The Lion's Return 4

“Oh mes amours you don’t know how happy I am that you have finally decided to share your love story with the world.”Apolline Delacour exclaimed excitedly as she exited the fire place in the Granger-Black main family manor’s library in France followed by a dozen people some carrying cameras. Hermione was unsurprised that the clan elder came as Apolline was one of the biggest supporters of Hermione and the sisters’ relationship. She and her mate were also the godmothers to the triplets as the couple had insisted that the four of them live with them at her estate after the war was over to recuperate and get away from everyone. That and they didn’t have any place to go that others didn’t know about and was secure. Apolline’s home was the perfect choice as no-one knew of Hermione and the sisters involvement with the clan during the war. That involvement being giving the Veela warnings of attacks Voldemort was planning against them and deceptions the Order was pulling that Apolline passed on to other clans around the world.

“Well we need to do something as the minster has demanded that Hermione visit his office tomorrow morning.”Andromeda told her.

“How did he find you?”Apolline asked.

“We took the triplets to the train station and got into it with Molly Weasley and her son Ron. After being told about our relationship she called an auror over to arrest us for using blood magic to force Hermione to have our children.”Narcissa smiled when not only Apolline but some of the others that had come with her started laughing.

“You forcing Hermione to have children.”Apolline had never heard anything so stupid.”If you could do that you would have dozens of little witches running around this house.”

“She agreed to have triplets again as soon as we get the ministry to leave us alone.”Bellatrix was very excited about that and had already started planning the remodel they would need to do to the manor to make room for three more children.

“That is wonderful!!”Apolline couldn’t imagine better news.

“And the first step to doing that will be getting the real story of our relationship out to the public before other people can start spreading lies about us.”Narcissa said.

“I already have interviewed many of the people involved in the war about their experiences with Hermione in preparation of you giving us the exclusive so all we need is speaking to you about things and getting some pictures. I’m hoping you would be willing to let us use some you have with the four of you and all five of your children.”Apolline had known that eventually the witches would let her tell their story and had done all the research and interviews to get the magazine out quickly before they changed their minds.

“We had professional shots done last month so we have recent ones you can use.”Hermione had wanted ones done before the girls went to Hogwarts because it would have been impossible to take a family picture at the train station for their first day of school pictures.

“I was also thinking about using your halloween pictures as well.”Apolline thought that would be a good way to show off the family’s muggle roots.

“We need to use the ones with Draco.”Bellatrix knew that Draco would be mortified if people saw the pictures of him dressed up like Mario, his wife dressed up as Princess Peach and his son dressed up as Bowser. Hermione had introduced all of the family to video games and that was Scorpius’ favorite one.

“He may have complained but we all know that he loves halloween.”Dressing up and going trick or treating was something else Hermione had introduced them to and although wary at first Narcissa had come to love the holiday as much as her son. She especially loved the fact that she got to dress up herself, Hermione, her sisters and their children in elaborate costumes.

“That’s because he is addicted to muggle candy.”Andromeda said.

“Like you aren’t as well.”Hermione had to hide the candy that the children got because if she didn’t not only would the girls eat too much but Andromeda and Bellatrix would as well.

“Bella is the one who used each of the younger girls as ways to get more when they were babies.”Andromeda may have loved muggle candy but she didn’t exploit their children to get it like Bellatrix did.

“I was just teaching our children how to negotiate to get what they wanted.”Bellatrix told her.

“I’m definitely going to use that as one of the features.”Apolline and the rest of the flock had come to love muggle halloween just as much as the Granger-Black family and every year they all dressed up and handed out candy to all the children that visited their houses. It was something that Apolline had introduced other clans to and they had taken on the tradition as well. Veela were family oriented and muggle halloween was a chance for families to come together and spend the evening with each other.

“What are your plans for this?”Narcissa asked.

“I am planning on doing different articles on each topic. Ones that will be solo features about each of your lives before and during the war. Then I’ll interview you all together to talk about what you have been up to since then. I also have some ideas to make you more relatable. Like for Bella I want her to talk about the work she did with the clan training our security people. Andy I was thinking of doing a piece on your art and work in healing advancements, Narcissa your work in the muggle fashion world and the many potions that you have patented. Hermione I thought we should talk about the many masteries you have gained and the books you published under fake names.”Apolline explained.

“Books that are used in magical schools all over the world including Hogwarts and Beauxbatons.”Bellatrix was happy that Hermione would finally get credit for her hard work. She had tried to get Hermione to use her own name when publishing them but Hermione didn’t want the attention that anything attached to her name would get.

“I predict that if you take credit for your work the publishers are going to pull the copies on the market and reprint all of them with your name on it with a press release to boost sales.”That’s what Andromeda would do if she was in charge of Hermione’s books.

