The Lion's Return 5

“Well I hope you all are happy because you have pissed off a lot of important people.”Nymphadora announced when she stormed into the entertainment room the next afternoon. Hermione was unsurprised by the declaration as she and her wives had expected with the release of magazine that morning and the fact that Hermione missed the meeting with the minster people would be upset. Not that they really cared they just didn’t want the triplets or Nymphadora to be bothered. If it wasn’t for that they would continue to stay hidden from the rest of society. Something they all were more than happy to do. It wasn’t feasible anymore though because the girls wanted to go to Hogwarts.

“That’s to be expected.”Narcissa said as she finished braiding her daughter’s hair.

“I guess we aren’t going to finish the movie now.”Bellatrix had been looking forward to sharing the film Frozen with the youngest girls. It was her favorite animated movie as it was all about the lengths sisters would go to protect each other.

“Leave it on for them. It will distract them from this conversation.”Andromeda stood from her seat next to Hermione and snapped her fingers to call for an elf.

“Hello misses Andy what can Gipsy do for you?”The elf asked once it appeared in the room.

“We need someone to watch over the girls while we go talk in the other room.”Andromeda explained.

“Of course misses.”The elf reached out and took Corona from Hermione.

“Be good for Gypsy.”Hermione told her daughters. The grunts in reply were as good as she was going to get as they were to engrossed in the movie to pay attention to their mothers.

“Let’s take this to the library.”Narcissa suggested. She led the group into the library were she took a seat on the couch reaching for Hermione to sit with her.

Hermione happily snuggled next to Narcissa with Andromeda sitting on the other side. Bellatrix took a seat in one of the arm chairs Nymphadora taking the other.”Now tell us about the drama we have caused.”

“To start we got the magazine first thing this morning and I have to say it was beautifully done. If I didn’t know you four as well as I did I wouldn’t doubt your love for each other or all of your hatred of blood purity after reading everything.”Nymphadora thought that the four couldn’t have done a better job at introducing themselves to the public.”It definitely undid some of the negative stories the papers are running. Molly and Ron’s many interviews being the most prominent.”

“After what was said I think Ron’s wife is going to file for divorce.”Bellatrix found what the pair said to the reporters hilarious. The part about Hermione being stolen from Ron being the funniest.

“Ron calling for the blood bond to be undone so that Hermione can marry him will likely upset her.”Narcissa wouldn’t stay married to someone who disrespected her like Ron did his wife. The only reason she stayed with Lucius was because she was magically bound to him.

“I can’t wait for how the public reacts to all Hermione revealed about the Golden Trio. I don’t think many will side with Ron or the rest of the Weasleys after they know the truth or Harry for that matter.”Andromeda said.

“Speaking of Harry. That’s one of the people I had to deal with.”Nymphadora told them.

“What does Harry have to do with any of this?”After sending a letter to Ginny Hermione expected to never hear from Harry again.

“When you didn’t show up for your appointment with the minster he called an emergency Order meeting.”Nymphadora smiled when Bellatrix started laughing.

“Oh Merlin. That is amazing.”Bellatrix couldn’t have asked for a better response than calling on that bunch of cowards to deal with the situation.

“Did anyone actually show up?”Narcissa hadn’t known the Order still kept in contact with each other.

“All the ones that are still alive did.”Even though it had been for a stupid reason Nymphadora did enjoy seeing some of her old comrades.

“What was the point of the meeting?”Andromeda asked.

“He claimed that he needed our help to detain all four of you so that they could undo the blood magic you used on Hermione and imprison the rest of you.”Nymphadora told them.

“If he was planning that why did he include you in the meeting?”Bellatrix wouldn’t have told the plan to someone related to them.

“He was of the belief that I would side with him and give them your location.”Nymphadora had laughed when Kingsley asked her where to find her mother, Hermione and her aunts.”Something I would never do.”

“What was the response from the group? Did they agree with Kingsley?”Narcissa wanted to know what kind of fight they had on their hands.

“It was mixed. The ones on your side were the ones who read the magazine and the people who knew that Hermione was way to smart to ever get forced into a blood bond with anyone. The ones that were against it were the Weasleys, Harry, and a few of the old timers. Not the twins or Ginny however. The old timers reasoning being that anyone of Black blood was evil.”Nymphadora hadn’t been surprised with the sides people chose.

