October
"Just don't let anyone else catch you looking, Andy. I'm sure I don't have to explain more. Have you ever caught *me* checking out mudblood wizards?"
Andromeda's face was a neutral one, her brief expression of gratitude replaced by a mask that broke Hermione's heart a little every time she saw it slip on. No girl Andromeda's age should have to live with as dangerous and abusive parents as hers were, even if those parents were fully convinced their actions were in Andy's best interest. However, wishing for the wizarding society to be less horrible was nothing new for Hermione, so her thoughts were not stuck on how pure-blood families tended to treat their children in 1968. Most of higher years were so hardened they often acted and sounded just like their emotionally damaged parents, even first years were miniature Machiavellis-in-training, but that was something Hermione was already used to. And Andy's quiet voice still bore traces of genuineness.
"Maybe you're better at hiding it? Look, I will do my best. But don't you worry this much, Hermione. Most people here would think they're misreading me, or are too dense to notice at all."
"Some of the dangerous ones are actually smart, Andy."
This earned Hermione Andy's genuine smile. Hermione's face, on the other hand, remained under her control and projected the friendly but status-aware mask nearly all Slytherins would expect on her while chatting with Andy. The closest ones were some twenty steps away but that was no reason to grow careless.
"Like Bella? She'd never betray me, especially since she got promised to Rodolphus."
Bellatrix chose that very moment to appear from behind a corner but Andy, focused on her own train of thought, simply went on.
"She’ll do her duty but you can bet she’d love to dodge out of it. And you might be even more dangerous and smarter than Bella is in some ways, Hermione."
Bella's amused smile and her voice sounded perfect for the role of Andy's older and loving sister.
"Practicing flattery is useful, Andy, but pay more attention to who's around next time, will you? Imagine it wasn't Cissy or I."
Moments like these made a part of Hermione's soul groan in frustration. Was this genuine sisterly love, with Bellatrix looking out for her sister's best interests in a psychopathic society? Was the Bellatrix she used to know just a woman born into a dark family, one whose soul got further damaged in a war? Or was this Bellatrix a psychopath already, her words a tool to hide her true thoughts? Andy wasted no time analyzing such things.
"I can recognize your footsteps, Bella."
"No you can't, at least not reliably. And now Hermione knows your lying face."
This time, Andy's response was sticking her tongue out, straightening her back the little bit more she could, checking her watch, nodding to Hermione and walking away. Bella's amused face turned towards Hermione.
"Mind sharing which ways Andy thinks you're more dangerous, Hermione?"
Hermione took a deep breath of crisp morning air and set out to put a few more steps between herself and the nearest corner.
"I'm still a better duelist, Bellatrix."
The amused smile on Bella's face wouldn't go away.
"That you are. But not by as much as a month ago, are you?"
Hermione let one corner of her lips show the slightest smile.
"Is this your way of saying thank you?"
And she thought it was a tremendous testament to her ability to play diplomat that she was able to be on such outwardly friendly basis with Bellatrix that they could be this informal.
"Or maybe my way of saying you're spending too much time with Potions textbooks and your notes, Hermione?"
A little laugh seemed appropriate.
"I told you you'd eventually get ahead of me, even if that will take some time. But I also told you I'm not changing my plans for today, because my private Potions work takes precedence over your wish to train more. Be glad you can practice alone and come closer to beating me."
"I still don't believe you're the quiet stealthy Potions master you seem to aspire to become, even if you do have the skills, Hermione. You too have a gift for martial magic. I'm not denying that potions can provide certain... inconspicuous elegance... but pardon me for saying you don't strike me as that type of witch."
Even with more than a month in Slytherin under her belt plus all her wartime experience, Hermione took a few seconds to consider her reply, especially since the potions work was sometimes just an excuse for more... phoenixy activities. When it came, her voice was even a bit quieter than before.
"I'm not. But I can make good money even with recipes one can talk about in any company."
Of course Bellatrix would not hug her in public. But even her stepping so close to Hermione she could smell her perfume, and her reassuring hand finding its way to Hermione's arm, was such an unexpected moment it made Hermione's brain freeze for a moment, torn between terror and gratitude.
"I see. We all have our burdens to bear, Hermione, but let me assure you I consider you a talented witch and a friend even if your family is going through difficult times. It is a pity you have to waste your talents on restoring your family's status in such arduous fashion, though understandable given the times we live in today. However, I want you to know that your martial magic skills might also find good use in the future, and not just here in Hogwarts."
