Our's to Catch Chapter 16

Not long after they had gone to the library, unexpected visitor’s arrived. Hermione had been doing her best to find every book she could about what these traditions were the Black sister’s had been talking about. She wanted to know what she and Harry had been missing out on that supposedly Ron knew all about but didn’t bother to share with either of them. She believed Ron didn’t share because he couldn’t care less about education and teaching but she was a little put off that none of the other siblings or even Mr. and Mrs. Weasley told her and Harry about anything. She was also confused on how she herself didn’t notice any of these so-called traditions when she was around the Weasley family.

She was hoping to find enough books to start her research off of and then expanding from there depending on what caught her interest the most. But her search for books was stopped when Andy walked into the library.

Narcissa and Bellatrix had been directing her to certain areas of the library they thought she may enjoy. The library had been organized into sections based off of subject and within those areas, organized by author. The Black sisters were pointing Hermione in the general direction of books they knew to be there that the young Gryffindor had definitely never seen Hogwarts and likely wouldn’t know to read if she had gone into any other bookstore outside of Flourish and Blotts. They weren’t even sure if the Golden Girl had ever even been to another magical bookstore that wasn’t prescribed for all Hogwarts students to go to in Diagon Alley.

“Hermione dear,” Andy said as she walked briskly into the library, not surprised to find her sisters lounging around, watching the younger woman like a hawk. “The Lovegood’s are here to bring you to their home. Apparently, you were to spend some time there before going to the Weasleys?” Andy asked, pretending to act as if she hadn’t already known exactly what Hermione’s plans had been before they had somewhat kidnapped her and brought her to their home.

Hermione slowly put the book down she was just about to open and finally start reading and looked towards the older woman. For just a brief moment, she wanted to ask Andy to send her friend away because she wanted to start reading all the books, seven in total, the sister’s had directed her towards. It had been hard enough to find the books when the sisters would only tell her the subject and author and not which book to start reading first so as to not skip any pertinent information from the start of the series.

“Don’t look so down pet, you can borrow all those books if you wish.” Bellatrix said while Narcissa flicked her wand to summon a black leather bag with their house seal and an extension charm on it. It would serve as a little reminder to Hermione that the woman was definitely going to be seeing them a lot more and that they were all still tied together; regardless of how far apart they were.

“Since Draco is in your year, I know when all your Hogsmeade trips are. I will expect you to have finished at least one book and have it ready to return to me on each trip. I will make sure to have at least one book with me as well to trade with you.” Narcissa said as she watched Hermione carefully put all the books into the bag.

They would have preferred that she not leave so soon, but the Lovegood’s were friends in their grey side of the war. Hermione would be safe and would definitely get the right answers to any questions she had. It also wouldn’t hurt that since they were friends, they should be able to get one last visit in before their little lion had to go the Weasley’s where they wouldn’t be able to follow themselves.

Hermione was more than happy to finally be able to leave to a place where she knew she was safe. Granted, the longer she spent with the Black sister’s the more she was convinced that they may not actually be lying to her but she still wasn’t completely on board with everything they were telling her. It almost seemed like everything they were talking about made them seem like the Robin Hood of the muggleborns that they were constantly portrayed and discussed to abhorrently dislike.

And then to be told she could keep the books until the new year started so she could read them all without distractions? And to be allowed to have replacements? In all honesty if it wasn’t coming from the Black sister’s, she would feel like it was a dream come true. As it was, she knew once she got to Luna’s she would have to put charms on everything to make sure no one could tell who the books and bag belonged to and what was actually inside the books themselves. She knew since she hadn’t seen these at Hogwarts that her professor’s likely wouldn’t approve of her having them and she didn’t want to get in trouble. But her desire to read them was too high to not risk getting in trouble so she would charm them and hope for the best that no one caught on.

“Thank you so much.” Hermione said, not able to hide the wide smile from having access to knowledge she hadn’t even known existed.

“Of course, pet.” Bellatrix said with a lewd smile that she was thankful Hermione wasn’t paying attention to. Bellatrix was already planning on using the borrowed books to their advantage in the coming school year. While she didn’t like that she would probably have to blackmail her soulmate, she knew that while the young woman was still brainwashed with Dumbledore’s teachings, she would have to. With everything they had planned, they had to be careful and she wanted to make sure she had as much leverage as possible to get Hermione to do what she wanted to keep her safe, even if Hermione didn’t want to do something.

“Come on Hermione, they’re just downstairs in the foyer.” Andy said as she gestured for the younger woman to leave the room before her. With a last glance towards her sisters, who were still eyeing the young Gryffindor but not making a move to follow, Andy followed Hermione downstairs.

“Since I’m in the Order, you can talk to me or send me owls whenever you want and Dumbledore won’t intercept them.” Andy cautioned, “If you want to talk to the other two, just address them in the letter and I’ll make sure they get it.”

“Would Dumbledore really intercept my mail?” Hermione asked instead of asking why she would want to get a hold of the other two sisters. Perhaps she instinctively knew she had no need or desire to reach out to the other two death eaters, regardless of how sane and nice they appeared to be to her now, and was more concerned about her invasion of privacy.

“He’s very paranoid about anything to do with you three.” Andy advised, not at all worried about talking bad about the headmaster in front of Hermione. She knew if the young woman did share what Andy was telling her with other Order members it would only be after she herself thoroughly thought it through and likely wouldn’t be anything to risk getting Andy in trouble. “He’ll do whatever he needs, whatever he wants, to make sure you three are doing what he plans for you three to do and that includes reading any letters to and from you to keep everything in order.”

Hermione opted not to respond as she saw her blonde headed friend waiting for her with her father. Whatever she wanted to ask or whatever information she needed further would just have to wait. She was sure there were other ways, like the flu, to talk with the sister’s while with Luna. Past that though, with the Weasley’s and while at Hogwarts, she would have to figure something else out.

For the time being, she wanted to hang out with her friend, especially since Ginny should be joining them shortly before she was due at the Weasley’s, and while Hermione wanted to do research, she wanted to hang out with her friends a little at well. She wanted a chance to forget her problems, forget about the Black sister’s and their wayward beliefs. She would save that for another day. For not, she would just join her friend and relax. For at least a day or two.

And then she would continue her research and her questions as best she could.