“I would have thought Harry would want to stay out of it.”Hermione said.

“After the Weasleys he was one of the loudest voices.”Nymphadora was of the same thought as Hermione. She thought that Harry would have stayed out of it.

“How did his wife react to him siding against her?”Andromeda didn’t know Ginny that well but from Hermione said the girl was obsessed with Harry and followed his lead on things.

“The two stood on opposite sides of the room and Ginny completely ignored him the entire time. I watched him try to get her attention and get her to talk to him but she acted like he wasn’t even there.”Nymphadora had never seen Harry and Ginny disagree. To see them so at odds made her think that their marriage was in trouble.

“I sent a letter to Ginny last night that went into graphic detail of all the things that happened while we were at school and during our time on the run. It seems like she chose to believe me.”Hermione was happy that Ginny didn’t dismiss her claims like Hermione feared she would.

“Whatever happened I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to reach out to you.”Nymphadora didn’t know who else Ginny could go to for help as her main supporters were the Weasleys and Harry.

“What happened after everyone chose a side?”Narcissa asked.

“There was yelling and a couple wands pulled but in the end it was McGonagall that calmed everyone down.”Nymphadora told them.

“What did she say?”If anyone could get people to calm down Andromeda knew it was Minerva.

“Well she initially just stayed quiet and watched and listened. It was when someone said that if I was unwilling to help them that they should kidnap the triplets that she got pissed and started yelling.”Nymphadora flinched when Bellatrix jumped up from her chair.

“I’ll kill them. Every single one of them for even thinking they could look at our girls let alone touch them.”Bellatrix waved a hand over herself changing her clothing into her battle armor.

Hermione quickly jumped up from her seat and wrapped her arms around Bellatrix.”My love no one is going to target the girls. Dora wouldn’t be sitting here as relaxed as she was if she even thought someone would.”

“That’s true auntie. I wouldn’t let anything happen to any my cousins or my sisters.”Nymphadora would stand up to the darkest wizard to protect her family.

“Bella I need you to calm down so that we can finish this discussion so we can make a plan to go forward.”Hermione sighed in relief when she felt Bellatrix’s body relax.

“I will calm down enough to make a plan but if I don’t like it I’m going after them.”Bellatrix wouldn’t stand by while someone threatened her family.

“I’ll take it.”Hermione allowed Bellatrix to led her over to the chair she had been sitting at and pull her down on her lap.

“Now then what was decided at the meeting?”Narcissa asks Nymphadora.

“After McGonagall laid into everyone about how wrong it was to target children and told them if they even tried they would find themselves at the end of her wand the group was equally shocked and chastised. They then tried to pressure me to give up your location again but I told them that none of you had broken any laws and they had no legal right to know where you were. The Weasleys tried to intimidate me into telling them. That pissed my wonderful husband off and he went after Ron. Molly and Arthur jumped to Ron’s defense which pissed off a few others and it took the rest of us to break up the fight.”Nymphadora had helped Lupin get a couple extra punches in.

“I’m not really surprised to hear that.”Andromeda knew Lupin wouldn’t put up with anyone disrespecting his wife.

“Did they even try to ask Remus where we were?”Narcissa was the only one who called the man his first name as it was more proper.

Nymphadora shook her head.”Not once did they ask him.”

“They probably thought because you are so loyal to them that you would be more than willing to sell us out.”Bellatrix said.

“They aren’t thinking I’m very loyal now. Kingsley even told me he was disappointed in me before I left the meeting.”Nymphadora didn’t care if her old mentor was disappointed. He had disappointed her during the war and hadn’t redeemed himself since.

“Well he may be disappointed but I’m personally proud of you.”Andromeda was very proud of the woman her daughter had become.

“Thanks mom.”Nymphadora was happy to hear that as she always strived to make her mother proud.

“Let’s get back to the meeting. After the fight what happened?”Hermione asked.

“After everyone calmed down as much as they were going to Kingsley asked for ideas on how to go about arresting each of you. That started another argument about the legality of arresting you as it was pointed out once again that you committed no crimes. Kingsley tried to say that as the minster he could have anyone arrested it didn’t matter if they committed a crime. That pissed off everyone including the old timers that were for arresting you about Kingsley abusing his power. It seems like no one but the Weasleys and Harry thought it was ok for the minster to arrest random people who broke no laws.”Nymphadora hadn’t expected so many of the people at the meeting to object to Kingsley going rouge.