****
"So you're not checking out mudblood wizards that often because you're mostly checking out pure-blood witches, eh?"
The blush on Hermione's face amused Bella a bit, even if it wasn't the prudish and ashamed denial such a sentence would get from most mudblood witches even in ‘68. Then again, Hermione *was* a bit of a country girl bookworm, so Bella *expected* her to blush. Come to think of it, it might be... nice and safe to teach her - and learn with her - about being with another woman. And a part of Bella definitely wanted to feel Hermione pinned by Bella's weight and eager to beg Bella to… do things to her. Provided Bella would one day finally be in a position where she might let herself indulge in more than fantasies, of course. However, such a day wasn't on the horizon and Bella wanted to stay friendly and polite, so she took advantage of Hermione remaining silent and acting a bit guilty about getting caught and continued.
"Calm down, I'm not saying you wouldn't give your family an heir, not saying you shouldn't have fun, definitely not getting infected by that mudblood hatred towards people who enjoy bedroom fun with their own sex... To be honest, you're lucky you seem to find at least some wizards easy on the eye, my own reputation of only ever having had female crushes is fully deserved. I'm just commenting on why it was easy for you to chastise Andy."
Hermione's guarded voice was no surprise, given she must have known how dangerous her sort-of tolerance of Andy's behavior was.
"So she told you?"
"Yes, because she couldn't follow your advice and I caught her staring and could see the wheels turning in her head and then she blurted out that you chewed her out yesterday and that everyone else is too dense to notice. Got me a bit inquisitive. I know she's a Black, Hermione, but you should have been more insistent anyway. These things are more important than being polite towards a noble family is. I love my sisters, so I know nothing as far as family's concerned, but we have to set Andy straight. You are her friend, aren't you?"
The surprised expression went nice with the receding blush on Hermione's face.
"You want me to help you stop Andy checking out sexy boys when they're mudbloods?"
Nobody else was close enough to hear, so Bella could afford a little sigh before she replied.
"Look, I understand why she looks. Just like I agree with your eyes thinking that Jasmine has killer ass and legs, even though neither of us would actually go for that booty. But Andy's duties to family come before her fun. She's already too friendly towards mudbloods, getting caught ogling some would make matters even worse. We better do something."
It was Hermione's turn to sigh a bit.
"I don't think Andy has the level of self-control you have. And can we actually come up with something that would make her stop looking without us getting into real trouble for using illegal magic?"
"She might not have my level of self-control but she is a Black. She understands she has to be mindful of her public image."
"That goes without saying, Bellatrix. But she's a fifth-year surrounded mostly by people lacking your observation skills. And honestly, the more I think about it, the more I'm afraid of a potential backfire."
Hermione mentioning honesty was of no consequence, of course. Just like Bella's own use of the word earlier didn't mean Hermione should blindly believe Bella's admission was true, even though it was. However, Bella was aware of several reasons why pressuring Andy too much might not be a good idea, so it made sense to not dismiss Hermione outright. On the other hand, she could never doubt her sister too much in front of an outsider, no matter how quickly was that outsider befriending Andy. Her reply had to make Hermione make another move.
"Maybe you're underestimating her upbringing, Hermione."
It was impossible to tell whether the hint of a smile on Hermione's face was a sign of her having a pretty good idea of how noble families worked, or a sign of her being convinced Andy wouldn't be able to hide her curiosity well enough, or something else.
"Or maybe I realized that teaching her to become even better at hiding her interest might lead to even us not being able to notice she has her eye on someone specific."
Bella wasn't sure whether to appreciate that level of caution or to feel anger at such insinuations.
"Are you seriously considering the possibility of Andy becoming interested in a mudblood?"
Of course Hermione's face was a mask. But Bella was quite certain she would have seen a mischievous smile if they weren't Slytherins.
"I just imagined your father's reaction should Andy date a mudblood."
What the heck was wrong with Granger? She wasn't crazy and there was nothing amusing about the idea of Bella's father discovering Andy dating a mudblood. Was she amused by Bella not realizing the potential catastrophe before having it pointed out to her?
"Never joke about these matters, Granger."
Bella's serious tone seemed enough to sober up Hermione.
"Okay. But imagine Andy getting so good at hiding this that she'd get caught kissing one in public – or get pregnant somewhere private – before we found out. Or doing something else that would seem similarly offensive to your father. We must not do anything that would make her feel so alienated that she would keep these things secret even from us, Bellatrix."
The idea of Andy having a half-blood baby was so... disturbing... it made Bella spend even more time discussing such an improbable event. The fear even made her drop her guard a bit and let some of her true emotions sneak into her voice.
