“Do you think they will use it after he has been accused of killing another member?”Narcissa wouldn’t if she was in charge.

Andromeda shrugged.”Who knows with those idiots.”

“True they will probably use the property long after Sirius is put in Azkaban. That is until Hermione revokes all their access.”Bellatrix said her sisters both murmuring their agreements. Bellatrix leaned over and watch Hermione sleep. Letting the silence of the room flow over her Bellatrix wanted to savor the moment of calm before the storm. After she and Narcissa left the Granger’s home they were going to be thrust into the spotlight. There was a good chance that their every move was going to be watched for at least a few weeks. Likely until the trials were over. That meant they would have to be careful visiting Hermione. It wouldn’t be safe for anyone to find out about her yet. Not when she was so helpless. She wouldn’t be helpless for long though. Bellatrix and her sisters were going to begin Hermione’s magical training as soon as she showed her first signs of having magic. That way if for some unfathomable reason the sisters weren’t there to protect her Hermione could protect herself. Bellatrix would of course do all she could to make sure she never had to but it was better to be safe then sorry.