Chapter Text
CHAPTER II
September 30, 1959
Blackwell Estate
Knightsbridge, London
When Hermione was nine days old, she had the displeasure of meeting her aunt. She knew how closely intertwined the Blacks were but she didn’t know they were this connected. She caught glimpses of Walburga – a lithe woman of an average stature – so different from her maniacal presence in Hermione’s own time. She was beautiful – that, Hermione can’t deny, if it weren’t for the ungraceful sneer she wore. She held a close resemblance to everyone in the room except Druella, thanks to the interbreeding.
Walburga sat next to her husband, who Hermione remembers as Sirius’ father, Orion Black. He was a quiet man who contradicted the Blacks’ well-known reputation of being deranged. He was cool, calm, and collected – a vast difference from his wife’s chaotic personality.
Hermione can hear the conversation between the adults as she was being held by her Mother who was seated in another chaise next to her Father, across from her aunt and uncle. She owes many thanks to the woman for not letting Walburga hold her.
“She looks quite delicate, Brother – like a tiny little flower. It’s a shame how you’ve done this four times and yet your wife has failed once again to give you a- ” Walburga commented in a derogatory manner.
Cygnus sent a sharp glare towards his sister, opening his mouth for a rebuttal until he was interrupted by his cousin.
“Walburga.” Orion warned. He looked at Walburga with a firm glance, commanding her to stop.
“What- ” Walburga replied.
“Do you wish to embarrass us any further?” He held her wrist with a strong grip.
“No, I only meant that- ”
Cygnus stood and confronted his sister. There was never a day where Walburga wasn’t cruel. The minute Druella was accepted into the family, her sister found joy in tormenting his wife, sinking her claws in every weakness she could find.
“I will not hear this. Not from you, Sister and most definitely not in my own home. You do not get to disrespect my wife like that.” Cygnus said.
“I’m merely stating the obvious- ” Walburga countered.
He stepped forward – eyes full of ire. He was not one to put his hands on witches. Their mother had taught him better than that. But, Merlin, was that woman testing his patience.
“Morgana, help me – if you were not as heavy with child as you are, you old cow, I’d snap your feeble little neck in half- ” He seethed. He felt his wife getting up to stand next to him – worrying of the coming events.
Walburga was in a state of shock, her brother had never once dared to say such a thing before. Orion merely sat down quietly next to her –embarrassment flooding his face.
“Cygnus!” Druella said behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder to calm him.
“Get out.” Cygnus said with an eerily cold voice full of seething hatred.
“Orion, are you not going to- ”
Orion had the decency to feel the shame for his wife’s behavior. When has Walburga ever behaved like a decent human being – perhaps that was a question only the gods have an answer to.
“I apologize for this, cousin. We’ll see ourselves out. You’ve embarrassed us enough tonight. Congratulations, again.” Orion apologized, holding his wife’s grip as if his life depended on it, half- dragging her out of the sitting room despite Walburga’s obvious dismay.
After a period of silence that lasted in what felt like hours, Cygnus turned to Druella. His face apologetic as a thousand unsaid apologies sat at the tip of his tongue.
“Drue, I- ”
“She’s right, Cygnus.” Druella would not look at him. She would not meet his eye as his wife fell deeper into despair – the constant reminder of her failures getting to her. She sat down and looked at the baby girl in her arms. She would not regret the existence of her daughter, of course she wouldn’t. But to fail at something all pureblood women were expected of was unexplainable and to hear it of Walburga of all people.
Cygnus walked towards her then kneeled at her feet so he may meet her eyes. He cradled her delicate face into his hands.
“No – No, Drue. Look at me. You and the girls are my life. I would not trade them for any sons even if Merlin decided to bestow me a dozen.” He vowed.
“I just wish I could have given you at least one- ”
“This is what the universe decided to grant us, Dear. And I’m certain it was you who told me that it is improper form to deny a gift.”
~ ~ ~
“Bella! Where are you going?”
Bella paused by the door, glancing over her shoulder, a playful smirk curling at her lips. Her hand lingered on the doorframe as she considered how much she wanted to tell Andromeda. It wasn’t like she was hiding anything truly secretive.
“It’s a secret.” Bella replied with a mischievous glint in her eye.
“You’re going to visit, Hermione, aren’t you?” Andromeda’s voice was tinged with curiosity, and Bella could tell she wasn’t going to let this go easily.
“Maybe,” Bella teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Do you promise not to tell?” She turned to face Andromeda fully now, her eyes sparkling with the thrill of her small rebellion.
“Only if you’d let me come with you.” Meda’s voice had that familiar pleading note to it, the one that made Bella laugh despite herself.
“Deal.” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, a pact made between sisters. Bella already knew it was going to be one of those mischievous, unforgettable nights.
