7
“It’s good to be home.”Andromeda said as she stepped out of the fire place into the Black family manor library. She grunted when before she could even look around properly a body slammed into her and she found herself with a person’s arms around her spinning her in the air. Andromeda began to fight off her attacker but stopped when she smelt Bellatrix’s signature perfume. The perfume her sister started wearing after Andromeda had given her her first bottle as a Christmas present. Smelling it made her eyes filled with tears and Andromeda did nothing to hold back the sobs that came with finally being able to hug her sister after so may years apart. When Bellatrix put on her feet and tightened her hold Andromeda sobbed harder.
“It’s alright Andy we are together now and nothing or no-one can keep us apart. I won’t let it happen again.”Bellatrix promised.
“We love you Andy.”Narcissa put her hand on Andromeda’s shoulder.”And now that we have removed all the obstacles we can be together. Just like we were always meant to be.”
“I missed you both so much.”Andromeda stepped out of Bellatrix’s arm, pulled a handkerchief out of her robes and used it to clean up her face.
Bellatrix noticed that the handkerchief was high quality and had Andromeda’s initials on it.“Carrying monogramed hankies are we? Why that isn’t something I would expect the wife of a half blood that works as a healer to be able to afford.”
“Please I am more wealthy than any pureblood house in Britain and even if I wasn’t these were a gift from Hermione’s mother who insisted that I dress and act like a woman of my station.”Andromeda had overhauled her entire wardrobe after she received Hermione’s dowry. Most people thought that the change to her look was part of her dealing with her grief. She let people think that Ted left her quite a bit of money to explain how she could afford things.
“Why are you afraid of Hermione’s mother?”Bellatrix was dying to know how a muggle woman could scare someone with as strong of magic as Andromeda had.
“Let’s sit down first before we start our discussion.”Narcissa suggested.
“Can I hug you Cissa?”Andromeda knew Narcissa was somewhat uncomfortable with being touched so she wanted to ask before she did it.
Narcissa was taken aback by the question. No one ever asked if they could touch her. She was touched that Andromeda took her feelings into consideration instead of just hugging her.”I would like that very much.”
“Come here then.”Andromeda held her arms open.
“I missed you so much Andy.”Narcissa happily fell into her sister’s arms. She discretely lifted her hand over her sister’s back to wipe the tears that started to fall.
Although she would prefer to hold her sister longer Andromeda let Narcissa go before it got uncomfortable for her.”You both are right we having nothing in the way of being together and we will never let anything or anyone come between us again.”
“No we won’t.”Narcissa was never going to go back to be a passive member in her life now that she had a chance to make her own decisions and could help her sisters.
“You’ve hugged, now come sit down and tell us why a muggle of all people scares you.”Bellatrix desperately wanted to know.
Andromeda took a seat on the couch next to Bellatrix with Narcissa sitting in one of the arm chairs.”I have never met anyone muggle or magical as terrifying as that woman.”
“She is just a muggle how scary could she be?”Bellatrix asked.
“Actually before you tell us about how frightening the woman is can you tell us what role not only her mother plays in the muggle world but Hermione as well. We figured based on the letters we received from you and her that she is some type of royal.”Narcissa was positive that Hermione was a royal.
“You are right Hermione is a royal. She is the muggle crown princess of Yalloway.”Andromeda was unsurprised by the looks of shocks she was getting from her sisters.
“Yalloway as in the country with the second biggest magical community in the world?”Bellatrix knew all about the country of Yalloway. Not only was it known for its thriving magical community the Dark Lord had been trying to figure out a way to get them to pledge themselves to his cause. His plan for the future was once he won Britain to conquer them next.
“Yes that Yalloway and Hermione’s mother the queen knows all about them as the magical government works quite closely with her. It’s one of the reasons that the magical community is so large because they get a lot of support from the monarchy.”Andromeda told them.
“How did that come about? I mean in this country we do all we can to stay away from muggles.”Narcissa couldn’t think of a reason why anyone magical would expose themselves to muggles.
“The existence of magic had been a secret passed down from monarch to monarch since it was discovered to exist about a century and a half ago. Apparently one of Hermione’s relatives was traveling through the country when her carriage was attacked. She was rescued by a group of magic users. One of whom she married. Hermione has had many witches and wizard ancestors that came before her. Hermione is the first one to be in line to be the ruling monarch however.”Andromeda explained.
