Black's House for Little Witches

27

A/N: Hello, this chapter was a pain to write, but I prevailed.

I hope you enjoy. :)

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Shortly after breakfast, which included a specially made feline safe salmon cake for Crookshanks, prepared with help from Narcissa and Ruby, Hermione had retreated to her room. She promptly fell asleep after laying down, and woke up several hours later. Crookshanks was curled up against her stomach. She lightly scratched his head, earning a soft purr.

She was very much more adult-like after her nap. The most she'd felt in days since that disastrous run in with Mrs. Weasley and Ron.

She didn't really know how else to explain it, but maybe this was what Bellatrix and Narcissa referred to as being Big? She had a glimpse of the feeling the day before when they went to the menagerie, but it didn't last very long. Especially after she found Crookshanks. Now, she didn't really feel all that small like before. She didn't really want to be small at the moment. She just wanted to be Hermione.

Although, she also didn't want to step outside her room as big Hermione, either. She'd done a very bad thing that morning; surely Bellatrix and Narcissa were upset with her.

Crookshanks released a quiet meow and stretched. He then stood and proceeded to climb on top of her chest and softly butted his head against hers.

"I suppose it was very silly of me to try and make you breakfast without anyone around," she murmured. She received a deeper meow and a look from Crookshanks that she took to mean he agreed with the statement. "I was just very excited about finding you. I only wanted to give you something special." She scratched his chin affectionately. "We haven't known each other long, but you're already very important to me. Just like the others are. I wanted you to know that. But, but Bellatrix and Narcissa are right. It's not very safe to be in the kitchen if I'm Little. So, thank you for going to get them."

Crookshanks brushed his head against her chin before he hopped back down onto the mattress and curled up at her side.

"I suppose I should go and find them, huh? They mentioned wanting to talk about new rules. It's probably important to get that done."

Hopefully, she would get to give input into the rules. She hadn't gotten into trouble yet, but Andy had been put into timeout yesterday. What consequences would Hermione face if she broke a rule? Would they punish her for that morning?

She climbed out of bed and made her way, hesitantly, downstairs. Crookshanks trotted along beside her. She found Andy in the parlor, lying on her belly and playing with something. Zenith stood in front of whatever it was Andy had, blocking it from view.

The girl looked up at Hermione and Crookshanks's entrance. "Hello. Good nap?"

"Yeah, it was good. I have a habit of waking up too early, and then I fall asleep again later."

Andy nodded. She pushed the toy aside, which ended up being some sort of puzzle. It looked a little too simple, but maybe it was charmed in some way? "I'm sorry about yelling at you before," she said. "I really didn't mean to scare you, but you were obviously still in the middle of a drop, and you didn't even have anything out. I had no idea what you planned to do with the stove."

Heat rushed to her cheeks. "No, it's okay. To be honest, I don't think I really had a plan." She rubbed the back of her neck. "It just seemed like a good idea at the time to turn the stove on."

Andy hummed softly as Hermiome sat just across from her. "Cissa and Bella want to talk to you about kitchen rules. And maybe some other things."

Hermione bit her lip. She kicked her foot against the floor. "Am I in trouble?"