Meeting Draco's Aunt

Fairies

Hermione frowns, was this really Bellatrix? Over the past couple of weeks she'd definitely seen her fair share of Bella's multiple different moods, but this one was new. Hermione picked up her pace as she continued in the same direction, and with each giggle Hermione picked up her speed. She was running now, giggles echoing in her mind as she ran. She was catching up to the footprints, remembering what the woman had said, and the words Draco used about his aunt lingered in her mind.
"You gotta watch her she's pretty crafty"
Then Bella's voice flooded Hermione's ears
"You were gaining on me, despite my fast pace I am definitely not a long distance runner"
"I needed an opportunity"

Hermione could out run her, but she needed to focus, she needed to somehow outsmart the woman.
She came towards the back of the manor but stopped when she saw nothing but a never ending neatly trimmed enormous graden with a fountain in the center. Neatly cut and shaped Bushes were either side of the little path that lead towards the fountain. Hermione swallows, the garden was unbelievably beautiful, it looked as though it belonged in one of those movies like The Great Gatsby.

Hermione blinks when she catches something ahead moving near the fountain. Then she caught a glimpse of the mischievous woman grinning madly in her direction. Her laughter fills the air once more as she turned and ran straight ahead, going further away from the house. Hermione grins as she started running after her.
Hermione ran along the cobble stone path, going around the fountain and continued after the woman, slowly gaining on her with each step.

Bellatrix went off course and instead off following the path straight ahead to another fountain she turned right by the large centaur shaped bush, going in between that and the next bush, and so did Hermione only when she turned right and squeezed past the two the large shaped bushes there was a dead end. Hermione frowned then retraced her steps and double checked the shapes.
"Definitely the centaur." Hermione murmurs as she squeezes back through but still, it was a dead end.
Then Hermione remembered Draco saying that Bellatrix managed to fit through anywhere. Hermione mused, Maybe what looked like a dead end wasn't actually a dead end.
She pushed against the bush and her eyes widen when her hand disappeared.
She took a deep breath before following where her hand went.

Her mouth fell open at the sight before her, it was a huge maze. And there at the beginning stood the woman. She stood there twirling the hem of her knee length dress with her hand, looking almost childlike as she tilts her head to the side with a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"What are you playing at?" Hermione asks, but the woman only laughed. Hermione began walking towards her which caught the woman's attention. She grinned, "Are you coming to get me?"
Hermione was slightly taken back by how playful and childish Bellatrix was being but at the same time she was intrigued and actually found herself enjoying it. Hermione made no effort to answer. Instead she darted towards the woman earning a squeal as she dashed off running into the maze, and Hermione did her best to keep up.

***

Hermione knew mazes were made to be challenging but this was ridiculous. She must have found every dead end there is and gone around in a complete circle because she somehow always ended up back at the beginning. If she didn't know any better she'd swear she was Sarah and was stuck in the Labyrinth.

That's it!

Hermione couldn't believe how stupid she was being, especially after she'd literally walked through a dead end bush to get here.

All those dead ends, one of them was bound to be a passage, just like the one that brought her here. Hermione went back and tried all the dead ends until at last she found what she was looking for. As she pushed through the passage she caught a glimpse of the woman darting away, she must have been waiting for Hermione to figure it out. The brunette followed the happy laughter and was sure she was gaining on the witch until she reached what must have been the centre of the Maze where yet another fountain could be seen.
"What's with all the fountains..." Hermione mumbles.
"They attract the fairies." Bellatrix smiles stepping out from her hiding spot.
"Fairies?" Hermione glances at the woman.
"My choice, Narcissa doesn't really like the fountains...then again she was never fond of fairies either." Bellatrix walked towards the fountain.
"I think they're beautiful." Bellatrix smiles coming to sit on the edge of the fountain.
Hermione walks over, eyes focused on the ravenette. " I don't think I've seen a fairy before, I mean I've heard of them but I haven't seen one."
"Come sit, they're generally friendly. Very vain, but easily annoyed." Bellatrix smiles, Hermione came and sat beside the witch.
"Now listening, you'll hear them humming."

Hermione did as she was told at sat silently beside the witch, and sure enough she could hear humming. The next thing she saw coming from inside the bushes of the maze was a small human type figure with large pink delicate wings.
Hermione glances at Bellatrix who only smiles. The woman held up her hand and the little creature dashed towards her, she stopped and stood in the ravenettes hand, fluttering her lashes, the two inch creature began groom her long Snow White hair.
"As I said very vain, and they love attention. Granted you're not going to cut off their wings." Bellattix said, her eyes still focused upon the tiny winged humanoid in her palm.
"Why would people cut off their wings?"
"Potions, they're used in certain potions, none of which you use in Hogwarts anymore...thank Merlin."

Hermione examines the witch who had her eyes fixed on the little fairy in her hand. A genuine smile graced her red lips, and Hermione couldn't explain the feeling coursing through her body at this moment in time, nor could she control the speed of her beating heart.
"Look she's dancing." Bella brought the little creature up closer to eye level as she watched the little creature sway her tiny little hips, then she began twirling around, making a noice that sounded like tinkling of bells.
"Now if you lift your hand up carefully and hold it flat, she'll travel onto yours." Again Hermione did as she was told and the little fairy moved to dance upon her hand. Hermione smiles, "She is very pretty." The brunette admits.
"Some people think so too, and use them as decoration in their homes."
Hermione was about to respond but Bellatrix didn't give her chance.
"Look, there's more." She smiles pointing towards the small group of fairies all different colours and sizes coming towards them.

Hermione watches, transfixed at the sight before, as they got closer she glanced towards Bellatrix only to notice the woman had once again disappeared.