“So Hermione isn’t really a muggle born?”Narcissa asked.
“No she is not. The magic doesn’t touch everyone in her family and it has skipped the two generations before her but she has magic in her blood from a Yalloway pureblood family line.”Andromeda told them.
“Merlin. Could you imagine the reaction of everyone if they found out not only was Potter’s token muggleborn not really a muggleborn but in reality is a muggle royal who will one day run a country that has a bigger magical population than Britain that she and the muggle government already have a positive relationship with.”Bellatrix thought if he found out the Dark Lord would try to recruit her.
“What I don’t understand is how has no one come across that information.”Narcissa would have thought it would have been revealed right away.
Andromeda shrugged.”We don’t know. Hermione is very well hidden in the muggle world but they didn’t do much to hide her from the magical world because they didn’t know she had magic. If they had then she would have been placed with magic users as her bodyguards not muggles.”
“That brings up yet another thing I want to know about. What happened to Hermione that led to her going into hiding in a foreign country?”Bellatrix wanted to know what was bad enough that Hermione was being kept away from her family.
“Hermione doesn’t ever tell people about this but she gave me permission to tell you two.”Andromeda didn’t like talking about it either but rather her being the one to tell her sisters than Hermione having to do it.”When Hermione was 5 a group of terrorist with the philosophy that a woman was not fit to rule their country kidnapped her and held her hostage to force the queen to appoint the man they wanted to be king.”
“She was hurt badly wasn’t she?”Narcissa concluded.
“Beyond badly. They had her for two weeks where they did things I don't like thinking about and would rather not say out loud. However one of the most important things you should know is that at one point they cut off most of her leg and sent it to her mother as proof they would hurt Hermione.”Andromeda flinched when Bellatrix jumped up from her seat.
“They what?!!”Bellatrix roared. She was already going for her wand fully intending on torturing the perpetrators to death.
“She is alright now Bella. It took a long time for her to even begin to heal but now she is a functioning member of society. The only real noticeable effect the time spent in captivity is the numerous scars that cover her body and the fact that one of her legs is a prosthetic.”Andromeda seeing her sister was not calming down tried to reassure her.”Plus the people who did it are all dead. Hermione’s mother made them suffer.”
Bellatrix took a death breath to calm herself. If the people responsible were dead there wasn’t much she could do to avenge Hermione.“I want copies of the pictures.”
“I will make you copies.”Andromeda kept the pictures in her office because she liked seeing the people who hurt Hermione’s suffering.
“I’m surprised to hear Hermione has a prosthetic. I have never heard anyone mention it nor have I seen signs of her only having one leg.”Narcissa would have thought it would be well known as such things were rare in the magical world.
“She has always had the highest quality ones since the incident and I don’t know about the other ones she used growing up but the one she has now looks very realistic. If I didn’t know it was fake I would think it was real. That and it uses state of the art muggle technology that makes it react just like it was a part of her body.”Andromeda was in awe of the limb every time she saw it.
“Are the punishments the reason you are afraid of her mother?”Bellatrix asked getting back to the original topic.
“Those punishments are some of the mild ones she has been involved with. It’s well known by all that if you are a threat to the monarchy or the country they rule that the queen will not hold back on you. People have been known to go missing if they oppose her. Some of those being very important people in the muggle world. Then there is the fact that she is a huge fan of using mid evil punishments. Many times there have been big events in front of the palace that feature people being brutally and gruesomely punished. I have been to one and watching it made me ill. The people of the country love their queen but everyone else fears her just as much as I do. Her monikor is the Bloody Queen.”Andromeda wasn’t ashamed of fearing the queen. She had many good reasons too.
“Well I can’t wait to meet her.”Bellatrix definitely wanted to talk to someone who held events to celebrate punishing people in the public. That and she wanted to know more about these mid evil punishments that could make Andromeda sick. Bellatrix bet she could learn a thing or two from the Bloody Queen.
“Is Hermione like her mother?”Narcissa asked.
