Black's House for Little Witches

23

A/N: Hello, hello, welcome to another chapter. There will be a longer note at the end as I wanted to get right into the chapter.

Some translations:

On va affronter ça ensemble. - We're going to face this together.

Tout va bien, sœurette. Ça va aller, je suis là, tout ira bien. - It's okay, little sister. I am here, everything will be okay.

Hope you enjoy the chapter! :)

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Hermione sat on a couch in the office of Senior Head Healer Cassandra Greengrass. Her dummy was in the pocket of her jeans. Her otter was in her lap, and she had her otter blanket beside her. She'd shrunken it down to about the size of a baby blanket after seeing Narcissa do it for Andy.

She kicked her legs lightly against the front of the sofa in an attempt to dispel some nervous energy. Bellatrix had gone and spoken to Madam Burbage that morning, and they were going to combine the interview and medical exam into one. She and Andy were going to be allowed in the room together. She didn't think that was supposed to happen, but she wasn't going to question it too much. She would much rather have Andy with her than be alone.

Andromeda sat beside her with her favorite green blanket and her panda in her lap. She clutched her panda tightly as she sniffled and wiped her eyes with her other hand. Andromeda had tried to lock herself in her room that morning, but her sisters had managed to coax her out somehow. Hermione wasn't sure what Bellatrix and Narcissa had promised Andy to get her to come as compliantly as she did, but it must have been something good.

Hermione herself didn't want to come, but the only way to get through the situation was to do so. She just really hoped things went well. She liked staying with the Blacks. She didn't want to leave.

A soft knock on the door sounded just as Hermione began to hyperventilate. Andromeda reached for her hand and squeezed it reassuringly once before holding it loosely. A faint, golden shimmer surrounded their hands. Hermione released a deep breath. Things would be okay.

The door opened, and two women who appeared to be around Bellatrix's age stepped inside. One bore a striking resemblance to Daphne Greengrass, so she must have been Healer Greengrass.

By process of elimination, the other woman must have been Charity Burbage. Bellatrix had said the woman would be talking to them.

"Good morning, girls," the woman who was more than likely Healer Greengrass greeted kindly. She slowly approached and sat in a chair in front of the couch. The second woman sat in the chair next to her. "I'm sorry we had to meet again so soon, Andy. And especially like this." She gave a small, comforting smile as Andromeda whimpered and pressed her face against her panda. "Can you introduce us to your friend?" As Andromeda shook her head, the woman asked, "Could Pinkie introduce us?"

"Pinkie doesn't want Mione to be taken away. Me neither. Want Mione to stay."

Hermione's heart lurched at the statement. Despite what was happening, Andy still wanted her to stay.

The second woman hummed softly. "Yes, that is why we're here. To make sure Hermione doesn't have to go away. That she can stay with you and Pinkie, and your sisters."

Andromeda sniffled again and brushed her face against her shoulder. She accepted a handkerchief from the healer and wiped her face. "Mione, Healer Cass, and Madam Burbage," she said softly after she regained some composure.

The healer held a hand out. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger. Although, I do wish it was under better circumstances."

Hermione accepted the woman's hand. "You can call me Hermione," she shyly offered in response.