“They are also going to want you to do a book tour and give a bunch of interviews on them.”Narcissa said.

“Unfortunately for them the only interviews I will give will be to Apolline.”Hermione wasn’t going to talk to anyone unless Apolline arranged it.

Apolline smiled brightly.”Something that I am very grateful for.”

“You are family and the only one I would trust to actually write the truth and stay on topic. If I spoke to a stranger they would try and get me to say or do something controversial so that they could get famous off of the interview.”Hermione knew that if she talked to someone else they wouldn’t care about the truth they would care about what would get the article the most attention.

Before Apolline could reply a house elf appeared in the room. He walked over to Hermione and held out a letter.”Misses Hermione this letter just came for you.”

“Thank you Briffy."Hermione took the letter from him." Please tell the other elves that I will be reading a story to the girls in the library after dinner if they would like to join.”

Briffy clapped his hands in excitement.”I will tell them.”

“Who is the letter from?”Narcissa asked ignoring the elf. She had come a long way in her treatment of the creatures but didn’t care for them as much as Hermione did.

Hermione opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. Reading it over she groaned.”Why?”

“What’s wrong?”Andromeda asked rushing to Hermione’s side. She took the letter from Hermione. When she finished reading it she laughed.

“What is it?”Narcissa held out her hand for the letter. Once she read it she smiled.”Oh this is to good to be true.”

“What are you talking about?”Bellatrix asked taking the letting from Narcissa and reading it silently to herself.

Mrs.Granger-Black,

First off I want you to know that your girls are fine. They received some attention but I was able to deter anyone from being to forward with them. The reason for this letter is that I regret to inform you that the triplets will not be following in your footsteps as proud Gryffindor lions. It seems that your girls are following in their other mothers’ footsteps as Slytherin. The sorting hat didn’t even consider any other houses immediately putting them in Slytherin once it knew who their parents were. I dare say the three of them were the fastest sorting I have ever witnessed for any student. The girls were very excited with the results and I’m told they have already settled in with their new house. I don’t expect them to have any issues with their fellow snakes as the girls received applause and cheering from everyone at the Slytherin table to include the head of their house. I will let you know it they have any problems in the future.

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress of Hogwarts

“I knew they wouldn’t let me down.”Bellatrix didn’t doubt for a second that the girls would be anything other than Slytherin.

“What is it?”Apolline asked.

“The triplets have all been sorted into the Slytherin house.”Narcissa seeing Hermione’s disappointment wrapped her arms around her wife and pulled her into a hug.”Oh sweetheart it will be alright.”

“I’m glad they are together I just really wanted them to make their own stamp on Hogwarts not follow in our footsteps. They will have enough pressure on them to be the best at everything and being in one of our houses will just add on to it.”Hermione said.

Andromeda laid her hand on Hermione’s shoulder.“No matter what pressure they are under they will be the best at everything because we have prepared them for this. It doesn’t matter what people say to them or about them they are the best of each of us and they will do great things because of that.”

“Don’t be upset pet. The girls are going to achieve great things. How could they not with you as a mother?”Bellatrix knew that with Hermione’s influence the girls would surpass their mothers’ achievements. Without Hermione Bellatrix and her sisters would have never been able to raise them properly. Bellatrix was actually ashamed to admit that she would have just passed her child off to a nanny elf as that was the only way she knew how to deal with children. Hermione didn’t allow that though and that gave Bellatrix the chance to properly fulfill the role of mother. A role that she was proud to play and desperately wanted the chance to do with a bunch of other children. Hermione agreeing to have a new set of triplets being the first step to that.

Hermione sighed.”I guess it’s out of our hands now.”

“I’m excited for their first quidditch match because we all know the trio are going to make the team.”Andromeda and her sisters had been playing the game with their children ever since they were on training brooms. All of them loved the sport even their toddler who Andromeda and Bellatrix were known to take out to ride on their brooms with them when Hermione wasn’t home to yell at them for it. Narcissa had done the same with the triplets but after Hermione caught them and enforced a punishment of no sex for a month and included not even spending the night sleeping in bed with her wives it had Narcissa not breaking that rule anymore. Andromeda was just lucky that she didn’t tell on them.

“Now the public will get to see how good Hermione looks in my old quidditch jersey when we attend the games.”Narcissa loved when Hermione wore her old Slytherin jerseys as it was a nice show of ownership. Especially because it had her initial before the name Black so everyone knew which sister it belonged to.

“As the Head of Household Hermione will be wearing my jersey to the games.”Bellatrix wanted everyone to see her claim on Hermione.