“Hermione is a little less likely to kill someone but she is a big fan of punishing people. I think the difference between her and her mother is Hermione feels it is worse to live with the experience of the punishment than to be killed. She will kill someone if she has to and not feel bad about it like with Sirius but she doesn’t usually like to. With this war she wants very little death on our hands because she knows if we can take over as peacefully as possible that we will get more support than if we just formed an army and eliminated everything in our way.”Andromeda was of the same thought as Hermione on how to handle their take over.
“It makes sense.”Bellatrix agreed the public would give them more support if they didn’t take a militant stance.”Speaking of killing Sirius we need to talk about the mission the Dark Lord gave me.”
“Hermione and I were talking about it and she came up with a plan I wanted to run by the both of you.”Andromeda said.
“Hermione is the brains behind this operation isn’t she?”Bellatrix noticed that all that had happened so far had mostly been Hermione’s ideas.
“She has been training her whole life to run one of the wealthiest, most targeted countries in the world. It’s only natural for her to take the lead in this situation.”Andromeda happily let Hermione be in charge of planning things.
“That’s a good point.”Narcissa thought that someone with that pedigree was worthy enough to follow.”What is her plan?”
“We are planning on going to Gringotts on Saturday to deal with getting everything in order for her to take the title and give you both access to the vault.”Andromeda told them.
“Thank Merlin because I really want to buy some stuff for this manor.”Bellatrix had the elves clear an area big enough to put an official sized quidditch pitch and needed the money to buy the various things needed to complete it. Plus she was planning on buying new equipment and having the seamstress Hermione set her up with make custom uniforms for her, Narcissa, Hermione, Andromeda and Nymphadora. That was a meeting that was happening that afternoon.”Before I forget can you please have Hermione summon one of the elves and tell them to let Narcissa and I order them around. They only do the basic things I tell them to do.”
“We are going to be stopping by Sirius’ house this weekend so we will talk to Kreecher. I’m sure he will be overjoyed to have permission to do something for the three of us as Sirius always treated him badly. When he saw me again he wept he was so happy. Then after the bond with Hermione and her becoming a Black his whole personality changed. He still treats the members of the Order badly because he considered them Sirius’ friends but he goes out of his way for Hermione, myself and Dora.”Once Andromeda was of her own mind she had been just as overjoyed to see Kreecher as he was to see her. She and her sisters always been nice to him and treat him kindly.
“I’m surprised Kreecher is still alive. I would have thought Sirius would have killed him years ago.”Narcissa never approved of house elves being mistreated. Not only was it cruel but it wasn’t smart because house elves had access to every part of it’s owner’s house and usually overheard all their conversations. If they were ever freed they would be able to tell the world all your secrets.
“He is the only one left there. Sirius never called for any more. Even when he made it the Order’s headquarter he just left all the cleaning and house chores to Molly Weasley.”Andromeda told them.
“He made a Black family property the Order’s headquarter?!”Bellatrix couldn’t believe that her cousin would be so brazen. Making her way over to the drink’s cabinet Bellatrix poured herself a drink.”Anyone want one?”
“Bella it isn’t even lunch time yet.”Narcissa reminded her.
“I have to deal with a seamstress later I need some liquid courage.”Bellatrix may have been looking forward to having a new wardrobe but she wasn’t looking forward to being poked and prodded to get it.”Andy you want one?”
Andromeda shook her head.”I’m good.”
“Suit yourself.”Bellatrix took her drink and sat back down next to Andromeda.
“I’m glad you brought up the seamstress because I wanted to ask for your permission Andy to use the seamstress to get myself a new wardrobe?”Narcissa asked.”Everything I wear Lucius personally picked out and I would like to finally have a chance to make my own choices concerning my looks.”
“Of course Cissa. You can get whatever you want and once you have access to the vault you won’t have to ask anybody but Bella if you can buy something because it belongs to her.”Andromeda would happily let her sister get some new clothes.
“I’ve also decided I’m going to stop using the potion to dye my hair white.”Making her hair the same color as all the Malfoy family sported was a condition of Narcissa’s marriage. Now that the bond was broken she was going to proudly sport her natural blond hair with the signature black streak that showed she was a member of the Black family.
“I have missed your black streak.”Bellatrix always thought Narcissa looked silly with her hair matching Lucius and Draco’s.