“Stop.” Andromeda held up her hand suddenly, a serious look crossing her face. Bella stopped in her tracks, looking at her, confused.
“What?”
“Shh. Do you hear that?” Andromeda whispered.
Meda's eyes flicked toward the end of the hall. Bella strained her ears, trying to make out any sounds. She didn’t hear anything at first.
“Is that Hermione laughing?” Bella asked softly, and Bella could hear it now—faint childish coos and giggles echoing from the room down the hall.
“I think it is.” Bella grinned, stepping a little closer to the door. It was such a simple sound, but it was also a sound of comfort, of something innocent and pure.
“Do you reckon Mother or Father is there with her?” Meda squinted, looking at the door suspiciously. She was always the cautious one.
“Hmm. I don’t think so. If it were them, we’d hear their voices.”
Bella shook her head, certain now. Their parents always carried with them a certain presence in the house—one that would have been felt, even through the walls.
“True.” Andromeda nodded in agreement, though her curiosity was clearly getting the better of her.
“Should we still go in?” Meda asked, her voice hesitant now. She glanced at the door, as if waiting for something to happen.
“But what if they’re inside?”
There was a slight quiver in Andromeda’s voice as she shifted from one foot to the other. It was clear she wasn’t as sure of this as Bella.
“We can just say we heard her crying.” Bella’s voice was low, almost conspiratorial, her eyes glinting. She was always the one pushing for adventure, no matter the cost.
“I know, but still—” Meda’s voice faltered. There was hesitation in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced with something else.
“C’mon, Meda. We haven’t seen her in ages.” Bella pushed, her voice full of light-hearted persistence. The thought of not seeing their baby sister when she was so close was enough to make her impatient.
“What are you on about? We literally saw her three hours ago.” Meda shook her head, clearly trying to hold back her amusement.
“Exactly. Ages.” Bella’s grin only widened at Meda’s obvious annoyance.
“Fine. Only because I want to see her too.” Meda huffed, but the smile creeping onto her face betrayed her.
When the two lasses opened the door, they were met with quite a surprise. Their younger and quietest sister had already beat them to it. Narcissa stood on a small stool to reach Hermione’s bassinet, though still tip-toed to fully see the baby. Her doll nestled into her left side as she smiled at their youngest sister with childish wonder.
“Cissy?” Bella turned to Cissy, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
“What?”
Cissy’s face softened at the attention, though she still looked a little guilty at the fact that she was caught.
“I just wanted to visit her.”
Cissy’s voice was almost wistful.
“You gave us quite the scare, you know.”
Meda’s voice was mock-scolding, though there was a hint of concern there. She placed a hand on her hip as Bella had shut the door as quiet as she could behind them. The two eldest of the siblings now walked towards the bassinet.
“Yeah, we thought Mother and Father were in here.”
Bella’s voice was hushed now, a little quieter than usual, and she leaned in closer, her eyes darting nervously toward the door.
“Imagine, if they were.”
Bella rolled her eyes, but a small laugh escaped her lips as she imagined their parents walking in on them sneaking around. The consequences would be dire.
“I’d wager they’d make us kiss dessert goodbye for months.”
Meda’s voice was playful but deadly serious as she crossed her arms, her lips curling into a grin.
“I don’t understand how she’s that tiny.”
Cissy’s voice was full of awe, and her eyes never left Hermione, watching her tiny hands move.
“You were that tiny once. I remember when you were born. You were all screaming and red-faced.”
Bella smiled, lost in thought for a moment, remembering the chaos that had been Cissy’s birth. She was still a little bit of a screamer, contrasting her now quiet and gentle nature.
“I like Hermione better, she wasn’t as loud.”
Bella chuckled, a twinkle in her eye as she playfully nudged Meda.
“Hey!”
Cissy’s face flushed with mock outrage, and she turned on Bella, swatting her lightly on the arm.
“Stop it, you two!”
Andromeda’s voice grew sharp, cutting through the teasing. She couldn’t stand it when they got carried away, especially when Hermione was sleeping so soundly.
“Hello, Mione. Don’t mind those two. They’re too much like Aunt Wally. Especially Bella.”
Andromeda’s voice was soft as she leaned down to whisper to Hermione, her hand gently brushing over the baby’s hair.
“Hey! I am not!” Bella pulled back, mock-offended.
“Are too!” Meda grinned mischievously. She knew exactly how to get under Bella’s skin.
“Am not!” Bella’s voice was rising now, playful but firm.
“Are too—”
Meda was about to say more when—
“Girls.” Their mother’s voice cut through the room, calm but undeniably authoritative. The warning was clear.
