Chapter 30
Chapter 30
The Dark Lord enters the Malfoy library. He sees the young Lestrange heir reading by the fire.
He clears his throat as he approaches. She startles slightly before looking up and closing the book.
‘Miss. Granger. Or is it Miss Lestrange?’
‘Lestrange, Sir.’
‘Nice to meet you, Miss Lestrange. You parents have told me much about you.’
‘Nice to meet you as well Sir. I'm afraid the things I have heard on your behalf have not been as kind.’
‘I can imagine. Tell me, will you join my ranks?’ Hermione is careful to choose her words before responding.
‘If it is all the same to you, I would rather not. At this time, I hope that you will allow me to remain ‘on the light side.’ I can better gain information if I do not bear your mark.’
‘What do you plan to do with this information?’
‘Perhaps the perpetrators need to be punished. If I can find them all and not show my hand I can lure them into a trap.’
‘Intriguing, there is merit to this idea of yours. I will think it over. In the meantime, you will visit with me regularly. I find that I need a new perspective on various matters.’
‘Thank you Sir. I will gladly assist in any way I can.’
*.*
‘Remus I can't possibly take the morning off. I need to prepare breakfast.’
‘Arthur agrees that you should relax this morning. Go take a bath and I will have Ginny bring your breakfast to you.’
‘I will take a break later.’
‘Molly, take a break now. Tonight we are going home alone. The kids will be fine here. I want to be sure you are properly rested.’
Molly smiles and begins to climb the stairs.
Hemione walks into the room. ‘Thank you both. It's getting more challenging to sneak out.’
‘Enjoy your day Hermione.’
‘Today, I need to use the floo.’
‘Thanks for all your help this week.’
Hermione hugs both Fred and George before stepping into the floo heading to visit her parents.
*.*
‘Father? Is now a good time to discuss something important?’
‘What do you need?’
‘I learned that some families prepare betrothals…’
‘Ah, I understand. We are not looking into any at this time. When you were born we had
discussed the matter with a few families that had children of similar age but nothing ever came of it.’
‘Because i was kidnaped?’
‘In part. There was also the fact that we couldn't convince ourselves to promise you away before you had a chance to choose.’
‘Really?’
‘The boys are usually able to break these arrangements easier than the girls and we didn't want to trap you into something you were not agreeable to.’
‘Thank you father. I understand better now. I heard that Lord Nott thinks Theo should consider courting me.’
‘I take in you and young Theo do not agree?’
‘We are friends and nothing more.’
‘Is there anyone you are fond of?’
‘Not really. George and I have been ‘dating’ as a way to keep communicating without being watched, but we are just friends as well.’
‘Whose plan was that?’
‘He kissed me and I tried to tell him that I wasn't ready for a relationship. He told me that it would be the best way to keep appearances light. No one to my knowledge caught on to our double letters.’
‘Brilliant. Is it hard to be in a relationship with someone you don't actively want to date?’
‘Not really, I mostly didn't have anyone I was interested in.’
‘Mostly?’
‘There is someone that I am building a friendship with but I'm not sure how far things will develop.’
‘I’m here if you need someone to listen or confide in. I know things can be tricky sometimes.’
‘Thank you, father, I will keep that in mind.’
*.*
‘Mum, can you help me?’
‘What do you need Ginny?’
‘I like a boy and I want to change how I style my hair.’
‘Who is this boy?’
‘He is a Ravenclaw.’ Ginny lies.
‘Oh alright, show me what you are thinking and I can try to help.’ As they enter Ginny's room Hermione heads down the stairs so she can leave for the day.
‘Thanks again guys, I will be back before you close.’
‘Have fun, Hermione.’
Hermione floos away to Lestrange manor.
*.*
Hermione floos home for breakfast and is greeted by her father.
‘Hello, Lyra, how are you today?’
‘I'm good, father. How have you been?’
‘We have missed you. Are you looking for anything specific?’
‘I'm trying to research a possible project. I'm not sure where to start actually.’
‘Tell me about it?’
‘I want to restore memories that were lost under extreme duress.’
‘What direction were you looking into for research?’
‘All of them.’
‘Alright. Do you have any research yet?’
‘Not yet. I just began thinking about this idea.’
‘Alright I think I have an idea. Follow me.’