“With your natural hair back you will look less like you are in a cult.”Andromeda had thought the pictures of the Malfoy family she had seen looked like recruiting posters for a cult.
“I may even get it cut.”Narcissa had long hair all her life but had always wanted something shorter.
“I’ll get you an appointment with the woman who does my hair. She was very helpful when Hermione and I were coming up with the creme we sent to you Bella. It was originally for my hair as I had let it get so out of control while I was under the curse.”Andromeda had to cut off a large amount of her hair because it was to far gone to save. The creme was made out of necessity because of all the damage Andromeda’s hair had.
“That creme worked miracles.”Bellatrix’s hair had never looked so good.”Actually everything you sent worked miracles.”
“I can’t even tell you how mad I was when Hermione showed me the picture of you when you were seen after your release. She had to physically restrain me to stop me from going after the Dark Lord.”Andromeda told her.
“Why did Hermione take such an interest in us? I mean she is going to rule her own muggle country that has one of the largest magical communities in the world. Why is she even bothering with us let alone what’s going on in Britain?”Narcissa couldn’t figure that part out.
“I spoke to Hermione’s mother about what happened to Hermione after she was rescued as Hermione doesn’t talk about it at all. My wife has literally never mentioned her time before Hogwarts to me. The only reason I know about the kidnapping is because before the first time we made love she told me about her prosthetic so I wouldn’t be surprised. Even then she only skimmed over the details. It was her mother that gave me all the details and I don’t even think she knows all of them.”It hurt Andromeda that Hermione wouldn’t open up to her about something that impacted her life so much.
“What does that have to do with us?”Bellatrix asked.
“After Hermione was rescued she refused to speak for almost a year. Not one word to anyone. She barely paid attention to the world around her and would only eat and take care of her psychical health when forced to. She flat out refused to be fitted for a prosthetic. Hermione’s mother told me that Hermione was seen by all the best doctors and they all agreed that whatever happened to Hermione fractured her mind. In doing so Hermione had to learn how to be a human being again. One of the side effects of that is she becomes fixated on things and somehow she became fixated on us. I don’t think she is as bad as you were when you were under the curse Bella but it was enough that once she figured out that we were being abused it shaped all her decisions going forward.”Andromeda explained.
“That makes sense. Although I feel horrible for the girl.”Bellatrix didn’t like hearing that Hermione went through something so traumatic.
“Speaking of her being a girl. What are you thinking Andy? Hermione may have used a time tuner but she is still a Hogwarts student. Now learning about her fixation on us. How could you take advantage of the poor girl as it’s obvious that she doesn’t actually love you she is as you just said fixated on you.”Narcissa flinched when Andromeda’s wand was suddenly pointed in her face.
“Hermione does love me and I will kill anyone who says other wise.”Andromeda wouldn’t stand for anyone questioning Hermione’s love for her.
Bellatrix jumped up and grabbed Andromeda around the middle and pulled her back to sit on the couch with her.”Now, now no need to pull wands. Cissa wasn’t trying to insult you she was just asking a valid question. You said that Hermione had a fractured mind that fixated on us. Is her love for you a part of that?”
“I have seen inside Hermione’s mind and know that her love for me is completely genuine. It actually surprised Hermione that she could love anyone because she had never felt the emotion towards anyone but her mother and father. She doesn’t even love her friends. The only true emotions she can feel towards people is tolerance and hate. She doesn’t form emotional connections with anyone. As a matter of fact when we first started spending time together I mostly annoyed her and she didn’t like interacting much with me.”Andromeda told them.
”Hermione thought you were annoying?!!”Bellatrix laughed.
“She thought I was a whiny fool who was going to hinder her plans to free both you and Narcissa. I don’t know how I did it but eventually she fell in love with me.”Andromeda didn’t know exactly what changed Hermione’s mind about her but she was happy she did.
“I still think she is a little young for you.”Narcissa said.
“Trust me I take great pleasure in our age difference.”Andromeda winked at Narcissa, chuckling when her younger sister blushed.
“I don’t know how your old decrepit body could handle such a young lover. The poor girl is probably constantly left unsatisfied.”Bellatrix teased.