“If we are getting technical Hermione is a Head of Household for the Lestrange family so she should get to pick.”Andromeda said.

“That is something we are all proud of even if I do hate seeing that ring on your finger.”Bellatrix thought it was poetic justice that Hermione killed the bothers and ended their line. Now a muggleborn the very thing they were trying to eradicate was in charge of their estate and the future of their family was in her hands. Although Hermione nor her wives didn’t use the last name Hermione still had to wear the Head of Household ring and would be passing on the title to an heir that had yet to be decided. Bellatrix wanted it to go to her heir but Hermione wanted to wait until they stopped having children before they worked out inheritances. The fact that not having children was the only way to push her agenda had Bellatrix holding her tongue for fear that Hermione would decide they weren’t having any more.

“I don’t think it will matter whose jersey you all want me to wear because unless the girls behave they won’t be eligible to play.”Hermione knew the triplets were good enough to make the team she just didn’t think that they would behave well enough to stay on the team.

“They will be fine. We have taught them all they needed to know to stay out of trouble.”Andromeda had taught the girls everything they needed to do to get away with things. To include stealing the marauder’s map that Hermione made based on the one Harry’s father and his friends invented and giving it to them. Hermione’s map being more extensive and complex then Harry’s as it not only showed more hidden passages than the original. It also identified where the elves were and if there was anyone in animagus form as well. Andromeda had made sure they knew all about the ghosts and portraits to befriend and the ones to avoid or bribe and Bellatrix added in her own knowledge. Even Narcissa passed on a few tricks much to her sisters and the girls’ surprise.

“I personally am excited to hear about their many adventures and am saddened they won’t be attending school with Victoria.”Apolline had tried everything she could to convince the triplets to go to school with Fleur's daughter but the trio was set on going where their mothers went. Apolline wasn’t going to give up with their siblings and was sure that she would get at least one in Beauxbuton blue. She would have many chances of course because regardless of what Hermione said Apolline knew that they would be having more than just a set of triplets before they were done having children. The sisters were baby crazy and wanted as many as they could have. Something that Apolline thought was due to their terrible upbringing and in Andromeda and Narcissa case their lack of power in raising Nymphadora and Draco the way they wanted.

“We expect you and at least Thelma to be at their games cheering them on.”Bellatrix wanted her girls to have a large crowd there cheering for them.

“I doubt you could keep my mate away. Her or Fleur and Darcy. Why I bet Gabby would make a few games as well and if it was advertised some of the flock would show up.”Apolline wouldn’t miss the games for anything in the world. Veela were highly competitive and had a quidditch league that consisted of teams from different clans all over the world. Bellatrix and Andromeda had been members of the team for a couple years as they were adopted members of the clan and still stepped in if they needed an extra player. Narcissa hadn’t played as often but she was known to fill the role of goal keeper once in a while. All three sisters being extremely talented. The triplets being just as talented as their mothers.”We could actually do a piece on your experience within our own quidditch league as well and then when we do a follow up we can add on the girls’ performance on the field.”

“It’s just like you to already be planning on getting more interviews from us in the future.”Hermione said.

“Why of course mon cheri. After we publish an entire magazine dedicated to you and your family the public will be even more interested in your lives. It will be up to me as your publicist to manage the flow of information that we release to keep them satisfied enough to leave you alone.”Apolline explained.

“When did you become our publicist?”Andromeda asked.

“The moment Fleur received her first coded message from Hermione I became your biggest supporter. It’s only natural that I take the role as publicist so I can protect you from the public like you protected my flock during the war.”Apolline would be forever indebted to Hermione for tasking Narcissa and Bellatrix to find out all they could about the Dark Lords plans for magical creatures and passing on the deceptions the Order had planned for them. Apolline had been naive in thinking that because the war was about blood purity that they wouldn’t be targeted. Hermione’s letters to Fleur proved her wrong and gave her a chance to save not only her flock but other flocks as well. Making sure the four woman and their family wasn’t vilified in the press was an easy way to pay towards the many life debts the Veela community owed the women.

“As I have told you many times before you don’t owe any of us for doing the right thing.”Hermione hated that not only the Veela felt indebted to her but the other magical creature communities she had reached out to warn of not only the Dark Lord’s plans for them but Dumbledore and the Orders as well. Those plans being making them fight on their side and not fulling any of their promises for the help. The Dark Lord was expected to backstab them but the Order had surprised Hermione. Hearing them boast about how much smarter they were than magical creatures and how easily it would be to get them to side with them had Hermione betraying them without hesitation.

“Anyway as your publicist I will be handling all your media request and public appearances.”Apolline told her ignoring Hermione’s statement.