‘They walked into the extensive library.’
‘Charm?’ He calls.
‘Yes master?’
‘We are about to begin a lengthy research project, will you assist us?’
‘Yes master, how can Charm help?’
Roddy begins to list subjects to begin their research. Once he is finished Charm nods once and disappears, a moment later the 3 tables nearest them are covered in stacks of books, all organized into specific categories.
‘Would master like me to purchase any books?’
‘Yes go into the muggle world and get the same subjects we want to be sure we research everything we can for this project, spare no expense.’
‘Yes master.’ There is a quiet pop, Charm is gone.
Hermione looks around in awe, how will she read through all of this?
‘You can take whatever you wish back to school, your elf can also trade out books at your request, and I will be doing research here as well. Anything I learn I will copy down and send through Winky or Charm.’
Hermione flings her arms around her father, ‘thank you, no one ever understands my researching needs, this is perfect.
Roddy wraps his arms around his daughter tightly, ‘anything for you sweetheart, I love to research as well.’
*.*
‘Ginevra. Your brother tells me that despite my letter you are still spending time with Hermione and her snakes?’
‘Yes, mum. I am.’
‘Explain yourself.’
‘I am free to make friends with whomever I wish. Unless you suddenly pull me from school and keep me from sending posts I will continue to make my own friends.’
‘I did not raise you to be this disrespectful.’
‘You raised me to be independent and know my own mind. You raised me to be accepting of all, if possible. You raised me to believe that things are not always as they seem. You raised me to look beyond the surface.’ ginny keeps her tone even dipite the fire building in her eyes.
‘You will not talk to me this way, young lady and you will not remain friends with any of them any longer!’ molly's tone raises with every word. suddenly Arthur storms into the room.
‘Molly? I can hear you from across the house. What is going on?’
‘Ginevra is being uncooperative and disrespectful.’
‘Mum has suddenly decided that all those values you both taught me growing up no longer matter. She thinks I don't know my own mind. That I can't choose my own friends for myself.’
‘Molly, is this true?’
‘I specifically told her in a letter that I did not approve of her friends but she is still associating with them.’
‘Gin? Please leave us to finish this discussion. I believe your brothers are leaving soon with Hermione, see if you can join them at the shop for the day?’
‘Thank you, daddy.’
‘Welcome sweetheart.’
Ginny skips out of the room in search of her brothers.
‘How-’
‘You listen to me. She can choose her friends however she likes. If they are not worth her time, that is her decision. You cannot force her to stop interacting with them.’
‘Arthur-’
‘No you need to relax and rethink how we raised our children. They are caring and compassionate. They are also stubborn. Do not bring this topic up again. Ginny has done nothing wrong and she will not be punished.’
Molly huffs as she falls into a chair. Arthur leaves for work.
*.*
‘Mum?’
‘Yes dear?’
‘Can you help me? I want to increase my dueling skills, can you recommend some books?’
‘I can but dueling is more than just research. I will send several books with you to school but you need to begin dueling regularly to get better at it.’
‘That makes sense, I wonder who I could duel at school.’
‘Talk to Severus i'm guessing you need faculty approval to avoid breaking the rules.‘
‘I will. I have to leave soon but I can be back the day after tomorrow for a duel.’
‘When we duel, I can better tell you what books will help you improve your skills.’
‘Thanks mum. You are the best. Umm, has anyone begun petitioning for marriage?’
‘Dear I don't think now is the best time for that conversation.’
'I already spoke to father.'
'Did you? In that case when you return home this summer we will discuss thing in more detail.'
'Thank you.'
*.*
Bella awaits her daughter's arrival with giddy anticipation. Roddy has already left for the day. Truthfully she sent him out when he couldn't stop laughing at her behavior. Lyra should be arriving any time now.
Lyra arrives and enters the courtyard with her wand raised, she is moving cautiously. Bella murmurs ‘Protego Diabolica (protects caster with black fire ring)’ as she waits.
Lyra approaches Bella from behind and sees the black fire. Deciding to test it she whispers ‘Colloshoo. (stick shoes to floor) unsurprisingly the fire prevents the spell from reaching its target.
‘Good morning, mother.’
‘Good morning, Lyra. How are you today?’
‘I am well. Yourself?’
‘Good. Would you like to begin this duel properly?’