Andromeda knew Bellatrix was kidding but it did hit on something she worried about.”In all honesty it is hard keeping up with her. The girl is insatiable. I truly believe that she has a higher than normal sex drive. Hermione is always ready to have sex. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we are doing she is always more than willing to have sex. I know she is satisfied with our sex life but it does worry me sometimes.”
“Oh Andy I was just kidding. If the girl was willing to go through the bond with you and let you into her life the way she has then I am positive that she has no complaints. You said it yourself you have been in her mind and you have no doubts about her love for you. I doubt sex will come between you two.”Bellatrix didn’t like seeing her sister so unsure of herself.
“Andy the girl is leading a rebellion to take over magical Britain just to put the three of us in charge. I would kill to have someone that devoted to me. Especially because doing this in no way benefits Hermione. She already has a country to run and more wealth than we could ever dream of. If she didn’t love you she wouldn’t even bother.”Seeing that her objections were upsetting her sister Narcissa vowed to herself that she would try and keep her concerns about the age difference to herself.
“Speaking about taking over magical Britain what is Hermione’s plan on how to deal with Rod?”Bellatrix asked.
“Like I said we will be going to Gringotts on Saturday. Hermione wants not only you and Rod but Rabastan to be there when we go.”Andromeda told her.
“Why do I need both brothers?”Bellatrix didn’t think it would be a good idea to have another person targeting Hermione.
“Because we are going to work it out so you and I duel each other while Hermione kills the brothers and takes over as Lestrange Head of Household.”Andromeda smiled at the looks of shock she once again caused her sisters to give her.
“What the fuck?”Bellatrix couldn’t believe that Hermione would think she could kill the brothers by herself.
“Hermione would be killed.”Narcissa said.
“I will overlook the insult to my wife’s skill as you don’t really know how talented she is. That being said even though Hermione could easily kill the brothers by herself Bella and I are going to help her. We just won’t be obvious about it. That’s the reason I will be dueling Bella. I know you are better than me especially now that the curse is gone but it is more believable for me to be able to match your skill than Hermione. Even though Hermione would give you a challenge.”Andromeda knew that Hermione would likely beat Bellatrix in a duel if it came to it.
“I look forward to seeing if you are right in the future.”Bellatrix had never been properly challenged by anyone. Not even the Dark Lord who she had to hold back on to not hurt him or make him look bad.
“Get back to the plan.”Narcissa wanted to know exactly what was going to happen.
“Bella will order Rod and Rab to focus on Hermione by making some rude comments about me being a blood traitor and it being your right kill me.”Andromeda told them.
“They would step aside and let me have my revenge.”Bellatrix would hate to say horrible things about and to her sister but would do it for the plan to succeed.
“This all has to happen quickly before someone interferes. That’s why you and I are going accidentally send spells that will wreck the area the brothers are in and make objects fall on them and hit them. While we are doing that Hermione is going to hit them with non lethal spells. Her ways of killing them are going to be smashing them on the head, having something hit them hard enough in the face snap their neck, a slicing spell across the throat. Stuff like that. That’s why it’s important for us to cause destruction. It will make it easy for everyone to believe that Hermione and I were fighting for our lives and the men were killed by accident. Then once they’re dead you will retreat. The part of the plan Hermione and I are not happy about is that you are likely going to be punished badly.”Andromeda wished she could spare her sister.
Bellatrix waved off her concern.”I think torture is well worth it for a supposed muggleborn to become the Head of Household for my bastard of a husband’s family.”
“Hermione actually thought these might help spare you in the future.”Andromeda pulled a bottle of pills out of her robe pocket and handed them to her sister.”These are some of Hermione’s sleeping pills. The same ones that Hermione took to make it look like she passed out from the pain. We thought that you could use them for future punishments. They are fast acting so once you bite one open you are out in only a couple minutes.”
“That’s genius.”Bellatrix took the bottle and looked at the pills inside.
“You will likely have to still go through some of the torture but it should stop most of it.”Andromeda told her.
“With me getting called to take care of her after every punishment I will be able to play it off like Bella’s body is not handling the pain anymore.”Narcissa liked the idea of Bellatrix getting a break from punishments.
“You and your princess are brilliant Andy.”Bellatrix really want to meet Hermione in person and see what the young girl was like when she wasn’t saving Harry Potter’s life.
“What do you think of the plan?”Andromeda asked.
