Black's House for Little Witches

36

A/N: Hello. Another struggle of a chapter to write, but I got it done within the same month.

Hopefully you enjoy. :)

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Hermione nervously stood at the end of her childhood neighborhood. She pushed a lock of hair back behind her ear. Bellatrix had helped her brush her hair and straighten it that morning. Instead of its normal, thick, bushy texture, it was more sleek and fine. Narcissa helped her pick out a nice button up shirt and jeans, which she paired with some fashionable boots. Narcissa even helped her hem her clothes to fit a little better.

She'd looked at a catalogue earlier in the week with the woman, and Narcissa had explained the importance of having clothes that fit just right. They could make you look more professional with the right fit. Hermione made a note of that for future reference. It felt nice to have someone help her with things like that. And, in the future, she would be able to ask Narcissa for advice on outfits for job interviews, even just work in general. Because she would be applying to jobs in the future. She just didn't know when exactly that would happen. But it would. Some time. Eventually.

Currently, though, she partly wanted to call off seeing her parents and go back to the manor. She wanted to go back and curl up with her blanket, otter, and maybe her dummy.

Andromeda hadn't joined them that afternoon. She hadn't dropped the night, and still hadn't as of that morning. She wanted to stay by herself, under the supervision of Ruby and Squeaky. Bellatrix and Narcissa had tried to talk her out of it, but Andromeda insisted she could handle being at the manor for an hour or so. Hermione just hoped they didn't take longer than that.

A gentle hand grabbed her wrist. She turned and looked up into Bellatrix's concerned eyes. "Any time you want to leave, we can," she quietly promised. "No questions asked. You say the word, we leave."

Hermione nodded. She took a deep breath, and then walked forward without another word. If she didn't go then, she would turn right around and go back to the manor.

She walked up the front stairs and stood outside the door. Narcissa and Bellatrix stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting. Narcissa gave her an encouraging smile, and then Hermione turned and knocked on the front door.

It took a few moments, long enough that Hermione once again considered backing out, before the door opened. Jean Granger stood in the doorway, a perplexed expression on her features for a moment before she locked eyes with Hermione. Her jaw dropped slightly, disbelief completely overtaking her expression, and tears pooled in her eyes nearly immediately. 

"Hermione?" she asked in a shaky whisper. Hermione didn't have a chance to respond before she was engulfed in a tight hug as her mother cried. "What are you-" She cut herself off as she suppressed a short cry. "Your dad and I thought we'd never see you again." She choked back another little sob as she pulled back and wiped her eyes. She looked Hermione over critically, but something else caught her attention. "Who are...?"

Hermione turned to glance where her mother was looking. "There's um, there's a lot I need to explain," she murmured. She inhaled slowly, steadying herself before she started crying herself. "Um, I think, I think I owe you and Dad an apology," she whispered, just barely able to muster the words without breaking down.

Her mum shook her head. "No, darling, no. Whatever it is, you don't need to apologize." She hugged Hermione tightly again, cradling the back of Hermione's head gently. "God, I just- I really thought you'd never come home again."

Hermione whimpered softly as she returned the hug. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just- There's a lot, and, and-"

Her mum shook her head again and shushed her gently. "Honey, whatever it is, it's okay," she said. "Let's go inside, yes? Your, uh, friends?" she stuttered, a little unsure. "Well, they can join us, obviously. Let me just go and get your father." She opened the door further and stepped back inside. "I'll put the kettle on, too."