Ultimatums

Chapter 15

Hermione sat in the boys dormitory with Avery and Regulus just after the feast, discussing their summers.

"There was a really pretty girl, Eleanor Rowle, but then she started talking about Muggle killings being hilarious because of the little defence they had, so she was ditched. She was the closest to any sort of match. Rosier was there though, so he provided at least a tiny bit of entertainment." Avery said, moving a chess piece across the board.

"What sort of entertainment?" Regulus asked casually from over the top of his book.

"Shove off Black"

"I've forgiven Sirius, we're quite alright friends now." Hermione intervened. "Don't look at me like that A, I understand why you'd be sceptical. At first it was purely for alliance reasons, but he's not too bad."

"Just don't get hurt when he picks Potter over you Nita. He's always going to pick Potter over us, its what he does." Regulus warned her, not moving his eyes from the book so as not to reveal his indifference as a façade.

"If he does, he'll be the last Gryffindor I trust"

Avery huffed as Hermione took another of his knights. "What about Evans?"

"Forget Evans" Hermione answered tightly.

Regulus put his book down on his lap, frowning "So Evans is why you were upset? On the train?"

When Hermione only made a noncommittal grunt, Avery pushed "What'd she do Mione?"

"I'm not saying. The whole thing'll only upset you." Hermione answered cryptically.

"Nita" Regulus said in a warning tone, and while she felt like being stubborn, Hermione relented.

"I tried telling her the people Snape hang out with are bad news, but she got annoyed and started saying Bella, Cissa and Reg are no better than them. Said I'm basically a Black and the way you treat muggleborns  is reflective of my own views apparently. What she doesn't know is that while Bella might be an absolutist, she isn't as evil as everyone makes her out to be! And how could she say you're as bad as Mulciber, Reg?" Hermione ranted, and only stopped when Avery cut across her.

"Didn't Cissa give her a dress and made all her boring clothes nice?"

"Can we change the subject please?" Regulus had picked his book up again and his nose was further into it than last time.

"Right" Avery awkwardly cleared his throat "Do you think you can get us tattoos like yours Mione?"

"Most likely. Just tell me what you want, and I'll try and find a stencil. Checkmate"

"Oh for Salazars sake" grumbled Avery. "It's been a year and you still beat me"

☏

On the 29th of March, Hermione received a letter. She was sitting with the Slytherins at breakfast, and an owl swooped in and dropped it in her scrambled eggs. This was nothing out of the ordinary, Hermione had been corresponding with Hadrian for the whole school year (much to Regulus's displeasure).

But when she picked it up, she noticed a feminine stationary that the Selwyns would never use.

It read:

My Ninita,

I know the plan was to wait for Bella and Cissa's weddings, but the fates have other ideas. I have fell pregnant, only a few months, so the plan must go ahead. The Blacks are known to have minimal bumps even at 8 months, but I will surely be disowned if this gets out. You and Cissa must meet me on the next Hogsmeade weekend. Bring Sirius too, I haven't seen him for ages.