“I think it’s a good one.”Narcissa couldn’t find fault in it.
“The only thing I hate about it is I can’t lord the fact that what Rod considers Potter’s mudblood is going to take over his house.”Bellatrix would have loved to see the man’s reaction to his pureblood house being taken over by not only what he considered a muggleborn but a woman as well.”I do like however that it will take some of the Dark Lord’s funding away as the Lestrange family is the second wealthiest pureblood house in Britain. As matter of fact only the Blacks are wealthier. At least they were when father was in control of them.”
“Sirius was extremely cheap and went out of his way not to pay for things and was very against giving gold away. That’s why he offered his house to the Order because he didn’t want to give them any financial support.”Andromeda told her.
“Then Hermione will be in control of the two wealthiest pureblood houses in Britain and will likely become an even bigger target.”Narcissa could already imagine all the people who would go after Hermione once she got the second title.
“We will protect her and who knows maybe she will collect a few more rings along the way. I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to Lucius and Draco dying.”Bellatrix was actually going to work on a plan to kill both men in a way Hermione would get the ring.
“We need you two to watch out for the Dark Lord’s people while me and Hermione watch out for Dumbledore’s people as we fully expect Dumbledore to be working out a plan to kill Hermione because all his plans to get support in her adopting someone to give them full access to the house has failed. It has actually failed so bad people are becoming suspicious of his motives.”Andromeda knew that Dumbledore had likely held secret meetings to plan how to take the title away from Hermione.
“That title is mine and if I have to kill Dumbledore myself to secure it I will.”Bellatrix wasn’t going to let the old man take away her birthright after finally having the chance to get it.
“You will get your chance at him soon. We are just waiting until we break up his alliances so that no one can step in his role. It wouldn’t be good if someone better than him was in charge.”Andromeda would prefer to kill Dumbledore right away but understood waiting was the best thing to do.
“Is it really true that Hermione was able to get into his mind without him knowing?”Narcissa asked.
Andromeda nodded.”She did it by accident the first time.”
“Your wife accidentally entered the mind of what is supposedly the most powerful wizard alive?”Bellatrix wasn’t sure she believed that.
“She had just dealt with the troll incident that happened her first year.”Andromeda was cut off by Bellatrix before she could continue.
“What troll incident?”Bellatrix hadn’t heard of a troll incident.
“During Hermione’s first year one of the processors who was being controlled by the Dark Lord released a troll into the school as a distraction so he could find the philosopher’s stone.”Andromeda told her.
“I have so many questions right now. The first one being how was anyone being controlled by the Dark Lord because he wasn’t back yet and the second being the philosopher’s stone is real?”Bellatrix hadn’t heard of the Dark Lord being at Hogwarts.
“The Dark Lord didn’t have a full body yet because he needed to do the ritual to make a new body from the power of the horcruxes. Due that he latched part of his soul on Quirrell who posed at as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor to gain access to Hogwarts where the stone which yes it’s real was being hidden. Hermione, Harry and Ron got credit for stopping him from taking it. Even though it was Hermione’s plan and she did all the work. Like she always does with Harry and Ron getting the credit for all their successes.”It pissed Andromeda off how overlooked Hermione was when she was the one who had kept Ron, Harry and all their friends alive all these years.
“I remember Quirrell. The man was so nervous he could hardly get a sentence out. At one of my punishments he actually fainted. He would be the perfect person to put in Hogwarts.”Bellatrix would have picked the man as well.”What happened to the stone?”
“Dumbledore came after everything was over with and took it from them. Hermione has been trying to figure out what he did with it ever since.”Andromeda had helped seek it out as well.
“It would be nice to have.”Bellatrix definitely didn’t want it to be in the enemy’s hands.
“How did the incident with the troll accidentally lead to Hermione entering Dumbledore’s mind?”Narcissa asked.
“He brought Hermione, Harry and Ron into his office to get their account of what happened. While they were there he tried to enter their minds but when he made eye contract Hermione to do it she somehow pushed back and entered his instead. She didn’t even know she could do it. That’s when she began to really question his motives because she heard his angry thoughts of the trio spoiling his plans for Quirrell. He knew the entire time that Quirrell was being controlled by the Dark Lord and let him be around the students. She has also confirmed that Dumbledore knows all about the horcruxes and knew about the Dark Lord’s interest in them before he even made them.”Andromeda told them.
