Black's House for Little Witches

24

A/N: Here is the next update.

I hope you read and enjoy. :)

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Mrs. Weasley was yelling at her. She couldn't make out the words, a loud ringing filled her ears, but she could tell the woman was not happy. When had she gone to the Burrow? She hadn't visited since the previous summer.

Hermione woke suddenly, barely managing to contain a scream as she jolted up into a sitting position. She inhaled shallow, rapid breaths as she looked around frantically.

It was dark. There were no lights on, so she couldn't make out where she was.

Had the day been a dream? Did she not return to the manor with Andy, Bella, and Cissa? Did Madam Burbage change her mind and take Hermione back to the Weasleys?

A distressed, mournful cry left her lips. She tossed the blankets aside and launched herself off the bed, hurrying to the door.

She stumbled over something in the dark but managed to right herself by the door and yanked it open, nearly falling into the hall. Once she had regained her bearings, she glanced around at her surroundings. The hall was lit by soft lights, and it seemed to be the same hallway as Black Manor.

She heaved a great breath of relief and leaned against the wall. She slid down to the floor until her bottom hit the wood tiling, and then she brought her knees to her chest as she took a quivering breath.

She would not cry. It had just been a nightmare. She had not left Black Manor and returned to the Burrow. She'd just had a nightmare.

A door opened down the hallway. Hermione sniffled but did not look up. She sniffled again and tears fell down her cheeks as footsteps slowly approached.

"Oh, did my sweet girl have a bad dream?" Bella asked in a soft, gentle voice that carried more affection than Hermione had ever heard addressed to her before. "Or did something else happen?"

Hermione sniffled again and wiped her eyes. She tried to wiggle subtly to check her nappy- dry, thankfully- but probably wasn't very successful. "Bad dream," she answered. "Had to go away." She couldn't quite grasp why, but her own voice sounded different to her ears. Softer, yes, but there was something else. "With Mrs. Weasley."

Bellatrix sucked in a breath. "No, my sweet girl, you will never have to go back there," she declared. She knelt down in front of the girl. She gently took hold of Hermione's hands. "You do not ever have to go back. I will not let anyone take you if you do not want to leave," she promised. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the top of Hemione's head.

Hermione shivered and an involuntary whine left her as the warmth of Bella's magic faded when the woman pulled back.

Bella gave a low chuckle. "Would you like to come stay with me, mon trésor?"

Hermione looked up, eyes wide in wonder. Bella would let her stay there again? "Please?"

"Of course, baby."

The term should have bothered her, but Hermione could not find it in herself to be mad. Instead, she reached her arms out to the woman in silent request.

Bella gave her a perplexed, shocked look but reached to pick the girl up all the same. "Let's get you back to bed, little one. Cissa and I had plans for tomorrow regarding our promise to Andy, and I think you might enjoy it, too. But only after some more sleep."

Hermione nodded as the woman lifted her from the ground. She laid her head on the woman's shoulder as she was carried towards one of the master bedrooms on the floor. She was surprised to find Bella's bed empty; surely Andy would have wanted to stay with her sister that night.