“Speaking of public appearances. We are planning on throwing a charity gala at the main Black Family manor in one week to raise money for the Muggleborn Integration Initiative.”Narcissa was happy that they were able to find a date so soon as it would be good to follow up their interviews with an event to officially reenter wizarding society.

“Raising money for a Muggleborn charity is a great idea. Especially one that spear heads educating muggleborns and their families when they are young.”Apolline thought that was a good cause to pick.

“The day we picked is the first muggleborn to teach at Hogwarts Harriet Bunder’s birthday.”Hermione said.

“That is the perfect date for the charity you are raising money for.”Apolline couldn’t pick out a better date if she tried.

“We thought so as well.”Narcissa thought it was fate at work that the date aligned so well with the charity.

“Now then. I think we should start with the easy stuff and work up to the hard stuff. That means let’s start with Bella talking about her role in training our security people.”Apolline suggested.

“I am more than happy to talk about that.”Bellatrix loved to talk about anything to do with combat. Even if it was just training for it.

“While you do that I’ll go pull some pieces from each of our closets for your feature about my involvement in muggle fashion.”Narcissa said.

“I’ll send one of the photographers with you to take pictures of your closet before you remove any clothing.”Apolline wanted to add the pictures as a way to let people see into Narcissa’s private space to make her seem more relatable.

Narcissa wasn’t completely comfortable with someone in her rooms other than her family but rationalized it was just her closet.”That’s fine.”

“I’m going to go clean up my studio a bit and put away some of my personal paintings.”Andromeda was known for painting nudes of Hermione and didn’t want the public to see them. The were usually hung in her, Hermione and her sisters’ bedrooms in the various estates they owned.

“I’m not cleaning my library.”Hermione refused to re shelf the different piles of books stacked in random spots throughout the room. It would mess up her system. A system that only made sense to her.

“That is fine as we want the pictures to show you in your natural environment. Your library being completely organized would obviously look posed.”Apolline said.

“What are you going to do for my picture?”Bellatrix asked.

“I was going to ask if you and Hermione would be willing to duel so we could get a few pictures of you facing off against each-other.”Apolline thought that the public would love pictures of Hermione and Bellatrix fighting.

Hermione cut off Bellatrix before she could even open her mouth.”No babies.”

“Come on pet. You know how worked up we get when we duel. It’s only natural for us to use all that magical energy to conceive.”When they dueled it wasn’t unheard of for Bellatrix and Hermione to get so worked up they forget about the rest of the world and had sex in front of whoever was watching their match. Bellatrix didn’t care but Hermione was always embarrassed afterwords. That was also why children were forbidden from attending their bouts.

“You know the deal. Get the ministry and public to leave us alone and I will agree to triplets.”Hermione held up a hand to stop the complaint.”Depending on how the pregnancy goes and how much work it is to take care of triplets again we can discuss having your own as soon as it’s safe for my body to conceive again.”

“So you’re saying all I have to do is make sure you get through the pregnancy with the triplets easily and that they don’t stress you out once they are born and I can have my own child?”Bellatrix wanted to make sure she understood exactly what Hermione was saying.

“I thought about it and decided that it would easily just to have the babies close together than wait like we did between the two youngest.”Hermione told her.

Bellatrix pulled Hermione in her arms and kissed her hard on the mouth.”Don’t you worry I’m going to take care of everything. You won’t have to do a thing.”

“You can start by getting your interview over with so we can get through all this nonsense and have a quiet night with the girls.”Hermione said.

“Alright.”Bellatrix turned her attention to an amused looking Apolline.”What do you need me to do?”

“Why don’t you just take a seat on the couch and I’ll ask you a few questions.”Apolline suggested.

“No problem.”Bellatrix happily took a seat on the couch. If all she had to do to have more children with Hermione was to answer a bunch of questions and dress up and attend a gala she would do it with a smile. She wouldn’t even put up a fuss about whatever outfit Narcissa picked out for her. Bellatrix had the best incentive to play along and make sure everything went smoothly. She was going to make it her mission to keep Hermione as calm as possible. To do that Bellatrix would have to keep anything stressful away from her wife. Maybe she would plan a trip for her, Hermione and her sisters after the gala was over. She could have Apolline watch the girls and they could take some time to relax and then maybe Hermione would be willing to get started on the baby making. Hermione had been talking about visiting the island she purchased to house dragons to keep them safe from capture and poaching. Plan firmly in place Bellatrix turned her focus to Apolline. She wished that it was her night with Hermione because she knew that with the talk of babies and the duel she was going to be very work up. Narcissa wouldn’t be willing to change however especially since they were interrupted earlier. Bellatrix would just have to pounce on Hermione before she went to bed. As long as she didn’t wear Hermione out to bad her sister wouldn’t complain.