“I thought I had Dolly put you three to bed. Now, you’re bothering your little sister. Seriously, girls. What is this behavior? Because I am most definitely not pleased.” Mother’s voice was stern, but Bella could hear the gentle smile behind it. She was clearly fond of seeing them act like this—together.
“Relax, Darling. I’m sure they just wanted to see their sister. Isn’t that right, girls?” Father’s voice was softer, more understanding. He had always been the more lenient one.
“We just wanted to say goodnight.” Meda’s voice was the sweetest it could be, as though trying to soothe their mother.
“Yeah, Mother.” Bella’s response was quick, though her eyes were still on Hermione, reluctant to leave her just yet.
“Alright. Go bid your sister a good night and off to bed with you three.” Mother’s tone softened. It wasn’t a suggestion; it was a command they all knew better than to ignore.
“Yes, Mother.” All three girls answered in unison, though it was clear they were loath to leave.
“I wish they’d stay like this forever.” Mother’s voice was quiet now, almost to herself as she watched them retreat toward the door.
“They will, Dru.” Father’s voice was calm, sure. “Bellatrix will take care of her sisters. They will have each other.”
~~~
Hermione’s first few years were – to say the least – tumultuous. The heavy realization that this was her new life now hit her a lot later than expected. Thus, the shock and the grief were a dangerous combination leading to her endless cries. Druella had fussed over her like there was no tomorrow and Cygnus had healers check on her constantly.
Her crying had also worried her sisters who insisted on visiting her persistently. They were as worse as Druella when fussing over her. To her eldest sister’s dismay, Hermione cried – perhaps, even more – when Bellatrix tried to hold her and comfort her. Seeing her sister’s face had triggered too many unpleasant memories and a cloud of guilt always hung over her when she saw her eldest sister’s confused and disappointed face.
She knows that it was quite irrational to hold it against Bellatrix, for this Bellatrix was nothing but a young girl of eight at the time of her birth – definitely haughty but in no way held an evil and villainous nature like the one she knew in her past. Druella – Mother – had consoled and reassured her sister that Hermione was but a small babe and will often cry but she will grow to love her as much as Meda and Cissy did. Bella was now all determination and became very adamant in making her littlest sister love her. The lass spent most of her days playing in her sister’s room, showing her collection of chocolate frog cards, and sometimes even reading to her.
Eventually, Hermione had grown comfortable around Bellatrix. She was well aware that the little girl that followed her about all day was not the mad henchwoman in Hermione’s time. Bella – her sister Bella was so very far from the shell of her future self. She was a caring sister – always so determined in putting a smile on their faces that she danced around like a fool when their parents were looking away just to cheer up a crying Narcissa, or when she snuck to the kitchens to give Andromeda dessert when their sister got in trouble for staying out in the gardens too late. In due time, she learned to differentiate Bellatrix Lestrange from her sister Bella. Bellatrix Lestrange was not Bella. Bellatrix Lestrange was a deranged megalomaniac who lost her mind after pledging to a diabolical cause. Her sister, Bella was so very different with her strong heart, determined spirit, and caring soul.
Andromeda was another story in itself. Out of her three sisters, she found herself most comfortable with her second-eldest sister. Despite the eerie resemblance between Andromeda and Bellatrix, she remembers Andromeda being on their side during the War. Andromeda spent as much time with her as Bellatrix did – often accompanying Bella whenever she visited the nursery to see Hermione. It surprises her a lot, watching them interact. They were so close that it had reminded her of a pair of red-headed twins in her last life. Andromeda adored her youngest sister no less than Bellatrix did. She brought Hermione flowers everyday after her daily visits to the estate’s gardens and read her numerous books of magical plants softly when she thought Hermione was sleeping.
However, the one that surprised her the most was Narcissa. She did not have much recollection of Narcissa Malfoy in her last life – only the memory of her witnessing Hermione’s torture in her drawing room and stories she heard from Harry. All she could ever make out of Narcissa Malfoy from those two sources was that she was not as deranged as Bellatrix Lestrange and had only cared for Draco. Cissy – as she was so fondly called by their sisters and parents – was a quiet child. When Hermione’s sisters visited, the only voices she could hear were Andromeda’s and Bellatrix’s. She’d always find Narcissa sitting in one of the chairs or playing with one of her dolls instead. However, when nightfall came, Hermione heard the soft pitter-patter of footsteps that she could recognize was her elder sister’s. Cissy – gentle and quiet Cissy – often snuck out of her bedroom after being tucked in, just to visit her youngest sister. During her elder sister’s nightly visits, she would just smile and quietly observe her youngest sister. Young Narcissa thought of her sister as a bonny living doll and she would bring a small stool to stand on to reach Hermione’s bassinet. She would look at Hermione with her blue eyes filled with wonder and adoration and give her a few kisses until finally bids her goodnight.