“I always thought he was a bastard.”Bellatrix was unsurprised that Dumbledore would do all that. She had never trusted him.
“How are we going to deal with the horcruxes because from what I read they are very dark magic.”Narcissa had done research in the Black family library after they got access. She didn’t look in the Malfoy one because she was afraid someone would catch her and it would get back to the Dark Lord.
“So far we have found two ways to destroy them. Fiendfrye and basilisk venom. We only know of two horcruxes so far. A diary that has been destroyed and Harry Potter himself.”Andromeda laughed as this time the shock on their faces was even more exaggerated.
“Harry Potter is a horcrux?”From what Narcissa read she didn’t think a person could be a horcrux.
“When the Dark Lord went to kill him his mother sacrificed herself to protect him. To create a horcrux it involves human sacrifice so Hermione and I believe that is how Harry survived the killing curse. The Dark Lord being killed was likely due to whatever spell Lilly cast at him before she died.”Andromeda told them.
“Does that mean we have to kill Harry?”Bellatrix didn’t care if they had to it was just the Dark Lord was firm in no-one killing Harry but him.
“We don’t want to because if we do he will be a martyr for their cause so we have been trying to figure out a way to destroy it without killing the boy.”Andromeda said.
“You’re right. He would be martyr and a lot of people would rally in his memory.”Narcissa could easily see people joining the light side if Harry was killed.”We will help you find a way.”
“Have you two noticed anything that could be a horcrux?”Andromeda asked.
“Learning it could be a living thing I think that his snake may be one. He is obsessed with the thing and never lets it out of his sight.”Bellatrix never saw the snake more than arm’s length away from the man. Even when it was eating people the Dark Lord stood close to it.
“That is true. He is very protective of the snake.”Narcissa agreed the snake was definitely a horcrux.
“Alright we will add it to the list. Anything else?”Andromeda wasn’t pleased that the Dark Lord kept the snake close because it would be harder to kill it.
“I have been trying to put my mind in order since the curse was lifted and while doing so a certain memory came to me of Rod bragging about the Dark Lord trusting him with an important object. He was telling a bunch people during dinner that he was chosen because the Lestrange family had the strongest magic protecting its vaults. I think he gave gave him a horcrux and it’s in the Lestrange family vault. Meaning if Hermione’s plan is successful we can walk right in and grab it.”Bellatrix was positive there was a horcrux in the vault.
“If it’s in the vault we wouldn’t even have to worry about it. Hermione would tell the goblins and they will take care of it for us as they have many contingencies in place to deal with dark magic.”Andromeda knew the goblins would be happy to destroy something like a horcrux because they were extremely dangerous and could damage the bank.
“I’m still in awe of the way Hermione was able to get the creature communities to align with her.”Narcissa had heard so many complaints about them refusing to even talk to the Dark Lord.
“It was easy for her because her country has similar alliances with the ones that reside there. Her mother was the one who arranged for the prisoners for the vampires and when the queen heard of how little land the giants had she paid out of her personal fortune to buy them more land.”Andromeda told them.
“The queen did that for a bunch of magical creatures from a foreign country?”Bellatrix was very surprised to hear that.
“Not only did she do that she told Hermione that if she didn’t succeed in taking over magical Britain that she would gift each community land and gold to relocate to Yalloway.”Andromeda knew that the queen would follow through on that as well.
“I still don’t understand why she supports Hermione in her want to take over Britain. What do either of them gain from it?”Narcissa asked.
“Yalloway has been a country at war for most of its existence because of the wealth and resources it has. The amount of oil alone made the allies in war world two attack them. It’s because of that all the monarchs are military minded. The queen knows that if the Dark Lord takes over he will most likely make a move on her country. She also knows if Dumbledore wins he will take control of all the pureblood estates under the excuse of war reparations and likely come after Yalloway as well. Her father the ruling monarch before her had been preparing to be attacked by Britain after the first war with the Dark Lord. It was actually Hermione and her mother who came up with the idea to take over. The three of us were just lucky enough to have Hermione choose us to be involved with her.”Andromeda felt extremely lucky that Hermione took an interest in her and her sisters.