“At least they understood the wrongness of it.”Andromeda would have thought they would have gladly went along with Kingsley.

“Noticing he was losing everyone’s support Kingsley quickly backtracked and then asked everyone to think of laws that you were actually breaking. The illegal use of blood magic was brought up. As well as the Imperius curse. Lupin quickly shut them down on the curse. His proof being that he had interacted with Hermione hundreds of times over the years and knew that you were not under the influence of the curse.”Nymphadora smiled when everyone started laughing.

“Us being able to control Hermione with a curse?”Bellatrix never heard anything so stupid.

“I have been able to break that curse since my third year at Hogwarts.”Hermione had taught herself how to counteract most curses during her school years to be able to better defend herself.

“I know it was very dumb for them to even suggest it.”Nymphadora had laughed when it was brought up in the meeting.

“Are they still stuck on us performing illegal blood magic?”Narcissa asked.

“Some of them are. Their problem however is that there is no way to prove you actually used blood magic other than Hermione admitting it. There are ways to undo it and they were trying to use that as a reason to at least detain Hermione. They actually got some support for that until I mentioned that you weren’t British citizens any longer and they had no jurisdiction over you.”Nymphadora said.

“How did that go over?”Andromeda didn’t think it would have gone over well.

“Kingsley actually went pale hearing that the savior no longer lived in the country she saved. He mentioned that we couldn’t let the public know because it would cause others to leave. I honestly think that disturbed him more than the blood magic.”Nymphadora thought Kingsley’s concerns were legitimate. After the war people had moved to Britain just because Hermione lived there because they thought it would be safer with her there to protect them.

“I know we don’t want people to know where we live but maybe it would be a good idea to reach out to the French ministry and tell them about what Kingsley is trying to do. I think they would be more than willing to step in to stop the British ministry from harassing its citizens.”With how much the French hated the British Andromeda figured they would be more than happy to take a stand against them to protect the savior.

“They would want Hermione to do a photoshoot or two to get that support.”Narcissa knew the French would help they would just expect Hermione to give them some publicity for giving that help.

“If it got the British ministry off our backs I would do a hundred photoshoots.”Hermione thought taking a few pictures was an easy trade.

“I’ll send a letter to the French minster requesting a meeting.”Narcissa wanted to act before Kingsley did.

“I don’t doubt that he would be more than happy to fit Hermione in as soon as possible.”Bellatrix expected the minster to clear his schedule to accommodate Hermione.      

“What else was said at the meeting?”Hermione asked.

“Most of them deflated after they learned you weren’t in their jurisdiction except for the Weasleys and Harry who wanted the minster to extradite you. Kingsley was unwilling to do that however. I think he is worried about an international incident. Without any means to actually go after any of you it was decided against the objection of many that a notice to arrest on sight be issued for Hermione if she ever stepped back on British soil. Kingsley is using the adult well fair law that says that a person who is suspected of being abused or taken advantage of is allowed to be detained while an investigation is done to prove they are safe.”Nymphadora did not agree with the order but it was legal.

“I assume the order will be made public?”Narcissa was already putting a plan together in her head to fight it.

“Kingsley wanted it to be suppressed because he was worried what the public would think. That and he was worried if someone other than an order member challenged Hermione she would kill them. He stupidly believes that anyone in the order would be able to subdue her.”Nymphadora hadn’t said anything to dispute that. She wanted to see them get their asses handed to them when they went after her step mother.

“Idiots.”Bellatrix wanted Hermione to go to Britain just to prove those cowards wrong.

“So we need to make the public aware of the order.”Hermione said.

“How do we do that?”Andromeda asked.

“I think that we speak to the French minster and have him put out a statement about it. He will obviously side with Hermione and to gain good publicity will most likely tell everyone that the French will fight the British if they try to come after Hermione on their soil.”Narcissa predicted that the French minster would be very happy to get involved with the situation.

“I think we should also pledge our support to the French ministry and offer our wands to be called on if the British do try something.”Hermione suggested.

“I like that idea.”Bellatrix would be more than happy to fight anyone who thought they could take Hermione away from her and her family.

“Anything else we should know?”Narcissa asked Nymphadora.

Nymphadora shook her head.”That’s about it. When it was made clear Kingsley wasn’t going to change his mind everyone left. Mcgonagall told me to tell you that she would keep the girls safe even if she had to enact the founders’ protections to do it.”