"Father would disown her. He could never forgive her and she would know that and act stubborn and we would lose her. Even if the child was a result of a drunken fling or something like that, Father would lose too much status if he relented. It must never happen."
Hermione sighed, then came a sharp intake of breath and her eyebrows shot up for a split of a second when some realization hit her.
"You will never be sure to prevent her looking and I wouldn't be sure about more serious mistakes either, Bellatrix. Not without questionable methods like an Imperio would be. If it happens, it happens. But never forget you three do have some leverage against your father!"
The debate was getting into ideas both lunatic and treasonous. However, Bella *had* to think about these possibilities if she wanted to be able to protect Andy.
"I'm not sure your books and newspapers gave you a correct idea of what our father is like, Hermione. He *would* disown her as a blood-traitor."
Hermione's face switched into a weird mix of compassion and hesitation. Like she wanted to help but couldn't even believe she was actually saying what was in fact coming out of her mouth. Which wasn’t actually that surprising, given they were talking about Andy dating a mudblood.
"Do you trust your sisters, Bellatrix? Can you count on them no matter what?"
"Of course! Granted, I'm no idiot, I do know they're not perfect. I know there are things they might try and fail. But I do know they'd try their best. They are my own blood, more trustworthy than anyone else."
"So you would have to choose between your sisters and your father, Bellatrix. You would lose someone either way. Which loss would be worse, then?"
Bella knew she should end the discussion. She was leaving herself too vulnerable. Plus she knew Hermione was faking at least some of their 'friendship'. But she could tell Hermione was just as determined to protect Andy from her own mistakes as Bella was and there *were* undeniable benefits to building closer ties to Hermione when half the faculty already called them 'two brightest witches of their generation'. Bella wasn't simply listening to her growing desire to be the one witch Hermione would stare at with lust in her eyes, she was being smart and future-minded.
"Betraying my father. You're a single child, you have no real idea how painful losing Andy would be, but betraying our blood would be worse."
For a brief moment, Hermione hesitated, obviously contemplating whether to share some secret, and her hesitation seemed genuine. When she spoke up, her voice was hardly more than a whisper.
"I've been the target of a Crucio, Bellatrix. More than once. I know a few things about pain."
Well, that was certainly a surprise. It also made Bella want to reach out and hug Hermione, even though her upbringing made it easy to suppress that impulse. However, Hermione had more to say and didn't pause.
"And I know Andy would side with you if the situation was reversed. But are you willing to endure the pain of losing Andy for a man who gave you to Rodolphus? What would your Father sacrifice for you?"
Hearing such words was no Cruciatus Curse, obviously. But the pain caused by hearing such romantic and seductive ideas still tore at Bella's soul. It couldn't break her, of course, but it hurt so much. Good thing she knew how to be strong.
"Are you really this desperate to have a sister too, Hermione? Of course I would bear that pain. This wouldn't be a sacrifice for my father, or family. It would also be a sacrifice for the good of wizardkind!"
Two, three, four seconds of Hermione staring at her as if she couldn't understand Bella's words. Or at least couldn't understand how they applied to the matter at hand. Finally, Hermione's face seemed to suggest the metaphorical light-bulb lit up. However, Hermione's words, as logical as they were, remained surprisingly traitorous.
"You mean the part of wizardkind that's willing to sacrifice you and your sisters for their own goals?"
It was frightening, the way that question blended lofty ideals and sheer pragmatism. It promised to help Bella keep the one island of certainty and love her sisters personified... while being unquestionably Slytherin and asking her to weigh her own goals against those of people expecting her to make sacrifices. Was it really Slytherin and cynical, or naive?
"So we're talking politics and compromise, not actual blood treason?"
"If you can trust your sisters. If yes, you could give your father an ultimatum. He'd be free to disown Andy, but if he tries to damage your bond, or forbids you from keeping in touch, you publicly support her. Not some half-blood child or whatever other mistake that might get her disowned. Your pure-blood sister and your right to talk to her and maybe make her repent even if she might have made a big mistake. Yes, he would lose some status. But it wouldn't be as bad as if he'd disown all of you, now would it?"
"I guess, and it sounds nice, but I think you're underestimating the options he'd have, Hermione. Like having Andy killed, because she would be a blood traitor and there would be little point in us fighting for her once she was dead, or a few charms better not mentioned. Let us hope Andy never does something so stupid we would have to deal with such a scenario for real, shall we?"