“Yalloway was always going to eventually take control weren’t they?”Narcissa thought with that much planning it was inevitable for magical Britain to be taken over by a country that had the muggle government backing them.
“That’s were you’re wrong. The queen and Hermione don’t want control of Britain. They want the three of us to have control. We were literally hand picked by them to be in charge and I don’t know about you two but I will happily step in to lead magical Britain. I know that I personally could do a hell of a lot better job than the two sides fighting right now and with both of you by my side we could make this country a major power in the world.”Andromeda said.
“You know I’m in and learning that we have Yalloway backing us I am even more sure that we will succeed. We just need to find the philosopher’s stone and all the horcruxes.”Bellatrix was feeling even more confident after hearing everything Andromeda just said.
“I always thought the three of us could change the world. Now with the resources to do it we are going to get that chance.”Narcissa was excited for a future with her and her sisters finally taking the place in the world they always deserved.
Andromeda looked at her watch when she felt it vibrate.”I need to get going. I’m having lunch with Dora and I don’t want to be late.”
“I hate that you have to go.”Bellatrix didn’t want her sister to leave.
“We will see each other soon now that we have control of the full estate.”Andromeda stood from her seat and pulled Bellatrix up into a hug.”We are in this together. Nothing will break us apart ever again.”
“You’re right about that.”Bellatrix would kill anyone who tried.
Andromeda pulled back and opened her arms for Narcissa. She smiled when her younger sister hugged her.”I’m looking forward to seeing the results of your make over.”
“I’ll make sure I reach out to your hairstylist.”Narcissa was going to do it as soon as Andromeda left.
Andromeda pulled out of the hug.”Make sure you are extra nasty to me and Hermione on Saturday. We really need to sell Hermione gaining the title by accident.”
“I don’t like it but I’ll do it because it’s the only way for the three of us to keep our covers. Also having the added incentive of Hermione taking over the Lestrange family will make it easier.”Bellatrix really didn’t want to be mean to Hermione or her sister. She especially didn’t want to duel her sister in a way that made it look like a real fight because she was worried Andromeda might accidentally get hurt.
“Just keep reminding yourself of all the fun you are going to have throwing out all his belongings while we are fighting.”Andromeda said.
“I can’t wait to take over his house elves because the poor creatures are treated worse by him and his brother than our aunt treated hers.”Bellatrix had always been a big fan of elves because they had helped her a lot growing up. The curse with the Dark Lord influencing her had twisted her feelings for them and Bellatrix was happy that she would get a chance to apologize to the ones owned by the Lestrange family she abused. If things worked out she would get the chance with the Malfoy ones in the future. That would depend on how soon she could come up with a plan.
“They are going to be treated like royalty once Hermione owns them.”Andromeda and Hermione treated their elves like respected members of their family. It was one of the reasons the were so loyal to them. “I need to go but I will see you on Saturday.”
“I’ll make sure my new look is photographed for paper so you can see it.”Narcissa was very happy she was getting the chance to undo all the changes she was forced into when she married Lucius.
“Bye.”Andromeda said before throwing some powder into the fire calling out the name of her home and walking through the flame. Exiting into her living room she looked around to see if there was anything left out that would point to Hermione and her being in a relationship. She hated lying to her daughter but Nymphadora was horrible at not only lying but protecting her mind. Which was entirely too bad because having someone who could change their appearance on their side would be really helpful. Seeing one of Hermione’s jumpers on the back of an arm chair Andromeda picked it up and not being able to stop herself lifted it to her nose and inhaled. Smelling Hermione’s signature perfume made her heart ache with how much she missed her love. She would never admit it to anyone but she kept a bottle of that kind of perfume and sprayed her pillows with it when Hermione wasn’t able to spend the night as it was the only way she could sleep by herself. Pulling out her wand she waved it over the shirt sending it to her room and made her way to the kitchen to begin cooking lunch. She usually had the house elves cook as she was horrible at it but Nymphadora didn’t know about the elves so she would have to be the chef for the day. Luckily with Hermione becoming Head of Household she would be able to justify having house elves and she would no longer have to pretend to be a homemaker. A role she was never meant for and that Hermione had saved her from making Andromeda love the girl even more.