A less than pleasant meeting
Muggle London, near the Granger Residence
Arcturus's joy at the kids finding Bellatrix's soulmate was only dwarfed by her own. As such he did everything he could to set up a meeting for the two of them next sunday. It was no easy feat, let me tell you.
The first and foremost hurdle was Dumbledore, as he dismissed his claims outright and wasn't willing to entertain the idea for even a second. That was until Arcturus produced a book about soulmate laws and pointed out a passage. Said passage was basically about how the law supports Bella in this case.
Basically: You have the right to request a meeting with a potential soulmate, and IF said person accepts the meeting then no one can stop it from happening. That took care of the old fool.
McGonagall was a whole another issue. She never like Arcturus when he was attending and even after that. Thus the old witch tried to stop the meeting from happening because of the girl's studies and whatnot.
Which he took care of by reminding her that according to the Hogwarts Charter she has no say in this. Be it as Deputy Headmistress, House Head or Professor. It was a heated arguement nevertheless but a donation of new brooms for the quidditch team did the trick.
Fast forward to three days later and Arcturus received a letter from Helia in which her granddaughter detailed what the new addition to the family told her about their family. And asked him to keep this from Bella.
Which was no mean feat as he nearly blow up the house when he finished reading the letter.
Sinful placement?! Hateful sinner?! Slut?! Heretic?! And those are just the names the little girl told Lia. Who knows what she didn't?
Then there were her upbringing. If that word could be used at all. Leaving the baby her alone with just a nanny for a few hours is fine and dandy. But for a week straight? Unacceptable. So is leaving her alone without one for the same timefrime since she was five. Or beating her for accidental magic.
Those made his blood boil and magic quake with the desire to maim, destroy, kill and leave nothing behind.
And that is why he is disillusioned in front of their house. Oh, he won't do any of the above. That is a honour reserved for Bellatrix, after all. He is here to pick up the girl's belongings and transfer guardianship to Regulus and Barty.
While those two are already busy with their own child, but Hermione would only need them as guardians in name. Most of the time she would be with either Bellatrix or with her various new tutors. After all, the girl needs a proper introduction to wizarding culture and traditions. And anything else she would want to learn.
As he as musing to himself a car rounded the corner. Which then was soon parked in front of the Granger residence and two person exited it. They looked average in every and all way, the kind that you would loose sight in a crowd in seconds. Said people then took out a few bags of groceries from the backseats and then entered the house.
Arcturus waited a few minutes and then ended the charm hiding him and strolled up to the front door. As indifferent as he is towards muggles and their world, even he knows what a doorbell is and how to use it. Not long after he pressed it the door opened.
"Can I help you?" The woman, Jean Granger if he remembers correctly, asked with an unfriendly expression.
"I am here to talk about Hermione. May I come in?" Arcturus was completely unimpressed by the display of hostility. Even Lucius could put up a more intimidating expression.
"Sure." The woman nearly spat the word and opened the door wider.
Arcturus cleaned his shoes with a flick of his wand, out of habit rather than respect, and entered after her. Not missing the scowl she sported. He was then led into the kitchen where Mr. Granger was still putting away stuff.
"Henry. He is here to talk about Hermione." The woman said and sat down.
"Henry Granger. To what do we owe this visit Mister..?" He said as he put away the last item.
"Arcturus Black. But you may call me Lord Black. As for why I am here. It's simple really. I am going to pack up everything owned by Hermione and then leave. Meanwhile you will sign these papers." Saying so he threw said papers at them and turned to find Hermione's room.
"Oh, before I forget. If they aren't signed by the time I am back." And he flexed his magical power a little, which fried every electronics in the kitchen right away.
Finding the girl's room was easy. It was the only one with a halfway decent magical presence. The room itself was pretty simple. Half a dozen floor to ceiling bookshelves packed with books from every possible genre possible, as well as awards, medals, trophies and knick-knacks. There was also a rather large, but neatly organised desk with a chair, and a small but comfy looking bed. Then there was a dresser and nothing else.
He just waved his wand and everything shrunk down and flew into the bag he prepared. Hermione can later sort out what she wants to keep and what not. When he went back to the kitchen the Grangers were nowhere to be seen.
He didn't care as the papers were there and signed. He pocketed them and apparated away.
Next evening, Hogwarts, Gryffindor dorms
Hermione read through the letter again just to be sure she didn't read it wrong. But no matter how much she wished it to change or used the few spells she knew to make it change nothing happened. So she decided to read it again, and try and figure out what does it entails for her.
'Miss Hermione Crouch,
We, of the Department of Marriage and Lineages, are informing you in the changes of your guardianship.
As of yesterday 7:45 in the evening your former guardians, Henry and Jean Granger, has given up guardianship in favour of Bartemius and Regulus Crouch.
As per the relevant sections of law your surname has been changed and you are listed as a part of the nobility and member of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Crouch.
Please rest assured that any documents pertaining to you will be corrected withing seven work days.
Regards,
Matilda Munch'
Her parents giving up guardianship is nothing surprising, if a little strange in its timing. But who the heck is Bartemius and Regulus Crouch? And why would they adopt her?
It smelled suspiciously like Lia's meddling. Alas, it is already after curfew and she can't go and demand answers from her. The same can't be said about Harry, though. So she did just that.
She went and dragged her friend out of his room and sat him down in the common room. Where she had him read the letter and wait so he would spill the beans.
"Congratulations?" He risked. Which earned him a smack to his shoulder.
"What did you do?" Hermione hissed at him with a glare that McGonagall would be proud of.
"I did nothing. Lia did." Harry said while massaging his shoulder, she is much stronger than she looks."She wrote grandpa Arcturus what you told us about your parents and he took care of it. Now they can't hurt you again. And I refuse to apologies for that.
As for uncle Barty and Regulus, well, they are exactly that. My uncles. They have their own son, Marcus, he is three years old, if I remember correctly. And to be fair, you will only benefir from this change. Oh, and expect to be taken to Gringotts during the weekend."
"Sometimes I can't decide if being friends with you lot is a blessing or a curse." She said and shook her head.
"A blessing." Came the cheeky reply.
"What did you say?" Hermione asked with another glare.
"You heard me right. On another note. How do you feel about flying?"
"Do I really have to take that class?" She asked with a groan. Hermione hated high places with a passion, and doesn't really trust in her ability to stay on a stick going with sixty km/h.
"It's compulsory." Harry said with a smirk.
With a resigned sigh Hermione picked up her letter and went to sleep.
Crouch Family Manor
"It feels a little empty." Barty said as he observed the room Reg set up for Hermione.
"Because it is. For now I only put her stuff here, with the exception of the bed. That's new. When she comes here during winter break she can sort through them. I also don't know if she would want to keep the furniture itself or just the stuff inside." Regulus said as he left with his husband in tow.
"I see. I already spoke to a few tutors and they are willing to give lessons to her on the weekends. And Arcturus wrote that he already got everything for the ritual and is only missing the right time and the girl."
"No surprise there. Any news from Bella?" Reg asked absentmindedly as he remembered the effort it took to restrain and calm his cousin down.
"Accoding to Andy, Bellatrix is a bigger menace now than Cissy is with her christmas balls. They looked through thirty restarurant the last two days, and scoured half a dozen antic shop's for a gift." He said with a chuckle.