Ultimatums

Chapter 4

The stay at the Black House ran on a schedule. Hermione woke at 7 and went to meet Regulus in the library for 7:30. They stayed there for breakfast, as Kreacher brought it up, and only left for lunch and dinner. Hermione loved the Black library almost as much as her own, because although it didn't have her nook, it had company. Someone to discuss whether a theory could work, someone to rant about a character to, someone to ask how to pronounce a word or a definition on hand rather than leaving the comfort of your position to ask.

But her favourite part of the day was night. Regulus would take her to the slanted roof of Grimmauld Place, and they would cast charms so that they could lay on the tiles and look up at the stars. Every night, Hermione would point to a star, Regulus would identify it, and then he would start a story. It could be one of mythology or a story of a family member he had of the same name. The sky would be inky black, and the only light would come from the moon. It was eerily peaceful.

The day before the Potter Ball however, the schedule was disrupted. The Black Sisters were staying for a visit, overnight, so they could all arrive at the ball together. So when Regulus and Hermione were in the library, lounging in the chairs with copies of King James I's Daemonologie, Walburga cleared her throat.

"Regulus, Hermione. Narcissa, Andromeda and Bellatrix"

Lady Black stepped aside and allowed the three young ladies to walk in. "I'll allow you to be reacquainted" she said stiffly.

Bellatrix sat down opposite Hermione in an armchair, crossing her legs neatly, and watched her intently, her black curls bouncing everywhere. Her sisters Narcissa and Andromeda sat on a sofa next to her and waited for her to speak.

When she finally did , Bellatrix said "Regulus, why do you allow such blood traitor filth in your house?"

The boy gritted his teeth, but Hermione spoke instead, "I am no blood traitor, Bellatrix, otherwise I would not have been welcomed here nor would I have wanted to come."

Grinning wildly, Bellatrix asked "Whatever do you mean, Potter?"

"I mean that blood traitors would never associate themselves with your family other than obligation, and I am not obligated to be here at all. I'm sure you'd agree that yourself and blood traitors would try to stay away from each other at all costs. And I hardly believe Lady Black would want her son to associate with the likes of a blood traitor?"

"Of course not" Bellatrix replied in an amused tone. She liked when younger years opposed her, she knew it took guts, and she liked people with guts.

"Then what are your views, if they do not coincide with your family?" Andromeda asked curiously.

Hermione thought for a moment, trying to pick her words carefully. "I believe that the wizarding and muggle worlds should stay separated, but we shouldn't persecute each other. For our safety and theirs. Otherwise we'll end up like this" she waved the copy of Daemonologie. "I personally do not like Muggles, but they are innocent and shouldn't be murdered because they aren't magical, unless they attack first"

"I agree" Andromeda nodded, as did Narcissa.

Bellatrix stayed silent, and Regulus feared she would attack his dear friend, but instead she just said "I like you little witch. First years don't usually oppose me. You remind me a bit of me actually. Aren't we similar Cissa?"

Narcissa smiled softly and flipped her blonde hair from one side to the other. "Yes quite"

Regulus pinched Hermione's side happily, and the quintet chatted and bantered back and forth until Walburga called them down for dinner.

☏

Hermione was in her wardrobe, searching frantically for appropriate dress robes. A knock on the door called her back to reality, and Narcissa's voice called "Nita, love, we thought we'd dress together?"