‘Are duels normally fought with proper rules in war?’
‘No they are not. Enter the woods down the hill. We will each prepare but the duel can begin anytime.’
Without another word Lyra dashes through the grass before entering the wood. Bella heads in a different direction and begins her next incantation.
‘Cave inimicum, (produce a boundary to keep caster hidden from others)’
Lyra moves through the woods. Her mind is racing. Bellatrix Lestrange is always talked about in whispers. Her dueling capabilities have downed many foes. Lyra believes her mother wouldn't intentionally try to hurt her but sometimes dueling accidents happen.
Lyra wished she had brought Harry's invisibility cloak with her. She continues to move slowly in an attempt to quiet her steps.
‘Ebulbio-(trap victim in a bubble)’ Lyra is caught by surprise. Bella cackles.
‘Difindo-(severing hex)’ Lyra frees herself from her temporary prison.
‘You think on your feet that is good. We can build on that.
‘Aqua eructo-(control water)’ Lyra guides the water from a nearby stream to douse her mother.
‘Glacius duo-(powerfully freezes target)’ the stream of water halts its progress and freezes instantly.
‘Avifors’- Lyra changes tactics and turns the frozen mass into a large hawk. ‘Avis oppugno’ the hawk flies over head and dives for Bella.
‘Draconifors.’ Bella lazily waves her wand and the hawk turns into a beautiful ice dragon the size of a pony. It lands gracefully next to Bella and turns to glare at Lyra.
‘Mother, that is amazing. You have to teach me that one.’
‘Of course, dear.’
Bella waves her wand and the dragon rises into the air and flies away. Lyra watches the beautiful creature's departure.
‘Cantis.’
Lyra begins to sing: ‘I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts. Here they are standing in a row, big ones small ones,-’ realizing that she is singing she points her wand in her mothers direction and focuses. Her mind screams the incantation Deprimo. Suddenly the singing stops as several holes appear in the ground surrounding Bella.
In retaliation Bella aims for Lyra. ‘Confringo’ The fiery explosion barely misses lyra as she throws herself behind a nearby tree.
Taking aim, Lyra shouts, ‘Impedimenta.’
Bella flicks her wand and the spell crashes into a tree to her right. ‘Incarcerous.’ Lyra dodges again. This time behind a boulder. Taking a few steps around it, Lyra points at the tree near her mother.
‘Incendio trio.’ the tree and its surrounding area burst into flames.
Bella has followed her daughter around the boulder ‘Oscausi.’ she whispers.
Lyra spins around and mentaly cancels the spell preventing her to talk.
‘Confundo.’ Lyra shouts. Again her mother sent the spell away from her.
‘Expulso.’ Suddenly the boulder explodes into thousands of pieces.
‘Everte statum.’ Lyra sends the falling rocks away from be body
Bella raises her wand. ‘Diminuendo.’
Lyra ducks behind another tree. To her surprise it shrinks until it is the size of a sapling.
With a smile Lyra rushes forward while casting, ‘Engorgio skullus.’
Bella fails to divert this one and her head expands to 5 times its normal size.
‘Mutatio skullus.’hits lyra in the chest as she continues forward. Suddenly she has 3 heads that look similar to a cerberus. Both women burst into laughter as Bella pulls her daughter into a hug.
‘That was fun.’
‘I agree. You have more developed skills than I would have thought. Most of those aren't studied in the curriculum.’
‘I like books.’
‘Just like your father.’ Bella mumbles. ‘I will prepare a list of books for you and we can discuss tactics for how to duel without injury.’
‘Thank you mother.’
‘Redactum skullus.’ Bella casts on her daughter before herself, returning them both to normal.
‘Oh, I almost forgot.’ Lyra pulls out a dozen long parchments. ‘Cover the books you send in these. Tap your wand to the cover and then tap the cover of a different book. This will ensure that anyone other than me trying to read the book will only see the contents of the book you chose to hide it in.’
‘That is brilliant. Where did you get these?’
‘The twins. They are called study sleeves.’
‘I may have to meet these twins one day.’
‘You want to meet my friends?’
‘Of course, dear. They sound like intelligent and creative young men.’
*.*
Again I am sorry that it has been so long since i posted a new chapter. i hope i can remember to prioritize writing again soon.