“That makes me feel a lot better.”Andromeda knew that with Minerva on their side the girls would be safe.

“Ok so to deal with the British ministry we make an alliance with the French. That will keep us safe. The girls are being protected by McGonagall so we don’t have to worry about them. Dora can obviously take care of herself as can Lupin. Now all we have to do is get through the gala to deal with the public and then we can move on to the baby making.”Bellatrix was excited that everything was falling into place.

“What baby making?”From what Nymphadora had heard Hermione was making her mother and aunts wait to have more children.

“Hermione has agreed that if we can get the ministry and the public to leave us and the rest of the family alone she will carry another set of triplets.”Andromeda couldn’t wait to have more children.

”I thought you were dead set on not having children. Now you are having triplets?”Nymphadora had heard Hermione complain many times about how stressful their youngest was and that she wouldn’t have children until Corona could control her magic.

Hermione sighed.”They wore more down.”

“I don’t understand why you pretend that it’s such a chore to have more kids when you love being a mother as much as we do.”Bellatrix said.

“It’s not that I don’t want to have more kids it’s the pregnancy part that is stressful. Not only would I be dealing with carrying a baby but one with unstable magic. Then I have to deal with the three of you who go over board in your protectiveness and refuse to allow me to do anything for myself. Bellatrix going to the extreme of wearing her battle armor at all times except to bathe and sleep in.”Hermione’s wives meant well they just got to overbearing when she was pregnant.

“We just worry darling.”Narcissa couldn’t help herself. Hermione was giving them the ultimate gift and because of that she felt that Hermione deserved to be pampered.

“I know you do but it stresses me out when you treat me like an invalid.”Hermione told her.

“We will try to be better this time.”Bellatrix wanted Hermione to have a positive experience with the triplets so that she would be willing to have her child as soon as she was recovered.

“Yeah we will let you do what you want.”Andromeda was of the same thought as Bellatrix. She was hoping that after the triplets Hermione would be willing to have more children when she was recovered. Not only did she and her sisters but Hermione loved being parents and had always talked about having a lot of children. The sisters hated the fact that they couldn't carry a baby safely and Hermione did all the hard work. It was one of the reasons they acted like they did when Hermione was pregnant.

“Within reason.”Narcissa wasn’t going to let Hermione do everything she wanted because she had no doubt her wife wouldn’t always choose things that were safe.

Hermione rolled her eyes at Narcissa.”I’m already preparing for our future arguments.”

“Well I look forward to having a new sister and two new cousins.”Nymphadora couldn’t wait to have three more family members to spoil.

“And we look forward to you babysitting.”Andromeda said.

“Oh no I’m not babysitter for you ever again. I swore off being responsible for your children after the triplets burned down an acre of trees the last time I watched them.”Nymphadora had been in the middle of feeding Corona when the three came running in the room telling her about the fire and how they couldn’t put it out. Nymphadora had to send a patronus to her mother interrupting her outing with Hermione and her sisters to get them to come home to fight the flames because she couldn’t do it by herself.

“Come on it wasn’t even that big of a fire. They have done a lot worse than that while with you and you still looked after them.”Bellatrix loved the fact that her children were such trouble makers. She took every chance she could to encourage them to act out and break the rules.

“That’s true. The fire was actually mild compared to some of the other stuff they have done under your watch.”Hermione had expected Nymphadora to refuse to watch the children years ago after they continued to destroy things every time she was in charge.

“I looked at my natural hair the other day and I have started going grey. Something I blame on those three.”Nymphadora was positive the triplets had taken years off her life due to all the stress they caused when she in charge of them.

”I think McGonagall is going to gain a few new grey hairs of her own in the coming weeks.”Narcissa knew they girls wouldn’t act out until they explored the grounds and spoke to the portraits. They would make sure they had escape routes and hiding spots before they did anything. Once they had those though all bets were off and they were going to cause a lot of chaos. Chaos that was likely going to require Narcissa, Hermione and her sisters to visit the headmistress’ office a lot before the school year was over.

“I told Remi to not be involved in any of their schemes.”Nymphadora didn’t want her son to get in trouble. Something that would be guaranteed to happen if he went along with any of his aunts’ plans.

“It would do that boy a lot of good if he hung around the girls more.”Bellatrix thought that Remus Jr. was too much of a pushover and a people pleaser. He needed to toughen up. That would happen if he spent more time with the triplets.

Nymphadora didn’t even bother to argue with her aunt. It was a lost cause.”Anyway I need to get going as my shift is starting soon. I just thought you would all like to know what happened.”

“We did. Thank you for telling us.”Narcissa said.

"Can you see if you can get a copy of the official order for Hermione to be detained?”Andromeda asked.

“It shouldn’t be to hard.”Nymphadora could easily get a copy of the order.

“I want to bring it to the French minster.”Andromeda wanted use it as proof when Kingsley tried to deny he issued it.

“I’ll get it tonight and bring it over tomorrow.”Nymphadora told her.

“We will have the elves make your favorite breakfast.”Hermione said.

“I will never say no to my favorite food.”Nymphadora would have to bring Lupin to visit as well.

“See you tomorrow then.”Bellatrix tightened her arms around Hermione when she made a move to get up.

“Let me go so I can give her a hug.”Hermione could already see that with the news that Nymphadora brought them that Bellatrix was going to be extra clingy until she felt the danger had passed.

“I like you just where you are.”Bellatrix was in protective mode and needed to keep Hermione close to keep her safe.

Hermione sighed.”I would give you a hug but that seems to be impossible so I guess all I can do is say good bye.”

“It’s no problem.”Nymphadora wasn’t offended. She knew what Bellatrix was like when the family was threatened.

“Well I can give you a hug.”Andromeda stood from her seat and hugged her daughter.”Be careful and I will see you in the morning.”

“I’m always careful mom.”Nymphadora never went into a situation unprepared or without proper backup.

Narcissa stood and gave Nymphadora a hug as well.“Be extra careful then.”

“I will.”Nymphadora promised.”I’ll see you in the morning.”

“See you.”Andromeda called out before Nymphadora tossed some powder in the fireplace and walked into the fire, disappearing in the flames.

“I need to send the letter to the minster.”Narcissa wanted to get it sent as soon as possible.

“Do you want me to sign it?”Hermione asked.

Narcissa nodded.”It would be best if he thought it was a personal letter from you.”

“Alright let me know when you are done with it.”Hermione trusted Narcissa’s instincts when it came stuff like that. She was the one who dealt with the family’s public image.

Narcissa leaned down and gave Hermione a kiss.”I will.”

“We are going to go finish watching the movie with the girls then work with them on their magic.”Bellatrix spoke for herself and Hermione as she wasn’t letting Hermione out of her sight.

“I’ll join you.”Andromeda loved helping the children learn about their magic.

“I will meet up with you when I’m done.”Narcissa didn’t want to miss out on magic lessons.

“Good because Corona has been complaining about headaches and needs your held to build her shields.”Their three year old had inherited Narcissa’s natural mind magic talent and Hermione knew her wife was the only one with the skill and understanding to teach their daughter how to control it.

“I will make sure to put aside more time to practice with her.”Narcissa had been both pleased and saddened that one of their children inherited her gift. Pleased because it showed that Narcissa was a big influence in the girl’s life and saddened because she knew what a burden it was.

“Thank you sweetheart.”Hermione said.

“To get that time I will write and send that letter right now.”Narcissa told her.

“I’ll miss you.”Hermione missed each one of her wives when they weren’t with her. Even after all these years together she was just as in love and infatuated with all of them and found it physically and emotionally painful when they were apart.

“I’ll miss you to my love.”Narcissa gave Hermione one last kiss before making her way out the room. If she didn’t leave right then she wouldn’t go. Knowing there was a serious threat to her wife had her feeling just as protective as Bellatrix. She was just better at reeling in her reactions. That being stopping herself from locking Hermione in their safe room while she hunted down every single person who agreed to detain her. Then once she found them she would capture each one and hold them in their dungeon where she would spend months torturing them before finally killing them after she was bored with the torturing. Narcissa hated that she was now on the light side because it prevented her from having fun. If she was still considered a Death Eater she would have been encouraged to act. Thinking about the missed opportunity she sighed. Hopefully Kingsley and his cronies would try something after the French minster got involved. Then she would be justified in avenging her wife. She would just have to make the French minster feel like this was an insult to him personally to make him act harshly. It wouldn’t be to hard for Narcissa to do as she was known for her ability to get people to agree with her.